Semi-Pro (Shota Aizawa X Reader)

A New Threat

Aizawa's words have awakened you to some huge truths.

First of all, you can't hide anymore. If Aizawa is right and there's a chance you can convince the rest of the world to help Quirk users in the US, you have to take it and prove yourself.

Secondly, as much as it sucks to admit, fighting Aizawa highlights to you how much training you truly need to use your Quirk to its full potential. You have brute force and power, but strategic, subtle strikes elude you. It's daunting to consider learning a totally new set of skills, but if that's what you need to do, you'll put your mind to it.

Training with Aizawa won't be enough. You should be practicing every day, just like the students, so you spend some time training with Nemuri and Snipe, as well as constantly on your own. It's tough, but not any worse than you expect from the students, so you keep at it, slowly seeing progress.

Things are still tense between you and All Might, which makes it awkward in the quad sometimes. You've been putting off talking to him, but decide you need to suck it up and get it over with. He was your first friend here, and you don't want to lose him, especially when you know for a fact he cares deeply for Midoryia.

"Hey, Toshinori?" You catch him after a staff meeting and he's clearly surprised when you talk to him. "Can we talk?"

You gather in the quad's living room and squeeze one of the throw pillows to your chest as you talk.

"Listen... I stand by what I said. What happened to Midoryia is unacceptable. But I know you didn't want him to get hurt, and I should never have implied otherwise. I was pissed and scared for him. I still am."

Toshinori nods earnestly. "I know that, and I am really sorry. I know I hold Midoryia to a high standard, and sometimes I forget he's not... well, me. You weren't wrong to be angry."

Toshinori tells you about Gran Torino, Midoryia's internship mentor who also mentored Toshinori during his time at UA. He actually seems scared of the guy, but he encouraged Mirodyia to go work with him and you're glad. No one can doubt All Might is a great hero, but Midoryia looks up to him so deeply it's almost a hindrance. Working with someone else for the time being might help him find some perspective.

"So, are we good?" You offer a weak smile. "I don't like things being weird between us."

"Yeah, we're good." he smiles back, and you pull the scraggly man into a hug. He's caught off guard at first, but after a second actually melts into it.

The door to the quad opens and Nemuri and Aizawa come in. You let go of Toshinori quickly, not because you feel weird about it, but because Nemuri immediately starts squealing when she sees you.

"Sorry, are we interrupting something, you two?" She coos, hurrying over. You roll your eyes.

"No, not in the slightest."

Aizawa stomps into the living room. "I was coming to get you for training, but if you're busy..."

You groan loudly. "Why are you all being weird? Let's go." You glance back at Toshinori who's already being cornered by Nemuri, no doubt to interrogate him. "See you later."

It's painfully quiet on your way to the training ground until Aizawa finally talks.

"You and All Might are close." It's more of a statement than a question.

"I mean, yeah. He's been very welcoming to me here." You state a little harshly.

"We didn't mean to interrupt if you were... you know."

You pinch the bridge of your nose. "We weren't doing anything Aizawa, and if we were it certainly wouldn't be in the middle of the living room."