Confession

Class 1A didn't know how Estelle was functioning. She was still somehow managing to deal with spirit attacks, training them and coming back sane. Luckily since the otherworldly girl has joined the hero agencies, she hasn't had to help with civilian-type missions anymore. Honestly, Estelle wouldn't have survived with that on top of everything.

The class had strolled into the common room after school to find that Estelle wasn't alone. Taking a few beats to realise that strangers were surrounding the living room, their eyes quickly managed to find Estelle leaning over the coffee table with a severe expression.

Taking her in, they saw that she was covered head to toe in grime and dirt. A streak of blood lingered on her sleeve, but she didn't seem to notice as she continued to speak, her voice ringing on the verge of frantic. Her finger pointed at a large map on the table, seemingly already scribbled with things they couldn't read from where they stood. Her other hand tapped on the table with natural energy, a tick they had never seen Estelle do before.

"So they are striking here in Akita; I need gamma and beta squads lined up there, stat. Have you heard from Mud Man?" She spoke, striking them as they stood at attention. She sounded so commanding that they felt the need to listen, which was a critical quality she would have needed to control the number of people in the room.

They flickered their eyes to another spirit, surprised that they were pink, before craning their ears in. "Yes, he has confirmed that the darklings are en route."

Whirling their head back and forth, the students stood stunned, flabbergasted at the different features these spirits seemed to have. They had seen stuff like that before with quick mutations, but it was different; it appeared on the higher end of the spectrum.

One spirit had hooves, yet a male body.

One looked like a football, but red, with one big glowing eye in the middle.

Another looked like a garden gnome.

Paying attention to Estelle again, they heard, "Okay, Sierra squad should be lined up here just in case we need backup. Is that understood?"

"Yes, general!" They seemed to chime in agreement, their hands suddenly raising to their chest like it was some salute.

"Ready your arms."

"On it!"

The spirits turned or floated as they headed to the exit. It didn't take them very long to notice a bunch of tiny humans crowded around the entrance, outnumbering them pretty effortlessly. They tensed, clearly unsure of what to do in this situation, their eyes boring into the students in a way that made them awkwardly shuffle. Silence enveloped the room, and the tension caused Estelle to look up from her map in curiosity, leaving her eyes to widen at the scene.

Quickly stepping forward, Estelle had hoped the students wouldn't return any time soon. Their unexpected arrival made her curse, knowing she should have been more aware of the time. Regardless, she bit back her nerves as she eyed her comrades, unwilling for the interaction to go awry in front of her eyes. "Ignore them, my comrades. They are some of the allies I have informed you all about. Onwards, I will catch up."

"Yes, general," They seemed to chime back a little less enthusiastically as they scraped by the class. Their eyes lingered on them, seemingly sceptical and wary of Estelle's allies as they left. But they made no further comment. The class tried their best to smile, but they couldn't help but be cautious. Why were there a bunch of strangers in their dorms? It didn't seem like something Estelle would do.

Estelle directed their attention back to her with an apologetic look. "Sorry, I would not have led them here if I had other options. It was the closest safe spot I could think of."

"Are you okay?" They all seemed to ask, their voices muffling into each other in synchronisation. The worry rose in their features as they grazed their eyes over her muddied form.

Estelle warmed from the concern, her eyes brightening as she assured them. "Huh? Yeah, I'm fine! There's another attack heading south, so I needed to plan before charging ahead. I'll see you guys later!" She called, already heading out the door.

"Be safe!"

"Be back for dinner if you can!"

"We miss you!"

"Miss you too! Bye!"

Stunned, the class grinned widely as they turned to one another. They just knew Estelle was outside the door, cursing herself for letting those words slip out without meaning to. Still, the fact it came out accidentally- they just knew it was the truth.

Ever since Wolf had visited four days ago, they had noticed a slight change with Estelle. Not enough for it to be too obvious, but she had been more present than before. The teens were overjoyed by the change, not wanting to question it in case it would take them back a few steps. Though Estelle had been missing for the past two days, her sudden absence was felt by everyone, especially considering how she had only just started being around them more. It was true, the class missed it, and clearly, she had felt the same.

They felt their worries ease, beaming before heading their separate ways; they heard Kaminari yell in the corridor, "Score!"

"We haven't talked about it."

