Jun could recall the last time he stood across from you, like this, ready to spar. When was it? He pondered for a moment, canceling out Midnight going over the rules, that's right...when the two of you were barely turning seven.
It was just like this, you and him standing across from each other, dressed in tan bodysuits. Hooked with head bands and cuffs on each wrist to monitor and collect data. Standing a vast wide room, white walls all around making it hard to tell where the door, overhead, Jun remembered feeling those observing and judgmental eyes looking below.
He'd shutter and tremble everytime, eyes to the floor gripping his suit. He did his best to stiffen his rising whimpers otherwise face punishment for them.
While he stood there trembling, across you showed no such emotion. Your face was smooth and cold as steel.
Motionless.
No smile he'd come use to seeing, that'd ease everything, it vanished every time this...game was played.
While he stood there feeble and weak, you stood the opposite strong and hard. Proving so the minute the buzzer went off. It always happened so fast! You'd take him down, how he wasn't sure all time.
You just did it and every time he'd fine you standing over him, with eyes so cold ice felt warm.
How long those days where, it nearly laughable at the way you were now.
Bright and warm. Even you looked at him now.
Smiling kindly.
It was sick, every fiber in him wanted to spit right in your face and hoped it'd burn. But he held back, that action would cost him and they wouldn't have that. Otherwise it'd be his skin.
Stay with the plan, he reminded himself, clenching a fist behind his back. Forcing a small smile.
Which you where glad to see, Jun looked and felt so tensed for some reason. He didn't smile back or wave when you both approached.
It was good to see him smile now, you couldn't help but think how good this match was going to be. Up against another friend, how lucky!
Even so, you couldn't treat this match like your last one. You promised you wouldn't.
Also, you suddenly became giddy, there was treat you'd get. Izuku assured it, so you had to do well.
Midnight was nearly done, your cheeks flushed a bit in her presence. She was just so... awing. It was hard not fiddle a bit with your fingers.
"Are you nervous?" Jun asked noticing your behavior.
You stop and give nervous giggle. "Nope, I am not. Quite the opposite."
"Oh?" He rose a brow.
You nod. "Yes, I'm excited. I have made this far and I get to go up against another friend. That's what I am mostly happy about."
"You don't say, well...I suppose I'm thrilled too."
That was wonderful to hear.
"Then we shall both do our best. I know we will. We shall show our strength and our skill, giving it are complete all. Till the last one us is standing triumphally, so if am saying this correctly, let's kill it!"
A thin grin spread on Jun's lips. "You took the words right out of my mouth."
Your smile brighten, even more when you remembered something, "Jun, after this all over," you thumb behind you to Izuku, " Izuku-Chan has promised to take me out, to share a meal." You clasp you're hands together lean in lightly, eyes wide and bright, he wasn't sure they where going to pop out or not. But that look, oh that look on you, he saw nothing but red.
you remembered something, "Jun, after this all over," you thumb behind you to Izuku, " Izuku-Chan has promised to take me out, to share a meal."
In seats with the other students and those able hear, heard you, heads turn and eyes widen with confusion look at the Izuku. His face flushed red he began sweating. That he had to tug at his collar.
The eyes of others weighed on him for some sort of explanation, especially Uraraka.
"Deku," she cleared her throat, a pressed smiled on her lips, April slightly cringed at it rose a brow to the girl, "w-what is talking about?"
His words froze and sweat trickled down. He has the words, his mind raced and swirled.
"Yeah! What the hell!?" A voice demanded from class 1-B's side that was quickly hushed.
Izuku's shoulders trembled and sulked, Mineta's mouth dropped along with Kamanari's that turned into them both barking angrily at their classmate.
"It's not like that," Izuku mumbles, grumbling mentally at the way you worded it. That wasn't what he meant.
Idia adjust his glasses, "Midoryia you know that-"
"Hahaha," April laughed, hushing Idia with a hand and her quirk, rest her other hand on Izuku. "I know you didn't meant it like that, but, you better make good on your promise with May." She gave a playful wink. "She'll definitely want to hurry up this fight, she's excited. See."
