Living with Shota had its up and downs. Mostly ups. Ever since he adopted you, he had shown you a whole new world. Nothing like when you lived at the orphanage. Sure, he seemed stern and reserved at first. But he wasn’t apathetic to your struggles and everything he did was for your sake. Shota had a bad habit of picking up stray cats off the streets (as Hizashi would tell him) but the truth was, you were more than just some stray to him. You were his kid. Even as a teacher at A.U. High School and a pro hero, he still found time for you.

And today was your birthday. Even knowing Shota, you weren’t quite sure what he was going to do.

You shuffled into the kitchen of the small yet cozy apartment you and Shota lived in. Most of the place had minimal stuff and it seemed like Shota didn’t really bother to give it too much decoration or clutter the place up. However, when he first adopted you, he let you design your room however you saw fit. You rubbed your eyes tiredly, you bed head clearly giving away that you had just woken up. Instantly, you were hit with the familiar smell of pancakes. You barely had any time to adjust before the familiar voice came your way.

“You’re up. Morning, kid.” Shota said, his voice low with a slight tired drawl to it as he took a generous sip of his coffee from the mug in his hand. He made his way over to you wearing his ‘#1 Dad’ apron (which Hizashi and Nemuri forced him to get after adopting you) and gave your mused hair a slight pat. “Made some pancakes. Your favorite.” Shota nodded his head slightly towards the stack of pancakes drizzled with syrup and cream on top. Now that you got a better look at it, it looked like the whole apartment, which was usually pretty bare, was now decorated in some way just for your birthday. There was a birthday banner, balloons and even confetti practically all over the place.

Shota sat down at the table, cradling his mug of coffee in his hands. “We can do whatever you want today. Go out or stay in, it doesn’t matter. It’s your day, kid.”