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Katsuki could already tell his younger brother was having a bad day. Instead of his usual talkative self, he was quiet and much more tired than normal. Usually Hitoshi would be trying to talk to Katsuki the second he wakes up, telling him random stuff like a movie he’s seen or something he read. Anything and everything, Hitoshi would constantly be talking all the way until they got into school.
Now that Shouto has joined their family a few weeks ago, he’s also joined the school Hitoshi and himself have been going to. When Aizawa found out that he hadn’t been to school since his quirk developed he didn’t think twice before getting him into the other school, knowing that he’d be safe with his brothers.
Now Shouto wakes up at the same time and goes to school with them. It’s nice, even if he isn’t used to it yet he still likes it. Unlike most kids their age, he actually missed school, though he thinks that’s just because he hasn’t been to one for a while.
Hitoshi has been extra clingy to their new brother, leading him around the house and showing him different movies, specifically horror, since he never really got to watch them in his previous house. They had found out a bit more about the boy and what he went through as a kid. None of them talk about it though, not wanting to relive what they are trying to overcome.
It was their second week back after the villain attack outside their school and since they had to rebuild a bit of it, a lot of things have been different. Katsuki doesn’t mind the change, in fact he kinda likes the newer version of the school, though Hitoshi is the opposite. He’s always had issues with changes as it brings back bad memories from being in the foster system and constantly changing between homes.
Katsuki doesn't doubt that that is the reason for his weird behaviour. He acted the same way when they first moved houses a bit after Katsuki was adopted, though back then it was much worse. He couldn’t sleep for weeks at night, instead having little naps during the day on the sofa, and the nightmares were much worse than usual. He’d wake up most of the time either crying or freaking out. Katsuki didn’t understand what was happening at first.
Now, however, he knows how to mostly keep his anxiety down. Anytime he’d notice the younger boy starting to panic, he’d try to distract him with something that he knew the boy would get interested in. That didn’t always work though.
Today seemed extra bad. Katsuki had woken up early after he heard Hizashi rushing into Hitoshi’s room, followed by Shouta, when he had woken up because of a nightmare. He doesn't know if the boy managed to get back to sleep after that but by looking at his darker eyebags he can already guess the answer to that.
Hitoshi didn’t say anything besides a few mumbles during breakfast and on the way to school. Shouta had picked up on it but he decided he’d explain it to the boy later, when Hitoshi wasn’t around.
Once they had gotten into school Katsuki noticed the purple haired boy become more restless and fidgety and he could tell he was on his way to a panic attack. Katsuki tried his best to calm down the boy but after they had actually gotten into class it became worse. Being around all those people and all the noise was no doubt overwhelming him more. Katsuki made sure to keep an eye on his younger brother and had noticed Shouto doing the same, even though he didn’t really know what was going on.
He noticed how the younger boy’s breath started to pick up halfway through the lesson and Katsuki just wanted the class to be over so he could take him somewhere quiet.
It felt like ages before the bell finally rang signalling lunch and he wasted no time before walking over to Hitoshi and pulling him out of his seat, grabbing his stuff and leading him out for the classroom with Shouto following behind.
He led him to the library, knowing it would be empty until halfway through lunch when most people had already collected their lunches or finished eating. They walked towards the back of the room before Katsuki pushed him into one of the bean bags, kneeling in front of him and taking the smaller boy’s hands in his own.
“It’s ok, just breathe.” Katsuki instructed. When Hitoshi didn’t follow, he shifted themselves so the younger’s head was resting against his chest.
“Follow my breathing, it’s ok.” He said, taking exaggerated breaths waiting for the younger boy to follow.
Shouto walked over to them and crouched down next to Katsuki, in Hitoshi’s eye view. He reaches one hand up and wipes the tears away from the younger’s face before taking a hand in his own. He brushed his thumb over the boy’s knuckles in a soothing manner, no doubt copying what he has seen the others do whenever something like this happened.
Katsuki focussed on trying to get the boy to breathe properly. Just as his breathing was starting to even out, the bell rang, signalling that they've already been here for 45 minutes but none of them cared too much to move. They’d explain to their teacher later what happened and they know they won't be in trouble.
The school already are aware of all of their struggles and also know that if they tried to hold that against any of them, they’d have multiple heroes at their throats. Perks of being the kids of two pro heroes he supposes.
It took another 20 minutes before Hitoshi fully calmed down, Katsuki not stopping the encouraging words and Shouto continuing to rub his hands in a comforting way. Hitoshi finally slumped against the blonde’s chest, eyes closed but puffy. Hours of lack of sleep finally catching up to him.
They stay like that for the remainder of the lesson before waking the younger boy and heading out of the school. He’s still half asleep so both boys help guide him outside the building and into their dad’s car.
“What happened to him?” The dark haired man asked once they had gotten inside and saw Hitoshi’s tear streaked face and puffy, red eyes. He was asleep (again) and leaning on Shouto in the backseat while Katsuki got into the front.
“He had a panic attack. He’s ok though, just tired.” Katsuki replied as the car started and they headed home.
“Do you know what set it off?”
“I think it was the school changing and stuff like that. He’s been acting more anxious since we went back.” Katsuki informed, starting to feel bad for not mentioning anything sooner.
“It could've been because of the villain attack as well.” Shouta spoke up, his eyes staying on Hitoshi’s sleeping form.
“Ok, he’ll stay home tomorrow.” Aizawa says and soon they are pulling into the garage of their house.
Aizawa moves to the back to take Hitoshi and carry him inside while Shouto grabs his bag and Katsuki unlocks the door.
“Hey kiddos.” Hizashi greets them as they walk in. Nemuri must have given him a ride.
“What happened?” He asks, a worried look covering his face at the sight of Hitoshi.
“Panic attack.” Shouto tells him as the two boys go upstairs to change out of their clothes, coming back down a few minutes later with a blanket and one of Hitoshi’s soft cat jumpers and a pair of shorts. Aizawa changes the boy and soon they are cuddling on the sofa, a movie playing in the background.