***14 YEARS AGO***
***AIZAWA POV***

"You really need to be more careful..." I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose as I watched Shirakumo and (Y/N) load a frozen Yamada onto one of my friend's clouds.
"Hey, it's not my fault he sneezed on me. You spray snot on me and you suffer the consequences!" The girl huffed, sticking her nose in the air.

"Lighten up, Sho! He won't be like this for long. You're always complaining he never stops talking, so savour the moment!" Shirakumo added, eyes closed as he shot me a wide grin. He then turned to (Y/N), placing a hand on her head to ruffle her messy (H/C) hair around. "We should probably get going. Exams start tomorrow, and we really need to crack down and study."

Pouting, the girl whined a little, but it seemed like she understood.
"Fine...I guess...We didn't even get to fight today..." Her complaint seemed so stupid to me. Why did she want to fight us? I knew she thought of it as a game, but it was frustrating. Why not just talk and hang out like normal people?

"Next time, okay? I'll make sure to make it real hard to beat me, yeah? You'll be begging for mercy!" The cloudy haired boy smiled down at her, and I watched them closely. Despite her eyes being closed, it really seemed like she was gazing into his. Their connection made me feel somewhat uncomfortable, and it wasn't pleasant.

"Oh dear, sweet Loud Cloud, you can keep dreaming!" (Y/N) chuckled and lent in to give Shirakumo a tight hug, and I immediately looked away. They looked good together, I wouldn't lie, even though the girl was a little younger. My attention returned when she approached me, arms open wide in what I perceived as threat. "Can I finally get a hug now, Sho? You always hold out on me!"

I didn't want a hug. Sure, I was a little curious as to what it would feel like, but that was all. Physical affection had never been something I was fond of.
"Pass." I muttered in response, leaning away almost dramatically. "I don't know where the hell you've been."

Deflating, but still keeping her cheeks puffed out, (Y/N) waved me off and passed by me, purposely bumping my shoulder as she wandered further into the alleyway.
"Fine, Eraserbutt. I'll catch you guys later! Tell Hizashi if he snots on me again I'll make it permanent!"

With that, she was gone, and I followed Shirakumo out onto the street, moving to the opposite side of his cloud to make sure our paralysed classmate wouldn't fall off.
"Y'know, you could be a little nicer to her, Shota." The wispy-haired boy started, glancing over to me. "I know she likes picking on you, but she's really nice. Keep going the way you are and you might actually hurt her feelings for real one of these days."

Rolling my eyes, I knew he was right. I was naturally a relatively stand-offish person, but I seemed to really put my walls up around the girl. I had my reasons, though.
"Do you have feelings for her, or something?" It was a question I had wanted to ask for a while, but had never really felt comfortable bringing it up.

Their dynamic was something more than friends to me. They'd hug each other far too casually, he'd always touch her hair or her arm, and apart from the initial groping she gave him during our first encounter, she never teased or made fun of him.

"Ohoho? You have a crush on her, huh?" Shirakumo wiggled his eyebrows, which caused a heat to flare in my cheeks.
"N..not at all! She's a pain in my ass! Why would you even..?! Don't deflect the question!" The fact that I had stammered made things worse, but he didn't play on it. Instead, the boy stretched his arms over this head, smiling ahead.

"She's a really cool person. Not to mention she's pretty damn cute. I really wanna see her become a hero one day, then I could work with her." If his grin didn't give it away, the tone of his voice sure did. My question had been indirectly answered. "You can't tell me you don't think the same, man. Even though you're an ass towards her, I see those little looks and smirks."

Don't misinterpret my feelings...

That was just it, though. He was spot on. I wasn't sure if I actually had feelings towards the girl, but she just made me so damn curious. (Y/N) was so lively and cheerful, yet her life seemed so hard. A girl living off of petty theft, clothes either too big or too small, and oh so scrawny. How could she be happy like that?

"I just find her stupidity amusing, when I'm having a good day..." I mumbled, having to nudge Yamada back onto the cloud as he started to tilt. "She's too stubborn for my liking. Energy like hers makes me want to inject Nyquil directly into my major arteries..." Shirakumo snorted, having to adjust his headband as it slipped down close to his eyes.

