Under pressure

Chapter 23

Opening her dorm room after the long commute was so satisfying. She put her bags down and crashed immediately into her sheets, the pain and exhaustion from the past 24 hours finally kicking in. Checking the time, it was 7:00 pm.

Unpacking her things, and taking a shower, she started bandaging some of the cuts she had gotten when a knock came at her door. She quickly got up to answer it and it was him.

"Hey"

"Hi"

She led him inside and the two stood there for a moment, not knowing what to do. (Y/n)'s hair was still damp from the shower and because of that there was for a moment, a shiver that coursed through her being.

"Oh, are you cold?"

He stepped forward unconsciously and started to raise his right hand before freezing. Out of his new habit he glanced down at her waist only to notice once again that the bandages were gone. She was wearing sweatpants and a tank top, revealing countless bruises and small scrapes all over her arm, self-consciously she crossed her arms, trying to hide her stomach and injuries.

"Yeah a little bit, it's only because my hair is wet though, no need to be concerned."

Shoto nodded and a silence fell between them, though not the one he had grown to love. (Y/n) looked down, already regretting what she was about to ask.

"So I know I told you to take your time, but could you please explain to me, umm... just your thought process from the past two weeks. Like, ugh I don't know."

She glanced at his eyes fro any sign of disapproval and then looked to her side.

"I missed you ya know, I know a lot of it was our internships, but knowing you probably wouldn't talk to me even if we were together... it hurt"

Guilt overwhelmed her as she remembered her good times as well. She couldn't have been depressed that entire time she justified, it would have hindered her training.

"I'm sorry"

"Don't be, I'm sure you had your reasons"

Shoto's heart swelled with relief and guilt.

"No, I shouldn't have shut myself out like that from you, you've always been so kind to me, you don't deserve to be treated like that"

"Yes, but you deserve your space, and plus, you're talking to me now so there's no reason to be sorry"

She smiled at him warmly

"Especially since I was never mad at you, so it's pointless to apologize"

Shoto looked at her and as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulder he relaxed, not even thinking about his words before they spilled desperately from his mouth

"Can I hug you?"

(Y/n) laughed and Shoto gained a pink hue to his cheeks.

"You don't need to ask Shoto"

The two embraced finally, her cold and damp hair cooling his flushed cheeks, but it felt so warm. It felt so warm to hug her once more, so he squeezed her tighter. She rested her head on his shoulder, taking a strain she didn't even know was there in the first place away from her neck.

The sweet moment was interrupted by the growling of (Y/n)'s stomach, separating she laughed and he joined suit.

"Sorry, haven't eaten since 12 or so"

He regained his naturally upturned lips whenever he was around her once more. Shoto felt so much more at ease right then as apposed to his entire week.

"I can teach you to make cold soba, returning the favor from the last time I was here if that's okay with you."

"That would be lovely"

—————

The two are their food and discussed excitedly about the movie they wanted to watch.

"I really think we should watch howls moving castle, have you seen the animation!"

"Yes but isn't the Lego movie just a cinematic master in its own"

(Y/n) was trying so hard to keep a straight face when she argued her case, and it was working. Shoto genuinely could not tell if she was joking until she let a small smile slip through her demeanor.

He rolled his eyes and chuckled with a bit of relief realizing once again that she was just a good liar.

"Your good at that you know"

"No, I don't"

She couldn't keep it to herself and started laughing with him.

"Seriously though, how are you good at keeping a straight face like that"

(Y/n) thought towards the last time she had to use a poker face around the girls at the bubble tea place and she ended up blushing. Gaining newfound confidence at her embarrassment he leaned into the table.

"What's so embarrassing"

"Don't worry about it"

She sat back trying to keep her cool but it was hard not to give into the warm butterflies fluttering in her stomach. Her heart skipped a few beats when he smiled at her, upturning his chin.

'Shoto, what the hell is this?'

"You tell me what it is and I'll tell you anything you want to know"

"Why are you so interested?"

"Because you're embarrassed by it"

Her mouth opened in mocking disbelief.

"Alright I don't know what happened to you but since when did you have this much nerve?"

She stood up and took their dishes, putting them in the sink while both of them laughed.

She got out her studio Ghibli movies and put on howls moving castle while Shoto settled in on her small couch.

She sat beside him and leaned herself against him, sharing a blanket while questioning in the back of her mind if this was how friends were supposed to act. He put his arm around her and she just dismissed her questions

'It's not weird, we're just close'

Even though she knew it was a lie.

"I missed this"

"I missed it too"

As the movie started and her breath began to slow down, her body relaxing and a warm feeling surrounding her, it could have been a dream when she heard his words so close to her ear.

"I want to tell you"