The Aizawa Effect - (Aizawa X OC)

Back to the Basics

"Yes..?" I inquired hesitantly.

A few moments and a couple of muttering sentences later, Mia spoke, "You've been awake for a week, in the hospital for three, and I count almost 20 fresh sets of flowers."

I folded my arms. "So? He wants me surrounded by flowers and plants to help my recovery."

"He visits you twice a day and almost always stays until visitation is over. Plus, I saw that little situation before he left," she observed.

My face grew warmer with each comment. "What situation? He always asks if I need anything before he leaves. Plus, it was freezing in here!"

She coughed sarcastically. "You're falling for him."

"Alright, Mia. Let's press the call button so the nurses can check your vitals because you're clearly having a moment." My fingers lightly touched the call button on the bed's remote, causing her to laugh.

"Yeah, call them so we can get you tested for another brain bleed because you're being ridiculous," Mia shot back.

I laughed at her joke but turned away when I felt a grin involuntarily spreading across my face. "Nah, Jay and I aren't like that. Things are just fresh from the health scare."

"Oh, I forgot you two went back to the childhood nicknames. More importantly, when we talked on the phone a few days ago, didn't you tell me that y'all almost kissed, and it set off the heart rate monitors?" she teased.

"Remind me never to tell you anything ever again, okay?" I tried desperately to hide the smile plastered on my face at the mention of what I thought almost happened.

She cackled. "Look at you! You can't stop smiling, and we're just talking about him!"

My eyes closed, and I tried to contort my face back to a neutral expression. "It's complicated, okay? Just leave it at that. For all we know, it probably wasn't even going to be a kiss."

"You might be saying that, but your body language says otherwise. You know that man wants to do more than just kiss you, so stop acting shy," she said bluntly, ignoring my slight gasp before she continued, "In other news, are any gifts or flowers in here from that piece-of-shit underground hero?" Mia's lips curled into a slight snarl at the end.

A weight pressed my chest as I mustered the strength to answer honestly, "No. I haven't heard from Shota since I left Japan."

"Something told me not to trust that tired asshole. He hasn't even tried to text or call you since you've been in the hospital," she muttered angrily.

"Well, we don't know that. Remember, my phone broke when I blacked out, so Jay is getting me a new one through our shared plan with the agency. Until then, I have this temp phone that can do the basic texting, calling, and Googling. Who knows what I missed when I was asleep? Also, he probably doesn't even know I'm in here," I explained quietly.

Mia's agitation grew. "Doesn't he have your mom's number or something? I thought they had that whole heart-to-heart nonsense before you left. He would know that something happened if he at least checked in on you from time to time, especially as your 'recruiter.'"

"From the pieces Mom told me, they just talked about me and how the teaching opportunity would help my quirk. I don't think they exchanged numbers or anything," I said pensively, trying to recall what had happened that night when Shota had dinner with us before I left for Japan.

"Yeah, he definitely helped your quirk, alright," she mumbled.

Seeing my downward expression, she brought back her playful nature. "Whatever, Rae, don't worry about him. Instead, let's talk about how your day-one boy toy is smitten for you."