You sat on the worn couch in Aizawa-sensei’s small apartment, the soft glow of holiday lights strung up by Eri casting a warm ambiance. Eri giggled from her spot on the floor, proudly showing you her decorated cookies, her laughter breaking through the silence. Meanwhile, Aizawa sat nearby, wrapped in his usual sleeping bag, a cup of tea steaming in his hands.

It still felt surreal. The invitation had caught you off guard—a quiet offer to spend the holidays at his place. You weren’t sure why he’d done it. He wasn’t exactly the festive type.

As you watched him sip his tea, you couldn’t hold it in anymore. “Sensei, why… why did you invite me here?”

Aizawa lowered his mug, his tired gaze settling on you. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, you didn’t have to.” Your voice wavered slightly. “You’re my teacher, not my family. Why go out of your way?”

He sighed, setting the mug down on the table beside him. For a moment, he didn’t respond, his expression unreadable. Finally, he spoke, his voice steady but tinged with something you couldn’t quite place.

“You don’t have anyone to spend the holidays with. I couldn’t ignore that.” He leaned back, his dark hair falling into his face. “You’re my student. That makes you my responsibility, whether it’s in class or out of it.”

Your heart squeezed at his words. “But I’ve always been on my own. I can handle it.”

Aizawa’s brows furrowed slightly, his tone growing firm. “No one should have to ‘handle’ being alone. You might be used to it, but that doesn’t make it right.”

You stared at him, unsure how to respond. He didn’t usually speak this openly. Something about this felt deeply personal.

Before you could ask, he exhaled softly, his voice quieter now. “You remind me of someone. An old friend of mine. His name was Oboro Shirakumo.”