NeonHorizon: Fun fact! I also write a fanfic involving Shigaraki and I've been working on that for waaaay longer than Quiet Outburst. So every time I start to write "Shirayuki", I sometimes mess up and write "Shigaraki" out of habit. So...you almost ended up with a really ridiculous new chapter. I'm tired and the first half of this accidentally had "Shigaraki" instead of "Shirayuki". Heheheh! Pretty lucky that I proofread it, right?
"…o-okay…um…so this…is the last k-kitten…" Shirayuki had found the fluffy bundle of pure joy cuddling with her dragon plush on her bed after leaving her classmate in the sitting room. Even after making friends, even getting a boyfriend, she was still nervous about interacting with other people.
She was surprised that Todoroki was interested in the cat. The other cats seemed to like him, but he had acted coldly thus far. Apprehension made her stomach twist into knots as she entered the room, but when she saw his eyes she realized that there was absolutely no reason to be worried.
His mouth was still settled in its serious, straight line, but the boy's mismatched eyes were wide and she could swear that they were sparkling. The gentleness with which he accepted the kitten and the incredibly careful way that he settled it on his lap amazed her. "This one is a girl?"
"…yes, um….she's around…th-three months old…we think…and…she's n-not really as…playful as her brothers were so…they got picked first…" She watched him delicately run his fingertips over the cat's striped, silver fur and smiled behind her mask. Shirayuki was always happy to find a fellow cat lover.
The kitten rubbed her cheek against his fingers, purring loudly. The boy's gaze softened and his lips gradually drew into a small smile. "I like her."
Shirayuki put a hand over her mask, over her mouth, when she saw the kitten move. The tiny front paws braced against her classmate's chest and the feline leaned up to tap her little nose to his. In that one adorable moment, she felt like her heart was melting in her chest. So…cute!
She had noticed it when he first came into her home, of course. Todoroki seemed to really have an affinity for cats. The second that he was in the house, the various cats came up to him to greet him and a few even followed the boy into the sitting room to perch near him on the couch. Even now, there were two down beside his left leg, taking turns rubbing against his shin.
"The other kittens were all adopted?" he asked, a note of sadness in his voice. He was petting the kitten's back, listening to her purr.
"…y-yes…um…Bakugou-kun, Yaoyorozu-san, and…Midoriya-kun…they gave the other kittens homes…"
Staring down into the kitten's bright green eyes, his smile grew somewhat melancholic. "I was hoping that I wouldn't like her so much…" he confessed.
"The tea's ready!" Shirayuki's grandmother paused in the doorway with a tray of tea and cake, a troubled frown forming on her face. "Oh? What's wrong, young man? I've never seen someone look so sad with a kitten on their lap!"
"…Grandma…" The girl bowed her head, a little embarrassed by her grandmother worrying over her classmate. She could see it through the curtain of her dark violet hair. The boy's smile had faded completely now and was replaced by disappointment. What is it?
The old woman sat down on Shirayuki's other side and reached across to pat him on the shoulder. "It's alright, young man. What did you say your name was?"
"Todoroki Shouto."
Her eyes widened a bit. "Oh…oh! I see! Your father is…huh. Well. That's…just a strange coincidence…" The woman slowly drew her hand back, her expression twisting into one of puzzlement and almost concern. "I see. Well now! But what's the problem, Todoroki-kun?"
Why did Grandma react that way to his name? Shirayuki pushed her hair behind her ear and glanced from her grandmother to the boy at her left. The kitten had now curled up on his lap and yawned rather cutely.
"I like her a lot, but I don't think that I can take her home right now."
The elderly woman beamed and shook her head. "Well, never fear, young man! We'll keep her here until you can take her home. You can come visit her whenever you want."
The boy stared at her for a long moment, looking past his classmate. "Thank you, Shirayuki-san." He gave a small, seated bow, careful not to disrupt the kitten.
"Of course!" Shirayuki's grandmother served some tea and the cake slices that he had brought with him as a gift, appearing quite pleased with how things were going. It was only when he had gone that her expression shifted to worry. "That poor boy. Dealing with a father like that."
"…Grandma…?" The girl was washing the dishes and looked over at the table to find the old woman seated with a cup of tea, her lips twisted into a grimace.
"Todoroki. Goodness! When I heard that name, I just about fainted! I hadn't heard that name in a long time, Ume! I should have known when I saw him though! The left side of that boy looks so much like that man!"
"…Grandma, do you…know his father…?"
Her expression darkened a little and she lowered her gaze to the cup of tea. "Your father and his father were classmates, Ume."
