She fell first, he fell harder - KAMIJIROU

Lost and conflicted

She did it. She lost feelings for him.

Or did she?

The annual training camp trip was right around the corner, and kaminari was fearing the worst. He'd hoped he would underperform just so he wouldn't have to see Shiozaki, he'd rather take the extra classes instead. But ever since Shiozaki pressured him to perform at his best, his test grades were forced to a high making him part of the regular training group.

He missed it when he was having fun under Jiro's wing, laughing as they studied. He actually understood the content she taught him, whereas with his girlfriend he'd only retain it until the test came. After that it would all go away and if it was ever brought up in any quizzes he'd already forgotten them. This made Shiozaki get on his back even more. "To be successful you must be diligent in your studies!" She says this to him regularly, making him dread studying even more.

Here, many would have broken up with her by now... but Kaminari felt conflicted and confident it was gonna be better or at least, okay in some way.

He thought that if he broke up with her, he'd end up alone forever. She was his first real girlfriend... He had a few flings in middle school yeah, but he was getting better kinda? He got more mature, less stupid, but more rigid. He didn't know how to feel about that.

It had been a few months, a few months since he'd actually laughed and smiled a genuine hum.

What was worse is that Jiro, his best friend, rarely talked to him about regular stuff like they used to. He felt so detached from her. Before he knew what songs she was raving to and melodies she'd hyper fixate on, now he'd just watch her wave patterns each morning each time he greeted her. He missed talking to her about anything and everything.

The only times they seem to talk is if he asked her for help with his girlfriend. This was another part of his excuse for sticking with Shiozaki. He may have gotten smarter academically, but he was still stupid at heart.

If it meant he could spend just an ounce of time with Jiro, it would be worth it.

Jiro however, took it the wrong way, at first, she thought he was just rubbing it in-that he got a new special shiny girlfriend and was too good for everyone and everything. But now she just sees him as even more annoying and quite needy. Like they've been together for almost a year? Did he still really need her help?

She now didn't have time to worry about that, she would rather focus on her training as a hero than any of that. In her mind, she has completely forgotten her feelings about him, but deep down in her heart she still yearns for him, even if it's platonic.

But she gave up on that thought, he seemed happier with his girlfriend anyway.

__________________*_________________

The busses rolled around, everyone was packed to the brim. He hadn't spoken to Jiro for a while. Things have been stale and awkward between them, as if they grew apart. But that exact thing was driving him insane. He wanted so badly to ask how her day was. But he didn't have the guts to do so and he couldn't understand why.

What he did know however, that feeling, was the same kind of feeling he felt as she was about to leave his home.

As the teachers were calling out attendance, Kaminari prayed that the busses were split up into classes so he'd at least spend 5 hours away from Shiozaki. And to his surprise, he was in luck.

This gave him a chance, a chance to catch up with Jiro. She was right there, ready for him to grasp onto, to take, to yearn for. His mind was clouded, he pulled out his hand to tap her shoulder as he took a step towards her but his trance was pulled away by her own voice.