Smoking cats - shinsero

Out in the Open

The atmosphere at UA was as lively as ever, with students bustling through the halls, excited chatter filling the air. Sero and Shinsou walked side by side, the weight of the previous night still lingering between them, but in the best way possible. There was something different about the way they moved together now - an unspoken connection that neither of them felt the need to hide anymore.

Shinsou had thought about it, and maybe there was no right time. So before they headed out, he decided to tell Sero that they could tell their friends today, even though they just had this conversation a few hours ago and decided to wait a little longer. The boy changed his mind, he wanted to tell them, today.

As they reached the common area where their group of friends usually gathered, Sero glanced at the other, giving him a quick nudge with his elbow.
"You ready for this?"

The purple haired boy raised a brow, pretending to be nonchalant.
"For what?"

"For telling everyone," he replied, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Unless you've changed your mind again?"

Shinsou sighed softly, rolling his eyes.
"No, I haven't. Just... not used to this kind of thing."

The boy chuckled, his hand brushing against Shinsou's for a brief moment before they both entered the room. Inside, they found their usual group: Kirishima, Kaminari, Mina, and Jirou were all lounging around, deep in conversation. It wasn't long before they noticed the arrival of their friends.

"Hey! There you guys are!" Kaminari called out, waving them over with an energetic smile.

The two boys made their way over to the group, sitting down on one of the couches. The conversation resumed, lighthearted and filled with the usual banter, but Sero could tell Shinsou was waiting for the right moment. So, he decided to take matters into his own hands.

"So... Shinsou and I have something to tell you guys," he started, casually leaning back with a small, mischievous smile.

Everyone's attention immediately turned to them, curious expressions mixed with excitement. Mina was the first to speak up, her eyes practically sparkling.
"Oh my god, what is it? Are you guys-"

Shinsou cut her off with a slight groan, already feeling embarrassed.
"Yeah, we're together."

The room fell silent for a split second before it erupted into excited exclamations.

"I knew it!" The yellow haired boy shouted, pointing at them.
"I knew something was going on between you two!"

Mina clapped her hands, practically bouncing in her seat.
"This is so cute! Finally!"

Even Kirishima, who usually played it cool, had a wide grin on his face.
"That's awesome, man. I'm really happy for you guys."

Shinsou shifted a little in his seat, not used to the attention, but he felt Sero's hand resting briefly on his knee under the table, grounding him. The warmth spread through him, and he relaxed a little more.

"That's not the only news, though," Jirou chimed in, looking between Mina and Kirishima with a knowing smirk.
"We've got something too."

Mina's cheeks flushed slightly as she leaned closer to the redhead, nudging him to speak up.
"Uh, yeah," he said, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly.
"Mina and I are together too."

The room once again exploded with excitement, and soon everyone was talking over each other, congratulating the two couples. It felt surreal to have it out in the open, but at the same time, it was a relief. They were all friends, and there was nothing but support and joy in the air.

After the initial buzz died down, Kaminari leaned back in his chair with a grin.
"You know what this means, right? We've gotta celebrate."

The pink haired girl jumped up at the idea.
"We should all hand out after school! Just us, have some fun."

Shinsou exchanged a glance with his boyfriend, who nodded.
"Sounds good to me," Sero said, grinning.
"We could use a little break."

The plan was set, and after classes, they all met up at a nearby cafe. The vibe was relaxed, everyone letting loose after a long day of school. The conversation flowed easily, laughter filling the space as they talked about everything from training to upcoming exams.

The black haired boy leaned back in his seat, watching the way Shinsou interacted with their friends. It was still new for him, being so open about something as personal as their relationship, but Sero could tell the other was easing into it. And it made him feel even closer to the boy, knowing he was letting his guard down like this.

As their evening wore on, they all made their way back to the school dorms, but instead of splitting off immediately, they lingered in the common area, joking around and sharing stories until late into the night.

For the first time in a while, everything felt simple - like they could just be themselves, no masks, no secrets. And it was perfect.

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