Trials & Temptations
Tokoyami and Sero walked down the corridors of UA to reach the outdoor courtyard, where the memorial of Deku stood, and the rest of his class were residing.
"Do you think any of them are going to say yes?" Sero asked.
"What's that supposed to mean?..."
"No!! Not like that.. Just like... Well, I know for a FACT that I really do hope one of them says yes...heheh... But I'm asking you if YOU think they are, or if they're going to decline you like everyone else.." Sero quickly shot back. Tokoyami avoided his gaze and instead stared out of the hallway windows. He looked at the birds soaring in the sky, wishing one day that he would be flying above like them. He could almost feel the warm African sun on his feathers, he could imagine the resorts he would stay at, he could almost taste it.
"Thanks for the reminder Sero.." Tokoyami replied coldly.
"Dude, you KNOW I didn't mean it like that man, Maybe I'm not good with words... But traveling alone could also be good for you Toko, I mean, You like being alone mostly anyway, right?"
"I'm only alone because I'm forced to. I would love to hang out with you and the rest of class 1-A... But I feel like an outcast.. or a bother.. I don't know any of you that well, and I don't wanna stick out or ruin the mood.." Tokoyami turned his head to look at Sero, who was already staring directly at him, not paying attention to his surroundings. Sero was about to run into a trashcan when Tokoyami grabbed his collar and pulled him out of the way. "Watch out where your going man!"
"Sorry, sorry... But Toko, you're free to hang out with me or any of 1-A! You have plenty of friends and lots of people like you! Like Uraraka! You said she gave you this idea to ask people in the first place, and I know Kyoka and Tsu enjoy your company as well... and you and Denki seem to get along right?"
"I guess... But they all have their own friends and people that they are closer with than me. I don't want to push myself into their life, or butt-in to their conversation. I just want someone to come up to me and ASK ME to migrate with them.. Why does it have to be me to make all the effort? Am I simply not important enough to people? Just because I'm a bird, does that mean my feelings don't matter? Asui is part animal too... So why is it special on her, and not on me?" Sero would never know it, but Tokoyami only looked down to hide the tears that began to manifest in his eyes, and roll on to the linoleum floor. Sero diverted his gaze from Tokoyami, not like Tokoyami was looking at him anyway. Then, he jolted up and sprang on to Tokoyami, wrapping his arms around him and squeezing him into a tight hug.
"It IS special on you. Don't let what Mineta said to you last week get to you."
Bur Tokoyami didn't reciprocate the hug back, "This isn't about what Mineta said... I knew it all along... He just said what everyone else was thinking!"
"But he was WRONG! That's why he got suspended!" Sero let go out of the hug and placed his hands onto Tokoyami's shoulder. "So many people like you here, man! Infact, I think Uraraka likes you a bit more then all the others~" Seroo winked at Tokoyami in hopes to try to cheer him up.
"Nice one, It's too soon for her to move on to someone else, and besides, she's just really friendly with everyone!"
"Too soon?" Sero questioned. "Deku died last June, If anything it would be about time for her to move on!" Tokoyami looked lost, before realizing what Sero had been thinking.
"Oh! Deku.. Yeah... But know how grief can be! She.. She still probably needs time." Tokoyami created a vow of silence the night that Uraraka call him in tears, sobbing and messily slurring her words to the point where Tokoyami could only make out a few phrases and sentences..
"I feel like everything is falling apart!"
"slow down Ochako, what's going on? What happened?"
"She's GONE Toko, shes DEAD this time. And shes not coming back. Why is everyone in my life leaving me? She wasn't a villain Tokoyami! YOU HAVE TO BELIVE ME! She wasn't.. Why can't anything good happen? Haven't I been so good? Why don't I deserve my happy ending?"
"Ochako who is dead? Please slow down! I can't understand you!"
Tokoyami couldn't understand who Uraraka had lost. He didn't understand the impact until the morning news. Urarakas heart-broken sobs didn't make it any easier.
"... SHE died...Her Blonde hair Toko.... They won't remember her as a savior.... Was I ever in love if I never recognized it until now?.... Why...WHY...."
"Ochako, I can't hear you! WHO died? Who are you talking about?"
"Can I not even say her name anymore?"
"Whose name?! Ochako I can't help you if I don't understand..."
"She died with a smile... She really was the cutest girl in the whole world..."
*CLICK*
"Ochako? Ochako are you there?"
Tokoyami didn't understand why Uraraka had called him that night. He didn't understand why Uraraka still showed up to school her usual happy, cheerful self. He thought that maybe she belived he wouldn't tell anyone, and he didn't.
But it wasn't until today that he realized Uraraka had related to Tokoyami. In her own way, both of their feelings had been connected.
