Chapter Text
"He's stable."
A visible wave of relief rushed over waiting room 5.
It was like the heaviness in the air had lifted off their shoulders, had stopped clogging their lungs, like the invisible pressure had dissipated with just two words.
Students slumped from their tense positions, sighed, cried, curled up, smiled, hugged their friends, thanked nobody in particular.
The adults were no different.
"He'll wake up in around 2 hours. Mr Aizawa, please come with me."
Hizashi remembers watching as Shouta left with the nurse, then turning to face the class.
He remembers feeling a pang of hurt when he took in the scene - they all just looked so young, so scared, so vulnerable.
Kirishima had been sobbing uncontrollably, babbling almost incoherently to three other students - Ashido, Sero, Kaminari.
Ashido was similarly unconsolable, though Sero, who had tears rolling down his cheeks, was making a valiant effort - Kaminari's vacant expression had softened into one of worry, though his attempts to console Kirishima were still lacking emotion, and little sparks of elecricity were skipping over his skin.
They seemed to be taking it the worst.
With one exception, of course.
Mizoriya Izuku was bawling his eyes out. Pathetically muffled sobs, and a slightly concerning amount of tears. Uraraka had been floating, covering her face and completely silent. Iida was breathing heavily, and shaking slightly, but still attempting to comfort his distraught green-haired classmate. Todoroki had also been breathing heavily, evidently attempting to control said breathing. He was hunched over, a few stray flames escaping his left side. The temperature in the room had chilled slightly, with wafts of warmer air.
Tsu had seemed also seemed very relieved, and tears had been rolling down her cheeks as she tried to console Hagakure and Yaoyorozu, who were also in tears. Yaoyorozu appeared to have made a blanket of some sort, which they were clutching tensely. Jirou was next to them, curled up, hands pressed against her ears as she cried.
Tokoyami was hidden by a distraught Dark Shadow, and Koda seemed to be hiding behind them. Ojiro was clutching his tail, having curled up with his back to the wall. Shouji was sitting cross-legged, head bowed; slightly shaking shoulders the only indicator of distress.
Sato had seemed more collected than most, a horrified exression on his face and tears in his eyes. He was also making a feeble attempt to calm Aoyama down - the blonde was curled up on the floor, sobbing hysterically.
Shinsou was in the corner, hugging some pillows. On further inspection Hizashi realized there was a considerable space between him and his classmates.
He brushed away his own tears and approached the kid. Though he wasn't sure why his classmates were avoiding him, that was something to address at a different time. This child needed comfort.
Unfortunately, approaching him may not have been the best idea. Hizashi had promptly recieved a pillow to the face - with an accompanied snarl - as soon as he reached out to pat Shinsou's shoulder. He pulled his hand back, retreating slightly. A muffled 'sorry' escaped the pile of pillows and child. Under different circumstances, Hizashi would have laughed, but a small huff of amusement was the most anyone could have managed. Trying a different tactic, he had sat, cross-legged, and opened his arms. This time, it had worked, and Hizashi rested his chin on the purple-haired child's head as Shinsou sobbed into his jumper.
Shouta chose that moment to return, and for a brief moment he made eye contact with Hizashi, an almost pleading look in his eyes. To anyone else, that look may have seemed cold, or unreadable, but Hizashi has spent years studying those eyes, and the cryptic soul underneath. To him, the message that look conveyed was clear; things had to change.