Chapter Forty-Two
~Kana's POV~
"Listen up everyone we need to get in line quickly and not screw things up!" Iida yelled most likely trying to get everyone into a proper single file line. Kana was honestly not sure if Iida expected them to all be in the military by some of the commands he gave out. It was endearing to a point but after a while, it did get a bit annoying. But maybe that was just because she didn't like to follow the rules to the exact letter.
"So Aizawa isn't coming to this opening ceremony either?" Uraraka asked ahead of her. "Must be busy." Kana blinked.
"I'm pretty sure since we've been through this before he's not going to baby us." Kana stated. "He's probably going to check in on the rule breakers back at the dorm." The sight of Bakugou and Midoriya bandaged and still wearing their regular clothes this morning was amusing but after James had told her they'd fought rather viciously, Kana had to admit, she was interested in the full briefing that he would be giving later that night.
"HEY CLASS A!" A random boy Kana didn't remember fully called as he leaned against the wall ahead of them. "I heard the news! Four of you! Four of you failed the exams!"
"Who is he again?" Kana asked Denki.
"Monoma from Class B." Denki sighed. "Back at it again."
"Wait, don't tell me," Kirishima called back. "Were you the one who failed in your class, again?" Monoma started to laugh before he abruptly turned around.
"Is that a confession?" Kana asked Kiri and she wondered why Denki and Kiri were even entertaining this boy.
"If he's not gonna answer yeah I'm pretty sure it is." Kiri stated.
"Every single one of us passed!" Monoma announced with a rather frightening turn to pose. Kana honestly wondered why Monoma cared enough to try and bully her classmates as they all found him rather annoying than intimidating. "The tables are turning Class A."
"Sorry you guys." Todoroki suddenly apologized. Kana glared at Monoma as Kirishima voiced comfort,
"Hey he's the one turning this into a contest. Don't sweat it!"
"Besides you weren't the only one to fail." James grumbled. "And I'll tell you now you annoying blond peabrain, if you keep harassing us I'm going to let loose a Chaos Sphere and follow you everywhere."
"Is that supposed to scare me?" Monoma taunted.
"Dude," Denki stated as he fidgeted slightly. "J's got bad luck. You don't wanna go messing with him after he's let loose a couple Chaos Spheres."
"On second thought, if James' is willing to take one for the team I fully support this." Kana announced happily.
"Our teacher Vlad says that we will have classes together this term. It will be such fun!" The horned blond girl that Kana vaguely remembered from the sports festival spoke up.
"I'm ready and raring to go!" Kirishima called.
"Hey you notice she's a foreigner?" Denki whispered. Kana blinked.
"What's wrong with a foreigner Denki?" Kana asked sweetly. Denki blinked, remembering that Kana was indeed technically a foreigner as well.
"Uh nothing's wrong honest! I was just noticing how pretty she was." Kana snorted.
"Okay. Nice save there."
"Hey, the line's backing up here." A voice called from the back making Kana look backwards. The moment she caught sight of the purple hair and tired eyes Kana firmly and probably disrespectfully turned to look straight ahead, ignoring Shinso.
"SO VERY SORRY! EVERYONE HURRY UP WE'RE HOLDING UP THE PROCESSION!" Kana, Denki and Kirishima were ushered past Monoma and the foreign horned girl who was slowly getting out back talk on Monoma's orders. Kana saw the orange haired girl grab Monoma's ear before she focused on walking.
The entire school on the lawns of UA was a sight as Kana had been under the impression that there were more students last year. The thought struck her that some parents may have wanted their children alive and safe and kept them either at home or sent them elsewhere. Kana mentally wondered if that meant the students here didn't have parents that loved and cared for them, or if they were certain UA could keep them safe.
'Fat lot of good that did.' Kana mused catching sight of a familiar face in the crowd. She glanced past when she noticed him turning to look at her. 'Four 'traitors' have already infiltrated UA and everyone is in the dark.' Kana glanced up to the Principle the enhanced rodent. 'You'd think the teachers would have at least suspected something.'
"Hello!" The rat announced with his arms wide open as if he was receiving them. "It's everyone's favorite small mammalian principle."
