Resurrection | Shota Aizawa

Chapter 3

Third person pov

The campus had undergone several changes. With Nezu by his side, they began a tour of the premise. They started with Hiroki's new Classroom. He was overjoyed to be teaching first years this time around, and he expressed as much through a series of rambles and hand motions that Nezu somehow seemed to understand. How, Hiroki didn't know. He would never figure out how Nezu managed to understand humans better than humans themselves did.

Hiroki was a little nervous about meeting the new staff. Eventually, he knew he'd have to. They would be completely different than he remembered for the most part. Sure, maybe some of the teachers he knew had remained on the faculty. But they'd be... well, they'd be ten years older than him. They'd be smarter-- more mature. It would really be a slap in the fact for Hiroki. A real, 'hey, you definitely died and it's because someone killed you' sort of blow.

"This is our training field. Not much has changed, though we did repave the track." Nezu chirped. "Training there, you can see Class 1-A. Those will all be your students."

Aizawa was too preoccupied telling Mineta that, no, sexually harassing his classmates wasn't beneficial in any way to bother noticing the Principal and the reinstated Criminology teacher. That didn't mean Hiroki didn't notice him, however. The white haired man let out the loudest gasp Nezu had ever heard. The mouse-bear-dog simply chuckled and sipped his tea. This was the drama he'd been waiting for.

Unsure if Hiroki Akisuka would come back, Nezu had neglected to tell the current teachers of the white-haired man's quirk. Why get their hopes up when nobody was sure if he'd actually be coming back or not? So Nezu had decided to sit and wait until he was absolutely certain Mr. Akisuka was going to rise from his grave. Seeing as Hiroki was standing next to him right now, he thought it was good to assume the man's quirk had worked.

Honestly, Hiroki hadn't really hadn't expected to see Shota Aizawa of all people. He looked different. He was no longer the wiry twenty-year-old he'd ran into at the supermarket. He had a... scruffy look about him. He appeared as though he hadn't slept for days, the bags under his eyes deeper and darker than they'd ever been when he was a student. His posture was hunched, and he looked like he had an entire boat load of stress sitting on his shoulders. Hiroki just wanted to scream and force him to relax and take a breath.

Back with Shota was a student, he was shit at dealing with emotions. Hiroki never said this directly; it wasn't his place, but he did subtly force the boy to relax in other ways. He'd switch up assignments, cater class to fit his needs, and go bounding off to speak with Shota's other teachers. It was something he'd done for all his kids, but Shota had required an extra amount of care. I guess he'd sort of grown on Hiroki, maybe a little more than some of his other students.

"Shota-kun?!" Hiroki all but screamed, and the man froze, back going straight and shoulders squaring in a nearly defensive manner. Several of the students stopped what they were doing as the white-haired man, who wasn't wearing shoes, bolted across the field and towards their homeroom teacher. Their homeroom teacher who was wearing the oddest expression. Like he was masking something, but couldn't cover it completely.

Aizawa blinked a few times, not quite sure of what he'd heard. He turned cautiously, bracing for the worst. Things seemed to go at a more sluggish pace for some reason, and he felt a little dizzy as his eyes landed on the man running towards him. White hair and silvery blue eyes, and that same bright grin that was burned heavily into his memory. He felt his breathing pick up a little and he stumbled back a bit as the man approached, looking oddly winded.

His brain sputtered pathetically at the sight of Hiroki Akisuka. He looked just as he had all those years ago. He... still looked twenty-nine. He wore lounge clothing, and his hair looked like it had just been washed. The way he held himself, and the emotion dancing in his eyes as he gazed up at Shota was the same. It wasn't something that could be faked. Aizawa didn't know how, but he had no doubts that this was his dead criminology teacher.

"Holy shit, you got taller?!" The man looked appalled. Nezu approached idly. "How?!"

"Mr. Aizawa, are you okay?" Momo asked, noticing the way he'd paled. He looked like he was seeing a ghost. Really, he felt like he was. He blinked a few times, brows furrowing. He activated his quirk almost as though it were some sort if reflex, but Hiroki didn't waver. If anything, he looked in awe as he stared up at him. Truly, Aizawa wasn't a young man anymore! He would actually... Be around a year older than Hiroki at this point. Thirty or so if his math was correct. Shota Aizawa had grown into manhood, and Hiroki had missed it!

"Is the staff not aware of the situation?" Hiroki faltered as Shota stared at him, eyes wide. He stood, unmoving and in disbelief. Hiroki was almost tempted to wave a hand in front of the man's face to try and get him to snap out of it. The glint of amusement in Nezu's eyes made Akisuka's stomach sink, and he frowned. If Shota didn't know he'd be coming back, it was safe to assume nobody else did either. It was usually best this way to ensure the corpse remained unbothered and such, but his former student looked like he'd just received a slap to the face.

"I didn't want to tell them, in case you ended up not coming back." Nezu noted.

"I see..." Hiroki's eyes drifted towards the group of confused students who gazed between him and their homeroom teacher with curious eyes. He brightened. He adored kids. "Hey, you guys! I'm Hiroki Akisuka, your new criminology teacher!"

A few hellos erupted from the group, but they were once again silenced when Aizawa let out a weird choking sound, his breathing beginning to pick up once again. He took a small step back from him, and then another. Because he'd seen the crime scene. He'd attended the funeral, and viewed the body! And yet here he was, somehow. Hiroki Akisuka was standing in front of him, and it... it hurt. He didn't know why the emotion was hitting him now of all times. It choked it's way up his throat, banging it's fists against his chest. It screamed to be let out.

"Mr. Aizawa?" Kirishima asked next, his voice nervous. Even during the USJ attack, their teacher had never shown any strong emotions other than anger and a great deal of annoyance. But never any fear, or grief. Their new teacher didn't seem like a bad guy either, and nobody could discern why Mr. Aizawa was staring at him in such a manner. Why he was... backing away.

Aizawa didn't understand. He should be happy Hiroki was back, even if he didn't get how that was possible. But he felt nauseous instead. The feelings he realized he should have felt when Hiroki died we're bubbling to the surface. They felt toxic, and he hated the way they invaded his senses, forcing their way to the top of it all. He couldn't hold them down it block them out with old memories. Not with the man standing right there, looking concerned.

"Shota..." Hiroki trailed off, but it was too late. Aizawa whipped around and ran. Hagakure and Mina barely had time to stumble out of the way as their teacher tore past them, making way dead sprint for the school. Hiroki was quick to react, calling out his name and darting after the dark-haired man. The students stared with open mouths as their teacher fled the scene, their new one racing after him as fast as he could. It left the twenty dumbstruck teens alone with the principal, who sipped his tea. Nezu could only smile.

"Well, that was eventful, wouldn't you say?" He asked lightly. "Come on, kids. Let's get back to training!"

Nobody was about to defy Nezu. He was next-level terrifying when he wanted to be. Still, the expression that had twisted its way into their homeroom teacher's face had been... so raw. He looked so confused and hurt. Even Bakugo was a little taken aback, and the guy gave literally zero fucks about anything these days.

"Do you think Mr. Aizawa is okay?" Jiro inquired as they all paired back up. Kaminari gave an unsure shrug and a nervous smile. Really, at this point, nobody was too sure of anything. They could only hope Mr. Aizawa was okay, and that their new one was too.