Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters mentioned here.
This story was made with the sole purpose of entertainment and is not intended to be taken seriously in any social, political or religious context under any circumstances.
As such, the actions and/or viewpoints expressed by the characters in this story do not automatically reflect the opinions of the author.
This purely fictional tale is not meant to neither educate nor serve as any kind of moral example to follow by whomever consumes this type of content willingly.
"My Hero Academia" and its characters created by Kōhei Horikoshi.
"Don't Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro!" and its characters created by Nanashi.
Please Be My Hero, Nagatoro!
V
Manners Maketh Man
That morning, Izuku rose with the sun.
Despite having plenty of time to prepare, he still left his apartment in a rush. Though the subsequent train ride went smoothly.
Thus he reached the school earlier than most, a calculated move on his part.
The cool climate from the previous night lingered over the grounds of U.A. Vast, grey clouds covered the blue empyrean, drifting and shapeshifting across the tarnished atmosphere. He should've grabbed a scarf before leaving home, as he could see his fuming breath taking the lead.
Around him, few faces roamed the vicinity. None familiar, thankfully…
Standing beneath the threshold of the main gate, he pulled out his phone, hesitating.
'Still 20 minutes before classes begin. Good…'
Yet, Izuku grimaced when several messages flashed on the screen, all unread.
Iida's lectures about responsibility, Uraraka's kind-hearted encouragement.
Just like Nagatoro's mischievous jokes, along questions concerning his well-being.
He couldn't deny it. It was a blessing to have friends that cared this much. He spent years longing for such company. And now that he found it, he cherished it immensely.
Hence the origin of his gnawing guilt.
In retrospect, faking a cold probably wasn't the good idea he believed at the moment. His mother's nerves surely suffered the consequences.
But he couldn't conceive a better plan.
A day of silence, absence. A small price to keep One For All secret.
Plus, it was his own mouth that got him into this predic-
"Out of the way, nerd!"
An abrupt push struck Izuku from behind. A push so strong that it made him lose his balance, stumble forward, and ultimately fall.
His knees met the concrete first, then his forearm after he painfully landed with a yelp. His phone escaping his grasp during the awkward slip.
"Fucking loser…"
Wincing, he strenuously gazed ahead, blinking to readjust his unfocused sight.
Once his vision cleared, Bakugo's silhouette came into view. His back turned on him while he walked forth without a sliver of remorse.
Izuku hissed lowly as his joints started burning.
He lingered there, motionless, because the ache soon eclipsed the humiliation of him lying prone upon the damp soil.
"K-Kacchan…"
Granted, he didn't consider that bash among the worst offenses Bakugo had committed against him. He's grown used to greater transgressions.
Regardless, he just felt relieved that the embarrassing incident wasn't witnessed by many.
Until a shadow loomed above him…
Instinctively, Izuku glanced at its source.
And he promptly fell prey of dread when he spotted Nagatoro beside him.
"I-I-…" whether from the freezing weather or his precarious position, he began trembling, since he could hear her unspoken judgment inside his head.
'Really, Midori? Just a little push and you're on the ground crying? You're pathetic. A wimp like you will never become a hero, ha-ha!'
His cheeks became hot, and his sight blurred anew. It was middle school all over again.
'Oh, no… Why now? Why!?'
However, she never repeated those words…
Instead, Izuku encountered Nagatoro's open palm in front of him.
No mockery. Not even mild teasing. Only her lending a hand. Her expression completely neutral throughout the exchange.
Baffled, he unconsciously took Nagatoro's palm. With a swift, firm tug, she pulled him up to his feet.
"Are you alright?" she asked. Her voice serene, far from the ridiculing tone he previously imagined.
"Y-Yeah, I'm fine." Izuku replied, wiping some dirt off his uniform.
At that instant, Nagatoro crouched afresh.
"Here…" a second later, she rose and gently handed him his phone.
Although, he didn't take it immediately. Rather, his focus centered on the ample, web-like crack seizing the screen of the device.
Izuku sighed heavily. This was definitely going to inconvenience him down the line.
"Thanks…" disheartened, he grabbed the phone and saved it within his pocket.
Meanwhile, a marked frown suddenly appeared on Nagatoro's face.
"The hell is his problem?"
Perplexed, Izuku aligned his gaze with hers, quickly realizing that she was staring towards Bakugo's figure fading in the distance.