"'Favorite'." Yuto snorted under his breath. "He's certainly J's favorite mouse." Kana silently chuckled. Kana tuned out when the rat started to talk about his coat. While she loved soft furry animals, this one in particular was a bit annoying as it did talk a lot.
"…And the biggest recent disruption to our lifestyles happened earlier this year with the loss of our pillar. We're seeing the results of this loss at an exponential rate. Our society needs to prepare for unparalleled hardship in the near future. This applies to those of you in the Hero Course." Kana narrowed her eyes slightly as she digested this new turn in the welcome speech. Were they supposed to be letting the students know how bad things were? Was this an inspiration speech? "Including those of you in the work studies. Going forward you must be aware more than ever of the dangers lurking."
"'Constant vigilance'." Yuto murmured. Kana grunted in agreement. Not that this would really apply to them when it came to these 'villain dangers' but Kana suspected going forward, everyone was going to be on edge. It was going to make it harder for them to keep their cool when they also had to report to Shina.
"Such gloomy talk makes us all heavy hearted I know. Which is why we adults are trying to keep things from being too dreary. We hope to inspire you young men and women to become capable members of society. Do not forget, you will all inherit this society." With that the rat walked off stage.
"I suppose that was supposed to be more inspiring." Kana murmured.
"Maybe but then again, these guys are weird." Yuto stated. "Remember the speech James gave to the cats on that island chain after the Turtle rebellion?" Kana snorted.
"Yeah, 'remember my fellow cat warriors, turtles are delicious in soups and their shells are already nice saucers'. God that was a messed-up speech." Kana felt a bit sick just remembering it.
"You're only saying that because you were on the turtles side." Yuto stated. Kana gave him a look.
"He made me eat Tiddles!" Yuto shrugged.
"You didn't even know it was Tiddles until Shina told you months later. He had already been digested by that point and gone from your body." Kana's gag reflex kicked in just remembering that horror.
"Oh I'm gonna be sick." Kana turned around.
"Uh Kana are you okay?" Kirishima asked. He hesitated to place a hand on her shoulder. Kana nodded mutely hearing nothing but growling and howls behind her that she tuned out. "You want me to help you to Recovery Girl?" Kana thought it over before she again gagged.
"Yes please." Kirishima looked behind him.
"Denki, I'm gonna take Kana to Recovery Girl. Let Aizawa Sensei know?"
"Sure man. Feel better Kana!"
"Oh I'm gonna be sick." Kana placed a hand over her mouth as another gag came. The thought of her poor defenseless reptilian friend being made into a soup was something she'd never gotten over. Well, that and her furry hamsters demise because of Yuto's snake. Idly, Kana wondered if Shina had ever found that snake.
Kirishima followed Kana to Recovery Girls room. Kana liked Kirishima, she really did, he was a good guy but if he asked her how she was feeling one more time she was afraid she was going to break something.
"Kiri for the last time, I'm fine." Kana sighed, resisting the urge to roll her eyes as they were walking back to the classroom. "Recovery Girl said I was fine."
"I mean she did give you some meds." Kiri protested.
"Yeah for my headache." Which was caused by your constant pestering. Kana mentally took a deep breath. It wasn't Kiri's fault she was annoyed, well, it kind of was but she wasn't going to let her emotions get the best of her. She just needed to stay calm.
"I'm sorry." Kiri's sudden apology caught Kana off guard as she looked at him. He'd stopped walking and was rubbing or scratching the back of his head. The look he gave her had her heart squeezing. Kiri's puppy eyes were so adorable she really wished she could pinch his cheeks, but no, no one must know she liked cute things.
"For what?" Kana remembered to ask.
"I know I was probably pushing too much with how many questions I was throwing at you. You weren't feeling good and I was, well I was being unmanly and getting in your face." Kana felt her shoulders droop as a smile crossed her face.
"It's fine Kiri. Really. I know I probably snapped at you too harshly and that's my fault."
"But I was being an unmanly annoyance!" Kiri held up his fist. "I promise I won't be so uncool." Again the smile came again.
"Kiri please stop." Kana begged. Kiri blinked at her, slightly tilting his head.
"Stop what?" Kana sighed, looking away from his cuteness.
"Can we just get back to class please?"
"Sure but uhm," Kana once again felt herself falter as she felt Kiri grab her wrist. The sudden seriousness in his face had her worried for a split second. "I need to ask you something."
