NeonHorizon: One emotional roller coaster coming up! First a few words. I want to focus just a little more on the friendship stuff in the upcoming chapters because that stuff is super fun to write. Second, I adore "friendship wing-man" Togata Mirio. Something about writing that part last chapter was so satisfying! Lastly, I'm a monster. Enjoy the chapter, everyone!
"Are you excited for the sports festival tomorrow, Ume?"
She nearly dropped her chopsticks, startled out of her reflections on that day by her grandmother's question. Glancing across the table, she managed a nod. "…I'm just…a little worried…about making the rest of the class look bad…everyone in 1-A is so talented…"
"Oh, you shouldn't worry about that! Do you remember when you were little? You loved watching the footage of your father at his first sports festival when he was in high school. You didn't love them because of his quirk though."
"…no…" Thinking about it made her smile and she gripped the chopsticks tighter. "…I loved watching them…because he looked like he was having so much fun…he was talking to everyone and…always had people around him…he looked so happy…"
Her chest felt tight as she remembered another thing from that video she used to watch. There was a girl in that video with long, pale blonde hair and bright crimson eyes. This girl was smiling, happy, watching Umetarou with love in her gaze. Her hair was loose and messy. She had a little dirt smudged on her cheek from an earlier competition. However, on that day so long ago, Shirayuki Hikari had seemed so happy. So different from how she became after Umetarou's death.
"All that matters is that you do your best to shine in your own way, Ume. Any hero agency worth your time will be able to recognize your potential in an instant." The old woman smiled and moved to put more vegetables on Ume's plate. "There we are. It's too bad Shinsou-kun couldn't stay for dinner tonight. I made so much after I saw him walk you to school."
She blinked away tears and slouched in her seat. After apparently befriending Togata and Amajiki, Shinsou had questioned what happened. In his defense, it probably looked like Togata was attempting some sort of overenthusiastic matchmaking. She had spent most of the walk home talking about that and then they discussed the sports festival. There was no time for her to tell him that the next time he was upset by something, he should tell her instead of keeping it bottled up.
"Have you made plans with your friends for after the festival? You know, your father's whole class met up at a restaurant after their first sports festival. I think it was a yakiniku restaurant." The old woman chuckled, shaking her head. "Your father ate so much that he didn't have enough to pay his tab. He called me and he was so nervous to tell his father, but we just laughed it off. He spent every Sunday for a year cleaning that place to repay his debt."
It was a story she knew well, but it still cheered her up. She could imagine her father devouring plate after plate of food, replenishing the calories he had burned through that day when he used his quirk. The day her quirk manifested, she remembered how excited he was. How much food he had made for dinner that night to celebrate.
"…we're…going out after the festival…" she replied. "…um…I think Ashido-chan said…it's a ramen place so…" Seeing her grandmother smile so much, reminiscing about Umetarou, she was reluctant to ask her next question. "…do you know if…Hikari-san will be there tomorrow…?"
The old woman's smile dropped instantly upon hearing that name. She knew now what the girl's mother had done to her that night they went for dinner. It seemed that just hearing the name "Hikari" was enough to shatter her happy moment. "That woman. Ume, don't worry, alright? Granny will take care of it. I won't let her hurt you again." Her expression darkened. "I made a promise to Umetarou that I would take care of you. I swear that woman won't ever hurt you again. I swear it."
Shirayuki had only seen her grandmother get this angry once before. It was the day that Hikari brought her to her grandmother's house and basically abandoned her. The old woman had seethed when she thought Shirayuki was looking elsewhere, but the girl still knew. Her mother no longer wanted her and that was not right. Her grandmother, this sweet little old lady, cherished her though.
"…thank you…"
She offered to wash all of the dishes that night, working quietly as her grandmother settled in the sitting room with five of their cats. A glance was cast toward the refrigerator as she thought of the promise Bakugou had more or less forced her to make. A bento for tomorrow…but I don't even know what to make. I don't know what he likes.
The doorbell at the gate chimed and she jumped a little. Quickly pulling up her mask, she started for the door. "…I'll see who it is…" she assured her grandmother. As she opened the door, she blinked in surprise at the sight of Kirishima in the process of climbing over the gate.
He paused when he heard the door open, one leg hanging over one side of the gate and the other on the other side. The boy grinned sheepishly and held up a shopping bag. "Hey, Yuki-chan! Is it okay if I come in?"
Behind her mask, she had to smile. It was such an odd sight; her red-haired classmate perched on the top of the gate and looking like he might tumble over at any moment. She gave a timid nod and was impressed when he managed to hop down without getting hurt. "…Kirishima-kun, you…don't live around here…do you…?"
The boy looked away, his free hand lifting to rub the back of his neck. "I mean, no, but I wanted to stop by and bring you something. I was hanging out with Bakugou so I was already out."
It was now that she realized he was still wearing his school uniform. He was hanging out with Bakugou-kun? Looking toward the bag, she tilted her head slightly.
"Oh, right! The stuff I got! Okay, so I know your blood sugar gets low really easily, right? Check this out!" Kirishima opened the bag wide and proudly displayed an array of sweet buns and various candies, as well as a convenience store bento tucked at the bottom of the bag.
Her eyes grew wide with amazement at the selection of sweets, but she was puzzled by the bento. It looked so out of place among the other things. "…ah…?"
"Right! Remember how Bakugou wanted you to make him a bento for tomorrow? I know you probably just want to chill tonight so I got you this. Just put it in a different box and he'll never know! I got him a pretty good one, too. Lots of meat." He grinned, displaying his sharp, pointed teeth. "What do you think? Pretty smart, right?"
