1A VS 1B
Estelle was the last one to arrive at the training grounds. She had rushed her mission, leaving the Spirits behind with a quick farewell before darting towards UA like her ass was on fire. The only thing running through her head was Shinsou's words, how he wanted her there. She didn't want to miss it, and his disappointed face in her mind made her push faster into the air.
Landing on the ground, it was evident that the students were stunned by her arrival. Glancing at her class, she bit back her smile from how ecstatic they were. Estelle hadn't been at school ever since the attacks around Japan. She was present for their training sessions and around the dorms but never on the school grounds. Honestly, was she even a UA student at this point?
Estelle stood in front of the crowd as she gathered her breath before hearing a familiar voice cheer, "Estelle! You never told us you were coming?! Are you joining us?!"
Shifting her head to the right to see Ochako, Estelle answered, "It was a special request, but I won't be joining you. It will be good to see your improvements in action. I'll be watching you guys while I'm here."
Flickering their eyes at each other with renewed determination, the class collectively agreed on giving everything they had got with this task. They never had many chances to show off in front of Estelle, so the opportunity was like a goldmine to them. They also understood that Estelle would come out of it filled with constructive criticism and more training. All in all, it was good to have her there.
Her support felt terrific. Standing there, staring at them all, they could see the confidence in her eyes shining through. She believed in them.
"Ahh, is the Class 1A's Alien feeling too good to join us, humans?! Let me guess; you're afraid of joining your classmates in their defeat!"
"Hey, that's not cool, man! She's no alien!" Kirishima yelled, his fist waving aggressively as he swivelled to the blonde. Katsuki held him back, his own glare glowing off his face as he promised death through his eyes.
Estelle's lips were downturned into a scowl as she turned to face the loud idiot that always seemed to pop up randomly. Tilting her head, she pursed, "Who are you again?"
The blonde slouched at her words, his head pinging at how she refused to acknowledge them in any way. It only furthered his aggravation towards the other class, his back straightening up as an irk mark splayed across his face. "You annoying brat! I'm Monoma!"
Smirking, Estelle knew the comment got to him just like last time. Relaxing her shoulders from the satisfaction, she stated, "I'm doing it to give your class a chance. It would be an automatic win if I were with them, and that's no fun. You should be thanking me, Extra."
Monoma seemed to squawk at her words, his body lunging at her in anger before white fabric wrapped around his throat. He choked from the sudden lack of air, and the students turned to face the wielder with a smile.
Mr Aizawa stood holding the capture tape, an annoyed expression covering his face as he glanced over at Estelle like she had a hand in his cookie jar. Katsuki was cackling in the background, thoroughly enjoying the words Estelle had just uttered that he hadn't even realised everyone had gotten quiet from the new arrival.
"That's my girl!"
Flushing bright red at Katsuki's words which the whole crowd had heard, Estelle listened to her class giggle as she turned around with a grimace. Embarrassment flooded her veins, her eyes glaring at Katsuki's as his chuckles began to die.
Feeling a guarantee of cessation being daggered at him, the blonde lifted his head only to find Estelle glowering into his soul, her pink cheeks in full view as the students stared at him. Class 1A was amused, but Class 1B was utterly flabbergasted. Widening his eyes from the realisation that everyone had just heard him, the blonde mirrored Estelle, his growl covering his mortification as he screamed. "What of it, Extra's!?"
"That's enough. Let's begin," Mr Aizawa droned, irritated at the students for dilly-dallying. After brief introductions, the students surrounded the teachers as they began the course.
"Today we have a special participant," Mr Kan, the teacher of Class 1B, started.
"Please try not to embarrass yourselves if possible," Mr Aizawa continued.
Estelle smiled, anticipation boiling in her veins as she waited for Shinsou to show up. Absentmindedly rolling on her feet, her body moved back and forth as the students questioned their teachers.
"Who's going to be joining us?" Momo interrogated.
"I'll murder them!" Katsuki added.
"Is it a babe?"
"This person is interested in switching to the hero track..." Mr Aizawa started. Eagerly leaning forward as a body shadowed in black began to step into the light, Estelle listened as her teacher persisted. "From General Studies Class C, Hitoshi Shinsou."