"About what?" Estelle questioned absentmindedly, not listening as her mind focused on the attack earlier in the day. It was a complete and utter failure; the recon beforehand relayed incorrect information. So, defeat remained in her mind when she showed up; too many darklings to even make a dent.

She wouldn't let this failure stop her. It was the second one, and it was likely others would follow. But Estelle was confident that she would come out victorious despite the losses. Still, the failed recon beforehand put her in for a loop. How did they mess up that badly? Surely they would have seen that many spirits running around.

She'll get Akita back under her control. She had to.

"The kiss."

The plans in her mind came to a sudden screech as her eyes broadened. Whirling her head to her left to observe the male curiously, she noted how Katsuki was leaning back on the couch, his arm resting behind her, grazing the top of her shoulder. His sights were watching her intently, filled with anticipation as he simmered in the silence. His leg bobbed up and down for a few seconds before consciously willing himself to stop.

Estelle could immediately feel the warmth blooming on her face. Peering up at the roof as she begged her blush to die, Estelle whispered, "What's there to talk about?"

"How much I fucking adore you?!"

Rocked by his abrupt words, Estelle choked on her own spit, her mind suddenly filled with a million thoughts she couldn't control. She failed in her effort to meet her eyes with his but couldn't find the strength to do so, in fear of what they would see. The female couldn't explain what the words had done to her, but it was like a truck filled with emotions had slammed into her well-built walls, crushing them into smithereens. She could have heaved from the turmoil her body was encased in; it was like crashing waves filled with disbelief had surrounded her whole.

He...adored her? How was that even possible?

Katsuki couldn't think about her like that; it just didn't make sense. What did Estelle do to warrant such a declaration? She could immediately feel her hands frantically searching for the bricks in her mind, desperately grasping at the crushed gravel as she attempted to pull back her walls. It just couldn't be the case; he must be mistaken.

Yet, Estelle's breath hitched, her heart skipping multiple beats as she was overloaded with the sound of her eardrums. Desperately clasping some cement, Estelle got to work in her brain, making her own bricks to build some shelter to hide under. Internally cursing herself from the slow recovery, Estelle could only turn away as she muttered a pathetic, "Shut up."

"Well, I don't regret it for a second."

One brick. Estelle had only managed to make one brick before it turned to dust before her very eyes. Lurching slightly, her mouth open, Estelle examined him like he had self-proclaimed himself as a lunatic.

Katsuki wouldn't be surprised if she took it as that.

Still computing that Katsuki didn't regret the kiss, Estelle opened her mouth wordlessly before snapping it shut. Her mind couldn't help but wonder how this was so much more difficult than battle, which was beginning to become much more preferable than the gaping fish she had become.

She abhorred being unprepared, and even though Katsuki had previously warned her of the pending conversation, this was the last thing she had been expecting. When she was left to her own devices, Estelle spent a lot of time thinking about what had happened. She sat in the woods for days, pondering the class's words and Katsuki's actions.

It was fruitless, though. No matter how often Estelle replayed the conversations in her head, it only instigated a further battle on what to do next. She heard them loud and clear; in a perfect world, she might have agreed. But Estelle couldn't risk the idea of jeopardising both words for the selfish act. Though, the thought pained her more than it had ever done before, and that terrified her.

Katsuki's kiss was the icing on the cake. The way he had spoken to her, declaring how much he cared for her, never ceased to amaze her. It was unfathomable to think he held so much affection for her, and it hurt. It was like a sting that refused to leave her and prodded at her heart like a clingy koala. Some deep part of her held deep-rooted satisfaction out of his words, and it continued to stick, spiralling her further.

It made her pull out some of her hair and kick down a tree. Ire rose within her gut at how Katsuki had managed to bring an emotion like that to the surface. It was like he sunk himself into her bones, leaving her rattled and bare to the point she could scream as loudly as he did daily.

But, regardless of the blistering confusion, she was encased in, Estelle eventually fell back onto the assumption that she could just ignore the whole thing. What else was there to talk about? Estelle was leaving, but that didn't mean she couldn't enjoy the time she had left with this class. Katsuki's kiss included; it could be forgotten; as much as they would linger in her mind, it could be overlooked.

She had assumed that the thought would have been mutual. It's what she had been preparing for, not this.

Finally mustering up the courage to respond, Estelle noted how patient he was being with her slow responses, his hand tapping his knee rapidly as he waited. It conveyed more shock than she would have liked, but she answered, "W-What?! You don't?"