'Of course she saw what happened…'
"I-… I-It's a long story," he turned to her again. "Kacchan wasn't always like that. W-We actually used to be friends, but…"
He couldn't finish the sentence. His thoughts getting lost amidst his childhood memories.
"Hmm… 'Friends', huh?" Nagatoro crossed her arms, giving him a questioning look. "And what happened? Did you sleep with his sister or something?"
Izuku's eyes sharply peeled as his mind went haywire with the implications of her comment.
"W-What?!" he raised his hands and frantically waved them to his sides in denial. "N-N-No, no, of course not! K-Kacchan doesn't even have any siblings! A-And I would n-never-!"
"Midoriya! Nagatoro!"
Straight away, both teens spun to the booming call, finding Iida hurriedly approaching them.
"Why are you still here!?" he exclaimed upon arrival. "Class begins in five minutes!"
"F-Five minutes!?" surprised, Izuku jumped lightly in his stance. Following Bakugo's aggression and Nagatoro's intrusion, he had forgotten about the clock altogether.
"You're one to talk, 'Mr. Class Representative'," Nagatoro retorted, placing her hands on her hips. "Aren't you supposed to get here before everybody else?"
Seemingly ashamed, Iida pushed his glasses further up his nose bridge. "My-My train got delayed…"
Unexpectedly, Izuku fell silent, disconcerted by the current scene.
Nagatoro and Iida holding a friendly conversation? Without any prior interactions?
Admittedly, he appreciated his friends also being friends amongst each other. It simply took him off guard. What exactly did he miss yesterday?
"W-Wait," Izuku spoke, his confused vision rapidly alternating between his two classmates. "You two know each other?"
Iida nodded, looking back to him. "We had a chance to get better acquainted yesterday during lunch break. But that's not important, we can't afford to miss class! Especially you, Midoriya!"
"I-… S-Sure!" Izuku blurted out. "Let's go!"
With no more preambles, the trio crossed the threshold, heading for the main building of U.A.
Across the entire journey from the entrance to the classroom, Izuku sensed Nagatoro's stare over him, peering into his very conscience.
Nevertheless, his academic responsibilities would help him keep his attention off whatever machiavellian ploy she was scheming.
He hoped so, at least…
As the final class drew to a close, the students of 1-A wasted no time in packing their belongings for the way home. Desks creaking whilst they left their chairs and flooded the exit.
"Deku! Nagatoro!" Uraraka merrily called, standing near the doorway with Iida beside her. "Are you coming with us?"
"Sure!" Izuku answered enthusiastically, rising from his seat. "Let me just-"
"Actually,"
A sudden bump on his back cut him off mid-sentence. Puzzled, he instantly turned, finding a cheerful Nagatoro behind him, placing one palm upon his shoulder.
"Midori and I are going to stay a little longer," she said. "He's going to help me with some notes, right?"
"N-Notes? For which cla-"
In that moment, she gave him a particular stare.
Eyebrows slightly up. A relaxed smile, and a peculiar glint sprinkling her golden eyes, quietly telling of wonder, yearning.
Even now, Izuku had trouble reading social cues, not to mention how close she was… It really unnerved him…
But he understood the silent request beneath her gentle gaze, so he warily played along.
"Y-Yeah, that's right," he eventually spoke. "I almost forgot…"
"Oh… Okay…" Uraraka sighed, growing visibly melancholic. "We'll see you tomorrow, then. Let's go, Iida."
Shortly later, they swiveled, abandoning the premises without delay.
Before long, Izuku and Nagatoro were the last inside the classroom…
He wasn't sure if she actually wanted help with school matters.
Yet, whatever she needed to ask him, apparently required a certain level of privacy. Thusly, it must be a truly important issue…
Gulping, Izuku inhaled deeply, and steadily glanced to Nagatoro, whom fortunately had given him some space.
"S-So," he began, trembling over his own words. "What notes d-do you need hel-"
Anew, his speech was severed when she abruptly leaned forth.
"N-Nagatoro!?" instinctively, Izuku pulled back.
Despite being a few inches taller than her, he still felt intimidated. What Nagatoro lacked in size, she amply compensated it with unrestrained straightforwardness.
She had that look again…
Half-lidded, laser-focused glare. A broad, toothy smirk perfectly showcasing her sharp fangs. And the slightest frown twisting her predatory expression.
