The Scandal Turned True

Chapter 8: Something There That Wasn't There Before

 The next few days came and went with little to no interaction with your friends or Aizawa for that matter. Now that it was Christmas Eve, you sat in the common room with a book in your lap like you have been for the last week now when a sweet voice called out to you from behind. You peered over your shoulder when you recognized the voice easily and were surprised to find Eri running over to you.

 "Onee-chan!" She squealed with excitement as you hopped off the couch to greet her. You toss the book aside as Eri runs up and hugs you.

 "Eri? What are you doing here?" You asked her, thinking maybe she took off from Aizawa and wandered into here alone.

 "I wanted to surprise you! We even brought a tree." Eri said excitedly as she pulled back to look up at you, a big smile on her face.

 "We?" You asked as you looked up from her and noticed Shinso and Denki carrying in a Christmas tree, "Wait, Denki?" Denki peeks his head around the tree, smiling and waves to you. He moves past the couch and sets up the tree with Shinso.

 "Heya! I heard we were having a party." Denki said as he leaned against the tree, but Shinso shoved him gently before he could knock it over. Aizawa sighs behind you all as he carries in a large box and sets it down on the coffee table.

 "It's not a party, Kaminari." He said as you walked over to the box and opened it, finding Christmas decorations inside.

 "What's going on?" You asked him, but he nods over to Eri who took off her boots and jacket and put them away.

 "I wanted to have Christmas with you!" She said cheerfully. You peer down at her smiling face, feeling a tightness in your chest.

 "You want to have Christmas... with me?" You asked her. She nodded quickly as she started to dig through the box of decorations.

 "Of course! We can open presents, bake cookies, drink hot cocoa..." She started to list off ideas she had in mind. You smile lightly at her bubbling excitement.

 "But I haven't gotten presents for anyone though." You mention as Denki walks over and rests an arm over your shoulder.

 "That's okay. We can still have Christmas without gifts." Denki grins at you and Eri.

 "Speak for yourself." Shinso grumbled, walking back into the common room with another larger box that contained the presents. Denki pouts at him as Shinso set the box beside the decorations.

 "Come on, man. Don't show me up like that." Denki mumbled to Shinso as he started riffling through the box for his own gifts. Shinso slapped his hands away, pushing the box from his grasp, but Denki continued to try and reach it. You couldn't help noticing that maybe it was flirtation going on between them, or an attempt anyway. You look between everyone, feeling your chest tighten up a little bit.

 "I'll go do some shopping then." You mention  to them.

 "You don't need to do that, you know." Aizawa tells you, but you shook your head.

 "I want to though. I haven't celebrated Christmas properly in years. I want to do it right." You say to him as Denki finally gives up the fight for the presents and turns to you.

 "In that case, I'll tag along. I wanna get something for little Eri, anyway." He grins at the little girl who only got more excited about the idea of more presents. You pat Eri's head gently before heading for the stairs.

 "Let me get changed and I'll meet you outside." You call back to Denki before heading up to your room. Aizawa walks over to the stairs before you got half way up.

 "Will you be alright? You got pretty sick last time." He asks a bit worriedly, keeping his voice low between you two. You glance down at him, leaning against the rail. You hovered just above him with a smile on your lips.