Feeling herself glow as she watched Shinsou stop in front of everyone, Estelle encountered his expression of determination hidden under the tired guise he usually had. His tight hand wrapped around the binding tape, making it clear that he was ready to begin despite the formalities.
As the class conversed about the surprise arrival, Estelle kept her gaze forward and onto Shinsou's. Their eyes had met, and the flicker of joy was brief through his purple eyes, but she had caught it. Giving him a nod of approval, the male returned it with a tiny smile, quickly evaporating as he focused back onto the rest of the two classes.
Estelle could immediately tell what he was trying to do. Maintaining a certain aloofness would allow the air of mystery to surround him, effectively putting those observing on edge. He was a wild card, they had no idea what he was capable of, and he used that to his advantage. It was brilliant of him to do so, and as she scanned him, she felt proud of the male standing before her.
They had come a long way from the early days when he didn't even know the basic stances of fighting. Standing before them, he was well-versed in his combat, quirk, and support items. It levelled the playing field as much as possible without him actually being in the hero course, and to be honest, she wasn't worried that he wouldn't make it.
If he was not ready, Mr Aizawa wouldn't have given him a chance. He had worked too long with his pupil just to see him fail. Though the teacher and Estelle spoke a handful of times to discuss Shinsou's progress, he had never brought this idea up to her. She was glad, though, since she got to experience the delight of the news with the purple-haired male.
"Well, Shinsou, why don't you say a few words?"
Perking out of her daze, Estelle focused her eyes on him as he spoke. "I'm Hitoshi Shinsou. I already faced some of you as my opponents during the sports festival. But we're not friends just because we fought before. I don't subscribe to that sort of sportsmanship. We're still competing to be the best. And I'm already countless steps behind; I need to prove myself."
One day, I will become a proper hero. Then I can use my power to help citizens in need. All of you are hurdles I must overcome. I'm not here in search of friends; Estelle is all I need. Thanks for having me."
Chuckling to herself, Estelle shook her head fondly as the students around her gave an awkward round of applause. Their eyes flickered to her for a moment, unsurprised since they had spent much time together. There had only been a select few that knew Estelle had been training him, Katsuki and Izuku mainly, so understanding brew that training was what they had been doing this whole time. Still, the fact he made an effort to exclude her from the list made it evident that she was important to him.
"Was Shinsou the one who asked you to come?" Izuku asked over his shoulder. Giving a tight nod in response, Estelle flickered her eyes to find Katsuki scowling at the ground. Rolling them, she diverted her gaze back to the front.
"Shouldn't we be getting on with this, Vlad?"
Not responding directly, the other teacher yelled, "Time for combat training!"
As the coaches explained the objectives and rules for the training, Estelle tuned them out, staring at the sky as she waited for them to finish. She stepped forward only when they were done and groups had been assigned. Gazing at her classmates, she decided to give some final words as encouragement, "I trust that you won't ask me for any guidance. Do me proud, especially you, Shinsou."
"You got it!"
Estelle stood by and watched as Shinsou participated in the first match. Surveying how he had failed to move quickly enough, resulting in the capture, was enough for her to bite her lip in frustration. She hadn't realised how annoying it was to watch a fight you were helpless in, unable to step in and support the others.
She wondered if that's how her class felt whenever she strolled forward into battle, watching from their screens, utterly helpless to the outcome. No wonder they had tried so hard to join in and help. They finally relented only after they had hindered the battle and nearly got themselves killed.
But still, she could imagine the feeling sticking around, bearing on them whenever Estelle left to fight. She could feel the appreciation building inside her once again, thankful they hadn't gone too far by following her regardless. They must have known by now that there was nothing they could do but wait for her to return. It was unfortunate for them. But seeing them train now has allowed Estelle to understand their feelings a little more.
Grateful that Shinsou had been broken out of his temporary prison, she observed as Tsu, Kaminari, and Shinsou were now running in an attempt to finish the fight. They had a good plan, using Tsu's slobber to shield the enemies' sense of smell.
As the fight continued, her shoulders finally unwound when Shinsou did his final action, effectively knocking out the enemy. Standing there, she noted how his inexperience was still evident, but he had utilised enough of his training to come out on top. He had progressed well.
