AOI

"Shin...What day is it?" I asked the guy lying down the couch. He looked at me with shocked eyes.

"Oh. Did you forget the days of the week too?"

"No idiot!" I yelled at him and he replied a hearty laughed.

Ugh. Sadist. He is a true sadist.

"It's Saturday" he finally answered my question. I lay down my bed and covered my whole body like a cocoon with my blanket.

Shin is with me more these past few days, because Shouto-kun has to go to school. I asked Shin why he doesn't go to UA and he merely replies 'Secret.'

"Why are you asking anyway? Do you miss Shou-kun?" He asked, using the nickname he uses to make Shouto-kun angry. I can still hear him through the blanket.

"Is there something wrong with missing a friend?" I asked back, ignoring the loud drums in my heart.

"Do you like him?" he asked. Again with that question? Seriously, he's been asking me that since forever.

I sighed. "How can you te--" I stated as I sat up, pulling my blanket away. But my words stopped when I saw his silver eyes so close to me. His face is centimeter away from mine. I can feel his hot breath against my lips, and its minty scent as I took a deep breath.

"How can you?" He asked in a low whisper, with a tone telling me to continue my last question. His eyes looked innocent and wondering but I can see a glint of amusement in it. They're teasing me

"H-How." I stuttered. God, he's too close! I pushed him away. He didn't look hurt by it and merely sat on my bed. "SHIN!" I yelled at him. He laughed so hard.

"I wonder how you would react if it was Shouto who did that?" He stated in a teasing smile. My eyes widen and heat immediately invaded my face.

"How can you tell if you like someone?' Is that what you want to ask from me?" I swear this guy is a mind-reader.

"Never mind! I don't wanna know." I looked away from him. Geez, why is he such a tease?

"You just wanna let your mind feel so curious about what you're feeling?"

"I can just ignore--Who said I'm having weird feelings anyway?!" This jerk is a mind-reader!

"Hmmm~" He tilted his head, observing me. "You're too obvious though"

I looked away from his teasing silver eyes. "I don't know what you're talking about"

"Red cheeks, constantly embarrassed, perhaps you're feeling wild exploding heartbeats too."

"Stop reading my mind!" I finally blurted out.

"Also, whenever he's gone, you can't help but looking for him, hoping he'll come back as soon as possible." And yet he ignored what I said and continued talking. I covered my ears and shut my eyes.

"Shut up! SHUT UP!" I yelled on top of my lungs.

I felt the weight of the bed shifting, which means that he moved closer. He held both of my hands. I slowly opened my eyes and saw his serious face. He looks so serious. I haven't seen him like this before. He slowly moved my hands away from my ears. I couldn't resist him, like I was controlled by those beautiful silver eyes.

'Black and silver'

"How can you tell if you like someone," his whisper was soft, and his voice was soothing. It made me breathless. "Are you sure you don't want to know the answer? Or are you just hiding it?

"Are you afraid to admit it?" he uttered.

I bit my lower lip.

I... don't know. I feel so confused. What are these feelings? Do I really like Shouto-kun? Are those times when I wanna be with him...the proof that I like him?

There was silence in the whole room. I can only hear the sound of my heartbeat. Then Shouto-kun's gentle face appeared in my mind. I felt my heart explode.

"Aoi." Shin held my cheek, caressing it with his thumb.

"You like Shouto, right?" He asked.

I... Do I like Shouto-kun?

Shin's face moved closer, his eyes staring at my lips.

"S-Shin" He moved closer. "W-wait, what are you--"

I tried pushing him away but he held both of my hands before I could do anything. And he pinned me down the bed, gripping both of my hands tightly and each side of my head. I winced in pain. His eyes looked at mine intently. His gaze was so intense making me gulp.

"What are y-you doing, Shin? This isn't funny." My voice quavered. But despite the obvious fear I'm showing, he only moved his face closer.

I shut my eyes close. I can feel his hot breath against my lips. I bit my lips hard.

Please no...

I can feel his breath move from my lips to my right cheek, then to my ear... I can't breathe

I gasped for air.

"Are you afraid?" My eyes widen. His face is on the right side of my head since I can see the ceiling now.

Why are you doing this Shin?

