LOST // BAKUGO X OC

I-Island

It was finally time to head to I-island. Estelle had mainly spent the day yesterday preparing for the trip and learning as much as she could about I-Island. Estelle had packed up her things and was dropped off by an ecstatic Nona at the airport.

"Make sure you have fun, okay, dearie?!"

"Of course, Nona, take care of yourself. I'll be back soon."

"Bring some souvenirs!" Nona shouted out of the window in reminder whilst Estelle headed to the entrance. Estelle snickered and gave a thumbs up to the enthusiastic woman. Even though she had never wanted to come, Nona spoke so much about I-island with awe that Estelle was curious to see the place.

Meeting up with Shoto, the pair checked in quickly and headed to the aeroplane.

"My dad booked a private jet", Shoto explained when Estelle inquisitively looked at him after being directed away from the mainline. "He has a lot of money."

Estelle had looked up aeroplanes on the internet after Nona told her she would be flying. The contraption frightened her. Why on earth would you rely on a big metal box to get you from one place to another? Estelle would prefer to fly there herself, but she was immediately shut down since the security wouldn't allow that when she had asked. Estelle was sorrowful about that.

Nevertheless, the two travelled onto the plane, where Estelle recognised that a private jet was just an aeroplane only for the two of them. She was even more perplexed. Why fly a metal box for only two people? Wouldn't that be bad for the environment? When she had raised the question to Shoto, he only titled his head in contemplation before moving on. She figured that she wasn't going to get any answers there.

The two sat in peaceful silence whilst the plane got ready to fly. Estelle held in her concerns that she would be in the air and have no control over it. The sweat built up at that. Estelle loathed the thought of losing control in every aspect. It was why she was particular about the things she could control. Grimacing to herself, Estelle was suddenly reminded of the statistics of plane crashes. Knowing her, her luck would probably run out in this metal tin can. Estelle was already regretting this.

"Are you okay?" Shoto asked with trepidation from the tension he could see within his classmate.

Feeling slightly vulnerable in the new environment, Estelle answered, "I've never flown before. I hate the thought of flying without using my quirk."

Shoto nodded in recognition. It made sense to him. Someone who flew under their own will all the time would understandably be cautious of flying in the trust of someone else. And knowing Estelle, she had little faith in anyone.

"Don't worry. I'll be with you every step of the way," He comforted her with a small smile.

Estelle nodded back in answer, still unconvinced of the whole experience but didn't show it. To her dismay, Shoto could see the hesitation in her eyes but did not comment. He was shocked she even joined him in the first place. She was so quick to decline that he wasn't sure if she would actually come when he heard her guardian agree.

"How come you changed your mind?" Shoto queried.

"Nona convinced me. It turns out she always wanted to go but never managed to. I couldn't say no to her."

Shoto felt a hint of dissatisfaction at that. He almost wished she said it was because he asked. Pushing down his irrational feelings, he scolded himself.

'It doesn't matter how she came; at least she is here.'

At that thought, the pilot announced that they would be setting off to fly. Estelle's grip on the handlebar tightened at the words, and she leaned back against the seat. Shoto, who was sitting across from her, quietly watched her nervous energy. He was strangely captivated by it. The cool, calm, and collected Estelle was there, but he could feel the unease that lay beneath it. He wondered if she always hid her emotions behind the wall he could clearly see at that moment.