It wasn't long before the two groups were taken out and discussed their strengths and weaknesses. Estelle had noted each one, agreeing with Mr Aizawa about their weaknesses before deciding to bring it up in training. Koda's was important, his instructions needing to be more specific to complete a job.
She could imagine he would dominate if he said the right words, especially linking them to the opponent's weaknesses. Mainly, she had been working on his confidence - because if he couldn't speak in front of others, it severely limited his ability on the field. Once that was handled, the more complicated stuff could come after.
"Bakugo, let's get on the same page!"
"The page is staying out of my way!"
Deadpanning at the blonde's words, Estelle gave a deep sigh. She had forgotten how he acted around his classmates. It wasn't like he didn't behave like that with her; of course, he did! It just didn't happen that often, mainly because he had learned that Estelle quickly ignored the words. Plus, they weren't talking about heroes and training all day, which tends to be where the fire sparked under him like never before.
He was calmer on the day to day basis. Even though he was loud, they never honestly had a bite to it, like when he was out in public. Today, he was an aggressive furball, and she assumed he must still be like that all the time with the rest of the class.
She had gotten used to how he was when they were alone. It wasn't bad; Estelle enjoyed Katsuki's presence no matter his attitude. Though, now wasn't a good time when he was supposed to be a team player. She hoped it wouldn't hinder his training session, his stubborn brain forcing him to work alone.
His ego had improved; she saw it when he asked her for advice on his costume, ultimate moves and combat. So, there had been definite progress. She just hoped it wasn't only with her, though; he needed to be able to work with anyone, especially considering Estelle won't be around forever.
"I'll blow them straight to hell! I don't need you!"
Deapanning at the contradiction, Estelle said to herself, 'I guess he hadn't improved as much as I thought.'
"Does Estelle know?"
"About his dream? Yep," Estelle interrupted, strolling towards Katsuki, Izuku, and All-Might absentmindedly. Ignoring the blonde glower, she noted how it only upset him more.
"Tch, always the last one to find out," Katsuki practically hissed back, his head turned away so she could see how his jaw jutted out.
"It only happened last night. Chill."
Snapping his head to hers, Katsuki let out a loud growl that made Izuku wince. The green-haired male shared a glace with his mentor, both transmitting a silent conversation about their own presence in the argument that was about to begin.
"Shut up, go talk to the purple-haired freak!"
"Okay."
"Tch."
The two observers sweatdropped.
Estelle felt someone grab her hand on the way to Shinsou. She wasn't shocked to see Katsuki glaring down at her, an evident frown on his face. "I didn't actually mean it, brat."
Estelle bit back her rising smirk, knowing it would only further Katsuki's anger towards the whole situation. Shrugging, she answered lightly, "I know you didn't."
Leaning forward so Estelle could see the depths of his frustration within his eyes, Katsuki hissed between his teeth before taking a breath. His attempt at calming himself failed since his tone remained the same, "So why the hell did you listen?! I saw the looks you gave each other earlier!"
Raising her brows, Estelle groaned internally at the fact this was happening again. It always seemed to be Shinsou who specifically got a rise out of him, and she guessed it was because of how much time she had spent with him. The sigh that left her lips was exasperated, but the urge to reassure him lingered within her gut. "I thought you knew by now that it's not like that?"
"Of course, I know! Still doesn't stop me from getting pissed off!"
Pausing, Estelle surveyed his expression, her eyes lingering on the pout on his lips. Despite his irritation being unfounded, she could not help but be distracted by the fact that he looked adorable. She hadn't realised the smile had slipped past her lips until it had caught Katsuki's attention, his eyes staring downwards as he gruffed, "What?!"
Unable to help herself, Estelle raised her hand to his cheek to give it a pinch. The ruby-eyes male grunted from the action, his head automatically moving to bite her before he stopped himself. He didn't linger on the thought for long, her following words leaving a light tint to shimmer on his cheeks. "Nothing, I was just admiring your new costume."
Taken aback by the compliment, Katsuki grinned as he postured himself in front of her. The rush to his brain only increased as Estelle's eyes casually appreciated the view. Puffing out his chest when her eyes lingered, the male noticed how the heat was beginning to rise from his core from how openly she was enjoying it. Clearing his throat to snap out of it before he began to burn under the gaze, he yelled, "Of course you were; it looks awesome!"
