#why isn't there more size gap in their shipping fics?!??

[dyinggirldied]

Size gap (Yoojin is 175 cm while Hyunjae is 197 cm)

[chainslobber]

<< this a genuine question and not intended to be hateful, apologies in advance if my tone comes off strange. I am trying to word this correctly. >>

I have seen that you post on Twitter occasionally about aizawa x student ships. As a former anti who has decided to take a neutral stance in the pro/anti debate, there are still things I don't understand. I'm curious as to what is interesting to you about those ships. Why does the age gap not deter you + what is appealing to you about it? This is a GENUINE question, i really truly want to know your perspective. I don't mean this to be condescending, honest. I truly would like to understand this. I see lots of teacher/student ships with aizawa, and I can't wrap my head around them. So I'm curious, truly, what is the appeal? Is it chemistry? Visually appealing? Is it appealing because of the "forbidden love" aspect, or perhaps a way to cope with personal emotional turmoil? Of course you're only one person, and you do not speak for all shippers. I hope that it's fine to ask this. If you'd rather not, then kindly disregard this.

either way, I wish you a lovely day. 🩷

Hello, anon!

Firstly, I want to say I am SO proud of you for getting out of anti circles. As a former anti myself, I know it's scary to have all your friends turn on you for enjoying fictional content. Secondly, there's no such thing as proshippers, as much as Twitter would have you believe. That was the fandom normal until about 2014 when fandoms shifted violently into puritanism. Proshipper literally just means if you find something you dislike, you simply scroll past, block, or mute, and you DON'T start dogpiling or making everyone look at whatever grossed you out. Funnily enough, I dislike a TON of 'proshipper' norms, like noncon, pedophilia, and even incest in most situations.

However, to answer your question:

To be honest, and this might not be the answer you're looking for, Horikoshi once mentioned he wanted UA to be a college. But Shonen Jump told him it would do better if it was teenagers, as most shonen anime/manga are often. That said, while I know the students are technically teenagers, I never see them as such, I always see them as older.

This isn't me going 'haha now antis can't get me!', because let's be real, antis will blame you for aging them up too. But the reality is, I never really see them as teenagers, either, and most of my favorite fics tend to age up the students as well. MOST Aibaku/Shinzawa fics have them getting together after graduation and I think most people in the MHA fandom are also in their 20s/30s and want something more 'our' age and speed.

My most popular fic for MHA is Cynocephaly, an Aibaku fic, where you probably found me. I also am not shy about RT Aibaku, Shinzawa, and Dabibaku (a personal ship of mine I adore but there's hardly any food. Boo.)

However, I think the appeal for me is that Aizawa just 'works' with the students. I know that might sound strange, but considering he's now canonically their teacher for 3 years, he's seen these kids at their lowest. He's seen them get kidnapped, mutilated, disabled, even /killed/. And we all know they trust him with their lives, as he's put his own on the line for them.

In my own experience, I see Aizawa as a gay man. He doesn't act all grossed out around Nemuri, and while Miss Joke is played for--well, laughs--he just seems more comfortable and vocal around men. And obviously, I don't see Bakugou as straight at all, I ship him with men. In my mind, they work together. I don't really see it as taboo. I've been a teenager learning about my body and had a gym teacher with melon-sized biceps and pecs walk in. I've seen my teachers wearing low-cut blouses and their cleavage on display. I've had teachers show me more love and support than my own parents, and while I can't say I've ever had the 'my teacher is hot' thoughts, it's anime. EVERYONE IS HOT.

I can't speak for everyone; there are student/teacher shippers who even age UP Aizawa and make the students younger but that grosses me out, tbh. I guess the long and short is, I think they're very hot people, they work well dynamically, and it's all fictional anyways. I'm just playing with barbie dolls the way people play with their OCs.

I do want to thank you for being very kind and wondering 'why' instead of immediately pointing fingers and screaming like most other people do. Fiction is just that: fiction. None of my ships are the golden rule and squeaky clean. There are SO many fic writers and artists I've befriended because I saw a WEIRD ship and went 'why do they like this?" and now they're a fantastic friend.

Asking 'why' and gaining insight is how fandoms stay fun for everyone. You might not like student/teacher, or even agegap stuff and that's 100% okay! But I do think it's really cool and brave of you to ask me why *I* like those things. Maybe you'll learn something from it. Maybe other people can put their own insights into it?

But the long and short is that Aibaku, for me (and Shinzawa to a point) feels really comforting. Having someone you love who loves you wholly in turn and understands your struggles is something I think everyone wants in their life. Stability and safety.

Stay curious, my friend, and thank you again for stepping out of the anti zone. I promise you'll be okay. It's safer and happier here than people realize.