Note: Let's just say Kirishima very much reminds me of Josh. Leo definitely agrees with the notion. So let's do this.
This chapter should easily solidify that this is an AU Tomoko because she and Kakashi do not get together unlike in CP! Kei exists too so there's that! And that this is also my direct homage to Josh and Leo, my best boys, in the best way I can, because Naruto simply does not have enough characters for me to honor them correctly in writing form.
Themes are (1) Hero's Shadow from My Hero Academia's own OST, and (2) Yuusha-tachi no Lullaby, or Lullaby of Heroes from the second season of Yuki Yuna is a Hero. Lyrics are taken directly from the Yuki Yuna fandom wiki.
Oh! That reminds me! As for the mentioned in-story theme used for Shinsō's ringtone on Tomoko's phone, I can happily say it's from Studio Ghibli's The Cat Returns. I recommend adrisaurus's English cover of Become the Wind and/or the original Japanese version of Kaze ni Naru.
Of course, a small trigger warning is in order for an implied flashback of emotional abuse and the presence of a panic attack.
Please enjoy.
Chapter 9: The Heart of a Man
In the time I had gotten to know Hitoshi-kun as a person, there were those little signs that reminded me that he was still a teenager and not just any other Hero-hopeful student. The eyebags were one.
The "resting bitch-face" was another. Thankfully, he never did direct it at me, but I knew when it was on his face that something had happened. Even our walk to school seemed tense too with how his hands were shoved into his pockets.
I found myself biting my lip. He was a few paces ahead of me, so if I ran forward…
What would that do? Would he be angry?
I shook my head and tugged on my braid. I couldn't get scared. This was Hitoshi-kun. A boy I was in lo—
Lub-dub.
What?
Heat was starting to flood my cheeks, my heart was pounding, and once I looked up, Hitoshi-kun's back was still facing me, his head facing downwards. He was walking away.
There's nothing like living in the present… right?
I ran forward, just a little, and did my best to grab and gently tug at his nearest sleeve.
He jolted, his purple bush of a head sticking up for a second before turning around. That resting bitch-face was still on for a single second before dropping for a new, wide-eyed look. He blinked, and then, just then, I could've sworn his purple eyes had something new shining in them that I had never seen before. "What is it, Hoshino?" he said softly, his voice betraying nothing but the care and friendliness that was Hitoshi Shinsō. It was almost like the previous moment of negativity and dark was gone with that one facial expression alone. "What's gotten into you?"
Had he ever said my last name so gently before?
Lub-dub, lub-dub.
My cheeks were definitely pink, but I sucked in a breath. "I-I'm okay." I think, since I don't know why my heart's beating so hard in front of you. "But wh-what about you, Hitoshi-kun? You looked like you were sulking, so…" I let his sleeve go once his stare turned confused and almost burning into my head, looking up instead to meet his eyes. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Hitoshi blinked before reaching up to rub the back of his neck. "…Dunno. It's weird," he said finally.
"I don't agree with that word, Hitoshi-kun," I said immediately, reaching over to pat his shoulder. I had no clue if it was as comforting of a gesture as it could've been, but it was still something. "We're all weird with Quirks, so you can hit me with it."
Hitoshi blinked at me again before rolling his eyes, a familiar crooked smirk forming on his face. "This coming from the girl who takes everything seriously."
"It helps me assess the situation better," I deadpanned, but I knew I was getting somewhere. I couldn't back down now, not when he was listening. "But still. You okay?"
Hitoshi's expression morphed into something unreadable, but his eyes were still focused on me. In fact, he stared at me for a few seconds, long enough to make me feel like I had done something wrong from plain anxiousness, before exhaling and turning away. "I'm going to be blunt, okay?"
"Uh. Go ahead?"
Hitoshi gave me an incredulous look before covering his eyes with his other hand. He sighed, almost as if he wasn't believing what I was saying. "An old classmate of mine sent me a text yesterday." Eh? "It had a picture of you and me in it."
Oh. Oh dear. This sets off so many alarm bells. "Hitoshi-kun…"
For a moment, he didn't say anything. Instead, Hitoshi uncovered his eyes and ran his hand through his hair, ruffling it beyond any kind of mess a simple comb could repair. It could've resembled a purple tree with how it became so tussled. "What really irks me about the text was what it said, and I quote," he raised his fingers to do very dry air quotations, "What are you doing walking around with a kindergartener."
Uh.
Wait. Me?
I was the kindergartener?
"…Oh." I found myself saying slowly. Then, I didn't know if it was inappropriate or not, but I found myself adding a tinier note of, "Should I take that in stride for how I look younger than I actually am?"
Hitoshi shot me a long look of "what the hell" before shaking his head. "Tomoko, your optimism is… sunshine-y and nice, but that's not what I'm getting at." His hand reached over to pat my head this time, rustling my hair. It took a moment to resist the urge to bat his hand away, instead pouring my energy into listening. Hitoshi smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "What gets to me is how this guy is one of those old jerks that called my quirk 'villainous.'"
I closed my mouth at that. Hitoshi's gaze seemed frustrated yet sad when I looked at him. What was I supposed to say to that?
What was I supposed to do?
"The text said a lot of things I don't want to say out loud, but it just… just… ugh." Without warning, Hitoshi pulled his hand away and started walking as if someone had slapped him. I could do nothing but carefully trot after him to follow. "I hate how even when I'm in the Hero Course, there's still people like that guy thinking I could be a villain. Thinking like that, like," he threw an arm in the air in frustration, anger seeping in his voice. "Like I could hurt you." He huffed angrily, his nose scrunching with the gesture. "Like you're nothing but someone I'm corrupting or some other shit."
Oh.
"But we both know you would never hurt me," I said as gently as I could. "There's no way that could happen." Reaching over to pat his arm felt right this time. "I trust you, Hitoshi-kun."
Hitoshi turned his head to look at me again, and there was no missing that grateful smile. "…Thanks, Tomoko," he said, and his right hand caught my left that was still hanging on his arm. "I needed that."
I did my best to smile back. My heart was still beating, but that didn't matter right now. Friends came first. "Aye aye. And besides," I squeezed his fingers as gently as I could. "You and I both know that you're not like that. It doesn't matter what that person said. Even if the kindergartener thing is totally weird." He was grinning wryly, but it was still progress. "You, Hitoshi-kun, are—" I couldn't help myself. I pulled him in by our held hands and wrapped my arm around him. He jolted, my heart was racing, but I couldn't find it in myself to care. There was a friend to reassure, right here. "Snuggly and shaped like a great Hero! The greatest Hero I know!"
Maybe it was cheesy. Maybe it was childish. But it was all I had.
My cheeks were positively burning and I buried my face into Hitoshi's forearm. "Th-That is," the cheese was wearing off, "if you're okay with hearing me say that. Maybe."
Lub-dub, lub-dub, lub-dub, lub-dub, lub-dub.
Why couldn't my heart stop?
Why couldn't time just stop?
Why couldn't it all just stop?
A breath brushed the top of my hair. It took a moment for me to realize that it was shaky and it was all Hitoshi. "…You're unbelievable. You're serious about this?" A hand was on my head again, fingers tangling into my hair. "D-Don't — don't say things like that so early in the morning, Hoshino. Seriously. Th-There's a limit to the sunshine you can emit on a daily basis."
His voice was cracking. Hitoshi-kun's voice was cracking.
Something was wrong.
I wanted to raise my head, I wanted to check up on him aside from just hugging him, but the hand on the back of my hair was keeping me snuggled close to the point of not moving. "H-Hitoshi-kun?"
"Don't look," he said flatly, shivering. "Don't look. Just…Just hang onto me. For a minute, okay?" There was another audible crack in his voice and I could feel his fingers tremble in my hair, as minute as the sensations were. "Give me a minute, Hoshino."
He had gone back to my last name. A part of me wanted to ask why he kept going back to my last name in times like this, but this was still a moment. I couldn't break it. So, all I did was snuggle closer and nod into his school blazer. "Mm. Okay. Take as long as you need." The familiar three words were on my tongue, but this moment seemed emotional enough. I didn't need to add something else into the hot mess that was this morning when my heart was still racing like a heroine's found in a storybook.
Hitoshi-kun had sat down in the front rows of my heart's theater with my family and friends a long time ago. I didn't know what seat number he had, or how important his seat would be in the future, but all I did know was that I didn't want to see him leave.
I didn't want to see him break. Especially when I could support him, like this.
I waited a little bit before speaking aloud. At least, as much as I could while still buried in his school uniform. "Y'know, Hitoshi-kun," he grunted and I took that as a sign to keep going, "I wasn't kidding about you being snuggly." I hugged him a bit tighter, breathing in the scent of his uniform in the hopes of distracting my heart. "When I get to know people, hugs are a good indicator of how things go. Sometimes lankiness or tense muscles make the hug feel awkward. Other times it's too tight and I can't really say much."
The fingers in my hair paused their patting. "…Where are you going with this?"
