hold your breath//Shota Aizawa

Chapter 13; Not very subtle

"In the circuit court and in Musutafu County, Japan. The case of Keitsu Azumi versus Kana Azumi and Kenji Azumi, case number 1515MA006487A. Verdict: As to the charge in count one we, the jury, find defendants Kana Azumi and Kenji Azumi guilty of non-sexual child abuse, illegal substances abuse and an attempted murder of a child by drowning as charged in the indictment. So say we all, Fukui Hiragaru, foreperson. Dated July 12th 2XXX."

Azumi sunk back into his chair with relief. Four exhausting days in court spent just to finally hear those words. Stress fell off his shoulders and he felt like he could breathe again. As the officers led his mother and father away in handcuffs, Azumi held their gaze. He received their hateful glares with his head held high and a sense of finality. He was thankful for the person with the truth quirk. Without them there, he would have a hard time proving his accusations of abuse. He was swarmed by reporters the moment he left the courthouse.

***

He entered the classroom of 3-A, which was surprisingly deadly silent, put his things on the table and leaned against it in a dramatic fashion. Tension seeped off his students in waves and their concern made Azumi's chest fill with warmth.

"I won."

And the class erupted in cheers.

***

Now that the legal trouble was finally over, Azumi could pay his full attention to the preparation of final exams. Especially the test exercise. Azumi had been informed that the heroics practical exam had been changed, but luckily, his responsibility, the rescue practical exam, had not. Watching the 1-A's reaction to the information they would be fighting their teachers had been hilarious. Azumi was staying with Recovery Girl, watching over the exams when two students entered. Midoriya and Uraraka.

"Hey you two." He greeted.

"Sensei! You're back! Congratulations on winning the case." Uraraka smiled brightly.

"Thank you, though my attorney did most of the work. Here, eat if you're hungry." He pushed the plate with sandwiches towards them.

"Thank you, how come you're not part of the examination, sensei?" Midoriya asked.

"Oh, I'm saving myself for the practical rescue exam in three days. I think you'll enjoy it."

"Team Sato and Kirishima. Practical exam. Ready, go."

That particular exam was a bit hard to watch. Cementos had a clear advantage in his quirk stamina and the two students were soon overwhelmed. Asui and Tokoyami pleasantly surprised him when they managed to cuff Ectoplasm. Next were Iida and Ojiro versus Powerloader, who were able to pass the escape gate.

And next, Todoroki and Yaoyorozu against Eraserhead. Azumi leaned forward in his seat in interest. He was curious what kind of strategy the two would use against the erasure hero. If it was him in their place, he would probably just run for the exit. He was confident in his hand-to-hand combat abilities, but against Shota, whose quirk didn't really aid him in physical fights, he had no illusion that the older man would have him on the ground in a heartbeat. The thought of that made Azumi turn his head away from the monitor and the two students so they wouldn't see the reddens that spread over his cheeks. Stupid realization of stupid feelings.

It is almost painful to watch how quickly Aizawa is able to catch Todoroki, dispelling spikes under the boy. Yaoyorozu had no chance of outrunning the pro, but when Aizawa used his capture weapon and Yaoyorozu used her quirk to get free, Azumi furrowed his brows. Did he do it on purpose? Yaoyorozu then proceeded to loop the block and return for Todoroki, who was still helplessly swinging in the air. Before she could do that, the pro appeared again. But now she took action. She threw a couple small dolls into the air, which turned out to be flash bangs. As Aizawa landed on the ground and regained his footing, the girl managed to rescue her classmate. Shota rubbed his eyes and then looked at the two with a smirk that had Azumi frozen. That man had absolutely no right to make the white haired hero's heart beat so rapidly. He heard a quiet chuckle from the seat beside him and when he turned, he saw Recovery Girl grinning at him. The tips of his ears turned red with embarrassment and he sent her a pleading look.