"You've gotten faster Animia." Burnin complimented.

"Th-thanks." She stuttered out in response. She tried to play it off as being tired but sadly she was unsuccessful.

"Something the matter?"

"No not at all." Burnin was about to press the matter a little more before they were interrupted when Iruka was called for patrol.

"You'll come and patrol alone with me today so you better keep up." Endeavour huffed as he and Iruka walked out.

========== 

For a while, their patrol went pretty smoothly. There were a few times where Endeavor had to stop a villain or two but that was what they were there to do so Iruka expected as much. When they weren't stopping bad guys they walked in silence which was a huge plus for Iruka.

They were walking downtown now. Iruka noticed not many people approached Endeavor like one would if they saw a hero but she wasn't surprised. He constantly had a scowl but Iruka didn't let that stop her from being friendly to those who passed by them.

HONK!

Iruka turned and darted towards a child who had run onto the road to chase a dog. Iruka flew in as fast as she could grabbing both the child and the dog. She tumbled onto the sidewalk. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw the two safe in her arms.

"Thank you so much for saving her." A woman who Iruka assumed was the child's caretaker spoke up. "What's your name?"

"Animia and it's no problem miss." Iruka rubbed the back of her neck. The woman thanked her once again before she walked away allowing Iruka to rush back to Endeavor who had surprisingly waited for her. "I'm really sorry for rushing off like that without your permission." Endeavor grunted in response as he continued walking with Iruka following close behind.

"Animia how should I become a better hero?" Endeavor asked leaving Iruka stunned.

"I- I. What?"

"Yesterday you said I should take criticism like a champ so now I'm asking you how for criticism."

"We-well for one thing asking how to be a better hero is different to asking for criticism, s-so which one would you like?" Iruka suppressed the urge to be sassy because she didn't want to die at the ripe old age of 16.

"Criticism."

"Oh well-well you could start by doing smaller jobs, jobs that won't necessarily get you on the front page. People will look at you and won't think you're a hero just for the fame and fortune. They'll look at you as a hero who will save them no matter the situation." Iruka paused in case Endeavor wanted to get a word in but he didn't instead, he gestured for her to continue. "You could also try to be less intimidating and more approachable. It can scare civilians while on patrol like this."

Iruka continued critiquing the Pro Hero. At first, she was more hesitant but the longer she went on the more brutal she got with it. She also seemed much more confident which almost scared Endeavor. Something about her felt unnerving to the hero but he just couldn't be sure.

When they had bumped into a few kids Iruka had tried to show the kids that Endeavor wasn't so scary but failed miserably when all he did was scoff at the kids. She gave him a good lecture as to how if he wasn't willing to open his heart and be a little kinder he wasn't going to get any better of a hero which made him rather annoyed.

"Don't look at me like that when you know it's all true. Besides you're the one that asked for my critiquing so don't get all bothered when I tell it to you how it is."

==========

"You know being #1 won't mean anything if your family hates you." Iruka had spent the entire day trying to show Endeavor how being a hero meant more than just making big saves. As impressed as she was at how well he was taking all of it there was one topic, in particular, that was irking at her.

"Excuse me?" Ah, she finally hit a nerve it seems.

"Gosh are you deaf or more ignorant than I thought you were?" Once again Endeavor got to see the more scary side of Iruka, the side of her that challenged him in his own home. "Surely you know Shoto is not fond of you."

"I am very well aware that Shoto doesn't like me but what happens in my family doesn't involve you." Endeavor growled. Iruka in turn walked to stand right in front of the hero, stopping him in his tracks.

"Now you listen here Endeavor. I've said this once and I'll it again," Iruka changed her arms into wings to reach Endeavor's height. Hern flapping caused his flames to flicker behind him. "If you have ever hurt or do hurt any of your family members I will take them away and while I'm at it I'll end your entire hero career."

"How dare you-"

"I do dare. I do dare because if you intend on being #1 and still can't even protect and make your family feel safe then you don't even so much as deserve a hero license let alone to be #1." 

Endeavor fell silent, unsure how to respond. He felt threatened. He thought about it for a moment. He thought about his family properly for what could've been the first time ever. He also thought of the fact that Iruka had threatened him and his entire career with no regard as to who he was.

