My Hero Academia: Romanticise Like A Raven

CRUSH - Part 2

Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. What had Aizawa been saying? Why couldn't I have just listened like a respectable student, or was I too far gone to think of anything other than my hopeless crush- NOT A CRUSH. I don't love him!

I gushed hopelessly, "Of course, Sensei, the answer to that question would be the... the obvious answer..."

"Osaka." Shoto hissed behind me.

"...Osaka." I finished.

Aizawa eyed me suspiciously, a tint to his words which made me doubt myself, before he intoned, "That's the correct answer, Osaka is the district with the highest crime rate in Japan. Do well to remember that. All of you."

Aizawa turned away from me, and I also turned away from him, whispering, "Thank you, Todoroki. You are far too good to me."

Shoto didn't smile, but he nodded. For some mysterious reason, I found that the nod still caused happiness to bubble up inside of me, and so I turned back to the front, able to focus on the words even less than before. Not that I cared.

...And not that I knew why I didn't care.

***

Dark Shadow napped like a small puppy beisde me as I got on with my English homework, set by our usual English teacher Present Mic Sensei. He was known for his desire to vocalise, and as such a subject intertwined with the formations of words was perfect for him. It was also fascinating to be learning two languages.

Punk music drifted lazily in the background of the violet, hazy room, helping me to concentrate on the words on the page. I read through the text once more before continuing to answer the questions about it. 'Reading comprehension' was what Present Mic Sensei had called it. I knew that the others found it quite dull, but I found the study of language to be a jovial experience.

I could sense that Dark Shadow was awake before they spoke to me, "How can you study and crush on the Todoroki boy at the same time? So much effort!"

I slammed my pencil case down on the desk with a threatening thud, shooting to Dark Shadow, "It is actually quite simple. All I need to do is not love him, which, oh, is what I'm doing right now!"

"You can't fight the fact that I can read your mind!" Dark Shadow cooed like a comedian, "I know that you've been fixated on him ever since he helped you in class! It's like the romance novels Yaoyorozu keeps on trying to get you to read, only more painful!"

I scowled at them, "Shoto was helping me. As a friend. That's what friends do, Dark Shadow! And how do you know how painful Momo's romance novels are?"

They didn't respond to my question, nor the statement before. They laid their shady head on our duvet and gazed at me. Every second was another degree added to be temperature of my face. They knew. Of course they knew. They always knew.

I turned my beak up at Dark Shadow, "So what if I'm crushing on him? So what if this isn't the first time I've felt this way about him? I can never tell him. It'd risk our friendship, and nothing is worth that!"

"You're not even that close!" Dark Shadow argued, frustrated.

I shook my head, slumping in the wooden chair as it gave my back no edge in comfort, "A crush doesn't necessarily even reflect my sexual orientation. What if I'm wrong? What if he loves me back, and then I have to be the one to cut it off? I cannot think of anything more selfish! As such, there is no reason to get fussed about all of this."

"You're in denial."

"No, I'm not."

"Say how you feel! Then you'll know if it's really what you're thinking!" Dark Shadow suggested, lifting their chin up again.