The smell of fried chicken wafted through the Aizawa household as Christmas music played faintly in the background. For once, the house was peaceful—or as peaceful as it could get with Souto around.
“Why do we have to eat chicken from a bucket?” Souto asked, poking at a crispy drumstick with suspicion. He was sitting at the dinner table, his legs swinging under the chair.
“Because it’s tradition,” Hitoshi replied, shoving a piece of chicken into his mouth. “And because Hizashi made the order two weeks ago to make sure we didn’t miss out.”
“Darn right I did!” Hizashi beamed, entering the dining room carrying a large strawberry shortcake.
Aizawa followed behind him, looking half-asleep as always. He placed a steaming teapot on the table. “Eat your chicken, Souto. And don’t start a food fight.”
“I wasn’t gonna!” Souto protested, though his mischievous grin said otherwise.
Hitoshi gave him a side-eye. “Sure you weren’t.”
Souto tore into his chicken leg with gusto, getting crumbs all over the table. “I think I like this tradition!” he declared, bits of chicken flying from his mouth.
“Chew with your mouth closed,” Aizawa said, rubbing his temples.
Hizashi chuckled, pouring tea into everyone’s cups. “Lighten up, Sho! It’s Christmas!”
“Yeah, Dad, lighten up!” Souto parroted, grinning.
As they ate, Hitoshi casually reached for another piece of chicken, only for Souto to slap his hand away.
“That’s mine!” Souto growled, guarding the bucket like a dragon hoarding treasure.
“You’ve already had three pieces,” Hitoshi pointed out, raising an eyebrow.
“Yeah, and I’m still hungry!”
“Fine, take it,” Hitoshi sighed, grabbing a wing instead.
“Good,” Souto said smugly, chomping down on his prize.
After dinner, Hizashi brought out the centerpiece of the night: a beautifully decorated strawberry shortcake.
“Alright, who wants the first slice?” Hizashi asked, holding up a knife.
“Me!” Souto shouted, his hand shooting up.
“Let’s give it to Sho first,” Hizashi said, cutting a slice for Aizawa.
Souto pouted. “Why does he get it first? He didn’t even look excited for Christmas!”
“Because he paid for the cake,” Hizashi explained, handing the slice to Aizawa.
Aizawa took the plate with a tired nod. “Thanks. And Souto, if you throw a tantrum, you’re not getting any.”
Souto immediately sat up straight, his hands folded in his lap. “I wasn’t gonna throw a tantrum.”
Hitoshi snickered. “Sure you weren’t.”
When it was finally Souto’s turn, he grabbed his slice eagerly, licking the whipped cream off the top before anyone could stop him.
“You’re supposed to use a fork,” Hitoshi said, rolling his eyes.
“I don’t need a fork,” Souto replied, his face already smeared with cream.
Aizawa sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Just don’t make a mess.”
After the cake, it was time for presents. Hizashi handed out the brightly wrapped packages, practically bouncing with excitement.
“Alright, Souto, this one’s for you!” Hizashi said, placing a box in front of him.
Souto ripped it open with the speed of a tornado, revealing a set of new vampire-themed pajamas. “Cool!” he exclaimed, holding them up.
“They even have little bats on them,” Hizashi said, grinning.
Hitoshi opened his gift next, finding a sleek pair of noise-canceling headphones. “Nice,” he said, already putting them on to block out Souto’s chatter.
“And for Sho,” Hizashi began, handing Aizawa a small, neatly wrapped box.
Aizawa opened it to reveal a new sleeping bag. “Practical. Thanks,” he said, giving Hizashi a rare smile.
Hizashi grinned. “I know you too well.”
“What about you?” Souto asked, looking at Hizashi expectantly.
Hizashi held up a small gift card. “Sho got me a coffee shop card. It’s perfect for fueling my karaoke nights!”
Aizawa sighed. “Please don’t bring home another karaoke machine.”
“No promises!” Hizashi said with a wink.
---
By the time the night wound down, Souto was curled up on the couch in his new pajamas, clutching a half-eaten candy cane. Hitoshi sat beside him, scrolling through his phone with his new headphones on.
Aizawa and Hizashi sat together in the armchair.
“Hey, Sho,” Hizashi whispered, nudging him.
“What?” Aizawa murmured, already half-asleep.
“This is a pretty good Christmas, huh?”
Aizawa looked around at the peaceful scene—the first truly calm moment all day—and gave a small nod. “Yeah. It’s not bad.”
Just as he said that, Souto suddenly sat up, wide-eyed. “Wait, I didn't catch Santa?!”
Hitoshi groaned, sinking deeper into the couch. “Go to bed, Souto.”
“But Santa!” Souto insisted, scrambling off the couch.
Hizashi laughed. “Guess the chaos isn’t quite over yet.”
“Of course it isn’t,” Aizawa muttered, closing his eyes. “It never is.”
...
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BNHA | A Bite-Sized Problem
Fanfiction.ᐟ Comic relief / Slice of life. Eraserhead, pro hero and notorious insomniac, adopts an 8-year-old vampire delinquent with an attitude problem? Chaos, that's what. Souto, a loud, abrasive troublemaker with a biting temper (literally), finds himself...