A giggle left my lips and I pressed my nose into his shoulder. As much as my heart was beating like how Sonic would go fast, I already knew my answer. "Your hugs make me feel warm and safe. So I know you'll never be a villain. I can always be with you, Hitoshi-kun, because I know I can trust you. You're the snuggliest person I know."
Hitoshi-kun was stiffening again.
I continued, even with my face turning red. "A-And, and I know you'll be a great Hero. No matter what anyone else says. Hugs prove you're already good at the comforting-rescue part of the job."
A nose was suddenly bumping the top of my head. "Goddammit. I-I said…" there was an audible crack again above my hair as the fingers on my head started moving, "to give me a minute before you started spouting off more cheesy lines, didn't I?"
Oops. "Too late for that?" I said sheepishly, raising my hugging arm to offer a pointer finger of thought to the air. "Because I meant every single word, Hitoshi-kun." I wanted to say, 'I love you too', but this is too good of a moment to add that bombshell. "You're amazing."
Hitoshi inhaled deep enough to where I could feel his chest move from the gesture, his fingers on my head starting to stroke my hair. "You…You are absolutely ridiculous," he said flatly, his shoulders trembling enough for me to feel it too. "Saying all that, honestly, Hoshino." A cheek bumped my head this time and… wait a second. Something was pressing into my hair. What was it? "You are a massive goofball."
Oh. Oh.
LUB-DUB, LUB-DUB.
I tightened the hug while slowly moving my feet, guiding him to walk. "It's how I am. It's hard to deny that, Hitoshi-kun." He thankfully wasn't protesting, so I kept my nose in his shirt while looking up, just slightly, to keep an eye on the road. "After school, we can go to a cat cafe if you want? I can pay. Just for a pick-me-up."
For the first time that morning, Hitoshi-kun stifled a laugh. "Tomoko, you don't have to do that." Finally, finally I could move out of hugging his arm and once I could look up at him for real, his purple eyes seemed brighter somehow. Warmer. His eyes were a bit red from whatever moment that happened before, but he was using my first name again. "Just be you. You being here is enough."
LUB-DUB, LUB-DUB, LUB-DUB.
Before I could react, my hand was getting grabbed and Hitoshi was in front of me all over again. When did he get in the lead? Hell, he had adjusted his school bag to be dangling behind his back like a badass somehow. When? "Now c'mon. We're going to be late to class if we stay here."
"A-Aye aye, sir…!"
During the entire walk up the hill to UA, all I could see was the pink of his ears through his bush of a hairdo and how he never let go of my hand.
It was moments like these that made me want to get to know Hitoshi-kun better as a person. It was times like these that made me want to know what he was thinking.
Was I really making him happy?
"HOSHINO-CHAAAAAAAN! LITTLE LISTENER! WAAAAAAAAAAIT!"
It took a lot to not flinch at the sound of Present Mic's infamous voice, but even then, I found a squeak leaving my lips as the hallways quickly cleared for the Pro Hero. It didn't even take a second for his yellow mane of a hairdo to come close to poking me once he skidded into view and I clutched my schoolbag to my chest. "M-Mic— I mean, Yamada-sensei? Um, hello! What are you doing?" left me in a flurry of squeaking, because it was not every day Present freakin' Mic himself called for your attention.
"Calling out to you, little listener, what else am I doing!" He wasn't even deterred by my high-pitched squeal, grinning like it was his birthday come early. "I finally found you!"
"F-For what?"
I was not expecting him to get in my face, grabbing my hands in his. Oh no. "How do you feel about joining my radio show tonight, little listener?"
It took about an extra second or so for me to realize my face was starting to heat up. "Wh-What? Me? Why me, Yamada-sensei?"
"Ohmigod, LISTEN UP, LITTLE LISTENER! MY REASONS!" Yamada-sensei pulled back just as fast as he had grabbed my hands, pointing a finger into my face. Was he angry? "One! You are absolutely adorable!"
Oh no. "Oh gosh no, Yamada-sensei, I'm not that…!"
"Hey, hey, LISTEN TO ME! Number two!" The finger in my face increased to two. "You have a lovely singing voice!"
"Th-Thank you?"
"AAAAAAND Number three!" There were three fingers in my face now. "You could definitely reach more people than the school if you perform on the radio with your singing! Maybe even," he winked at me, what the heck— "reach a person you love?"
It took a second for me to realize my face was burning. "…Where did you hear that?" I said slowly, trying not to squeak at the last part because holy shit, did Yamada-sensei actually listen into my heartbeat or something?! "Because I thought I was a lot more discreet than that, Sensei."
To my surprise, the big and boisterous grin on his face softened for something that I could only call "fatherly" as he reached over to pat my head. "Hoshino-chan. You take after me like Shinsō does Eraser. Why wouldn't I know?"
The hallway seemed so much smaller and tighter once he said that. It was those last words. And there was no missing the now obvious gold ring dangling around Sensei's neck either.
Wait.
Aizawa-sensei had the exact same gold band around his neck on a string too.
The dots connected and my heart was racing.
Aizawa-sensei is married to Yamada-sensei, and now Yamada-sensei is trying to help me out.
He knows that I— that Shinsō might be—
Then a memory of short black hair and leering brown eyes flashed through my thoughts.
"Why wouldn't I know what you're doing? You can't get rid of me!"
This sounded too familiar.
Ohmigod. Someone kill me.
My cheeks were on fire. "S-Sensei…" my voice cracked. "I-I, I-I dunno, I—" My throat was closing up, what was going on— "I—"
What was going on with me?
Where was all the oxygen?
It was a good idea, especially after what happened with Shinsō this morning, so why was I—
"Holy shit, Hoshino." Present Mic is back as suddenly as Yamada-sensei was there, and he's yelling something I can't make out. Something like, "NOTHING TO SEE HERE," before he was pulling on my arm and I was stumbling after him, clutching my schoolbag. "Are you okay with Midnight?" was running through one ear and out the other and I found myself blinking. When— when did I start tearing up? "We're going to see Midnight for a little bit, kid, take deep breaths for me, okay?"
"K-Kayama-sensei is okay," I somehow stuttered, but even when taking in a breath, it felt like my lungs were on fire. Why was I acting like this? What was going on with me? My legs felt like stone, but I was still moving. "B-But, but, sensei?"
"Yeah?"
I should've said Kei's name. Nii's too, even. But instead, all my lips could flap was a meek and weak, "C-Could I see Aizawa-sensei instead?"
Aizawa was not one to like getting called out of his class. Sure, Class A was filled with problem children, one after another, but that didn't mean he liked leaving them unsupervised.
But when his own husband came through the door, an uncharacteristic stormy expression on his face, everything had to stop.
The students staying behind for remedial classes stared at the door like it was some kind of savior.
Aizawa put down his chalk to stare too. "What is it, Mic?"
Mic shook his head and walked over, wrapping an arm around his neck and pulling him into a side-hug of sorts to whisper vehemently. Aizawa probably would've shivered if not for the words Mic specifically said. "Hoshino's outside the classroom door and in the middle of a panic attack. She asked for you."
Aizawa jolts. The day had proceeded to devolve into a hot and burning fuck of a mess. "What the fuck did you do, Hizashi."
"Tried the radio show proposal. Then I think I said something and she started breathing too hard." Mic's expression, while lovable, read clear panic and uncertainty. "She asked for you, Shouta. She asked for you."
Aizawa shakes his head, feeling his cheekbones harden into that of his hero persona before swiftly turning to the students. Kirishima, Kaminari, and Ashido all stare back at him in shock, having taken the time to huddle together in some kind of teenage talk. He barks as calmly as possible, "Study hall. I'll be back. Mic'll be watching you."
"O-Oi—" But Hizashi isn't complaining since the slight bit of shame shining in his eyes is enough approval for Eraserhead.
Aizawa steps out of the classroom and nearly slams the door behind him if not for catching a glimpse of the shivering girl standing in the hallway. For everything that she stood for in his students' eyes, squirrel was not one of those things.
Hoshino Tomoko looked like she had seen a ghost. The blue hair ribbons framing her face barely seem organized with how they flopped forward to brush her slumping shoulders. Her knees were clanking against each other. Her head was down, but there was no mistaking her eyes. Her blue eyes were unfocused, the light in them nearly gone. Her school bag looked like a teddy bear in how tightly she was clutching it to her chest, and she was inhaling and exhaling deep enough to where she sounded like she was on a ventilator.
This was already delicate.
Aizawa was not good at delicate. Shinsō might've been, but he wasn't here.
Still, Hizashi said she asked for him. For Shouta. So he could try.
Aizawa took a careful step forward, loud enough to let Hoshino know he was there. She absently raised her head, and then some kind of spark glowed in the blue eyes. "A-Aizawa-sensei…" then there are tears. She sniffles. "I-I'm sorry, I—"
He shakes his head, walking over faster to stand in front of her, kneeling slightly to be at her height. If not for her being in General Studies, she could've been another problem child. "You're okay, Hoshino. Listen to what I'm saying, alright?" He waits for her to nod, and then Aizawa takes a breath. "Breathe in, like me."
She does that. Shaky, but breathes anyway.
