[OP: "Torches"--The Oh Hellos]

Once the conversation with Sakura was over, Shine and Wally both felt a little more at peace about the situation. They decided that, after talking to Tsunade and her both, they had done all they could to settle this peacefully. All that was left was to see what Stone Village would do.

Gaara asked them how it had gone while they were on their way to the medical center to help more that day.

"There is only one thing I think that could hurt us," Shine told him, "and that's that she told Tsunade that we kept in touch with you and that must be how we knew about the war. While we know perfectly well that was just a byproduct of us talking about our lives, it can sound like we were spying."

"I didn't think of that," Gara said. "I suppose I wasn't trying to look at it in a suspicious way. It bothers me that you're being questioned so much about this. I feel that they are really trying to bring you down and not me directly."

"Of course," Wally said. "Even I can figure this one out: We're not shinobi. There's way less backlash if they take us down and only make you look bad by association."

"I'm sorry that you have to go through this," Gaara sighed. "I feel it's my fault. Somehow I must have told Onoki something the wrong way, and this is the result."

"I really don't think it's your fault," Shine said.

But Gaara wasn't persuaded. The idea of blaming yourself was beaten firmly into the ninja's heads from a young age, and Shine and Wally just telling him it wasn't true wouldn't be enough to get it out.

The other team member were in a slightly better mood today, though, mostly because nothing had gone too badly the day before as far as they knew, and they were hoping that if they kept helping and didn't start any trouble, the Stone Village ninja would lose their suspicion of them.

"That's a nice messenger bag, Sai." Momo had noticed his new accessory. "I was thinking that you should replace that old knapsack, after what happened, but I didn't want to bring it up."

"Oh?" Sai said. "Well, I hadn't thought of it yet, but I'm glad to have a new one. It zips shut at the top so nothing will fall out."

"Most of ours do that, dummy," Bakugo said.

Camie elbowed him. "Shut up, Bae."

"What?" he said.

"Well, it's true that most of our ninja bags don't have those zippers," Temari said. "I hear they jam too easily."

"A well-made one usually won't do that," Momo said. "But I guess I see your point...but it's better than it falling open all the time."

"Where did you get it?" Tenten asked Sai. "Maybe I might want to replace mine too. I don't want to lose my scrolls"

"I really don't know," Sai said. 

Ino was blushing furiously, though no one had noticed it.

"What do you mean? Did you just find it?" Tenten was skeptical.

"No, I mean it was a gift, so I don't know, but perhaps you could check the marketplace," Sai suggested.

"Who gave you that?" Kankuro asked. "Was it a girl?"

"Yes." Sai didn't get it. 

"Oo-ooh," Suigetsu said. "Someone has a crush."

"Has a...what?" Sai was blank.

"Shut up." Karin shoved Suigetsu out of habit. "I bet it was Miss Likstar. She probably just thought he needed a new one so he doesn't have another meltdown."

Sai wasn't quite sure he liked Karin's reason for it, but he didn't think she was right... It just made him wonder if everyone else expected him to do that again... It had happened enough times for them to have a reason to be concerned, but he was hoping it wouldn't repeat itself any more.

"I don't think we need to pry," Momo tried to help. "I was just admiring it. I didn't want to ask personal questions. I'm sure whoever it was was just being thoughtful."

"Yeah, get a life, Water Boy," Dabi said.

"You're one to talk, Roast Beef," Suigetsu replied.

"Beef is right," Camie said. "Since he's got a lot of it with everyone." She made a face at Dabi, who rolled his eyes.

The others forgot about Sai after that, but he did ask Wally, aside, "What did they mean by a 'crush'?"

Wally coughed a little. "Oh...you know, when someone has a thing for someone else."

"A thing? You mean like a gift?" Sai said.

"Oh..." Wally wanted to laugh, but he could see that if he didn't correct this, something awkward would be sure to happen in the future. "No, I mean they feel a special way about someone."

"What does that mean?" Sai took out his notebook. "I didn't know there were special feelings. Though I did read something about ones specific to just men and women, but I didn't understand that either. A lot of things still don't make sense to me."

"You and me both, buddy," Wally said. "No one really gets it, but it's great--with the right person."

"Huh?" Sai was confused. "What is?"

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but maybe you should wait till you're...older to ask about this?" Wally said. "I mean...emotionally? You're still working on empathy and happiness, right? What's the saying--you gotta walk before you can run? We're talking about the most complicated feelings people can have. I'm thinking you're not ready for that talk yet."

