time had flown. it was now the beginning of march and i was growing anxious at the recital that was right around the corner.

i had been doing fine in my classes, working through some procrastination issues, but overall doing pretty good.

i found myself at the studio a lot more often, sometimes being there from the time my classes ended all the way until midnight.

mina occasionally accompanied me but she would wrap up fairly quickly and head back home, sometimes going out with denki or eijiro.

-

it was a tuesday and it was one of those rare days where i went to the library instead of the studio.

i had a few things to work on before i could go and focus on dance. i pulled open the door of the library, i nodded at the student assistant that greeted me.

i walked towards the back of the library, the rooms there were rarely occupied, especially on a tuesday.

i walked along the hall of open arches and slipped into one. it only took a moment for me to settle in, laying my laptop in front of me and pulling out my notebooks.

the task became almost automated, music was playing in my earphones and i was getting things done.

i was moving onto my second assignment when someone joined me at my table.

"hey" the infamous purple eyed boy said.

at least i think that's what he said, i could only read his lips before pulling out my earphones.

he smiled softly and i could pick up a slight whiff of a cologne or something of his in the small room.

"hi," i greeted.

"i haven't seen you around for a while, l/n, how have you been?"

"i've been good. what about you?" i watched him gesture at the seat at the end of the table and i nodded at him.

he sat down, "busy, tired. the usual."

i could only manage an "ah" before turning back to my work. focusing seemed harder now that there was other presence i was aware of.

before i knew it, i was just staring at my laptop's screen. i kept glancing back and forth between my notes and the assignment on my computer but i couldn't seem to move on.

i wonder if i should just pull out my phone. hmm, or i can wait a bit and then pretend that i need to leave. ooo, that's good.

i glanced up at my screen once more, checking the time. it was only 3:14 and i still need a few more assignments to go.

maybe i should just pack up and go work in the studio

'but what if he asks to come with you?' a tiny voice asked at the back of my head.

i gulped, i sure hope not.

i had sat there contemplating for about two more minutes and just as i was about to get up, shinsou spoke.

"what are you working on?"

shoot, had he noticed i wasn't doing anything?

'probably, you moron.'

shut up

"a few assignments for my dance theory class, i think i also have one for history."

shinsou seemed to be trying to read my notes and i grew conscious of my handwriting.

"what are you working on?" i asked, discreetly putting a hand on top of my papers.

"something about ivan pavlov, i don't know, it's a bit confusing." shinsou scratched the back of his head, leaning back on his chair.

"for psychology?"

he nodded. there was something about shinsou and the sun. right now, he was being basked in the streaming light that was coming through the window of the room and i couldn't help but stare.

"what are you doing after this?" he locked eyes with me. i wondered if i should tell him about my studio plans.

"i'm not sure," i bit the inside of my cheek, "maybe go to the dance studio."

shinsou's eyes seemed to study me but i turned back to my papers, the faster i finished the less time i spent here.

"you have a dance thing coming up, right?" he queried in what i'm guessing was an attempt to keep the conversation going.

i nodded once, jotting down a few notes. "yeah, in april."

"are you excited? nervous?"

"a bit of both, i guess." i admitted because i rarely got questioned about how i was feeling for shows.

shinsou seemed to let the matter drop, going back to his own "confusing" work.

we worked in silence once more but this time it was easier. shinsou's presence wasn't demanding attention in the back of my head and i managed to finish what i needed to.

i started packing up around 4:32.

my brain was kind of going wild, stuck between two different options. ask shinsou to come with or don't.

i made a sluggish pace for putting away my laptop, grasping at as much time as i could get.

in the end, i just said my farewell and headed out. i actually ended up opting out of the studio today. seeing shinsou reminded me of his words.

'careful with pressure', he had said. and he was right, not only did i have to worry about pressure but also myself. i could probably overwork myself to the bone.

... maybe it was a good thing that i saw shinsou today

-

the next time i saw shinsou, it was a friday and i was out at some park with mina.

mina dragged me out of the house that morning, rambling about some dancers who would be performing there.

it wasn't a far walk from the campus and when we got there, there seemed to be some sort of event going on.

