Yui sighed softly as they followed the crowd, even though they’d waited until the third of January the shrine in Kyushu was still bustling with people paying their first visit of the new year. When she was still with her sperm and egg donors, she’d never participated in holidays, she understood what others did but never took part until she met Izuku. Yui didn’t consider herself particularly religious, but Himi and Izuku wanted to go to the shrine to offer their prayers.

Of course, Himi had convinced Izuku to wear a kimono with her. Yui and Dabi had both been firm with not wearing something that formal. Yui hated all the layers and felt too restricted, she figured Dabi didn’t want to deal with wearing a kimono on top of the suit that helped regulate his temperature. They’d both settled on nice black slacks and dress shoes, Dabi wearing an icy blue button-down shirt and a thin black jacket and a black mask that hid most of his face. Yui had on a teal blouse under her thigh-length black winter jacket, her hands shoved in teal mittens. Her hair was covered by a black beanie and she had on bright green contacts that matched Izuku’s eyes.

Izuku had on a plain dark green and black kimono, his cheeks a little flushed from the cold as he smiled wide at Himiko. In contrast to him, her kimono was bright red with patterns of black, white and red flowers. The two were walking ahead of them, both with large smiles as they approached the shrine, the sun’s fading rays painting the sky in hues of orange and red.

“They’re always so excitable.” She turned toward Dabi’s chuckle, his cerulean eyes warm as he watched them. They followed the line of people until they could wash their hands, heading further into the shrine. They all gave their offering, going in one after the other to pray.

Yui went last, lighting the incense stick and putting it in the sand before fanning the smoke towards herself. She rang the bell, wondering if the god really came when it was rung before she bowed twice, folding her hands in prayer. Please, if I could be granted anything, please keep Izuku safe, Himiko and Dabi healthy, and let Aizawa and Yamada live long, healthy lives… She clapped her hands twice before she gave the last bow, leaving the shrine to join her family outside.

“We have to get the omikuji!” Himi smiled as she held onto Izuku’s hand, “Oh, I hope we all get good luck!”

“You know, I’ve always gotten bad luck when I went before.” Dabi chuckled at the wide eyes Himi and Izuku gave him.

“Well, maybe this year will be different, Dabs-“

“Um, Yui-nee…” She blinked, turning to look at Izuku, who was pointing down the path, “Isn’t that Aizawa and Yamada?”

Her head snapped up to focus on the pair, she couldn’t help but groan when she saw that he was right. “What are they doing in Kyushu?” She mumbled, “I don’t think they know we’re here; we can just avoid- Himi!” She whisper-shouted as the blonde raced ahead, wondering how she could move so fast in that kimono. The three of them ran after her, Dabi’s hand almost reaching her before she tapped on Yamada’s arm.

“Excuse me! Are you Aizawa and Yamada? My name is Himiko and-mph!” Yui’s hand covered her mouth, pulling her back when the adults turned to the small group.

“Izu and Yui! We were hoping you two would be here!” Yamada smiled wide, his green eyes glinting with…mischief? “And who are your friends?”

“Problem children most likely. They’re always attracting trouble.” Aizawa graced them with a smirk.

Yui sighed as Izuku smiled nervously, Himi wriggling against her until she let go of her. Dabi was eyeing Aizawa looking conflicted between arguing with Aizawa's comment...or agreeing with him. “Yamada, Aizawa…this is Himiko and Dabi. They’re our…cousins.”

“It’s so nice to meet you! I’m Hizashi Yamada and this is my husband Shouta Aizawa.” Yamada smiled wide as he offered his hand, the blonde girl jumping a bit as she shook his hand excitedly.

“I’ve wanted to meet you for so long! Yui-chan and Izu-chan talk about you all the time! You have cats, right? Are they cute? Are you really…heroes?” She whispered the last word, leaning in and looking around nervously at the people.

“Yep! We’re incognito today though.” Yamada chuckled, both of the adults were wearing black kimonos, their hair held back in neat buns. Yui sighed as she stood next to Aizawa, nudging him a bit.

