Heroes of Today

Part 21~Taking it Easy

Naka yawned a little, blinking awake. Tiger cleared him but he was under strict orders to take it easy, which is why he was currently sitting crossed-legged on a log as his clones fought each other. All he had to do was keep them from blowing up. It would be harder if any of his clones could land a punch.

This is why he shouldn’t have made the fights so even. The energetic clone ran circles with the childish clone, both too fast to let the other land a hit. Cannon fodder was too agile while the sarcastic clone was too good at dodging. Of course, the angry clone kept trying to hit the fearful clone whose reaction time was too fast.

At least he wasn’t overdoing things. He could see Akiko’s vines towering above the tree line. It reminded him a little of Jack and the beanstalk. It's a very good thing Jack didn’t have to climb Akiko’s vines. That would have been a lot of thorns.

Uzu was screaming a little off to the side, his arms bent in all different shapes. He was currently trying to hold the space of the Eiffel tower- including all the beams- and was succeeding. Naka was a little surprised that Uzu's arms haven't broken yet but alas, they are in one piece.

The sun was starting to set. Once night fell, they got to stop training and go for the bravery test. Naka couldn't decide if he was sad that Kirishima wouldn’t be able to join him or relieved. On one hand, Kirishima wouldn’t see him get scared but then again Kirishima wouldn’t be able to protect him when he did get scared. Guess he’ll make up his mind later.

~~~

Naka frowned as he tried cooking. It wasn’t that he didn’t know how to cook, he just never needed to do anything fancier than a grilled cheese. At least he wasn’t cutting his fingers off and he hadn’t burnt anything.

Uzu however was a decent chef. He had to learn how to cook as a part of the foster tool kit and so could do some basic meals.

Akiko wasn’t half bad either. Her parents believed in getting their kids used to life as early as possible, something that led to Akiko cooking meals at 12 years old.

Kaminari and Kirishima were shouting and shovelling down food. Akiko took more time though it was unclear whether that came from manors or a dislike of the food.

Kirishima talked to Naka, checking on him and gushing over Naka’s injury. Of course, this was all leading to Naka freaking out and blushing wildly. Naka ducked his head, doing his bed to avoid Kirishima’s gaze.

Honestly, watching the two was very entertaining for Akiko and Aoyama who had started planning how to get the two idiots to confess.

Uzu rolled his eyes at Naka and Kirishima, turning to talk to Jiro and Yaoyorozu. Uzu much preferred talking to them over Naka. Jiro shared Uzu’s muscle tastes and together they were turning Yaoyorozu.

~~~

Naka sighed as he watched Aizawa drag Kirishima, Sato, Kaminari, Sero, Shoji and Uzu away for extra classes.

Akiko glanced over her shoulder, checking to see if Naka had found someone yet. Naka had approached Bakugo, asking to go with causing Akiko to huff.

She fidgeted nervously with the sleeve of her jumper, not wanting to ask anyone. Why couldn't she just go alone?

“Need a partner mon ami?”

Akiko glanced at Aoyama, nodding.

“Want to go together?”

“Really? Yeah.” A bright smile covered her face as she joined Aoyama’s side. She wasn’t quite sure how she got from there to babbling about a giant mosquito playing a harmonica but Aoyama didn't seem to mind and he was even keeping up.

Stopping, Akiko’s eyes widened as she groaned loudly, face palming and hanging her head.

Aoyama tilted his head, eyeing up Akiko. “What’s wrong?”

Glaring at the darkness, Akiko looked straight at the narrator. “Naka’s being a simp again, isn’t he?”

Naka was indeed being a simp but to understand how that happened, we have to go back a little.

Naka fidgetted, not entirely sure how to talk to Bakugo. He had only ever interacted with Bakugo when Kirishima was there and now it was awkward.

“So, how have you been finding the training camp so far?”

“It’s been a challenge that I will beat!”

Naka flinched back slightly, regretting asking. He said nothing as silence yet again stretched out.

“Oi, how come you hang around shitting hair so much?!” Bakugo glared over his shoulder as Naka blinked.

“What do you mean, we’re friends so of course, we hang out.”

Bakugo tutted, a scowl crossing his already angry face. “Listen here, scarface!”

“I have a name!”

“I don’t care! Stop playing around with shitty hair’s emotions!” Bakugo grabbed the collar of Naka’s shirt pulling him in. “Either you fucking confess or you stop leading him on!”

Bakugo let Naka go as he blinked in confusion. “I don’t understand.”

“Shitty hair likes you. It’s disgusting how much he talks about you. How kind you are, how manly you are, how you are just perfect. It’s annoying.”

“Kiri… said that about me?” Naka’s cheeks burnt as he ducked his head. “He likes me…”

“Yeah, so stop forcing me to go to your ‘Totally-not-a-date’ dates. To make yourselves seem less gay than you actually are.”

Naka didn’t know what to say, his mind still stuck on the ‘he likes me’ part of the conversation. He was on cloud nine, his heart beating rapidly as he imagined going on a real date. Would they go to a cafe? Or maybe a movie? Would he pay or would Kirishima? Would they kiss?!

“Oi! Are you listening to me?!” Bakugo snapped his fingers in front of Naka’s face, dragging Naka out of his thoughts. “Forget it, let’s just go already.”

Bakugo stormed ahead, forcing Naka to catch up to him.

Naka can think about that stuff later.

Boom!

Spinning around, Naka’s eyes widened. “Uzu?!”