The days following their conversation on the stone wall felt different for Monoma. There was something about being understood—really understood—that made everything seem clearer. It was like a weight had been lifted from his chest, and yet, there was still a nervous energy bubbling beneath the surface every time he saw Shinsou.
Even so, Monoma found himself seeking out Shinsou more often than he expected. It wasn't in a way that was obvious to anyone else. It wasn't about hanging out with him in front of the others, but rather those small moments—passing each other in the halls, brief exchanges after class, and the shared glances that felt like quiet acknowledgments of the unspoken bond growing between them.
It was a Thursday afternoon when it happened.
They were both in the training room, sparring with their respective teams. Class 1-B and Class 1-A were working together for a tactical exercise, and Monoma was once again paired with Shinsou for a "two-on-two" simulation.
Monoma's heart raced a little as he saw Shinsou walking toward him.
The usual teasing comments lingered on the tip of Monoma's tongue, but this time, he held them back. It felt different—everything felt different.
Shinsou gave him a brief nod, signaling he was ready. "Let's do this," he said, the same calm tone he always used.
Monoma didn't reply, but the spark of determination in his chest flared to life. They were about to work together again. And this time, there was no second-guessing, no hesitation. Just... understanding.
The exercise began, and the two classes split into teams. Shinsou and Monoma stood back-to-back as the opposing team—Kaminari and Mineta—charged at them. The pair tried to use their quirks in tandem, but Monoma was ready.
"Stay close," Monoma said, his voice low but firm. "You distract them, I'll handle the rest."
Shinsou, ever the strategist, didn't ask questions. He nodded, stepping forward to engage Kaminari in a series of quick exchanges. The battle was intense, with each move calculated, each attack coming from the knowledge of how the other would act.
Monoma copied Kaminari's quirk and fired off a lightning bolt, sending Mineta scrambling to dodge. But Shinsou didn't give them the time to recover. Using his own quirk, he directed Mineta into a trance, making the boy hesitate long enough for Monoma to get in another well-placed attack.
It was a well-executed plan, and the team quickly surrendered.
"Nice work," Monoma said, turning to Shinsou, a rare sense of respect in his voice. The way they had moved together, so effortlessly, felt like they had become something more than just classmates or rivals.
Shinsou gave him a small nod, his expression unreadable. But something in his eyes flickered. "We're not too bad, huh?"
Monoma smirked, a playful glint returning to his eyes. "I think I might be getting used to you, Shinsou."
Shinsou didn't respond right away, but there was a flicker of something in his gaze—something that made Monoma pause. He caught it for a split second, a fleeting expression that seemed almost... vulnerable.
Before Monoma could process it, their instructor called them all back to the center of the room to debrief.
Later that evening, after dinner, Monoma was walking through the quiet hallways of the dorm when he spotted Shinsou again, standing alone by the window. He seemed deep in thought, staring out into the night.
Monoma hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should just go back to his room. But instead, he approached quietly, leaning against the wall beside Shinsou.
"What's on your mind?" Monoma asked, his voice softer than usual.
Shinsou didn't immediately respond, as if he hadn't heard him. When he finally spoke, his voice was almost a whisper. "You're not like everyone else," he said, his eyes still fixed on the view outside. "I've always had to fight for my place, but with you... it's different. You don't try to change me. You just... accept it."
Monoma's heart skipped a beat. There it was again—the vulnerability that Shinsou so often kept hidden behind his indifferent mask.
Monoma looked at him, searching for the right words. He didn't want to break the fragile moment between them, didn't want to say the wrong thing.
"I don't want to change you, Shinsou," Monoma replied, his tone earnest. "I think you're... exactly the way you're supposed to be. And if you can accept that about yourself, maybe I can, too."
For a long time, there was silence between them. The only sound was the distant hum of the dorm. But in that moment, it felt like the world had paused—just for them.
Finally, Shinsou turned to him, a slight smile playing at the corners of his lips. "You're still annoying," he said, his tone light, but there was no edge to it.
Monoma chuckled, his heart racing in a way that didn't feel entirely bad. "Maybe. But you like it."
Shinsou didn't answer immediately, but the smile on his face lingered, a quiet kind of understanding passing between them.
They stood there for a while longer, together in the stillness of the night. And for once, neither of them felt the need to say anything more.
TO BE CONTINUED
YOU ARE READING
Hidden Sparks
RomanceNeito Monoma had always felt like an outsider, defined by a quirk he couldn't fully call his own. Hitoshi Shinsou, on the other hand, knew the feeling of not quite belonging. As they crossed paths in unexpected ways, they found in each other the cou...