"Uh okay?" Kana felt her forehead wrinkle at Kiri's weird behavior all of a sudden.
"If I asked you to go out with me what would you say?" Kana froze.
"What?"
"We're home!" Kana announced later that night as she barreled through the double doors to Shina's bedroom. Shina sat on the bed dressed in shorts and a tank top looking bored as she raised her head from where she was writing in a notebook.
"It's ten o'clock." Shina sighed as she put the notebook aside.
"So?" James asked as he entered next. He flicked Kana's ear before he danced out of her range, avoiding her quick punch. Curse her short arms! "You always stay up all night."
"Don't know how you manage that." Yuto stated, coming in and silently sitting down on Shina's bed. "But James was bugging Kana enough for her to make us come back."
"We didn't even get to do our movie night." Kira growled, coming in with Kai. Yoshi and Kaito followed behind them. Kaito quickly ran over to Shina and crawled onto her lap making Shina grunt as she had no choice but to hold him as he got comfortable on her lap with her phone in his hands.
'Big baby.' Kana was thinking as she plopped on the floor.
"Alright, this better be good." Shina stated. "You guys stopping bringing new useful information a while back."
"Which is why you need to pay attention to what they have to say now." Kai said. Shina rolled her eyes.
"Fine. Who wants to start?" Shina asked.
"Wait!" Kira called as she quickly ran over to the bedroom door and closed it. "If it's okay with everyone here, we should probably talk in Russian."
"Good idea." James said, nodding.
"I would ask why but I feel your information will simply explain so continue." Shina nodded at Kana.
"I don't have anything myself, but James kept bugging me saying he had something." Everyone looked at James who nodded. He mimed stroking a beard that he didn't and probably couldn't achieve.
"This is true sisters and brothers. I do have some information for you all." James grinned wickedly. "I was minding my own business when I overheard Bakugou calling Midoriya outside for what I was assuming was a fight but something about this one seemed, off. I followed them to the training grounds and it's there that I became enlightened to the fact that Midoriya indeed inherited All Might's Quirk."
"I thought only One for All was able to take and transfer powers?" Kira asked, frowning in confusion.
"All Might must have had another way to do this that's affiliated with his own power." Kai suggested.
"But why would he transfer his power?" Yoshi murmured. "He's All Might."
"You remember how skinny and decrepit he looked after he fought One for All?" Kana reminded everyone. "I think, and this is just my opinion, I think that All Might was losing his powers already."
"So what? He gave what he had left to Midoriya?"
"Well, it makes sense." Kira murmured. "I mean if you're dying or weak you give someone you trust your prized possession or weapon."
"But if All Might transferred his powers how was he able to fight back against One for All?" Kai asked. "I've seen the videos from Yoshi, no one sane or half powerful seemed to be able to stand up against him."
"Unless One for All," Shina stated slowly, "Is also wounded and weak."
"What do you mean?" Yoshi asked. Kana felt a click in her head as she mentally thought about the League and why it was entrusted to Shigaraki as well as what One for All seemed to have been doing behind the scenes. Had One for All seen this coming? If so, how much farther ahead had he planned?
"The fight between All Might and One for All, the one from a couple years ago," Kana stated slowly, thinking as she spoke aloud. "What if that fight wounded both to the point that they were dying? Or at the very least to the point where they were too weak to do much? It would explain why we were contracted to help Shigaraki. It was to make sure he had someone in his corner when One for All was no longer able to hover." Shina nodded along.
"Now I'm thinking." Shina murmured. "The contract was made up in such a way that Shigaraki has control over our movements for the most part. One for All wasn't even mentioned, all he was doing was saying he had our information which he used to hold as collateral unless we agreed."
"Which we did." Yuto stated. "So why hasn't he held up his end of the deal and given us our information back?"
"To make sure we, or you guys, keep following Shigaraki's lead." Kai stated.
"What does that mean for us once UA and the heroes figure out our identities?" Yuto asked Shina. "This planning keeps us in this position until our information is eventually brought to light in the end. They're all going to know we are the traitors and that everything the League knows is because we gave it to them. They're not going to be lenient once they realize what we've done." Kana nodded along with Yuto's words. It was true, they were spies for this mission, and nothing would ever be enough for the heroes to understand the why. They would hate them.
