Thanks so much for all the love you have been showing. I'm glad several people are enjoying this story!
There was a huge gap between Bakugo and Shoto's chair before the principal, Kairi seated close to the other side of Shoto. She kept eyes on her hands while she picked at her nails, preventing herself from looking up. Shoto looked to her again, waiting for her to answer to avoid speaking for her. Except she remained silent once again, and looked more interested in her feet.
"Well, Miss Hoshino is far from being a trouble-maker," Nezu said with a smile. "Bakugo, what was it about Hoshino's quirk overspill that upset you?"
"What about it isn't offensive?" he snarled, but the look Nezu gave him was enough to settle his voice a little. "It's a violation, making me feel things I don't want to feel. It's manipulation, it's almost like brainwashing!"
"This isn't the first time you've been in here for an incident like this," Nezu said kindly, relaxing his gaze with Kairi. She shook her head. "But it doesn't sound like its one of the usual suspects, does it?" She quietly swung her leg as Aizawa stood in the corner of the room, keeping his gaze on Kairi to erase her quirk's effects. The room waited.
"She said she couldn't quite identify the feeling, sir," Shoto replied when she refused to answer. Nezu sipped loudly on his teacup before relaxing against his chair, pushing his paws together.
"Well, you should have felt it too," he finally said, calmly. "What were you feeling? Can you describe it?" Shoto shrugged.
"I... don't know that I could. I didn't feel any different than when I woke up this morning." Kairi raised an eyebrow at him.
"That's bullshit," Bakugo said lowly. "There is no way you didn't feel that. Her projection of her emotions was especially strong today."
"That doesn't make sense," Kairi finally said softly, causing the room to turn to her. "You should have felt it. And you claimed to be my b... best friend. You should feel it stronger than anyone else in the room." Shoto shrugged.
"I don't feel a change in my emotions."
"It's possible that Todoroki has developed the ability to block out her quirk," Aizawa offered, keeping his eyes on Kairi. "It wouldn't be a surprise. If they hang out around each other outside as often as they give the impression to, he might have learned to become familiar and comfortable enough to the point where he knows how to block it out."
"Is that true?" Kairi asked, leaning over her chair.
"I don't think so," Shoto dismissed. "I felt her anger when she got mad at Bakugo. It was more intense than her usual anger is. I felt her disappointed and hurt when we walked here. Unsure why, as it wasn't her fault. But I didn't feel whatever Bakugo is talking about, or whatever it is that had the class agitated."
"Are you an idiot?" Bakugo growled, turning to glare over at Shoto. "How could you not?!"
"Let's not fight about this!" Nezu intervened brightly, a smile still on his face. "Teenagers are often dealing with many emotions, some of them new, so it really is no surprise that you are unable to name whatever emotion you are having. However, according to what Mr. Aizawa and your other teachers told me today – while the class did appear to be a little on edge there seemed to be disputes or arguments regarding the issue."
"You're telling me I'm the only one bothered by this?!" Bakugo snarled.
"Ah, yes it would appear to be that for the moment," Nezu said sympathetically. "I understand it doesn't help that Hoshino has no idea what she is feeling. Once you do, perhaps we can proceed. In the meantime, I suggest Bakugo and Hoshino stay away from each other."
"I have no problem with that," Kairi said dryly. Bakugo huffed.
"However..." Nezu glowered, looking over the three students darkly. "Based on the stories all three – or two of you- shared, they all seemed to line up. It sounds as if Kairi was only trying to break away from Bakugo. You will receive no punishment at this time."
"What?!" scowled Bakugo.
"However, Todoroki and Bakugo did violate the rules. Todoroki was only trying to protect his friend and sought to push him away rather than hurt him. Nonetheless he still engaged in reckless behavior on schoolgrounds and will receive detention for a week. Bakugo, you were violent and did so unprovoked. You will receive detention for two weeks, and another offense will get you suspended for a week. Enough offense is liable to get you expelled. So I suggest you control your temper and save the fighting for the training grounds." The darkness left the small creature and he was cheerful again, holding out his arms triumphantly. "You are dismissed! Enjoy your lunch!"
Grumbling, the blonde kid reached for his bag and trudged out of the room. Kairi rose just as Aizawa was blinking and reached for a small bottle on his person. Shoto shot out his arm, stopping her.
"You should probably give us some distance." Kairi nodded, and waited for the footsteps to diminish. Finally, Shoto nodded and the two of them gave their thanks before shutting the door to the office behind them. Nezu sighed and leaned against his chair.
"You know exactly what's going on, don't you?" Nezu said to the teacher in the corner as he cradled his tea.
"Of course I do," Aizawa said, holding the eyedrop bottle over his iris. He blinked rapidly. "We've watched crushes develop between students more than once over the years. It's just as we always do – stay out of it and let things develop as they will unless it becomes a disturbance or danger to any party."
"Yes, but I do fear what this could mean for her quirk," Nezu stated worriedly. "The fact she seems to truly have no idea what is happening tells me this is the first time this has happened to her."
"Also not unusual," Aizawa said, and crossed his arms. "But you're right about the problem this could pose. Teenagers already are dealing with raging hormones and the overspill of her feelings could mimic an increase in those feelings. Kids might become distracted, not pay attention in class. That could effect both their grades and their abilities in training, stunting their hero training."
"Not to mention the rivalries that it could form, jealousy – both from friendships and potential untrustworthiness. Something so wonderful and seeming so innocent could bring about so much pain. Sad, really."
"What are you suggesting, Nezu?"
"Of course, we don't want discourage anything between them. We don't want them to think we're against any romance blossoming between students, or that we think it's a terrible thing. In fact, it's a lovely thing! Romance between heroes could potentially expose some weaknesses, but it can also provide strength. But I think they should at least be made aware of things that could happen."