For each step he retreated, she took another, ensuring that both remained face to face.
Izuku didn't realize that they were moving until she had him pinned against the wall.
"N-Nagatoro!" he squeaked, shuddering madly. "What are you doing!?"
"Me?" she replied nonchalantly. "I'm not doing anything… You on the other hand, must be quite busy as of late…"
"W-What do you m-m-mean?"
"You know exactly what I mean… Missing school with no reason, leaving my texts unanswered… Are you hiding from me?"
"N-N-No!" he stammered, gazing away from her. "I-It's not like that-t! I Just-"
"You promised to let me copy your homework, remember?" she shook her head, making a faint 'tsk' noise with her tongue. "Don't make a girl a promise, if you know you can't keep it…"
"I-I'm… I'm s-sorry," Izuku barely uttered, shutting his eyelids tightly. "B-B-But please… S-Stop…!"
Then, she stopped…
Acknowledging his desperate plea, she disengaged, allowing tranquility to settle.
Sensing the ceasing of her teasing, Izuku steadily opened his eyes, meeting a poised, somewhat-bemused Nagatoro. Her facial features calm, unfazed.
It wouldn't persist, though…
Since she soon regained her smug grin.
"You know…" she cooed, sounding a bit tired. "I really like the way you say my name…"
Out of the blue, she raised her hand, pressing two fingers against chest, and playfully walked them up to his collarbone, right below his chin.
"Say it again…"
Izuku sucked in a hitched breath, intense heat flushing his cheeks.
He shouldn't. It's a trap, he knew it. She's just toying him for the hell of it.
Nonetheless, his lips parted…
"Na-… Nagatoro…"
"Yeeees…?"
"You're… too close…"
"Oh, am I?"
That was a mistake, a grave one.
Because Nagatoro shortened the gap between them, to the point where their noses nearly brushed.
Slowly, very, very slowly, she moved her palm towards his nape. Naturally, Izuku shivered under her warm, tender touch.
And through a low, raspy, alluring voice, she purred into his ear:
"And what are you going to do about it?"
"I-I-…"
Cold sweat damped Izuku's forehead as an electric burst swiftly traced his spine. He promptly commanded his body to flee, but his crippling fear of girls overpowered his heart's desire, rendered him immobile.
Whereas Nagatoro simply locked her tempting gaze with his, maintaining her puckish smile.
He couldn't take it anymore. His knees weakened, wobbled, almost gave in. Anew, he was at her mercy…
Mercy… she finally showed him.
After she unexpectedly withdrew, huffing profoundly. Her devilish smirk becoming a dispirited scowl.
"Forget it, it's no use…" Nagatoro spun and approached her desk, retrieving her backpack.
"Let's get going," she turned to him, speaking softly. "We might still be able to reach Iida and Uraraka at the station."
Without further explanation, she headed for the exit while Izuku stayed behind, frozen, internally analyzing the past sequence of events.
'What just happened…?'
Abashed, he looked down, decelerating his quickened respiration. His hands still shaking.
A single day away made him forget how easily Nagatoro could play him. How easily she slid into completely different personas.
Truthfully, he doesn't understand her thought process. She clearly operated on a level far above his own.
Exhausted, Izuku breathed in deeply and sluggishly walked towards his seat, picking up his backpack.
This would surely be an awkward trek to the station…
Succeeding a long, unbearably-quiet ride in train, Izuku received utter passiveness from Nagatoro. Throughout the whole journey, there was no ribbing, or even friendly banter.
Could she be taking revenge on him for avoiding her while he missed school? If so, he couldn't really blame her.
But his reasons were beyond malice. The secrecy of One For All remained a priority. He owed All Might that, at least…
Irregardless, Izuku needed answers. Unfortunately, Nagatoro wasn't being very cooperative.
The next day, she gave him the silent treatment during class. When lunch break rolled around, she sought a secluded place to eat by herself.
Obviously, Iida and Uraraka had questions.
Anew, powerlessness seized Izuku. Speaking the truth of his last… 'encounter' with Nagatoro would only separate the group further.
However, doing nothing wouldn't help their friendship escape jeopardy.
Therefore, following the end of the last course, he went on to find her.
Yet, the entire way between the classroom and the entrance, Nagatoro continued unseen, wholly vanished.