A flash of red eyes had Kana's heart clenching like it was fracturing. He would hate her. Kana took a shaky breath. Shina had to have something in mind, right? Kana joined her siblings and looked to Shina who didn't look at anyone. Kana really wished she could read minds as she watched Shina stroke Kaito's hair and hum.
"Any response Shina?" James called out. Shina hummed louder.
"I'm thinking. Honestly I am." Shina sighed as she looked at each of them. When Shina met Kana's eyes she could see how dull her sisters eyes were. "I just haven't figured out a plan yet. I know none of us like working with the League but for right now, the only option I can think of is to continue to work with them. I'm not sure who has our information, One for All or Shigaraki and I'm not going to risk you three by breaking our alliance now."
"You do realize that every life they take it's also on us too." Kira stated. "I mean Kai and I are used to this. I'm pretty sure Yoshi deals in his own way-"
"Yeah I'm good with this." Yoshi called out.
"But everything they destroy," Kana finished for Kira. "Is also our fault. Maybe not directly, but indirectly because we didn't stop them."
"Uh, I'd like to remind everyone that technically we could leave." Kai said. Kana glared at the rat. She somehow knew he would say that.
"Bruh!" James cried out in betrayal. "That's messed up."
"I'm just saying!"
"Well don't say it. We won't leave you guys." Kira snapped, glaring at Kai who clicked his tongue, looking away. Kira looked at Kaito. "I don't think it would be good for him to stick around here."
"Hmm… I know but… Kaito is also something we need to talk about." Shina stated. Kana blinked, seeing her share a look with Kai.
"What happened?" Kana asked before Kira could.
"That night I went to Shina's apartment, I was with Kaito when Shina went to answer the door." Kai looked like he was struggling to figure out what to say.
"And?" James and Kana asked at the same time. Kana glared at James as the age-old words were blurted out.
"Jinx."
"Dang it." James shook his head, but they quickly forgot their dumb competition.
"I was grabbing Kai when the world seemed to… bend. Next thing I knew we were in the living room, and it was three or four hours later." Kai stated.
"You lost time?" Yuto asked. Kana frowned. She doubted Kai would ever have lost time, he was a professional spy/assassin, these kinds of things didn't happen to people like him.
"I, I don't know." Kai growled.
"I think Kaito has a time Quirk." Shina stated suddenly making everyone look at her. She was gazing down at Kaito who was happily playing on her phone. "I've been thinking about this more than the League to be honest. Kai and Kaito disappeared from the living room without me hearing or seeing them leave. I had Yoshi track Kai's phone after they disappeared and even he couldn't."
"It's like they just disappeared." Yoshi confirmed.
"What?" Kana asked in shock. "But that's'… well that's kinda cool?" She caught the look James gave her. "What? He's back and we know what happened to him. I think it's cool. To an extent. Don't judge me furry boy."
"It would explain why Kaito was in the middle of nowhere." Kira stated slowly. Kana saw her sister nibbling on her thumbnail in thought. "When we found him he didn't look like he'd been there for long. He was clean and fed."
"So you're saying in the future, that lake is inhabited by people?" Kai asked.
"I don't know but it makes sense." Kira sighed.
"We have a lot on our plate tonight don't we?" Yuto asked. "Even though it's just two things."
"Yeah Yu we do." James snapped.
"Okay," Shina clapped her hands. "Let me think about the League thing some more. I'll try and figure something out. Yoshi how's the search for info going?"
"I finished searching your grandfather. I managed to track down a living relative but I'm not sure if you want to go see them since they moved to another part of the island long ago."
"Why are you looking into grandpa?" Kana asked. Shina shrugged.
"It's a hunch I have honestly." Kana frowned and asked,
"Care to explain?" Shina bit her bottom lip in thought. Kana took a step forward.
"What happened to no secrets?" She asked. Shina stared at her. "It's one of the core values on why we've worked so well. Not just because we're family but also because we already knew secrets that our enemies tried to use against us to drive us apart. You can't keep this from us because you don't think we can handle it or because you don't have enough information."
"Let us help." Kai added. Shina grunted.