"…K-Kirishima-kun…you're…always so sweet…" Tears of happiness blurred her vision and she quickly lifted a hand to wipe at them. "…you're…such a good friend…I don't…I-I don't deserve…"
"Whoa! Don't cry, Yuki-chan! I didn't mean to make you cry! Um…oh!" He drew a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to her, beaming. "Here you go!"
"Oh my goodness! Is that Kirishima-kun? What brings you here so late?" her grandmother called from the doorway.
"Just dropping off some snacks," the boy replied, holding up the bag.
"Why don't you come inside for a moment? We've got some cookies left over from last night. Ume made them herself."
"Awesome! I love Yuki-chan's cookies!" Kirishima started toward the door, casually taking Shirayuki's free hand as her other hand wiped at her eyes.
Her friend greeted every cat by name, which was a little impressive given that there were seven of them. He complimented her grandmother and said, again, how much he loved the cookies Shirayuki made. All the while, she was unable to feel as relaxed as she had before.
The knowledge that he liked her was weighing on the girl's mind and heart. Kirishima was always ready to make her smile. He went out of his way for her, put himself between her and Bakugou to make her feel at ease, and seemed to always know when she was feeling down. When he saw her getting nervous over something, he did whatever he could to try to help her feel better.
Kirishima was a great friend. She felt comfortable hanging out with him, usually. For whatever reason, this night was different. She felt self-conscious. She found herself unable to meet his gaze half the time. When she walked him to the gate to say good night, she felt like her face burst into flames and her heart felt as though it was shot through with an electrical current.
Morning found her walking to the school with Shinsou, her head down and her teeth anxiously chewing at the side of her tongue. Shirayuki knew she had to say something. It was still weighing on her from the day before. However, this was the day of the sports festival. It was such an important day for them both and she knew that if she told him how she felt, it might put a damper on the day.
"Shirayuki…" he started, rubbing the back of his neck. They were nearing the gate now and he looked almost pained, conflicted. "I like you. A lot. I really like spending time with you. And you know I'd do anything to make you happy, right?"
What…is he about to say? Her pulse was quick, hard. It hurt and made her chest feel like it was being squeezed. Cold dread settled in the pit of her stomach as she looked up at him. "…Shinsou-kun…?"
Shift P.O.V
It hurt him to say this to her. It hurt a lot. He had done a lot of thinking, though. This was not a decision that he made lightly. Just trying to get the words out was such a struggle. He hated to do this. He knew what would happen, but it had to happen.
Thinking on it, Shinsou decided that this was becoming much too serious for a high school relationship. This was, by no means, a decision made solely because of her sleep talking and saying she loved him. No, this was a decision made after he realized his own feelings. His own desires. He had become so serious about this relationship, subconsciously thinking about their future together in his spare time, that it scared him.
He wanted to see her every day. He wanted to be with her every day, all of the time. When they parted ways the previous afternoon, it made his chest hurt. Shirayuki was all he had been able to think about that night, which led him to this painful decision. They both wanted to become heroes. They both needed to focus on achieving their goal.
"I don't want us to not be friends," he finished, after explaining that their relationship had to end. "I like you."
"…I…I want to stay your friend, too…" Tears were rolling down her cheeks as she bowed her head. Her grip on her school bag tightened, her knuckles turning white. "…b-but you're right…um…I don't…want to be a distraction and you…probably…"
Shinsou leaned down, gently tugging at her mask and pressing his lips against hers. The kiss was brief, but warm and soft. She tasted like sweets and it made him half-smile. Leaning his forehead against hers, he let his fingers trail through her hair. "You make me happy…and I want to keep making you happy. After we graduate, maybe…things can go back to this. I'm sorry."
Shift P.O.V
Shirayuki's shoulders drooped as she walked alone. He had to go to his class and she was lingering near the entrance with her head down. Her heart hurt. It felt like she had been stabbed in the chest twenty times. However, on some level, it was a relief.
Now she could avoid hurting him by telling him how upset she was that he had kept his feelings bottled up. Now they could both focus on their goals and she could work towards being a hero like her father. She sniffled and wiped at her eyes, trying to reassure herself that this was for the best.
"Hey, Shirayuki! Why are you out here? You should hurry up or-! Huh?! What's wrong? Are you okay?" Togata's bright smile fell the second he saw her teary crimson eyes. "That's no good! The sports festival is today, you know! You shouldn't cry!"
"Mirio…?" Amajiki approached the two other students, but kept a distance. He nervously glanced their way once before lowering his head to glare at the ground. "Is…everything okay?"
Shirayuki's shoulders were grabbed in what Togata probably imagined was a gentle grip and she lowered her head further to try to hide her tears. "…I-I'm…okay, I just…I just need a few seconds…I'm sorry…I-I'm making someone worry and…"
"Hey, it's okay! I get it!"
She lifted her eyes, meeting the boy's blue enthusiasm with red uncertainty. "…you…understand…?" she murmured, extremely confused.
"Yeah!" He released her right shoulder and gave her a thumbs-up. "You're so excited about the sports festival that you can't take it, right? I felt the same way when I was a first year! It's pretty exciting, isn't it? It's your first chance to get out there and really shine! I know you're probably nervous, too, but don't worry about it! Just go out there and give it your best!"
Even though this was not the kind of encouragement she had expected, it did somehow make her feel better. Despite having nothing to do with her break up. "…th-thank you, Togata-senpai…"
"That's what friends are for! Right, Tamaki?"
He gave a short nod. "Just…try your best," he said without looking up.