Again, Izuku stood alone beneath the main gate of U.A.
Orange sunbeams blanketed the horizon through sepia tones. The sky quickly turned violet, while the evening breeze blew with steadfast passion, scattering fallen leaves across the road.
Motionless in his stance, Izuku huffed heavily.
'Of course, I'm too late… Maybe if I-'
"Deku!"
Startled, he swiveled, attending the call with no second thoughts.
A decision he immediately regretted, because he encountered Bakugo addressing him, sporting his notorious, furious frown.
"K-Kacchan?" gulping, Izuku cocked his head, genuinely confused. "Y-You needed someth-"
"What game are you playing, huh!?" Bakugo swiftly retorted, raising his voice.
"G-G-Game? W-What do you m-m-mean?"
"Prancing around with the sorry excuses you call 'friends', like you are worth something."
Izuku retreated unconsciously once Bakugo stepped before him, making him lose his short burst of confidence from earlier.
"It makes me sick… In the same classroom, breathing the same air as I…"
"K-Kacchan, I don't underst-t-"
"Shut up!"
Abruptly, Bakugo grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled him closer.
"K-Kacchan!?" yelping, Izuku raised his trembling palms to plead innocence. "C-C-Calm down, please! I d-don't even know what-"
"I told you to shut up!"
This seemed wrong.
Bakugo belittling him for the heinous crime of existing wasn't anything new. His numerous infancy traumas undoubtedly proved it.
But at this point, he was a time bomb taken off standby, which filled Izuku with unfathomable fright, since nobody else wandered nearby to aid him.
"You may fool those extras," Bakugo growled, staring coldly into his eyes. "But I know exactly what you are. You are useless, a waste of space. Here in U.A. or anywhere you go. And maybe… it's time you are reminded your pl-"
"Can I ask you to stop there?"
Blinking, Bakugo withdrew, glancing over his shoulder.
Momently, Izuku looked past his abuser, being equally astounded after he spotted Nagatoro behind them, crossing her arms with a stern face.
"What the hell do you want?" Bakugo spun, letting Izuku go to focus on her.
"If you could kindly get lost, that would be great."
Bakugo chuckled mockingly as he walked in front of Nagatoro.
"And who's gonna' make me? You!?"
"Wouldn't be hard," she retorted, holding her ground. "All bark and no bite…"
"Is that so, extra?"
"Absolutely," Nagatoro summoned her signature smirk afresh. "I mean, big, loud guy with a big, loud quirk. It's almost as if you're compensating for something…"
"W-What is that supposed to mean!?" Bakugo scoffed, his scowl strengthening.
"You know exactly what it means," she waggled her brows, her smile broadening. "Or you really are as dumb as you look?"
Bakugo simply bared his gritted teeth, a swollen vein manifested on his forehead.
Paralyzed by uncertainty, Izuku witnessed the duel in silence, barely believing what he was seeing, and hearing. Even though he thoroughly dreaded it, he prepared to intervene if the situation worsened.
Fortunately, Bakugo broke eye contact first…
"You're not worth it, cat-girl…"
With that, he started stomping forth towards the sunset.
When his childhood bully finally abandoned the scene, Izuku gazed to Nagatoro, who kept glaring daggers at the distance, her back turned on him.
'It's now or never…' he thought.
"N-Nagatoro, I-"
"See?" she suddenly pivoted, facing him, her expression still serious. "That's how you stand up for yourself."
Later, she approached him.
"Your hand."
"W-What?"
"Your hand, give it to me."
Hesitatingly, Izuku lifted his shivering, sweaty hand. Then, Nagatoro softly wrapped her smooth fingers around his wrist, eliciting a faint blush from him.
"Here," she placed something on his open palm. "I know it's not much, but it should help you get your phone fixed."
Curious, Izuku looked down, finding a few coins in his grasp, which combined, amounted for a little over 300 yen.
Ensuing that, his heart stirred, his cheeks heated up.
Nagatoro actually had given him money so he could fix his phone. Timidly, he raised his vision to meet hers.
And she smiled at him.
Her lips slightly curled upwards. Her irises glistening with the warm, amber aura from the evening sun behind her. Plus the wind gently waving her long, silky hair to the side like a renaissance painting.