"mina, what is all this?" i asked, fingers interlaced with hers as she dragged me off to find good seating.

"there's this group called The League and they go around hosting a dance competition. they're never at the same place and the competition's location is announced only a few days before the actual day." mina seemed to be educated in the topic.

"wow, and you didn't plan on competing?" we settled in some seats in the front row.

"nah," some curls in her hair bounced, "i like watching the competition and picking up on their moves."

"and it's easier to watch from the crowd?" i turned to her.

she grinned brightly, "exactly!"

-

it was a fairly warm day and it was nice to spend company with mina. we had been so busy with recital preparations, we barely got time to really hang out.

and the competitors were amazing. we were in an amphitheater of sorts and with our front row seats, their tricks were pretty up close and personal.

people performed in groups, trios, duos, and even as soloists. they announced the winners at the end of the competition. i was so surprised to hear that the prize was a 10k check.

"wow, i should've applied." mina said in awe.

-

with the event still running, mina and i decided to wander around, entertained by little trinkets here and there.

"oh my god, is that hitoshi over there?"

i won't admit to how fast i turned my head but i followed the pointed finger in front of mina, my eyes landing on the one and only. shinsou.

mina squealed, "ahh! we should go say hi!"

i guess since shinsou and i were now on talking (and trying) terms, that would be a good idea.

i followed mina as we headed in the direction of the boy whose back was turned to us.

"what do you think he's doing here?" i wondered.

"ask him!" mina giggled and propelled me forward.

i forget how strong that girl is.

with my luck, i didn't just bump into shinsou's back. he had turned around at the last moment and i went flying into his chest.

"l/n?"

i back off as quickly as possible, practically jumping.

"you okay?" shinsou looked confused but didn't question much further.

"yeah, sorry. i, uh, tripped." i bit my lip, embarrassed to lie about tripping.

"uh, i didn't expect to see you at this event. what are you doing here?" i asked.

shinsou shook his right hand which was holding a camera. "professor aizawa thought this event would be a good opportunity to take pictures and stuff."

i nodded and shinsou's lip quirked up.

he leaned in a bit closer, same cologne as before bleeding into my space. "but honestly, i think he just wanted to get rid of the class for a little bit."

he pulled out of my space.

"do you think he'd really do that?" i didn't really know aizawa but why would any professor teach if they didn't like it?

he nodded his head and i couldn't help but smile. it was such a silly thing to be sure about but i believed shinsou.

"hey, bestie. oh, wow, hi hitoshi. i didn't even see you there." mina finally decided to join the conversation and i shot a glance at her.

she winked at me, hiding her face with her small hand.

"hey, mina. good to see you again, how have you been?" shinsou greeted.

"i've been good, came to pick up some moves. what are you doin' here though?"

"taking pictures." he alluded to his camera again, gaze flickering over to me then back to mina.

"oh, nice! can you take some photos for me? i had asked last time but you never really answered." mina began but shinsou quickly agreed, saying it would be a pleasure.

-

we found a good place for mina's photos. there was a cute wood bench surrounded by an enclosure, cement fence circling the little table. mina quickly, and very naturally, began posing at the bench.

i dusted off the top of the cement and hopped on, deciding to admire mina's antics from afar. shinsou was in front of mina, camera in front of his face, but barely directed her. mina was a natural, energy never diminishing.

"let's take some landscape photos, the background's cute." mina exclaimed, taking break from her posing.

shinsou nodded his head and began backing up.

"i think if you stood next to y/n you would get a better view of the shot, right?" mina continued and it only took a moment for shinsou to start heading my way.

with his back to mina, she shot a quick thumbs up at me followed by a wink. i shook my head in disbelief.

shinsou stood next to me, a little too close, as his elbow brushed my knee. the simple brush sending a shiver down my spine.

"is this good, mina?" shinsou asked, like he was the one without photography experience.

"yeah that's good," mina shouted back and went back to posing.

i didn't know what i expected but it certainly wasn't for shinsou to talk to me as he snapped the photos.

"recital coming up, right?" he said, focus still completely on the camera and it's subject.

