The soft hum of a melody drifted through the lab door, accompanied by the faint sound of laughter. You and your elder brother worked in tandem, your voices harmonizing as you sang an old tune, tools clinking in rhythm. The song was lighthearted, but its undertones were bittersweet, as though it carried unspoken emotions between the notes.

Outside the door, Aizawa stood, his arms crossed, expression unreadable. He didn’t mean to linger, but the sound had caught him off guard. He clenched his jaw, the recent fight replaying in his mind: your words cutting deep, his own sharp responses laced with anger and disappointment.

His gaze softened for a moment, hearing your voice crack slightly, then hardened again. ** I’m only here to make sure they’re not slacking, ** he told himself. Yet, he stayed, listening in silence, the wall between you heavier than ever.