Little Miss Aizawa | Dadzawa [BOOK 2]

Chapter 6 - Bionic Enhancements

WARNINGS: panic attack

"I need to talk to you."

Neito looked up from his breakfast. Hanta was stood in the kitchen doorway, clasping and unclasping his hands. He wasn't looking at anyone in particular, instead focussing on something apparently incredibly fascinating outside the window.

"What's up?" Midoriya asked, stacking the clean plates ready to be put away. Hizashi had gone to work early that day, saying he needed to prepare for a practical lesson for one of his classes, leaving the three of them home alone to get ready for school.

"I-" Before he could form a sentence, Hanta's voice cracked. Everything he'd kept bottled up came spilling out in a rush of sobs and gasps for air. His bad leg buckled - still not fully okay since the crash landing the previous night - and he gripped the doorframe to keep himself up right.

"Hanta!" Midoriya exclaimed, supporting the boy's arm and back. "What happened?"

Neito was suddenly in Hanta's space, breakfast forgotten, and looping his arm around his torso and helping him to the kitchen table.

Hanta fell into a chair. His head was pounding, and a lack of sleep stung his eyes until his vision went blurry. He vaguely heard Neito saying something to Midoriya, who responded by batting his shoulder and sending him out the room.

"Hanta? Hanta, can you talk to me?" Hanta found Midoriya's eyes, but no words managed to pass his lips. Midoriya held his hands, rubbing his thumb across Hanta's knuckles and squeezing his fingers. "Alright, Hanta, I'm going to need you to copy me, can you do that?"

Hanta nodded shakily.

"Alright. Breathe in for four seconds."

Midoriya inhaled, smooth and calm. Hanta tried to mimic the movement.

"And hold for four."

Hanta felt the air tugging at his chest, begging for a panicked release.

"And out for four."

The breath stuttered out of Hanta's lungs, but Midoriya smiled at him.

"That's great! Now, again."

And they repeated this process until Hanta's gasps had been replaced by quiet snuffling and the occasional tear rolling down his cheek, dripping from his jaw.

"Better?"

Hanta nodded.

Midoriya smiled again. "Good." He didn't let go of Hanta's hands as he stood up from his knees. "Come on, you look like you need sleep."

"No, wait-" Hanta tugged on his hands and pulled Midoriya back towards him. "I need... There's something you guys need to know."

Midoriya looked unconvincedly at him for a moment, then relented and nodded. "Okay. But then you're having a nap. Did you sleep at all last night?"

Hanta laughed wetly. "No."

"I can tell." Midoriya frowned, his eyebrows furrowing in concern.

When they pushed the door to Hanta's bedroom open, they found Neito shoving a pile of clothes into the closet and slamming the door shut, pressing his back against it. He looked over at them and shrugged. "Folding clothes is easier said than done." He waved his hand and stepped warily away from the door.

He flopped onto the bed, his school blazer and tie discarded on the floor. Midoriya sat more carefully on the edge of the bed, looking expectantly at Hanta.

Once again, the words died on his tongue. He glanced at the untouched paper still laying on his desk.

Just rip the band aid off.