Jerking back slightly, Estelle's brain internally yelled at herself for being so shameful. Pushing back the desperate urge to blush, she allowed the laugh to slip by her lips as she fondly bobbed her head. Katsuki visibly softened from the sound, her feet urging him forward to place a hand on her cheek. Since his gear was so huge, his hand practically covered her face to a comical degree. Ignoring his inability to see her expression, he grunted, "You better be watching me out there, nobody else."
"I'm watching everyone so I can help with their training," Estelle instantly rebuked.
"Tch, of course you are. But, I want your eyes on me especially, got it?!"
Feeling the giggle blubber into his glove from the demand, Estelle nodded, "I got it. How else would I help the next number-one hero?"
"Exactly."
"Show me what you got, Ruby."
Pushing his hand into her face, he grumbled, "That was already the plan."
"I was just reinforcing it."
Finally releasing his hand, Estelle repeatedly blinked to readjust her eyesight, only to find Katsuki already beginning to walk away. Perking up in interest when he stopped, swivelling his head left and right before turning around, Estelle was confused when he returned to his previous spot.
"I don't need it. But, I should get a kiss for good luck."
Stunned, Estelle opened her mouth before closing it like an idiot. Her eyes swivelled around her, checking to see if anyone was close by to have a good reason to decline. But, Katsuki was grinning at her with satisfaction; he had already inspected to see if the coast was clear.
"Just go win, dammit," Estelle muttered bashfully, her eyes staring at the ground as the feeling of the unknown gripped her body.
Overlooking her response, Katsuki leaned down with his head slanted, so his cheek was in full view. He remained silent, full of patience he did not have in abundance. Estelle shifted awkwardly, her hands suddenly feeling so hot that she had to wipe them on her legs discreetly.
Deciding to give her one final push, Katsuki peeked at her, his grin too wide for his own face, before returning his gaze to the ground. "I'm not going anywhere until I get my kiss."
Groaning, Estelle rotated her head around the area once more before admitting defeat. Sighing at the sound of Katsuki's chuckles, Estelle leaned forward to place her lips on his cheeks. Moving back like lightning, Estelle hoped he wouldn't look up and catch her flustered expression. The sound of an Elk screeched through her brain, and she figured it accurately represented what she was feeling right now.
Sagging in relief when Katsuki didn't say a word, she let the air leave her lungs when he walked away, leaving her to stare at her back as he headed back to his group. Estelle didn't see the grin remaining on his face the whole way, the rosy hue ringing dark and true on his face.
"You look happy!"
"Shut up, Dunce Face!"
It was Katsuki's match, so following his request, Estelle kept her eyes focused on the screen as the blonde spoke to the rest of his group. Though she doubted her attention would have waivered, either way, Katsuki was always fun to watch in a fight.
His brute aggressiveness put him in a position of power, moving with such vigour and passion that it captured every inch of her concentration. She found that she enjoyed his wild expressions as he moved, defiantly a tactic that would intimidate his opponents, but it wouldn't work every time.
She monitored them as his group fell into a trap, her mind already connecting the dots of what the other team was planning. It was wise to use what they knew of Katsuki's personality and turn it against the group. Estelle hoped they wouldn't go down that quickly, but from Katsuki's earlier words, she wondered again if she had been incorrect in her analysis.
Jiro, the poor girl, scanned her surroundings but yelled a millisecond before the truth of the trap was revealed. Noting to herself to focus on Jiro's range in the future, Estelle's eyes immediately focused on Katsuki, who seemed to be losing the battle.
But he wasn't the type to back down.
Estelle observed wide-eyed as his team was cornered under a large spider-web-type contraption they had accidentally created. The enemy headed straight for Jiro, and Estelle's body automatically tensed as if she was there with them, ready to jump in to prevent the hit.
It was at that moment that Estelle was pleasantly surprised.
Katsuki had jumped into the fray, kicking Jiro away to save her. Estelle immediately stopped at the action, her lips widening into a grin as the blonde went out of his way to save his comrade. It hadn't been what she had expected, but Katsuki did a fabulous job in his counterattack.