"Health class took care of the sex ed last year, Nezu," Aizawa dismissed quickly.
"No, no, I am not talking about that! Of course, perhaps that is worth revisiting. I am simply talking about a friendly discussion about what dating could mean for heroes in training. The responsibilities, the dangers, but also the possibilities it could open and how love can be a huge motivator and expose more heroics in us we didn't know we had!" He smiled wistfully, as if remembering something from long ago. "Don't you recall a young romance and how it made you feel like you could do anything?"
"I'm not having this conversation."
"Well, you will be. We should have a meeting about this. Next week, I would like every homeroom to have such a discussion with their class."
"I am not having that discussion with my class, Nezu!" His eyes glinted a warning to his administrator. Nezu innocently sipped at his teacup, unwavering from his position.
"Fine, I'll have Nemuri do it in each class." Aizawa swallowed, harshly.
"Fine, I'll do it." His groan was evident of his reluctance on the manner.
"Remember, Shota. Do not discourage it. Just allow it to naturally occur how it will, and only intervene to prevent any disturbances." With a disturbing grin, the principal spun proudly in his seat. Aizawa moaned in distress before he left the principal's office.
"So you got off scot-free but Todoroki needs to have detention for a week?" Iida clarified after swallowing a piece of egg. Kairi pushed around a piece of broccoli on her tray. "While I can't argue with their policy, I agree that if you hadn't intervened, Hoshino could have been crushed to pieces."
"What's his deal anyway?" Momo asked, twirling her chopsticks over a bowl in front of her. "It's like he's had it out for Kairi the moment he met her. First he permanently scars her elbow and then he almost crushes her in the hallway."
"Bakugo has always been pretty agitated," Tsu reminded, her tongue lapping up a pork cutlet.
"It seems like Kairi makes him more aggressive though," Shoto said before he bit off a piece of bread.
"That's because when we first met he felt offended by my quirk. Which made me angry. And then he felt my anger which only made him angrier... and then it snowballed and basically I can't stand him and any moment I see him I get mad. Which makes him madder than he already is, plus he thinks my quirk is a violation and then..." She spread out her arms, as if displaying the already current situation. "Basically, I enhance his already present anger. It's happened before, a couple of fights were started because of me. This is what I was saying though, when I said my quirk would cause issues. Unless there was a perfect classroom with pleasant people, no one could handle me. I'm surprised it's taken this long if I'm honest."
"You really don't know what is you're feeling?" Izuku asked, leaning over the table slightly to listen better.
"Not really? I mean... you all felt it, right? For some reason, Shoto says he couldn't but you felt it? What do you think it was?" Momo gasped as if she were about to say something, but then her face reddened. Iida averted his eyes and paid close attention to his food. Izuku and Uraraka looked away from each other and much of the table turned a deep red. Only Shoto, Kairi, and Aoyama remained unembarrassed. And Aoyama simply looked across the table smugly.
"No idea, if I'm honest," Momo laughed.
"I didn't really feel anything," Uraraka said.
"Confused me too," added Izuku.
"I was too focused on the lesson," said Iida.
"It was too strange to name," said Tsu quietly.
"No one knows?" Kairi squeaked, the amber in her eyes bulging. "Am I really that weird? Am I really sick or something?!"
"Trust me, you're perfectly fine," Aoyama said quietly, neatly padding at the sides of his lips with a napkin. "There's nothing abnormal about your feelings."
"Thanks, Aoyama but... wait do you know?" Kairi asked, stretching across the table. He simply shrugged and held out a pinkie as he sipped at his milk. "Aoyama!"
"I can't say, but I do believe you will figure it out in due time," he said dreamily. "You're intelligent and more in tune to your feelings than anyone in class." A smile filled her cheeks.
"Aww, thanks Aoyama." She slipped back into her seat beside Shoto and relaxed a little as she shoved more of her lunch into her mouth. Shoto paused mid swallow and zoned his expression onto the dark blue purple splotches that ran over Kairi's wrists. He wrinkled his brow and paused before finishing swallowing.
"Do you need to go to the infirmary and have those checked out?" he asked lowly.
"Hmm?" she turned her wrists and licked at a crumb hanging on her lip. Shoto reddened and looked away. "They're just bruises, nothing to be done about them."
"But Recovery Girl could make them go away faster."
"They're just bruises, they'll be fine. You already did your part anyway. Which, by the way, thank you."
"How about emotionally, are you all right?" Kairi scoffed between laughs.
"I'm never emotionally okay, but no, the event hasn't scarred me any worse than I already am." The darkness in her answered awkwardly silenced the table as they focused more on their trays of food. Shoto also fell into silence. Kairi reached for her phone, tapping out a message.
Did you mean that, by the way? – K.
Shoto's bag pinged then. While Izuku began a conversation that brought life back to the table, he reached for his phone, a sliver of a grin appearing on his face when he looked at his phone.
Mean what? – S.
About me being your best friend. -K
Of course I did. Why would I said it and not mean it? – S.
I just never had one. I never even really had a friend so a best friend is basically a cryptid to me. -K.
Well, here I am, your personal Loch Ness Monster. -S.
Yeah, monster's about right. -K.
If I'm a cryptid, you can't prove that I am. -S.
Kairi giggled and tucked away her phone for the moment. Shoto looked over to her and rolled his eyes with a simmering chuckle before returning to his food. Feeling warm and relaxed, the mood at the table eased. Tsu began discussion about their next assignment, lending to some interesting responses and grievances from the table. The talk seemed to fade out into a distant warble to Kairi, as the only thing in the room that seemed to shine brighter and stand out over anything else was the smallest of smirks Shoto gave, right in her direction.
Aoyama ate silently, a knowing smile growing back onto his expression.