Number 7

Fourty: One Must Die

A/N: Alright folks, you ready for the final epic battle? This is gonna be a long chapter, so get some snacks and get comfortable.

Akiyasu

The delivery of our child lasted an unusually short time-only two hours, though the pain was unbearable. Yamada had freaked out the entire way to the hospital and Shota had met us there in record time. During delivery, Yamada took Eri down to one of the vending machines to get candy, which left me to freely scream and cry.

But now, it had all passed, and I cradled our daughter in my arms, my eyes staring at her face for so long that I had memorized every detail. Her hair was as inky black as Shota's, but her eyes were violet like mine. Both of us were rather pale, so it was no surprise she had inherited that as well. She was so small, smaller than I had anticipated. Even her little nose that looked so much like Shota's was as small as a button.

"She's beautiful." Shota remarked, poking her chubby tummy with his index finger. "Little Echiko."

I smiled at the name we had given her. It meant love, wisdom, and child with all the combined word derivatives. Our child would be raised on the wisdom of her parents, the affection and love that I had missed out on, and would be protected by the absolute best. "She's perfect. She looks so much like you." I cooed, bringing the small bundle to my face and giving her a gentle kiss on her little pink forehead.

"Can I hold her now? You've been holding her since she was born." Shota practically whined, looking at his daughter with sad eyes.

Giving a sigh, I lifted her toward him, offering her to his arms. He leaned forward and grabbed her carefully, cradling her on his forearm while her head rested on his chest. She was sleeping now and didn't seem to care too much that she was being moved around.

Shota paced beside my hospital bed, rocking her in his arms and staring at her face just as long as I had, seeming to admire every detail. After a long time of doing this, he sighed and looked up at me, an expression on his face that I couldn't read. "I just want to hold her forever." He looked back down at her, humming the rhythm of some song before speaking again. "It feels like if I let her go, she won't be safe anymore."

My heart ached at his words and I could only nod. "I know exactly how you feel."

Finally, Shota slipped beside me on my mattress, holding our daughter close to both of us so we could enjoy her together. "She has your eyes."

"She is definitely our child." I laughed quietly, brushing her soft dark hair out of her face.

"You should get some rest." Shota said suddenly, pressing a kiss to my temple. "I can introduce everyone to her while you relax."

"Okay..." I replied apprehensively. "But no one is allowed to hold her except you. Not even Yamada. I don't want her to get sick."

"I know, I know." Shota chuckled, getting off the mattress while he secured Echiko's beanie to her head better. He headed for the door, excited to show off his daughter to all the pro heroes in the waiting room. He wasn't usually so proud, but this was his first child, after all.

After he left, I settled down on my bed, still waiting for the pain to subside after labor. Before long, my body gave in to the fatigue and I drifted into a peaceful nap.

~Time Skip~

Aizawa

Snatching my cup of coffee from the counter, I turned on my heel to go meet Yamada and Eri in the waiting room again. Echiko was now asleep in Akiyasu's room beside her bed, which meant she was safe for now. Eri had been alone with Yamada all day and had begun to cry because she missed Akiyasu and I so much, so now I was spending my daughter's and girlfriend's nap time by giving Eri attention.