"I've been looking into grandpa's history because I suspect that someone somewhere may have orchestrated the murder of our family. I don't have any real proof yet but, I gathered some details from our Uncle Eddie as well as a friend back in America who reminded me of something I'd forgotten."
"And that was?" James asked, folding his arms. Kana herself wondered why Shina had even bothered to entertain anything that murderer in prison had to say. Had he gotten to her somehow? Compromised her in some way?
"Uncle Eddie said something about how my mom had proof he was innocent." Shina hesitantly stated looking at Kana. Kana blinked.
"So?" She asked in a hard tone.
"So if that's right, then your dad didn't-" Kana looked away from Shina.
"Don't say it." She hissed. The thought of Shina believing that the man who had murdered her mother was innocent was hard to think of. Kana remembered that day all too well. She knew the truth. She remembered the screams and the blood. No one would be able to change her mind, least of all any kind of proof Shina had been told was there. "He killed her."
"Okay but… let's assume that someone who looked like him did the deed." Shina stated gently. "We know Toga is a shape shifter, she's not the only one in the entire world who could also have this Quirk."
"I saw him." Kana hissed. Kira grabbed her wrist making Kana glare at her. Kira didn't flinch, meeting Kana's furious eyes with her own levelheaded look.
"I don't doubt you saw what you say you saw Kana. But let's entertain Shina on this shall we? After all, if your father was framed than that means someone targeted your mother and your cousins parents as well." Kana took a deep breath. Kira looked at Shina. "The question is who and why?"
"I don't know who or why but I suspect it has something to do with my grandfather." Shina answered.
"We don't even know who our grandpa is." James stated.
"He died before we were born."
"Something about him caused my mother to move us here." Shina stated. "I need to know why. Because whatever she ended up finding out it cost her her life."
"Also why not kill your grandma?" Kai muttered. Everyone looked at him. Kai shrugged. "Well I mean if your going to kill the kids why not kill the mom as well? Why not also kill the grandkids, you guys? You were all what under fifteen when all this happened? Why were you spared?"
"He raises a good question." Yoshi stated. Shina sighed.
"I don't know." She ran a hand through her hair. "I just, I don't know." In all their years Kana had seen Shina look this defeated and lost only once. She may not want to go down the road of her daddy issues, but she was willing to jump into the fire to help her cousins.
"So we find out." Kana stated. "J, Yu and I will stay vigilant at UA. Yoshi can try and go back through records on finding Aunt Sanaa's time here in Japan, it would be the easiest thing to track since I doubt he'd be able to find anything out before this. Our homeland isn't exactly up to date on technology due to the landscape keeping technology from developing further."
"Try and track when she came into Japan and see if she worked anywhere." Shina added. "My mother moved us here because she was offered a position at some hospital but I'm not sure what she did or what that job was. Track her pay stubs if you can find that."
"I've been trying to for the last 16 hours but I will let you know if I find anything." Yoshi sighed.
"Meanwihle Kai and I can help you find out who your grandpa's family member is and what they know." Kira chimed in.
"No," Shina shook her head. "Kira I need you to watch the family members that Yoshi found and monitor them. See what you can find out about them. You're more discreet than Kai."
"So what am I supposed to do?" Kai asked.
"I need you to take Kaito and head to Brazil."
"You can't mean-" Kana interrupted but Shina hushed her with a hiss.
"Mara and Desire can keep him safe. They owe me a favor after what happened with James." Shina stated. "I don't trust what the League would do if they realized what Kaito could do. He's not safe here." Everyone was tense as they got lost in their own thiughts. Kana was moving down the line of how useful it wiuld be to have Kaito around in the event of a screw up but...
She eyed him making small humming noises while playing on the phone. He would occasionally let out a small sentence or word in Russian or Japanese that caused Kana to relax. He was only four, he didnt need to be caught in this mess. Kana looked over at Kai who was glaring at the floor. Kana looked at her cousins and friends, family. They were all watching Kaito as well.
"Okay." Kai was the first one to answer. "You want me to jump on a plane or is Kana gonna give me a lift?"
"The jet will take you." Shina stated.
"And what about you?" Kana asked Shina.
"I'm going to resume my duties as Shigaraki's left or right hand, whichever side he wanted me on." Shina rolled her eyes. "I'm trusting you guys to keep to your mission at UA and for you three to make sure your missions go off without any issues." Shina warned Kai, Yoshi and Kira.