Sitting straight from her response, Katsuki seemed affronted that she would even think such a thing. Her ruby eyes glowered into hers, somewhat relieved she was finally looking him in the eyes again. Leaning further, he snarled, "Of course I don't! Don't you get it?! The last thing I would want to do is forget about it!"

"But why?!" Estelle instantly cried back before taking a deep and slightly trembling breath. She needed to calm herself, realising she was losing her cool too quickly. The crushed walls around her mind were pitiful, making every comment slam into her like a man-made shield. She didn't know how to react, especially with words dripping with so much honesty that it made her feel defenceless. Estelle had never heard such words directed at her before, so they felt so ridiculous that it was surreal.

Katsuki rubbed his cheek with fierce intensity, his scowl deepening as he let out a growl that would have made anybody who didn't know him tense. He took a few moments of silence, interrupting it with a forlorn groan as he looked to the roof for support. The blonde had no idea what was running through her battle-ridden brain, but seriously, why was she asking such stupid questions that made him want to blush like a schoolgirl?

His mind was running rampant around his brain, and every inch of his body was itching to scream out everything he wanted to say. It built up inside him, every ounce of his willpower pouring in to prevent himself from blurting it out. He needed patience; he could be patient.

He can explain things calmly, he's done it before, and he can do it again.

He just needed to say the words and approach her the right way.

He can do that.

"Estelle..."

"Yes?"

Taking a deep breath, Katsuki looked at Estelle seriously, hoping to convey every emotion he had smothered inside him. His stare was returned, her dark eyes peering at him with such perplexity and concern that it instantly warmed his very being. His cheeks reflected a deep maroon which began to cover him entirely as he tried to get the words out.

It continued to build the crackling flame inside him, a boiling point he hadn't known he had reached. Lurching forward to his feet before his mind could catch up to him, Katsuki froze at the words that had suddenly screeched past his lips. "It's because I want to court you!"

"What?!" Estelle squawked back instantly, mirroring his volume whilst her feet touched the ground as she stood.

There was no way she had heard him right; she must be mistaken. If all else, it must be a sick joke that wasn't funny in the slightest. What the hell was he saying?!

Silence lingered between the duo as Estelle watched the male register what had just happened. He seemed to be frowning at himself, disappointment clear as he outwardly cursed. Clenching his jaw, Katsuki quickly rose, his eyes scrutinising her before he seemed to come to some form of conclusion.

Katsuki stepped forward to grasp her hand urgently. Estelle let him, her eyes scanning his with the obvious question as he hurriedly spoke. "Estelle, haven't you figured it out yet? Haven't you realised that what we have goes beyond friendship?"

"No! Isn't that what good friendship entails?!"

Groaning, Katsuki internally wondered how she had managed to put everything down to friendship. Granted, Estelle had never had many of them, and from the sounds of it, they had never lasted long. She couldn't tell the difference until someone smacked it into her face, making the job only a million times more challenging.

Though he warmed at the fact she had even used the term friendship at all, considering the fact Estelle avoided it like the plague. It wasn't enough, not anymore. Not when the time was ticking, and Estelle was getting closer to leaving them all. "You did not just say that! Take that back!"

"I will not!" Estelle frenziedly barked back, her tone desperate as her gaze hardened. "What do you mean you want to court me?!"

"I said what I said!" He instantly snapped, his stare hard against hers as he refused to take his words back. Katsuki could immediately tell that her hope that she had misheard him withered in front of her very eyes. Her shoulders drooped, and the ache in her eyes made his stomach drop.

"Katsuki..."

"Don't," The blonde started, his tone dropping to a more harsh growl. He wasn't going to give Estelle a chance to give her usual talk; he refused to let her back out of something so prevalent. They gravitated towards each other; they spent every spare moment with each other. Katsuki knew of the bliss they would have if Estelle just accepted it. He thought about it all of the time and detested it. Because Estelle had him at the palm of her hand, she could rip out every beat of his heart if she wanted to. He was enamoured with her.

He knew.

He always had, and he knew she felt the same.

Pulling her back to the couch, Katsuki took another layered breath before staring at the ground. Estelle watched him, observing every nervous tick before he spoke. "I never planned on revealing it this way or for it to happen like this at all. I would have preferred to have wooed you or some shit before telling you, but after thinking about it more, I figured it didn't matter what came first."