Aizawa holds his breath for a moment before letting it go, and this time he gives up any pretense of a tense Hero to hold a student's shoulder. Her shoulder. "Now breathe out, like this."
She does that too.
"Keep breathing with me, alright?" Aizawa keeps his voice soft and gentle. "Slow and deep."
Hoshino does that, and with each breath, the light is coming back. With each gesture, she's starting to look more like the Fairy his class paraded around and less like the squirrel he found, color returning to her face in the usual pink blush, and once the tears are gone, she blinks. "A-Aizawa-sensei, I—"
"Hey." Aizawa squeezes her shoulder. She's flinching, but he keeps her steady. "What happened? What did Hizashi say?"
Hoshino blinks at him. She could have easily resembled a frightened cat with the shocked face she was making. "I-It wasn't Yamada-sensei," she confessed, and it was as if someone had pressed the pause button with how her breathing had stalled. "I… I want to go to his radio show, since he was nice enough to invite me, a-and it might be fun, but, but," she puts a hand to her chest, over where her heart would be, to breathe out, "I'm worried about saying something wrong."
Here was the catch.
"You don't know what will happen until it does, Hoshino," he says rationally, and Hoshino hugs her school bag tighter. "Something is hurting you more than this show."
Hoshino bites her lip. The tears are back in her eyes, one very close to tipping past the corner of her eye and falling. Her response is just as quiet as before. "I-I'm afraid of hurting Hitoshi-kun, Sensei."
Aizawa blinks. "Shinsō is part of the Hero Course now, Hoshino," he says mildly. "He should be able to handle a simple radio show."
Hoshino still fumbles with the straps of her school bag, and now she's averting her gaze from him. "B-But, I know you're raising him to be a good Hero, and, and—"
"And what?" Aizawa tries.
"AndI'mafraidofconfessingtohimifIreallydolikehimbecausehe'saHeroandhedoesn'thavetimeforlove!"
That… was a mouthful.
"I…" Hoshino could beat a cherry in how red she was turning. "Idon'tknowwhattodo."
Aizawa blinks, mulls over the recent mumbles, and reaches over to rest his palm atop Hoshino's head. "You love Shinsō."
Hoshino flushes a darker red, but nods hesitantly. Shyly.
"You're afraid," Aizawa deduces quietly, "of hurting his upcoming career and reputation if you say something wrong on Mic's show. More so since it's broadcasted live on every radio in Japan."
She nods again.
That left just one thing. "Why?" Aizawa says softly.
Hoshino looks away, ducking her head, and her hands shake. "B-Because, Sensei." She stumbles, and this time that lone tear does fall from her eyes. "I hurt someone I loved before and I don't want to do it again."
Oh.
Aizawa's heard bits and pieces of this from Shinsō. Gekkō too even, when thinking back on it. Ty was one of many UA applicants this past spring, but for far too many reasons, he failed. Aizawa made sure of it before Hoshino even walked through UA's doors. But this. This. It was the first time Aizawa could see the shadow of a lanky boy hanging over this girl, and he hated the look on her face from it.
Even after Shinsō had gotten the boy to punch himself, Ty was still here. Hoshino wasn't truly free. Aizawa wasn't sure when she would be.
But there was a shackle to break, and he might as well start cracking at it before his students tried. Before Shinsō tried.
"Hoshino." Aizawa didn't know when one of his personal walls fell, but he was talking and he couldn't stop himself. The signs were all there. What mattered now was addressing them. "There's a difference between love and abuse. And the person you loved before clearly abused you."
Hoshino jolts again, this time raising her head to look into his eyes. Aizawa carefully hides a wince at the pure unadulterated shock shining in her blue eyes and opts to pat her head. "S-Sensei… but, but I…"
"Look, Hoshino." Aizawa brushes her hair, hoping the gesture was comforting. "Hizashi wouldn't just ask anyone to be on his show. You've shown more heart than some of the Pro Heroes I've even met." Her jaw slackens and he continues brushing her hair. It was just as soft as it looked. She could've been a small kitten. No wonder Shinsō liked her. "But remember this. Not even Heroes can take the whole world on our backs. Not even All Might could do that. You shouldn't do that either. Hurting people happens all the time, whether we like it or not. But," he pats her head again, shuffling enough to expose the gold ring hanging around his neck for her to see, "if there's anything that being married to a giant cockatoo for a decade has taught me, it's that love is something that happens naturally. Love means you both work it out together."
Hoshino gasps this time, and more tears bubble in her eyes. "S-So, then," her voice breaks, "if I said anything about Hitoshi-kun—"
"There are worse ways to go about confessing," Aizawa admits with a dry smile. The memory is still funny. "Hizashi screamed it out to me in the middle of this very same hallway, before class."
"Wha—" For the first time that day, Hoshino lets out a giggle. "Y-Yamada-sensei did that?"
"We went to UA together, Hoshino." He lightly taps her head this time, prompting another giggle. "He was a loud ass that shared a single brain cell with someone else I knew." He thought of Shirakumo, for just a moment, before shrugging the memory away. He couldn't be painfully awkward now. "I never stopped loving him. And you shouldn't stop loving people either, unless if something really does happen."
"So," now there's hope in Hoshino's eyes and Aizawa is tempted to look away from how bright they look, "it's okay? To speak? To sing?"
"Hoshino." Aizawa pets her hair. If not for the age, she could've easily passed off for a much younger, white-haired girl in his care. Maybe. "Keep it simple and be yourself. You'll be fine."
Mic wouldn't have chose you otherwise.
Hoshino blinks and then looks away with a fidget. She raises an arm to wipe at her eyes before turning back to him with a small smile. A warmer, child-like, genuine smile. It suited her. "Okay," she says softly. "I'll try it."
Yep. She's way too bright.
Aizawa was tempted to question Shinsō's romantic tastes, but they were still in a school hallway. So he instead holds back the temptation to roll his eyes. "Feeling better?"
"J-Just about." The hold on the school bag "teddy" has started to loosen since Aizawa spilled some of his heart out, and Hoshino giggles nervously. "I-I'm sorry for taking up your time, Sensei. Wh-When… when I get in those moments," she fumbles with a strap of her bag, still clutching it to herself, "I — um, I usually need someone to get me out of it. A-And, earlier, I only thought of you."
Aizawa's very tempted to question this part, but triggers and panic attacks were not something to be taken lightly. Years of being an underground hero proved how things could be so much worse, so Hoshino really was giving herself too much credit when she was lucky. No one could really claim to have the same peace she did. But, if anything, he can't help but feel the slightest bit of mentorly pride at how she chose him over any other teacher in UA to confide in, patting her head once more before pulling back. "It's alright. There's nothing wrong with that, Hoshino. We all have our bad days."
She blinks and looks up at him with a confused face. "W-Wait," she sounds incredulous, "even you, Sensei?"
Aizawa nods. "Even me. Heroes are still human, Hoshino."
The small smile on her face proceeds to grow and stretch her cheeks. "Ah," she said. "Aye aye. I-I guess I owe you a bag of cookies now, Sensei."
Aizawa is very tempted to flick her nose because that smile looks far more cheeky than sincere. Just like someone else he once knew. "Overworking problem child," he chides her instead, and he reaches over to flick her forehead. She squeaks and recoils, but he still adds on a soft, "Make sure not to push yourself. Mic's show plays on Friday nights at 1-5 am. You'll be up for a while."
Hoshino pouts. "I'll sleep before going over. And it's not on a school night, so I can go."
Aizawa does roll his eyes this time. "Problem child," he repeats, but it sounds more fond out of his mouth than it does an insult. "Make sure to finish whatever you're doing. And then you can say what you want to Shinsō later. Just make it quick and to the point."
Hoshino's blushing again. The pink could easily be considered a part of her normal facial expressions at this rate. "I-I'll do my best, Sensei," she says instead of acting on the pout on her face. "I'll do my best."
Aizawa scoffs under his breath and bonks her head. "You better. And probably for media's sake, don't say anything too obvious. Shinsō will know it's you no matter what."
Her blush darkens. "You…You don't mind?" Her eyes say, without her speaking the words, You trust me?
Aizawa rolls his eyes and bonks her head again with the back of his hand. "I wouldn't have let my husband go on and ask you to be on his show if I did."
The small and grateful smile on her lips makes Aizawa very tired but very glad he stayed back after school.
Kirishima didn't know what exactly to make of the girl his friends called the "Chocolate Fairy." Sure, she was cute and sweet, considering how she gave him homemade chocolate as a gift on Valentine's Day. "In the name of friendship!" she had said, and as a man, he couldn't exactly turn that down. It may have garnered the contempt of Kaminari and Mineta for a while, but they could work that out between themselves. Sincerity was a rare thing like that.
He wasn't expecting Aizawa-sensei to be called out of the room by Yamada-sensei about her. Though at the time, he didn't know it was about her.
Sure, Kirishima, Kaminari, and Ashido were all already in the classroom to catch up on some lessons, but it didn't change the sense of unease that was left behind once Yamada-sensei took over the session. He was humming to himself, absently writing "STUDY HALL" on the board for extra emphasis, but Kirishima had a bad feeling about it.