It seemed like that was the extent of what her grandmother was willing to share with her. Shirayuki went to her room after finishing the dishes and sat on her bed with the kitten. Todoroki-kun's father…and my father…were classmates? Were they friends? I don't remember my father ever talking about him…
The next day at school, her classmate acted almost the same as he usually did. Aloof. Quiet. When she greeted him, he gave her a nod. That was the extent of their interaction, but it was slightly friendlier than usual.
"What are you doing on Sunday?"
Shirayuki shook out of her thoughts about the previous night and frowned behind her mask. "…ah…um…I-I actually…have a date planned Sunday night…"
Ashido grinned. "Awww! You have no idea how cute you look when you talk about him, you know. I can see you blushing behind your mask, Yuki."
"It's pretty cute," Kaminari agreed. "Hey, so, did I see you walking with your boyfriend and Todoroki yesterday after school?"
"What? Why were you walking with Todoroki?" Kirishima entered the conversation now, looking mildly concerned.
She bowed her head and fidgeted with the hairband around her wrist. "…um….y-yes…he…wanted to see the last kitten…and, um…w-well he decided that he wanted to adopt her…" The girl chose not to explain about how he was keeping the kitten at her house and planned to just visit her there when he could.
"That's good," Ashido remarked. "But about that date. Do you have anything planned for it?"
They reached the cafeteria and got into a line for food. Shirayuki was planning to eat with her friends since she had been spending less time with them outside of class. "…I don't really…have any plans yet…" she admitted.
The pink-haired girl absolutely beamed at this. "Yuki! You have to let me come over after school, okay?! Let me help you plan everything!"
"…ah…i-it won't…be any trouble…will it…?"
"Are you kidding?! I live for stuff like this! Please tell me that I can help you plan your date!"
Shirayuki blushed pink and rubbed her wrist. "…o-okay…I could…really use the help…and I appreciate it…"
Kaminari tilted his head and smiled. "I want in on this, too. It sounds like it's going to be fun. I've got some suggestions."
"…a-alright…I can…pick up some sweets…on the way home…"
Seeing the other three get so excited about hanging out, their red-haired friend started to frown. "Hey, I want to go, too."
"You sure?" Kaminari asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'm sure! Let's help Yuki plan the coolest date ever!" he persisted.
"What're you nerds so excited about?"
The group of four turned to look as Bakugou nudged his way into the line behind them, joining the friends with no regard for the other students in line behind him. Shirayuki immediately bowed her head again, chewing her lower lip. Ashido seemed to sense her unease and linked an arm through hers. "We're having a study group after school," the pink-haired girl replied.
Red eyes lowered to where her arm was pressed against Shirayuki's and then lifted to meet the shy girl's timid gaze. Bakugou smirked and forced his way in between Shirayuki and Kaminari. "Next time wait for me, Ume."
"What? She doesn't have to wait around for you," the other girl protested.
"Whatever. It doesn't concern you anyway."
At the lunch table, Shirayuki found herself seated between Bakugou and Kirishima. Ashido had tried her best to get a seat next to her first, but Bakugou was faster and Kirishima told her that he did not want to change seats. At the very least, he would stand up for her if their explosive classmate teased her too much.
Across the table, Ashido and Kaminari brought up the subject of the sports festival. The girl speculated what some of the events might be and was asking the others if they thought they were ready for it. Shirayuki was just lowering her mask to eat when she felt a gentle bump against a leg of her chair. She tensed, but resumed what she was doing.
With the mask hanging loosely around her neck now, she began to eat her bowl of ramen. The sports festival. All of the classes are going to be there. Shinsou said that they sometimes transfer students to the hero course if they do really well. Her heart began to race at the thought of him being able to join her class. They would have so much more time together.
"Um, that's too cute, Yuki! Seriously! Your face is so pink right now!" Ashido pointed out, her tone one of excitement.
"…c-cute…?" Shirayuki put a hand over her mouth as she slurped a few stray noodles down, trying to hide her mouth and blush at the same time.
Kaminari grinned. "Yeah, that's pretty cute. Your boyfriend is a lucky guy."
"…ah…I'm…I'm not…c-cute…um…?!" She released a squeak of surprise when her chair abruptly slid to her left and bumped against the side of her friend's chair. A hand reached past her, sliding the girl's tray of food closer, and Kirishima went back to his meal without a word. What…just happened?
"Damn right I am! Don't stare at Ume like that, you sparky piece of shit!" The shouting came from her right, where Bakugou was now glowering across the table at Kaminari.
"…oh…"
"Yeah. Sorry if I scared you, Yuki." Kirishima flashed her a brief grin.
"…th-thank you…" She continued her meal, her heart still racing as she listened to Bakugou growl at her two friends across the table.