Passing Euphoria (Aizawa Shouta x Reader) (Commissioned Series)

Ch.11

You had found out that Eri had recently taken a liking to rabbits, so you went out and bought a stamp shaped like one to reward her and her hard work. You opened her book and then smiled at her brightly.

"It was wonderful! No mistakes or awkward pauses either! You're better than some of the older kids." You told her and stamped the sheet.

Eri's eyes were bright as she took her book from your outstretched hands. She eagerly flipped through, looking at her three old stamps, and her new one! Her first stamp for 'Little Bo Peep' had been green. Her second for 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' was blue. Her third stamp for 'London Bridge is Falling Down' was pink. And now, her fourth little bunny stamp, earned for her performance of 'Mary Had a Little Lamb', was purple.

"Yay! Another bunny!" Eri jumped up and down eagerly.

"You earned it, Eri." You smiled and gently rubbed her white locks. "What song do you think you'll try next?"

Eri lit up and started to flip through the pages of her book until she found the piece and held out the page for you to see. You looked and gave her an approving nod, which Eri could only beam up to you with that bright smile of hers in response.

"I think the 'Itsy Bitsy Spider' is an excellent choice." You glanced towards the door to the music room as it was opening up. "Looks like Aizawa-sensei is here too late."

Eri ran up to him, a pout on her features. Aizawa blinked down at her, not sure why she was making such a face at him. Though, he would admit that her pouting face was a bit cute, especially since Eri had puffed out her cheeks and her furrowed brow wasn't making her face look intimidating at all. Her pouting face was more akin to a kitten than a lion in terms of the ferociousness of such a look.

"What is it?" Aizawa asked and Eri held up her book to him.

Aizawa took it from her hands and looked at the stamped song. He looked down at the tiny girl and affectionately rubbed her hair in a way that left it a bit messy. Eri giggled and eagerly took her book back when Aizawa held it out for her to take back.

"You're learning really fast." Aizawa complimented her. "You could be a professional pianist if you continue practicing hard."

"I want to be a hero though!" Eri eagerly told him. "I'm going to be Deku's sidekick when I'm older and he's a super cool hero!"

Aizawa blinked and then nodded at her. A smile on his features due to Eri's adorable little dream. Aizawa wondered if Midoriya was aware of this, and if not... what his reaction would be when Eri told him. The boy would no doubt fall to his knees and cry out in honor of Eri seeing him as someone she wanted to learn and work for.

"Well, you can always be a hero and a pianist." You told her. "Aizawa-sensei and I are both teachers and heroes after all."

"Oh! Then I'll be both!" Eri bounced eagerly.

"Sounds like an excellent goal!" You nodded at her, smiling proudly.

Eri nodded in a way she assumed made her look rather mature, but to both you and Aizawa it looked to be more so Eri slowly nodding her head with a tiny smile on her determined face.

"How are you today, Aizawa-sensei?" You asked him, seeing as Eri was now studying the music notes for her next piece.

"More tired than usual... those morons can't go a day without causing some degree of trouble." He sighed and gave you a long and exhausted expression.

"Your first years are certainly something else this year." You spoke and then tapped your chin. "Speaking of, this is the first class you've yet to expel anyone from too! So they must be pretty special."

You gave Aizawa a teasing smile and he let out another tired sigh. You chuckled softly, seeing that the man most certainly had an interesting class, and one that was most definitely keeping him on his toes.

"They are special alright..." Aizawa muttered, a few students of his popping into his head as the perfect examples of such a word.

You opened your mouth to speak, but was interrupted when you heard your personal phone going off. You apologized to Aizawa and went to your device. Your work phone was usually the one that always was making noise, so you were curious who was trying to reach you on your personal one.

You had a sinking feeling in your chest though. As only one specific group of people ever called or texted you on your personal phone. You picked up the phone and answered, Aizawa and Eri looking to have moved to the piano so Eri could show him what keys were what.

"Mom, calm down." You told the woman on the other end of the line, Aizawa's ears perking up.

"I just got off. Did you also call-" You were interrupted and even Aizawa and Eri would hear the muffled screams of a woman coming from your phone. "I was just asking! They'd want to know too! Please don't yell at me for asking a single question."

The woman's voice died down and you nodded a few times, muttering verbal agreements as well. You raised your hand and pinched your temple and inhaled slowly a few times.

Aizawa could tell instantly from how the feeling in the room was shifting: something was starting to deflate that happy mood and replace it with stress and worry.

"Is (Last Name)-sensei okay, Aizawa?" Eri asked him.

"She's a strong hero and a good teacher right?" Aizawa asked and Eri nodded. "Then she'll fight and win whatever might be happening."

Eri nodded eagerly before going back to looking at the notes and ghosting over the keys to get used to the movement. As she did so, Aizawa kept his eyes on you. Your eyes were narrowed and your tone was only getting more frustrated.

"Just tell me where you are and I'll come down right now." You spoke and then tightened your free hand into a fist. "Yes. I still work at UA, so it'll take me a while to get there, but I'll be there as soon as I can, mom!"

You exhaled, nodding a few more times and muttering agreements again. You bid your mother goodbye and then disconnected the call. Once you did, you slipped your phone into your pocket and let out a frustrated sigh.

"Is everything alright?" Aizawa asked and you shook your head.

"My dad's in the hospital." You told Aizawa, glad Eri was too distracted with the piano to notice what you were saying. "He had a heart attack. He's fine, but my mother is demanding for me and my siblings to come and see him."

"So you'll be heading off to the hospital then? Which one?"

You deadpanned. "Central Tokyo... so it's going to be one heck of a journey from here to there. So... wish me luck, Aizawa-sensei."

You collected your things quickly and then briskly walked out of the music club. Eri frowned, seeing as you didn't say goodbye to her like you always did. Aizawa only patted her head and smiled at the little girl.

"It's fine. Something important just came up." Aizawa told Eri. "(Last Name)-sensei will be back tomorrow and she'll be sure to say goodbye tomorrow."

Eri smiled and started to collect her own things. As she did so, Aizawa sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He sure hoped what he said to Eri was the truth. He hoped that come tomorrow, there would still be a natural smile on your face.