Little Miss Aizawa | Dadzawa [BOOK 2]

Chapter 8 - Falling Undone, But Together

"What do you mean 2A walked out?"

Hizashi almost split his coffee when Nezu told him the current talk of U.A. 

The principal settled into one of the chairs at the staff room table, sipping from his tea. 

"The class got up and left. Apparently, Todoroki and Akio had a disagreement, and in support of their classmate they left the room."

Hizashi puzzled over the incident. He wasn't all that surprised that they supported their classmate against Akio - he'd heard all the complaints Midoriya and Hanta had to rant about the substitute once they got home - but what was Todoroki doing confronting him like that? It wasn't as if his place was threatened by the issue - not if Endeavour had any say in it - but he was still one of the quieter members of the class. 

"What did they argue about?" He asked, leaning back against the couch.

"The story changes with every telling," Nezu started, but a mischievous glint in his eye told Hizashi he very well knew. "But I'm inclined to believe it was defending Midoriya and Sero's honour."

Hizashi's eyes widened. "What? Against Akio? I knew he was... but not so much so that he would insult a student."

"The two didn't attend class today. He was becoming..." Nezu pursed his lips. "Fussy, about it. But I believe he understands now."

"Wait," Hizashi rubbed his temples, feeling the pressure of a headache starting to form. "What do you mean they didn't show for class?" 

Nezu placed his cup down and raised an expectant eyebrow at Hizashi. "I thought you would have been aware?" 

Hizashi's shoulders slumped, and he let out a long and agonising sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. "No." 

He heard the sound of a chair squeaking against the floor, then the couch dipping ever so slightly beside him. Nezu's paw came to rest on his knee. "I understand this is a tough time for your family. If you need a couple weeks off to get through this together, I will ensure the necessary arrangements are made. You don't need to worry about a thing."

Hizashi rubbed his hands over his face, finally allowing the deep exhaustion that had been relentless gnawing at him - which he had also been pointedly ignoring - to seep over his bones. 

"Yeah. Okay." 

Nezu patted his knee. "Go home and get some rest. I'm sure the boys are fine." He hopped down from the couch and shuffled back to the table, ear twitching in thought.

"Thank you." Hizashi muttered, pushing himself to his feet. His joints ached with every movement, suddenly feeling ten times older than he had that morning.

"Of course." Nezu nodded as Hizashi passed him to the door. "You have a wonderful family, and they need you the most." 

Hizashi paused at the door. He turned back to Nezu, smiling for what felt like the first time in months.

"Yeah. They're pretty alright."

And he slipped out the door.

*******

"Well, if they're not here, where would they be?" 

Kaminari rubbed the back of his neck, staring out across the Aizawas' front lawn as if the grass would divulge the deepest secrets of the house's inhabitants. Eh, a man could dream.

"I'm not sure." Todoroki sighed, turning away from the door when it became obvious no one was going to answer after the fifth knock. He didn't give it a second thought when he strode around the side of the house and peered into the kitchen window, close enough his breath fogged up the glass.