Archive of Our Own ^beta

It feels like this routine has been going on for way longer than it has, in Shouta’s mind. He listens to his kids and his spouse chat happily as he opens the door to the coffee shop, warmth spreading all over his body. He loves seeing them like this after everything that happened in the last year or so. Eri is finally completely out of her shell, Hitoshi no longer hides his sassy personality or fondness for the Problem Child, and Zashi… His sunshine is far from the exhausted, angry and anxious person they had become during the war. It feels good to get his family back, to see them be happy and carefree. But what he really prefers? Shouta’s favourite thing since the end of the war is the new coffee shop that UA helped create for All For One’s victims, looking for help to be rehabilitated. What he prefers is entering this space and seeing the changes in Iguchi and Tenko, who are finally less on their guard all the time and starting to enjoy their work, and listen to their boss.

If someone had told Shouta years ago that he’d get back one of his best friends years after he died, he would have punched them in the throat. But now, as he closes the door behind his little family? As he looks over towards the counter, and can see the sunny smile illuminate the barista’s face? He almost wants to cry. 

It had been a shock to almost everyone, even though Kurogiri, during the war, had seemed to help them a few times, to see the man’s body almost evaporate almost entirely. Of the past purple mist that used to cover his body, only a small part was left, covering but not entirely part of Oboro’s face. Oboro, who apparently had continued to age while being used as Kurogiri’s body. Oboro, who had always been present since Kurogiri’s creation and who had played a part in taking care of Tenko. Now, they seemed content as they were. Kurogiri hadn’t disappeared, but Oboro was the most present. It had taken some getting used to for them, and for Tenko, but after a while and hearing Hitoshi refer to them that way, most people had started to call them Kuroboro. Tenko still refused to admit that they were basically his father figures, but everyone knew how the three of them felt.  

“Shou! Zashi!” the barista called out to them as the kids dashed to get a table, leaving them to order. Not that it was a hard task, they always got the same drinks and treats. “Looking dashing, as always!”

Shouta rolls his eyes, ignoring the fake swoon Zashi does at his side. His cheeks do not heat up. His face is not feeling warm. At all.

“Hey,” he lets the greeting roll off his tongue, a small smile on his lips, “how is everything going today?”

While the question may seem like small talk, he does actually mean it. He and Zashi had gotten into the habit of asking, if only to offer Kuroboro the possibility of talking about their day freely. Right after the opening of the coffee shop, there were a lot of issues and conflicts here and there, a lot of triggers to avoid and a lot of accidents. It had taken a bit to get better, and they had found that explicitly giving the barista the cue that they were allowed to vent and talk, and express themself really did help.

“It’s a pretty slow day,” the man’s smile brightens as they put their hands on their hips, “which is nice ‘cause Tenko and Iguchi had this gaming competition thingy they wanted to take part in, and now they can! If you stay long enough, you might hear them cheer if they win, they’re in the back! I’m pretty sure some of your kids joined, too, Shou. And maybe Natsuo too.”

Shouts nods along, because he knows for a fact that part of his class mentioned joining in on this event at some point. He doesn't know a lot about it, but he likes to see them happy when they win, and actually have fun like the kids they are. They deserve those nice moments.

“Probably Kaminari,” he agrees, “I'm not sure about the others, though if they're not playing, they might just be watching him.”

Zashi hums next to him. “Did Tenko end up trying the streaming idea you mentioned last time? Or is that still a maybe? I could give him some tips if you want! The radio show isn't quite that similar, but hey, you get listeners all the same!”

They wink at their friend, and he has to do his best not to snort, especially with the way Boro's cheek starts to turn a slightly pinker shade. Zashi had always been this way, but it was always nice to see that the person they had dated in high school was still affected by it. It made Shouta’s chest feel warm and fuzzy and gave him hope that maybe, maybe one day they might get back the last piece to their triad. But that wasn't here nor there, and this time around, shifting their relationship did not include just all three of them. He'd be damned if they somehow made Kurogiri uncomfortable, or did not take Tenko, Eri and Hitoshi into account. 

“Might not be the same thing,” Boro's voice shakes Shouta out of his thoughts, “but you're still damn good at what you do, Zashi. Your radio show is incredible, I told you that already. Just like Shouta's dedication as a teacher.”

“Hum,” the blond smirks, putting his elbow on the counter and leaning forward, head in their palm, “did you?”

And well, fuck it, right? Shouta might as well play along. Slowly, ignoring ‘Boro’s arched eyebrows, he mirrors Zashi’s posture, though he leans against the pastry shelves, hip and shoulder pressed against the glass as he crosses his arms.

He hums. “Only the best for the ones we care about, ‘Boro, you know that. Whether the kids, your kid, or you. Only the very best for you.”

The red shade that takes over the man's tanned skin is delicious. Shouta can almost see it under Kurogiri’s barely-there mist.

Boro's mouth opens and closes multiple times, but their friend stays quiet, stunned. Shouta's smirk widens, and at his side, Zashi looks quite proud of themself. He goes to continue the conversation when a familiar voice interrupts him from the other end of the coffee shop.

“DADS!” His son screams, sitting next to Eri, Tenko and Iguchi with them as they took a break from playing, “Stop flirting already! I need my coffee, and Ten’ won't make it for me!”

Tenko gasps audibly at that.

“You think I'll give you coffee, brat? Your parents are trying to seduce my father figure! Ain't no way I'm coming close to them!”

He gags to bring the point across, and Shouta sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. They may not be quite ready yet to ask Oboro, and Kurogiri if he wanted, out on a date yet, but their kids certainly seemed okay with it.

What a chaotic family.

“We’ll take the usual, please,” he says, trying to get over his embarrassment and looking anywhere but into the barista's eyes, “and a candied apple for Eri if you made some today.”

“Coming right up, handsome!”

Shouta squeezes his spouse’s hand at the pet name, ignoring the mirth in Zashi's eyes. They really needed to pull themself together.