After the rewards show had ended, many of the teachers had slowly begun to trickle out, heading home now that the main event for the night had finished up. This made Hina's search for her partner all the easier, and after a handful of minutes she finally came upon the man she'd been looking for this whole time. Hina smiled, eyes roaming his figure.
His hair was up in that half bun, the rest allowed to flow as it normally did down his neck. On top of his white dress shirt was a matte gray vest, matched remarkably with his eyes, she couldn't help but wonder. Black slacks completed the look, making him look so professional and...oh, so sophisticated. Not much color to him, but she'd always liked him in darker colors anyway. Instinctively, she swallowed at just how well he put together.
She stepped forward, then stopped as she noticed the animatedly bobbing head of seafoam-green hair right beside him, her hands moving with every shake and tilt. It seemed to hold his bored attention, and her smile faltered a little, hoping to have found him without company. Well, it would seem rude not to approach now, if he had indeed noticed her, though it didn't look like it since his stoic expression was fixed squarely on his conversation mate.
"...'ll agree to a date one day. One day!" The woman went on in a chuckle, still oblivious to the redhead approaching to her left. She could now make out the details of her orange, patterned dress. "I'm a very patient woman, Eraserhead."
"So I've noticed..." He replied bitterly, then glanced over to her now that Hina was close. He straightened, and she could definitely see relief flood his expression. "Hina."
"Hi." She greeted, not missing the way he took a second to really look her over. He may be reserved, but she could definitely tell that he at least liked the view. She turned to the woman, who now looked up her warmly. "Sorry if I'm interrupting. I've been trying to find Shouta all night."
"It's no worry at all!" The woman laughed again, sticking her hand out and grabbing Hina's to pump in an enthusiastic handshake. "I'm Emi, by the way! Or, Ms. Joke if you prefer, but really just call me Emi! I don't think I've seen you around at all. Are you a new teacher?"
"Oh...no, I just don't socialize much with others, I guess. I'm Hina." She introduced, a little overwhelmed with Emi's eagerness to meet. "I work at U.A. with Shouta."
"U.A., huh? So I've got some competition, then? Ha, I've always liked a challenge!" The woman laughed again, eyes closed in mirth. "You shall be my eternal love rival?"
"Eh?" Hina raised a brow at the man beside her but he only sighed and shook his head tiredly. Then, Ms. Joke placed her hands on her hips and gave Hina an amused grin.
"Tell you what. I'll let the two of you talk, since you've been looking for him all night, but next time we are definitely planning the engagement party!" Ms. Joke pointed at Shouta meaningfully, and Hina's eyes widened.
"E-engagement?" Was she missing something here?
"We're not engaged." Aizawa pressed firmly, looking at Ms. Joke with that long-suffering look, as if he'd heard the same thing a thousand times.
Ms. Joke covered her laugh with her hands. "Aha! Always so quick to retort, Eraser! So long! Nice meeting you, Hina!"
And without much other warning, Ms. Joke bobbed into the crowd of teachers that still lingered, leaving the two teachers alone to talk. Shouta gave Hina a tired stare.
"Are you hungry? We can leave now and...avoid her." He suggested and, still a little confused, she nodded.
"I could definitely eat something."
"And I could use a drink."
"So...what was that about?" She questioned once they'd sat down at the restaurant and ordered their meals for the night. The waiter had just taken their orders and left, giving them some time to talk. Shouta sighed heavily, setting down the mug of beer he'd taken a long drink from.
"A pain in the ass, is what it was..." He mumbled, then winced. "Actually, that's a bit harsh...I've known her for a long time, is all. Our agencies used to be close by, so we went on a lot of missions together, back in the day. I guess we're...friends."
"Did you ever date? Given how she seems to be in love with you..." Hina remarked, taking a sip of her drink. Shouta gave her a stare.
"No."
"So, you're friends who are...engaged?" She pressed curiously, less from jealousy and more because she was amused by the whole thing. Shouta's expression never changed, wholly not amused in the slightest.
"We've never been, nor ever will be, engaged." He stated resolutely, marking the end of that conversation. "She's just got a weird sense of humor."
"Ok...I'll stop asking." But the corner of her mouth was still upturned, thinking up more questions that she could bombard him with later. Ms. Joke was a very interesting person indeed.
He must have sensed that she was still curious, and so he leaned his head on one hand, elbow sitting on the table. "She's harmless, really, all the teasing is just her personality. But she's made it her personal mission the last decade to make me laugh."
"That's all? I've done that several times. Maybe I can give her a few pointers for next time..." She spared him a glance and grinned when he raised a brow.