"Very well. I shall try and make amends with Shoto-" Iruka glared dagger into him, "with my entire family." Iruka landed on the ground and smiled at him as if nothing had just happened, sending shivers down Endeavor's spine.

==========

"Shinso we'll be going on patrol a little later than usual so you won't be going to school tomorrow, is that alright?" Shota questioned.

Hitoshi gave it some thought before replying, "Oh sure it's fine." 

They were downstairs with Hitoshi playing with the cats, something that had become almost a habit of his.

"Hey Little Listener, why don't you help me with dinner tonight I could teach you how to make a killer omurice." Hitoshi snorted.

It may have only been 3 days but Hitoshi had gotten rather acquainted with the home and its residence. Though he was more reserved at first, he had opened up to the two. Something about them made him feel it was ok to just be him.

"Mic Sensei, could I ask you a question?"

"Fire away Listener, oh could you pass the onions."

"Is Iruka's last name really her last name." Hizashi paused for a moment before taking the onions.

"What do you mean?"

"Well yesterday when we got back from patrol you shouted Iruka Aizawa-Yamada. So it had me wondering if the Iruka we're talking about isn't the same Iruka or Iruka's last name isn't what I think it is." Hizashi sighed and turned to Hitoshi.

"You're right, the last name Iruka uses isn't her actual name. I suggest talking about this with Iruka." Hitoshi must've not heard the last sentence because continued to press the subject.

"So if her last name actually is Aizawa-Yamada that would make her your daughter right?"

"She is but like I said it's better to talk to Iruka about it. Me and Shota have no problem talking about this but if she hasn't brought it up lets not continue this conversation without her alright?" Hitoshi nodded.

"Well that explains how she has that scarf outside schools and her suspicious amount of knowledge on the staff." Hizashi raised an eyebrow.

"What kind of knowledge?"

"That's for us and only us." Hitoshi snickered. Hizashi came closer and ruffled Hitoshi's hair.

"Whatever you say, Listener. Go on and call Shota, I should be done soon." Hitoshi nodded and went to find Shota.

============

"Tadaima." Iruka chimed as she and Endeavor entered the home.

"Hokairi." Shoto greeted.

"Shoto! I forgot you left the hospital today. How are you feeling?"

"Much better thank you. How was your day?" Although the question was directed at Iruka, Shoto promptly looked at Endeavor while asking as of threatening to hurt him if anything negative came out of Iruka's mouth.

"Great. I learned a lot actually. " She smiled. Shoto gave an approving nod while Endeavor walks away from the conversation.

"You should get cleaned up. Fuyumi is making dinner and should be done soon." Before Iruka walked any further into the house though, Shoto stopped her. "Are those my things from the agency?"

"Oh um ya. Endeavor said I'd be staying the rest of the week here so I thought I'd bring your stuff though it stupid considering you have clothes here you could've gotten all this tomorrow." 

Shoto smiled at her. "Thanks, Iruka. Come on I can bring it to my room." Iruka handed the bag over. "Fuyumi says you'll be staying in the room you slept in last night."

"Oh alright then."

==========

Once she had changed into her pyjamas Iruka headed to the dining room where Fuyumi and Shoto were waiting. They were almost done setting the table so Iruka helped out before Fuyumi went to call Endeavor to eat with them.

Dinner was, interesting if one could call it that. At first, it was a rather unpleasant silence and surprisingly it was Endeavor that had broken the silence to talk to Fuyumi about her work. It didn't take long for Iruka to join in the conversation as well.

"Shoto how was your day?" Fuyumi fell silent when her father asked the question. Suddenly it felt like the air had dissipated from the room.

"It was fine." Shoto's voice was cold and distant.

"I see." Endeavor looked towards Iruka almost for some kind of guidance but she only smiled almost evilly. "W-well we will be doing a small mission tomorrow so hopefully I'll be able to teach you both something." Well, that's a start I suppose.

"Both?" It was obvious Shoto had caught his father's stutter but his real confusion came from the fact that Endeavor's sole focus was no longer on him.

"You and Ito. You are both interning under me are you not?"

"We are. But why the sudden change?" Shoto held his tongue from trying to say anything out of line.

"If I had requested her and not trained her would there be a purpose?" He was starting to sound annoyed but Iruka didn't intervene.

"No there would not be. But may I remind you, you are the one that requested because of her quirk." Shoto hissed.

