Unexpected Connection

Trials

Sitting on the stairs outside the dorms, I hang my head, feeling the weight of Aizawa's disappointment settle heavily upon me. His hair flares up in his characteristic disheveled manner, a visual representation of his irritation.

His voice cut through the evening air. "Do you have any idea what time it is?"

"I'm sorry…" I reply softly, my voice barely getting past my panting breath, knowing I've messed up… more than he knows…

His expression softens slightly, but there's still a firmness in his gaze as he continues his lecture. "Curfew is not just a suggestion, Ashido. It's for your safety and the safety of others. Consider this your first strike. I expect better from you in the future."

Before I can respond, Bakugo swings the front door open, with profound anger. "That's not fair!" he erupts, his voice echoing in the quiet night. "I got disciplined on my first strike!"

Aizawa's gaze sharpens as he turns his attention to Bakugo. "Back Inside. Now.”, this is met with more yelling and profanities. The back and forth continuing on and turning into a speech from our teacher directed towards the hot head.

As I watch Aizawa transform further into authoritarian professor mode, a pang of guilt tugs at my conscience. I wish my own mistake felt as superficial as Bakugo's antics. But as his reprimands ring out, I can't shake the feeling that my own transgression carries a weight far greater yet I am not facing any consequences for them…

Pulling my knees closer to my chest, the burner phone slips from my pocket. My heart leaps into my throat momentarily, but I quickly snatch it up, hoping nobody noticed. A pause, heartbeat racing… not acknowledgment from either of them. The focus clearly is not on me anymore, yet I am held captive by the moment regardless. Fidgeting with the device, I glance around cautiously before flipping it open to check the new message.

"Should I make it three times?" the message reads.

A blush spreads across my cheeks, warmth creeping down my neck as flashes of our encounter flood back. Him grinning, that playful gesture of holding up two fingers...acknowledging that he had visited my dorm room. With a smile tugging at my lips, I type out a response.

"Warping is cheating" I reply, adding a playful winky face then anxiously wait for a reply… But there's nothing. With a sigh, I slip the phone back into my pocket.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, we were both dismissed back to our dorms. Bakugo brushes past me, his shoulder knocking into mine with more force than necessary. "Watch it, ya damn... teacher's pet," he grumbles under his breath. Then, in a softer tone, he adds, "You've been acting strange these last couple of days. Your head isn't here. Don't think it's not being noticed. If you want to throw away your opportunity, that's on you, but I think that would be incredibly selfish."

I knew he was observant, but this was on another level. I stand there in complete shock, struggling to find any words. Staying silent isn't helping my case; it only makes me appear guilty... I mean, I guess I am…