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Shouta didn’t know what he was going to do, maybe going drinking with Hizashi wasn’t a good idea. Typically he tends to have more self control but now he’s stuck with two kids, both of whom are hopelessly pining over each other. Thank god it’s only internships.
“So, Eraserhead-sensei.” Asuka asks, “Just Aizawa is fine, kid.” He quickly interjects. She fumbles a little, an embarrassed look on her face. “Um, Aizawa-sensei, can I talk to you for a minute?” He nods and leads her to a meeting room.
“So what was it you wanted to talk about? I’m going to assume it’s not about training since you wouldn’t have asked to talk privately otherwise.” He says, with an unreadable look on his face, Asuka’s face gets redder and his confusion only grows. “I wanted to ask if you had any advice on identifying emotions..?”
He almost winced. Emotions aren’t his strong suit and he prefers to look over to logistics and rationality. “Sure kid, what’s your problem?” She looks down, and looks back up at him, then down again.
Her body language screams anxiety. “How do I know if I like someone, like really like someone? Because I’ve read online from those websites the typical ‘symptoms’,” She forms air quotations “And I do want to hold hands, and hold them, and I think about them everyday because they’re really nice to me and compassionate and i grew up with them–”
Shouta holds a hand up to pause her. “It’s clear you’ve thought about it a lot but it all comes down to what started this, when did you first notice these feelings of yours?”
She stops and mulls it over. “I think I first noticed how beautiful she–” She cuts off and stares up at him in terror, clearly expecting a horrible reaction. Shouta knows what that’s like. “There’s nothing wrong with not being straight Ikeda. Now understand some people may discriminate against you and if they ever do inform me and they’ll be dealt with swiftly, I myself and married to someone you know as Present Mic.”
She looks at him clearly happy with this new revelation, she opens her mouth but Shouta interrupts. “However if you do tell anyone about this I will not hesitate to have a talk with you. Moving on, You were saying?” With a bit of apprehension she continues, “I think I first noticed how I felt about her during one of our most recent sleepovers, we were doing self-care, like facemasks y’know, when she turned to me with the most– I don’t even know how to put it into words! But she was beautiful and I’m just me and what if she doesn’t even like girls, I’ve never even had a crush before and she’s only ever dated guys and I’m so terrified. I’ve never felt like this before” She admits her voice is shaky, and her eyes watery.
“Okay, I understand you’re apprehensive about this, Have you ever brought up the topic of sexualities? It’s definitely nerve wracking but I’ve found from experience that just casually admitting it might help you learn her perspective. If you really do like her though, can you promise you’ll do everything in your power to stay with her through her ups and downs, and love her unconditionally even if she doesn’t love you?”
A determined look forms on Asuka’s face and she nods in confirmation, Shouta ruffles her hair fondly. “Glad we sorted that out. Now come on, we have a long night of training ahead of us.” Asuka walks out to the training room with a small pep in her step, Aizawa hide his approving smile in his capture scarf
~--~
“Aizawa-sensei! Aizawa-sensei! I brought it up and she said she’s actually pansexual herself!” Asuka is shaking with barely contained excitement, Shouta nods approvingly. “Good job kid, now what are you going to do?”
She fiddles with her hands, “I was hoping you could tell me..” She mumbles.
Shouta huffs. “You said you two were close, have you maybe considered looking into how she interacts with other people compared to you? From what I’ve seen she definitely has some kind of interest in you. Make sure you read more about it too” Asuka ponders the idea. “I’ll see if I can find any books and I’ll try it, I just hope it turns out well, You know Aizawa-sensei. You’re not as intimidating as I thought you were.”
“You’ve proved yourself to be sufficient, and we both know I’m not as nice on the field, now I think you have some warm-ups to get to.” Shouta walks off to help Mitsuki through the exercise for today.
~---~
Shouta was working on some paperwork from his recent drug bust, internships were last month and he hasn’t heard hide nor hair of Asuka’s and Mitsuki’s relationship. Just before he stops to take a break there’s a knock on his office door.
“Aizawa-sensei?” Asuka’s voice comes from behind the door, a smile evident in her tone. “Ikeda, come in.” He responds. Asuka opens the door and she looks positively ecstatic.
She beams as she excitedly tells him the news. “Aizawa-sensei! I did it! I asked Mitsuki out and she said yes, I’m so nervous but I’m so happy too. Is it normal for my heart to be pounding like this? Phew..”
Shouta can feel the anxiety that’s practically radiating off of her. “I know the feeling, it’s probably the adrenaline, good job kid, I’m proud of you.”