I tried breaking free but he's too strong.

Please... Stop... This isn't funny anymore. Why? Why are you doing this? Someone help me...

Shouto-kun

"If it was Shouto doing this, would you be afraid?" My mind went blank. Suddenly the strength I'm using to try break free disappeared.

Is this still about Shouto-kun? Is he testing me if I like him? Is that why?

"Pffft." It's the reason isn't it? "I knew you like him"

Then Shin broke a laugh. He let my hands go and moved his face away, but he's still on top of me. I was stupefied by his expression. He looks really amused as he stared down at my reaction. As if he's experimenting on an animal or something and finally found the conclusion he's looking for. He just wanted to do that to see if I like Shouto-kun or not.

Tears started pooling from my eyes. Everything got blurry.

"Is that all?" My voice shook.

So what if I like him... If I asked for his help when I got scared, does that mean I like him? And if that's what it really means... What if I can finally see that I like him?

"Why do you have to do that? You're only making me hate you. Yes... Maybe I like him. I like him more than you. Are you happy now? You're so mean... It's so mean, Shin...

"Why? Why go that far?" I uttered.

He's so mean...

I covered my face as I sobbed.

"Aoi," his hand held mine, but I slapped it away.

"Don't touch me!" I yelled. "You're so mean... Like I was only a plaything..."

"Shhh... I'm sorry." He stated kindly "Don't be scared. It's my fault okay?"

"Shut up!"

"You're acting like a small child right now." He chuckled. My eyes widen as look at him,

"I'm not--" but my words stopped...

As he pulled my body up by the arm and hugged me.

"I'm sorry. I just want you to be clear about your feelings." He stated.

"Why?" my tears won't stop from flowing... "Why do you have to do it that way?"

"It's my fault. I was being mean. I'm a mean person, Aoi. I forgot that you're not the way you were before. You've lost your memories... I thought that I could still treat you the same way."

"Testing my reactions?" What kind of friends are we?

"Yeah" he chuckled softly. "You were pretty emotionless back then. You never show what you feel inside...So that's why I bullied you."

"You bullied me?" My eyes widen.

"Well, kinda. You would either punch me or kick me... But you seldom cry. That's why... I'm really sorry." He pulled away from the hug, and looked at my tear-stained face. He wiped the tears off my cheeks. "I'll be careful now, okay?" then he smiled.

"You better... Cause I'll punch you like I used to." I pouted. Then he chuckled.

I heard the door sliding open. "What are you doing, Kuroiwa?"

A familiar voice stated. It was cold and sharp as ice that it almost made me shiver. I looked at the direction where the voice came from and Shin did the same. Then I saw him, with his hair swaying with the breeze covering his gray eye. But I can see a deadly gleam in his blue eye. Oh God, these guys are going to fight again, aren't they?

"S-Shouto-kun." I raised my hands. "It's not what you think--" but my voice stopped when I realized my position with Shin. I'm sitting up on my bed with this sadist straddling on my lap. Our bodies are less than an inch close.

"Yeah don't misunderstand, Shou-kun~" What the hell Shin! Don't use that nickname now. You're making him angry so don't tease him!

"Tell me what's going on then."

"Tell me what happened at school first." Shin's eyes narrowed. His giving a wicked smile that made me confused. Why did he emphasize the word 'school'?

Shouto-kun looked at me then sighed. "An old student came back."

I couldn't help but tilt my head.

"Oh I see~ Then as for us, I'm just experimenting on Aoi like we used to." My eyes widen at Shin. I grabbed his hair.

But instead of being in pain, he was laughing. Is this guy a sadistic masochist or a masochistic sadist? Arrgh! He's driving me insane!

"Kuroiwa, let's talk outside." Shouto-kun's voice turned to ice once again. It made me stop grabbing the sadist's slightly messy black hair.

"Okay~" But despite the tone of Shouto-kun's voice, he only replied in a carefree manner. It's as if he wants to piss him off more. Oh no, I hope this guys won't fight again. Shouto-kun walked out of the door. I waited for the door to close...Then

"What the hell were you thinking, Shin! You're gonna fight again!" I punched his chest several times. He chuckled.

