QUIRKY! (MHA x Reader)

S2 Part 16 - As Your Teacher

"Look alive, (Y/N)!"

"Huh?"

You felt something coil around your ankle. A split second later, you were hurled into the air until you were stuck upside down in a tree. The bright afternoon sun greeted your alarmed eyes until a shadow blocked it from your view.

Aizawa's drowsy face glared. His disappointment was apparent even at this angle...

"Everyone is giving their all today, but you seem distracted," he said, "Do I need to keep you for extra lessons instead of letting you enjoy your evening?"

That entire morning felt like a fog. You almost forgot summer camp was to train and earn steps towards provisional hero licenses. The tension from yesterday's dinner didn't seem to dissipate, and you couldn't help but feel at fault that everyone was hesitant around you.

Shinso still sent your sly grins whenever he could, while in harsh contrast Uraraka and a few others gave you a pity smile whenever you met eyes. Shoto and Bakugo crowded you in a protective, animalistic way if class 1B ever got too close - like mama bears next to their cub.

Speaking of Bakugo...

Other than being extra pissy towards Shinso, he wasn't acting strangely at all - like the incident last night didn't happen between you two, or at least, it didn't enter his mind while training. You felt envious of his focus - and a little annoyed?

Clearly, you were distracted, as training with your classmates began hours ago and you couldn't remember how your feet got from the breakfast hall to the outdoors.

"I'm sorry, sir," you muttered, "I'll do better." It felt like a lie, but you hoped he would buy it.

"Hmph," Aizawa continued to leer, but he released your foot from the hold of his scarf and let you hit the ground.

"Oof..." the air left your lungs on impact, "Thanks..."

Your teacher crouched down to your level as you worked your way back up to your knees. Unbeknownst to you, you hadn't been able to make eye contact with Aizawa, but he certainly noticed.

"Look," he sighed, "I get it. The media is having a field day running your name into the ground. They're a bunch of nosy, biased bastards."

You nodded. Of course, that was still something that bothered you. But he wasn't aware you'd overheard him and Mandalay discussing your father.

"You have to separate yourself from them," he continued, "Their opinion of you is only as valid as you make it. I know what's in your heart - I've seen it shine many times during training. But do you?"

You lifted your eyes from drilling holes in the dirt to look around you. Your classmates were all sweating, near tears or near puking - fighting their hardest to improve their quirks. Bakugo was launching explosions into the air and it looked like Sato and Momo were enjoying a Thanksgiving feast..?!

"Because if not..." he said, "Then there's really no point in you being here."

You gasped. It should've have shocked you so much - Aizawa has always been incredibly blunt.

"I..." you felt pathetic. He was right. All these obstacles in your way were there because you allowed them.

Shinso. Bakugo. Shoto... Worrying about who to love - or understanding what love was to you.

Shigaraki and his obsession with what you were not.

Your father. Mother. Two people who didn't deserve your time and energy thinking about.