~Trade Mistakes~ (EraserMic)

The Way Of The World

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Toshi! Happy birthday to you!" Yuya sang happily as the fluffy haired little boy blew out the candles, clapping her hands. Shota grinned, leaning over and ruffling his eight year old nephew's hair affectionately as his half sister cut them all slices and set them on the paper plates on the corner of the table, handing out plastic forks. Hitoshi grinned, showing off his missing left tooth as he scooped up a huge bite, smearing frosting on the corner of his mouth.

"Thanks mom! Thanks uncle!" He said with a mouth full of cake, a grin on his face. Shota grinned back, taking a bite of his own cake as Yuya hugged her son tightly, laughing a little. Shota grinned as Hitoshi struggled against his mother's arms, his face flushing.

"Mommy! Your embarrassing me in front of Uncle Shota!!" He mumbled with red on his cheeks. Shota laughed quietly, shaking his head as Yuya smirked, ruffling her son's hair as she walked off to retrieve his gifts from the hall closet.

Shota grinned, sitting down at the table next to him with a peice of cake in front of him, just watching as Hitoshi shoveled his own desert into his mouth.

"Sheesh. Slow down, kid. You'll get a stomach ache if you eat too fast." The raven haired male chided with a smile, pleased when Hitoshi nodded his head and started to eat slower.

"So your mom tells me you want to be a pro hero when you grow up, right?"

Hitoshi nodded his head, a grin on his face.

"Yep! I want to be just like you, uncle Shota!" He exclaimed, practically bouncing up and down in his seat as he mirrored a few of the mid-villain-fight poses Shota had been shown in on the rare occasions he appeared on the news. "Your so cool, uncle! You can take out any villain, and they can't even touch you! You tie them up and erase their quirk with just one look! It's so cool! I really wish I had your powers!"

Shota stared at him, his chest feeling tight as a rare smile worked it's way to his mouth at the earnest expression on the fluffy haired boy's face.

My god, this kid...

He chuckled, about to reach over, ruffle his hair and shower him with encouragements, but Hitoshi was no longer smiling. He was just sitting there with a sad look on his face, pushing cake around his plate with his fork.

"...but...I'll never be able to be a hero like you, uncle Shota." He murmured quietly, his voice sounding a little choked. Shota raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair with a surprised expression.

"What do you mean? Who told you couldn't be a hero?" He said with anger edging his voice as he stared at his nephew with a skeptical expression. Hitoshi was silent for a few moments, then sighed quietly, his voice almost unable to be heard.

"...I can't be a hero because I have a villain's q-quirk..." He mumbled in shame, not looking at his pro hero uncle. Shota stared, his teeth gritting a little.

"Villain's quirk, huh?"

Hitoshi looked up, bidding his head with a sad expression.

"The k-kids at school are scared of me because I accidentally used it on someone. Now no one will talk to me because brainwashing is a power only a villain would have..."

"Oh, well in that case I'm a villain." Shota said with a nonchalant expression, leaning back in his seat as Hitoshi's head whipped up in shock.