Hana wakes up to the sound of rains upon her roof.
She breathes in the fresh and muddy smell. The room is awfully quiet.
What time- She rolls out of bed. Sun has already set and the room has gotten dark.
Hana crawls her way out of the listlessness and turns on the light. Her eyes burn from sudden influx of electricity in the room.
She sets the kettles on and closes the door.
How long was she asleep?
Today was tiring. They had P.E. at the end of the day which is probably what drained her out. Hana remembers lying on the bed, reading net comics. At some point she must have fallen asleep.
Her kettle shrieks, signaling her to come back to reality.
Heated tea flows down her throat, spreading its warmth all over her and chasing away the cold air from the rain. She likes this serenity. To her, right now - this moment is pure bliss. She doesn't have to think about anything. She doesn't have to get upset over anyone. She was just alone, by herself and content.
Hana thought that being near a high school, there would at least be more commotion around. Maybe it's because there aren't any of students from the Heroic Department living here. They made their presence known.
She does recall seeing another girl from her class staying one floor below, but that one never held the elevator for her so they mutually ended up avoiding each other the entire time.
Hana sits down next to her kotatsu. Good thing she got the Geometry homework down. There's a Literature test tomorrow but she isn't worried. If there is anything she likes more than gardening, it's Literature. Stories are her friends. They keep her lonliness away and they teach her aspects of life that her non-existent friends never could.
Her phone vibrates from under her covers and Hana picks up, noticing that it's a call from her mom.
'Hey, mom!' she greets cheerfully as she takes another sip of tea.
'Well aren't you chirpy' mom sounds excited, 'How are you? How is school?'
Hana stands up from the ground, decided that her tea would be perfect with some honey. 'School is great, mom' she laughs, 'The food was really good. Classes aren't that difficult yet but it's definitely no Orudera. Oh! Oh! I made a friend by the way! Shinso. Hitoshi Shinso'
'Oh?'
She can hear the teasing sing-song in mom's voice. Hana clasps the phone between her shoulder and her head as she struggles with the jar. Needs two hands for this. She can't have ants coming inside for spilled honey.
'…It's not like that, mom' she sighs, finally able to get the darn thing open.
The girl wasn't lying. She can't even imagine any scenario where her mom's fantasy would come true. After she freak-out cried in front of him (not by choice) and then consistently steered away from conversing with the boy, there seems to be little chance of her still being friend with him, let alone being his whatever-it-is mom think she might be.
Chuckles echoes from the other side of the line as mom assures her that she was kidding.
It's been a little over a week since she gets to hear her mother's voice. Frankly, it's a bit lonely living by herself. Despite bringing a lot of her belongings from the house to make the place feel at home, there is still this coldness that follows her around when she returns from school. She has never had to choose a good basket of tomatoes or keep track of her spending alone. As much as she tries to keep her calm, Hana ends up panicking a little when there are too many types of fees to pay at the of the month. No one was there to share the load of groceries on the way back. No one was there to talk to when she hangs up her clothes. Doing everything by herself feels harder and time feels like it doesn't go by fast enough.
'How is the move, mom? How's everyone back home?' Hana asks.
She fills a full cup of tap water and heads to the balcony. It starts to get easier to steps on her mattress. When she first moved in, she kept falling on the bed every time she needs to water the plants.
The girl pries her door open. She can see the city light from here.
Even though the room was small and the rent was a little more expensive that what she'd like it to be, the view is absolutely breath taking.
'Home is fine. Your grandparents miss you'
Hana leans against the steel balcony fence, listening to the longing in her mother's voice.
'I know' she brushes her fingers through her hair and shudders under the chilly air as she hugs herself out of reflex, 'I miss you guys too. I'll ask to be stationed there during career experience. Can't promise anything though'
It came as a surprise to her when her mother decided she wants to move back to their hometown. Mom doesn't want her to worry but deep down, Hana knows her grandpa's health hasn't been the best these recent years. It was actually kind of brave of mom to let her go and live alone while she takes care of her grandparents.