He glanced at his own worksheet. It was already three-fourths done, so if he finished this now—
Kirishima played with his pencil before getting to work.
It doesn't take long for the classroom door to slam back open, and Aizawa-sensei is walking back to where Yamada-sensei is to talk in hushed voices. Kirishima focuses on his work, but still keeps an ear open.
"—she okay?"
"Might want to be careful on your wording from now on, Mic," Aizawa's gravelly voice is still obvious even in whispering. "She remembered that bad applicant of ours from the past spring."
Present Mic appears to hold in a dramatic gasp before glancing, discreetly or not, Kirishima isn't sure, towards the squad still in the room. "Does she need friends?"
"I dunno about that, Mic—"
"HEY, LISTENERS!"
Kirishima nearly breaks his pencil in his newly hardened fist. "YES, SIR?" he yells back.
Aizawa is face-palming, but Yamada-sensei grins and points an eager finger at him. "Kirishima! Just the right person to ask! You have a friend to cheer up! She's right outside the door!"
"Wait, Mic," Aizawa's raising a hand towards Yamada-sensei, looking even more tired in spite of his protest, "he still has work—"
"I finished, Sensei, sir!" Kirishima jumps up from his seat, and sure enough, his worksheet was torn but it was done. "I can look out for whoever's out there! On my honor as a man!"
Aizawa pinches the bridge of his nose. "What is it with me and finding problem children?" he mutters. Kaminari and Ashido are already getting up from their seats with protesting faces, but he raises a hand and shakes his head. "Just Kirishima, since he finished the assignment," he adds dryly and quickly continues with a narrowed stare in their direction. There's no missing the hint of red in his eyes. "Just Kirishima."
Kirishima stands as tall as he can, nodding as soon as Kaminari and Ashido fall back into their seats with equally matching groans. "Break a leg, Kirishima," Kaminari says with a reassuring pat to his back, and Ashido too gives a weak smile as soon as he walks past to grab his school bag. "Text us when you get back."
"Got it!" He salutes them both, as well as the two teachers still together at the front of the room. Kirishima did his best to not flinch once red eyes turned on him and Aizawa sighed.
"Make sure not to yell into her face, Kirishima. Think of her like Eri."
"Sure, Sensei!" he said dutifully, but still felt himself getting confused until he opened the classroom door and walked outside.
The two blue hair ribbons were obvious even in the fading sunset illuminating the hallway.
Kirishima blinked. "Hoshino?"
Hoshino Tomoko raised her head and blinked back at him. In spite of the recognition in her stare, her blue eyes looked somewhat dull in comparison to all the times he had seen her hugging Shinsō and Leonhart after class. Huh? "Kiri…shima-san?" Even her high-pitched voice seemed toned down and quiet. "What are you doing here?"
"Uh," Kirishima rubs the back of his head while walking towards her with a smile, "I was actually told to come out here by Aizawa-sensei and Mic-sensei. Something about a friend to cheer up. So it's you?"
Hoshino blinks again before a light pink dusts her cheeks. "I…" She ducks her head, hugging her school bag to her chest. "Yeah. I-I'm not going to trouble you?"
"Huh? Of course not!" Kirishima laughs as genuinely as he can, finally coming close enough to extend a hand. He was initially thinking of wrapping it around her shoulders, but once Hoshino flinched away, he paused. Oh. So it was this kind of cheering up. Ashido could've been the better choice, but since Aizawa-sensei said it was only him… "Even if we're not in the same year, we're still friends of friends through Shinsō and Leonhart, Hoshino." He settles for placing a gentle hand on her head and she looks up at him. "So, if you don't mind me, let's hang out for a bit!"
Her blue eyes shine with shock. "Is…" she squeaks, "Is that okay?"
Kirishima grinned enough to show off his teeth. "I'm the one inviting you, so yeah! Let's go, Hoshino!"
In that moment, Hoshino's uncertain expression broke out into a warm and grateful smile. "Okay," she said softly. "Just let me text Nii and Kei and we'll go."
Kirishima knows in that single instant that he's never going to be forgetting her smile. It's a smile that makes him glad he decided to be a Hero.
Before today, Kirishima Eijirou was someone I could call an acquaintance. From mentions of him passed on through Ochako-chan and Hitoshi-kun to seeing his performance in the Sports Festival in the finals against Kei, he was definitely someone who stood out.
I wasn't expecting him to be a companion of all things post-trigger.
"So, Hoshino, you up for eating anything?" Kirishima-san had a wallet in his hands out of nowhere, tossing it up and down in his hand while grinning shark-like teeth. "I can pay!"
"Um," my voice cracked, "you don't have to, Kirishima-san! I-I'm just," I couldn't help myself from walking closer to bump his shoulder with mine, "I'm glad to have some company right now is all."
"Huh." Kirishima lowered his wallet, but it did not stop his smile in the slightest as he inclined his head down towards me. "Then what do you want to do?"
"Before I answer that," I nudged him again, smiling politely, "are you sure you're not busy? Because if you need to handle anything personal, you should go do that first, Kirishima-san."
Kirishima blinked at me before his red eyes shined. "I'm fine, Hoshino, but thanks for the consideration! That's really cool of you!" He reached over to pat my head again. Uhhhh. What was this treatment, exactly? "But hey. I wanted to come out here to check up on you, and after our Senseis gave that kind of order, I can't leave ya now!"
The warm smile on his face could've easily made all the darkness in the world go away. At least, that's how it felt, looking at him.
I found myself smiling back, less out of politeness and more out of just sheer relief. "You're going to be an amazing Hero smiling like that, Kirishima-san."
And just like that, the moment was broken as he took a step back, his red eyes wide. "W-Wait, really?" Kirishima laughed, rustling the back of his spiky red hair before striding forward to stand at my side again. "Ahahaha, thanks! I can definitely see how Shinsō took a liking to you now, Hoshino!"
Oh gosh. I felt my smile drop for a blush. "W-Wait, really?"
Kirishima blinked but nodded knowingly anyways. "Definitely! You should see how he looks at you, Hoshino! Whenever you leave, he always has this nice big smile on his face!" Kirishima extended his hands to his own cheeks, pulling at them to mimic the smile in question and I blinked. "Believe me when I say he really, really trusts you!"
"O-Oh," I said inadequately, feeling my heart jump. "I-I'm glad about that? I think!"
Kirishima's smile dropped for a confused face. "You think?"
"Um." Then my phone rang.
"Whoa!" said Kirishima.
The piano chords of the theme from The Cat Returns was an obvious tell as to who was calling, and I did my best to not fumble with the device. "G-Give me a second, Kirishima-san." Sliding my finger across the touchscreen started the call almost immediately, so I put the phone to my ear. "H-Hello?"
"Tomoko?" My heart skipped a beat. I already knew from the specialized ringtone that it was Hitoshi-kun, but hearing his voice through the phone's speakers didn't help the blush coming onto my cheeks. "Where are you? I'm about to start training with Aizawa-sensei and I didn't see you."
"I-I'm sorry, Hitoshi-kun, some things kinda happened…" I cupped my free hand around my mouth to speak into the phone, the heat on my face quickly transforming from embarrassment to shame. "I'm with Kirishima-san right now."
"Kirishima?" Hitoshi-kun seemed quieter at that. "Did something happen that made him come with you?"
Oh. He was worried. I glanced at Kirishima and he sent me a thumbs-up. Of course. With a smile of my own, I turned back to the phone and spoke gently. "A little while ago, actually. Yamada-sensei accidentally said some things that reminded me of…" I found myself trailing off. I couldn't say his name while Kirishima was here. "Well, that guy. Aizawa-sensei found Kirishima-san and we're hanging out together to help calm those bad feelings down."
Thankfully, Hitoshi-kun caught on almost immediately with what sounded like a deep breath over the speaker. "Oh. Him. The guy I got to punch himself a few days ago. And that's why you're not here now and going out with Kirishima?"
"Yep. I'm okay, Hitoshi-kun, really. It's just a friendly hangout before dinner." I didn't know when I started cradling my phone, but I was still talking to one of the greatest guys I could ever know and the least I could do was reassure him. "We can still talk tonight if you want to."
"Maybe." There was some rustling over the phone as he paused. "Just tell Kirishima a 'hi' for me and be safe."
"Aye aye, Hitoshi-kun. I'll do that. And, um."
"Yeah?"
"T-Tonight, Hitoshi-kun…"
"Hey. Just spit it out, Hoshino."
"A-Are you going to be up at 4-5 am tonight?"
Kirishima-san was giving me an incredulous look just as Hitoshi-kun bit out a smaller, "What." There was a pause that followed over the phone. "Why that specific time, Tomoko? Even if I'm an insomniac, I still have to sleep like everyone else. I don't have my dad's quirk of never sleeping."
"J-Just turn on Yamada-sensei's radio station tonight for me, please?" I begged him. "Only if you can. Th-There's something that I think you need to hear at that time."
"…" There was no mistaking the long and tired sigh over the phone's speakers. "You're serious?"