"This isn't our first, what do you call it, rodeo?" Kira stated flatly.
"If we're done here, we should get back to the dorms." Yuto said.
"Yuto's got to get back to his girlfriend." James snickered.
"I think it would be odd if I knocked on Jiro's door this late." Yuto stated with a confused frown. "Plus she's not my only girlfriend." Kana froze at that, doing a double take at what had just come out of Yutos mouth.
"Wait what?" Shina asked.
"You two-timer!" Kai gasped before he cackled.
"Yuto!" Kira admonished.
"What?" Yuto asked looking at them. Kana had no doubt that they were all looking at him with varying levels of concern and amusement as his head jerked from one face to the other. "Why are you guys looking at me like that?"
"Dude you have more than one girlfriend?" Kai asked.
"Uh yeah? Jiro's my first and then there's also Tsu and to a lesser extent Mina." Yuto insisted.
"WHAT?" James yelled out.
"I'm sorry I… I need to process this." Yoshi murmured. "How do you have three girlfriends?"
"Uh I don't know?" Yuto stated slowly. "We just talk in the lounge area and they've called me their friend at some point so I-"
"Wait do you mean they're girls who are your friends?" Shina asked. Yuto blinked.
"Yes?" Kana started to laugh. Kira soon joined her. "What?"
"Dude, I almost had hope for you." Kai sighed.
"Wait, why is Jiro your first friend?" Yoshi asked.
"She asked if I wanted to go to the gas station off campus to grab dinner there if I wanted to. I said yes. I mean that's what friends do right? Plus I did say she was cool to hang out with when she asked."
"Whoa!" Shina cried out making Kana blink as tears started to form in her eyes. "What do you mean she asked? What, how did she ask you to grab dinner?"
"I just said she asked if I wanted to go grab dinner at the gas station off campus. I said yes and we had a walk afterwards." Yuto explained in frustration. Kanas laughing subsided. Bless her baby brother, he was baby.
"Oooh." Kana and Kira moaned in sync while Shina sighed in either sympathy or pity.
"Oh honey, no." Yuto eyed the three of them before he looked over at James, Kai and Yoshi who were shaking their heads sadly. "She was asking you on a real actual date." Shina continued softly. Kana saw the exact moment it hit Yuto as he started to stutter three seconds later.
"But, no she's just a friend. I mean friends go get dinner together right?"
"Dude." James sighed. "I have failed you in so many ways."
"Eh?" Yuto tilted his head. Kana blinked as a sudden thought came to her that had her gasping as she covered her mouth. Everyone was looking at her but Kana paid them no mind as everything in the last 24 hours clicked in her head.
"That's why Tokoyami was looking so sad!" Yuto blinked.
"Tokoyami was sad?" Kana groaned looking at Kira.
"I'm gonna win the bet Kira. But I didnt want to win it this way!" Kira hissed low.
"Yuto! Oh you messed up bad." Kira stated bluntly.
"Okay all of you out now except Yu." Shina called, clapping her hands. "Kaito off!"
"Okay!" He called out before he ran off. Kana tried to hold back but Shina gave her a swat on her behind making her yelp in surprise as Shina effectively kicked her and the others out of her room.
"Wait right here. Don't leave yet." Shina ordered as she pulled Yuto into her room and closed the door.
"Poor Yu." Kira sighed.
"Better him than me." James shrugged. Kana snorted loudly.
"What are you talking about, you've been ducking Mina's flirting and advances for a month now." James gaped at her. "Yeah I see you. Talk about playing with a girls heart."
"That's messed up furry." Kira sighed as she walked past them.
"Shut it you!"
~Yuto's POV~
"Why'd you call me back?" Yuto asked Shina. Shina's face shifted into what he was assuming was a grimace as she looked very uncomfortable in that instance.
"I didn't want you to potentially be embarrassed." Shina murmured before she straightened up. Yuto automatically mirrored her stance as her gaze turned sharp. "Yuto I know we talked about this before but, do you understand the implications of dating one of the UA students? Not that I'm not happy you guys aren't skipping any part of your high school experiences but you remember we're going to have to leave at the end of this." Yuto nodded before he again stated,
"I'm not dating any of them. They're just friends." He ignored how his heart sank in his chest which was a new thing for him that he paused for a moment to wonder about it. He wasn't sure why that reaction occurred though so he moved past it. "Jiro's just a friend."
