AN: its been a while! there have been many life changes as of late, and inspiration for Pantera was scarce. BUT I HAVE RETURNED.
Hero students were at the train station, costumes in hand, and Kae was stupidly excited.
"Calm down Itoyo!"
Said girl was going around giving each student dramatic, personalized farewells. She'd already made it through most of the class, deciding to leave second to last to one of her least favorite people. Not that she went in order of most to least favorite, it just so happened that this particular student was intent on leaving without ever seeing Itoyo. Throwing one arm around his shoulders, and raising the other to her forehead in a swoon, Kae tossed her head back.
"Awase, I'll never forgive you for stepping on my tail that one time! I hope you come back from your internship a much better man!" He shoved her off with a disgruntled shout proclaiming, "Geez Itoyo, you're as bad as Monoma!"
Pointedly ignoring him, Kae swirled away with a laugh, aimlessly searching for her best friend. They were only going to be gone for a week, but Kae was just so thrilled she couldn't stop herself from sharing that excitement.
Funnily enough, she was too busy goofing off to notice his scent before literally bumping into him. She stood taller than him by a few inches and despite their difference in height, she was the one who stumbled over his feet disgracefully.
"Ki-Kiri—Sorry! I wasn't paying attention to where I was going. My bad," her voice trailed off sheepishly. Staring into his eyes felt like time stopped and they were frozen in a pocket just the two of them could inhabit. As always, Kirishima was a perfect gentleman. "Don't mind it. You alright Itoyo?" Kae's face started getting hot. "Um-"
"Yo Kae, my train's almost here. Hey Kirishima!" Thank the heavens for Tetsu. It was strange seeing the two interact. Neither of them noticed how strangely in sync they were. Tetsu threw an arm around her shoulders. "I wanted to wish you luck on your internship. Not that you need it," he encouraged. Kae gave her best friend a bright smile before he turned the conversation to their third wheel. "Where are you headed, Kirishima?"
"I'm interning with Fourth Kind!"
"Whoa no way am I too!"
The taller girl eyed their interaction strangely. She didn't mind the disruption for the sole reason that it gave her the opportunity to observe the pair. While they were obviously very similar in terms of personality, they were also very dissimilar. Not to disrespect her best friend, but somehow...Kirishima was brighter. Exuberantly sincere. Wholesome.
"Train to..."
"Ah that's us. See you on the train?" He asked Kirishima, who was fumbling with his case and other belongings. He hugged Kae tightly. "See ya later Kae!"
She squeezed him back just as hard and tearfully waved him goodbye. "Bye Tetsu! You're the only one I look forward to seeing!"
"I should get going. Nice to see ya, Itoyo," he said. Kae bit her lip before impulsively calling out his name.
"Kirishima!" He turned around inquisitively. "Take care of him would you?" He smiled brightly and Kae felt her face get hot. Oh god, what kind of expression is that? "No problem, Itoyo. You can count on me!"
In another impulsive moment, unclear if it was for Tetsu's sake or her own, she stuck her phone out with a casual hand. "He's a little dumb sometimes so...keep me updated?" He seemed surprised but they exchanged numbers quickly and he took off for the train with a hurried goodbye, just barely making it on time.
The handkerchief in her pocket burned as she watched Kirishima walk away. His pace was steady and confident, even strides taking him into the train before disappearing for a week. Just before the doors shut, Kae shouted out, "Let me know how it goes okay?" She was able to catch his grin before he was swept away at lightning speed.
She could have returned it, probably should have in all honesty. Since confirming who he was there was no reason to continue holding onto it. His scent had long since faded from the cloth, her own detergent now soaking it, but as Kae stared after the departed train with a thoughtful look on her face, the train that would take her best friend and her crush away from her for an entire week, she thought that perhaps she'd hold onto it for just a little while longer.
"Train to—"
Kae boarded her train in a daze, not paying much attention to her surroundings. Taking a seat beside a tired salary man, her face was thoughtful and pensive, very much unlike herself, when she heard her phone chime. Pulling it out without much thought she was surprised to find a text message from Kirishima.
"it's Kirishima! Good luck at Edgeshot's ? ゚マᄐ!"
Her heart swelled, butterflies flew in her tummy, and she smiled. Biting her lip to contain the happy squeal that wanted to escape her chest, Kae clutched the phone to her chest and teetered to herself. Gosh, she thought. What a guy. He even added a flexing arm emoji!
The train didn't travel too far, considering Edgeshot's agency was pretty close to UA. By the time she reached the station her giddiness had switched from being happy about Kirishima's message to being excited for interning with a top ten pro hero. Her limbs buzzed with excitement. If she trembled anymore than she was, her duffle bag would slip out of her hand and her hero case would fall to the ground.
Standing outside the station, it took her a moment to orient herself. She didn't spend much time outside of Musutafu, and she was nervous about making a bad impression by being late. "Ahh where am I? I can't tell where I'm supposed to go," she mumbled to herself. Looking around conspicuously, she noticed half a second too late that someone was approaching her when she felt a tap on her shoulder.
A man dressed as a ninja stood behind her. "Itoyo. From UA high school?"
She straightened a bit, gripping onto her case. "Yes, that's me."
"Follow me."
AN: Extremely short and not my best work, but we have to pick up somewhere. Next chapter should be a lil more exciting.
