Chapter Text
Todoroki wasn’t particularly excited to be next for the exam, but he was glad he was going to get it over with. Once he knows his result, maybe he’ll be able to get to know himself a little better and find a side of himself he’s never known before.
When he and Aizawa entered the room, he was surprised at how comfortable it seemed. It wasn’t a classroom with desks and a whiteboard, but more of a hangout room? He doesn’t know exactly what to call it. It had a comfortable looking couch set, with extremely comfortable looking bean bags in a few corners around the room. The colors around the room were slightly vibrant, but relaxing at the same time and the ambient lighting added to the atmosphere.
Looking around the room, a little bit of tension left his body. Present Mic really wasn’t lying about the exam. It was much more informal than Todoroki assumed.
“Sit anywhere you’d like Todoroki,” Aizawa stated, “then we can begin.”
Todoroki glanced around one last time before beelining for the bean bag chairs. He’s never sat in one before and he was curious about how it felt. As soon as he sat, it was like the chair swallowed him and he loved it. He got comfortable in the chair and waited for Aizawa to join him.
Rather than sitting in another bean bag chair with him, Aizawa just stuck to his sleeping bag on the floor, at least keeping eye level with Todoroki, which makes it even less intimidating.
“To cut straight to the point, do you have any idea of whether or not you’ll be a little or a caregiver?” Aizawa asked.
Todoroki hesitated before speaking, “I’m not too certain about it, but I believe I may be leaning towards the little side.”
“Thank you for being honest Todoroki. Any particular reasons, mannerisms, or behavior that makes you think so?”
Todoroki didn’t know whether or not to open up to Aizawa. On one hand, he didn’t want to divulge his past and family life to his teacher and turn it into a therapy session, but on the other hand this was all about trust and he did request that they all be honest and so he answered.
“I didn’t have the greatest childhood. If it isn’t obvious, I was only created to make up for all of my fathers failures, especially being the number 2 hero,” Shoto began, “And my father never let me forget that fact since the day I was born. I was made to be his successor, not his son.”
Aizawa tried to keep his expression neutral but it was hard. Though he didn’t like to show it, he really cared for his students in class 1A and hearing just this small bit of his students’ childhood saddens him.
“I had three older siblings, one who died when I was very young, but the other two grew up around me. But not really with me. For as long as I could remember, I trained with my father relentlessly. I wasn’t allowed to play games with my siblings, not even for a second. I didn’t get to go to school to make friends. I barely even knew people existed outside of my house.” Todoroki said, feeling quite apathetic about it.
He resents his father for all that he’s done, but the past can’t be changed. Fortunately, the future can be shaped.
“Endeavor made it so that I never had a childhood in the first place and I think I’d like to experience that. I have to admit, I’m hesitant to do so with the entire class, but I think it would be good for all of us.”
“Thank you for sharing all of that Todoroki. I appreciate that and your willingness to give this a try. I know it must all seem so strange, but we believe it will all be worth it in the end. I’m sorry you had to go through all of that with your father,” Aizawa apologized, “it was unfair and no one should have to go through something like that.”
Todoroki blushed, momentarily embarrassed, as if finally realizing what he revealed to his teacher. He also wasn’t used to being apologized to and definitely not by adults.
Aizawa continued, “I agree with your reasoning though, it does seem like a valid reason to lean towards the little side of things. Did you also think you have caregiver tendencies?”
Todoroki shook his head. Even if he wanted to care for someone, he just wouldn’t know how to.
“Alright, that will make this process go a lot faster. This next part will be based on the assumption that you are in fact a little. I’m going to try and assign you an age range. All I’m going to do is set out two objects on the ground at a time, and you can pick the one that calls out to you the most. Neither choice is right or wrong, it's simply what you prefer. Understand?” Aizawa explained
Todoroki nodded, “Yes sir.”
And seemingly out of thin air, Aizawa pulled out a box of items. The first two things he placed on the floor were a colorful plastic cell phone that had wonky buttons on it and a large remote control toy car.
Todoroki had never seen either of the items before in his life, so it took him a little bit to decide which he preferred. He first tested out the remote control car, driving it around the room and crashing a bit along the way. Then he grabbed the cell phone, unsure of what to do with it. He looked to Aizawa for directions.
“Why don’t you try pressing one of the buttons Todoroki?” Aizawa asked, giving him the push he needed.
As soon as he pressed one of the numbers, there was a jingly noise emitted from the phone and Todoroki looked at it wide-eyed. He didn’t expect it to make any noise whatsoever. He pressed again just to make sure. And once he was sure it actually made noise, he proceeded to touch each and every button and he was pleasantly surprised when each button made its own unique noise.
His eyes lit up in the process and it warmed Aizawa’s heart. He stared at the boy fondly and knew for a fact he was a little and that he would be an adorable one. It was clear Todoroki was set on the toy phone, so he continued on with the next few items.
Shoto always went for the items that were sensory stimulating, anything that had noise, buttons, matching, all of that.
By the end of the exam, which took a bit longer than expected, Aizawa pronounced Shoto Todoroki as a little with a headspace ranging from the ages 2-6.
Aizawa shouldn’t have a particular preference for what his students tested as, but he was glad that Todoroki was a little, and in a younger age range. It was refreshing to see him, such a tense student, relax during the exam.
He also hopes that it shows the rest of the class that there is absolutely nothing wrong with all of this. If even one of their strongest classmates can open up and be vulnerable enough to be a little, and a younger one, then the rest of the class should have absolutely nothing to be afraid of.
But even though this was another easy exam, Aizawa wasn’t excited for the next. Surprisingly, rather than him being left to All Might, Izuku Midoriya was left to him for this exam. And he has the distinct feeling that the problem child will live up to his nickname.