H I M

11.

"This is stupid." I grumble, fumbling with Ceioni's birthday gift in my pocket. I took in a breath as Kirishima and I walked towards her home.

"It's not that bad Bakugo." Kirishima smirks, throwing his hands behind his head. "Everything's gonna work out fine."

Of course you would say that..

I stop walking as we stand on the sidewalk right in front of her home. Kirishima hesitated to take his next step. He stopped, slowly turning to me.

"What's up, dude?" He asked, his eyebrows stitching together– concern filling his eyes.

"Kirishima." I say looking down at the ground. I took in a deep breath my eyes slowly traveling up to meet his. "Do you like her– Honestly. Don't lie to me."

Kirishima blinked, slightly caught off guard. He frowned dropping his hands from his head.

"What?" He scoffs. "How many time do I have to honestly tell you, I don't?"

"You held her hand in the movie theatre." I tell him. "So you wanna lie to me again?"

His eyes flashed with slight fear as his mouth drops open to say something. "Dude, it wasn't like that?" He says. He rubs his hands over his face. "Bakugo if I could tell you I would– but I promised her I wouldn't tell anybody– including you."

"What?" I frown. "Why me?"

I knew exactly what we were hiding from one another. Ceioni's already told me she's afraid of the dark. But I wanted to see if he'd really tell me.

"Be-Because she didn't want you teasing her." He mumbles. "I wasn't even suppose to know, but she freaked out about something and I calmed her down– that's all it was. Cei's my friend, Bakugo. I do not like her."

I watched him.

"Don't lie to me, Shitty Hair." I say.

"Do you like her, Bakugo?" Kirishima frowns, sticking his hands in his pockets. He blinked before matching my intense gaze. "Are you trying to make sure you're not stepping on my toes? Is that why you keep asking me? She's just my friend. She's as important to me as you are– if you like her, go for it."

I continued to glare at him. He shrugs. "You're gonna make us late because you're thinking too into things." He starts walking up the pathway to Ceioni's front door. I take in a breath, and follow behind him. He knocks on the door, taking a step back. Ceioni's mom opened the door and smiled seeing the both of us standing there.

"Hey Mrs. Choi!" Kirishima smiled a toothy grin.

"Hey boys!" She says stepping aside and letting us in. "Ceioni said you two were coming."

"Yeah, we're kidnapping her if that's alright with you." Kirishima continues, while I just stood there, awkwardly, as if I'm not always here. As if I'm seeing the inside of her home for the first time.

"Okay." Her mom says. "Her dad won't be home till later so you guys can kidnapp her all you want." She smiles at the both of us. "Let me get her for you."

She disappears up the stairs, and I look towards Kirishima who was looking at a photo on the wall. Ceioni and her brothers and a sister. They were hoisting Ceioni in the air, while she wore a graduation cap and her diploma in the air.

Footsteps being heard, I look up and had to force myself to to keep my mouth closed. Ceioni bouced down the stairs, her hair straight and down her back. A top that tied around her neck and simple jeans, her jacket and bag hanging from her shoulders. She grins seeing us, her smile knocking the wind out of me as I exhale.