As the sun began to rise on a brisk December morning, the Aizawa household buzzed with excitement. It would be Eri's first Christmas with them, and Shota Aizawa was determined to make it special. Alongside him were his best friend and husband, Present Mic, and his son, Shinsou. The air was thick with the scent of pine from the freshly cut tree smelling up the living room, waiting to be adorned with ornaments.
"Eri, help me hang those candy canes!" Present Mic called out, his voice booming with enthusiasm, as he reached for a box of decorations piled high on the dining table. Eri titled her head and giggled, running over with a small, delighted shout.
As they busily decorated the tree, Shota noticed Shinsou slipping away, phone in hand. Each time, the boy would return with pink cheeks and an almost shy demeanor. Shota raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. What could his son possibly be up to? It was just a simple decorating day, after all!
"Hey, Shinsou," Shota said casually, leaning against the wall, arms crossed as he watched him hang up tinsel, "Where do you keep disappearing to?"
Shinsou paused mid-motion and shrugged, eyes darting to the floor. "Just… checking messages," he mumbled, but the telltale flush on his cheeks betrayed him.
"Sure, just checking messages," Shota said sarcastically, a small smile creeping onto his face. "Just be careful. I don't want any distractions while decorating."
After some time, Shinsou excused himself to help Present Mic with the outdoor decorations. Aizawa had agreed that the yard could use some flair, as Mic had promised a winter wonderland for Eri. As Shinsou stepped outside, his phone began buzzing incessantly on the kitchen counter, the bright screen illuminating the otherwise dim room.
Feeling a tug of curiosity, Shota picked it up, intrigued by the sudden influx of messages. He hesitated, looking towards the door where Shinsou had just exited, before deciding to scroll through the conversation. What he found made him stop dead in his tracks.
The name flashing on the screen was familiar: Denki Kaminari. Aizawa recalled the cheerful, lightning-powered student who always seemed to light up the room with his vibrant personality. But what truly stunned him was the content of their conversation. Words of affection were exchanged back and forth, with Denki expressing his excitement over their date planned for the weekend.
Aizawa's heart jumped into his throat. His son was dating Denki? While he felt a mix of emotions—surprise, happiness, even a bit of anxiety over the thought of Shinsou finding love—he couldn't help but feel a swell of pride. His son was growing up, making connections in a world filled with challenges.
Before he could dwell on that thought too long, his best friend's boisterous laugh interrupted him from outside. Shota stepped outside, phone still in hand, as he shouted for Present Mic. "Hey, mic!"
"YEAH?!" Mic turned, his usual exuberance radiating off of him as he placed a giant inflatable snowman in the yard.
"Come here for a second!" Shota called out, waving the phone in his hand. Mic jogged over, eyebrows raised in curiosity.
"What's up?" He asked, looking between Shota and the phone expectantly.
Without waiting for a formal introduction, Shota showed him the messages. Present Mic's eyes widened, and he let out an enthusiastic "Whoa!" that echoed through the crisp air as he read through the thread. "Shinsou and Denki? Seriously?!"
"I just found out," Aizawa said with a bemused expression, "I mean, I'm happy for him, but I'd rather hear this from my son than discover it by snooping through his phone."
Mic nodded, his face breaking into a grin. "This is awesome! I can't believe I'm one of the first to know! You know I ship those two, right?"
Shota sighed, shaking his head slightly. "That's a little too much excitement for me regarding my son's love life, Mīc," he replied, resisting a smile.
"Pfft! You're just being grumpy as usual. We need to celebrate this!"
Before Aizawa could respond, Shinsou returned from outdoors, looking confused at the sudden burst of laughter from the two. Mic couldn't help but shout, "Hey, Shinsou! Did you know that your dad is already on a first-name basis with your boyfriend?"
At that, Shinsou froze, his cheeks flooding with even more color. "What?! Denki… boyfriend?"
Denki's warm laugh echoed through Aizawa's mind. The uncomfortable weight in Shota's stomach morphed into understanding. He decided it was best for Shinsou to hear it from him firsthand, as all parents wanted to do.
"With great power comes great responsibility, son," Shota stated dryly, "and I think we should talk."
Eri, oblivious to the tension, ran up to Shinsou and took his hand. "You like Denki, right? Can we have Christmas with him?"
In that moment, Aizawa knew one thing: whether it was excitement or caution, family was at the center of it all. Through laughter, love, and an occasional dose of embarrassment—Shinsou's surprise revelation was just another ornament in their growing collection of memories. And it would certainly make their first Christmas with Eri unforgettable.