"I know you say that Yu, and I know how you are deep down." Shina tilted her head, assessing, or possibly trying to figure out how to say what she wanted to next. "But, from the way you described her, Jiro may have assumed that you agreed to go out with her."
"It was just dinner!" Yuto whined. "What could lead someone to think that was about dating?" Shina nodded.
"Okay no yeah, this is partially my fault, I don't know what I was thinking making sure you three didn't get a light overview of this stuff. Probably why James has so many simps." Shina muttered the last part. "But! Just roll with me on this one, is it possible that maybe Jiro thought overwise?" Yuto frowned thinking back on his walk to the convenience store with Jiro. She had been shier than usual. He had just thought she was anxious about being alone with him despite her being the one to ask him to go. Which had made him spiral into thinking that maybe she didn't really like being his friend. He'd spent most of that walk and dinner being quiet as he'd tried to think about her motives.
"I suppose." Yuto stated slowly. "But if she wanted to date me why not just ask me outright?" Shina raised her eyebrows.
"Would you have said yes?" Yuto paused. His immediate answer was a resounding 'No'. Despite being friends with Jiro, he knew she was a good friend and a great ally if necessary, he didn't see himself growing any romantic feelings for her. He didn't really think of romantic feelings a lot as he wasn't really interested in that sort of thing but… if he had to say he would date anyone it would most likely be Tokoyami. His fellow shadow was the only real friend he could say he felt comfortable being around in that kind of situation. Of course, if he was thinking about this as a situation maybe he needed to do some more thinking. "Yu?" Yuto blinked back to the here and now. Shina was staring at him like she was waiting for something.
"What?" Shina impatiently rolled her eyes.
"Would you have said yes to dating Jiro?"
"Oh, no."
"I figured. In that case you need to tell her because she may have the impression that you and she are dating and you don't want to have to deal with that if she suddenly decides to, I don't know hug or kiss you randomly." Yuto scrunched up his face making Shina laugh. "Yeah that's what I thought."
"Alright fine I'll talk with her." Yuto grumbled. "Is that all you wanted to talk with me about?"
"For the most part." Yuto nodded already heading to the door and away from this conversation that was causing him to be concerned with his heart rate.
"Bye!" Yuto didn't wait for anything else to be said as he threw open the doors only to see James and Kai wrestling on the couches while Kana and Kira egged them on. Kaito was yelling nonsense from Kira's lap. Yoshi was commenting like a professional commentator and recording.
"He's got him on the ropes people! Who knows this may be the fight that the furry finally wins!"
"OI SHUT UP!" James snarled, popping up to glare at Yoshi who danced backwards, still recording.
"What are you guys doing?" Yuto asked as he drew nearer to the couch.
"Fight!" Kana shouted before she started to cheer Kai on as he flipped James off the couch before he rolled on top of James and grabbed his arm, pulling it behind his back. Yuto grinned seeing James try to wriggle free.
"I win! Suck it loser!" Kai boasted.
"You cheated!" James yowled.
"You had surprise!" Kana stated loudly counting on her fingers. "You had speed, reflexes and even both hands and you still lost!"
"I always knew he was a princess." Kira laughed.
"GUYS STOP IT!" Kaito yelled in Russian.
"You heard him people," Shina called. "Knock it off. Nerds get back to school. Twins! Clean up the couches before you get back to your rooms. Kaito! Come on you weirdo bedtime. Yoshi!" Yuto watched as he froze only for Shina to grin at him. "Send me a copy of that video."
"Ooh me too!" Kana called out. "It's going on my vlog."
"You have a vlog?" James cried out. "Why?!"
"What it's not like anyone would be able to view them." Kana grinned. "Unless they were subscribed to a certain tier that is." Shina sighed.
"I don't want to know. Get out of here all of you." Yuto quickly darted over to Kai and James before he forced Kai back as he was getting up off James. Yuto's weight forced Kai to sit down hard making James let out a harsh huff of air as he was sat on again. Yuto cackled as he jumped over the couch and ran behind Kana.
