Chapter Text
Midoriya didn’t know what a good parent was. They had left at the first available opportunity, so he could only rely on himself. Yatsumi-san was the closest he’d ever had and she was his landlord. So when All Might became his guardian he wasn’t sure what to think about it. He loves the man, but he didn’t want anything to change between them. Yet it feels like it had, even if their interactions hadn’t changed.
He’s not sure how or why, but now that All Might was responsible for him he can’t help but be reminded of his parents. All Might wasn’t anything like them, and yet his thoughts still spiralled. He can’t have Hana experience anything like he did, and he can’t be sure that this will last. It never did before…
“Dad.” Hana poked her fathers cheek, looking at him with a concerned head tilt. “Dad.”
Midoriya lets out a small sigh, before turning to Hana with a smile that didn’t quite reach his ears. “What’s up, darling?”
“You ok?” She’d stopped poking him, but still looked quite concerned.
“I’m fine, baby. Now, who’s turn is it?”
Hana looked unconvinced, but went back to sit down opposite him. “It’s your turn.”
“I see.” He looked over the chess game he’d been playing on autopilot. What’s he doing getting distracted like this? He needed to focus on Hana, nothing else mattered. “Ok, I’ll do this.” He moved his horse to take another of Hana’s pawns.
Hana put her hand to her chin in deep thought, looking at the board like she was running every possible move in her head. But Midoriya knows that she’s still new to the game, and is still trying to learn how to play. “Here!” She moved her pawn two spaces forward to take one of his Bishops.
“You can’t do that sweetie.”
“Yes I can! Pawns move two squares!”
Midoriya shook his head. “Only on the first move, sweetie. After that they only move once.”
Hana rewinds the move with a sigh, leaning into her chair. “Why is this so complicated?” She pouts as she stares at the chessboard like it owed her money.
Midoriya chuckled at his daughter's predicament. “It is very complicated, isn’t it. Why did you want to learn anyway?”
Hana sighs. “Yumi’s been playing with Akari recently, and I haven’t been able to follow it at all. I want to play too!”
“Are they any good?”
Hana nods. “Yumi is! Akari… not so much.”
“Well, I guess we gotta keep practicing then. You’ll get it soon sweetie.”
Hana shook her head a little before leaning forward, getting back into the zone. Though that zone didn’t last long before Ashido came up and pet the little shark's head. She was startled for a second before she saw who it was, and leaned into the touch.
Ashido smiled as she looked at the board. “You having fun?”
“It’s so complicated Mina!” Hana whines as she collides with the pink girl. That was a new change Midoriya still wasn’t used to, he knew they were both close but he still wasn’t used to them being on a first name basis.
“Aww, you poor thing. I’m sure you’ll get it soon!” Ashido comforted the little shark as she stroked her hair.
“It’s too hard.” Hana pouted as she buried her face in Ashido’s shoulder, purring slightly as the pink girl continued to stroke her hair. Ashido realised she wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon, so she picked up the shark girl and set her on her hip.
“Maybe it’s break time.” Midoriya gets up from his chair and makes his way over to the tired pouty shark girl. “How about we get some lunch, yeah?” The little shark just nods, still very attached to Ashido.
“Well, I’ll get it started then.” He kissed the top of Hana's head before walking over to the kitchen and making lunch, which for Hana was her usual portion of fish. He’d probably serve some vegetables with it too, but nothing too complicated.
“Oh!” Ashido made her way over with Hana still burying her face in her shoulder. “All Might said he wanted to see you!”
Midoriya almost dropped the knife he was holding. “He… what?”
Ashido nods. “Yeah! I don’t know why, but he said he needed to talk with you. Sounded pretty important.”
“Oh really.” Midoriya was distracting himself with what he was doing.
Ashido narrowed her eyes at the boy. “Come to think of it, he did say he tried to talk to you last week but kept missing you.”
“What a shame.” Midoriya’s voice came out relatively monotone in contrast to what he was actually saying.
“Seriously?” Ashido looked at the boy with her free hand on her hip. “Have you been avoiding All Might?”
“Me? Ashido, I’d never!”
“Then why aren’t you talking to him!”
“No clue what you’re talking about.” He plates up Hana’s food and brings it over to the table, Ashido made sure she was now sitting in front of it. The little shark ate without a care in the world, oblivious to the conversation happening next to her.
“Why are you avoiding All Might?”
Midoriya sighed. “Ashido, why do you think I’m avoiding All Might?”
“Then why is he telling me that he’s been trying to find you for the past week, and has had no success! Midoriya, what’s going on?”
“Nothing.”
“I’m not an idiot Midoriya.”
“Never said you were.”
“So why?”
Midoriya sighed as he moved over to the kitchen, washing up the now messy cookware. “What do you want me to say? I… I don’t know if I can face him.”
Ashido looked at the boy with a mixture of confusion and concern. “Why?”
“I… It’s complicated.”
“Then uncomplicate it!”
Midoriya shook his head, putting the rest of the now cleaned cookware away. “No, it’s fine. I’ll talk to him tomorrow.”
“Midoriya!”
"I said it's fine!"
"You can't keep ignoring him!"
Midoriya sighed, moving the now empty plate to the kitchen. Hana followed behind him, covering her mouth as a small yawn escaped her.
"Midoriya." Ashido gave the boy an unimpressed look. "Please promise me you'll try."
"I..."
"Midoriya..."
Midoriya shook his head, holding out his hand to the little shark girl at his side. “Come on, Hana. We gotta make sure you get your homework finished.”
The girl nodded and took the offered hand and followed her father to their rooms. Ashido glared at the boy as they left, determined to get to the bottom of this.