The gymnasium shimmered, transformed into a glittering mockery of an enchanted forest. Fairy lights, shaped like fireflies, blinked amongst fake vines that dripped from the ceiling. Cardboard castles stood guard against the walls, their crenellations shimmering with iridescent paint. This was it, my third and final U.A. prom. The theme? Fantasy Land. Honestly, a little cheesy, but hey, free food and a chance to dress up.
I glanced down at my own outfit. I'd gone for a vaguely elf-ish look, a deep green suit with embroidered leaves creeping up the lapels. My hair, naturally, was styled to its usual electric shock, but I'd added a few sparkling green clips for good measure. I figured I looked…passable.
"Looking good, sparky!" Kirishima clapped me on the shoulder, his own outfit a surprisingly dashing knight's armor, albeit made of foam. Bakugo, naturally, had refused to dress up, sticking to a black suit and a perpetual scowl. Mina, ever the vibrant one, was a dazzling fairy queen, wings shimmering with every move.
"You guys too!" I grinned, trying to ignore the nervous flutter in my stomach. Proms always did this to me. The expectation, the music, the sheer possibility of something actually happening.
We stuck together for the first hour, navigating the throng of costumed students. We raided the snack table (Mina practically inhaled the mini quiches), dodged a couple of overly enthusiastic dancers, and generally just did our best to enjoy the spectacle. It was fun, in a chaotic, high-school-prom kind of way.
Then, the slow songs started.
A collective groan rippled through our group. Even Bakugo looked vaguely uncomfortable.
"This is my cue to disappear," Kirishima mumbled, already backing away slowly. "Gotta find Tetsutetsu. Later, dudes!"
Mina squealed and grabbed my arm. "Come on, Denki! Let's dance!"
I hesitated. I wasn't the greatest dancer, and the thought of slow dancing in front of everyone made my palms sweat. But Mina's enthusiasm was infectious. "Alright, alright, lead the way."
We danced to a couple of slow songs, Mina twirling and laughing, me just trying not to trip over my own feet. It was actually pretty fun. But then, a particularly melancholic ballad started playing. Mina sighed dramatically.
"Okay, my dancing days are over. Need to find some punch. You good here, Denki?"
"Yeah, I'm good," I said, even though a small part of me was hoping she'd stay. Suddenly, being alone on the dance floor felt a lot less appealing.
I stood there awkwardly, swaying slightly to the music, pretending to be fascinated by a particularly sparkly piece of tinsel hanging from the ceiling. I watched as couples swayed, some close, some awkward, all bathed in the soft, filtered light.
That's when I saw him.
Shinsou Hitoshi.
He was standing near the edge of the dance floor, leaning against a cardboard castle, looking impossibly cool in a dark velvet coat. He'd foregone the fantasy theme, sticking to his usual understated style. His lavender hair was neatly styled, and his eyes, usually half-lidded with exhaustion, seemed brighter than usual.
My heart did a weird little skip.
Shinsou was…well, Shinsou was Shinsou. Quiet, sarcastic, and fiercely intelligent. We'd been friends since our first year, bonding over late-night study sessions and shared disdain for overly peppy heroes. I always enjoyed being around him. His dry wit kept me grounded, and his surprisingly insightful observations always made me see things in a new light.
But lately, something had shifted. I'd started noticing the way the light caught his hair, the way his lips quirked when he was trying not to smile, the way his eyes crinkled when he laughed. And, I'd be lying if I didn't consider him to be attractive.
I tried to play it cool, pretending I hadn't seen him. I fiddled with the collar of my suit, took a deep breath, and attempted to look busy.
He started walking towards me.
My heart was now doing full-on gymnastics.
He stopped in front of me, his expression unreadable. "Hey, Denki," he said, his voice a low rumble that did strange things to my insides.
"Hey, Shinsou," I managed to croak out, trying to sound casual. "Didn't think you were the prom type."
He shrugged. "Came for the punch. Although, it tastes suspiciously like grape juice."
I chuckled nervously. "Yeah, well. It's the thought that counts, right?"
An awkward silence stretched between us, punctuated only by the saccharine melody of the song. I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks. I desperately wanted to say something, anything, to break the tension.
He cleared his throat. "So…you dancing?"
"Just finished a couple with Mina," I replied, gesturing vaguely towards the punch bowl.
He hesitated, then said, "Want to…want to dance?"
My brain short-circuited. "Dance? With…with you?"
He rolled his eyes. "Unless you see someone else standing here asking you to dance, yeah, with me."
My palms were now slick with sweat. Dancing with Shinsou? This was not part of the plan. This was not how I envisioned my prom night going. But, at the same time, I couldn't deny the fluttering excitement that was building inside me.
"Okay," I said, my voice barely a whisper.
He held out his hand, and I took it. His hand was warm and calloused, and it sent a shiver up my spine. He led me to the center of the dance floor, and we stood there, facing each other, the music swirling around us.
He placed his hand lightly on my waist, and I put my hand on his shoulder. It felt…weird. And exhilarating. We started to sway, slowly, awkwardly, trying to find a rhythm.
We didn't say anything. The silence was thick, charged with a tension I couldn't explain. I could feel his breath on my cheek, and the scent of his cologne, a subtle blend of sandalwood and something else I couldn't quite place.
I looked up at him, and his eyes met mine. They were intense, searching, and for a moment, I felt like I was the only person in the room.
Then, he leaned in.
My breath hitched.
He closed the distance between us, and his lips brushed against mine.
It was soft, tentative, almost hesitant. But it was also electric. A jolt of pure, unadulterated energy surged through me, making my head spin. I closed my eyes, savoring the moment, the feel of his lips on mine, the warmth of his hand on my waist.
The kiss deepened. It was still soft, still hesitant, but there was a new urgency to it, a desperation that mirrored my own.
And then, suddenly, I panicked.
What was I doing? This was Shinsou! My friend! We were at prom! In front of everyone!
I pulled away abruptly, my face burning.
He looked stunned, his eyes wide with confusion.
"I…I'm sorry," I stammered, unable to meet his gaze. "I…I didn't…"
He didn't say anything. He just stared at me, his expression a mix of hurt and embarrassment.
The song ended.
The silence stretched, thick and suffocating.
Without a word, I turned and ran.
I didn't stop running until I was outside, gasping for breath in the cool night air. I leaned against the brick wall of the school, my heart pounding in my chest.
What had just happened?
I had kissed Shinsou. And then I had run away.
I was a complete and utter idiot.
I knew I had to talk to him, to explain, to apologize. But the thought of facing him, of seeing the hurt in his eyes, was unbearable.
I glanced back at the brightly lit windows of the gymnasium, imagining Shinsou standing there, alone, wondering what had just happened.
He had asked me to dance, and I ruined it all.