'That'd be wonderful, love- Oh! By the way,' mom suddenly speaks, 'I saw a new hero around town today'
'Oh yeah?'
She pushes herself up right. Here mom goes.
'Yeah! He's actually quite young. And quite handsome too'
Mom voice gets mischievous. 'How do you feel about dating older man, Hana?'
'Mom!'
She spins around the balcony. 'I already have someone I like', she wanted to say. But they both know that there is no way Hana is going to spill the bean and let her mom catch wind of anything similar to crushes and love stories. Mom will not stop teasing her if that happens, and if her 14 years of knowledge serves any purpose, then it also can vouch for how much mom really enjoy seeing flower popping out of her head like bubbles at the mention of any supposed love interest.
'Can't hurt, honey' her mother laughs, 'He's the leader of his hero team. He's like what? 25? And well-mannered? Honey, if you want my blessing, you got it'
'Yaaaa.. no thank you'
Hana stretches her back on the rail, staring at the world from her upside-down angle.
'You know I don't like heroes'
'Well, I like heroes. And I'm not gonna let you stay with me forever! Go! Live your life!'
Her nose crinkles.
Yes. Mom wants her to live adventurously.
Yes. Mom wants her to live independently.
But Hana wants to live with her, hopefully, in a small and safe town where their biggest worries are petty thefts and shoplifters.
'You've always like heroes, mom' she yawns, 'But don't you go showing them my photos, alright? I don't want you to get into trouble'
'Okay' mom says, a tint of grumpiness in her voice, 'I can't help it though. They're just really cool. Wait. Crap! I gotta go. I gotta make dinner for your grandparents'
'Alright, mom' Hana shakes with laughter, 'Tell them I say hi!'
'Course, honey. Oh, and take care of your cacti!'
The call cuts off, leaving her with the long and tired phone trill that echoes through the starry night. Hana presses the home button and pushes the phone back into her pocket. She picks the little bins of cactus up and tips the cup over slightly.
'Dinner time!' she loudly declares simpering at the plants.
She can almost hear her botanical friends giggling back.
Speaking of which, tomorrow, she'll have to avoid Shinso again. Having a friend isn't as magical as she thought. He's so pushy and nosy about her. She doesn't really want him to know about Midoriya. Not yet. She can't tell how he'd react.
Hana takes two deep breath.
I can do this, she tells herself and returns inside with the empty cup. All she has to do is get a good sleep. Refresh herself. It's been a few days now. Maybe he doesn't even care anymore.
Maybe he already forgot it.
Let's just go in tomorrow, study hard and go back here. Simple. Three tasks. Done.
Hana stares down at her feet, terrified by Shinso looming over her. For her own dignity, she didn't let out a squeak when he pretty much crept up from behind her and whispered 'Hello there'.
Sure. She had a mental heart attack, sure, but she didn't so much yip.
'So,' he speaks, finally opens up a respectable distance between them, 'Is there a particular reason why you have been avoiding me, friend? Or is it just embarrassment?'
Hana looks away, practically screaming guilty with her silence.
'Because if it's just embarrassment, then I'm here to tell you that I don't intend on teasing you or anything. Also, get that off your head…Whatever it is'
Instantly, both her hands shot up to cover her head. She rips the plant out and slams it on the table. Her face flushes from the heat.
'It's a prince feather!', she declares, staring straight at him. She needs to show authority. He seems to like it when she gets flustered. Well, she's not gonna let him have it. It's time to show him who's boss.
'…Okay,' Shinso announces, raising his hands to show good will, 'So, why were you crying the other day then, Prince Feather-san?'
She shrinks, any authority she tried to display vanish in the air like smoke.
One question. One question from him was all it takes to diminish her position.
Hana averts her eyes, discreetly checking her head for any stray plant life before mumbling '…n-nothing',
'You just cry out of nothing? You expect me to believe that?'