It was a sublime sight…
"I-… I…" Izuku babbled, his unspoken sentences twisting and tangling amidst themselves. "Y-You… Y-You don't have… t-to do this…"
"Oh, don't worry," Nagatoro replied nonchalantly. "I won't. Bakugo will…"
Taken aback, he blinked, gingerly tilting his head.
"W-What?"
"Why do you think I let the explosive moron get anywhere near me? Dude was practically begging to be pick-pocketed."
"Pick-pocketed?…" briefly, Izuku stopped breathing.
Resembling a glass shattered by a volant brick, the mesmerizing image of her that captivated him fell apart, leaving a crooked, fragmented picture from someone he couldn't recognize anymore.
It made him feel anxious, uneasy. Almost… disgusted…
"Nagatoro… No…"
"Eh?"
"We have to return this."
"W-What!? Return it!? Are you kidding me!?"
Frowning, Izuku shook his head.
"I-I-" in an ironic switch of roles, Nagatoro stuttered. "You have to be j-joking right now."
"I'm not. We are giving this back to Kacchan tomorrow."
"Oh, come on! With the hell that guy puts you through!? God, no wonder he treats you like shit all the time, you just lay there and take it! It makes me want to… Argh!"
Frustrated, she threw her arms to the air and spun.
That stung, honestly. But did she really expected him to be okay with theft?
"Then what do you want me to do!?"
As if on cue, Nagatoro swiveled once more, her eyes narrowed.
And with a loud, firm voice, she exclaimed:
"I want you to get angry! Stand up for yourself. Do something other than turning the other cheek!"
Huffing, she let her shoulders drop in defeat. She remained speechless for a couple of seconds before speaking anew.
"Look, Midori…" she began, her tone low. "In this world there's people that, you could lay on the ground for them to walk over, and they'll still complain you're not flat enough… Sometimes, you have to fight poison with poison…"
Izuku said nothing on response. He merely loosened his rigid posture while he studied her words within his mind.
Now he realized, this was how their friendship fractured. A conflict of interests. The inability to see the world through the other's perspective.
His indignation faded soon after. He had misunderstood her intentions, just like she misjudged his moral code.
Despite that, he couldn't yield. He couldn't betray his beliefs so carelessly.
"No…"
"E-Excuse me?"
"Nagatoro, I appreciate what you did," Izuku answered solemnly. "I really do… But I-I can't allow myself to go down into that place, and I would hate to see you be consumed by anger or revenge. Revenge is not the way of a hero. A-And the answer to evil… is not more evil…"
For a moment they stood immobile, enveloped by deep serenity, tranquil zephyr, and the dimming sunlight that failed to thaw the coldness between them.
Although, in retrospect, concern wasn't necessary.
Because Nagatoro's scowl softened into a relaxed gaze that she maintained upon him.
Next, she chuckled…
Her trademark, mischievous grin instantly appeared, lacking hostility, Izuku could tell.
"You're such a boy-scout, Midori… So, we're going home or what?"
"Oh… S-Sure," he replied instinctively, smiling out of sheer habit. "Let's go…"
Sniggering, Nagatoro pivoted, then started walking along the road. And Izuku followed her closely, not saying much, as usual.
He still didn't approve of her actions, but escalating things past this resolution probably wouldn't get them anywhere. Besides, he needed to return Bakugo's money without getting himself killed in the process.
This time, Izuku moved with the ring of the bell.
He quickly left his desk and neared the door. Hastily, he traversed the corridor, turned to the right and stopped after ensuring that he remained concealed behind the wall.
Cautiously, he peeked beyond the corner.
His colleagues were either absent from the picture, or halfway across the passage.
Except for the subject of the plan…
Outside the classroom, Bakugo lingered. Beside him stood Kirishima, speaking about a thrilling matter, judging by his enthusiastic mannerisms as he, fruitlessly, attempted to get the other's curiosity.
Narrowing his eyes, Izuku focused on the opposite end of the hall.
Later, Nagatoro's figure appeared in the distance, giving him a thumbs-up gesture.
Good. All the pieces had fallen into place. Every party was playing their part accordingly. Only one step remained prior to success…
Thereupon, Izuku nodded at her. He knew she could see him, even from afar.
Since she immediately abandoned her hideout, and began walking through the corridor, humming merrily.
Anxiously chewing on his lower lip, Izuku watched while Nagatoro approached the objective, headed for the inevitable collision course.
