Smoking cats - shinsero

Navigating School

The next day at UA was buzzing with energy as students filled the hallways, chatting about their latest training sessions and upcoming exams. Sero and Shinsou walked side by side, their fingers brushing occasionally as they navigated through the crowd. It felt comfortable - natural - even as they were met with curious glances and a few teasing remarks from their friends.

"Hey, lovebirds!" Kirishima called out, his trademark grin plastered across his face.
"How's it feel to be out in the open?"

Sero chuckled, throwing an arm around Shinsou's shoulders.
"Feels pretty great, actually."

"Right? Like a weight's been lifted." Shinsou added, shooting the redhead a small smile. He felt lighter than he had in weeks, buoyed by the support of his friends.

As they continued down the hall, Shinsou noticed Midoriya and Uraraka discussing something animatedly by the lockers. When they spotted the two boys approaching, their conversation shifted to include them.

"Hey, you two!" The greenette said excitedly.
"Did you tell everyone about your relationship?"

"Yeah, sorta," Sero replied, a hint of pride in his voice.
"And it went well! No drama, just good vibes."

"Awesome! I'm really happy for you!" Uraraka said, her face lighting up with a warm smile.
"You deserve to be happy!"

Shinsou felt a flutter of warmth at their friends' genuine enthusiasm.
"Thanks, you guys."

As they gathered around, the boy couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging that he hadn't experienced in a long time. He had always felt like an outsider, but now, with Sero by his side and their friends supporting them, it was like he had found his place.

Their conversation shifted to lighter topics - upcoming assignments, training exercises, and their favorite snacks. Sero shared a hilarious story about a mishap in the training room that left everyone in stitches, and for a moment, Shinsou felt completely at ease.

———

During lunch, they all settled around a large table, food spread out before them. As they ate, Kirishima leaned over, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
"So, have you guys thought about going on a date yet?"

"Yeah, we haven't really had a chance to yet," the black haired boy replied, a teasing lilt in his voice.
"But I guess we're open to suggestions."

Shinsou felt a slight blush creep up his cheeks, and he shot the other a look that mixed amusement and embarrassment.
"Not so loud, idiot."

"Why not? You're a couple now! You should celebrate!" The redhead insisted, his enthusiasm infectious.

"I'll take you guys out sometime," Sero said with a wink,
"But you have to promise not to follow us."

"Deal!" Uraraka laughed.
"Just let us know when, okay?"

As the lunch bell rang, signaling the end of their break, Shinsou felt a twinge of anxiety.
"What about classes? Should we keep things low-key during training or just act like we normally do?"

The boy shrugged, thoughtful.
"I think we can just be ourselves. If people ask, we can tell them. It's not like we have anything to hide anymore."

"Right," he agreed, feeling a little more confident.
"I like that idea."

They finished their lunch and headed to their respective classrooms, but the energy from the day lingered in the air around them. Shinsou found it easier to focus during class, the support of his friends and his new relationship bolstering him through the lessons.

———

Later that day, in the quiet of his apartment, Shinsou found himself lost in thought. After a long training session, he and Sero had retreated to their respective homes, Shinsou to his apartment and Sero to his dorm at UA. The purple haired boy sat on his bed, contemplating how far they'd come. He wanted to do something special for the other - something that would show him just how much he appreciated their relationship.

As he puled out his phone, he hesitated, wondering if he should ask Sero about plans for a date. Would he even be into it? They were still figuring things out, after all. But the thought of taking that step felt right, like the next natural progression in what they had.

With a deep breath, he sent a quick message:

Shinsou - Hey, what do you think about doing something special this weekend? Just you and me?

Almost instantly, Sero replied:

Sero - That sounds amazing! I'm in!

A smile spread across the boy's face, and for the first time in a long time, he felt truly excited about the future.

———

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