"Well, if you insist dude, I still think shes into you!~" Sero taunted. "Anyway, speaking of which, she's over there talking to Kyoka and Momo, you should go up to them! I'm sure if she's the one who convinced you to do this, then she could probably help you convince people!" Tokoyami and Sero walked outside the school doors into the courtyard, the cool Autumn breeze blew through the air, reminding Tokoyami of warm, sunny Africa... Where he would hopefully be soon. However, at this point... Who knows if he will even go? He's had no luck in finding any company and-
"Hey Tokooo!!!~" Uraraka called out.
"Heres your chance now dudeee!" Sero pushed Tokoyami toward the group of girls surrounding Deku's memorial. It wasn't much, a statue of the 'Hero', with a plaque on the bottom, and flowers and gifts all around, almost like a grave. But they never found the body.
"Hey Uraraka! Um... How are you? I mean.. Since we last spoke like 30 minutes ago..."
"Haha! I'm good! Have you had any luck in finding a flock to migrate with?"
"No.. It seems like everyone has one excuse or another.... But I did see Bakugo break his Chromebook again while playing Mario Kart,"
"OMG! No way! Isn't that, like his 4th time breaking it?... Lemme guess.. Was he was playing with Kirishima?"
"They really need to stop playing together!" The two of them laughed for a minute and it seemed like all of his worries melted away. He soon realized what he had initially came there to do, so he turned over to Jiro first, hoping that because she was the closest to him out of all the girls... that she might say yes.
"Hey! Jiro!"
Jiro was leaning against the statue with her headphones playing some loud music that Tokoyami could hear from where he stood. She unplugged one of her ears and kicked down her leg to go talk to him.
"Hey man, what do you need?"
Tokoyami replied enthusiastically, "Wanna migrate with me?"
She let out a loud laugh. "Migrate? Dude WHAT?" Jiro proceeded to laugh even harder and put her right hand on his shoulder for support.
"Hey! Kyoka I'm serious here! It's almost winter and I need to migrate... I was just wondering if you wanted to come with!" She stopped laughing and sat up straight again. "It would give you an excuse to miss a lot of school..."
She settled her face to a more serious expression and replied, "So you're actually serious about this? No way... Why haven't you migrated before then? Why just now?"
" Well.. I've... Been a little self conscious about my flight ability.. so I never really migrated... But winters are always really tough for me.. So I think it's time that I do now... SO, will you join me?" He asked.
"Sorry Toko, But I've got band practice, I can't miss that much.. even with the compromise of missing school. My bandmates would fucking kill me I think.." Jiro giggled for a minute and Tokoyami laughed along with her.
"Yeah, I get that Kyoka, don't worry about it!"
"Yeahhh sorry man! Buttt maybe Tsu would be interested? Do frogs migrate?" Jiro suggested.
"Not sure? Hibernation maybe? But I guess it's worth a shot. Thanks anyway!" Tokoyami waved goodbye to Jiro and walked over to where Tsu, Momo, and Uraraka were sitting. They were sitting on a pink and white checkerboard blanket under a tree whose leaves had turned a deep auburn color. Uraraka had spotted Tokoyami from a distance, she had put it together that Jiro declined his request and started waving him over to where the three of them were sitting.
"Hey! Toko over here! Come sit with us!" Tokoyami became flustered, and swiftly made his way over to sit down.
"Um.. Hey guys!..."
"GUYS. Tokoyami has a favor to ask~~" Ochako cheered out to the two. Both Momo and Asui looked at eachother.
"Ribbit ribbit?.." Tsu ribbitted.
"No! It's nothing like that... It's sort of like.. a trip?"
"A trip? To like.. Where? I really only wanna fly first class if we are gonna go like anywhere." Momo dictated in response.
"Uhm.." Tokoyami akwardly looked over to Uraraka. "It's.. It's nothing really that important actually.. I wouldn't worry about it."
"Ribbit ribbit!" Tsu Ribbited happily.
"Thank you, I'll remember that Asui." Tokoyami tried signaling to Uraraka to follow him, but she just tilted her head sideways not understanding what he meant.
"And I don't wanna like miss Mina's costume Halloween party she's throwing at the end of the month! It's going to be so fun!~"
"Yeah! Me and Momo have matching costumes! How cute is that!"
"Adorable~" Momo winked back in response.
"Sounds like fun.. haha... Um.. Uraraka can I talk to you for a second?"
"Oh, yeah sure Toko! Be right back guys!" Uraraka followed him off of the blanket onto the path next to them.
"I feel like no one is going to say yes.. This is hopeless...." Tokoyami sighed.
Uraraka stopped in her tracks and reached up to shake his shoulders. "Hey! Don't say that! You can't give up now! Who haven't you talked to yet?"
Tokoyami thought for a second. "Uhhh I guess the people who weren't on campus today, or the people in their dorms?"
"Great! We'll start in the dorm common rooms and then work our way up!" She grabbed his hand and started skipping over to the dorm building.
"Woah! Wait!" Toko called after her.
The two started to make their way over to the next part of questioning, the dorm building common room...