And he certainly wasn't going to give it to him even if he was ready.

"I didn't know there were levels." Poor Sai looked discouraged.

"Well, don't feel too bad. I'm sure it'll click for you sooner or later," Wally said optimistically. "Just on its own."

And no explanation required, Wally hoped also.

Sai wasn't the only one stuck on that part of the conversation.

"I'm going to die of shame, Camie," Ino told her when they'd reached the center and the others had split off to start helping already.

"Oh, relax, girl, no one remembered it once Momo distracted them." Camie waved her hand. "And I didn't out you, so you're fine."

"I didn't think that someone would jump right to that," Ino worried. "I was trying to be nice, that's all, but if they think I have a crush--"

"Well, you do, don't you?" Camie said. "Since when are you afraid of people knowing that?"

Ino looked down. "I don't know if it's a crush...I  mean, he's nice, but he's...strange."

"So am I," Camie said. "So what?"

"Yeah, but you know you're strange," Ino said.

"Uh...I'm like 90% sure Sai knows he's strange too," Camie said. "Are you really telling me you're embarrassed to like someone just because they're weird? Geez, my boyfriend is way weird, and I think it's bragging rights."

"Didn't you say at first you weren't sure about it?"

"Uhh...okay, you got me," Camie said. "But then I thought it was dumb to care what other people thought. And you shouldn't care either. 'Sides, who's judging you?"

"But I really wasn't trying to make a move," Ino protested. "Just trying to help, and, if I made a move, it's not like he'd even know. So there's no point to trying. And that's why they'd just make fun of me if I did. So...don't tell anyone."

"You're so overthinking this," Camie sighed. "But I won't tell anybody if you're so worried about it. Personally though, I think if you could get Sai, you'd be the lucky one. I'd take the guy who wants to have feelings any day over the ones who try to hide their feelings all the time. Y'all ninja have patience, I have to say. "

"I...is that really what you think?" Ino was surprised. "You're not just saying that because you like matchmaking?"

"I do love that, but, uh, he was my fave char--uh, ninja, for reasons, sis," Camie said. "What have I been saying since we met? I think he's so cute and funny. But I like you too. I would mad supportive you wanting to get with that guy, 'cause for reals most of the other chicks here are kind of b---hes."

"Camie!" Ino was almost shocked. "You...don't have to come out and say it aloud...sheesh..." But she was kind of flattered. "I mean, it's nice that you think so highly of me, but I'm just not sure I'm...ready. Not anymore. I think I've realized there's a lot I need to learn about even being a good friend...let alone..."

"Man...that's like way too good of an answer, too," Camie sighed. "I guess my friends would say it's wrong to push. I just had my hopes up there. I'm dying to see some of you guys pair up so it won't just be me and Baku and Shoto and Momo. They're cool and all, but we, Iike...don't like any of the same things, so they're the worst people to double date with."

"That's your reason?" Ino said, almost amused.

"That and I like those people together," Camie said. "Being single is fine, but dating is way more fun. I think, anyways. Then you can compare notes too. Now I can't do that without feeling like I'm rubbing it in."

"Wow...you put a lot of thought into this."

"It's like the only thing I do put a lot of thought into," Camie said, unashamedly. "Love isn't a game, right? It's a battlefield. Like that old song."

"What...song?"

"I'll play it for you later." Camie waved her hand.

"Hey," Bakugo interrupted them. "Are you chicks gonna stand around or are you gonna help? There's a whole line of people today too. The Old Bag says we should be checking them in since we can't do any medical s--t. I can't believe I'm reduced to d--n paperwork!"

"I should be healing minor injuries," Ino sighed. "Later, Camie."

"Yeah, on the flip side, sis." Camie peace signed as she walked away. "Hey, she's picking up on the lingo fast."

"Great, then there can be two of you," Bakugo said as they walked towards the check-in line. "What was that about? And earlier, didn't she give that thing to Art Boy?"

"I totes should have known you'd be on it," Camie said. "But don't tell anyone else. I got sworn to secrecy. But I can't keep secrets from you, no way. 'Sides, you already knew."

"Duh, who else would it have been? If it was Shine, she'd have said something," Bakugo said. "She wasn't sayin' anything, and she seems a little distracted. Something's up that they haven't told us about with this whole...observation crap."

