"Todoroki, are you being abused?"
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The fact that Todoroki knew what the question was didn't prevent him from flinching at the question. Normally people wouldn't even notice the flinch but aizawa was not "normal". His combined work as a hero and a teacher made him incredibly sensitive to such things. Though not a very common thing, Aizawa has encountered students who have been abused, and even more children as a hero.
Aizawa looked at Todoroki with soft eyes, reassuring him that Shoto was not in trouble.
Todoroki sighed in relief, but was still very tense. Aizawa seeing this, started to change the subject.
"You were very impressive today, considering that you fought completely blind. I feel like you should develop that skill if the need ever arises. I've also noticed that you don't prefer your fire side compared to your ice, but you need both to use both. If you ever want to, I could teach you in quirkless combat, so if you ever need a break from your quirks you can just fight quirkless......."
Aizawa paused, to look at Todoroki.
"But you are truly amazing Todoroki, strong on the outside, and even stronger on the inside. The world was unfair to you as it is to most people. I know it doesn't feel like people love you at times, but you are loved, you are appreciated and you are needed, I want you to remember that. Life can be hard sometimes but just know that you, are you, other people don't define you, not your father, not your mother or your siblings or your classmates, just you. You decide what you want to be." Aizawa let out a small smile as he finished.
Todoroki sat there silent, tears prickling the edges of his eyes.
"W-what's the catch...." Todoroki croaked out.
"Huh?"
"What do you want me to do...."
"What do you mean Todoroki?"
"You praised me, now what do you want me to do better...."
"Nothing."
Todoroki's eyes widened.
"N-nothing...?"
"Yes, I praised you because you are amazing, everything I said about you is true,and I believe it with my whole heart."
"W-why..."
"Because of you, I praised you because you are the person that you are, beautifully broken yet still on this earth."
Todoroki was rendered speechless as Aizawa got up to leave.
"Hey, Aizawa-sensei?"
"Hm?"
"Can you call me Shoto, instead of Todoroki....?"
Aizawa smiled slightly as he put his hands into his pockets.
"Will do."
