Gang Orca's Pup.

THREE

It wasn't hard to see Izuku was excited about going to the lake. His head fins had been waging a lot. 

The final stops in the mall were clothes and furniture. 

Sakamata was incredibly thankful that he had Best Jeanist in his corner. The fashion-loving hero was quick to make adjustments to any clothes they bought for Izuku. He took precise measurements of Izuku's fins and tail base, as he had done with Sakamata's clothes when they were in school.

Izuku was happy to have clothes that fit him, causing Tiger to take a closer look at his old pants, which were too tight for Izuku's tail. 

"Mama tried to sew them up, so I never complained, even if it hurt," Izuku admitted, still too busy marveling at the comfort of his new clothes. 

Gang Orca felt guilty that he had never tried to contact Inko, he should have known he had a son.  

Mandalay patted his shoulder. "She probably didn't want you to know for a reason." 

Gang Orca nodded his head, "Right..." 

Izuku tugged on his pant leg, "Are we done shopping yet?"

Sakamata patted his head. "Not yet, we need a few more clothes and some furniture. 

Izuku nodded his head and picked out more clothes before hopping towards the furniture section of the mall. 

"Alright, little fish!" Hawks shouted. "Go choose a nest." 

Izuku saluted to Hawks and ran off in the jungle of beds. His little hands would rub against the wood and stare at the design in fascination or judgment. The adults stood at the front watching his small body wander around the store. 

Finally, Izuku came out of the maze with a small frown on his face. "I couldn't find a nest, Uncle Hawks..." 

Hawks' wings perked up and he swooped Izuku into his arms. "It's alright, I can get you one." 

Izuku widened his eyes and smiled. "Really?!" 

"Yup, but you gotta help me design it." 

Izuku's fins wagged, "Deal!" 

Izuku was put back down and went with Sakamata to find a couple of dressers. 

"You do realize you got played, right?" Ryoko asked Keigo with a raised brow. 

Keigo shrugged his shoulders, "I knew, but it wasn't like I could sit there and deny the little fish a nest, and besides," he sent a sharp glare towards Mandalay. "It wasn't like he thought of that plan himself, right, Shino?"

The brown-haired woman flinched and turned around with a hand to her head. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Mhm, sure you don't, I'll remember that." 

"-and then Kacchan was like 'I'll be number one!' and the others applauded him but he didn't like that, Kacchan doesn't like winning when he didn't earn it." 

Sakamata waved the others over. "We got a pair of swim trunks on our way back, so let's get going." 

"Alright!" Shiretoko shouted, racing Chatora to their van. 

Izuku reached his hands up to be carried, Sakamata happily obliged. 

"I got you a present Izuku," Gang Orca said once they got into the car. He revealed a pair of bright red sandals. 

Izuku's eyes widened in amazement. 

"I guessed that shoes aren't too comfortable, and regular sandals would tear at the webbing in between your toes."

Izuku happily placed the sandals on his feet. "I love them! Thank you, dad!"

Sakamata patted his head and slid into the front seat. Making sure it was out of view, Sakamata clenched his fist near his stomach. 

He called me dad!

Sakamata only started driving when Hawks landed on his roof and told him to get a move on. The bird hero was nearly thrown from the roof as Sakamata pressed the gas in surprise. 

"Way to wrinkle my feathers," Hawks joked, running a worried hand through his wings. 

"Sorry," Sakamata apologized before steeling his expression. "You're the one who scared me."

"True, true," Hawks said, nodding his head sagely and somehow slipping into the passenger's seat. "Now let's go!"

Sakamata started the car properly and began to drive. "I swear if you get any mites in my truck-"

"Hey, hey, hey!" Hawks shouted with wounded pride. "I have the cleanest feathers in Japan!"

"Clean doesn't always mean pest-free."

"It has to for me," Hawks told Sakamata with a raised finger. "What type of winged hero can let children pet his feathers if there are bugs in them?"

"Not a very good one." 

Hawks reached back to pet Izuku's hair. "Atta boy! He gets it!" Hawks peeked back and caught a glimpse of Izuku's sandals. "Hey, little fish, looks like you've got some nice new shoes on you."

Izuku happily raised a foot into the air. "Aren't they really cool?! Dad got them for me as a present! I never used to wear shoes before, they always hurt my fins." Izuku shuddered. "Especially the sock part." 

Keigo held in a snort at the look of pure disgust on Izuku's face. "Well rest assured, little fish," Keigo smiled. "No more socks for you!"

Izuku's mouth opened widely and he let out a click. 

Sakamata nearly drove the car off of the cliff. "What was that?!"

He looked into the rearview mirror and at Izuku, who was blushing. 

"Sorry," he whispered quietly. "It happens when I get too emotional, I make weird noises. Mama said it was okay and like a dolphin, but everyone else is always annoyed with it...."

Keigo fiercely elbowed Sakamata. He raised a feather to block his mouth. "Fix this." 

Sakamata didn't need to be told, he already reached a hand back to ruffle Izuku's hair. "It is a good thing, Izuku. He smiled. "I do it too."

Both Keigo and Izuku stared at Gang Orca in surprise. "What?"

Sakamata created a clicking sound from the back of his mouth. 

You-can-communicate-with-it-too.

Keigo stared in wonder at the adorable noise coming from the scary-looking man.

Weird-Bird.

Izuku let out a small giggle and Sakamata winked at him. 

Keigo turned his attention away from the duo and pointed toward the window. "Look, little fish! We're here!"

--

Keigo, sprawled out on a couch: It took two chapters, but we're finally at the lake!

Sakamata, adjusting his reading glasses in his chair: Don't judge the plot.