KiriDeku: Smile for Me

Chapter 16

"Nakatani-san from class A said you guys were movers. Is that true?"

"Yeah but who again?"

"Nakatani-san. She said you guys were at her house this past weekend."

"Oh!! That was her house?!"

"So would you guys mind helping us set up for the festival?"

"Sure I'm down. What about you Midoriya?"

"Just tell us what to do and we'll be there."

"Yay! Great! We're thinking of doing it after school, the day before it starts."

"Then I guess we'll just meet you here after the bell. You can direct us from there."

"You guys are amazing! Thanks! Talk to you later!"

After she left, Midoriya looked at me confusingly.

"So do you know Nakatani-san?"

"Don't have a single clue."

****

Like we had agreed, Midoriya and I helped with the preparations for tomorrow. We carried tables and chairs from the classroom to our booth outside. We weren't the only ones busy going back and forth. All around us, other classes were also setting up. Whoever wasn't preoccupied with their club activities, made the time to show up today.

"It sure is lively today."

"Yeah you can feel it in the air. Are you ready for it?"

"Yeah I'm sure it'll be fun. How about you? Feeling nervous?"

"Kinda. I'm still not 100% on my basketball skills."

"From the past month, I'd say you've gotten a lot better. You should pat yourself on the back."

"Wow hearing your praises puts me at ease. Not anyone can get a compliment from you Midoriya!"

"That's cause I don't talk to anyone else but you!"

"Oh yeah huh!"

I guess I never noticed. Now that I think about it, he always sat alone. The only time he talked was when he came over to me.

"I'm a pretty quiet guy you could say."

"Not when it comes to me."

"That's because you're easy to talk to."

"I'm easy?!!"

"You know what I mean! Don't make it sound crazy. Geez Kirishima!"

"Haha I'm sorry. I just enjoy teasing you so!"

As we wrapped up the initial setup, we did what we could to benefit the morning crew. We even gave them a head-start on some of their tasks. The goal was to offer a smooth transition into the festival. Our class was ready to bring their A-game.

Gazing upward into the sky, all the color shifted to one corner, fading slowly. Though it didn't seem like much, most of our time had been consumed in our busyness. Tomorrow would bring even more things for us to keep our attention on. Before that, we had to make it home and rest up.

Because it was dark, I offered to walk a bit with Midoriya on his way home. He quickly declined, saying that he'd be alright. I felt an arrow jab at my heart. He didn't even take a second to think about it. Yet he was probably right, he could take care of himself. Something about him just made me want to protect him. As I moped in my steps towards home, I wondered about the excitement that lied ahead.

****

Normally I would have gone straight home, except I needed to head to the shopping district. I only had two more days. It felt like I had jumped from last month to today in a blink. Still the thought rattled in my mind. What did Kirishima like? At this point I'd have to chance it and pick whatever. The good thing about it was that I could get him anything. I had enough money to.