KiriDeku: Smile for Me

Chapter 4

It's over! For now at least. I feel that I can finally relax. The anxiety has loosened its grip on me and slithered away. The test I had feared, proved to be nothing more than a little annoyance. Most of the questions were easy to answer. It's like we had an exact study guide for the test. Even I could be smart for once and it was all thanks to Midoriya.

On the other side of the room he sat at his desk. His chin rested in his palm, with his head tilted towards the window. I should do something for him. Maybe I'll get him a drink. Walking to him, I asked,

"Hey Midoriya! Do you want a drink from the vending machine?"

He smiled a bit. Little dimples crevaced in his cheeks.

"Yeah that sounds nice!"

His face said hello, but his eyes said something else. He looked a little tired today. Maybe I should ask him what's up?

Nah I won't.

At the vending machine I pressed C1 for milk coffee. The wires creaked as it slowly spiraled out, pushing the can down to the grabbing point. It took a bit longer than usual. This machine was in its final days. It surprised me, cause this time it didn't get stuck.

"Here's your drink!" I said.

"Thanks! You didn't have to though."

"Because of you I did well on that test. You deserve it man. Drink up!"

The can popped in its normal way after being opened. Midoriya took a big swig of it, gulping the sweet flavors the milk coffee had to offer. Putting the can on the desk, he sighed a breath of relief. A newfound energy beamed in his eyes.

"Thanks Kirishima! Turns out I really needed it!" He laughed.

"No problem. What are you doing after class? You wanna study together again?"

"You must really like studying. Unless you mean hanging out?"

"Ah you got me. You're smart for a reason haha."

"Honestly I want to, but I got assigned to cleaning duty for the week. You know how that goes."

"I could help you. I don't mind!"

"Really?! You don't have to."

"I want to! Plus I got nothing else to do."

"Haha alright! If you say so."

In it's usual pattern the classroom was hollow as a shell. Like a ghost town the seats were abandoned, resting forever in inanimate motion. The sky's blue that reflected in the room, shifted to yellow, introducing the start of the late afternoon. Only Midoriya and I remained after class. He dusted off the chalkboard, erasing today's greetings and the math lesson from earlier. He coughed a bit as he did so.

"You okay?"

"Yeah! Just inhaled some of the chalk."

"Try not to breathe in too much Midoriya."

"Aye aye captain!" He chuckled.

As for me, my task had my focus on the desks. There was about 25 seats and table tops that I had to sanitize. It would take a while. After all Mr. Yagi emphasized cleanliness. "Take the time to make it shine" he would say. Then he'd explain how the first fruits of our efforts would be seen by others in the meantime. I was only three desks in when trouble started.

"Aw sick!!" I yelled.

"What's wrong?!" Midoriya quickly turned around.

"It's someone's drool stain on the desk. It won't come off right away!"