Shota’s POV:

It’s been two weeks since the USJ incident and the quiet morning where Mailin and I finally admitted what we’ve both been denying for too long. Since then, things have felt... natural. Domestic, even. Waking up together, spending our days at U.A., then coming home to this new thing we’ve started. But today, we can’t hide it anymore.

The teachers are bound to notice. Hell, they’ve probably already noticed. And while I hate turning my personal life into a source of gossip, it’s time to own up to it. We’ve been dancing around this for too long.

We walk down the hall toward the teachers' lounge, Mailin by my side. I glance at her out of the corner of my eye, trying not to focus on how close we are. It’s strange, with both my arms still in casts, I can’t even hold her hand, but just having her next to me is enough.

She notices me looking, flashing me that small smile that makes something in my chest tighten. She’s been my rock these past two weeks, but damn if it isn’t driving me insane how much I rely on her now.

When we walk into the teachers' lounge, Hizashi’s voice cuts through the air.

“Yo! Eraser! Mizuhime!” Hizashi grins widely, lounging back with his usual over-the-top energy. “You two are looking awfully cozy these days!”

I grunt, making my way toward the coffee machine. “Shut up, Mic.”

Before I can even pour myself a coffee—well, try to pour myself a coffee with these damn casts—Midnight saunters over, a mischievous grin lighting up her face. “Ohhh, this is going to be good,” she says in that teasing tone she loves. “Let me guess—you two finally stopped pretending?”

I glance over at Mailin, and she just laughs softly, shaking her head. “Guess there’s no hiding it anymore.”

“Ha!” Midnight claps her hands together, practically bouncing in place. “I knew it! Called it from the beginning!” She spins around dramatically, pointing at Hizashi. “You owe me 10,000 yen, Mic!”

I freeze. “Wait. You two... bet on us?”

Mailin arches an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Since high school?”

Midnight shoots me a wicked grin. “Of course! I bet on you two getting together right after graduation. Hizashi here thought it’d take longer.”

Hizashi leans back, smirking. “Yup. I knew my boy Shota would need some time to figure it out.”

Midnight sticks her hand out toward him, demanding her winnings. “Well, he took long enough. Pay up, Mic!”

Grumbling, Hizashi pulls out his wallet and slaps the cash into her hand. “Fine, fine. But I knew you’d get there eventually, bro.”

I groan, rubbing my face with my good hand. “This is exactly why I didn’t want to tell anyone.”

Mailin nudges me with her shoulder, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “Oh, come on. It’s kind of sweet that they had faith in us.”

“Yeah, ‘sweet’ is exactly the word I’d use,” I mutter, rolling my eyes. But I can’t help the faint smile that tugs at my lips.

“Better than rumors,” Midnight pipes up with a wink. “But let’s be real, there were rumors. Years of them.”

I glance over at Mailin, and I’m met with her knowing smile. Damn it, they’re right. As much as I hate being the center of attention, having her by my side makes it bearable.

I turn back to the coffee machine, struggling to pour a cup with my busted arms.

Before I can spill it all over the counter, Mailin steps in, gently nudging me aside. “Here, let me.” She takes over, moving easily to finish the task I couldn’t.

I glance over at her, and for a moment, it’s just us. Her quiet support, her presence—it’s become so natural, and even with these idiots teasing me, I can’t deny how much I need her.

---

Mailin’s POV:

The laughter in the teachers' lounge feels like it never ends, with Midnight and Hizashi going on and on about how obvious Shota and I were back in high school. I should be embarrassed, but instead, there’s a warmth spreading through me. They’ve always supported us, even when we were too stubborn to admit it.

When I finish pouring Shota’s coffee, I hand it to him with a smile, and he gives me a small nod in thanks. I can see the frustration behind his eyes, though. I know how much it’s killing him to not be able to do things for himself right now.

“Hey, Midnight,” I say with a grin. “How long have you been waiting for this?”

She smirks. “Since the day I saw you two sparring in your second year. The tension was palpable.”

I laugh, but there’s a part of me that’s... well, relieved. That we can finally be open about this, that it’s not just some unspoken thing between us anymore. And as I glance over at Shota, I can tell he feels it too.

Midnight nudges me as she passes by, her voice dropping to a more serious tone. “Just make sure to take care of him, okay? He’s got that tough shell, but... you know how he is.”

I nod. “I will.”

Shota looks over at me, and for a moment, it’s just us. It’s always been just us, really. But now, standing here in front of our colleagues, with all the jokes and bets and teasing... it feels more real. More solid.

---

Shota’s POV:

As much as I hate the teasing, it’s a relief to have it out in the open. Midnight and Hizashi might be annoying, but they’re family, in their own twisted way.

“Alright, we’ve had our fun,” I grumble, pushing myself away from the counter. “Let’s get out of here before this gets any worse.”

Mailin smirks, nodding in agreement. “Good idea.”

As we head toward the door, I glance over at her. She’s been a constant presence these past two weeks, and while I’m still not used to relying on anyone, I know I wouldn’t have gotten this far without her.

She notices me looking and shoots me a small smile, one that says she knows exactly what I’m thinking. Damn her for always knowing.

---

Mailin’s POV:

As we leave the teachers' lounge, I catch a glimpse of Shota’s face. Even with the bandages, I can see the exhaustion there. But underneath it, there’s something else—something softer, more vulnerable.

“Shota,” I say softly, my voice just for him. “Are you okay?”

He glances over at me, his brow furrowing slightly. “I’m fine.”

I roll my eyes. “Liar.”

He sighs, his eyes flicking down to the casts on his arms. “I just hate... needing help.”

I step closer to him, my voice dropping. “You don’t need to do everything yourself, you know. I’m here for a reason.”

For a second, he doesn’t respond. But then he nods, almost imperceptibly. “I know.”

The words hang between us as we walk down the hall, side by side. And for the first time in a long time, I feel... at peace.