"Maybe, but they probs don't want us to be tripping over it instead of working," Camie guessed. "Eh, I wish at least Ino would be a little bolder about this Sai thing though. I mean, I was so stoked to witness the untold history here, since no one knew how they really started to hit it off. It's, like, never talked about in the...cartoon version of this, so I thought in real life, it must have been so romantic. But she's too weirded out to do anything. What if it takes years?"

"What if it doesn't happen at all?" Bakugo said. "We change stuff. You never know. Anyway it never made any sense to me how anyone without emotions would get a girlfriend. Not that I care about crap like that."

"Don't you?" Camie said. "But he's so sweet and cute and funny. Any girl would be lucky to have him."

Bakugo looked a little annoyed. "He's not that great. He's an idiot."

"He's not! Hey, be understanding about him. You know it's not his fault he's the way he is. Danzo's crap brainwashing is, like, really tough stuff. Don't you have to admire that anyone could defy it?"

"Maybe it's not as tough as he thought then," Bakugo said. "Maybe no one else tried. Paint Brush is just a weird guy. I don't know why you think he's the GOAT."

"I can't believe you just used that abbreviation," Camie said. "And that you're doing it to diss on my fave character."

"Camie--" Bakugo seemed to get angry for real. "--ce's not a character. None of them are. They're real. Don't you get that? This isn't fake anymore. That was just a glammed up version of the truth. In reality they all can suck just as much as people at home can, and they're not special or better than us. Quit fan-girling over them and start seeing them the way they are."

Camie gaped at him.

In fact, Bakugo felt a little ashamed of himself for going off on her like that when she really hadn't done anything wrong. But he also felt very annoyed for some reason.

"Hey, Mr. Angry Chihuahua--" Camie held up her pointer finger accusingly. "--I'm not that spaced out. I know it's real. I mean, we got kidnapped here for crying out loud. Why can't I enjoy the stuff that is a little more like what I'm used to? It's a good way to keep from freaking out about the problems we keep running into. And you could be supportive of having it instead of trying to rain on my parade."

"I think it's not facing reality," Bakugo said. "These people aren't angels. Why else are we being...scrutinized?"

"Well, picking on me won't make it any better for you," Camie said. "But it will get you in the doghouse with your girlfriend real quick, Bae. What's gotten into you?"

"Me? What's with you and idolizing people you barely know?" Bakugo said.

"Idolizing? Me? You're capping--I do not do that," Camie said, like he was stupid. "Do you really buy that? That's bulls---!"

Bakugo suddenly noticed that some of the Stone Village people were looking at them. They might be listening to this.

"Whatever," he said, stalking way before Camie could say anything else.

"Fine then," Camie huffed. "Be that way."

* * *

Shine found herself doing something more to her speed that day because some of the people who came for treatment had kids with them.

The medical center didn't have a lot of toys or puzzles or anything, so Shine supervised the kids and tried to entertain them.

She was so good at this that some of the staff, who didn't have any idea she was being supervised specifically by the Tsuchikage, asked her to come to the children's ward of the center. They said the kids there were really bored and lonely a lot of the time.

Shine did so, and the children were happy they had a visitor... Of course for Shine it was a little hard because some of them were ninja, Genin or younger, who were injured in training or battle.

Shine, being someone who loved kids, hated to see them hurt as much as most people like her did--and it was worse to think of the unethical nature of the Village's practices that put such young people in danger so cavalierly.

She swallowed her anger at it, since taking it out on the medics would have hardly been fair, but it was hard to act as if nothing was wrong.

Still, she offered to read to the kids to entertain them, and that went pretty well, though they'd never heard of the stories she pulled out of her pack. Shine was careful not to choose anything she thought would get them or her in trouble later, like The Rainbow Fish or Horton Hears A Who. [Both excellent children's books, from someone who works in childcare and grew up on books.]

After a while of that, some of the little kids were tired and asked her if she'd stay till they fell asleep. 

Shine agreed and even sang some quiet songs.

She slipped out once they were asleep. [Great trick with toddlers, by the way. Some of them won't go to bed unless someone is there, but they won't wake up too easy usually if you just sneak out.]

She was still murmuring one of the songs to herself as she crept out of that area quietly:

"Si vis amaris, audeamus. In veritatis unanimi summus. ( If you want to be loved, let's go, unanimous in truth.)"

"Sanat qui facet amoris vulnus. Quod me nutrit, etiam me destruit. (He heals the wound of love. What nourishes me also destroys me.)" 

