Shigaraki let out a quiet, frustrated sigh and lifted Izuku, escorting him back to the bed with an oddly tender determination. He guided his omega down onto the mattress, arranging the covers around him with careful hands.
"It's late," Shigaraki murmured, voice low and final.
"We'll talk about this tomorrow." The words closed the conversation, weighted with all the emotion left unspoken. The quiet room hummed with exhaustion and the promise of uneasy rest.
—
It's been two days since the incident. He spent the entire day nagging me about my "unnecessary overthinking." He's such a worrywart, but I love that he never yelled at me about it. Still, I really need to nip these outbursts in the bud. I don't want to scare him away with my instability. I just don't understand why I can't keep it together in front of him.
Regardless, I don't want to dwell on it any longer, so I'm focusing on the next phase of my plans.
Operation: Gift Returns.
. . .
I'd made my decision: I would go back to school. But it was time to return everything UA had given me. The suit, the gadgets, the privileges, each item would be relinquished, one by one. As for One For All, that was a responsibility I couldn't simply package up and ship back. I'd speak with All Might face-to-face. I already knew what awaited me. I wanted the chance to apologize in person.
I swung my legs over the edge of the bed, intent on starting the day and facing what needed to be done. But just as I tried to stand, Shigaraki's arm shot out, catching me around the waist and hauling me backwards. I tensed, ready to twist away, but he was far too swift, his grip firm, pulling me down against him before I could so much as struggle.
"Alpha. I need to get up." I whispered.
He grumbled, a rough, sleepy sound, and tugged me down so that I was trapped beneath him. Panic sparked in my chest—No! I need to get to school. This will be my last day. I can't let myself be late now.
Oblivious to my turmoil, Tomura nuzzled his nose into my stomach, soft and unguarded. His messy hair tickled my bare skin, drawing short, helpless gasps from my lips. It was almost unbearably adorable. But school! I pressed my lips together, torn between strained laughter and exasperation. There was no time for this!
His hands slid beneath my shirt with practiced ease, fingers drifting lightly up my sides.
"Tomura!" I yelped, cheeks blazing with embarrassment, as my entire resolve began to crumble under the playful assault.
He groaned, hugging me closer, "Go back to sleep."
I squirmed beneath him, wriggling and twisting in a desperate bid for freedom, but he only tightened his grip, arms banded around me with infuriating strength. No matter how I struggled, escape was impossible.
He'd transformed me into his personal pillow, and he had no intention of letting go. I glared up at him, exasperated, but his dangerously handsome face loomed above mine, a crooked, smug smile playing at his lips.
It made my heart race and my annoyance flare higher in equal measure. How dare he use both his strength and looks against me?
"I have to go to school," I said.
"You don't need to go." He grogily said.
"Tomura, please let me go." I tried to coax him by running my fingers through his hair.
He closed his eyes and leaned into my palm, a faint, contented sigh slipping from his lips. His cheek pressed warmly against my tummy, lingering as though savoring every second of the quiet relaxation in his posture. The small smile that tugged at the corner of his mouth told me just how deeply he relished the simple sensation, basking in the intimacy of my gentle caress.
"Call me if you need help. I'll send somebody." He finally released me.
Quickly, I scurried away.
—
Stepping through the school gates, I was immediately struck by how different the air felt, like stepping into a pressure chamber. I was just hypersensitive, but every detail pressed against my skin: like the way conversations quieted as I passed, the tense glances traded behind my back, the tension shimmering just below the surface.
It wasn't just their stares; it was the invisible fog of pheromones crowding the hallways, bitter, anxious, heavy with judgment. I flinched at the layers of discomfort, nausea churning in my stomach as I tried to ignore the invisible currents crawling over my senses.
Doing my best to move discreetly, I hurried through the crowded corridor, desperate for escape amid the sea of hostile eyes. Murmurs trailed after me, muted but sharp in their intent, slicing at my nerves. The bathroom became a refuge, the only place where I could brace myself against the nausea, rinsing out my mouth in a futile attempt to steady myself before class.
When I finally entered the classroom, I was late by my own standards, not the first to arrive, not hiding behind my usual eagerness. I nodded politely to the few classmates already there, but they visibly recoiled or simply looked through me as if I were a ghost haunting the room.
The sting of their silent rejection was sharper than I'd imagined.
As the minutes ticked by, the isolation settled in. I was invisible, ignored by everyone, even those I'd once called friends. I tried to rationalize their silence, telling myself there were surely reasons for this distance, but even those comforting lies grew thin with every passing moment.
'They could just be busy. '
'Maybe they are fearful of being ostracized if they associate with me. '
'Maybe—maybe they...'
'Think positive, Izuku. They are your friends; there is no way they would turn on you'.
Time passed by so slowly. I bobbed my leg to ease my anxiety. I heard the scribbling of the pencil on paper. The nail tapping on the desk. The muffled lecture from Aizawa sensei. Everything became so loud. The next thing I knew, class ended.
It was lunchtime.
Some gathered in their group, preparing to walk out. I got up, making my way toward my friends.
"G-guys." I didn't mean to stutter, but I smiled.
Awkward, maybe, but it was my best attempt despite my nerves. I thought they all were going to ignore me. As I expected, they treated me like the air. I looked away, disappointed, but what was I hoping for?
I bit my lip, trying to force my emotions down.
Two pairs of feet appeared in my vision. I looked up, surprised to see Todoroki and Uraraka stay back.
I opened my mouth, "I-I...".
The words wouldn't form on my tongue.
"Are you okay?" Uraraka asked, pulling me into a hug.
I was in shock. She didn't resent me. I reluctantly hug her.
"I'm okay."
I felt Todoroki's hand on my shoulder. He scanned me up and down. I chuckled.
"Really, I'm doing alright." I wiped a stray tear from my eye.
"We heard from Bakugo what happened."
"What?" I never expected Bakugo, of all people, to defend me.
We talked for a while. We had to rush for the last 25 minutes of lunch and eat.
When we entered the lunchroom, everything went silent. Everyone's eyes were on me. The rumored omega shamelessly returned to UA. I rolled my eyes, following the others for food.
I was denied food. Great! Just great.
"We'll give you some of ours," Uraraka whispered in my ear.
"It's fine, I'll just eat at home," I said, whispering back, following them to a table.
The whispers were so loud that they couldn't be considered whispering. I sighed, annoyed with the noise.
Suddenly...