“I’m surprised you’re wearing that. And without your capture weapon.”

“I get a day off, problem child, I shouldn’t need it today. Green eyes, huh?” He grumbled, raising an eyebrow at her.

“I have to match my little brother. Did you even shave? Are we interrupting a date? We can get out of your hair.” She offered, she knew the two heroes rarely got to go out and have time to themselves with their jobs.

“Zashi has been planning this for a while. He wanted to know why you two kept going to Kyushu, especially when you told us you’d be away for almost a whole month. And this shrine is a lot less busy than the one in Musutafu.” He shrugged, before he turned toward her, “It’s a relief that you two were visiting family.”

“Hey, we can’t be vigilantes all the time. And I made a deal with you, that we’d only do that back home, so we can call you.” She mumbled, trying to repress a shudder as a particularly cold gust of wind blew against them. She was really missing the suit she wore, it helped keep her body heat in during winter, she hated the cold. It was like she couldn’t process things as fast or her body was sluggish.

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“Did you get your omikuji yet? We can go together?” Izuku offered, looking up at Yamada. He let out a giggle as the adult ruffled his curls.

“We were just going to get those! Did you want to join us for dinner? We were going to get ramen at this shop we visit every year?” Yamada offered.

“Oh, can we, can we? Pleeaasseee Yui-chan? Dabi?” Himiko turned her puppy dog eyes on the two. Yui turned toward Dabi, noting that he was hanging back. He was almost glaring at the adults, his arms crossed over his chest.

“If you don’t want to, you don’t have to. It’s just an offer, we’d like to know more about the problem children’s family.” Aizawa shrugged, before he offered his hand to him, Dabi narrowed his eyes at the gesture before he slowly shook his hand.

“Fine. A bowl of ramen won’t kill us.” He grumbled out.

“Yay! Thank you, Dabi!” Himiko smiled wide before she grabbed both Yamada’s and Izuku’s arms and dragged them onward to the stall that had the omikuji.

“Thanks Dabi.” Yui smiled softly at him as they followed the three of them, watching as they got their predictions.

“Yeah, yeah, it’s not a problem, brat.” She batted his hand away after he pulled her close and into a noogie, her hair peeking out from beneath the hat before she quickly tucked the strands back under.

“Jerk.” She muttered, even though she didn’t pull away from him. Even with the suit, Dabi gave off heat which she’d lean into without shame when she was cold.

“I’m glad you two have an adult in your lives, even if you don’t live with them.” They both looked up at Eraser’s voice, blinking owlishly at him before they both chuckled.

“Yui’s the one who got me and the blonde brat off the streets. Some adult I am. I can’t even convince them to knock off the shit they get into.” Dabi muttered.

“To be fair, you’ve never really tried. But you’re right, it probably wouldn’t have mattered, we would have kept doing it.” Yui admitted softly, rubbing the back of her neck.

“At least you’re being fucking honest.”

“Shhh! You and I have to stop swearing so much around Izu and Himi. They’re picking it up.”

He raised a single eyebrow at her, “You know that’s doomed to failure, right?”

“A girl can dream.”

“Yui-nee! Dabi-nii! Come on and get your omikuji!” Himi was waving at them, pouting a bit at their slow pace.

“Yeah! You gotta get good luck this time, Dabi-nii!” Izuku grinned, they both chuckled as they walked up to the stall, getting their numbered stick and taking the scroll of paper as they thanked the attendant. Izuku and Himi both pressed against Dabi’s sides as they waited for him to unroll it.

“You two act like this will change my life or something.” He mumbled as he unfurled the paper. Yui did the same as she heard Yamada chuckle.

“Oh to be young again.”

“Zashi, you were just bouncing along with them over your good luck.” Eraser rolled his eyes playfully at the blonde as he pouted.

“See! You got good luck this time!” Himiko giggled, “They’re not all bad!”

“Huh, don’t think this’ll make me a positive person. I’m still an asshole.”

“You’re not! We all know you’re a big softie.” Izuku giggled, dodging the noogie Dabi tried to pull him into, sticking his tongue out at him as he and Himi ran away from him.