"Get off!" James groaned.
"I'm trying, Yuto made me sit back down." The large smile remained on Kai's face despite James trying to choke Kai with his tail.
"It was worth it!" Yuto crowed.
Yuto hesitated on knocking on the door to Jiro's room. He had spent all yesterday and half of today thinking about what he was going to say or do. While he himself wasn't willing to pull any punches during a fight or training, the emotional side of things were different. He did like having Jiro as a friend, but he also didn't want any bad feelings to linger. Kana had basically kicked him out of his room after his 'procrastinating' and told him to just do it and make it seem sincere. How did one make rejection seem sincere?
The knock on the door was hollow sounding as Yuto was honestly wishing that Jiro wasn't in her room so he wouldn't have to talk to her.
His hopes were dashed when the door opened to reveal Mina. One look at him and Mina was squealing and jumping at him. Yuto was impressed that he didn't try and pull out his sword or any kind of weapon as Mina glomped him squealing out,
"Oh you two are so cute together!" Mina pulled back. "Sorry I heard you and Jiro went on a date yesterday and I'm just so happy for you two."
"Uh huh, right." Yuto tried to smile but failed as he looked past Mina to Jiro who was smiling at him with that same shy smile. "Uh do you mind if I talk with Jiro?"
"Oh yeah sorry." Mina let go of Yuto to stand back. "We were actually in a study session." The door to Jiro's room opened wider to reveal Momo, James, Shoto and Uraraka.
"Oh." Yuto nodded. "That's okay I can talk to you later."
"What did you want to talk about?" Jiro asked. Yuto could see it then, the shyness and the small smile on Jiro's face. She looked so happy. Yuto wasn't the best at expressing his emotions or even realizing others but the sudden crash of guilt he felt for thinking about how Jiro would look crying! Because of him, well that sucked. Plus, there were witnesses, if anyone saw him break Jiro's heart he really doubted that they would come to his defense.
"Uh, I was just going to ask if you'd seen Tokoyami." Yuto blurted out.
"Isn't he always with you?" Momo asked from inside the room. Yuto felt a slight tremble of irritation at that obvious statement.
"Yes but do you see him with me?" Yuto snipped at her. Momo blinked at him. "Sorry, I just haven't seen much of him since two days ago." Yuto apologized. "I'm getting kind of worried about him."
"I think he's in his room." Jiro stated. Yuto nodded.
"Okay. Uh, can you let me know when you're done studying?" Yuto asked thinking up a good way to get Jiro alone. "I thought we could go get some ice cream later?" Jiro's face brightened.
"Sure. I'll text you."
"See you guys!" Yuto called as he turned to walk away. Well that was a train wreck, he thought. Maybe Tokoyami would have some ideas on how he could approach Jiro? He certainly hoped so. Which also reminded Yuto that he hadn't seen much of his feathery friend lately, he'd need to see what was going on there.
Yuto hopped on the elevator, glad that James wasn't around to break the darn thing as he descended to the second floor. The hallways were usually quiet and peaceful allowing a lot of light in through the floor to ceiling windows that showed the halls and everyone's doors if you were willing to peer across the glass. Yuto liked seeing everyone walking in the halls and going down for breakfast in the mornings or just heading to bed at night, right now there wasn't really anyone moving about as they were usually broken up into their study groups.
Tokoyami's door was closed as usual so he really hoped that Tokoyami was in.
His knuckles rapped against the door three times before he stepped back. Inside he heard shuffling and if he strained his ears he could certainly hear someone talking. Yuto frowned as the door didn't open. Yuto knocked again but this time he spoke up.
"Tokoyami? I know you're in there. I need some help if you're free?" Yuto stepped back. This time he didn't have to wait long as the door opened slowly. So slowly in fact that Yuto frowned. This kind of behavior wasn't like Tokoyami or even Dark Shadow. "Yami?" Yuto called out as he pushed the door open more. Inside there was nothing but dim light. Yuto stood at the entrance wondering if he should turn on his cell phone's flashlight when a thick strand of shadow whipped out and curled around his waist yanking him into the dim room. When the door closed behind him the room was plunged into darkness.
GM NASAI: I'm not dead... physically. Mentally between work and my real life, oye. It was a long two weeks.