AMATEURS [Tenya Iida x OC]

Chapter 10 - The One Where They Present the Project

 Friday. Finally.

Between Tsu and Tenya, Peri hobbled to class. She kept one hand wrapped around Tenya's arm for balance, almost pain-free after a long night's sleep. And some great pain killers from Recovery Girl.

Tsu hopped ahead, clearing a side staircase, and Tenya carried Peri up as he had twice before. She avoided eye contact, cheeks warm. But she ran her fingers over his tie, straightening it and pressing out the wrinkles between her fingertips.

It took all of his self-restraint to not stop and kiss her breathless in the stairwell.

But Peri caught his reserved smile, and she leaned her head against his chest, savoring this one peaceful moment before class and listening to his fluttering heartbeat beneath his uniform. She wished they could go back to her room and relax, avoid school for this one day, but Tenya had insisted that they show up to present their project.

Stupid Tenya and his superhuman sense of integrity.

He set her down lightly at the top of the staircase and let her lean on him again as they made their way to class. Tsu waited in the doorway, holding the door open for them with a grin. Peri shuffled in, and to her surprise, the entire class was waiting inside. "Peri! Tenya! Welcome back!" Midoriya shouted. Everyone snapped to attention and began clapping and cheering, rushing up to ask Peri and Tenya about the fight and what had happened.

Flustered, Peri felt her cheeks flush, and she covered her face with her free hand. "It was nothing, you guys," she managed, clutching Tenya's arm like a lifeline. He walked her to her desk, but didn't leave when she sat.

"Peri is still recovering from the assailant's quirk," Tenya announced, voice firm, "Please be mindful of her health." Their classmates reeled back and exchanged looks, some drifting away to their seats, while their closer friends lingered.

Ochaco bounded up and crouched next to Peri's desk. "I'm so glad you are both okay," she muttered, holding Peri's hand. "When Mr. Aizawa told us you were attacked by some villains, we were so worried."

Peri gripped Ochaco's hand tighter, and said, "I'm just lucky that Tenya was there. If I would have been by myself, like the morning before, then I would definitely be dead right now."

A shiver ran down Tenya's spine. He hadn't considered that... or that she would barrel into a situation like that even without him there. "But I was," Tenya said, "And everything is okay." He gave her the strongest smile he could muster, and noticed Mr. Aizawa enter the room.

Tenya made eye contact with Momo, and they made their way to the front of the room to speak with Mr. Aizawa. Peri watched him go, and, for a moment, was filled to the brim with gratitude for crossing paths with Tenya. Not just because they were now kind of friends-with-benefits, and he'd saved her life, but because he was her best friend. He was a whole new breed of boy... sincere, kind, gentle, courageous.

"Good morning, Class 1-A!" Tenya called out, and everyone scrambled to their seats. "Yaoyorozu and I will be drawing names from a hat to determine the order that groups will present their projects until lunch. Mr. Aizawa has informed us that after lunch we will be heading to one of the gyms to practice our Super Moves."

"The first group to present will be..." Momo said, rummaging her hand around in a hat she'd created, "Tenya and Peri! Sorry you guys."

Peri held back a laugh and smiled up at Tenya encouragingly. When he noticed her eye contact, she winked at him, meaning it in a "we've got this" kind of way. But she saw his cheeks brighten, and immediately felt bad. She hadn't meant to embarrass him.