Work Text:
Everything felt perfect. The flight wasn’t a hassle, there were clear skies, and to top it all off, Emi was already in paradise. She had been dreaming about a family vacation to Okinawa for years, and now, the efforts of Ms. Joke and Eraserhead had finally paid off.
Even if they were in a parking garage at the moment, Emi wouldn’t trade her current view for the world. On her left was her daughter Eri, who was in high school now with a blooming interest in music. Emi swore the horned girl just started middle school not too long ago. If that wasn’t enough to make her feel old, on her right was her younger daughter Rina. Emi was still in disbelief that Rina’s quirk was expected to manifest soon per the doctor. Four years really did fly by. Emi loved Rina, and the little girl’s dark hair with splotches of sea green mixed in was living proof of her love for the man in front of them.
The smiling heroine’s beloved husband was currently leading them to their rental car. The erasure hero was wearing a simple outfit of cargo shorts and a black t-shirt. His hair was tied back, and he had just shaved before the trip, too. In his right hand were the keys to their car, and his left hand gripped onto the handle of his suitcase, his wedding band twinkling in the afternoon sunlight creeping into the parking structure. To Emi, even the most casual settings still placed Shota in a flattering light, and it wasn’t just the literal rose-colored lenses of her sunglasses distorting her view. She genuinely loved Shota for who he was.
“We’re here. Spot 34,” Shota said as he stopped at their rental SUV.
“Eri, help Rina into her car seat. I’ll help your father,” said Emi.
“Sure thing, mom,” Eri smiled before helping her younger sister into the backseat.
Meanwhile, Shota and Emi had already started loading the luggage into the back of the car. Emi couldn’t help but glance over at her husband. The black fabric of his shirt hugged a few significant areas of his figure, reminding her of how he had bulked up over the years. He had an ideal build for a hero, yet here he was, being a family man. She sometimes felt like she was in a fantasy or one of the romance books Pinky was into. Emi was drawn back to reality at the sound of her husband grunting before shutting the tailgate of the car.
Slam!
“You know, it’s rude to stare at someone,” Shota smirked.
“Wh-What?!” Emi jumped, her face now red in embarrassment.
“I really am going to be the death of you,” he sighed before letting out a soft but deep chuckle. He kissed his wife’s forehead, almost making her freeze. “Come on, get in the car.”
“O-Okay,” she nodded with a goofy smile.
Fortunately, Rina was distracted by Eri showing her a music video on her phone.
After an Okinawan style dinner and a good night’s sleep, the second day of the vacation had arrived. The Aizawas had already planned on starting the day with breakfast at a local restaurant.
Emi was still in the master bedroom of the hotel suite. She had just finished putting on a turquoise sundress with a white trim that continued into its spaghetti straps. It was actually one of the few things she recently purchased for the trip. She thought it looked cute online, but to see it on herself felt rather underwhelming.
There was nothing wrong with the dress. The size was correct, and the dress was delivered on time and as advertised. What Emi was unsure of was just how it looked on her. On the website, the models looked fairly slim, yet on her, the dress felt like it was bringing attention to her width.
Emi didn’t regret a single moment of her pregnancy, but ever since giving birth to Rina, she knew her body changed forever. She tried her best to stay fit, but going back to her figure prior to pregnancy felt impossible. No matter how close she got, she would always still be far as several of her wardrobe decisions now boiled down to whether or not her hips would allow it.
Knock! Knock!
“Emi, are you almost done?” her husband asked through the door.
“I’ll be out in a second!” she replied. She responded in her usual bubbly tone to not worry Shota, but she couldn’t stop frowning at her own reflection in the mirror. It was too late to change into something else, and she didn’t want to hold up her family. She felt like a fool either way, so she might as well bear with it.
The cafe the Aizawas picked was excellent. It had a modern yet authentic charm to it. It really felt like an escape from the hustle and bustle more common in Naha where most of the tourist traps were. The smells were amazing, too, a perfect mix of savory and sweet that conveyed a feeling of home upon entry. Emi grew eager by the second as she watched her husband claim the reservation.
“Right this way, please,” the hostess said before leading them to their seats.
