Make Believe {Mezo Shoji}

I

Glancing down at your watch, you fidgetted nervously, standing in the hall awkwardly. 'He's usually on his way to lunch by now,' you thought to yourself, scanning the hordes of students for a particular person. Suddenly, your eyes fell on a messy head of silver hair and your interest piqued. Booking it through the crowd, you finally found who you were looking for. "Shoji!" you chirped, stopping so short in front of him that you nearly smashed into him. "I've been looking all over for you!"

"Oh, sorry," he replied nonchalantly, beginning to walk with you to the lunch room. "Didn't mean to be so hard to find."

"It's okay," you reassured him. "I noticed you weren't in class today and I was worried," you admitted, going alongside him with your hands knotted together behind your back.

"Sorry to worry you," he said, finding a table and sitting down. "I was in the support classroom all morning getting my costume redone." He explained, rummaging through his bag. "Did I miss anything important?"

"You missed a pop quiz in Mic's class, but it's super easy. Oh and you missed a lecture on quirk evolution in science but don't worry," you beamed, producing a packet of papers from your own bag. "I took the liberty of taking extra notes on your behalf!"

Shoji took the notes from you, skimming through them. There were multiple pages, all front and back filled with neat color-coded writing, organized with bullet points. "Wow, these are pretty thorough, this isn't your copy is it?"He asked, still rummaging through his bag with an annoyed sigh.

"Nope!" you chirped, pulling out an identical set of papers. "What are you looking for, by the way?"

Shoji glanced up at you before looking back into his bag. "Oh, just my lunch. Must've forgotten it back in my dorm."

"Today's your lucky day then," you giggle, pulling two bentos out of your bag and handing him one. "I made you lunch!"

He hesitantly took it, eyeing you closely. "What's with you today, why're you being so niced to me?"n he asked suspiciously, poping off the top of the box.

You blushed, averting your gaze quickly, trying to think of an excuse. "What, aren't I always nice to you, Shoji?"

"Well, yeah," he admitted. "But it seems like you're sucking up for something." He punctuated his point by digging a pair of chopsticks into the portion of rice you'd made him before popping it in his mouth. "Damn, this is good, actually."

"Shoji! Did you expect it to be bad?" you ask, feigning hurt. "And thinking I'd be nice to you just to get something in return is honestly just mean!"

"Okay, okay, fine, I'm sorry, thank you for the notes and lunch." He finally relented, throwing his hands up in defense. "How can I repay you?"

"Well..." you begin sheepishly. "There is this one thing-"

"Ah-hah!" Shoji laughed, tossing you a side glare as he ate. "I knew you wanted something." He watched as the blood rushed to your cheeks and you tried to back peddle, beginning to ramble. "C'mon, just spit it out already, what do you need?"

"Would you come home with me to have dinner with my parents tonight?' you finally blurted after beating around the bush.

"What, why me?" he asked, bewildered. "I mean we're good friends and all but wouldn't you rather take a closer friend like Tsu or Ochacko?"

"Well...about that...I was hoping you could...pretend to be my boyfriend?" you ask bashfully, wincing in preparation for rejection.

"Are you serious?" he asked, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"I-It's just that, it's my grandmother's birthday and she's sick and we don't think she'll be around much longer. She really wants to see me with someone and I don't want to let her down!" you rambled on, pleading. "Please, Shoji, I promise it's just for the night and I'll do whatever you ask to make it up to you!"

After a moment, he sighed, annoyed. "You already told her you were bringing someone, didn't you?" You nodded, hands clasped together as if praying. "Oh, fine, alright!" he scoffed. "But you owe me."

Gasp, you squeal in delight, throwing your arms around his neck and snuggling into his torso in an awkward but meaningful hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you!"

"Whatever," he groaned, rolling his eyes, but wrapping you up in his arms all the same. "What time are we leaving?"

"The train leaves at 5:15." you replied as he released you. "So meet me at the station at 5."

"Sounds like a plan."