Ticked Off [Boku No Hero Academia]

27: FAMILY

Still, observing his relaxed classmates made him begrudgingly admit to himself that it had been a good idea, as none of them had been entirely at ease after all the horrors they'd experienced: it seemed as if a motherly figure was enough to assuage their fears for the time being. Inko glanced around the room, letting out a delicate gasp as she noticed a certain boy trying to lurk in the background, and she was quick to rush over to him.

"Katsuki-kun, I haven't seen you in such a long time! Are you doing alright, dear?" She reached out, cupping one side of his face with a hand and turning his head, getting a good look at him with a fond expression. "Goodness, you've grown so much! It feels like it wasn't that long ago when I had you and Izu playing heroes together at home. And now, the two of you really are going to be heroes – oh, I'm so proud of you both!"

She leaned forwards, capturing him in a gentle hug. Kacchan tensed up and glared over her shoulder at the stunned class before reluctantly patting her on the back, dipping his head a little. The students made a collective noise of realisation if they ever wondered about the origin of Izuku's tendency to cry a lot as she pulled away with tears running down her cheeks, sniffling happily. Izuku crossed the room and looped an arm around her, placing his freckled cheek on the top of her head and chuckling to himself at how hopelessly emotional the two of them were.

"Izuku, your father's here," Shouto informed calmly, entering the room with a mug of tea in his grasp.

Oh no, consequences.

Inko froze, casting a bewildered glance up at her son, who merely grumbled and pressed his nose into her hair, trying his best to shrink into nothingness. He raised his head as Toshinori lumbered in, looking a little confused at the way everyone was staring at him like sharks, but he lifted a hand in greeting when he noticed the two Midoriyas.

"Inko-san, it's good to see you again," he said amicably in a deep, rumbling voice, smile emanating warmth while his posture indicated uncertainty.

"All Might..." The woman trailed off, her face gradually steeling as she looked at her son expectantly.

"I apologise for the intrusion, but young Todoroki seemed pretty adamant that I spend..." Toshinori's pale cheeks suddenly bloomed pink as he coughed nervously into a fist, seemingly understanding something. "...some time with my... family... oh."

"You should invite your brother too, Izuku-kun," Tenya added, getting up from the sofa and looking ready to walk at a brisk pace down to the bedrooms, because running in the corridors was strictly prohibited. "I could go fetch him, if you'd like?"

Oh no, more consequences.

Izuku made a strangled noise of panic, feeling utterly mortified. He rapidly backed up, pressing himself against the large windows that spanned one wall and tried to hide his raging blush behind his arms, uncomfortably aware of everyone staring at him with varying emotions. Toshinori gave a strained laugh, raising a hand to his own face before running it back through his golden hair.

"My boy, you really need to think before you speak more often," he said with embarrassed mirth in his tone.

"I do think! I think a lot! Too much!" Izuku spluttered out frantically, peeking between his fingers. "But I also thought that it was a good idea at the time... I didn't think they'd actually believe me! Oh my god, this is so embarrassing..." He straightened up, letting out a breath as he tried to calm himself. "Toshi-sensei isn't my father, and Aizawa-sensei isn't my brother."

"Could've fooled me," Sero commented with a shrug, getting nods of agreement from various other class members.

"Aizawa-sensei should still be here, though!" Ashido insisted, a slight frown on her pink face. "This is sort of like a family gathering, and he's sort of family, right?"