The clock struck 11 PM, and the Aizawa household was bundled up and ready to brave the cold New Year’s Eve night. Hizashi had insisted they visit a shrine to properly ring in the new year, a tradition even Aizawa couldn’t talk his way out of.
“Sho, it’s important!” Hizashi had argued while dragging him off the couch earlier. “We gotta do this for the kids!”
“I’m not a kid,” Hitoshi muttered, pulling on his coat.
“I am!” Souto piped up, zipping up his oversized jacket and grinning mischievously.
“And that’s why we’re going!” Hizashi declared, clapping his hands together. “Shrine time, baby!”
---
The shrine was crowded with people dressed in winter coats and scarves, the air filled with the scent of incense and the quiet murmur of prayers. Aizawa trudged along, looking half-asleep as usual, while Hizashi led the way like an excited tour guide.
“Okay, team, here’s the plan! We wash our hands at the purification fountain, ring the bell, toss a coin, and make a wish!”
Souto’s eyes gleamed. “Can I toss a lot of coins?”
“No,” Aizawa said immediately.
When they reached the purification fountain, Hizashi showed Souto how to wash his hands with the ladle. “You scoop the water, rinse your left hand, then your right—”
Souto dunked the entire ladle into the fountain and splashed water everywhere.
“Stop that!” Hitoshi snapped, jumping back to avoid getting soaked.
“I’m purifying faster!” Souto argued, splashing again for good measure.
Aizawa sighed, taking the ladle away from him. “You’re going to get us kicked out of the shrine.”
“I’m making it better!” Souto said, puffing out his chest.
After a brief struggle, they managed to get Souto through the purification process without drenching anyone else. At the main altar, Souto grabbed a handful of coins and tossed them all at once, missing the offering box entirely.
“They’re everywhere!” Hitoshi said, facepalming.
“It’s good luck!” Souto insisted, grinning proudly.
---
Back at home, the family settled down to enjoy their New Year’s Eve feast: toshikoshi soba, a traditional dish meant to bring long life and good fortune.
“Eat it slowly,” Aizawa instructed, sitting at the table with his bowl. “The noodles are a symbol of longevity.”
Souto, however, inhaled his soba like a vacuum cleaner, slurping so loudly that Hitoshi glared at him from across the table.
“You’re supposed to savor it,” Hitoshi said, shaking his head.
“I’m savoring it fast!” Souto replied, spraying bits of broth everywhere.
Hizashi chuckled, patting Souto on the back. “At least he’s enthusiastic!”
After the soba, Hizashi brought out mochi for dessert. “Be careful with this,” he warned. “It’s sticky, and you don’t want to choke on it.”
Souto immediately stuffed an entire mochi into his mouth, his cheeks puffing out like a chipmunk.
“Don’t choke,” Aizawa warned, not even looking up from his tea.
Souto tried to respond but ended up making garbled noises as the mochi stuck to the roof of his mouth.
“Serves you right,” Hitoshi muttered, taking a small, cautious bite of his own mochi.
Hizashi laughed so hard he nearly dropped his plate. “This kid’s gonna give us all a heart attack someday!”
As midnight approached, the family gathered around the sofa, sipping warm tea and watching the New Year’s Eve special on TV. Fireworks lit up the night sky outside, their colorful bursts reflected in the windows.
Souto, curled up under the kotatsu, looked up at Aizawa. “Hey, Dad?”
Aizawa raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“This year was fun,” Souto said, his voice unusually soft. “I’m glad I’m here.”
Aizawa blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the sentiment. Then he reached out and ruffled Souto’s hair. “We’re glad you’re here too.”
Hizashi grinned, pulling Hitoshi into a side hug. “We’re one big, happy, chaotic family now!”
“Happy might be a stretch,” Hitoshi muttered, though a small smile crept onto his face.
As the clock struck midnight, Hizashi shouted, “Happy New Year!”
“Happy New Year!” Souto echoed, jumping up and tackling Hitoshi in an overly enthusiastic hug.
“Get off me!” Hitoshi yelled, trying to pry him off.
Before retreating back to the sofa, Souto hesitated, glancing toward Aizawa. His cheeks flushed red as he awkwardly scratched the back of his neck.
“Um… thanks. For, you know, taking me in,” he mumbled, not meeting Aizawa’s eyes.
Aizawa’s expression softened. “You don’t have to thank me for that.”
“I want to,” Souto insisted, his voice almost shy.
Hizashi gasped dramatically. “Oh my gosh, Sho, he’s turning soft!”
“Don’t push it,” Souto snapped, though his face was still pink.
Hitoshi smirked, poking him in the side. “Look at you, all sentimental. New year, new Souto?”
“Shut up!” Souto barked, shoving him.
Aizawa leaned back with a rare look of contentment.
Here’s to another year of madness—and maybe a little bit of peace.
Or not.
...
The End.
Thank you very much, everyone, Happy New Year.
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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...
