Smoking cats - shinsero

Beneath the Mask

The sounds of bustling students filled the halls of UA as Sero and Shinsou made their way through the crowded corridors. It was strange, being at school together, surrounded by familiar faces but feeling a growing sense of distance from everything else. For the first time, Sero noticed how the noise and chaos of school felt disconnected from the quiet, fragile words he and Shinsou had built in the solitude of the apartment.

"Looks like it's gonna be one of those days," Sero muttered, adjusting the strap of his backpack. He felt the familiar prickle of restlessness settling into his chest, and it had nothing to do with class.

The boy shrugged beside him, his usual stoic expression in place.
"It always is."

They didn't talk much as they made their way to the gym, where class 1-A and class 1-B were scheduled for a joint training session. The idea of battling in front of so many people wasn't something Shinsou looked forward to, but his time in general studies had taught him how to keep his emotions locked up tight.

As they arrived, the other students were already gathered, some stretching and chatting, while others practiced moves off to the side. Bakugo was yelling about something, as usual, while Kirishima tried to calm him down. Midoriya was talking animatedly with Iida, gesturing wildly as they discussed battle tactics.

"Yo, Shinsou! Sero!" Kaminari's voice cut through the crowd as he jogged over, a wide grin plastered on his face.
"You guys ready for today? I heard Aizawa's gonna push us harder than usual."

Shinsou simply nodded, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. The other gave a nonchalant shrug.
"Yeah, ready as I'll ever be."

The yellow haired boy raised an eyebrow, glancing between the two of them.
"You guys okay? You seem... different lately."

Sero exchanged a quick glance with Shinsou, who looked away, pretending to focus on the other students warming up.

"Yeah, we're good," he replied, offering his friend a lazy grin.
"Just tired, you know?"

Before Kaminari could pry further, Aizawa's voice echoed across the gym.
"Alright, everyone, get in formation! We've got a lot to cover today, and I'm not in the mood to waste time."

The students scrambled into place, lining up in rows as their teacher began explaining the exercise. Sero tried to focus, but his mind kept drifting, the nagging anxiety gnawing at him from the inside. Shinsou stood beside him, his face unreadable, but the black haired boy could tell that the tension between them had been growing, even if neither of them wanted to admit it.

The training session began in earnest, with pairs of students sparring under Aizawa's watchful eye. Sero partnered up with Kirishima, while Shinsou was paired with Kaminari. As Sero moved through the motions, dodging the redhead's hardening punches and trying to counter with his tape, he couldn't help but glance over at Shinsou.

Kaminari was quick, but Shinou's calculated movements and his sharp reflexes made him a formidable opponent. Still, there was something off about the purple haired boy today - something in the ways his shoulders were tense, his focus wavering ever so slightly.

"Hey, focus!" Kirishima's voice broke through Sero's thoughts just as a hardened fist came flying toward his face.

He barely managed to dodge, his body twisting at the last second.
"Damn, Kirishima! You trying to kill me?"

The other chuckled, dropping his stance.
"Just trying to keep you on your toes, man. You've been out of it all day."

Sero forced a grin, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"Yeah, I guess I'm a little distracted."

"Everything okay? You can talk to me, you know." Kirishima's voice softened, his eyes full of concern.

The boy felt a twinge of guilt. Kirishima had always been one of the few people he could trust, but the weight of everything going on with Shinsou - and his own struggles - felt too personal to share.

"I'm fine. Just... stuff, you know?"

Kirishima nodded, through his expression didn't lose its concern.
"If you ever need to get something off your chest, I'm here."

The training session wrapped up after what felt like hours, and the students began to disperse, some heading for the showers, others sticking around to chat. Sero spotted his purple haired friend standing off to the side, his hands clenched into fists as he stared blankly at the ground.

Something had shifted. Something was weighing on him, and Sero had a sinking feeling that it wasn't just the physical exhaustion from training.

He made his way over, brushing off the ache in his muscles.
"You good?"

The boy glanced up, his eyes distant, his mouth pressed into a thin like.
"Yeah," he said, though his voice lacked conviction.

He wasn't convinced, but he let it go for now. Instead, he threw an arm around Shinsou's shoulders in a half-joking gesture.
"You wanna grab something to eat? Or maybe hand out at your place after? I could use some down time."

The other hesitated, his gaze shifting toward the exit where the other students were filing out.
"I... yeah, maybe later. I just need to clear my head."

Sero's stomach twisted. There it was again - Shinsou pulling away, hiding behind the same walls he always put up when things got too heavy. And he wasn't sure how to break through them without making things worse.

"Alright," he said, forcing a casual tone.
"But if you need me, you know where I'll be."

With a final nod, the purple haired boy turned and walked away, disappearing into the flow of students. Sero stood there for a moment, his chest tight with a frustration he didn't know how to name.

That night, Sero found himself back at the apartment, the familiar quiet wrapping around him like a suffocating blanket. Shinsou had texted him once, a short message saying he'd be late, but there was no explanation. He had tried to push the unease away, but it clung to him, tightening with every passing hour.

He lit a joint, the flame flickering in the dim light of the apartment. The smoke curled through the air, filling his lungs and dulling the edges of the anxiety that had gnawing at him all day. He leaned back on the couch, exhaling slowly as the world around him softened, the tension in his body easing bit by bit.

But even through the haze, he couldn't stop thinking about the other boy - about the way he had looked at him earlier, like he was on the verge of breaking but too proud to ask for help.

His phone buzzed beside him, and he shot a glance at the screen, hoping it was Shinsou.

Kaminari - Yo, you okay? You seemed kinda off today.

Sero stared at the message for a long moment before typing out a quick reply.

Sero - Yeah, just tired. Thanks for checking in.

He tossed the phone back onto the table, the weight of the day pressing down on him again. Maybe Shinsou wasn't the only one with walls. Maybe Sero had his own ways of hiding, of avoiding the things he didn't want to face.

As the smoke swirled around him, he closed his eyes, letting the haze take over. But even in the quiet, even with the familiar escape of the high, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was slipping through his fingers - something important.

———

//