"Shoto he wants to train me, there isn't anything wrong with that. Sure he didn't word that right but your father meant well." Iruka glared at Endeavor as if daring him to make a wrong move.

"I'm sorry but I have some work I need to do, excuse me." Endeavor got up and walked away without another word.

"Well, that was terrible." Iruka sighed.

"What do you mean?" Shoto questioned.

"I told him if he wanted to be a better hero there wouldn't be a point if he wasn't a good father." Shoto's jaw dropped while Fuyumi was at a loss of words. "Sorry, but someone had to give him the wake-up call."

"Well, I think that's, sort of nice," Fuyumi spoke up. Shoto was still silent but Iruka didn't pay him much thought as she looked to the clock.

"May I be excused?"

"Of course you are Iruka." Iruka took her plates to the sink and washed them before heading to her room.

Iruka texted in her family group chat that also had the Bakugo's and Midoriya's asking if they could all call together. Thankfully everyone said yes.

"Hey everyone!" Iruka chimed, there wasn't an immediate response, instead, everyone looked at each other before smiling.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY IRUKA!" They all yelled in unison and Iruka giggled.

"Thank you everyone." Iruka noticed that Tenya was next to Izuku.

"So how does it feel to be 16 years old Whiskers?" Katsuki snarked.

"Not much different than 15 honestly."

"So how did you spend the day Iruka?" Inko asked.

"Patrolling the city." Iruka laughed awkwardly.

"That's so boring though," Izuku mentioned.

"Says the one on a hospital bed," Katsuki remarked which made the two bicker.

Someone knocked at Iruka's door.

"Iruka could I come in?" It was Shoto.

"Of course you can." When he opened the door Fuyumi came in holding a cake with a candle on top. Fuyumi started to sing and soon the ones on the call and Shoto joined in.

Iruka was near tears. Of course, she's celebrated her birthday before but something about Shoto knowing felt oddly nice. Iruka looked at her friends and family and smiled until someone caught her eye. When everyone had finished singing Iruka was still in shock.

"Uhh Happy Birthday Iruka." Hitoshi said from behind Shota and Hizashi which sent the blond into a heart attack.

"Shinso you can't creep up on people like that!" Hizashi yelled while some of the others laughed.

"Hitoshi..." She didn't know what to say. Didn't know what to think. There stood her friend who she was sure now knew the relationship between her and her parents.

"Hey dumbass if you aren't eating that cake I will." Katsuki boldly claimed.

"Bakugo I don't think you're that smart if you think you can get cake through the screen." Shoto pointed out which sent both Mitsuki and Hitoshi into a fit of laughter.

"THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT YOU ICY-HOT BASTARD!" Katsuki yelled out.

Iruka was drawn out from whatever ever daze she was in and decided she'd talk it out with Hitoshi later on. She was glad she didn't decide to immediately address it because it allowed her to enjoy the last few hours of her birthday with all the people she had grown to love and didn't want to spoil the mood.

Everyone was talking about internships and some of the adults even talk about their work, a topic that Fuyumi was glad to indulge, but it was hard to hold a conversation about 2 different topics considering that they weren't in person and instead on a phone. As the night went on Fuyumi had gotten closer with the parents while Hitoshi and Shoto had gotten much closer to the other kids.

"Why don't we call it a night kiddos. You six still have internships and me and Shinso should be off to patrol." Shota intervened.

"Good idea." Mitsuki yawned out and soon enough everyone waved their goodbyes as the call ended.

Iruka wished Fuyumi and Shoto goodnight before opening her messages.

Insomniac

Neko-Neko
Hey I know I should explain myself
And I will I promise
But I'd rather do it in person
So do you mind staying a little bit longer on Saturday?

Iruka knew he probably wouldn't see the message until after patrol and even then he probably wouldn't reply right then and there if he was super tired but Iruka wasn't going to drag in on.

Insomniac
Ya sure thing
Get some rest, happy birthday
Goodnight

Well, that was a much faster response than Iruka thought it would be.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fun fact I actually based Iruka's birthday on the fact that I wanted it to happen during internships.

Soo if you haven't noticed I have been editing and re-publishing some of the early chapters so forgive me if you keep getting notifications for that.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and if you did please vote and/or comment, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Have a lovely day, night, weekend, wherever, whenever you are.

Stay safe,
Bye Lovies~