"We always fight." He answered with a carefree smile. My eyes widen... I wanna choke this guy to death. "I'll be alright, don't worry okay?"

"Shut u--" but I was the one whose mouth got shut when he kissed my forehead.

My mind went blank again. My body stopped moving. Even my lungs seemed to stop breathing.

He gave a smile, and left the room, leaving me frozen in place.

~*~

SHOUTO

What is Kuroiwa thinking?

I clenched my teeth, trying not to either burn or freeze the person that I need to work together in order to keep her safe. It's normal and even good to act natural in front of her but still... I know that they're very close... But still...

The door of Aoi's room slid open, and a guy with black shirt and jeans came out. His silver eyes looked at me calmly.

"What are you so mad about, Shouto?" he asked.

"I'm not." But my voice clearly indicated that I am angry. He chuckled. "I don't like treating her the way you did before. You need to be careful."

"Since when do you care about her?"

I looked down, trying to calm down. He's best at making someone irritated. He's best at making someone lose his/her composure. I know that. I must not let him do that to me.

"We've been ordered to take care of her."

Kuroiwa's eyes narrowed.

"Ah, yes. They assigned you since you're very strong and they assigned me because of my Quirk. You're assigned to defend us incase an emergency comes up and I'm assigned to observe. But base on my observations, you should take your job more seriously. Leaving for school? Nonsense. It's the UA teachers themselves who assigned us. And one more thing, you've already graduated from UA, incase you've had amnesia as well. "

"Stop acting as if you don't know what I'm doing." I narrowed my eyes back at him.

"Of course, I know what you're doing. I know everything." He smiled. "I know that you're helping along with your father. I know that she is no longer safe. I know that it's not your job to help along because you're job is here to take care of her and not scavenge some old area. I know that you don't want to be with her."

I clenched my fists.

"I also know that your guilt isn't enough to protect her. In fact, you're happy of her condition."

"Are you not happy as well?" Then I saw the familiar yet rare sight of Kuroiwa, the sight of him being angry.

"She lost her Quirk because of you! She lost her dream because if you. She lost it all when she finally wanted to be a hero for herself.

"All to save you"

"The villains were after her in the first place." I stated.

"Isn't it our job as heroes to protect people?" Kuroiwa stated as he looked down.

"But why do I have to lose her? Why do I have to wake up only to find her gone?" my eyes started to sting.

"Aoi is still here."

I shook my head and looked down.

"I don't love Kiseki Aoi."

"Don't you realize... That it was always Kiseki Aoi who was with you. She was always there for you."

I felt my heart squeezed by guilt, but I only stayed silent. I walked past Kuroiwa, and slid the door open.

"Shouto-kun." A sweet innocent voice called out my name as I went inside her suite hospital room. I looked up to see her mesmerizing golden eyes and her silky straight pale blue hair. She looked so worried.

I gave her a gentle smile. "Don't worry, we weren't fighting." She finally sighed in relief.

Then she gave a smile. So innocent and kind, like a little child.

"I'm glad Shin and Shouto-kun are okay." My eyes went wide.

"Shou-kun" A calm voice called out. I looked at her and saw a girl wearing a pastel yellow shirt and dark blue jogging pants. Her long pale blue hair was tied in a loose side ponytail that's resting on her shoulder. "Are you fighting again?"

"Oh Hello Aoi~" Kuroiwa greeted her in a carefree manner. She looked at him with the same emotionless face.

"I'm not asking you to greet me." But the guy she was talking to merely shrugged.

"Don't worry. It was not a serious one. We're okay." I replied to her. She sighed in relief.

"I'm glad Shin and Shou-kun are okay."

Then as if an invisible mask crack, her emotionless face showed a smile... an elegant one

"Don't fight too much, okay?"

"Don't fight too much, okay?" She stated with the same smile I'm seeing in my mind.

My heart squeezed down heavily. I walked towards her and immediately embraced her tightly in my arms.

"S-Shouto-kun?"

I'm really sorry... Aoi. I'm really sorry...

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Early update~ I got a chance to sneak out to the internet cafe hahaha

Thank you for Renki and MM for continuing on voting this story, and also for those who added this story on their reading list, thank you so much ^^

5-1-18