Izuku looked and was relieved. April was right, the smile he saw on you was beaming. He couldn't help but think of the moment.
It was on the way to the arena for the festival, with the rest of the class. You dropped behind to join him. Gripping him by the arm as always, one would think he'd be use to it, but his body still reacted stiffening for a moment from the closeness. After a few seconds he calmed down, especially when you started talking his ear off about anything and everything. Expressing your excitement that just burst into switching between laughing and talking. To shaking him a bit.
He did his best to follow, eventually he managed.
"Raman!" you exclaim
Izuku arched a brow. "What? Huh?"
You repeat yourself. "Raman, that sounds quite nice do you not agree? Remember it was one of my things I wish to try from the book. The book of guiding."
Oh, he understood and laughed a bit to himself. "Yeah, I remember. So you want some raman?" you nod. "Yeah, sure, we can get some ramen after the festival." Your eyes light up like stars. "I know a good place I think you might like. I can take you and April after this whole thing is done."
Your arms throw themselves around him and give him a squeeze. "Oh joy! Oh wonderous joy! I cannot wait! Thank you Izuku-chan!"
A small blush crept over him, he smiled back softly.
How could he forget that? It happened just a few hours ago, Izuku smiled presently remembering. Those flustered feelings from before went away now, he didn't care what the others thought. April cleared it up well and he knew too. The energized vibe you seem to be giving off was glowing, it wasn't the most orthodox drive one would have right now, but it was yours. April was right, the simplest things made you happy.
"Alright!" Midnight, degreed, finishing up. Her hand shot up signaling the next match about to start, the crowd cheered loudly. A smirk spread on the heroine's lips, a delicious one. "The rules have been spoke, now," she began walking off the arena, getting a safe distance. Seeing she was, lowered her hand. "Began!"
It was time, the match now began and you couldn't wait to finish this whole thing then get ramen after. Your thoughts in the near future, you almost didn't pay attention to Jun's punch. It nearly grazed your chin, luckily you side stepped. Keeping light on your toes, with each punch he tried to land on you. You hoped around like some gazelle, one would think you where dancing. But that wasn't the case, ducking, you avoid a kick. It's fighting was quite...novice at best.
There was no need for you to fight back. It would be dishonorable and wrong. Dodging and blocking was best, so Jun would not look bad, plus Splinter did say it was not wise to emabrass one who is less. So this tactic best, Jun threw punches, swiped and thrusted kicks at you. You parried, blocked, side stepped and dodged. It was hard not to smile, just a little. Even a giggle. Though you where enjoying yourself, a part of you was expecting a bit more than this for him to having made it this far. Perhaps, you began to think, it was just sheer luck.
His physicality seem well, yet it seem weak at the same time. All this dancing and moving around was fine...you supposed. Your footing remained vigilant and light. Nothing would trip you up, Splinter made sure with his training before all this.
"Are they going to keep doing that?" Mina asked from her seat, a confused look knotted itself on her brow. "He's not even doing anything but throwing really slow punches and stuff."
"Maybe he's tired from over using his quirk or something from last." Kaminari said, leaning on Leo's seat yawning. "It was really powerful."
That was a thought. "Yeah, maybe he can only use it for so long or something." Mina added.
"I don't know," Tsuyu disagreed, placing a finger on her chin. "if his quirk was like that wouldn't have enough time to rest from the few matches before? With that time, he should fine by now. He doesn't looked tired or anything."
Mikey suddenly laughed pointing. "Dudes' punches are so slow! Bro, even you can take him." He thumbed back to Kaminari.
"Yeah, you're right...Hey!"
Jiro couldn't help but laugh, agreeing with Mikey. "Enough, Mikey." Leo sternly said, focused on the match with a probing gaze set in his eyes that grew tighter each passing second. Something seemed...unsettling.
