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It was just another day in what had become the norm for the students attending U.A High School. The sun had already risen high into the air and many students had already left their rooms to start the day anew. Whilst many were already heading into the main campus for one reason or another, others chose to linger around just a bit longer, trying to enjoy the peace that the new morning brought.
For two students in particular however, things were about to become much less peaceful.
"U-Um... Komori," Shihai began unsurely, pondering whether or not he should be approaching such a topic whilst his friend was using the stovetop. "...Is… Is that my shirt?"
"H-Huh? No, why would you ask that?" Kinoko asked, confusion in her voice as she looked back at her classmate.
It was then that the wooden spoon in her hand dropped onto the floor as she caught note of a particularly baggy black sleeve running down her arm. This caused her to look up and do a double take when she faced a nearby reflection.
"Where did this come from!?" Kinoko suddenly screamed as realisation dawned and the girl quickly began to look over herself.
Rather than the polka-dot tee she had been expecting to see, the mushroom enthusiast's eyes widened behind her bangs and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment when she saw a black turtle-neck and the words 'Welcome to the Dark Side' printed under her chest.
"I-I am so sorry!" she stammered out her apology in panic. "I really have no idea how this happened. Could you watch my mushrooms for a minute? I'll give it back right away."
How the star-eyed girl had gone the morning without noticing caused a spiral of confusion in her mind. Shihai's clothes were obviously much larger than her own, how she did not notice the bagginess of the shirt in question until this moment was beyond her.
Kinoko should have known something was up when Ibara gave her a strangely intense look during their cooking duties earlier this morning. Itsuka had even looked puzzled before she left with Nirengeki for their Class Rep meeting though she had not said anything. The mushroom enthusiast really should have noticed something was off when Reiko made a comment about about her finally revealing a more 'free-spirited' side of herself. Yui looked like she was actually going to say something too. For shroom's sake just how did she not realise sooner?
"Wait, Komori…" Shihai called after her as she turned to leave the kitchen. "… You know," he looked away slightly, scratching his cheek. "… I think that shirt looks nice on you…"
Needless to say the other hero-in-training regretted letting that one slip immediately as both their expressions grew rather flustered after those words left his mouth.
"I-I s-see," Kinoko's heart felt like it was going to burst out of her chest and she turned to hide what he could see of her face. "U-Uh… Y-you wouldn't happen to know how this happened would you?"
"Well… I think I do…" Unfortunately Shihai did not think, he regrettably knew exactly how this had happened. "Remember the other night…?"
Perhaps the most important rule for students who lived within the Heights Alliance dorms was that each gender had their own rooms and facilities and that those of the opposite sex were not allowed into them under any circumstances.
Shihai Kuroiro prided himself on being a 'Scheming Hero.' His whole deal was going around rules, finding loopholes and working with those instead. It was an epithet that he proudly owned, much to the chagrin of some of his peers. So when Komori had asked him out of all their classmates if he wanted to watch a documentary about fungi with her he could not help himself.
It was a brilliant scheme, the white-haired teen had thought. Use of the common room's television would have been difficult to acquire without either of them willingly giving up their slot on the loathsome scheduling chart. The fragile balance of mutually enjoyable programming was not one either was willing to disrupt.
All Shihai needed to do was schedule his laundry to be completed after most of his classmates had gone to sleep. Then he would slip out, collect his clothes along with some snacks from the pantry and sneak his way up to Komori's room with the goods.
"… It must fallen out when I was putting everything down," the white-haired teen concluded, embarrassment in his voice.
"U-Uh… Then I must have thrown it on whilst I was still half asleep," Kinoko added at the realisation, not wanting her friend to take the full blame for what on both ends an honest mistake. And it was certainly much better they had noticed before their homeroom teacher. "All these extra classes and study sessions are tiring me out," she mumbled. "I'm glad that tomorrow's the weekend."
"Indeed… Our teachers have been unrelenting ever since we returned from the training camp," Kuroiro said. "The little peace we do get within this looming darkness does wonders."
Kinoko could not help but let out a quiet giggle at his words as she fidgeted with the sleeves. "I like the way you speak. I-I mean, I-I'll get go changed and give your shirt back!" she stammered out as she turned to leave.
Click!
Both hero course students froze in their tracks at the soft, yet clearly distinct, noise. Their blood running cold, both slowly turned toward the source and immediately caught sight of just what had caused the disturbance. An eerily familiar eye with a several strands of dark green hair was looking back at them, peeking out from behind the entryway that lead out to the common area. Just below it and barely noticeable except to one versed in the ways of deception and trickery was a purple phone case suspiciously pointed right at them.
The lone eye widened slightly, beginning to float back into the common area behind the stairs as the phone too sank out of view.
"Tokage! Relinquish your phone!" Shihai yelled in embarrassment before he suddenly lunged forwards.
As her classmate's split-off parts scrambled toward the stairs, Kinoko watched as Shihai melded with the darkness to give chase. She too would have followed, also determined not to let that photograph ever see the light of day, if not for the slight burning smell that began to fill the air.
"Oh no, my mushrooms!" Kinoko cried out before sprinting back toward the frying pan, barely saving her precious fungi from burning.
So much for a peaceful morning before class.