The enemy turned back to regroup, focusing their target on the powerhouse that was Katsuki, knowing he needed to be out of the picture for them to succeed. They managed to achieve it temporarily, but Katsuki's sudden change of working with his team meant he had three people covering his back. He was protected, and it was clear as day as she saw Sato use his quirk to break Katsuki out of the metal bars keeping him trapped.
Katsuki didn't waste a second, yelling as the explosion ripped out of his body, just as his personality did. He flew in the air, chasing down the other group, and effectively began his tirade of breaking them down one-by-one.
Estelle could only feel one thing.
Awe.
She remembered how he acted during the sports festival, how they had spoken after, and how Estelle had torn into his core by stating that he would never become number one as he was. Slowly but surely, he had come to trust his classmates to watch his back; because of it, he had never been stronger.
Estelle could already imagine it, Katsuki going on missions and fighting with the same amount of brute force as he did today. His quirk would dance beautifully around him as he manically grinned, already knowing that he had won the fight before it even began. Estelle could see him dominating the battle, his abilities perfected to the point he couldn't lose, and with people around him to cover him.
It was an incredible picture.
Looking at him now, Estelle knew she should have never doubted her own analysis of him. Katsuki was intelligent; she wouldn't be surprised to find out his previous yelling was just a show for the other team. He was talented and always eager to improve; he had all the features to become the best fighter out there.
He didn't need Estelle to get there. Not at all.
Anything Estelle could tell him was something he would easily be able to figure out on his own. Honestly, it was the same for the rest of the class, but time to improve themselves wasn't on their side. They couldn't afford to wait. Estelle knew that once the spirits had been dealt with, the League Of Villians would come out and play, and they wouldn't go easy on them.
Katsuki was already miles ahead, practically falling in step with Izuku and Shoto. Those three were already strong by their improvements, and it was only their first year. It was why Estelle was tougher on the rest of the class; she needed to be confident in them when she left; otherwise, Estelle worried she won't be able to.
Estelle pulled herself out of her pondering as she looked towards Kaminari, who was rushing towards Jiro and the team. "Kaachan, you can be a team player when you want to! And Jiro, you were a total heroine out there!"
Estelle tuned them out when she heard a voice next to her; turning her head up to face the new arrival, she wasn't displeased to find Shinsou. "You seemed pretty happy watching that aggressive furball."
Shrugging, Estelle murmured, "I was just pleasantly surprised. Katsuki's not usually a team player."
"That's for sure. What did you think of my first match?"
Giving a gentle smile, Estelle muttered, "I think you did well with your current skill set. Don't be so hard on yourself with your mistakes; I've noted what you need to work on - but honestly, I think you already know."
"I need more experience."
"Exactly. We can tweak a few things, but you'll be able to rack up the experience soon anyways. Your effort makes up for the stuff you lack, but remember, it's temporary."
Shinsou remained quiet for a moment, his brows furrowing thoughtfully before he stated. "Thanks, Estelle. For coming."
Feeling her heart jerk from the genuineness in his tone, Estelle gave another smile before nodding. "I'll do whatever you ask, within reason, of course."
"Awww, look at you. My best friend loves me."
"Shut up."
"C'mon. Say it," Shinsou prodded, a smile of his own peeking out as he leaned down smugly.
"That's not reasonable."
"Hmpt."
"You have a match to prepare for. Keep making me proud."
Rolling his eyes, Shinsou kept his lips upturned as he turned around to walk away. "Aye, aye, Captain."
Scoffing, Estelle rolled on the balls on her feet before the spot next to her was retaken. The flash of black and orange helped her recognise who it was, and she kept her eyes forward to maintain her aloofness, already feeling the daggers into the side of her face. "Tch, did you even watch the match?"
Tightening her eyes as she noticed members of the other class craning their ears, Estelle forced the smile that was brewing to slip away from her lips. "Of course I did."
"And?"
Glancing towards him, Estelle noticed how his eyes were narrowed at hers as he waited for her response. She remained mute, mulling over her decision before nodding in agreement. "I'll tell you later."
"Hah?! Why?!"
"Because people are trying to listen in. Just be patient, will you?"
Katuki, evidently unhappy by the answer, frowned as he turned his head away. Estelle knew it wasn't what he was expecting, especially after a fantastic performance, and immediately felt her heart tugging to rectify the situation. She didn't want him simmering for the next few hours, wondering why she did not want others to hear.