He wasn't the only one either, Mashiaro where he sat had the same gaze as him. Especially on Jun, those weak punches...those weak kicks...it didn't seem right. It just didn't. Why was he going easy on you, when back in the hall his mannerisms was different. Almost threating. Yet, here it seemed...different. Jun had this smile cracked on his face, that mirrored the one you carried. It was joyful and playful...but why?
Why?
Izuku thought the same as well, a study gaze on the two in the arena. You hadn't used your quirk, just dancing around and around, blocking every now and then from Jun. Who just repeated the same steps over and over again and again.
Is this even a match, Izuku wondered, this guy's last match against Donnie's was strong and swift. He didn't hold back and nearly if not completely blasted Donnie out the arena. He's strong, there's no doubt. But, he's not showing that in any sort of way. Why is that? Is he waiting for the right moment to strike May? Is May paying attention to this or is she having too much fun?
He looked at you for a moment, yep that smile was on, it gave him his answer. And he sighed. Of course you'd be in this state. Still, he hoped you would take this serious in some way. Izuku was sure you had no idea about Jun, a part of him wished he'd say something to you back in the halls. Damnit!
Another, you dodge another kick, jumping back this time. Creating some distance between you and Jun, about six feet the least. "You're rather good," Jun praised, with a thin smile.
"Thank you, you too are well in your strikes. Actually-"
His smile curled and teeth clenched. Bitch, he hissed, always thinking you're better. That smile is nothing but a false lie, everything about you. I can't stand it! I'll-
He stopped mid-thought, your voice faded out for a moment, a chilling reminder ran up his spin. He had to push down those feelings, now wasn't the time. The plan needed to follow through, otherwise...it was the Tower. Blinking for a moment, found himself a dark...cold and isolated place. Whimpers and cries of the past echoed, thick lock sound. Nothing in the room...nothing at all.
Not even that flicker of light, no kind and comforting words of assurance to dry and remove those cries and whimpers no, that was gone along time ago.
It seem only fitting to return the feeling, clenching his fist a thick dark silver glow outlines it, from the seats sharped gasps escaped quite a few. The hairs on the April's neck stood up, she wasn't sure why, touched it. How odd? The last time, April remembered for a moment she felt something like this was...
"Hey," you notice the activated quirk, point a finger and stare at it, "you have activated your quirk. How interesting, yours seems to manifest the same way as my own. See." Holding up a hand produce the same thick glow around it, though a golden color. "Can you do what I can, too?"
For a moment you close your eyes and a golden outline surrounded you, with a light jump fly up just a few inches off the ground. Give a spin giggling, land back down.
"Can you do that?" you asked hopefully, hands together and a smile. "I do quite hope so, that would be most interesting. Would you not agree?"
"It would, wouldn't it?" he gave a slashed grin, held out a hand. "Say, do you like games?"
Your eyes lite up for a moment at the question, jump up and down clapping. "Yes! I do quite greatly! I love all sorts of games!" Stop and thumb over your shoulder to Izuku, your smile spreading further. "Izuku told me there is a place that has all sorts of games one can play. He said we would go there together!"
"Oh," Jun looked past you to Izuku, locking eyes, felt hard eyes on him moved up a few rows meet Mashirao's sharp eyes, promoting a thin smirk on Jun's lips. "he said that now huh?"
Jun returned back to you, his smirk now a half-smile, smiled with his eyes closed. "Sounds nice, the two of you going together," he emphasized a chuckle rose from his throat. For some reason, you couldn't put your finger on, caused rising bumps on your skin.
It was just nerves you assumed.
"Sorry," he shrugged, canceling his quirk, tucked his hands into his pockets shrugged again. "it's just well, I've heard those words before. A long time ago, someone told me those words. Together, we'd go together," he took a step towards you.
A part of you yelled to move back, but you remained. "Really? Did you two go together?"
He sighed and pinched his brows together. "Nope. It never happened. Want to know why?" He asked taking a hand out, raising it, slammed it down. "Cause they left me in the dark!"
"Wha-?"
Kirby shoot up from his seat, screamed. "May!"
But his voice didn't reach in time, the second the last letter of your name left, a large thick dome of dark silver covered the arena. Silencing everyone.