Then, exactly like they expected, Nagatoro crashed onto Bakugo and Kirishima, abruptly pushing the former during her breakthrough.
'Did she do it?' Izuku couldn't spot it. The speed of events didn't favor him.
The answer would have to wait, as Bakugo, predictably, became enraged by Nagatoro's apparent transgression.
"What the hell, cat-girl!?" he bellowed instantaneously.
Subsequently, Nagatoro spun towards him, keeping her smile.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she said calmly. "I got distracted. My bad."
Naturally, Bakugo wasn't amused. His rageful scowl somehow became more ferocious, and his coiled fists slowly grew pale.
They surely anticipated that he wouldn't accept her apology so easily. But if he intervened now, the entire operation would fail.
'Come on, Nagatoro. I know you can do this…'
Luckily, mercifully, salvation came from an unconsidered factor, in just the right moment.
"Come on, man, she already apologized." unexpectedly, Kirishima moved a hand towards Bakugo's shoulder, easing the tense atmosphere.
Bakugo didn't even bother to look at him. His whole attentiveness centered on Nagatoro, who simply continued feigning innocence.
"Tch! Whatever," however, against the odds, Bakugo sharply averted his gaze from her. "Just get out of here before I change my mind."
In response, Nagatoro gave both boys a slight bow before spinning again and continuing her way forward, still grinning.
With a smile of his own, Izuku welcomed Nagatoro when she arrived to his corner. Without delay, her cheerful smirk morphed into a contemptuous frown.
"Did you do it?"
"Yeah, it's done. By the time he notices we'll be home… Why are you smiling like that?"
Izuku shook his head, sighing relieved. "Don't you feel better about doing the right thing?"
"Eh, kinda," Nagatoro shrugged. "Honestly, I just returned the money because you asked me to."
Her reply startled Izuku, a fierce blush promptly seized his cheeks.
Arching an eyebrow, Nagatoro stared at him anew, noticing his flustered state.
She frowned momently, processing the information. And once the meaning of her last sentence dawned on her, she also got flustered.
"Ack! I-I mean-" she blurted out, turning away. "I meant that-! I-If I had let you do it by yourself, bomb king over there would've blown you to pieces! And I don't do jigsaw puzzles…"
She crossed her arms, maintaining her sight in the ceiling, her face remaining red.
Whereas Izuku merely rubbed his bicep, lingering voiceless.
"Uh-Um…" he stated awkwardly. "D-Do you-"
"No!" Nagatoro suddenly exclaimed. "I-I mean, I don't know!"
"D-Don't know wha-"
"J-Just forget about it, okay!?"
He bit his tongue, nodding, quietly agreeing.
From then on, silence conquered. The rumble of students pacing around the premises was absent. Neither echoing chatter nor deafening announcements. Nothing…
Just two friends enjoying their mutual company.
"Hey," Nagatoro spoke after a bit. "There might be a place to get your phone fixed at the station."
Izuku glanced down, thoughtful. Such possibility completely flew over his head. In the past, he never put additional attention to the stores at the train station, so he really couldn't confirm or correct her assumption.
"I-I don't really know, to be honest," he answered, scratching the back of his neck. "And even if there is, I don't… have a lot of money right now."
"We don't need money to ask how much it'll cost us." Nagatoro gave him a look that could only be described as 'duh'.
"Oh… R-Right… W-Wait, 'us'?"
"You heard me," she gently elbowed him on his ribs. "Think of it as a 'token of gratitude' for helping me with homework lately."
"Y-You mean that? For real?"
"You're really gonna' make me say it twice? Let's get going already!"
"S-S-Sure!" Izuku stammered, perking up. "S-Sorry, I just-… C-Can we meet outside the school? I need to do s-something first."
Nagatoro's smile vanished. She cocked her head and raised an eyebrow at him.
"Pfft! Fine… Just don't keep me waiting or you'll regret it, caspisci?"
"I-I won't take long, I promise!"
Following that, Nagatoro started walking along the hallway, eventually leaving his side.
Izuku had those feelings again.
Heart racing, knees turning to jelly, his eyes perceiving colors more vividly and something fluttering in his stomach. What was happening to him?
He already knew that Nagatoro was beautiful inside, because of the truthful kindness she tried, for some reason, to bury under a frivolous mask.
Only now, he realized, that she was just as beautiful on the surface.