NeonHorizon: You're going to love this ^_^ I promise!
I…can't. Shirayuki walked to school with her head down, avoiding eye contact with everyone and biting her lip behind her mask. I have to. She momentarily lifted her gaze, but quickly lowered it once more. On this day, she was more self-conscious than ever before.
The USJ incident was still being talked about. After all, it had only been a few days since the villain attack. All of the students in 1-A were being looked at differently now, but she felt more on edge than anyone. No one else in her class had accidentally killed a villain. She was the only one with blood on her hands.
Of course, she had more than just that to worry about. She could feel a cold sweat forming on her skin as they drew closer to the school, her pulse racing. The previous day, she had been asked out by her grumpy, blond classmate. He let her leave without giving him an answer, but she knew that he would want one when she got to the classroom.
Shinsou looked down at the girl walking beside him and reached over to gently take her hand in his. "Are you okay?"
"…I'm…fine…" Feeling his fingers lace with hers, she flushed pink and let her eyes meet his. The boy's calm, indigo gaze made her feel better and she moved a little closer to him. "…n-nervous…" she confessed.
"If anyone bothers you today, tell me. I don't want you to feel bad, alright?" He paused in his steps and put his free hand on her shoulder. Leaning down close to her, he saw the warm hue of her cheeks and half-smiled. "We're walking home together?"
"…y-yes…I'll…meet you at the front gate…" Shirayuki tensed when he reached to tuck a lock of dark violet hair behind her ear, letting him see her face better. Even this simple gesture made her heart feel fluttery. When his fingertips gently brushed over her cheekbone, she felt an eruption of almost giddiness within her. "…do you…want to eat d-dinner at my house…tonight…?"
"Alright." He leaned down further, his forehead briefly resting against hers before he brought her into his warm embrace. Feeling her delicate frame tucked to his chest, so fragile within his arms, he smiled. "Everything will be okay," Shinsou assured her. "I'll see you later."
"…okay…" She was still apprehensive about going to class, but she was afraid of the alternative. Something told her that if she skipped class, only bad things would happen. She would not be able to go home because then her grandmother would be disappointed. So she would need to go somewhere else. Even then, she feared how her teacher would react to a student skipping class. Aizawa scared her. Even if he was injured, in the hospital, he would be informed that a student from his class had skipped school and then there would be consequences. Possibly expulsion.
Shirayuki was pretty early. Only a few other students were in the classroom when she arrived. Quickly going to her desk, she tried to locate a book from her bag to distract herself until class started. She bowed her head to try to hide behind her hair, listening as more and more of her classmates arrived.
Everything will be okay, she told herself. Kittens. Warm cookies. Hot chocolate. Flowers. Sunshine. The girl tensed, hearing her friends all seem to enter the classroom together. Friends. Books. Stuffed animals. Cats. Fluffy, cute cats. She gripped her book harder, her teeth closing on her lower lip and chewing anxiously. The girl's stomach began to do flips.
"Yuki! Hey, so how was the rest of your date?" Kaminari approached her desk with an inquisitive look.
"You had a date?" Ashido glanced over at Kirishima, who immediately turned pink and lifted his hands in defense.
"Not me; someone else!" he protested. "I mean, it's not like I don't like Yuki!"
"So who was it?" the pink-haired girl asked, turning back to Shirayuki.
At that same time, the masked girl noticed from her peripheral that someone was at the edge of the small group of friends. Their eyes briefly flitted to hers and then away as they remained silent. What…is he…? Shirayuki was so distracted that she failed to notice Bakugou's approach until it was too late.
A book thudded against her desk in front of her and she jolted in her seat. "…uh…?!" She glanced down to it and then back to Bakugou, who was scowling down at her from her left. "…B-Bakugou-kun…um…I haven't…"
"I finished the book you gave me," he interrupted. "So here it is. Give me another one."
"…oh…um…o-okay…just a second…" She leaned down to rummage through her bag, only vaguely aware of how her three friends were now looking at him. Which book? Scottish folklore…is a good one. Offering it to him, she saw him briefly skim the cover and smirk. "…just…return it when you're done…please…"
"Better be a good one, Ume."
He didn't ask. About the question yesterday. He didn't even say anything. Maybe he forgot? Then I wouldn't have to worry about turning him down. But what if I just imagined that part? Shirayuki looked to her friends, who were more than happy to start discussing something else.
"There's a cat café?! That sounds adorable!" Ashido exclaimed. "We should go together, Yuki-chan. I'm the only one that hasn't been there."
"…that…sounds fun…what day…?"
