Shangri La Pt. 1

35: Designate

"Good morning, Izumi~ You arrived a bit late this morning." 

"Ah– F-Forgive me, Great Pisces, I had to deal with something this morning." Izumi spoke as she bowed to the Holy Entity. 

"Hmph– Was it perhaps a hair issue?" Pisces joked, making the greenette flinch and remember that she had yet to fix her hair after Shoto had practiced braiding it all morning. 

"Ah– Y-Yes, I-I ended up not having enough time to fix it, so could you please excuse me as I go fix myself." 

"Go ahead, Izumi, I am in no need for your service at the moment." 

"T-Thank you, I-I'll only be a moment!" Izumi blurted as she made a quick bow and ran out of the temple while Shiro had to contain her giggle by how adorable the greenette was.

'I knew I was forgetting to fix something, I should've been more careful and fixed my hair before I went inside the temple. If the Prince didn't braid my hair in such a messy way the last time, then I wouldn't have to do something like this. I'm lucky I have a hairpin with me, but now I need to find a place no one will bother–' 

"Oof!" 

Once again, without paying attention to what was in front of her when she turned the corner, Izumi ended up running into someone and ran straight into them. 

'Aw man, not again.' 

"S-Sorry I wasn't paying attention, I'll be more–" 

"Oi-" 

Izumi instantly recognized that deep and hoarse voice and jerked her head up to realize she'd run into a certain Captain. 

"K-Katsu– mmph!" 

"We're strangers here, remember." he whispered as he rested his hand over her lips.

Her freckled cheeks blossomed sweetly just from recognizing his rough hand over her mouth that she had to shut her eyes and stop these strange thoughts. Katsuki could tell she was thinking something, so he swiftly removed his hand off her mouth and took a step back to see her standing before him. 

"A-Ahem– C-Captain Bakugo..." 

"T-Tch– Another servant." 

"Um– Were the clothes that were given to you the right size?" she nervously asked. It wasn't until the blond realized the question and forgot an important and crucial thing. 

'Shit– I never tried on the clothes she gave me!' he thought as he was so moved that she'd given him something.

"U-Uh– I-I– "If they did not fit, then please return them and someone will give you a better size." 

"Y-Yes, they fit, s-so I don't need to do t-that." Katsuki stuttered while lying through his teeth. 

"I see, then might I ask if you and the other knights are uncomfortable at all in the palace?" Izumi questioned. 

"N-No– we're fine. Ah– Your hair." Hearing those words once again made Izumi clench up and she was nervous to look up at the blond. 

"Y-Yes?" 

"Tch– It's a mess. Did you wake up on the wrong side of the bed and forget to fix it?" 

"I-I– Ahem– I woke up late and tried to braid my hair in a hurry that I wasn't paying attention to how messy it appeared to others. I will fix it if you will excuse–" 

"Wait." he spoke as he grabbed her wrist right before she walked past him.

Feeling his grasp on her wrist made her halt right next to him and look up to see him staring at her intently.