Girls Night
While not a part of the usual routine, Shoto could admit "girls nights" were not unusual for him either. It had started at UA, when Shoto had been stuck on whether or not he liked a boy. It turned out he had, but it had not worked out for various reasons. Passion is a fire, warm and destructive if not kept in check. The girls had encouraged him and helped him pick up the pieces after.
Most often "girls night" was on the third Thursday of a month. Anyone was welcome so long as they participated in an activity, whether it was face masks, nail care, hair braiding or anything else they were welcome regardless of gender. Shoto was not even sure why they were called girls nights anymore when they clearly had just as many non women in attendance.
"Shoto are you even listening?" Mina asks, clicking her tongue impatiently. She is currently shaping Tsu's nails into a short oval. Her pink legs readjusting on the pillows Yaoyorozu had gathered for them. Almost all girls nights happened at her place, since it was the largest and had the most sleeping room if anyone decided/needed to spend the night. All of the attendees came in pajamas and spread out on the plush carpet of the main living room.
"No, sorry," Shoto replies, wondering how long until the face mask needs to come off.
"I was thinking abo-" but Tsu cuts him off this time.
"About that guy again?" Her gruff voice slices into him. Shoto narrows his eyes at her, and feels the mud mask crack around the corners. He actually had been good. He had not thought about Izuku for like a bit. Since this morning maybe? The crush was annoying and it would not go away if his friends kept encouraging it.
"No, I wasn't. I am trying to not feed those thoughts. I was actually thinking about how weird it is to call them girls nights when half of us aren't girls," Shoto dryly says. "What were you saying, Mina?"
"I was saying if you want to take your mask off you can," Mina replies but there's something off with how she says it. Shoto nods and goes off to the washroom.
The washroom is huge, with a standing shower, covered by an ugly shower curtain (or maybe it's stylish and Shoto has no tastes), a large claw foot tub, a double sink and spiraling mirror take up the remaining space. Turning the tap to lukewarm, Shoto tries to not let the loop play in his head. Izu-ku, Izu-ku, Izu-ku. He shoves his whole head under the facet to drown out the thoughts.
As he's washing off the clay, Shoto feels someone slip in with him. He shoots up, clay still covering half his face, just to see Shinso, grinning like a cat.
"They were asking if you were going to try again," Shinso teases, handing Shoto a washcloth. Shinso normally floating hair has been put in a deep conditioning treatment, and then in a silk cap. He looks like someone's exhausted, but mischievous grandmother.
"Of course they were," Shoto groans as he finishes rinsing his face. "Look I messed it up, I blew it and sometimes we have to accept that. I'm sure I made him uncomfortable. The more i replay the interaction the more sure I am that I did it wrong."
"Eh, memory is weird. It's malleable, we can influence it. You wiped away a tear, you didn't pin him to a wall." Shinso says looking in the mirror. "Do you think I should do those under eye patches?"
"Yes, please do the eye patches. But I mean you didn't see how still Midoriya went. It was like a trauma response. I feel awful. I would apologize but I fear that would only make things worse for both of us." Shoto's chest feels tight with guilt. He never should have touched Midoriya. He had wanted to comfort him, but there was a selfish desire there too. Shoto had wanted to touch the work of art that was Izuku Midoriya. It was not the correct way to behave.
"Maybe...hold on." Shinso suddenly dives at the standing shower, wrestling with the curtain. Shoto thinks he's gone mad for a moment until he realizes, Shinso is actually holding someone!
"Hagakure? Why are you spying on us?" Embarrassement floods through Shoto as he demands answers from the invisible girl. It's Shinso that answers however.
"Wrong time for the game, Toru." Shinso scolds releasing her.
"I realized that too late. I really hoped you wouldn't catch me." Hagakure has the decency to sound ashamed.
"Game?" Shoto asks.
"We have a game going, us and a few of the other underground heros. Spying on each other without getting caught the longest." Shinso explains.
"Oh." Shoto replies feeling dumb and vulnerable. It was one thing to admit his faults to Shinso. They were relatively close, and Shinso would never gossip. Hagakure on the hand was a known talker.
"Please keep what you heard to yourself." Shoto requests.
"Of course!" Hagakure brightly responds. Shoto knows likely everyone will know before tomorrow.
Shortly after the washroom incident, Shoto decides to take his leave. Not wanting to be around when the questions start. Why did you touch him? Are you sure he was upset? Can you try again? He cannot deal with those questions tonight.
____________________________________
The next day, Friday, he would normally hang out with some of Class A. Instead he told Mina, the organizer of most hang outs, he had family matters to attend to.
Shoto's family home is traditional, beautiful, and cold. It lacks happy memories, cheery photos and is instead held together in appearance only. He intends to spend a quiet evening with his sister. His father, no doubt, will be working and Natsuo moved out ages ago. Maybe she can teach him how to cook something new, or they could watch the bachelor.
Shoto steps in the door, removing his shoes. He's only half through doing so when Fuyumi, is there. Her hair is up, make up is done perfectly, and she looks lovely.
"Shoto, what are you? Um why are you?" Fuyumi starts. Shoto is not stupid.
"Whose the lucky guy?" Shoto reply is not meant to be dry but it comes out that way. He wants to be happy for her. Of anyone deserves to find love it's Fuyumi, but it loneliness slams into him like a bitter hammer.
"Don't be like that," a different voice says. Rounding the corner comes Pro Hero Mirkio.
"My sister deserves the best," Shoto says regaining composure as best he can. "I will turn you into rabbit stew if you make her cry once."
"Deal." Mirkio replies with a smile as she takes Fuyumi's hand.
"Enjoy your date. I mean it too. You deserve the best, don't settle." Shoto warns Fuyumi as he puts his shoes back on and leaves quietly.
After Shoto leaves he just wanders around for awhile. Unsure what to do with himself. He buys a bowl of cold soba at a stand and eats it tasting nothing, numb with self imposed loneliness. He could meet up with his friends but he does not want questions. He could sleep but he worries about depression.
"Shoto?" A timid voice asks. Every nerve comes alive. It's impossible, Shoto tells himself. Lifting his head however he sees the green. Midoriya, in jogging clothes, sweat making his shirt stick to his collar bone. A million thoughts run through Shoto's mind, each one more depraved than the last.
"Midoriya? You jog at night?" Is all he thinks to ask. Midoriya actually laughs though, the sound like bell.
"Not as often as I should. I'm pretty out of shape. I can't seem to wake up early enough to do it in the mornings anymore." Midoriya answers, leaning in the chair across from Shoto. Green curls spill on to his forehead, and Shoto fight the urge to push the back.
"Its not safe though," Shoto dimly responds then mentally kicks himself but Midoriya laughs again and Shoto relaxes.
"Good thing you're around then right?"
Shoto thanks whatever deities exist that Midoriya is apparently in a forgiving mood.
"Can i give you my number incase you need it, or even if you just want a running friend?" Shoto asks and Midoriya nods enthusiastically. Shoto puts his number in Midoriya's phone.
"Text me anytime. I mean it." Shoto insists.
Midoriya agrees and starts jogging off. Shoto watches until his out of sight before breathing. He walks home in a daze, did that happen. As he goes to plug in his phone a new message appears.
"I'm home, but I'm jogging again tomorrow :)"