A few heads turned as the family passed by tables. Even in civilian clothing, Shota still carried the intimidating aura of Eraserhead, even if he was dressed in a black and white Hawaiian shirt and accompanied by an otherwise cheerful family. Emi giggled to herself at the thought, but it wasn’t amusing enough to calm the nerves that spiked when a few people looked her way.
Emi couldn’t stop thinking about her dress. She felt awkward, naked almost, like her imperfections were on display for the world to see. She suppressed her frown as much as she could and shifted her gaze down onto her daughters in front of her walking hand in hand. She reminded herself that they would be sitting down real soon. She was right, but her discomfort wouldn’t stop there.
“Here is your table,” the hostess announced as she placed menus onto the tabletop. “Your server will take your order shortly.”
“Thank you,” Shota and Emi responded.
Of course they booked a table.
“Is that a sea turtle?”
“It is, Rina-chan,” Eri replied, also noticing some of the decor her younger sister was looking at.
“And is that a merman?”
“A merman?” Eri tried to locate where Rina’s vision was pointed at. “Seems a bit off for the vibe- Is that Uncle Yamada?!” On the wall was a poster for an upcoming DJ set, and it displayed a vibrant illustration of “the voice hero” Present Mic himself depicted as a merman with his DJ equipment while surrounded by various sea creatures.
“It seems very on brand for him,” Shota commented in between bites of his breakfast. The silence that followed was rather unexpected. He looked at his wife sitting next to him. Instead of cracking a joke or adding in a more whimsical remark, she just focused on eating her pancakes. “How’s the food?”
“It’s delicious, Sho,” she smiled.
Truthfully, Emi had been mentally kicking herself. After all, she was the one who booked the reservation in advance. Had she known about the armrest-less seats, the decent amount of people taking photos and videos for social media, or even how open the accommodation was overall, she would’ve booked a booth instead, but they were all full. It was far too late to change now, and she didn’t want to create a scene, even if she hadn’t been feeling comfortable in her own skin all morning. In a way, she felt it was right that her poor planning came with the humiliation of feeling exposed.
Once again, Ms. Joke felt like a fool.
She continued eating with minimal noise.
Not too long after the Aizawas finished breakfast, Shota left with the car to pick up Hizashi from the airport and help him transport his equipment as he would be performing on the beach next to their resort. In the meantime, Emi decided to explore the surrounding area with her daughters. They could use an adventure anyways until they started sightseeing tomorrow. It was also a good excuse to stop at the convenience store to pick up some items ahead of a beach outing they planned for later that day.
“Rina and I will be looking at the souvenirs,” Eri said.
“Alright then. Just remember that Kota’s shirt size is Large,” Emi casually responded.
“Okay, but it’s actually Medium.”
“And how do you know this?” the heroine questioned, a smirk forming on her lips.
“He’s one of my best friends?” Eri answered.
“Izumi-san is so cool! I think he’s more than nee-san’s friend!” Rina innocently butted in. She wasn’t aware of the implication of her words, but they still sent her older sister into a blushing state of dread.
“We’re just friends, Rina-chan,” Eri groaned as she buried her face in her hands.
“If you say so,” Emi said with a teasing giggle. While her daughters walked away, she proceeded down the aisle for beach-related items. The sound of her flip flops and the faint hum of the store’s lighting were only what broke the silence until a few voices rounded the corner.
Three girls walked into the aisle. They all seemed to be in their twenties by Emi’s guess, and they all looked beautiful and slim with smooth skin. One of them even had a nice tan contrasted by white fur from her bat quirk, and the trio seemed to still carry a youthful energy with them.
“It looked like he was into me!” one of them squealed.
“His American friend looked really cute, too!” another said.
“The guy with the dark hedgehog quirk looked really handsome,” the third one, the one with the bat quirk, added. “Must be my Latina side that caught his attention,” she chuckled.
“They were all checking us out,” the first one noted.
“What can I say, ladies? We’re irresistible,” the third one said again.
“Who knows? Maybe we’ll leave with our future husbands,” the second one proposed.
Emi found the girls’ conversation entertaining as she looked through the different types of sunblock. She reminisced of the days she pursued her husband. It felt like a victory to finally win his heart, but now, she felt it was because she was prettier back then.
“Excuse me, ma’am,” one of the girls said, interrupting Emi’s thoughts.