"Maybe we could go after school! Wait. No, Sunday works better for you, right? I know you like to walk home with that boy from class C." Ashido beamed when she saw Shirayuki blush behind her mask. "You two make such a cute couple."
"Shut up!" The growl came from behind Shirayuki and made her flinch. "I'm trying to read! Go sit down!"
The masked girl slouched in her seat as the others dispersed, but she could feel him staring at her. Toying with the hairband on her wrist, she half-closed her eyes. Sunshine. Flowers. Kittens. Books. Shinsou. Everything will be alright. Her blush intensified when she realized that she had included Shinsou in her "happy list" and smiled to herself. Shinsou…makes me happy.
At lunch time, Shirayuki was the first in her group to get their food and sit at a table. She promised to save some seats for them, but she secretly hoped that her indigo-haired friend would join her. The others would doubtless want to talk about the USJ incident or the upcoming sports festival. She just wanted to enjoy the break between classes.
While it had not been reported that she had accidentally killed a villain, it was not a total secret. Kirishima and Bakugou knew, of course. They had been there. Kirishima's life had been threatened and she had acted to defend him. Bakugou was the one that went up to the body and checked for a pulse. All Might and the principal were also aware of the inadvertent manslaughter as well. Even with so few people knowing, she still felt as if it was written on her face.
A tray was set down on the table as someone plopped into the chair next to hers. "Stop spacing off like that. Someone's gonna think you want them to sit with you," a familiar voice growled.
Her gaze shifted from the empty seat across the table to the boy seated beside her. "…Bakugou-kun…?"
"Are you gonna eat or not? They're not gonna care if you start without them," he grumbled.
"…that seat…I was saving seats for…"
"I'm sitting here! Where else would I sit?!" His eyes narrowed on hers and he saw the puzzled look in her eyes. "What?"
"…nothing…" She hesitantly removed her mask and lifted a bit of food to her mouth. As she chewed, she kept her head bowed to hide her mouth from view behind her hair. He's sitting next to me. Why? The girl was soon joined by her friends, who seemed a little confused by Bakugou's presence, but said nothing.
Ashido was asking the other two questions about the cat café and Shirayuki could not help smiling. When she remembered the calm, peaceful atmosphere of the café itself, it comforted her. It really was a place that she enjoyed. As she was thinking about going there with Ashido, the dark-haired girl felt a hand grip hers beneath the table. Fingers laced with hers and squeezed, making her subtly glance over. Bakugou's expression was his normal grouchy one as he continued to eat with his other hand as if nothing was amiss.
He's…holding my hand…? She tried to pull free, but he held tightly. Why is he holding my hand? Why? The girl was trying very hard to not draw attention to what was happening, but it was soon obvious to the others.
"Hey, Bakugou, what's going on over there?" Kaminari spoke up first.
"Oh, hey! You wanted to hold hands? Here we go!" Kirishima grabbed Bakugou's other hand, grinning and displaying his sharp teeth. "Whoa! Your hands are super warm, dude!"
"Let go of my hand! What the hell do you think you're doing?!" the blond snapped, trying to get his hand free.
"Huh? I thought you wanted to hold hands. You're holding Yuki's hand."
"I'm holding Ume's hand because we're going out!"
"…we're not…I-I never…gave you an answer…" she argued, trying to get free again. Her hand finally slid out of his and she quickly leaned away from him.
The timing was impeccable. At that same moment, as she leaned away from Bakugou, another student was walking past with a half-empty ramen bowl on their tray. They appeared to stumble as they went behind Bakugou and room temperature broth spilled all over the boy. The other student tilted their head at the fuming blond, but their expression was neutral. "Oh. Sorry," Shinsou half-heartedly apologized. "I tripped."
"You bastard! You did that on purpose!"
Shinsou sighed and set down his tray on the other side of Shirayuki's. "You're right. I did. But you deserved it." He wrapped an arm around the dark-haired girl from behind in a protective manner. "I'm getting sick of you bullying Shirayuki. She's too nice to get back at you, but I can do it for her."
The girl flushed red and moved to grab her mask, wanting to hide her embarrassment behind it. To her surprise, the indigo-haired boy picked it up and let it dangle from a finger. "…Shinsou…?"
"Come sit with me. I'll find us some seats where you can actually enjoy your food." He left his tray and now empty ramen bowl, grabbing her tray for her. When she hesitated to follow him, he raised an eyebrow and frowned. "Are you coming?"
"…ah…y-yes…just a second…" Turning to Ashido, Kaminari, and Kirishima, she bowed slightly. "…I'll…see you in class…I'm sorry…"
Ashido grinned. "Go on! Have fun, lovebirds!"
Shinsou's mouth quirked into a half-smile. "We will."