Opening her mouth to respond, Katsuki quickly shut her down with a furious glare. It relaxed when her lips closed again, his voice gruff as he continued with slight agitation. "After what happened the other day, I knew the cat was out of the bag. So, even though it wasn't how I planned it, it's true. I fucking adore you."

Estelle was overwhelmed, her eyes wide and her cheeks red as Katsuki gazed at her with such affection that it made her want to close her eyes and look away.

"You're better than any other damn extra. The minute I saw you at the sports festival, wreaking havoc as you fought me, I saw you for everything that you were. Yet, I knew nothing about you. Day in, day out, you were stuck in my head like a goddamn leach. I hated that about you initially, but then I discovered your origins, and things started to make sense.

At that point, I didn't care. I wanted to know everything about you, and I took everything you were willing to give me. You leaned on me, you let me rely on you, and I realised I didn't want to let you go for a second. It's too late to stop now; I like you too much to see you run away from me anymore. I am fucking entrapped by you, so yeah...

I want to court your ass."

Estelle was speechless, too fractured by his honesty to even comprehend the flurry in her belly. It was in full view of the blonde, his eyes searching her as she encased herself in the fire surrounding her body. Honestly, she looked like she had shut down.

Katsuki, noiseless and flushed after admitting everything, continued internally screaming within his mind as he surveyed Estelle. Reminding himself of his mantra of staying patient, he gritted his teeth as he willed himself to relax. He couldn't help it; she could easily stomp on his dreams at that moment—too much weight on what she would say next, dragging down his heart.

"I..." Estelle started, only to be lulled back into quiet as she revelled in astonishment. She didn't know how to respond; she had no idea what the right words were. Hell, she didn't even know what she was feeling as she gazed up at the man pouring himself out to her.

"You're confused. I know," Katsuki nodded, hoping he wasn't being too obvious with how disappointed he was.

"How?"

Pursing his lips, Katsuki muttered, "I was trying to let you figure it out on your own, but my impatient ass ruined it by smacking it on you."

"Oh.."

This was not what Katsuki was hoping for but it was what he expected. He knew she would need time to think about everything, and he was well prepared to give her that. What he wasn't inclined to get, though, was rejection. Katsuki knew Estelle would fall back on it, and he wasn't ready to deal with that aftermath, especially when she was only doing it out of duty and obligation.

Perking up, Katsuki allowed the smirk to spread across his face as he leaned forward. If Estelle wasn't prepared to reflect and admit things, Katsuki was well-prepared to drag it out of her, kicking and screaming if necessary. He's had to do it numerous times by now, and since Estelle was such a stubborn fucking woman, he knew this would be no different.

"You like me too, don't you?"

Flushing an even darker pink, Estelle turned her head away to avoid his pestering gaze. It was feeble, and she could only close her eyes with a muffled groan at her pitiful response. "I don't know..."

"Tch, typical. You kissed me back."

"I..."

"Shut up. You kissed me back. Whether you want to admit it or not, you did. Stop hiding from your own emotions."

Whirling to face him, Estelle felt her shackles rise as she tried to dispute, "I'm not, I-"

Before Estelle could finish her sentence, the woman was startled as Katsuki pulled her arm and forcefully yanked her onto his lap. The force of the action caused her to let out a noise of surprise, her hands landing on his biceps as she attempted to gather her bearings. Glaring at his move, Estelle frowned when he only returned it with a mysterious grin.

Her body tensed like she had been smothered in ice as his hand trailed to the back of her head, his fingers easily tangling up in her hair as he pulled her forward. Estelle's breath stopped, eyes expansive in incredulity as Katsuki turned his head so he was unfathomably close to her ear. Her grip tightened around his shirt, her fingers twisting around with the fabric as his hot breath tickled her ear.

Unsure of what she was bracing for, Estelle soon heard his gravelly whisper, which seemed to light up a layer of electricity down her spine. "Tch, your blush says otherwise, princess."

Yanking herself back, Estelle flickered her eyes to him with stupefaction, unable to prevent herself from showing her reaction. Her body shivered, her cheeks continually lit aflame as she stared at the blonde like he had grown another head. Katsuki seemed determined, ignoring her expression easily as he raised his hand to cup her cheek.

The only sound in her ears was the frantic thrum of her heartbeat, his ruby eyes ripping right into her soul as his stare refused to falter. Filled with steely resolve, Estelle could only describe it as wanting, and she could only respond to the look with a simple thought. It couldn't be for her; such heated eyes were never supposed to be directed at her.

