Puppet Master

Let's Move Into Dorms Everybody!

Shouta sighed, rubbing his eyes tiredly. He was, safe to say, exhausted. The past few nights had been a constant stream of screams and nightmares. Sure, maybe the day of Hitoshi returning wasn't so bad but it was definitely the calm before the storm. No one can be fully prepared for when it finally settles in what all happened. Today he had been going around to all of his student's homes to discuss the new boarding system at UA. So far they have been going well. It was the Kirishima household he was truly worried about. All Might, or Toshinori he supposes, wanted to do it alone but no way in hell was he about to let that happen.

"Aizawa, if you need a break I can-"

"No."

"You seem tir-"

"I'm not."

"I can hand-"

"Toshinori," Shouta turned fully to the man. "I don't know what all you have with this family in specific that makes you want to do this house alone but there are some things that you obviously have no clue about in regards to this family and I can almost guarantee that they will say no unless I am there as well so please stop trying to do this one alone."

The former number one stared at him in a stunned silence before clearing his throat. "My apologies. Shall we go then?" At least he has the common sense not to keep trying. He didn't mean to come off as rude or harsh, he was just so indescribably tired. The two rang the doorbell to the house. When the door opened, Shouta had expected Mr. Kirishima to shout a hello and open the gate as usual but instead the man came all the way down to the gate and opened it with an extraordinary quiet, "Hello, Mr. Aizawa. Hello, Mr. Toshinori. Please come in." Shouta and Toshinori shared a side glance but nothing else as they followed the raven-haired man into the house. Before they do enter, however, Mr. Kirishima turns to them. "If you wouldn't mind, could you please keep your voices down?" Shouta is the first to reply. "Of course," he says, mimicking the man's whisper.

The air is thick, strange as it may sound. Not literally, but it is like a tenseness is spread throughout the house. He witnesses Mrs. Kirishima coming out of the hallway that leads to the boys' room. Trailing behind her is Eijiro and Izuku. The whole family looks frazzled and just as tired as Shouta feels. He can only imagine the past few nights haven't been too different from his own. He catches Izuku's eye and offers the best smile he can currently muster but it isn't returned. He just receives a long, slow, calculated blink.

"Would you two like something to drink?" Mrs. Kirishima asks as the boys take a seat at the table. "Thank you but we shouldn't be long," Toshinori replies quietly. He seems to have a brain too.

It wasn't questioned about the quietness, he had a pretty good idea of why the whisper order was in place. Izuku had practically plastered himself to Eijiro's side, his head leaning against the taller's shoulder. Shouta had to wonder if it was almost a physical replacement for Hitoshi or just a need for closeness. Hitoshi and Izuku called every morning and every night with periodical calls in between when either had the sudden burst of fear.

He mentally cursed. The whole reason that they tried so hard to find Izuku a good family instead of him or Zashi adopting the kid was so that Izuku could have a sense of stability and a permanent support group and parental guidance and the like. Screw the villains who had repeatedly attacked the school which led to this boarding situation. Shouta swallowed a sigh and the two hero/ex-hero joined the family at the table.

"I know Principle Nezu and Present Mic had stopped by earlier about the situation regarding the boarding school," he said. "I know with the recent events it is probably hard for you to trust the school and to trust me after I have failed your children again but if you will, may we ask you to entrust Izuku and Eijiro to our guidance and care in this boarding school addition to UA? I will personally guarantee to oversee them in their hero career and support them as their teacher and caretaker."