"You're not helping."
"Gomen, gomen." She replied with a laugh, patting his hand gently in appeasement. "Drink and forget all about it."
"I intend to." He sighed, grabbing his glass and taking another long sip.
"Mmm." Hina hummed, swallowing the drink she'd just taken, but having thought of something. "You saw Hizashi at the banquet, right?"
"Yes, why?"
"Did he say anything about a date?" Her curiosity was burning about the mysterious woman from Shiketsu Academy. "He met up with a lady who works at another school there. He seemed serious about this one."
"Serious, as in?" He prompted, and she shrugged.
"I don't know, more than just a night out and a hook up, maybe? He even looked nervous just going up to her."
"Hmm." Shouta thought about it, but only shook his head. "Doesn't sound like him at all."
"Exactly! What if he's changing?"
He didn't appear convinced like her. "It would take a lot to make that man change anything about his dating habits. He's lived that lifestyle for years. Highly doubt it's what you think. Maybe she's one that he's spurned before."
She let out a sigh, dejected. "Maybe, but I have a feeling he'll come around yet."
"Here's to hoping." Shouta responded tiredly, finishing off the last of his drink. He signaled to a passing waiter for another, and Hina smiled. It was nice to see him unwind and relax. Her eyes roamed his arms again, and she blinked.
"I actually liked attending this year's banquet." She started, then shook her head. "Too bad I didn't find Nemuri. She'll think I didn't come and make a big deal about it."
"Hizashi will vouch for you." He mentioned, and Hina smiled.
"Ooh, good idea."
"I don't see the point to them." Shouta said with a shrug, his cheeks beginning to tinge with red as the alcohol hit his bloodstream. A waiter brought his second drink, and he already started downing it. "But it helps UA's image and a good teacher attends company gatherings, so I make sure not to miss them."
"I felt like I belonged there, for the first time." Hina recalled with a soft smile, then it widened. "Oh, and getting to see you in formal attire is a plus, too." She said, leaning forward a little and lowering her voice so only he could hear. "You look really good in a vest."
She expected him to look away in embarrassment. Shouta wasn't all that great with direct compliments. But this time, it was her who was surprised.
"You look good in everything." He said immediately, his stare meeting hers unflinchingly, causing her to blush. Then his gaze lowered past her face. "Dresses, especially."
Hina felt her breath catch in her throat, appreciative of his words. Shouta always got a little flirty when he drank, but he wasn't that drunk yet, so maybe that wasn't the only reason tonight. She took a long drink of her own alcohol, downing its contents and looking at him over her cup the whole time. Now empty, she set it on the table and smiled at him.
"Yeah? Anything else you're particularly fond of?" She ventured to ask, curious and hoping he'd play along. His eyes narrowed, thinking.
"There isn't really anything I like over the others. Your smile is what does it." He mentioned candidly, and she felt a pleasant pang in her chest. "Just seems to make anything look much...brighter."
"Shouta..." Hina honestly didn't know how to respond to that, her face feeling red as a beat from the blunt compliments. She noticed him staring at her lips, no doubt wanting to lean across and kiss her, as she was want to do, but remembering they were in public. It was a shame they weren't back at the apartments, alone and out of the way of anyone's view...
Oh, yeah. Sometimes it was handy being a telepath.
Hina's leg lifted, brushing against his under the table suggestively. "You're making it very difficult to keep to a promise of taking things slow. Saying things like that...what do you expect a lady to do?"
Her hand rested on his knee, traveling upwards until he grabbed it and stopped her progress, glancing meaningfully at the patrons around them.
"Hina-"
"Relax," She whispered, flashing her eyes blue, "no one can see."
He let out a breath, about to rebuke her, but blinked as she was suddenly on his lap in the chair. Without even moving, she'd placed herself across the table and on top of him. The way her heat pressed down into his own lap was startlingly real, and despite knowing she was projecting all of this in his head, part of him wondered if they were currently putting on a show for the others currently eating their meals.
That was forgotten the moment her lips claimed his, and she led them both in a hard kiss. Shouta's hands settled on her waist. Everything about her felt real, the way her body felt under his fingers, her weight on him, and the way her lips moved. He wasn't sure if he should be concerned just how good she was getting at projecting thoughts into someone's head. The mayhem she could cause him on any passing whim...
He was hard-pressed not to groan when she ground herself down further into his dick, causing a pleasing friction. Shouta's hands snaked upwards towards her breasts-
He blinked and she was suddenly back across the table in her seat, smiling across from him with a sultry expression. Thankfully, it didn't appear as if he'd mimed his mind's eye movements, so he wasn't sitting there as if he were touching her. She at least wasn't that sadistic. Disoriented, he hadn't even noticed the waiter had returned with their meals until he was setting them on the table.
