Hidden Sparks

Chapter III Unveiling Truths

The week after the joint combat session passed in a blur for Monoma. He couldn't shake the lingering thoughts of Shinsou—his calm, calculating demeanor, his surprising support during the match, and the way their small conversation had left him feeling strangely... seen. It was something Monoma wasn't used to, and it made him uneasy, even though part of him was craving more.

That Friday afternoon, Class 1-A and 1-B had a free period, and the students were scattered across the school grounds, relaxing and unwinding. Monoma found himself sitting near the back of the school, on a low stone wall overlooking the campus. He had hoped for some peace and quiet, away from the bustling voices of his classmates, but when he turned around, there was Shinsou, leaning casually against the wall next to him.

"You know, you're impossible to avoid," Monoma muttered, not bothering to hide his annoyance. But even as he said it, he felt a pull inside—an unfamiliar pull that was leading him to want to spend more time with Shinsou.

Shinsou smirked, but there was no teasing edge to it. "I was just looking for you," he said simply.

Monoma blinked. "Looking for me? Why?"

Shinsou shrugged and sat down next to him on the stone wall, close enough that their shoulders brushed. "You're not so bad, Monoma," he said in that same quiet tone he always used, like he wasn't sure whether he should be saying the words aloud. "I've been thinking about our last fight... you really held your own out there."

Monoma scoffed, but his chest warmed at the unexpected compliment. "Thanks, I guess. You made it a little easier with your 'subtle help'."

Shinsou looked at him sideways. "I didn't want to take all the credit," he replied, his voice more guarded than usual. "But... you've got more potential than you think."

Monoma raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "And you're the one to tell me that?"

Shinsou met his gaze, and for a brief moment, there was something vulnerable in his eyes. It was gone before Monoma could fully process it, but the glimpse was enough to make him pause.

"I know what it feels like to not believe in yourself," Shinsou said quietly, his tone almost bitter. "People think they know you, but they only see what they want to. They don't get the real you. You understand?"

Monoma's heart clenched. He understood all too well. The taunts, the jokes, the way people underestimated him just because his quirk was "just copying." No one saw past the surface. No one saw the person who was trying so hard to prove himself, to carve out a place where he could belong.

"I do," Monoma admitted, his voice softer than he intended. "I get it."

There was a long, silent pause, filled only with the sound of the wind rustling the trees. It was the kind of silence that felt like a secret shared, and for once, it didn't feel uncomfortable. It felt safe.

Shinsou leaned back slightly, staring at the sky. "Maybe that's why we get along better than most people think," he murmured. "We both know what it's like to feel like we don't fit in."

Monoma nodded, his mind racing. He had never really thought about it like that before. The more he thought about Shinsou—about the quiet determination in his eyes, the way he never gave up despite how people saw him—the more he found himself wanting to be closer, to understand him more.

"Shinsou," Monoma began, his voice just barely above a whisper. "What do you think... about being heroes? About the whole 'pro' thing?"

Shinsou was quiet for a moment before replying, his voice thoughtful. "I think it's about doing what we can with what we've got. Doesn't matter if we're seen as heroes or not. What matters is that we keep pushing, keep trying."

Monoma swallowed, his thoughts suddenly clouded. He'd never thought about being a hero in such a raw, unfiltered way. He had always wanted recognition, the fame that came with it. But Shinsou didn't care about that—he cared about something deeper.

"I guess... I've always wanted to be the best," Monoma said, almost to himself. "To be the one everyone looks up to. But it always felt like I was just copying everyone else, you know? Like I wasn't me."

Shinsou's eyes softened. "Maybe you don't need to be the best. Maybe being yourself is enough."

Monoma turned to him, unsure if he had heard correctly. "What do you mean?"

Shinsou gave him a slight smile, almost imperceptible, but it was there. "I mean... you've already got something special. You don't need to be anyone else to prove that."

The words hung in the air, and for the first time in his life, Monoma felt like he was looking at someone who truly understood him. Not just his quirks, not just his abilities—but the person he was inside, beneath all the bravado and the endless competition.

Monoma exhaled slowly, a small, genuine smile tugging at his lips. "You're not so bad yourself, Shinsou."

Shinsou chuckled, the sound surprisingly warm. "Maybe I'm not," he said, his gaze holding Monoma's a little longer than usual. "But you're still the most annoying person I've met."

Monoma's smile widened, teasing. "Guess that means we make a pretty good team then."

Shinsou shrugged, though there was something softer in his eyes now, something more accepting. "Maybe."

As they sat in comfortable silence, Monoma realized that there was more to this connection than he had ever expected. More than just a partnership built on quirks or competition. Maybe they weren't so different after all.

TO BE CONTINUED