Solstice and Eclipse: Part III

Chapter II: Piano

"There, it looks like the bleeding's stopped for now." Pulling the cloth away from his face, Yaoyorozu dipped it in a bowl of warm water, the contents turning pink as the blood and water mixed. Wringing it out, she brought it back to his nose to wipe the dried blood from his upper lip.

After the ball had hit him in the face, Yaoyorozu had immediately jumped out of the pool to make sure he was okay. Upon seeing the heavy stream of blood, she had immediately taken him by the hand and dragged him inside, but not before throwing a dark glare at Kaminari and Mineta who were openly laughing from the other side of the pool. Unfortunately taking him to Recovery Girl hadn't been an option, so she had instead lead him to the girls locker room. It wasn't ideal, but it at least had a bench for him to sit and a sink she could use to clean him up. Everything else she could make herself.

"I'm so sorry. I never should have forced you into coming." She cleaned the cloth again, the dried flecks of blood dissolving in the warm water.

"It's alright." He said monotonously. "It wasn't your fault."

"Still, I feel awful." Yaoyorozu replied. Gently, she cupped his cheek to better angle his face while she worked. "There, that's the last of the blood." Her hand lingered for a few seconds before she shook her head and quickly withdrew it. "Luckily it wasn't a very hard hit, so I doubt it's broken. Still, it has to hurt."

(L/N) shrugged. "Not really."

She eyed him doubtfully. "Either way, you should probably ice it."

He didn't say anything. Honestly, he didn't feel like there was anything to say. Yaoyorozu clutched the rag in her lap as a lingering silence hung in the space between them.

"We could leave early if you like." She said nervously. "Er, that is if you still wanted to come over, which I don't suppose you do anymore."

"I do."

She smiled and perked up at his reply. "In that case then, let me call my driver. And I'll let the others know, too."

The girl's voiced their protest when Yaoyorozu told them she would be taking off. Uraraka lamented about how they never got to see her anymore and Hakagure made a few choice comments about how she was leaving with (L/N) and what this said about their 'budding relationship', which caused the raven-haired girl to blush furiously. As she left, Ashido made a final, rather suggestive inquiry about what the two would be getting up to, causing Yaoyorozu to quicken her pace to escape the embarrassment while the others laughed from behind her.

(L/N) respectfully exited the locker room as she changed back into her day clothes, which she appreciated. Even being blind, she would have been rather uncomfortable with him in the same room. They left the campus grounds to find the black limousine waiting parked just outside, the driver standing by the rear passenger side door, ready to open it. The suited man bowed as Yaoyorozu slid into the vehicle. (L/N) was just about to follow when he paused. Momo watched curiously as a golden aura surrounded his body. Steam began rising from his body as the water that dampened his clothes evaporated before he too entered the car. Thirty minutes later, the two found themselves sitting in their usual spot in the library, two teacups and a pot of tea on the table before them.

"My father's study is just in the eastern wing of the house." Yaoyorozu said, placing her now finished cup of tea on its saucer. "That's where he keeps the first editions."

She was just about to stand when his hand on her wrist stopped her.

"I don't know if I should be handling any first editions in my current state." (L/N) said. "Your father probably wouldn't be too happy if my nose decides to start bleeding all over his books."