Inheritance: A My Hero Academia AU

Eijiro Kirishima

The couple of weeks following Midoriya and Bakugo's fight were filled with sun soaked days on the beach, long walks along the cliffs, and breezy sailing trips. Bakugo and I travelled from club to club and party to party with Mina, Sero and Kaminari most nights, and a lot of the time, we would fall asleep in each other's arms.

It was finally the summer that I had wanted all along. That is, until one terrible, fateful morning, one that I will never forget.

I was coming down the stairs from my room after a crazy night on the town with Bakugo and the others, trying to ignore the way that my head was pounding from the hangover.

My parents were seated at the dining room table, plates of breakfast food and steaming cups of coffee in front of them. When they saw me come in, their faces automatically got very, very serious, which put me on edge.

"Eijiro, honey, good to see you awake," my mother said.

"Have a seat, son," said my father, gesturing to a chair across from him and my mother. "There's something that we need to discuss with you."

"Alright," I said, sitting in the chair that my father had gestured to.

"Eijiro, how old are you now?" my father asked, leaning forward in his seat, the expression that he only used for important business discussions on his face.

"Twenty three," I answered, thoroughly confused.

"Do you know how old I was when your mother and I got married?"

I thought about it for a second, trying to remember. "Twenty two, I think."

"Yes, that's right," my father said. "I was a year younger than you are now, son."

"I think what your father is trying to say here," my mother said gently, putting her hand over my father's, "is that we've been talking, and we think it's time that you took on some more responsibilities in the company."

"Oh," I said, looking at my father. "I'd be glad to do that, father."

"Not just responsibilities in the company, though, Eijiro," my father said. "It's about time that you got married, so that this family can have a future."

My stomach plummeted, and I wasn't sure if the sick feeling was from the hangover or a reaction to what my father had said.

"Eijiro?" my mother asked, brow furrowed with concern.

"I understand where you're coming from, Father," I said slowly, choosing my words carefully. "But I don't think that I'm...ready for marriage yet."

I can't get married because I'm already in love with someone, but it's impossible for us to really be together because of stupid social norms, a voice in the back of my head screamed. But I couldn't say that aloud. Not if I wanted to risk...well, everything.

"Son, no one ever thinks that they're ready for marriage, but there's a certain point where you just have to do it," my dad said gruffly.

I frowned. I don't think that's true, I thought.

"Eijiro, honey, if you really don't want to, we can wait a little while longer," my mother said gently, reaching across the table to grab my hand. "We just want you to start considering it, is all."

I looked at my father, who was looking at my mom like she was raving mad.

"As the heir of this family's name and fortune, it is your responsibility to get married," my father exclaimed. "You know this already, Eijiro. You've known this ever since you were a kid."

"I know," I whispered. I've known it, and ever since Bakugo, I've been dreading it.

"You're being pushy, dear," my mother said to my father, shooting him a warning look.

My father's mouth opened, probably to yell at my mother, but I spoke first. "No, he's right. It is time that I got married. Can I...can I have a little bit of time to think about it?"

Both of my parents looked a little surprised by my reaction.

"Sure, honey," my mother said. "Take all the time you need."

I nodded and slowly rose from my chair, walking out of the dining room and back up to my bedroom, all thoughts of breakfast forgotten. I sat down at the edge of my bed and stared absently into the distance, not quite believing what had just happened.

It didn't quite feel real.

It's too soon, I remember thinking. I thought about all the things that Bakugo and I still hadn't done together, things that I still wanted to say to him, adventures I still wanted to go on with him.

A part of me wondered how long I could go without making a decision. But the meaning behind my father's words were clear. If I didn't do as I was told soon, then my family would disown me. I wouldn't have a fortune, or a future.

But isn't love more important than that?

Thinking about it all just made my brain hurt and my heart hurt even more, and I decided that I needed to go talk to Bakugo about it.