So, disregarding her brain, which was telling her to ignore it, Estelle raised her hand to stop him from leaving. Forming a smirk on her lips, Estelle cooed, "It'll be worth the wait."
Relaxing his shoulders from the assurance, Katsuki heard Monoma talking about him from a distance. Wondering if he was the reason why, Katsuki shrugged off the thought, curiosity remaining in his mind about Estelle's thoughts on his fight.
Was there something wrong enough that she was prepared to hold off on the discussion, or did she want to praise him to hell and back for how amazing he did?
He preferred the latter option.
Estelle rushed past her classmates to look closely at the monitors. The black mist surrounding Izuku wasn't typical, the force of it shattering everything around him. The class behind her darted their eyes at her in wonder, taken aback by Estelle's wide eyes as she got a closer look.
All Might didn't take long to rush forward, panic evident in his tone as he asked Mr Aizawa to stop the match. Estelle didn't bother waiting for his response, her body taking flight before anybody could stop her.
The otherworldly female had no plans to interfere with the match unless Izuku was uncontrollable. But she had promised the male she would help, and getting a closer look at his power whilst it was going crazy was a good first step.
The students instantly fell into a frenzy as soon as Estelle's feet left the ground. Their eyes moved back to the monitor, stunned at how fast she had gotten there as they could see her floating in one of the screens. Though Estelle didn't move any closer, her body remaining in the air as she blankly stared at the scene unfolding before her.
"Why isn't she helping him?!"
"Maybe she's hoping he'll figure it out!"
Mr Aizawa constricted his eyes before they turned back to All-Might. He wasn't exactly pleased with Estelle's move, but he was relieved she wasn't interfering. He trusted her instincts; if she thought it wasn't necessary yet, it wasn't. "Estelle's there to help if needed. We'll watch the scene to better understand what's happening, but we won't interfere. I'll leave that to her."
All-Might opened his mouth to argue but knew it was fruitless by the expression on his colleague's face. Slumping, he remained in place, his eyes watching the scene with pronounced worry.
Estelle remained away from view, in the skies, as she observed Shinsou help Izuku out of his berserk state. The new ability caused him strain, likely because his body hadn't acclimated to it. She understood the boy always talked about percentages, and if a new power was added to the mix, she could imagine that he would have to start from scratch with it.
It was like with her abilities. Water had no relationship to fire, and the way she trained with it was completely different from one another. It was initially challenging, especially since her body wanted to move with the water when she had to spark up like a flame. With any power, the individual must know how to proceed with it and utilise it to their needs. The ability may be a good thing for the boy because it means it could be used to cover his weak spots. But it would take him time to get there.
She winced as Izuku tried to use it again, the whip-like mist fading away as his body froze. He couldn't move, and she knew he was using the same power level as his usual quirk, leaving him in absolute agony. He needed to pace it, dammit. If he didn't stop, Estelle would throttle him before he even made it back to the rest of the class.
He must have heard her somehow because he stopped trying to use it, eventually completing his match without further issues. She went ahead as they retreated back to the rest of the students, the teens grouped together now that everyone had finished their matches.
"Estelle, did you find out what was happening?!"
"I have a theory, but we'll need to get the details from him," Estelle answered, not wanting to delve into the details without Izuku.
The classes murmured to each other in inquisitiveness, though Estelle had ignored it since Katsuki had managed to catch her eye. He was staring at her with a knowing look that matched her own. They spoke wordlessly, a mutual understanding zipping between them of what had just happened.
Izuku had a new power.
The two teams returned, leaving Izuku to explain to the class what had happened. Estelle listened absentmindedly, her mind whirling on his dream and now his new ability.
Her attention only drifted back once Shinsou spoke, his mind getting away from him as he tried to explain his acts of helping Izuku as selfish. Frowning, Estelle felt the urge to slap the back of his head for thinking so much, but thankfully Mr Aizawa stepped in. Satisfied when the capture tape was wrapped around his neck, her smirk rose as Mr Aizawa stood tall.
"Nobody asked for more than that, Shinsou. Everyone here has been training for months to become heroes who can save the people of this world. No one can master being a hero right away. Except maybe All-Might, but he doesn't count. Before becoming a pro hero, you must ensure you care for yourself. Otherwise, you'll fail. You can't protect anyone else if you don't have the power to stand alone. Isn't that right, Estelle?"
