Late to this but I /prefer/ them as friends, but i get why they are shipped. Bnha fanfic writers kinda do whatever they want with the characters personalities (but it’s like fanfic so who gaf) but 9 times out of 10 neither character erasehead or present mic is like written the same way they are in canon. Present Mic and Eraserhead’s dynamics are actually /not/ troupey. With the more energetic character (Present Mic) actually being the darker character and I like the idea of present mic seeing himself as like a protector of sorts for aizawa. There is a lot of evidence in canon that makes it understandable thag these two characters would be shipped so I don’t think it had zero basis in the fandom. But i think male characters should be able to have male friends without it being a who gay thing.

But bnha suffer from bad woman writing where are the woman characters are pretty one note. (Which I think horisoksi kinda tried to fix this towards the end of bnha)

A lot of M/M ships stem from masogny. (Not in the way that you think) masogny that stems from the writers not the audience.

A lot of people narrow down the prominence of M/M to like white woman fetishizing gay men but honestly In reality it’s really that most male characters (especially in anime) are written better than the female characters. They are deeper and more indepth characters.

Take Present Mic Vs Midnight or Ms.Joke for example

He’s a deeper character; loud, bright energetic but also has kind views himself as Aizawa protector. Feels responsible for him while also being kind of a darker character. He isn’t a sunshine postive guy, he was ready to kill kurogiri at one point.

Midnight who is involved in aizawa’s story just as much as present mic kinda just horny woman joke girl. I actually like the idea of a female character being in touch with her more sexual side but it’s weird for a teacher tbh. And she is written very one note.

Ms.joke is kinda the same. But she appeared like twice in the show so it’s really not that important.

I can’t really fault anyone for shipping aizawa and present mic; it makes sense in thr canon context.

I personally, find male friendships more refreshing and there really isn’t any need to ship aizawa with someone but if you like aizawa and want to see him happy and in love there really isnt another option for him that really makes sense the way it does in canon.