Popped Knuckles, Dry Eyes, and Burnt Hands

31

"Why are you always around Aizawa?"

It was later that afternoon and I had been sitting in the living room, entertaining Shoto when Toya walked in. I looked up from Shoto's drawing he had made me and I raised an eyebrow, "Is it a problem?"

"Yea," He crossed his arms, "It looks suspicious."

I rolled my eyes and sighed, "It's not. He's just been giving me lessons in martial arts after school on campus."

"Takeyama thinks different," He stated, walking over to the love seat next to us a sitting down.

"Takeyama thinks every man has interest in her," I glared at him, "I wouldn't trust her judgement."

Toya grimaced, trying not to laugh, "Whatever. Just take it down a notch; I don't want others thinking you're cheating on me with a teacher." He played with his nails as he spoke.

"Well that would make us even since everyone thinks you're cheating on me with Takeyama." I glared as his eyes flicked over to me sharply.

"Doesn't make a difference if I get Aizawa fired." He stated standing, "I'll be in the study if you need me."

"Trust me," I sighed, "I won't." I rolled my eyes as he walked out, turning my attention back to Shoto.

"Hana," He looked up at me with curious eyes, "do you love Toya?"

I looked back at him sadly and shook my head, "No, Sho, sadly I don't."

He looked down for a moment, "Is that normal?"

"Normal for what?"

"For a boyfriend and girlfriend not to love each other?" He asked innocently and I felt like crying. He had probably never seen real love before.

"No," I answered quickly, "this is just a special case. People who are in romantic relationships are supposed to love each other."

Sho nodded, "How do you know you love someone?"

I blanked for a second, thinking of what to say, "Well, first off, if you love someone you do nice things for them. You treat them a little more special than you would a friend. Another way is if they give you butterflies."

"Actual butterflies?" Shoto asked excitedly and I chuckled.

"No," I poked his stomach, "butterflies are when you feel all anxious and excited so your stomach feels weird."

He made an 'oh' face and I continued, "If you love someone you want to see them all the time, and they are fun to be around."

"Hana."

"Yes?"

"I love you," He stated seriously, and I had to refrain from giggling because I knew in his little ten year old mind he was dead serious.

I pulled him into a hug, "I love you too, sweetie."

I ended up going over to the guys' apartment that night for sushi and I couldn't help but swoon over little Sho's declaration, "Oh, Shota, it was so sweet! He looked so serious when he said it too."

Aizawa was sitting on the couch with me and Mic on either side of him as we ate, he looked amused, "How old is he again?"

"Ten," I stated with sushi in my mouth, "He's a very serious kid, takes everything literal, and makes conspiracies about everything. He's a very smart boy." I sighed fondly.

"Seems like it," Aizawa chuckled, pushing himself from the couch to grab his drink on the coffee table. I leaned back against the couch as Hinata jumped up onto the arm rest, and walked up behind my head. She took me sitting back as 'lay on my shoulders' so she did, resting her head against my neck.

"I'm still fascinated at the fact that Hinata and Ayame like you," Mic sighed, setting his clean plate on the coffee table, "They're absolute assholes to everyone else."

I shrugged gently, "Cats are very weird and picky animals."

"Yea, but they only liked Shota up until they met you," Mic whined and I laughed.

"I don't know why they like me, they just do," I scratched Hinata's head, "Most animals like me."

Mic's phone made a loud ringing sound and I jumped, "Oh, I need to take this," he got up and grabbed his phone, "I'll be right back."

"Alright so," Aizawa shifted to where he was facing me as I tossed my empty container onto the stand next to me, "what does your prom dress look like?" he inquired, leaning forward and propping his elbow on his knee.

I snorted, "It's a surprise, I told you that."

He pouted a little, "But Hana," he drew out my nickname, "I'm curious."

I blushed a little and giggled, "I'm sorry, but you're gonna have to stay curious."

He huffed with a frown, "Fine."

He crossed his arms and leaned against the back of the couch; Ayame jumped up and joined the shoulder sitting party, "Your cats are pretty particular."

"Well," He reached up and scratched Ayame's head between her ears, "I rescued them one day a few years ago when they were just babies. They've grown attached to me, and tend to stay away from new people. They only tolerate Yamada because he lives with us."

I smiled as Hinata started purring in my ear, "They like me."

"You're special." He stated fondly. I looked up at him as a blush grew on my cheeks, the warmth burning my ears.

"A-anyway," I looked away, "There's something important I needed to tell you." I stated thinking about Toya.

"What's up?" His eyebrows furrowed as he got serious.

I sighed and laid my head on Hinata's stomach, "We have to be more careful about our hang outs and practices because Toya interrogated me about it today. Apparently, Takeyama has been telling him that she thinks we're more than student and teacher."

He expression went from serious to exasperated, "Of course she would."

"I told him he shouldn't trust her judgement, and that people thought they were doing stuff together behind my back," I raised a hand to rub my face, "He threathened to get you fired, which tells me all I need to know."

He looked at me sadly, "Hana,"

I raised a hand to cut him off, "We don't have to stop hanging out, we just have to be more careful. So no more car pooling to my place, and if we spar at school we don't stay too long."

He nodded thoughtfully before reaching over and putting a hand on mine, "It'll be ok."

"Alright," Mic walked back in, knocking us out of our moment, as he was putting his phone back in his pocket, "who wants to play Mancala?"