Shinsou finished untying his boot's laces and sighed. It had been his first full day of hero classes and he was more exhausted than he'd ever been- which was saying something.

How have the others been doing this for the whole year?

His Math and English classes weren't much different from his time in General Education but everything else was new and confusing. Even Home Ec. included some quirk use. Do they expect me to brainwash a loaf of bread?

Most importantly, Aizawa had thoroughly kicked his ass during their private practice- fuck scarves- and didn't fall for his tricks once. Granted he didn't expect him to but he wanted his first day to feel like more of a win than it did.

Hang in there. I'm still in the hero class. I'll get better. It just means I have to work harder than everyone else.

He had a veritable heap of homework- Present Mic had the audacity to give him a month's worth of the work he's missed- and he was thankful for being smart because he wasn't looking forward to nights of this.

I kind of want to go downstairs. I smelled cookies this morning.

Shinsou had gotten hooked on Bakugou's pastries, as the others promised him he would, and he was pretty sure he'd have to up his exercise regimen because of it. No regrets.

However, going downstairs would mean seeing his fellow students. Being spoken to. Having to be an awkward teenager in a room full of people who already know each other well. He had been pushing himself to make efforts to fit in. He had been assigned a seat behind Midoriya- thanks for being short- and to the left of Tokoyami. The kid was quiet like him, which was a blessing, but polite and happy to assist him with any confusion over his recent transfer. Despite expectation Midoriya didn't try and talk to him more than once, but that was mostly due to being busy mumbling to himself and writing down every word said in class. Shinsou is pretty sure he started writing down the joke Kirishima was telling Sero. He was going to have to be careful of what he said or something awkward would end up immortalized in Midoriya's collection of notebooks.

After he had finished taking off his shoes he sat down at his desk to start his homework. Shinsou pulled out the drawer and put on the reading glasses he hid in there. He always felt that he didn't need to look any more eye-catching than he did, and having purple hair was a genetically unjust set of cards to be dealt. He'd worn his glasses to class once and got shit for it the whole day.

Shinsou heard a knock at his door.

Please be someone who won't stay long.

He stood up with some dread in his stomach. After he opened the door he was met with "The Bakusquad" crowding the hallway. Four big grins and one pissed off pout all aimed at him.

Shit.

As expected, Kaminari pushed himself to the front and spoke first.

"Oh my gosh, you have reading glasses that is the cutest thing ever."

Shinsou quietly had a heart attack.

"We're actually here to check in on you after your first day but now you've gotten a good dose of awkwardness too. We work fast." Sero spoke. He was all smiles, and a very toothy smile it was, and that had Kaminari joining in the pouting club Bakugou was hosting. Mina poked her head in and spoke next.

"We also brought like, twelve cookies. We didn't know which ones you like so we just grabbed a mix. All made by Mama-Gou."

"I WILL FUCKING END YOU!"

Shinsou kept his silent guard behind his doorway. He was absolutely overwhelmed and unprepared to handle this level of social interaction after such a tiring day. Be friendly. Talk to them.

"Um, thanks."

He also tore off his reading glasses and that brought out a pretty cute "Aw, man." out of his blonde.

I have to stop thinking that. We aren't dating.

Shinsou had decided it was only a matter of time before he found out whether Kaminari was flirting the way he usually does with everyone or if he actually has a chance. The evidence so far was looking good.

"Heard Dadzawa totally kicked your ass," Bakugou supplied looking smug.

"Hey, he's kicked all our asses!" Kirishima piped up. Which was quickly followed by solemn nods around him.

Kirishima is such a good kid.

"You should come join us in the common room! We're going to marathon bad reality TV." Sero looked pretty psyched at the prospect and he wondered whether this was how they spent every night or if this was a special one. He hoped for the latter.

"I actually have a lot of homework to do, but thanks for inviting me."

Yes. Normal words. Didn't insult anyone or sound stupid.

"Awww, that's no fun! What if you only come by for a couple of episodes? We can eat the cookies together and warm them in the oven!" Mina begged, and the others nodded along with her. Clearly they weren't taking no for an answer.

"Maybe next time. I want to study for tomorrow's math test."

"Fuck! We have a math test?!" Kaminari was immediately distraught and Shinsou felt pretty bad that he was the one to have made him that way.

Ashido clasped her hands together dramatically while she spoke.

"See, now you have to join us! Denki never pays attention to us during study time but I bet he'll totally listen to you."

Oh god what the hell do I say to that?

Kaminari, seemed to sense his distress, (the boy was more astute than he'd given him credit for) and quickly drew the uncomfortable attention to himself by bemoaning his recent test scores and begging Bakugou to help him study.

"It's not fair that you only help your boyfriend-!"

"He's not my boyfriend!" Bakugou barked, palms sparking.

"-That you only help your boyfriend!"

Kirishima is as quick to blush, as Iida is to make chopping motions with his hands during conversation.

"If this is supposed to fucking convince me to tutor you you're even dumber than I thought." The sparks were getting larger.

"Is that a yes?"

"Whatever."

Bakugou really was soft when it came to his friends. It was actually quite interesting to watch the power of the "squad." A part of him wanted to be like that one day.

"Score!"

As the gang of students walked down the hallway Kaminari looked back over his shoulder and sent a smile and a wink Shinsou's way. The adorable little bastard knew exactly what he was doing and it wasn't making this crush any easier to handle.

Goddamn.