It Started with a Smile

Chapter 6

The next day was Saturday which meant we could sleep in. Even so with my body accustomed to getting up early, I was up at the usual time. Deciding to make the most of my day, I changed into my workout clothes and headed for the gym.

One of the many great things about UA was that we had our very own, high-tech gym that students could use any time between six in the morning and midnight. I tried to go about thrice a week. My Quirk was best suited for rescue but in all honesty, I wanted to be able to stand up against villains as well.

"Morning," a voice that sent warm tingles down my spine greeted as I locked the door to my room.

I turned to smile at Sero. There was a bit of stiffness to his frame as he spoke to me but I was beyond overjoyed that he was willing to interact with me again to be bothered.

"Hi. You going to the gym too?" He nodded. "Want to go together?"

A moment of hesitation followed my invitation during which I had enough time to berate myself for being pushy but then Sero nodded and I grinned at him like the happy fool that I was.

We both decided to start with an easy jog on the treadmill, gradually increasing the speed. I chanced a glance at my neighbor, noting the beads of sweat rolling down his glistening skin. Oh, boy, was workout Sero attractive. Tearing my gaze away from him, I congratulated myself for choosing the treadmill which allowed me to pass off my blush as a flush of exertion.

Sero was the first to stop his machine, excusing himself to go lift some weights and I instantly regretted my own cardio-exclusive schedule. Five minutes later, when my program came to an end, I chose one of the bikes facing the weight-lifting area so I could steal glances at him. Maybe I had to lean a little sideways to get a better look but at least he was busy enough not to notice.

I almost fell off the bike when Midoriya good-naturedly greeted me, his arrival effectively putting a halt to my pervy ogling.

* * * * *

When the three of us got back to the dorm, it was to find the rest of our classmates bickering around the television screen. Exchanging curious glances, we joined them to see what the fuss was about.

"You already had your turn yesterday," Kaminari complained. "It's ours now."

"For once everyone's here on a Saturday, we should do something together," Mina insisted.

"What's going on?" Midoriya asked Ochaco who was standing on the outer rim of the circle.

Sero shot her a wistful look then glanced at me when he felt my eyes on him. He smiled awkwardly, the expression making my stomach flip happily, then turned his attention back to the bickering pair.

"Kaminari wants to play games with the guys but Mina wants us to watch a movie together."

The two in question whirled simultaneously to Kirishima.

"Come on, man, back me up here," Kaminari pleaded while Mina latched onto the redhead's arm. "We can play games later, let's all watch a movie."

I huffed in amusement which drew Sero's attention to me. Kaminari lost the second Mina turned the puppy eyes on Kirishima. Sure enough, the redhead scratched the back of his neck and agreed to the movie. Mina whooped and immediately started listing movies all of us could enjoy.

Shaking my head, I muttered, "I'll get some snacks."

Pulling four large bowls from under the counter, I turned to the cupboards to grab the bags of snacks and almost walked into Sero's chest. He was wearing that teeth-flashing, triangle smile of his as he raised the bags I had been going for.

"So what was so funny?" at my questioning gaze, he elaborated. "About Kirishima and Ashido."

"Oh that," I snickered. "Nah, it was just how Kaminari didn't stand a chance against Mina in that scenario."

"How so?" he asked before in frowned in thought. "Are they...?"

"Kirishima and Mina? I don't think so but it's obvious that he has a soft spot for her."

Sero nodded. "Would you have...?"

Sero clamped his mouth shut, the expression on his face informing me that he hadn't wanted to voice that thought out loud. He grabbed two of the bowls and tried to make a swift escape but I caught the bottom of his plain white shirt and pulled him to a stop. He wouldn't turn to look at me so I stepped around him, blocking the exit.

"Would I have what?"

"It doesn't matter."

"It does to me," I said, tugging at the fabric that I had yet to release. "Tell me."

Sero shook his head, eyes scanning the kitchen for a way out. I briefly thought about how useful Ochaco's Quirk might be right now because I could float up until I blocked his line of sight. I wasn't short by a long shot but even on my tiptoes, I couldn't fill his entire vision. I tugged on his shirt again.

"Ha–"

"Are the snacks ready yet?" Kaminari whined, pocking his head into the kitchen.

"Yeah, we're coming," Sero quickly said, dashing around me with the bowls, completely oblivious to what had almost transpired.

I brought a hand to my lips as I stared at the other two bowls. I'd almost called him by his first name. He didn't tell me I could but still, it almost slipped. I smiled softly, recalling the ease with which it had come. I heard Toru call my name and tell me to hurry up.

Since I was the last one to arrive, there were no more empty seats left. Placing the bowls on the coffee table, I pulled a cushion out from behind Bakugou, earning myself a plethora of expletives, and dropped it on the floor right next to Sero. He tensed but didn't scuttle away which I counted as a victory.

The class had settled on an action-comedy that I had already seen so I had all the time in the world to focus on and enjoy our proximity. There was a hairbreadth's space between us that was crossed each time we shifted – which Sero seemed to be doing a lot.

I glanced at him from the corner of my eyes and found that his cheeks were dusted a faint pink. He kept squirming but not once did he try to put some distance between us, even though he could've as the person seated to his right was further away.

I discreetly leaned over to find that it was Ochaco. So Sero wasn't sitting so close to me because he might have liked it but because he was too embarrassed to go near her. My face fell into a frown as I leaned back against the couch's leg. I was being overlooked again. Well, not today.

When Sero braced himself with his hands on the floor to shift again, mine snaked out from my lap to rest atop his. He stiffened and I could feel his eyes on me as I weaved my fingers with his.

My hold was lax enough that he could slip his hand out if he so wished. After all, this was only to shift his attention from Ochaco to me. Sixty-nine tense seconds later – I counted each one – he finally relaxed.

My breath hitched when I felt him turn his hand so he could grab mine. This time, Sero was the one to interlace our fingers. I propped my other arm on my raised knee so I could cover the goofy grin that spread over my face.

I didn't know what this meant – if it had any deeper meaning at all – but it made me feel giddy and light so I wouldn't complain. Sero's eyes were trained on the TV screen, his blush a shade darker.

~*~*~*~

Sorry for skipping yesterday. I'll try to get chapter seven up later today as an apology.