[Note: based on my limited knowledge of Latin, I believe "He heals" may also be translated "it heals" or just "heals" in the impersonal sense. I know it's like that in Spanish and French, and Google Translate is not always reliable. I think it makes more sense that way.]

"Tempus fugit, amor manet. (Time flies, love remains.)"

https://youtu.be/IGmlRUeoD3c

["Servant to Love"--Eurielle--I took a Latin class, so I was lowkey proud that I could figure some of this out before I looked up the translation. Girl sings in French, Latin, and English. She's an icon.]

Shine thought nothing of it and hardly noticed she was still singing, or that one of the staff looked up at her as she passed with a strange expression.

* * *

Hanabi had decided that medical work was not for her. She was bored by filling out forms and found it hard to stomach injuries and illness, even from a distance. Hinata was handling it much better.

Hanabi thought that her sister was really better at doing everything but fighting aggressively, and if her father wasn't so hung up on that one point, he might never have disinherited her.

But oh well...he wouldn't change his mind now.

She was taking a much needed break from helping and standing by the metal link fence around the center when she noticed some boys were peering through the links at the front yard where most of the tents were set up.

Her eyes zoomed in, and she recognized some of them as the same ones from that kickball game a few days ago.

Some of them caught her looking and moved away out of view--at least view for normal people, but Hanabi was a Hyuga.

She sprang to follow them, though inside the fence.

"Hey, what are you staring at?" she called.

Some of them took off.

One hung back, and Hanabi realized it was Eichi, the one who'd warned her about the bad part of town.

"Hey," she said, less irately. "Whachya doing?"

Eichi did a double take. "Hanabi?"

"Yeah, me." She leaned on the fence. "Are you guys stalking us for a rematch?"

"No," Eichi said. "Just curious about what you're doing out here... So you're helping the medical center now? You guys get around a lot."

"Yeah, but I don't really like this," Hanabi confessed. "I prefer stuff a little less...depressing."

"Depressing?"

"There's so many people who are sick or injured here," Hanabi said.

"Yeah, they haven't been able to get medical care for weeks, a lot of them," Eichi said. "Most of our families can't even afford it now, but I heard you were doing this for free."

"Tsunade-sama is, kind of. I mean, I think they have to pay for medicine, but she's offered her services for free, as a gesture of goodwill," Hanabi said, begrudgingly since she was still kind of mad at Tsunade. "And so are we."

"Even that would help," Eichi said.

Hanabi knit her brows. "You seem...Iike you're a little too interested in this. Does your family need medical care?"

"Oh...uh, not exactly," Eichi hedged. "Just that my mom has said that people turn to stealing because they can't afford things like medical care or food. Not just for kicks, usually."

"I've never thought about why people steal, other than because they don't want to pay," Hanabi said. "But that sounds like something my father or servants would tell me. I've never had to worry about food or medicine."

"Yeah, you're rich, huh?" Eichi said, almost nervously. "But it might be better not to brag about it. Not here... The Village is too devastated by the war."

"I know, I know...but you seem like you're a reasonable guy," Hanabi explained. "I just was comparing, that's all... I'm not even saying it's better this way. I kind of came on this assignment to learn more about what I don't know about the world."

"Oh? Wow, I feel like if most people here had money to, they'd just stay at their houses and never leave," Eichi shook his head.

"Well, my new senseis say you have to help people," Hanabi said. "That it's the right thing to do. And my sister says she's learned from her friends that you have to be part of the world, not hide from it." [I have to credit a book called Girl Waits with Gun for the idea behind that line.]

"You don't sound much like Stone Village," Eichi said in a low voice. "People here think you should look out for your own and not let anyone else take advantage of you."

"It gets lonely, never letting anyone else around," Hanabi mused. "I felt that way anyway. You should come in, see for yourself. We're all working here right now. You could meet them."

"Oh, no, thanks," Eichi said. "I just came out to look, like I said." He tugged his collar a little. "Just be careful. I mean...make sure no one's taking advantage of that kindness or anything... My aunt always tells me that kind people get trampled by the world."

"I'm not really one to let people walk all over me," Hanabi sniffed. "Don't underestimate me just because I'm still new to this. And you can't be any older than I am, and you're acting like you know all this stuff about the world."

"No, I just know what I've been told, but they say it's all on experience." Eichi shrugged. "I wish it was more the way you're describing it though. Sounds nicer."

"You sure you won't come in?"

"No, I should get going." Eichi shook his head.

He walked away.

"Who were you talking to?" Hinata surprised Hanabi by appearing without a sound. But she was good at that.

