Hitoshi Shinsou | Pro-Hero AU | 172732014

The Purr-fect Gift

Warm breath washed over your hands before you dug your head into the mass of cloth that wrapped around your neck. The scarf helped in keeping the cold at bay, a strange phenomena that occurred early in the morning considering the last few days had been nothing but sunshine. Still, you felt content, breathing in the smell of what was Shinsou's room from the scarf you wore.

Ever since the beginning of the school year, Hitoshi Shinsou had become a close friend, offering assistance whenever he spotted you clumsily going about your day. Those moments resonated with you, as if they were memories made long ago, but were still fresh in your mind to replay over and over again, despite what level of embarrassment you may have had at the time. And though you were a Hero student, the cold demeanour he once held seemed to have melted away overtime. It didn't help that you could read his mind every once in a while, but you tried to read him by his actions more so, finding a kindred spirit, Quirk-related or otherwise.

You stood by 1-A's dormitories front doors, standing by the patio and watching the light rain sprinkle. You smiled, remembering that one time he offered you an umbrella on the way to school, due to your own forgetfulness at the time. Still, your mind drifted onto other things, hiding your face back into the scarf you wore.

What were you going to get him for his birthday?

A sigh escaped your lips. Studies were becoming more frequent and labour-inductive that you had all but forgotten to simply take a day to window shop, let alone scroll online for a gift. You even remembered the conversation well, two weeks ago in fact, while the both of you made your way to the cafe not too far from the school's premises.

----

"Hey, after all this time, I've never asked when your birthday was?"

Shinsou lazily glanced at you before reaching the cafe doors, a glint of surprise expressed in the way his brows raised at the mention of his birthday.

"Oh, well, that's in July," he replied.

"When in July?" you asked again, pushing a teasing tone in there. "That's literally in less than three weeks now."

"Exactly," he simply said while he opened the doors for you. "July the first."

You turned to look at him while you entered the cafe, a look of bewilderment crossing your face before one of relief replaced it. "Oh, well, I'm not too late then."

"You don't need to worry," he reassured, finding a table by the large windows overlooking the street. "I'm not too fussed about my birthday." You slowly sat down opposite him with a confused look, wondering about his nonchalant response about something that should feel important.

"But it's your birthday," you reiterated. "Surely you're excited about it."

"On the contrary, I don't find it significant enough to warrant it as an event."

Your face faltered at his reply. You could imagine why he felt this way. He didn't need to explain himself. Learning about his upbringing and how society had looked down upon his Quirk, you assumed, and had been confirmed, that Shinsou didn't have many close friends. No one to celebrate any of his successes, or him for that matter. The thought that he may have never had a birthday outside of his family seemed lonely.

You pulled a crooked smile, standing up from your seat to head for the counter to order before you leaned your head towards his, playfully.

"Black? Or something smoother this time?" you asked.

Shinsou quirked a brow before a smile curled on his lips at the sight of you. "Smooth. I don't need an all-nighter tonight."

With that, you twirled around towards the baristas with your coffee orders in mind. You felt a swell of determination after listening to Shinsou's wayward response with a light foot to your step. You were sure to make his birthday a memorable one.