He blinks bleary eyes down at the screen, drawing in a tired breath as he scans the time— looks like he’d managed a couple hours of sleep, at least— before his gaze drops lower to the unknown number lit up on the screen.

Shota wrinkles his nose, hesitating for just a second before accepting the call: “Aizawa speaking speaking,” He furrows his brow as he sits up on his elbow, rubbing at his tired eyes.

Years ago, before he married Hizashi, he had a one-night stand with this lady he met at a bar. Safe to say he found out he was gay once he found no appeal in what he did with the woman. But, it’s as if on that night everything he learned in sex-ed just went out the window or down the drain.

Apparently nine months after that hookup, the woman had a baby and never told Aizawa. Who does that? Sure, the Pro-hero wouldn’t have been thrilled, but he would’ve helped her and his apparent child!

“You’re your infant’s next of kin,” the social worker says slowly, almost accusingly, “you are the listed father on the birth certificate and since the mother is no longer around to care for her child, sole guardianship is appointed to you as next of kin.”

And Shota’s brain stalled.

His what?

Him and Hizashi had rushed out of their apartment and to the police station right away. Unfortunately, your mother had gotten caught up in a villain attack and passed away. A villain flipped over a bus she was inside and she suffered severe head injuries. Flat lined on the way to the hospital.

God, what is he supposed to do? He’s a Pro-hero for god’s sake, how is he and the damn Loud Mouth hero supposed to raise a kid? It’s either take the infant or send the little one into the foster-adoption system. And Shota sure as hell can’t live knowing his own kid is out in the world living with another family.

“…Hi, kid.” Aizawa says, gruffly but kindly. Crouching down to the infant’s level in the police station. Offering them a small smile. A rare one.