"Y-Yeah," I confessed softly. "I-I am." I'm hoping to sing and confess to you, and this is the best way I can do it. I wanted to say. So please. Please. Just this once.
Another pause. "…Hm. I'll set an alarm for that time to listen in if you're getting that anxious about it."
My heart beat hard against my ribcage. "H-How could you tell?"
"Even through the phone, your voice is squeaky, Hoshino." I could hear his smirking through the phone too. Dork. "You underestimate how open you are."
I sucked in a breath. I didn't even realize the sound was leaving my lips until it was echoing in the air and Kirishima-san nearby was covering his mouth while looking at me. "Muuuuu…" I tried not to pout. "Hitoshi-kun!"
Kirishima snickered into his hands. Dorks, everybody.
In the phone, I could hear Hitoshi-kun's laughter. The dork of my heart. Goddammit. "Haha, don't pout like that. It's the truth. But I'll turn on the radio tonight, Tomoko, I'll make sure of it."
I pursued my lips. "…Promise?"
"Promise."
A fond smile was playing with my lips before I knew it and I lowered my free hand. "Okay then. I'll trust you on that. And Hitoshi-kun?"
"Yeah?"
"Be safe training today. And don't hurt yourself."
The smirk was obvious even through a speaker and the tuning of the phone. "I should be saying the same to you, Hoshino. But I got it."
"Aye," I said dutifully. My heart was still beating, and out of some kind of feeling, I spoke up again. "And Hitoshi-kun, um, one last thing before you go?"
"I'd tell you to be quick, but you already know." A fond scoff echoed through the line. "What is it?"
A lump surfaced in my throat. The three words normally would've been fine for any other person, but this was Hitoshi Shinsō. A boy that had stolen my heart a long time ago, and even though I had no clue on how he felt, I found myself whispering the phrase anyways. "…I love you."
I had no clue if I had lost all my marbles, but I knew it was out there. Before Mic-sensei's radio show, at least. Why did I say it? For a practice run? Out of instincts? I just didn't know anymore.
But I said it. I actually said it.
Oh no.
Kirishima wordlessly gaped to the point of his hands dropping to his sides. The following silence over the phone merely confirmed my anxiety and I sucked in a breath. "H-Hitoshi-kun?"
"…Hoshino, what did you just say?"
"I-I wish you didn't ask that since, um." I gulped. "I-I don't think I can say it again."
"Could you try, Hoshino?" He sounded desperate this time. "Please?"
"H-Hitoshi…" I glanced at Kirishima and he was now grinning, making gestures with his hands in so many different ways to where I had no clue what he was saying. I took a breath and focused on the phone. "I-I… I…"
"Yeah?"
It was almost like I could choke. "Love…you…"
There was no precursor to the slapping noise on the other side of the phone. I jumped, Kirishima blinked, and Hitoshi-kun breathed. Did he hit himself or something? "Sorry," he said immediately, "was checking what just happened and if it was real." So he did hit himself. Wouldn't that make brain cells run out faster…? But he was still talking. "You…You really feel that way?"
I nodded before I realized we were talking on the phone and he couldn't see it. "Y-You're going to have to listen in to Mic-sensei's radio station tonight to find out the rest."
A soft, fond, and relieved laugh broke through the static on the line. "Of course you would pull a stunt like that. Really, Hoshino." But he was laughing and I could feel all the anxiousness in my shoulders nearly melt away. "Thank you."
"Aye." There was nothing I could say to follow up to his words but that. "G-Good luck with your training."
"Got it."
"Sh-Should…Should I say it again?"
"N-No," he managed gently, and there was a shaky exhale over the line. "I-I'll call you tomorrow morning."
"Okay." Feeling extremely awkward, I rectified it with a quieter, "Do your best."
"Y-Yeah." He then ended the call before I could even hit the red "End Call" button.
Once I shakily slipped my phone back into my school bag, my face was burning and Kirishima-san was smiling at me. "So," he started casually, "you and Shinsō, huh, Hoshino?"
"I-I'd ask you to forget all that was just said in the past few minutes, but th-that's irrational and impossible right now," I admitted, raising a hand in the air in surrender to him. "Um, well, Hitoshi-kun says 'hi'?"
Kirishima's grin widened to expose more of his shark-like teeth. "Thanks for the message," he chirped, "but I think a congratulations is more along the lines in order for you, Hoshino. So congrats on confessing! You are so manly in saying all that!"
"Uh." I said intelligently. "Thank you? I meant to say it on a different occasion…"
He paused too, although for completely different reasons. "Wait, shit, I meant, er, you were just really cool with that honesty, I didn't mean to be sexist!" He was waving his hand around frantically, blushing a bit himself. "You're great too, Hoshino, and now I know why everyone calls you 'Fairy'!"
A surprised laugh left my lips. Ohmigosh, why hadn't I befriended this dork sooner? He reminded me of someone I cared about a long time ago. "Thankie, Kirishima-san. I'm happy to hear that. And don't worry, I understood what you said, so you're not being sexist."
Kirishima let out a relieved sigh before his edges of his red eyes crinkled in clear mirth towards me. "So," he continued in a softer voice, "I guess I should take you out like you said over the phone, huh?"
"If you don't mind, Kirishima-san." Another laugh bubbled up in my throat, and even with some of the tension from before starting to set into my spine, the way Kirishima had just went along with it made me feel relieved. He wasn't asking questions and for once, I felt glad that he wasn't probing. "Just, um, are you okay with a karaoke place?"
Kirishima blinked. "Sure, I don't mind, but I'm not exactly the best at singing, Hoshino. Jiro outdoes me." Without even having to look into his eyes, I could already tell a nervous laugh was on the tip of his tongue.
And sure, the heat was coming back to my cheeks, but I shrugged anyways, reaching over to tug at his nearest shirt sleeve. "About that — I was hoping if you could come and hear out a song of mine, Kirishima-san. Since you're here with me." I tugged at his sleeve a bit more, trying not to look away while smiling shyly. "As thanks for keeping me company?"
The excited sparkles lighting up his red eyes was more than enough unspoken permission.
The pub Kirishima-san had chosen was a small one in Mustafu, near a cat cafe too, but nice and quaint enough to give customers privacy. And what did you know, the machines did have the song I was hoping to practice in their archives. At least, according to their song books.
"So, Hoshino," Kirishima-san sipped his water from his place lounging on the couch. "What song are you thinking of?"
"Remember when I mentioned Mic-sensei's radio show?" I gently tugged the nearest microphone off one of the stands while sitting down next to him. The buttons for selecting a song were already on the handle, so I raised the small remote towards the screen, scrolling through the names. This Game, ReaSon, Aurora Days… "I forgot to say I kinda…well, I got invited to be a guest tonight?"
Kirishima immediately sat up from his lounging, giving me an incredulous grin. "Seriously?! Present Mic's radio show is famous! That's really cool, Hoshino! And, wait," realization dawned to his eyes and his grin turned almost… shy with the look. "You're practicing in front of me?!"
"You kept me company even when you didn't have to, Kirishima-san," I said mildly, smiling while reaching over to pat his shoulder. "Not to mention how your presence reminds me that I want to go on the show. And hey." The cheese was on, but it was just us and that was fine. I could be as cheesy as possible. "Your company is one I'm finding myself liking. So, I guess, I wanted to share what you might hear tonight as a sign of our new friendship?"
The red eyes staring at me widened in surprise before softening. "Hoshino…"
Uh. What was with that look? "I-If you don't want me to, we can go somewhere else though—"
"It's fine!" Kirishima was standing up to clench his hands into fists and I jumped. "It's really manly of you to think about me like that! So go ahead and sing, Hoshino! I'll be happy to listen to the preview!"
I was very tempted to tackle him into a hug right then and there. But that wouldn't do when we had only gotten to know each other in the span of a few hours, so I selected the song with one press of a button and raised the mic to my lips. It was the short version, but I knew it would convey how I felt right now.
Thank you.
The entire time the lyrics left my lips in a familiar melody, Kirishima never stopped smiling.
"That was amazing, Hoshino, your singing. It'll work," he said softly once the music had faded, warmth in his red eyes. "I'll turn on the radio tonight too. Just for the extra support."
"Y-You don't have to do that—"
"I want to." Kirishima grinned. "It wouldn't be manly if I opted out of helping a friend feel more comfortable. And besides." He leaned forward to rest his cheeks in his palms, raising an amused eyebrow at me. "I know Shinsō will love it. And this is my side of being a bro talking."
The familiar heat of embarrassment covered my cheeks. "Oh." I said dully. "Y-You know, Kirishima-san?"
"Yeah?"
"I-I'm very tempted to hide away in a corner and/or tackle you in a hug and not let go for a little while."
Kirishima blinked before chuckling. "Hiding's not exactly manly, Hoshino, but hugs are just fine!" I was not expecting him to open his arms towards me. "I can provide some if you need them!"
The microphone felt hot in my hands. "K-Kirishima-san, you are a dork."
He laughed, still offering with those outstretched hands. "What can I say? It comes with the Hero job!" He paused before adding, "I'll take that 'dork' as a compliment!"