"That doesn't look like the face of someone who doesn't like me back."

Her breath caught in her throat, "Kat-"

Cutting her off as he leaned in closer, Katsuki's lips tilted up smugly as he felt her quick breaths on his lips. He could tell he had captured every inch of her attention as she gazed down at him, stiff but curiously waiting for his next move. Katsuki couldn't help but recognise just how stunning she looked like this, like prey he could devour. It wasn't a sight he had the pleasure of seeing very often, so he quickly filed it into memory as his eyes drifted to those pouty, breathless lips.

His body tautened as he forced back the urge to take the plunge, the memory of her lips playing out in his brain like a siren call. His thoughts chanted away, begging his body to lean forward and close the gap between them to show her how much he adored her instead. Clenching his jaw, Katsuki reminded himself of the end goal; to not push it too far. Yet, his eyes closed as he allowed himself the pleasure of lightly brushing his lips against hers.

Her breath hitched against his mouth as he toyed with hers, almost teasing her with the memory of their last kiss, the bliss they had both shared, but not giving enough for her to be satisfied. She attempted to pull away and voice her dismay, but Katsuki quickly shut her down, murmuring against her lips as the two shared the lightest of touches, "Shhh."

Her responsive gasp made him want to lean back and groan, the noise too inviting for him to restrain himself fully. It made him want to swallow it whole, his thoughts leading him astray with the wonder of all the other noises he would be able to pull out of her. Tempering himself, his eyes stayed on her, his lids lowering slightly as he continued, "I can already see every word that wants to leave your mouth, but I'm not gonna let you say that bullshit to me. Are you trying to tell me you don't feel that?"

Estelle fidgeted under the overwhelming heat like she was simmering under the sun. Usually, she would question why she felt this way, but now that Katsuki had spoken, she could only wonder if he was right. Her legs tensed to keep her body upright, feeling her limbs turning into mush under his ministrations. It felt impossibly warm; Katsuki's handsome face looking at her in such a way only seemed to make it worse.

She didn't know if he realised it, but his hands were roaming her body in a way that made her stomach tighten. He was affectionately stroking her like she was a spoiled cat. Biting her lips to keep the purr from leaving her lips, Estelle could only stare at him with broad eyes as she tried to get the electricity flooding her body to calm.

"Looking at me like that. I just wanna eat you up," Katsuki commented to himself. His eyes darkened when they returned to the image of her lips. He didn't seem to want to allow her the opportunity to speak, returning to his previous ministrations when he noticed her opening her mouth once again.

Her mind blanked when he bit her bottom lip and pulled, refusing to back away from her stare as he wordlessly promised things Estelle hadn't come to understand yet. The action caused heat to lick its way up her spine, her eyes unable to leave as its rubies kept her trapped. Her soul begged her to close the gap, but Estelle resisted, knowing that if she did, she was signing up for a promise she wouldn't be able to break herself out of.

Katsuki had spent enough time with the girl to know she was too stubborn to cave in. It was a trait he admired, so even though the male wished she wasn't being tenacious, Katsuki would accept it knowing he had gotten the precise reaction he was looking for. So, moving from those plump lips, Katsuki leant down towards her neck to whisper into her ear once again.

"You know me well enough by now to understand that I mean every word I say," he started, leaving a kiss on her neck that caused a shiver to rake through her body. He grinned, forcing his lips to continue through his achieving thoughts. "The number one hero, the best in the class...you know that if I want something, I'll get it."

Estelle was silent as he moved back up, his eyes sucking her in as he innocently asked, "You know what I want, Estelle?"

"..."

Stroking her hips with his thumbs, Katsuki tugged Estelle forward so their pelvises touched. He spoke in a low baritone, yet filled with so much resolution it staggered her. "I want you."

Estelle's mouth dropped open once again as she remained speechless. Her frazzled mind tried to keep up, but with so much happening, Estelle was left in the dust as she submitted to his words. She allowed him to place her on the couch beside him before he stood up, his feet taking multiple steps to leave the room.

Watching as he left, Estelle was still recovering as Katsuki paused and turned his head over his shoulder, his eyes showing a fierce commitment that made the air halt in her lungs. He was serious, his hands in his pockets as he glared his eyes right into her. She froze when a menacing grin slowly appeared on his lips, the promise deepening in his eyes as he finished.

"...And I always get what I want."

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