"yeah, in a few weeks. but time usually goes faster than we expect." i responded, swinging my legs back and forth as an attempt to ease my nerves.

i felt as if no matter how many times i talked to shinsou, i would always feel nervous.

"i heard from a few friends that you have another one in july, how's that going?"

i lifted my head up, surprised. what friends told him?

"oh, um, it's going okay. i have some things choreographed but it's still not hundred percent perfected, you know?" i brought my right knee up to my chest, shifting on the cement.

shinsou lowered the camera, eyes meeting mine. he was quiet for a moment then he grinned. "i don't really know but i'll take your word for it."

like it never happened, he turned back to the camera and then to mina.

"it's just a lot of work but i want it to be perfect." i reworded as i felt another brush against my thigh. i wonder if shinsou even realized what he was doing.

shinsou hummed. i busied myself with counting the little flowers on the floor below me.

"i'm actually doing a solo. it's a really big honor to me, especially as a freshman, but i think i'm just nervous to mess up. mistress kayama could've give it to anyone but decided to give it to me, you know? so i don't want to let her down, or anybody else for that matter. and i haven't even told my mo-" i cut myself off, realizing i had been rambling.

before i could apologize, shinsou had already started to speak.

"i'm not sure on how choreographing works but if your teacher trusts you enough to give you a solo, is that what it's called?" i nodded. "then i think you're absolutely capable of pulling through and doing well. she wouldn't have picked you otherwise, right?"

shinsou made a lot of good points but it was the reassuring look on his face that really pulled it together.

"yeah, i guess you're right." i cleared my throat. then i noticed that he wasn't taking pictures anymore and when i turned to mina, she wasn't posing anymore. in fact, she was sitting on the bench and scrolling through her phone.

shinsou seemed to have picked up on my discoveries. "we stopped a bit before you started your rant."

i made a sound of acknowledgment but that was all i could do.

"don't stress yourself out too much, okay, l/n? and don't psych yourself out either," he stressed. "you made it into Yuuei, there's a reason you're here."

"y/n! katsuki bought burgers and is waiting in the parking lot for us. he threaten to leave us here stranded if we don't hurry." mina called, jogging up to shinsou and i.

"oh shit, we should go then." i hopped off the fence, slightly knocking myself out of balance.

shinsou's hands flew up to steady me.

"thanks."

"no problem."

"hitoshi, send me the photos sometime? you can send them to y/n, you have her number right?" mina asked, preoccupied with her pictures.

"yeah, i'll send her a link to a folder later."

"great," mina beamed, "well, our time has come to an end and i'm afraid we have to go."

i turned to face shinsou, slightly surprised at how reluctant i felt to leave.

"i'll see you guys around, yeah?" he said goodbye like always.

mina waved and locked arms with me. i resisted the slight pull.

"shinsou," i breathed out, "can i buy you something to eat?"

mina stopped in her tracks.

shinsou's eyes widened then squinted, like he was trying to figure something out.

when he realized, his mouth twitched upwards and the smile on his face was beautiful.

"uh, no, thank you, i don't think i can stomach much right now. and actually, my dorm mate told me she already made dinner." he mimicked.

i couldn't help but grin back. "you know, that's the first time you've refused to let me buy you something."

he shook his head at me, "well, we can always rain check."

i nodded a little too fast, "yeah, let's do that."

shinsou's face lit up but he calmed his expression. "i'll pick you up then?"

trying to contain my grin, i bit my lip and nodded. "mhm, bye."

i stumbled away with mina dragging me, something about katsuki giving us two minutes to get there.

but i was too distracted and pleasantly buzzed with the sudden development in me and shinsou's.. friendship?

whatever, it didn't need a label. we were making progress and that's what mattered.

yeah, that's what mattered.

~

a/n: short a/n rn! but basically sorry for not updating in a little bit. like i had mentioned before,, im kinda losing motivation to do anything but it's coo 😩 i think i really like this chapter (because i'm developing the relationship 😩 duh) but i also feel like i'm kind of handling it really messily? idk,, but i hope u guys enjoyed the update, like always thank u sm for reading

take care and stay safe,, love y'all!! <3 :))