It took all I had to not drop the mic and instead run over. "You dooooooork!"
He didn't even hesitate to catch me. Maybe it was his Hero training or his Hardening Quirk that let him do so, but I wasn't sure. Still. Kirishima laughed the entire time we swung around mid-platonic embrace. With the muscles and the warm school blazer, it all made for a very nice, soft, and snuggly hug. I wasn't expecting soft when this was Red Riot, the Sturdy Hero who made a name for himself fighting the Yakuza last year. But heck. The hug made me feel like we were being kids.
It was like I was back someplace else, remembering a crescent moon-shaped scar on a boy's chin and the laughter that came with the first carry-hug.
"I'm sorry I didn't get to know you sooner," I whispered into his shoulder. "You're really snuggly, Kirishima-san."
You're so nice, how did I come across you— why did I not meet up with you earlier—
"Hey," a calloused hand patted my back. "It's okay. We have plenty of time to catch up now, as buddies. So, how about I sing this time?"
It wasn't a bad feeling. The last time I felt like this, it was with Kei, with Hika-chan, with Shinsō, with Ty before things went bad.
I should've befriended Kirishima Eijirou so much sooner.
Present Mic held his breath once two familiar blue hair ribbons peeked past the doorway, putting on a warm smile as he opened his mouth. "Little listener, you're doing fine. You don't have to hide over there."
"Y-You sure?" Blue eyes creeped around the doorway next, looking at him almost pitifully as they darted between him and the headphones sitting on the desk next to him. "B-Because, sensei, this is the first time I've performed outside of the cafe at home, and everyone will be hearing me, I—" Hoshino finally took a step out from the door's shadow, looking meek and small and so cute. "I'm a bit nervous."
Mic smiled. "Everyone is on their first time," he said with a loud laugh, motioning with his hand in the hopes of letting her walk closer. "Just keep up with the banter and you'll be okay, Hoshino-chan."
Hoshino blushed that adorable pink and she nodded, finally — ohmigod, was she tiptoeing — over to pull out the nearest chair and sit next to him. "Okay," she squeaked gently, and there was no missing her clasping her star necklace. "Okay."
"Awwww," Nemuri cooed from across the table, hearts flying off of her in waves. "I can see the youth right here."
"M-Midnight-sensei…!" Hoshino covered her face with her hands, shaking her head. "P-Please don't say that, it's making my heart worse!"
Nemuri wasn't even fazed, shooting a happy grin towards Yamada as she shrugged her shoulders. "It's the mere truth, little listener," she paradied, smiling like it was her birthday come early. "Don't worry, everyone will love you."
"And don't kill my little co-host from embarrassment before the show even starts, Nemuri," Yamada adds a bit flatly, slinging a gentle arm around Hoshino's shoulders in the hopes that she wouldn't start shaking. "I'd like to keep her singing talent around, thank you very little."
Nemuri rolled her eyes and lounged back in her chair, crossing her arms. "Poo."
"E-Eh?" Hoshino's looking up now, and she's glancing between the two Pro Heroes with a fading red on her face. "W-Wait, really? This won't be a one-time thing?"
"If you don't mind!" Both heroes chirp.
Hoshino started wearing an uncertain smile as she scratched her cheek. "Um, thank you?" was the squeak. "And um, Senseis? The show's going to start soon…?"
"YEAAAAH! Show time!"
"As much as your enthusiasm is great, Mic, seriously, indoor voice."
Everyone proceeded to put on their headphones.
Put Your Hands Up Radio!
Fridays 1-5 am!
Commencing Guest Hour!
PRESENT MIC: YEAAAAAAAAAAH!
MIDNIGHT: YAY!
GUEST: Um. Y-Yeah? I think.
There proceeds to be a lot of snickering.
MIDNIGHT: Ohmigosh, sweetie, calm down. You're okay. Deep breaths now.
GUEST: I-I'm trying, Sensei! It's the first time I've been on any radio plus hearing my voice in stereo! It's… squeaky. And a lot more high-pitched than what I'm used to. Do I always sound like this to people?
Present Mic starts laughing, and the volume is pitched down almost immediately, probably from how loud it is.
GUEST: E-Eh? What did I say?
PRESENT MIC: Don't worry about it, little co-host. ANYWAYS! Everyone! Welcome to the Guest Hour of Put Your Hands Up Radio! Today, we're accompanied by the R-Rated Pro Hero, Midnight—
MIDNIGHT: Hello, lovelies!
PRESENT MIC: And a very special student of mine from UA that I scouted for today! Say hello to LILY!
LILY: H-Hello, everyone. Um. Wait a second. When did we decide on Lily?
PRESENT MIC: Just now.
MIDNIGHT: It fits! So cute! I love it!
LILY: Sensei…!
PRESENT MIC: Pouting with pink cheeks is cute, Lily, but it fits and you cannot convince me otherwise.
LILY: I-I wasn't going to try, I'm just embarrassed is all… you guessed my favorite flower…
MIDNIGHT: Awwwww.
PRESENT MIC: Though honestly? Eraserhead helped me figure it out.
MIDNIGHT: HAH! CALLED IT!
LILY: C-Could we go on with the show now? Please? My heart will give out at this rate.
PRESENT MIC: Whoops. ANYWAYS! Let me get into the story of how Lily got here!
MIDNIGHT: Oooooh, I haven't heard this one.
LILY: Oh no—
PRESENT MIC: FOR YOU SEE! It was a few weeks ago! I just came out of my lunch break when I heard a very pretty singing voice in the hallway! And guess who it was~?!
MIDNIGHT: Lily?
PRESENT MIC: LILY! Playing piano and singing like a pro in one of UA's music rooms!
LILY: T-To be fair, I was practicing for a friend and wasn't intending to let anyone overhear—
MIDNIGHT: But you're here anyways! You accepted the offer to come in!
LILY: W-Well, yes. I can't deny that. And I'm very glad that I am here, as embarrassing as it is to hear you both yell?
PRESENT MIC: I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that last part. But we're glad we have you, Lily!
MIDNIGHT: Very true. But I heard that there's another reason why you decided to accept Mic's invitation, Lily. Could you explain that a bit?
LILY: I'm not sure if I like the look on your face, Midnight-sensei.
MIDNIGHT: Don't worry about it and call it a bit of curiosity!
There's some rustling over the static.
LILY: I mean, Ai — I mean, Eraserhead-sensei — was definitely one reason why, since he helped convince me, but there's… er.
MIDNIGHT: Don't tell me. It's for a special someone~?
There's a loud "MEEP" noise this time, as if someone squeaked.
LILY: W-Was it that obvious?
MIDNIGHT: Your face says everything, Lily~!
PRESENT MIC: YEAAAAAAAH!
LILY: …Has anyone told you two that you act like parents?
PRESENT MIC: HAH! That comes with the teaching job, Lily!
MIDNIGHT: Hehe, I can't deny that. Mic's already got the father part down with Eraserhead.
PRESENT MIC: Oi!
MIDNIGHT: I think I prefer "aunt" over mother, though, considering I'm still single. Anywho! You haven't answered my question!
LILY: …Do I have to?
PRESENT MIC AND MIDNIGHT: YES.
A sigh echoes into the microphone.
LILY: I can't win with this. But okay. I'll talk.
This time, everyone hears Lily take a deep breath.
LILY: When Mic-sensei caught me singing that one time, I was actually practicing a song I was planning to give to… well, my friend-turned-crush at one point. I was thinking their birthday, even though it's pretty early right now to think about it since they just turned 17 a few months ago.
MIDNIGHT: Ooooooh! Is it a boy? A girl? A nonbinary person?
LILY: I-It's a boy, Midnight-sensei, and please don't lean in like that and just let me speak?
MIDNIGHT: I can't help it, I can feel the youth coming off of you, Lily! It's so beautiful to the point where I'm getting goosebumps!
PRESENT MIC: Don't embarrass her too much, Midnight! We can't have her collapse now!
LILY: I'm not going to collapse! A-Anyway! Mic-sensei was the one who gave me the idea to join the show tonight in the hopes of trying to reach out to him. My crush, I mean, since I don't have any confidence in saying this to his face.
MIDNIGHT: Oh.
PRESENT MIC: …There's nothing wrong with being shy, Lily. Love can be hard, and I speak from experience!
MIDNIGHT: Mic's married by the way, everyone. Still, does he know that you're performing today, Lily?
LILY: I-I actually asked him to listen in tonight, just not of the whole…confession deal. I…accidentally said it over the phone to him earlier today too, and I wasn't planning that part.
MIDNIGHT: Ohmigosh, so cute! What did he say?!
LILY: Um. No comment. That's personal, sensei, no offense intended.
MIDNIGHT: Boo.
PRESENT MIC: Hey hey, Midnight, give her some space. She came here even after a long school day. Anyways, Lily.
LILY: …Mm?
PRESENT MIC: What's your crush like?
LILY: In what way are you asking…?
PRESENT MIC: Like personally! What kind of person is your crush?!
LILY: You already met him through class, why are you asking me this?!
