Smoking cats - shinsero

Between Classes and Secrets

The halls of UA were bustling with the usual morning rush, students hurrying to their classes, conversations buzzing in the air. Shinsou walked alongside Sero, their steps synchronized, though the usual distance they kept at school now felt a little strange. After everything that had happened between them, the shift in their relationship had left them in a sort of limbo - unsure of how to navigate things in the public eye.

Sero glanced at him, an amused smile tugging at his lips.
"You nervous?"

The boy shoved his hands into his pockets, trying to look casual as they passed by a group of students.
"Why would I be nervous?"

Sero chuckled.
"Because we're at school, and you keep fidgeting like someone's about to call us out for something."

He shot him a side-eye, resisting the urge to roll his eyes.
"I'm not fidgeting. I just... don't know how this is supposed to go."

The black haired boy nodded thoughtfully, his hands tucked behind his head as he strolled beside Shinsou.
"Yeah I get it. Things are different now."

They reached the classroom door for Shinsou's morning class. Sero leaned against the wall, waiting as the other fumbled for his books.

"I mean, we don't have to tell anyone," he continued, watching the other students file in.
"We could keep it between us for a while, you know? No rush."

Shinsou looked up at him, his hand frozen on his textbook. He hadn't considered the idea of keeping their relationship a secret, but the more he thought about it, the more appealing it sounded. UA could be a pressure cooker, with eyes everywhere, rumors spreading faster than they could keep up. He wasn't sure if he was ready for that kind of attention - not with how personal this felt.

"Do you want to keep it secret?" Shinsou asked, his voice quieter now, as if testing the waters of the conversation.

The other shrugged, his smile a little softer.
"I don't mind either way. But I know how you are about your privacy. If you want to take it slow, I'm cool with that."

He felt a small wave of relief wash over him at Sero's words. He appreciated how easygoing the boy was about this, how he didn't push or make a big deal out of things. That was one of the reasons he felt so comfortable around him. He didn't have to explain himself constantly.

"Maybe we could wait a bit," he suggested, his tone tentative.
"Just until we get used to... this."

Sero grinned, his eyes lighting up with mischief.
"You mean until you get used to being my boyfriend?"

Shinsou rolled his eyes, but a small smirk tugged at his lips.
"Something like that."

Before they could continue, the bell rang, signaling the start of classes. Shinsou gave the other a nod and turned to head into the classroom, but Sero caught his arm gently.

"Hey," he said, his voice quieter, more serious now. Shinsou paused, glancing back at him.

"If we're keeping it secret," he continued,
"I just want you to know that doesn't mean I'm hiding anything. I'm not ashamed of us or anything like that. I just want you to be comfortable."

Shinsou's chest tightened at the sincerity in the boy's words. He wasn't used to people considering his feelings like this, and it made him feel more grounded, like he wasn't navigating this alone.

"I know," he replied softly.
"And I appreciate it."

Sero's smile returned, softer but still filled with that easy confidence.
"Alright, go ace your class, and I'll see you at lunch."

Shinsou nodded and slipped into the classroom, his mind still buzzing from their conversation. As he took his seat, he glanced out the window, thinking about what it meant to have someone like Sero in his life - someone who didn't demand anything more than what he was willing to give. It felt... good. Real.

———

Later, during lunch, they found themselves sitting in their usual spot, out in the courtyard away from the larger crowds. Sero was munching on some snacks, while Shinsou sat beside him, leaning back against a tree. The crisp autumn air was cool but not biting, and it brought a kind of clarity to their quiet moment together.

"So, about this 'keeping it secret' thing," the black haired boy began, his mouth half-full of chips.
"How long are we talking here? Like, a week? A month? Or is this a 'forever' kind of secret?"

The other snorted at the exaggeration, shaking his head.
"I don't know. I guess until we figure out how to handle it at school. It's not like we have to make a big announcement or anything, but I don't want people asking a million questions either."

Sero nodded thoughtfully, tossing another chip into his mouth.
"Yeah, I get that. It's kind of nice having this just for us, though. No prying eyes or anything."

Shinsou hummed in agreement, staring out at the other students scattered around the courtyard. He didn't mind the quiet between them, but there was a part of him that wondered what it would feel like to have this out in the open - being able to walk next to the other without worrying about keeping their distance, being able to hold his hand without second-guessing it.

"Do you ever think about what people would say?" He asked suddenly, surprising even himself with the question.

Sero raised an eyebrow, glancing over at him.
"About us?"

"Yeah."

The boy thought for a moment, then shrugged.
"I don't really care what people think, honestly. Let them say whatever they want. Doesn't change anything for me."

Shinsou sighed, wishing he could feel that way.
"I just... I've never been the type to want attention, you know? I like keeping to myself. But I guess if people found out about us, there'd be no way to avoid it."

The other nodded, his expression softening.
"We don't have to worry about that now. We'll cross that bridge when we get there, yeah."

He nodded, grateful for Sero's laid-back attitude. It made everything feel less overwhelming, like maybe they could navigate this without too much trouble.

As the bell rang for afternoon classes, Sero stretched lazily, standing up and offering a hand to Shinsou.
"Come on, let's go to class before Aizawa decides to assign us detention for being late."

The boy took his hand, standing up with a small smile. As they walked back to the building, side by side, the weight of their relationship felt lighter. Maybe it wouldnt be so bad to keep things between them for a while. They had time to figure out the rest.

For now, they had each other - and that was enough.

———

If you're confused about something, feel free to ask. For clarification - they skipped school in between this and the previous chapter.

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