Eyes fell on her as she jumped from the ambush. Whirling her head up, she gazed into her teacher's eyes to find the hidden meaning; her head bobbed in understanding. "That's right. Your survival comes first. You can't save people if you are dead."
Deadpanning at her dark wording, Mr Aizawa continued with a light layer of exasperation, "So, what you showed us was enough to earn a passing grade."
Shinsou, clearly feeling down, answered, "That's great, but I still have a ways to go. After fighting everyone today, I understand. I experienced first-hand how amazing the hero course is. I'm not going to be satisfied with just nearly passing. I need to work harder and aim higher."
Smiling at his determination, Estelle had no doubt he would do just that.
"There's still much to analyse from your fights, but I'll say, in all probability, Shinsou will join the hero course in your second year!" Mr Kan stated loudly.
"Which class will he join?" Kaminari asked eagerly.
"A?"
"B?"
"The particulars will come later," the teacher replied.
Turning their heads to face Shinsou, the two classes expected to find a joyful Shinsou staring back at them. Perking up in confusion, the students wildly searched for him, only to discover that he was heading directly towards a particular female he had previously singled out. Quiet, they leaned forward to try to listen.
Estelle was smiling, vast and proud, as she looked towards the male. Though the beam on her face was uncharacteristic of her, they noted the tint of melancholy surrounding it, her eyes slightly dimmed from the news. They couldn't see Shinsou's face, but they desperately hoped it was happier from the good news.
The General Studies student stopped in front of her, his shoulders hunched slightly as Estelle looked at him with so much warmth that it ached. "Second year, huh?" She murmured, her voice quiet as she surveyed the expression they couldn't see.
Estelle was glad she was the only one who could because the emotion crossing his face was heartbreaking in many ways. It conveyed everything he was experiencing, like the moon on a clear night. His globes shone at her with all the words he wanted to say, but it was apparent by the bob in his throat that he was struggling to voice them.
Shinsou was exponentially happy. He was over the moon; he couldn't believe it. His lips trembled as it finally began to sink in that he would join the hero course, and he was one more step into his lifelong dream. But he was shocked. He had expected more work before finally hearing the words he had imagined for years.
But there was a deep pain inside of him. Estelle was the first person to tell him he could do it. Not only that, she had reached out a hand and supported him every step of the way. She had been there when he was depressed about his position in life, she had been there to renew his determination every time he failed a move, and she cheered him on in her own way.
Yet, she would never see him join.
Shinsou knew that by the time they headed into their second year, Estelle would not be there. It hurt because from when Estelle agreed to train him, he had always pictured her and Mr Aizawa alongside him. It hurt even more knowing that once the second year rolled around, there would be one free spot in Class A.
He never wanted her spot. He wanted a place with her.
Forcing his mouth to work, Shinsou desperately tried to maintain his composure as eyes watched the scene. Regardless of the fact, their globes were still communicating; he wanted to speak to her, and he wanted to hear those words out loud. "Yeah..."
Estelle smiled softly in assurance, her eyes closing for a second from doing so. The action didn't seem to help since when her sights met his again, it only furthered his internal agony. Her entire being buzzed, doing everything possible to convey that it was okay, that she approved of the fact he would take her spot.
Shinsou couldn't accept it, his hands unconsciously moving to his bindings in a tight grip. His lids shut in an attempt to shield himself from her view, but Estelle wasn't prepared to stand around and let him simmer in guilt he didn't deserve to have. She was never in class at this point; the spot should go to someone who needed it, who deserved to be there. Shinsou was all that and more.
Lunging forward to wrap her arms around him, Estelle gripped him tightly, one hand drifting up into his hair to softly brush through his locks. Shinsou had immediately locked himself into her neck, his shaky breath brushing against her skin as Estelle began to rock back and forth. Patting his head gently, she murmured so softly that only a few students standing in front caught wind of it.
"I would rather it go to you than someone else. I'm happy because you deserve it. Celebrate it; don't let it take away from your achievements."
Shinsou only gripped her tighter in answer.
Those who heard tautened their fist.
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