“Hm?” She turned around.
“Sorry, can we grab something real quick?” the girl asked, pointing to an item on the shelf.
“Oh, sure! Apologies,” Emi giggled. She stepped aside, but she didn’t feel better about herself. She didn’t know if it was paranoia keeping her on edge now, but she swore she wouldn’t have had to do that if she was as slim as the girls. This marked the third time she felt foolish today, but she wanted to keep her feelings to herself to preserve the vacation for everyone else.
Present Mic’s set was for a beach party the following night, but until then, he would be warming up with simple DJ work at the resort’s beach during the day today and tomorrow. His equipment was already set up under a gazebo, and he had a basic playlist to maintain the vibes and the relaxed atmosphere under the sun.
“Uncle Mic!” Rina called out as she ran over to him with Eri following behind, both girls already in their swimwear while Eri carried a few towels and an umbrella.
“Hey, girls!” the voice hero greeted.
“Ooh, that’s a nice playlist,” Eri said as she peaked at his setup.
“Figured I’d play some of the hits,” he replied. “Say, you got nice taste, kid.”
“I get some of it from mom, but I think dad’s tastes have been rubbing off on me more,” the horned girl shrugged.
“Speak of the devil,” Mic noted as Shota was now making his way over, dressed in black trunks and a UA tank top himself. “Hey, Sho, where’s Emi?”
“She’s still inside,” Shota answered. “She said she should be out soon.”
“I mean, who wouldn’t be in this weather?”
“Actually, she looked a little off during breakfast,” the erasure hero recalled. “I think I’ll go check on her to be sure. Eri, watch Rina, and set up a spot near your uncle. I’ll be back in a bit.”
“Sure thing, dad,” Eri nodded.
“I’ll keep an eye on ‘em, Sho,” Mic said with a thumbs up.
Back in the bedroom of her family’s suite, Emi once again looked in the mirror after putting on another outfit she ordered just in time for the trip. This time, it was an orange two piece bikini. She originally wanted an outfit in orange in lieu of her signature bandana. The swimsuit delivered, but like with the dress, Emi was starting to have second thoughts when she saw it on her instead of a model.
Even if Ms. Joke’s costume was more modest, Emi was still used to wearing swimsuits and other outfits that were a bit more exposed. However, it had been awhile since she put on a swimsuit like this. It was actually the first time she wore a bikini after her pregnancy. She had gone through many physical scenarios–cardio sessions, leg days, hero training sessions, heroics classes, active missions, and even various motherly duties, yet she could still easily spot the stubborn weight gain that remained and continued to lurk in her figure.
She buried her face in her hands. “I hate how I look,” she sighed. “I wish I could be prettier again.”
“Emi, what are you talking about?” Shota interrupted.
“AH!” she jumped in surprise. “Sh-Shota, I was about to head out-!”
“And I was worried about you,” he cut her off, now closer to her. He eyed her up and down, prompting her to look away in shame. “Do you want to talk about whatever this is?”
“Do I even have a choice?” she sighed in defeat.
“Not really if it’s the only option that can let us move forward.” He held her hand. “Now, is whatever you’re feeling the reason why you appeared to be sad this morning?” Emi’s eyes widened. “Take your time,” he added.
“Y-You noticed?!”
“Emi, I’m very vigilant.”
“Fine,” she sighed again. “It… It started with the dress I wore today. When I put it on, I just felt bad about how I looked.”
“And you just got it, too, right?”
“Yeah,” she nodded. “And this swimsuit isn’t helping either.”
“So what seems to be the issue?” he asked.
“Just look at me!” she cried, motioning to her body. “I’m not how I used to be.” She poked her stomach and her thigh. “The one time I want to feel sexy, I just can’t.” She let go of his hand and turned around, hugging herself, hiding herself. “I feel like I’m not attractive anymore, and you make it look so easy.” She was on the verge of tears, but just then, a gray scarf wrapped around her torso and pulled her back into her husband’s embrace before he turned her around, taking her hands in his.
“Who says you’re not attractive anymore?”
“You don’t see it?” she sniffled.
“I was never attracted to you for years, Emi.”
“You’re not helping.”
