Chapter 18: Into the Woods

The forest was alive with the sounds of rustling leaves, chirping birds, and the distant rush of a river. The Aizawa-Yamada family had ventured deep into the woods, far from the noise and chaos of the city, for a much-needed family camping trip. Shouta led the way, his dark eyes scanning the path ahead with practiced ease. 

Behind him, Hizashi carried Eri on his shoulders, her laughter ringing out like music as she pointed at the trees and wildlife. The triplets—Izuku, Katsuki, and Minoru—followed closely, Minoru's familiars, Geneviève and Adlar, trotting beside Minoru. Yuuga, Denki, Shoto, and Fumikage brought their electronics and spicy ramen somehow.

The air was crisp and cool, the scent of pine and earth filling their lungs. It was a rare moment of peace for the family, a chance to reconnect and breathe without the weight of hero duties pressing down on them. 

But even here, in the heart of nature, Shouta couldn't shake the feeling that something was stirring beneath the surface—thinking about what happened at the city battlefield.

---

They found a clearing near the river, the perfect spot to set up camp. 

The teens immediately got to work, their movements efficient and practiced. Izuku and Katsuki set up the tents, their bickering a familiar soundtrack to the family's adventures. 

Minoru and Fumikage gathered firewood, their familiars helping to carry the larger logs. Yuuga and Denki unpacked the food and supplies, their laughter echoing through the trees as they teased each other. Shoto and Eri sat by the river, skipping stones and talking quietly.

Shouta watched them all with quiet pride, his arms crossed over his chest as he leaned against a tree. Hizashi joined him, slinging an arm around his shoulders. 

"They're growing up so fast," Hizashi said, his voice soft but tinged with emotion. "It feels like just yesterday we were bringing them home for the first time."

Shouta grunted in agreement, his gaze lingering on Eri as she laughed at something Shoto said. "They're strong," he said finally. "Stronger than we give them credit for."

Hizashi smiled, pressing a kiss to Shouta's temple. "They get that from you, you know."

Shouta didn't respond, but the corner of his mouth twitched upward in the ghost of a smile.

---

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the family gathered around the campfire, the flames casting a warm glow over their faces. 

They ate together, sharing stories and laughter as the stars began to dot the sky. Even Katsuki, who usually grumbled about "mushy family stuff," seemed to relax, his sharp edges softened by the firelight.

Eventually, the teens began to drift off to their tents, curling inside their tents. Eri falling asleep in Hizashi's arms, her head resting on his shoulder as he carried her to her tent. Shouta stayed by the fire, his eyes fixed on the flames as he let his mind wander.

---

Once everyone was asleep, Shouta moved to a quiet spot by the river, away from the camp. He sat cross-legged on the ground, his hands resting on his knees as he closed his eyes and began to meditate. 

The sounds of the forest faded away, replaced by the steady rhythm of his breathing.

As he delved deeper into his meditation, he began to feel something—a presence within him, something vast. 

It was his quirk, Erasure, but it was more than that. It was as if his quirk had been a door, and now he was stepping through it into a vast, uncharted landscape.

Images flashed through his mind—scenes of battles he never seen before, of heroes and villains, of love and loss. He saw himself, not as he was now, but as something more—a being of pure energy, his quirk not just erasing others' powers but bending reality itself. 

He could feel the potential within him, the power to shape the world around him, to protect his family in ways he had never imagined.

Shouta's eyes snapped open, his breathing ragged as he tried to process what he had seen. 

His quirk was more than it seemed—it was a fragment of something greater, something that had been lying dormant within him all this time.

---

Hizashi found him by the river, his footsteps quiet against the soft earth. "Couldn't sleep?" he asked, his voice gentle as he sat down beside Shouta.

Shouta shook his head, his gaze fixed on the water. "I... I saw something," he said finally, his voice low and rough. "My quirk... it's not what I thought it was. There's more to it.… I don't know, I might've misunderstood."

Hizashi's eyes widened in comcern, but he didn't interrupt. He simply listened, his presence a steady anchor as Shouta tried to put his thoughts into words.

"Forget I even said anything," Shouta said, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's nothing."

Hizashi reached out, his hand resting on Shouta's arm. "Don't you ever think this is nothing," he said firmly. "You're not alone in this, Shouta. You never have been."

Shouta turned to look at him, his dark eyes filled with a mixture of fear and confusion. "I don't know what I saw," he said, his voice cracking slightly. "But it felt so real. It felt like my body was on fire. Like I was in pain and I don't know how to feel about it. What do I do?"

Hizashi's expression softened, and he cupped Shouta's face in his hands. "I don't kmow," he said, his voice steady and sure. "But what I do know you can do is make sure you come to me. Let me help you. You are never alone and I don't want you thinking otherwise."

Shouta's breath hitched, and for a moment, he looked vulnerable, his usual stoic mask slipping away. "Hizashi..." he began, but the words caught in his throat.

Hizashi leaned in, his forehead resting against Shouta's. "I love you," he said softly. "No matter what. Always."

The words hung in the air between them, heavy with emotion. And then, as if a dam had broken, Shouta surged forward, capturing Hizashi's lips in a rough, intense kiss.

 Their tongues battled for dominance as they clung to each other, their hands roaming and their breaths mingling quietly in the stillness of the night.

The world around them faded away, leaving only the two of them and the fire that burned between them. 

It was a moment of raw vulnerability, of love and fear and hope all tangled together. And when they finally pulled apart, their foreheads resting together and their breaths coming in ragged gasps, they knew that no matter what lay ahead, they would face it together.

---

The next morning, the family woke to the sound of birdsong and the gentle rustling of leaves. Shouta and Hizashi emerged from their tent, their hands intertwined and their expressions calm. 

The teens noticed the change in their parents' demeanor, but they didn't comment. They simply smiled and went about their morning routines.

As they packed up and prepared to head back home, Shouta took one last look at the forest, his mind still buzzing with the revelations of the night before. But now, instead of fear, he felt a quiet sensation. He don't know what's going to happen but he knows he can stop it.

And with his family by his side, he know they could face anything.