He crosses his arm.
'… Yes?'
'Okay then' Shinso shrugs, then walks away.
'Okay?'
Hana shoots up from her chair. 'Really? You're just gonna accept it?'
'Yeah' he agrees, 'I mean if you don't want to tell me why you cried over nothing then maybe you don't need a friend… You need a therapist'
'Wait, Shinso-san-'
'Hitoshi is fine' he turns around, smirk on his pale thin lips.
'H-Hitoshi-san…Fine. I'll tell you…but not here'
Hana looks away, pouting. As Hitoshi start to leave the classroom, she follows him. He did stay with her until she finish crying that day. No question asked. She owes him for that.
He is my friend, she ponders, giving in, maybe actually talking to friends about your problems is what make the friendship… well, friendship.
In silence, she prays, asking for courage from above. It was embarrassing enough to burst out crying like she did. She fears now it is going to be a lot more mortifying trying to explain a reason behind that. Especially when she has none of a good one to give.
'So, let me get this straight,' Hitoshi slurps on his can of juice, 'You were crying because your friend-sorry, might-not-even-be-friend friend from the Heroic Department ditched you for his classmates?'
Hana shakes her head. 'No,' she says, 'He didn't ditch me'
'Right. Because you didn't even go up to him and say hi'
'He seemed like he was busy,' she kicks the rock from below her feet, 'also, he might not even want to be my friend. Maybe he's more comfortable with the people in his class?'
'Did you ask him that?' Hitoshi asks.
Hana shakes her head once again. 'No… Isn't it an awfully rude thing to ask though?'
'Well, it's not like all those Heroic Department kids are that much polite either'
'He's not like that!' she raises her voice, 'Midoriya-san is a nice person. He's hardworking and he's very kind!'
When she regains consciousness of her own outburst, Hana becomes quiet. Hitoshi doesn't say a word as she instinctively inches away from him. He just stares at her. His long and almost piercing stare makes her want to run away. She pulls at the helm of her jacket, avoiding his scrutiny. He's thinking of something. Hitoshi is smart. He has that gaze that seems to peel off all your layers.
She squirms under his studying eyes.
Hitoshi blinks, turning his focus away from her. She can feel her muscles release themselves all at once.
'Why don't you text him and ask then, if you are so afraid of asking him directly?' he suggests.
She hangs her head dejectedly. 'I…I can't' the girl sighs, 'I don't have his number'
Her friend throws his empty can into the trash bin and dust off his trouser as he stands up. 'You know,' he says, 'I'm not even sure which one of you doesn't want to be other one's friend anymore. Morioka, you actually seem to not want to be this kid friend at all by the way you shut off all communication with him like this'
'I didn't do that!' Hana squeaks, 'I just don't know how to start the talk'
Hitoshi smirks. 'That's easy then' he offers his hand. Hana takes it and dust off her skirt as well, 'You just open your mouth, and speak. Now, come on. I have club activity after this but the hero class should be finishing right about now. You might be able to catch him if you go back quickly enough'
She inhales sharply.
Right.
If she hurries, she might be able to catch Midoriya since they always study one class more than them. But what will she tell his friends? What if they think she's weird? What if she embarrasses him in front of his classmates?
'You're gonna go for it or not?' as if reading her mind, Hitoshi questions.
'I will!'
Hana answers, almost immediately. She didn't even have time to process what she just said. Her face starts to grow hotter every passing by minute so she slowly back away from Hitoshi.
'T-Thanks for talking to me, Hitoshi-san' she shyly smiles, 'I'll be going now'
And she walks, as fast as her dumpy legs could permit, barely catching Hitoshi telling her to pluck the prince feather off her head in the distance.
He's right.
She should pull herself together and ask Midoriya about this.
She will.
Hopefully, without drowning him with all the flowers falling off her head. That would be embarrassing. Unless he likes it. But he probably doesn't.
