Not Related (Shinson & Dadzawa)

The Best Hugs

"Look! Look! Shota-san, look at this!"

Shinso watched as Eri flailed the teaser wand, making the tabby chase after the tail end made of feathers. He turned his gaze towards Eraserhead who was chuckling as he watched her play with the chubby cat. When the feline finally had enough of the game, it walked away soundlessly, making Eri pout in disappointment.

"It went away…"

Aizawa looked around the café, eying the rest of the cats lounging around lazily. "It probably got tired. Maybe it wanted a nap."

Eri continued to sulk, flopping down onto the underground hero's lap as she crossed her arms. "But I still wanted to play."

"They'll come around eventually." Aizawa dropped a hand over her head.

Shinso watched as Eri turned to wrap her arms around Eraserhead's torso, hearing the older man let out a huff at the sudden movement. He looked on silently as his mentor sighed in resignation; the little girl making herself more at home on his lap. He brought his gaze back down on the book in his hand, still stuck on the first page.

Now that spring break was here, Aizawa-sensei was no longer as busy. That meant they could spend more time improving his technique and mastery of the cloth binds. Today was supposed to be an exercise on maneuvering through the streets using the weapon. He'd gotten so much better at it, and had been looking forward to showing off his new set of skills. Unfortunately, Midnight-sensei, who was Eri's assigned babysitter for the day, had been called on by the hero association early this morning. He clicked his tongue.

Why did they always have to call heroes last minute?

Aizawa-sensei had no choice but to cancel training, offering to treat him to a meal instead. He wanted to turn down the invitation, thinking that the older man could probably use some rest in his own home; but when he heard they would be dropping by the cat café again, he couldn't say no. He sighed.

Shinso would never admit it out loud, but he absolutely loved spending time with the underground hero outside of school and training. They wouldn't talk much, but when they did, it was always… memorable. They would sit in silence most of the time, but it didn't feel suffocating. It was actually… comforting.

"Shota-san, did you forget to comb your hair again?"

Shinso watched as Eri jumped off the UA professor's lap, standing behind him to run her fingers through his hair. "Where's your hair tie?" He heard her ask over the older man's shoulder.

"Don't have it." Aizawa replied, shrugging at the little girl's efforts to make him look more presentable. He didn't understand why she always fussed about how he looked.

Shinso watched Eri take a thin pink pony tail out of the shoulder bag she carried, carefully scooping Eraserhead's hair in her tiny hands as she threaded them through the elastic band.

"There!" Eri smiled, moving to stand in front of her guardian to check his appearance. "Now you look so cool!" She beamed at him.

Aizawa looked away, rubbing a hand on the back of his neck. He let out a noncommittal sound, never really knowing how to respond to any of the little girl's praises.

Shinso watched as Eri pulled Aizawa up to stand so they could head towards the other group of cats on the opposite side of the room. He saw his mentor drop down slowly onto a cushion, crossing his legs underneath him as the little girl jumped on his back, threading her arms around his neck.

"That one looks like you, Shota-san!" Eri giggled, pointing at the pure black cat that was giving them a tired, uninterested glance.

Aizawa reached his palm out, encouraging the anti-social animal to come over, only to have it snap its head to one side, strolling back into its box by the corner of the room.