Before Izuku left,
Aizawa's house,
Nighttime...

Aizawa's POV

I stared at my phone screen silently, hesitating my choice to text Midoriya-san. I really, really couldn't forget her. Her face wouldn't leave my mind, no matter how hard I wanted to deny it.

Why is this happening? Why can't I stop thinking about Midoriya-san?

Why did I thought she is cute?

Why did it pained me when I saw her crying face...?

Why do I feel the need to protect her?

I was lost in my own deep thoughts until I heard a very harsh slamming noise coming from my neighbour's house. My window was left open since I wanted to enjoy the cool night breeze.

Curious, I made my way to the window. I popped my head out, my dark eyes searching the area. I saw Midoriya-san leaving her house in such a hurry pace, as if she was in emergency.

Did something happen again—

I narrowed my eyes at her figure to get a clearer vision. Then I noticed the angry expression on her freckled-face. Her hand was gripping her phone firmly. It looked like she was triggered by something.

What the...

I got a bad feeling about this...

After finishing whatever text was sent to her, Midoriya-san stomped out of her property. She walked down the dark street alone, by herself, heading to who knew where.

I don't think this is going to end good.

I better follow her.

>>>>>

Back to present time,
In the alleyway,
Nighttime...

I tied Shigaraki with my weapon - the binding - to restrain him. He forcefully released Midoriya-san from his iron grip. I yanked him away from her and slammed him into the wall brutally.

Midoriya-san was coughing violently, gasping for air. I shifted my gaze to her, and she was gripping the collar of her top. She lifted her head up, staring at me in disbelief.

"Ai... Aizawa-san...?"

"Yeah. Stay still. I will take care of Shigaraki."

I ordered in seriousness before turning to Shigaraki back. He wasn't wearing his hand mask, which was a rare sight. I could see his wrinkled face clearly. He was glaring very deadly at me.

"Tch, annoying hero... Always got in the way of my plan."

I deactivated my Quirk since I couldn't keep using it for a long time. The fight with Nomu shortened the amount of time I could use my Quirk.

I just need to keep binding him like this and then—

All of a sudden, Shigaraki raised his free hand that I didn't manage to restrain and grasped my scarf. Knowing how his Quirk worked out, I unwillingly let him go.

Shigaraki jumped back to keep distance between us. "Looks like this is a game over... See you again, Izuku. The next time we meet, it will be your grave..." He smirked evilishly.

I was about to go after him when his figure disappeared into the pitch black darkness. I clicked my tongue, but there was nothing else I could do.

Well, he is gone...

Let's just focus on Midoriya-san now.

"Midoriya-san!" I turned to her direction, rushing to her side. I knelt down in front of my co-worker. Tears slowly leaked out from the corner of her emerald eyes.

"Let's get you home... Midoriya-san." I wrapped my arm around her shoulders, helping her stood up on her two feet back. She was looking down to the ground, so I could not see her face clearly anymore.

.... I will ask her reason later.

The two of us left the alleyway, heading back to our neighborhood area...

>>>>>

(Start playing the song!)

Several minutes later,
On their way back,
Nighttime...

Third Person's POV

Shota gently held Izuku's hand, leading her back to her house. The two heroes were quiet the whole time. Izuku hung her head low, while Shota focused on where they were going. Once in a while, he would glimpse over his shoulder to check on her.

'Still quiet,huh? Still, her meeting with Shigaraki wasn't councidence... Perhaps, that was why she left her house angrily. These two... Personally acquainted with each other.' He thought of the most logical theory he could come up with.

Izuku suddenly stopped on her track, halting Shota too. He looked at her, confusion written on his face.

"Midoriya-san?"

Hearing his gentle voice somehow pain her heart. Crystal liquid unconsciously streamed down her face. She was still looking down, not wanting to make eye contact with the Erasure Hero.

"Why...?"

Izuku's hand that he was holding ever since just now began trembling heavily.

"Why are you so nice to me...?"

Her voice was shaky and croaky, result from crying profusely. Her eyes glimmered under the moon showering them with its light.

"You... You have helped me a lot... You were always there when I was in predicament... You were by my side when I need someone to comfort me... Now you even save me from the danger... That was caused by my own foolishness..."

Izuku gritted her trembling teeth. She looked down to the ground once again.

"I'm an idiot. I'm very foolish. I act like an immature child and only follow my emotion, without thinking of the consequence..."

"How can I become a great hero with this attitude?!  How come... You are so kind... To someone as pathetic as me... Who only cause misfortune to others?!"

Izuku was screaming from the top of her lungs at this point. Her cries filled in the gloomy atmosphere, her tears fell from her puffy eyes.

Shota was at loss of words. He didn't know what to do anymore.

And thus, he let his instinct acted on its own.

Slowly and gently, Shota pulled Izuku into a tight, yet loving embrace. The young woman was shocked with his sudden gentle action.

"A-Aizawa-san?"

"Don't say that... About yourself... Midoriya-san...you aren't pathetic."

Izuku's eyes trembled upon hearing his words.

"You are right. You are an idiot. You act on your own because of personal feelings."

Shota stroked her hair with gentleness, wanting to give her a comforting aura.

"But I could see why you did that. You have lost the person you love the most in this world out of the blue. The shock and the burden you receive in such a short amount of time are too heavy for you to carry on your own."

"That is why... You shouldn't keep your feelings to yourself... If you feel like crying your heart out, I'm always there to lend you my shoulders to cry on.."

Shota didn't plan to let go at all. He tightened the embrace.

'I understood your feelings, Midoriya-san... I have lost the person I treasure the most too... In the past... And that caused me to act foolishly. My own action almost kill myself. I learnt my lesson that day and promise to change to a better person, so I won't repeat the same mistake in the future...' He said internally, as he recalled his past memories.

"As for your question... I help you because I want to. And that is my job as a hero. Hero's job is to help the people in need, right? So don't feel bad about it anymore..."

The two teachers broke apart, looking in each other's eyes deeply.

"A-Aizawa-san..."

Izuku uttered his name, sadnesss still filling her voice. Shota admired her gorgeous face, before his eyes landed on her plump, pinkish lips.

This caused a strange urge to grow inside him. His body began moving on its own, leaning closer to her as his hands cupped her cheeks.

Izuku was confused with his behavior. But her confusion wasn't that long...

And before they realized it, their lips were connected under the moonlight showering them...

>>>>>

A/N -  aight, how is this chapter? Cringy? Or perhaps the romantic vibe isn't on— AHHHH I don't know if th