Eraser rolled his eyes, but there was warmth in the black depths. “Are they always so energetic?” He blinked when Yui didn’t answer him, turning to see the girl staring at the paper in her hands. “Yui? Kiddo? Anyone home?” He put a hand on her shoulder, making her jump before she looked up at him.

“Oh, sorry. Um, yeah, they’re always like this. Chaos personified when they’re together, luckily, they like to gang up on Dabi. So, you two should be safe.” She folded up the paper, looking around.

“Did you get bad luck?” Yamada asked when her gaze fell on the rack that people tied their omikuji on.

“Yeah, I’m not really superstitious but...” She bit her lip before she glanced at her family, “I don’t want it following me home if I could help it.” They followed after her as she tied the paper on the wire, “So, um, you still up for ramen? Not going to regret inviting chaos along? I will warn you that Himi and Dabi have been banned from a ramen shop.”

“How’d they manage that?”

“Dabi has a flame Quirk, Himi made Dabi sneeze so hard it...activated. Burned the seat he was on. The guy thought it was on purpose.” She shrugged, her lips curling into a small smile at the memory.

“Well, I doubt it’s the same ramen shop.” Yamada chuckled, “And if it is, maybe two off-duty pro heroes can get him to change his mind.” He winked, hooking his arm with Aizawa’s as they followed after them. Izuku had managed to climb on top of Dabi’s back, getting an impromptu piggyback ride.

“Ooohh, using your hero status for such devious means.” Yui grinned at him, “What other things do you get away with?”

“Oh, this one-time Sho and I-”

“Not another word, Hizashi. Or you’re going to be sleeping on the couch.” Aizawa threatened, sending a red eyed glare his husband’s way. The blonde mimed zipping his lips and throwing away the key.

Yui couldn't help but chuckle at their antics, following the adults as they caught up with the other half of their group. She relaxed just a little bit, just happy that there didn’t seem to be any tension between them, Yamada easily joking along with Izuku and Himi, the two younger kids each pulling the blonde ahead and chattering at him about his Quirk, and his teaching job. Yui let out a chuckle as she caught up to them, glancing back at Dabi and giving him a quick thumbs up before she left him alone with Aizawa, Izuku and her hooking their arms together.

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Dabi watched Yui, looking as if he'd preferred she had stayed. His eyes shifting to the Pro Hero before straight ahead. Thoughts a blur as he kept circling back to what the man had first said, and as his family got further away, the hero’s silence only made the pressure in his chest tighter and the jumble of thoughts race faster. Until finally it broke.

"They're not problem children. They're gremlins old man..."Dabi pointed at Aizawa accusingly before blinking when he realized what just poured from his mouth. "I mean they're my gremlins! And if anyone's a problem it’s me!...No wait. I..." Kami! Why was it so hard to get his thoughts across?! He groaned through clenched teeth as he ran a hand through his hair, yanking roughly. He kept his other hand clenched behind his back, little flares of blue flickering and flitting around his fingers sporadically. They weren’t big enough to draw attention yet, but if it wasn’t stopped…

“I get it.” Dabi’s head snapped up at Aizawa’s tone: soft, calm, not an ounce of derision to be found. His gruff voice conveyed an understanding, black eyes meeting cerulean without flinching, the color holding a warmth that most people would miss.

The younger man’s shoulders tensed at the blunt proclamation, continuing to search in those inky depths before most of the tension eased, seemingly satisfied with what he found as the flames flickered out. He kept in step with Aizawa as they approached their destination.

Yamada held the door and shooed the kids, and Dabi inside, giving his husband a knowing look before pecking his cheek as the dark haired man passed him. “Look at you, my big strong kit-“

“Hey! I told you two you aren’t allowed in here anymore!”

The two heroes blinked, before the blonde put on his best smile and went to hopefully get their vigilante children’s ‘cousins’ a pardon. Aizawa sighed softly, rubbing the back of his neck before he went to join them. Yep…more problem children.