This Time

Chapter 25

Summer camp was off to a pretty rough start as far as I was concerned. We trudged through the trees - battered, exhausted, and starving - and upon finally reaching the camp I'm sure we look like a bunch of natural disaster victims. For the most part, I was less roughed up compared to my classmates, but really it was only thanks to my experience and trained quirk that I didn't collapse like several of the others did. The day had steadily gone downhill since I woke up.

When my alarm had gone off to wake me before the sunrise this morning, a sleepy groan at my back was the first thing I heard over the annoying trill, and a long arm reached across to slap the snooze button. Toshinori settled back into me, wrapping his arm around my still bare torso and pulling me further under the covers.

I yawned, and chuckled. "You're adorable when you're sleepy, did you know?" I giggled scrubbing at my eyes with the back of my hand and wishing more than anything I could just stay right here all day. Warm with sleep and nestled against my naked skin, the man holding me made the outside world feel a lot less important.

"No," he grumbled, voice rough and groggy against the nape of my neck.

It had taken a bit of coaxing (and a whole lot of willpower) before I finally got him to let go, and he rolled over, watching me with hooded eyes as I retrieved my shirt off the floor. Despite our recent ventures into more intimate areas, I couldn't help but cross my arm across my chest self-consciously. "Are you going to get up too?" I asked.

Toshinori cleared his throat and sat up finally. He scrubbed a hand through his tousled hair as he looked away towards the corner of the room. "You seem to be under the assumption that I'm going to the summer camp with the first years - I'm not. I'm teaching some extra courses for the second years this week," he said, almost sounding apologetic.

For a moment I only blinked at him as I felt irritation overtake the tranquil mood I'd woken up with. "I was only under that assumption since you didn't tell me any differently and, in fact, you have refused to tell me about the camp at all!" I said, not meaning to sound as snippy as I did. Seriously though, what the hell? It wasn't like my assuming he was going to be one of the teachers present was completely off the wall, and with the way I'd talked to him about it before, he had to have known I thought he would be there.

The hero sighed, but it sounded closer to a growl of frustration. "I don't actually know where the camp is or what the plans are, if you must know. It's been very hush-hush as a security measure."

"Kept secret even from the Symbol of Peace?" I asked incredulously, slipping my shirt back over my head.

When I looked back at him again his eyes held a hint of annoyance. "Yes, even from me. Remember the USJ incident and how I was a target as well? Think about it - it makes more sense to stay away from the students most at risk when there's less security."

"Bull," I argued, frowning. "The students stand an even better chance if you're around to protect them."

Toshinori sighed and stood up, and even while I was teetering on the edge of annoyed and angry it was hard not to be distracted by the man approaching me in his boxers and t-shirt. It was especially distracting considering said boxers were his own merch, and if that wasn't the funniest, cutest thing ever, I didn't know what was.

"Hey," he said softly, grabbing my hands and holding them in his larger ones between us, "Remember what this is all about. I know there have been some detours from the original plan, but the kids and the mission come first. You know it's better if I'm not there."

A lump had formed in my throat at his words, and I chastised myself for feeling hurt, because of course he was right. Despite this, the next words out of my mouth were bitter as I looked away. "Detours, huh? So, this is just a distraction then?"