"Dude, you're really defensive! There's nothing wrong about liking someone, whether in the friendly sense or otherwise! Besides, I think someone like that would be good for you. Like, a complete opposite to even you out!" He explained, waving to one of the street vendors as we passed by. "I get it though. You're balls deep in heroism and logic, so emotions make you run for the hills!"

Frustrated, and definitely embarrassed, I used my hip to knock both the cloud and Yamada into the boy, who stumbled a little, struggling not to laugh at me.
"They do not! Why are we talking about me when all I asked was a simple question about you?!" I barked, having a sigh and trying to calm down. "She obviously likes you the most. You're all over each other and it's gross."

I could feel his eyes on me, but I wouldn't meet them. My face was straight, but my eyes would have surely given me away. Yes, I was starting to develop feelings towards her, whatever they were, but I wasn't about to get in the way of a budding romance. Shirakumo was good for her. He was good for everyone.

"Oh? You really think so? I mean, I'd be stoked...but I personally think she might have a little bit of a thing for you. With all that teasing? I mean, come on, Sho! I thought you were smart!" As we turned down the street to Yamada's house, he reached over the boy and lightly punched my shoulder, nearly throwing me off balance. "I won't lie, I do like her a lot, but if you do too, then I won't be making any moves. I'd be happy either way."

It was on the tip of my tongue, that truthful confession, but something was stopping me. What he had said before hadn't made much sense to me. Opposites completing one another. Their personalities clicked, whilst ours clashed like titans. He was so outwardly kind and fun, but I, despite being kind as well, wasn't able to really show it all that often, nor easily. A girl like her needed a hero, and I was nothing more than a lucky nobody who somehow managed to weasel my way into the hero course after a year of general.

"I already told you, I'm not interested in her." I muttered sternly, finally turning to give him a serious look. "Besides, she's younger than us. Middle schoolers aren't exactly what I'd call attractive." Shirakumo paused to think for a moment, eventually laughing me off and veering us down Yamada's driveway.

"It's not like I'd be all over her. Hand holding and promises is where it's at, my dude. A confession wouldn't mean a relationship would start right away." He shrugged, stopping a few steps away from the front door and looking down at our quirk-stricken companion. "His mother is gonna have a freakin' fit. Think we'd be able to sneak him upstairs without being caught?"

Rolling my eyes, but glad the subject had changed, I poked the blond a few times in the cheek, confirming that he was softening up.
"I suppose I could distract her if you wanna float him up to his room. She'd definitely panic and call an ambulance if she saw this." Shooting me a cheery thumbs up, Shirakumo made sure he was steady before we moved closer to the door, pivoting so he could rush in behind me when it was all clear.

"That's what I call teamwork! See, this is what I want it to be like when we're adults! Us three, Nemuri, and (Y/N), being wicked cool heroes! Wouldn't that be awesome, Shota?!"

"Yeah, it really would be..."

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There was nothing to see when I opened my eyes. Nothing but black and shadow.

Why did I have to remember that now..?

I could feel the steady vibration of Fuku's purrs beside my head as he dozed, blanketed by my loose hair. It had been a long while since Shirakumo had reanimated in my dreams, and whilst that alone didn't bother me, the subject matter had.

He had always been able to read me like a book, that guy, even though back then I had thought that I was being pretty secretive with my emotions. Had I really been that smitten with (Y/N)? Why did it make me feel queasy?

It's nothing. Just distant memories.

Groaning quietly, I struggled to turn my head and glance at my clock. 03:19. I still had almost two hours before I had to get up and deal with life, and that brat of a woman who i was stuck with. She had been rather helpful, though, changing my dressings and offering to look after me. She didn't owe me anything, after all.

Closing my eyes, I tried to settle back down and get back to sleep, though it proved a lot more difficult than usual. Shirakumo's face, (Y/N)'s face, both young and happy, swirled about my mind. If it meant anything, I really didn't want a thing to do with it. What was the point in digging up the details of an old, possibly non-existent crush?

Oboro, did you really think she felt something towards me...or was it just a few kind words to make me think that I was good enough..?

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***Shirakumo has that big brain energy that I know absolutely nothing about.

Update on my neck - I can only tilt to the left now. If I tilt right I feel imminent death.

Next Time: Flex***