“Let me finish,” he clarified. “For years, you never caught my attention, but that was because I was never interested in romance. You could’ve been as provocative as Kayama, and I still wouldn’t have bat an eye. It was your personality that won me over.”
“But it still took a long time for that to happen,” she countered.
“It did, but everything clicked when I saw the real you behind the Ms. Joke persona, the you who cared for her students, who helped me raise Eri and step up to be her mother, who was there for every child caught in the crossfire of a mission, who was even ready to fight Chisaki for not seeing our daughter as human.” He rested a hand on her cheek, wiping away a few tears that were daring to fall. “That’s Emi’s true character, and that’s what made me fall in love with you, not Ms. Joke or your physical appearance alone. Just having your charm in my life makes me feel luckier than I should be.” He smiled down at her. “To think you used to be just an obnoxious partner of mine only proves the plausibility of finding beauty in unexpected places.”
“Shota,” she uttered. “I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” he assured, leaving a kiss on her forehead. “You are beautiful, Emi.” A few moments passed before she spoke up again.
“B-But… am I still physically attractive?” she continued, only earning an exhausted sigh from him.
“If it makes you feel better, yes,” he answered.
“Even at my age?! Even after one kid?!” She was a bit confused. She squeaked when his hands rested above her hips on either side of her stomach.
“It’s true. You can never go back to how you were before pregnancy, but you’ve done a great job on maintaining yourself ever since.” His eyes trailed up and down her body again. “And if you still think you’re not pretty enough, I don’t mind this current Emi,” he smirked. “Admittedly I’ve had to remind myself on a few occasions that two kids are enough.”
“O-Oh!” Emi’s eyes fluttered with realization as her face heated up. “Now I really feel like a fool now!” she giggled awkwardly before looking up at her husband. “But seriously, thank you, Shota. I love you, you know that?”
“I love you, too, Emi.” The couple leaned in for a gentle yet firm kiss.
“So you still think I’m still hot?” she asked with a cheeky smile.
“Did you not hear what I just said a few seconds ago?” he playfully groaned.
“I know, I just like hearing you calling me any variant of hot, beautiful, and sexy,” Emi grinned, now in an unashamedly alluring pose. “Looks like we both had the glow up, Eraser-san.” She felt one of his biceps.
“Funny how you also fell in love with my personality, too,” he said.
“Like you said with me, everything clicked when I saw the person behind the persona, but I just fell even harder for you,” she giggled again. “Still didn’t answer my question though.”
“What do you want me to say?” he laughed. “It’s not like we’re in one of those cheesy romance books or those fanfiction things the youth are into.”
“Why are you making this hard, Shota?” she laughingly whined until he threw his tank top at her.
“How about this?” He looked into her green eyes and flashed a sultry smile. “Yamada’s still watching the kids,” was all he said.
“Shota Aizawa, I know what you’re trying to do!” she warned with an eager grin.
“I must be a ghost then because you easily saw right through me,” he quipped, the sound of her beautiful laughter ensuing.
At that moment, Emi wondered if this was what Shota felt when she helped him open up more at the start of their relationship. Maybe this moment was Shota’s way of repaying the favor. Maybe she was really the fool for being blind to something very obvious. Regardless of whatever laid ahead for Emi and her husband, she knew she had nothing to hide anymore.
Tap-Tap. Tap.
Shota set his phone down on the nightstand and captured Emi in a kiss.
Shota Aizawa
Shota: Emi’s fine, but we have to get something real quick. We’ll try to be there as soon as possible, but fair warning, I might not be responsive for a bit. Again, thank you for watching over the girls.
Me: No problem, Sho🫡
Hizashi looked at Shota's message again. About ten minutes had passed now, and his friend still hadn’t responded again. He assumed whatever Shota was doing must have been important. He pocketed his phone as the next song on the playlist began while he used his quirk to make an announcement.
“AYYY-OH! Current forecast is 33 degrees with clear skies all around, and the bar opens up in five minutes! Alright, listeners, let’s have some fun!” He broke out into a small fit of laughter, which elicited several cheers from the beachgoers.
Several feet away, Rina’s green glowing eyes remained locked on her uncle, and her hair was defying gravity for the first time. Next to her, Eri continued holding up her phone with a wide smile on her face, one filled with mischief and sisterly pride for an important milestone.