PRESENT MIC: It's for all the listeners over on the other side of the radio station! You forget we're broadcasting on a public station, Lily!
LILY: Oh no. That means he heard all this. Oh no.
MIDNIGHT: At least that means you're getting comfortable?
LILY: O-Okay, fair. But um. I guess, to answer the question Mic-sensei just posed about my crush…
MIDNIGHT: Yeah, yeah?
LILY: He's a person that helped me believe in heroes again.
Something drops in the background.
PRESENT MIC: Ho— Lily?
LILY: N-No offense to you and Midnight-sensei by the way, Mic-sensei! I just… I had an old friend, before my crush, who I loved. He wanted to be a Hero in his own way, but the problem was how he kept going forward in his goal without looking back at the people around him. He hated the world and wanted it to change, even if it meant… if it meant brushing loved ones aside like they were nothing.
MIDNIGHT: Oh… Lily, you don't have to finish.
LILY: N-No, no, it's okay. That ex-friend is long gone now. My crush helped me move past him. But that friend left a bad mark on my heart to the point of me still loving him after all those years, as irrational as it is. It hurts, thinking on it, since it took a long time for me to admit that he hurt me and not the other way around, and he wanted to be a Hero. After all, how could he want to help people when he didn't notice me cry? How could he save people when he constantly yelled at me, saying I didn't understand and that I needed to give up everything about me to be worthy in his eyes? I couldn't handle a Hero like that. But my crush was different.
PRESENT MIC: Ahhhh, I see. He let you be you?
LILY: Yep. And my crush is definitely ambitious. He's at UA with me, wanting to be a Hero like everyone else in the Hero Course, but there was something about him that made me want to believe. He kept trying to be a Hero in spite of everyone else putting him down in the past, and, well, after everything I went through, I couldn't help but fall in love with that. What solidified it was… well, out of worry or something, he got my ex-friend to punch himself.
PRESENT MIC: WHOA!
MIDNIGHT: I would do the same, by the way.
LILY: M-Midnight-sensei…
MIDNIGHT: What? It's the truth.
PRESENT MIC: ANYWAY, BEFORE ANY THREATS ARE THROWN OUT—
LILY: Because Eraserhead-sensei would probably be glaring at all of us on Monday, so yes?
PRESENT MIC: LILY! YOU HAVE A SONG TO SING, DON'T YOU?
LILY: I-I thought I was going to go at the end!
PRESENT MIC: NOPE! IT'S ALMOST BREAK TIME ON GUEST HOUR, AND THE SPACE IS ALREADY SET UP! GO WOO YOUR CRUSH!
LILY: I-I really wish you didn't use "woo" to describe it.
MIDNIGHT: "Seduce," then?
LILY: That isn't much better!
MIDNIGHT: Hahaha, then what would you suggest?
Lily inhales a deep breath before exhaling slowly.
LILY: Just calling it a…confession of good will, I guess. To my crush, to all my friends, to the many Hero-hopefuls I've met and the Heroes that are with me right now.
MIDNIGHT: Oh. Oh my.
PRESENT MIC: Lily…!
LILY: Hehehe, everyone knows who they are. And to my crush, I hope you hear this. Please don't laugh, I'm doing my best. I know I'm clumsy, I accidentally said the three words over the phone way before this entire show started, not to mention having a small panic attack—
PRESENT MIC: Hey, Lily—
LILY: But you are a precious person to me. I appreciate you so much. You make my life better just by being there. So, I hope you listen closely. This is for you.
PRESENT MIC: Ah. This confirms it.
LILY: Eh?
PRESENT MIC: This is why I'm glad I scouted you at school, Lily! He's definitely going to be listening in now!
LILY: I-I hope so, Mic-sensei.
MIDNIGHT: Awwww. I guess it's time to cue the music?
LILY: Y-Yep. To everyone else on the radio, I hope you don't mind it.
PRESENT MIC: OI, YOU STOLE MY LINE, MIDNIGHT!
MIDNIGHT: HAH! TOO LATE FOR THAT.
LILY: That was a delayed reaction. A-Anyways! I call this The Lullaby of Heroes. Or, well. Yuusha-tachi no Lullaby.
Once the first notes of the orchestra echoed through my headphones, I took a breath.
I still didn't know if I could truly trust Heroes. After all, there were still problems in the world, Heroes being there to solve them or not. But there were people like my Jack-niisan, doing his best in spite of his bad luck. Kei, going along with General Studies while still looking out for me and everyone else with combat training. Hika-chan in just being there and smiling. Aizawa-sensei, Yamada-sensei, and Kayama-sensei all showing how being a Hero professionally wasn't all that bad. Kirishima-san simply proving villains wrong in underestimating him with his Hardening Quirk. And Hitoshi-kun. The teenager who fought in the Sports Festival last year, accepted my chocolate this year, and punched Ty too.
Hitoshi-kun, I hope you're listening. I love you.
Maybe I could say it later. And in person this time. Maybe. For now, I closed my eyes, nodded my head once, and opened my mouth.
"Oh noble Heroes, a moment of peace has come.
(Tootoki yuusha tachi, hitotoki no heiwa ga kita.)
A time when everything falls into slumber.
(Nanimo kamo subete ga nemuri ni tsuku toki.)
To all who fought, to all who held back their tears,
(Tatakatta hito, namida koraeta hito,)
You will be taken by a hazy dream.
(Oboroge na yume ga mukae ni kuru deshou.)
To all who had courage, to all who spilled tears,
(Yuukan na hito, namida koboshita hito,)
Rest for today,
(Kyou wa oyasuminasai,)
And once you fall sound asleep, the night will come to embrace you.
(Neiki o tatetara yoru ga tsutsumikomu.)"
It was a song choice inspired by Ochako-chan. She had said, once, after a joint training between Classes A and B: "Heroes are the ones who save people. But who saves the Heroes?"
It was a question I asked myself too.
After all, I tried to save Ty. But he rejected me.
That didn't turn out with the happiest ending, but with me and Hitoshi-kun now… how would it go?
But at this time, in the early morning, I couldn't think about that. Instead, I could at least sing something to encourage rest. To encourage self-care.
No one can sacrifice everything as a Hero. Not even All Might could, and he was the former Symbol of Peace.
So maybe, maybe, the song could remind everyone that they should respect each other more. That Heroes deserved more than what the media blew up about them.
Villains were always going to exist in some way or form. Shigaraki Tomura and the League of Villains were proof of that. But that didn't mean letting them fool around forever. And it didn't mean exhausting all the Heroes we had when they kept sacrificing themselves for the greater good every single day.
Heroes were human too.
"Scars left by sorrow and grief shine through your eyelashes
(Matsuge ni hikaru no wa setsunasa to urei no ato)
As the wind that the trees sway in caresses your hair.
(Kusaki o yurasu kaze kami o nadete iku.)
To all who are full of love, to all who are kindhearted,
(Ai fukaki hito, kokoro yasashiki hito,)
Your strength will change the world.
(Anata no tsuyosa ni sekai wa kotaeru.)
To all who were hurt, to all who bore scars,
(Kizutsuita hito, kizu o kakaeta hito)
Sleep for now,
(Ima wa onemurinasai,)
You lie in the shadow of today and tomorrow.
(Anata ga iru no wa kyou to asu no kage.)"
I wasn't exactly Hoshino Tomoko over the radio anymore. I was now Lily, and I had a job to do.
It was 4-5 am in the morning, everyone was probably tired and/or just waking up, and it was time to send a message the Heroes needed more often.
"To you who had courage, to you who spilled tears,
(Yuukan na hito, namida koboshita hito,)
Rest for today,
(Kyou wa oyasuminasai,)
And once you fall sound asleep, the night will, ah.
(Neiki o tatetara yoru ga, ah.)
To all who fought, to all who held back their tears,
(Tatakatta hito, namida koraeta hito)
You will be taken by a hazy dream.
(Oboroge na yume ga mukae ni kuru deshou.)
To all who had courage, to all who spilled tears,
(Yuukan na hito, namida koboshita hito,)
Rest for today.
(Kyou wa oyasuminasai.)
And once you fall sound asleep, the night will come to embrace you,
(Neiki o tatetara yoru ga tsutsumikomu,)
Until night makes way for dawn in the sky you protected.
(Anata ga mamotta sora no yoru ga akeru made.)"
Once the song had ended and I opened my eyes, Midnight-sensei and Mic-sensei were giving me the biggest smiles I had ever seen on their faces. And, for once, I could feel myself smile back at them without a hint of hesitation.
"Do you… do you think that worked?" I said through the mic. "Was the song good?"
"Lily," Mic-sensei said finally after a moment, reaching over to grasp one of my hands, "That more than worked. It was amazing and you are an angel."
It took the tune of Kaze ni Naru ringing through my ears to wipe out any idea of sleep. And naps are precious, so sue me. Irritation initially took over my thoughts first, because (1) it's the weekend and (2) it wasn't even noon. Who was calling?
I rubbed my eyes to get any dust out before pulling at my nightstand to grab the troublesome smartphone in question, swiping at the screen before thinking anything.
