My Hero Academia: Aspirations

Chapter 32

Aspirations
Chapter 32

There was a knock on your door. One that didn't go away despite the fact that you ignored it. On the third knock you finally got up from your spot on your couch. If someone was knocking that incessantly there was a good chance that someone needed help. Despite the worry that had been eating you alive along with guilt, you forced yourself to open the door.

"Yes?" You asked quietly, your voice raspy from disuse.

Aizawa looked entirely unimpressed with your lackluster appearance. You'd kept yourself locked in your room for the last couple of days since the Nabu island incident. Which would explain why you weren't dressed for the holiday party unlike the man before you. That Santa hat looked completely out of place on his head. Though if you'd been in a better mood maybe it would have more than spread a weak smile over your lips.

"The students are throwing a party downstairs," Aizawa said plainly.

Though he hadn't actually said it, the question of why you weren't down there hung in the air. You nodded in acknowledgment of his words as you let out a deep breath. It was obvious that Aizawa wasn't about to leave. Which became especially obvious as he took a half step closer. You moved back, moving out of the way while still holding the door open. Aizawa walked in, sticking his hands in his pocket. You moved back over towards your small sofa, sat down, and stared at the different hand written letters on the table in front of you.

When you lifted your eyes back up, Aizawa was the first one to speak up. "I brought Eri over. She's downstairs."

"Okay."

"You should come see her."

"Maybe later? I'm not feeling very festive this year and I don't want to spoil the mood," was your honest response.

You gathered the letters in front of you into one pile before flipping the collection over. Aizawa came to sit next to you, frowning. He pulled the Santa hat off of his head. He sat just far enough away that you didn't feel smothered.

"What's wrong?"

"Just...have a lot of thoughts."

Aizawa made a sound of acknowledgement that was so quiet you almost missed it. You stayed leaned forward with your elbows on your knees.

"You were right," you whispered. The mask you'd tried to uphold started to slip as your lips twitched into a troubled frown and you stared out at nothing. "I...I was being stupid."

"You were trying to help."

He said that so reasonably and calmly now. A depreciating sound akin to a laugh fell from your lips.

"I'm always trying to help. Doesn't mean I wasn't being stupid. So much could have gone wrong and I didn't think about that till after."

"You didn't do anything wrong."

Aizawa relaxed back into your sofa, arms spreading out over the back. You resisted the urge to curl into yourself more but Aizawa watched as your head dropped. He moved his arm closest to you so that it rested around your shoulders, pulling you to his side. He was surprisingly warm. Or perhaps it was because you had just been feeling cold since the fight.

"You didn't run into the fight. A pro-hero commandeered your services."

"You make me sound like a ship," you grumbled as you tried to relax beside him; half of you really wanted to snuggle into the warmth he radiated.

"You're more useful than that."

"That's kind of what I'm afraid of..."

Aizawa gripped your shoulder reassuringly but said nothing. You let out a shaky breath as you worried your hands in the cuffs of your long sleeved robe. The silence went on until you found the courage to break it.