"Just this kid I met the other day, with Bakugo and Naruto-san." Hanabi turned it her. "Knd of an odd guy. Talks like an older kid, but I'm sure he's not any older than me."

"Well, you talk like you're older than your age too." Hinata patted her shoulder.

"Hey, don't treat me like a baby." Hanabi shrugged her off. "I'm just mature for my age."

Hinata smothered a laugh. "Of course... Where did your new friend go in such a hurry then?"

"I'm not sure we're friends," Hanabi said. "He acts a little chary about us... I think maybe the Village is still wary of us and that's why. And he thinks we're being too carefree about helping people."

"For such a young boy to think that is...kind of sad," Hinata sighed. "But I guess we weren't all that different at your age. I forget just how much we've changed since meeting the DJs."

"I didn't know it was that much, till I heard someone talking like that," Hanabi said. "And it feels like how I've grown up talking my whole life... I just didn't know I didn't like it till now. Why do we all have to be so secluded and selfish?"

"I don't think we do, but it takes a lot to convince someone to not be afraid to share their ideas and strengths with the others outside their family or Village," Hinata pointed out. "Neji is taking such a bold stance about that, but we should try to live up to his example and do the same."

"Yeah..." Hanabi nodded.

* * *

Karin was helping to move some testing equipment to the lab when she heard some of the medical staff talking in hushed tones. They didn't notice her since she was good at masking herself.

"Suho said it himself," one said. "She was chanting in some strange forbidden tongue."

"Like an incantation?" said the other. 

"Maybe. He said it creeped him out," the first shinobi replied. "I knew there was something not quite right about them. They don't look just like us either."

"Well, no one is that benevolent, anyway," said the other person cynically. "There's always some angle to people who offer you anything for free."

"Do you think they're working here to collect organs for some weird potion or brew?" said the first.

"I hope not... Did you tell the supervising physician?"

"No...not yet..."

Karin was baffled at first and then pieced together what they must be talking about.

She was sure it was Shine, but what in the world did they mean by "incantation"? Shine didn't do anything like that.

They must have heard something wrong--that had to be it. How stupid of them.

She stole away before anyone could notice her there and went to find someone else in the team to confer with.

She only found Shoto, who had not been doing much other than freezing things to keep them cold (a lot of medicine needed to be refrigerated or frozen).

Karin told him what she'd heard.

"That makes no sense," he said. "None of us do anything like that. They're just songs and verses."

"That's what I thought, but how would they get the idea?" Karin said.

"Maybe she spoke in English." Shoto wasn't stupid. "And they thought it was something unnatural."

"English...is their language, right?" Karin said.

"Yes...usually we can't tell, but if she wanted to say something that no one here would understand, maybe she'd use it," Shoto guessed. "I mean, I would use that language for the same reason...what I know of it."

"Someday you'll have to explain how that works." Kairn adjusted her glasses. "But...uh...how do we explain it to them?"

"I doubt anyone is going to take them seriously." Shoto couldn't imagine anyone in his school or nurse's office listening to this kind of claptrap. "They're just being paranoid."

"But why were they even paranoid?" Karin had a better question. "I thought only Lady Tsunade and her lackeys knew we were...you know, being watched."

"Hmm, that's a good point," Shoto admitted. "I don't know how they knew unless someone leaked it to them."

"Also who would go right to sorcery even if they were suspicious?" Karin added.

"Uh...well, you use genjutsu openly," Shoto said. [For those who don't know (like me before I wrote this story) genjutsu actually can mean simply "witchcraft"--which explains a lot.]

"But that's just a term," Karin said. "We don't actually think we're casting spells."

Shoto gave her a very flat look. "The Uchihas can put someone in a nightmare realm for 24 hours... How is that not like a spell?"

Karin blinked. "Uh...well...but with your mind--it's not like it's a ritual."

"It's awakened because of bloodshed," Shoto countered.

Karin had no response for that.

She swallowed. "No wonder you hate Sasuke."

"Hate is a strong word," Shoto said, like Shine would have. But then he added, "I'm not sure if it's right or not. Sometimes I think it's hatred, and other times I think it's disappointment...but it's not something I want to talk about."

Karin didn't want to talk about it either.

"Shouldn't we pass this on to the senseis?" she asked. "Or Kazekage?"

"Yes, probably," Shoto said. "I think Shine may have gone to the compound already. She had a long shift here. She gets tired faster than we do."

