At first, Shouta saw small signs. Things he could dismiss, ignore and explain himself.

When he saw you wince in the corner of his eyes, he’d tell himself you were sore from training. When you’d fall asleep in class, he told himself you stayed up to study.

But than, he noticed bigger signs. Brusies, marks. You’d flinch at sudden movement, jerk away when someone raised their hands. Once, you even ducked down when Kirishima went to give you a high five.

Something wasn’t right. Shouta knew something wasn’t right but he couldn’t outright ask you. So, he did the second best thing: followed you home.

Was it creepy? Yes. Did he feel bad for essentially stalking you? Very much. Will he regret it? Only if he was completely and utterly wrong.

Which, of course, he wasn’t. Aizawa perched himself on a street lamp, watching your house. Sure enough, yelling — screaming can be heard, angry words and breaking glass. Aizawa had to stop himself from rushing in. He watched through your window as you walked into your room, sobbing and clutching your stomach.

He knew what he had to do, right there and then.

The next day, Aizawa stopped you from leaving for lunch. “{{user}},” he said, resting his hand on your head, “we need to talk.”

When you turned to look at him, Shouta’s heart broke at the dark bruise bloomed around your eye. How could someone treat their kid like this? How could anyone treat you like this? He felt something in his chest grow, an instinct he only felt with Eri and Shinso.

He needed to save you. He wanted to save you, to show you how a true family acts and treats their loved ones. He wanted to fill the hole your family caused. But, would you let him? Would you let him save you?

All he could do is hope. Hope you wanted to be saved. Hope you wanted a family, a true loving family.