"Hello—?"
"Hoshino?"
My heart skipped a beat and now sleep was the last thing on my mind. "H-Hi, Hitoshi-kun."
"Hey." His voice sounded strangely happy through the speakers in spite of the time of day, and I blinked. "Are you free right now?"
"I mean—" I did my best to hold back a yawn. "I just woke up from a nap in my dorm room, wh-why?"
"You told me to listen in earlier this morning and then when I call you, I just woke you up?" Hitoshi-kun sounded caught between being annoyed and laughing, so I put a pause on any immediate reaction to keep my ears open. "Dork."
Huh. It sounded like the usual Hitoshi-kun. What was going on? "I—" The yawn finally came out and I did my best to cover it up. "I can't deny that. Still, um," my cheeks were starting to flood with heat now as the memories of a few hours ago finally caught up in my brain, "what's up?"
"Again, just wondering if you were free. After hearing everything Lily had to say last night on Put Your Hands Up Radio, I wanted to meet up with you to confirm something."
Oh. Oh my. I gulped. "D-Did you guess who her crush was?"
"I'm talking to the one and only Lily herself right now, aren't I?"
Oh dear. I did my best to inhale and exhale deeply. "I-It was that obvious?"
"Yep." There was a scoff over the line. I couldn't tell if it was fond or just unsure. "I just can't believe you said all that cheesy stuff over live radio."
"I-It kinda just happened. S-So," my heart was in my throat, oh no, "what am I supposed to take this as? Because I'm scared as all heck and I dunno what to make of it."
"…Dammit, I have to say it straight, huh?" Hitoshi-kun sighed over the line. "Just get out of bed and meet me in front of the 1-C dorms. I was thinking of taking you to a cat cafe."
"E-Eh?"
I could hear the eye-roll through his voice. "Don't question it and just let me take you out on a date, Hoshino."
LUB-DUB, LUB-DUB, LUB-DUB.
I pinched my cheek, winced, then refocused on the phone. "R-Really?" I squeaked. "You're not…rejecting me?"
"What part of 'date' do I have to explain?"
"N-None whatsoever!" I said hastily, pushing back my blankets to throw open my nearest closest with my free hand. This was it. I somehow, actually, did it. It felt like I could ask Ochako-chan to levitate me to the moon and my heart, even in zero gravity and the vacuum that is space, could never stop beating so hard. "I-I'll meet you in 15!"
"Good." This time, I could hear Hitoshi-kun's smile. "And Hoshino?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
I cradled my phone between my ear and shoulder to free my other hand, searching for a suitable skirt. "For what?"
"For saying all that you did. You really made my morning by being Lily. Just let me reply to you over the phone this time since you chose to say it by radio earlier." There was a pause. I could hear a deep breath over the line, and then I got a reply I never knew I wanted. "I love you too."
My vision blurred and the only indication I got to it was a small sting to the corners of my eyes. "H-Hitoshi-kuuuuuuuun, thank you so much, but please don't make cry before I see you! And I want to see you!"
"Whoops." It definitely did not sound genuine as a shaky laugh echoed over the speakers. "I'll be outside to try purging all the cheese you infected me with, then."
"Dork." I finally found a white and pink-ruffled dress before pausing. "So, Hitoshi-kun?"
"Yeah?"
"You're okay with…with taking a step forward in this direction?"
This time, there was a nervous chuckle over the phone. "Not sure. But I'm willing to try. Let's just take our time. And I have the day off from training today. Aizawa said as much."
That was an extra reminder to make Aizawa-sensei some good chocolate-almond nut cookies. "Got it. And, Hitoshi-kun?"
"What is it?"
I tugged the dress off the clothes hanger I found it on before smiling. "I love you!"
Classes on Monday seemed normal to Kirishima. The usual English from Mic-sensei and Modern Art Hero History from Midnight-sensei were the standard, and once Aizawa-sensei finished going over a powerpoint slide, the bell rang.
"Alright, class, it's lunch. Get going," Aizawa-sensei droned as always, and he leveled a red-eyed stare to everyone in the room. "Make sure not to cause trouble."
"Got it, Sensei!" everyone said in unison, and Kirishima made sure to say his especially loud. Crimson Riot would've probably done the same thing in his heyday, so best to mimic. Thankfully, Aizawa-sensei did seem to not mind it, if his lazy glance at Kirishima was any indication.
With that said and done, Aizawa proceeded to slip into his yellow sleeping bag and lie down behind the teacher's desk while the students proceeded to disperse with the second ring of the bell.
"Bakugo, do you want to eat toge—" Kirishima found himself stopping once a hand clapped down on his shoulder. He looked up, and Shinsō returned his stare with a shrug and a smirk. "Whoa. Hey, Shinsō! What's up?"
"Not much," he said casually, rubbing the back of his neck with his other hand while letting go of Kirishima's shoulder. "Just wanted to tell you thanks."
"For what?"
Shinsō's smirk transformed into a humble smile. "Hoshino," he said simply.
Even if Kirishima was out of it from the day being Monday, that name clued him in almost immediately. "Oh yeah, no problem! Did her confession work?"
Shinsō's pale cheeks flushes a light pink and that merely confirms Kirishima's suspicions. He grins and adds, "Congrats!"
"Th-Thanks," Shinsō coughs into his fist before discreetly glancing at the door. "But don't be surprised if a gift comes your way. Right about…"
Kirishima blinks. "Uh, what do you mean by that—"
The classroom doors slide open and two pink hair ribbons flop through the opening.
"Right about now," Shinsō finishes, and there's no missing the fond tone in his voice.
"Hm," goes a high-pitched voice around the door and then Hoshino herself is poking her head through, looking around before her eyes land on Kirishima and Shinsō. The sparkles flying off her become obvious once Kirishima can see his reflection in her stare. "Kiri-san! Hitoshi-kun!"
"K-Kiri-san?" Kirishima repeats before getting up from his seat with a warm grin, just in time for Hoshino to flit over to them, a happy smile of her own stretching her cheeks. "Oh, whatever! What's going on, Hoshino?"
"Oh, nothing~" she hums, and she eagerly hugs Shinsō first before going over to him and staring for a second. "Hm."
"Uh, Hoshino?"
She smiles happy whites at him before fumbling with her school bag to pull out a small gift bag of…granola balls? "I call these granola bites. They have my homemade chocolate mixed in with some honey and almonds to get that extra protein when you exercise. As thanks for last week!" Hoshino gently drops the bag into Kirishima's open hands, and he stares at the gift for a moment.
"…Hoshino, you didn't have to."
"But I wanted to!" she insists in that same happy voice, and Kirishima blinks. The way her blue eyes are sparkling reminds him of Ashido, at least for a second. "You're my friend and you helped me out when I was in a pinch! And—" she pouts while putting a hand on her hip, "weren't you the one who said it's manly to help friends out?"
Shinsō snickered. "Hoshino. Tone down the cheese."
"Eh?" The moment is broken and she's looking at Shinsō before shrugging. "Meh! It's the truth!"
Kirishima blinked again before feeling warmth bubble up in his chest. He wasn't surprised to find a laugh leaving his lips. "Then, thanks!"
Hoshino returns the smile before grabbing onto his hand. "So! Wanna hang out for lunch? Our table with Kei-chan and Hika-chan is still free!"
Kirishima glances over at Bakugo and he scoffs. "Go on, Kirishima."
He grinned back before returning the hand-hold. "Let's go!"
Friendship felt good.
"Oh, Aizawa-sensei?"
Eraserhead did his best to ignore the sound outside his sleeping bag, turning over in an attempt to go back to sleep. He did not appreciate the hand gently patting the top of his head through the fabric. "Aizawa-sensei?"
He held back a groan. "What is it, Hoshino…?"
"Cookie delivery," is the warm whisper, and Aizawa pauses.
"Just leave it outside the bag. I'll try them later."
"Okay." There's a small rustle of a plastic bag and then that hand is patting his sleeping bag again. "Have a nice nap, Sensei. And thank you."
Aizawa waits for Hoshino to stand up and walk out of the classroom before he opens his sleeping bag to peek out. Sure enough, there's a see-through indigo gift bag waiting for him outside, and he reaches over to untie the ribbon. Doing so revealed cat-shaped cookies, chocolate chips and almonds and all.
With a roll of his eyes, he reached over to take a cookie. The cat face made up of almonds and chips looked like it was smiling, so he could do nothing but reach over and lightly bite the ear to start things off.
"Hm. Dark chocolate." He chewed for a moment before taking another bite. "It's good. Still warm."
Another reminder to thank his husband later for bringing Hoshino to his attention in the first place.
Shinsō deserved someone in his life.
A/N: The radio part? It was inspired by cloud-nine-and-three-quarter's Canary fanfic. And, as a quick bit of trivia: my writing of CP Kakashi and Shinsō are inspired by my own loving boyfriend, Leo~! Kirishima? It's Josh.
This story is turning into a giant word monster in its own right. And midterms give plenty of stress for me to write out words. (43 pages on Google Docs, holy shit, when was the last time I did that…?)
See you all at the next update!