"I think it's all the coffee," Karin said. "You know, it's actually bad for you to drink so much coffee."

"I've told her that, and she said that everyone has a weakness," Shoto replied. "I don't drink coffee, personally. My father always said that exercising should wake you up in the morning, not caffeine... Maybe I should try it."

"Uh...no," Karin disagreed.

She didn't really get that Shoto just wanted to do the opposite of what his dad said, usually.

* * *

Shine was blissfully unaware of any problems pertaining to their work while she was waiting at the compound for the others to get back.

But she sensed teen drama when Bakugo came back earlier than the others and started slinging things around in the kitchen.

Shine reluctantly went into that building to see what was wrong.

"Isn't it someone else's night to cook?" she asked.

"Whatever," Bakugo said. "They can make dinner. I'm just making d--- vegetables so I can cut something."

"I see..." Shine watched him vengefully dice some innocent veggies. "Did something happen?"

"Frick no," Bakugo lied.

"Can you make egg rolls while you're at it?" Shine asked, leaning on the counter. "I actually like those."

"Make 'em yourself!"

"I don't know how."

"How can anyone not know how to make so much stuff?!" Bakugo scoffed.

"Well, if you're going to be that way, forget it. They probably wouldn't taste good anyway if you're distracted."

"I can make them just fine," Bakugo huffed.

"Whatever," Shine imitated his tone. "So what's wrong? Did you have a fight?"

Silence.

"With who?" Shine asked. "Shoto?"

"No."

"Dabi?"

"He-- no!"

"Sasuke?"

"Please, that prick is scared of me, and he should be."

"Granted... Camie?"

Silence.

Bingo, Shine thought.

"Anything I can help with?" she asked out loud. "Give the female perspective?"

"Not unless you can explain why girls like to geek out over people they barely know," Bakugo growled.

Shine tapped the counter. "I guess competing with a bunch of people who someone doesn't know all the flaws of because they've only been exposed to their glammed up versions through a TV show is kind of taxing. It's like if I had to compare myself to Hugh Jackman when I do public speaking to people I know...but your girlfriend knows perfectly well that you're still special."

Bakugo didn't say anything.

"Trust me," Shine went on. "You're the most cartoonishly extra person I know."

"Shut up!" Bakugo exploded, but he looked a little sensitive.

"Hey, at least you're not forgettable," Shine said. "And not one of the ninja are perfect--we all know that. Most of them are basket cases. But the job does make it easy to get caught up in the people you're sent to and forget the people you're already with. I've had the same problem with Wally. In your school, too. Just feeling like we can't ever put each other at the top of the list. We've tried to see the job itself as our team effort time and not something that takes us away from each other... Still, all work and no play can make you focus on the things that don't matter as much. You get used to it, but it can still be frustrating."

Bakugo glanced at her finally.

"But you'll learn how to deal with it," Shine assured him. "And if you and Camie are gonna be heroes, you will have to learn how to have a relationship around a very stressful and time-consuming job. I mean, I think you heroes don't have enough rest, but even if you had days off regularly, you could still be in the zone. Anything can happen. Trying to make your relationship part of the journey is better."

"Tell her that," Bakugo said.

"I think you should tell her if you're having a problem," Shine replied. "But keep in mind, Katsuki, that you're a lot more introverted than Camie is. Maybe for you, quality time as a team looks different than it does to her. She wants you to do all this with her and enjoy it, and you want to have time to yourself to recharge. You have to compromise somewhere. You can't expect her to not be her bubbly, friendly self all the time. And she can't expect you never to want time to just be alone or be with close friends and not 20 other people. And you won't like people as much as she does, and she won't have a need to compete with people as much as you do. But that's nothing you can't work out. Just make sure you're not assuming she's trying to ignore you on purpose. It's so easy to let this get away from you without realizing it."

"S---, I knew all that," Bakugo said, though he hadn't thought about it that hard till now. "But she still acts like these people are the greatest thing ever. And let's face it, most of them are boring or they suck."

"Don't you think that about most people?" Shine replied.

"It's true a lot," Bakugo grumbled.

"To you, sure...but the experience of being in a new culture is invigorating enough for some of us, even if it's the boring stuff," Shine shrugged. "I'm only trying to say, being a little more understanding can go a long way. But if she was in the wrong, don't you think a gentler approach might get farther than sulking about it? She doesn't care about sulks."

Bakugo sighed in exasperation, but he knew she was right.

Shine nodded and left the kitchen.