"Thank you." Hina said, grabbing her chopsticks to break apart as Shouta tried situating himself more comfortably in his seat. His pants were uncomfortably tight, but thankfully the table hid it from view.
"Enjoy your meal."
"I'm sure we will." Was her reply, gaze leveled on Shouta.
That smile had never looked more mischievous. And he'd be lying if he didn't find it attractive. Not for the first time and for more than one reason, he was exceptionally grateful that she had rediscovered her confidence. Eyes narrowed in both awe and a promise to return the favor at some point, he too reached for his chopsticks to eat.
It was going to be a long dinner.
Both of them were very drunk by the time they'd finished their meals. Thankfully, Hina had managed to keep her inner thoughts to herself through the entire dinner, the only hint that she was thinking increasingly dirty things was the way she looked at him from across the table. Shouta was sure there was a matching lust in his own gaze, but now, with six drinks between them and the evidence of red faces, he knew that neither would want to act on it now. They were both far too gone for that. He hoped she'd share his sentiment.
Figuring the cooler night air would help sober them up a bit, they stumbled back towards the teacher apartments. Hina kept trying to make conversation, but she couldn't seem to properly form a full, coherent thought.
"You should have seen it, this guy, with All Might..." She laughed a little, then shook her head, "maybe it isn't as funny as what I think it is...god, it was so hot in that banquet hall, so stuffy!"
"What guy?" He asked curiously, and she concentrated hard on not falling over as she thought back to what had happened. A steady arm around her waist kept her upright and not falling into passersby or traffic.
"I can't even remember his name now...poor All Might, though. Can't go anywhere without someone bothering him! Now, all I've gotta do is talk to Nemuri about art classes..." She rambled on with a smile, and Shouta stared at her in confusion, deciding it was better not to ask in her drunken haze. He found the corner of his own mouth twitched upwards, though.
"Almost there." He mentioned, swinging them both to the left and down the sidewalk that would bring them to the school grounds. The security gate came into view, and they stepped through it, heading down the pathway that would bring them to the teacher apartments.
Hina tripped up a little on a crack in the pathway, making a noise of thought as she remembered something from the banquet. "Hey, Shouta..."
"Hmm?"
"We should turn in one of those fraternity forms to Nezu." She said, looking up at him seriously as they walked.
He raised a brow, pausing. "You mean...fraternization?"
She waved her hands dismissively. "Whatever it's called. We still haven't done that yet, have we?"
"No. But you do know you're very drunk right now?" He supplied, reminding that this decision may be coming from an impulsive thought in her head. "What makes you bring it up?"
"Nezu said something about it, and I've been thinking about it all night, actually." She replied, frowning as she recalled the conversation. "And maybe it's too soon. We aren't that far into our relationship. But I don't care if others know. I'm sure they have an idea even if Nemuri and Hizashi didn't say anything."
"I imagine so." He agreed, having gotten appraising looks from his male coworkers a few times in the break room, with implicit questions of how he was doing outside of his teacher work. Nosy friends, indeed.
They neared the entrance of their suites, and she stopped, turning towards him. Her cheeks were still flushed, but she was clearly thinking. "I want to submit the form. If...that's ok? I wasn't sure how you felt about it, since we've never brought it up."
"I was waiting for you to decide." He admitted with a shrug. "Let you take things at what pace you felt comfortable with."
"Well, I'm asking you, too. It's not just about me. Would it bother you if I did?" He could see her hesitation in the question.
His head shook. "No."
"Ok." She nodded once, almost unsure what to do or say now that they'd gotten the conversation out of the way. Then her smile returned. "I'll fill it out and get it turned in to Nezu on Monday."
She took his hand and led him the rest of the distance to his door. She turned and wrapped her arms around his neck, and he accepted her parting kiss with ease. Hina felt suddenly bad about teasing him at the restaurant before. If she'd known they'd be imbibing in lots of alcohol afterwards, she never would have. Ah, well. There was always another night to test the waters with him.
"I'll maybe see you tomorrow." She said, pulling away after a moment. "If I'm not hungover all day."
"That makes two of us." He said, leaving her with one last kiss before stepping towards the door to unlock it. She went to her own and entered, shooting a final smile and look in his direction before stepping inside.
They were only a wall apart, but she missed him the moment she shut the door behind her.
Fuck, did she want him. Maybe they'd waited long enough, because Hina felt like she'd combust any day now if she didn't get her hands on him.
ns 15.158.61.20da2
