The Start of Something New [Rin]

I often feel like a butterfly with broken wings

Oh?, he asked in a low voice, almost as if he was talking to himself.

The expression came from abump that he felt on his back. It didn't hurt or made him unbalanced or move at all, but something or someone had definetely collided against him. And that something or someone was definetely light and short.

Calmly taking his earphones off and putting his phone back on his pocket - forgetting about the sound problem that made him stop in the first place - Ryuusei turned back, wanting to see what had happened.

Looking ahead, he saw nothing. Just empty air and empty space. The same street he had just walked on still empty. Did it vanish? Was the bump a dream? He started scratching his mid-long hair with his right hand, only to then realize he was hearing soft groans and a sweet, delicate voice apologizing. He recognized it from somewhere, but couldn't exactly pin-point it. Looking down to where the sound came from, he layed his eyes upon a fragile looking girl, head bowed down with her long black hair hiding her face. At the time he didn't know, but that was the girl from his class, the girl that had helped him on that exact same morning.

Oblivious to that fact, Ryuusei acted like she was a stranger, a regular girl walking on the street. It was easier for him talking to someone that he knew he was never going to see again. Because of this, his voice sounded more normal, despite still having the same uninterested aspect it always had.

Please, don't apologize. I'm the one that should say sorry, I shouldn't stop so abruptly like that.

The boy crouched, being now at around the same level of the girl that was sitting on the ground. Still with her head now, Ryuu couldn't see the eyes that would instantly make him identify her as a 1-A classmate.

Let me help you up, it's the least I can do.

He offered her his hand with the intention of helping her get up. The sun setting behind him highlighted Ryuu from the background, his hair and eyes shining in their light browned color. If it was the middle of the day, they would certainly be as golden as they could be.

Would she take his hand?

Notes: Poor boy, still doesn't know who it is.
Words: 388.

I often feel like a butterfly with broken wings

He was crouching in front of the girl in a rather unstable position. Both of his heels were off the ground, making his entire weight supported only by the front palm of his feet.

"N-no, it was m-me that w-walked straight into you. I w-wasn't paying attention."

That voice. He was sure that he had heard it before. And that he had listened to it quite recently. It was soft, definetely the sound of a girl who was around Ryuu's own age. That made the young boy's mind even more confused: afterall, he didn't talk that much to anyone, much less with girls. He thought that he could've just be confused, associating that voice with one of the numerous people that talked badly about him in his previous school. Yeah, that must be it.

Even so, he insisted on not letting the girl blame herself. He began talking again, his hand already extended after offering help.

It really was my fault. I hope you're not hur-

Right before he could finish talking, the girl looked at him. Those blue eyes... The girl from this morning?!

There was no doubt about it - that little and thin girl was the one who had helped him in the morning; another Yuuei student and, even more than that, Ryuu's 1-A classmate. How didn't he notice her school uniform?! He tilted his head a bit to the side at the same time the girl looked at him straight in the eyes, confusion on his face. It was definetely more awkward than before, but at least now Ryuu could retribute what the girl did earlier: she chose to help him instead of laughing and, even if he wasn't able to demonstrate it earlier, he was grateful for that.

Breaking the moment, the girl got up in a panicked fashion - so much that she almost hit Ryuu's head. To avoid it, she threw herself behind, losing balance in the process and starting to fall once again. Before realizing it, his hand was being pushed. In a normal situation, the girl wouldn't have enough strenght to pull the honey-eyed boy with her, but since he wasn't in the most stable of positions...

She was now laying on the floor, her belly facing the sky. As for Ryuu, he was laying on top of her... Well, not completly. He made a quick effort in order to not hurt his classmate and used his arms as support. With his hands right by the side of each of the girl's ears (but avoiding her hair) and his knees between both of her legs, their bodies weren't touching because of Ryuusei's instinct. But they were too close, way too close: his chest almost touching hers, his nose dangerously close too her face. Thankfully, at that time, the street was completly empty...

That scene, however, was a very brief one. It lasted only for the time that it took Ryuu to, in that position, lock eyes with the girl...

M-M-Moushiawake arimasen!, he said, his distant voice this time clearly different in tone, having a more embarassed feel to it.

As he said that, he instantly balanced himself back up, quickly standing back on his own too feet. Even Ryuusei Igarashi - to whom the world didn't matter that much - found himself turning slightly red after such an uncommon thing happened. A situation with the same girl of that morning, on the first day of school.

Taken aback, but still trying to stay composed and calm like his usual self, he extended his hand once again to the girl. However, this time, he didn't make the mistake of crouching. Instead, he just leaned a little bit, in order to make it easier for her to grab his hand if she decided to.

Hum, m-my name is Ryuusei, Igarashi Ryuusei. I-I'm sorry for that, let me help you.

He tried to keep his mind of what just happened, introducing himself trying not to give importance to the incident. If the girl would be able to do the same was a different question.

Notes: Straight out of a romance/slice of life anime... I love it!
Words: 680.

I often feel like a butterfly with broken wings

The girl was rather quick to grab his hand this time, not hesitating in accepting Ryuu's help to get up.

She was now standing in front of him, but making sure that she was in at a safe distance. Ryuu understood those small steps that the girl took in order to avoid being too close. The previous moment had been the closest that he had been to a girl and that was probably her case with boys aswell - at least it was what it appeared from her heavy breathing and shocked expression from earlier. However, she seemed to not blush at all, her skin remaing as pale as snow. Ryuusei took note of that, but didn't said anything, not giving it importance. To her formal bowing, the boy slightly waved both of his hands, the meaning of such movement being clear by his words.

Please, there's no need for that.

There was still a little of a weird vibe floating in the air of that deserted street. The sun was almost disappearing, giving place to the moon, and they were the only ones there. Now more calm and not red, Ryuu could only think about how glad he was that there was nobody there to see what happened or how bad it would've been if that fall had took place inside of Yuuei's gates. Two situations in one day... That would've definetely marked the young boy for the rest of the year.

Responding to Ryuu's previous words, the girl also introduced herself, asking a question at the same time.

It's a pleasure to meet you, Rin-san - he nodded his head a little - And yes, I'm also from class 1-A. I guess we'll be seing each other a lot, his voice was the same as always, but he tried to put a little smile at the end of his sentence.

Ryuusei put both of his hands on his pockets and looked up. It was getting late. Looking once again at the girl, he talked.

I'm guessing that we take the same path home. Do you want to walk together?

He wasn't the talkative type or one that really enjoyed being with other people, but in such a situation there wasn't much more that he could do. It was a one-way street with no corners for some distance, so they both had to walk the same path, at least for some time. Even more, after what took place and them being classmates, there was no point in avoiding her. However, if Ryuu showed is lack of social interactions by being distant and appearing, in some way, cold, Rin showed that in her nervous state and speech. Could it be that she also wasn't one to talk much with others?

Even if that was the case, right at that moment they both didn't had much of a choice: it was either walking home together and trying to make conversation or walking the same way in silence, maintaining distance in a awkward way.

Notes: --
Words: 502.

I often feel like a butterfly with broken wings

I'm sure we'll pass - he paused, quickly correcting himself afterwards - Well, I hope you do. In my case I don't think I'll be able to do much in the practical stuff.

It was something that had already crossed his mind during the day, when he saw everyone exposing their Quirks, all of them somewhat useful in an exam or exercise drill scenario. But what was Ryuu going to do? In a direct confrontation he couldn't even dream of winning or saving someone; in a rescue situation he was way better as a support to another person... and even then he couldn't do much; he wasn't quick or strong; he was smart, but didn't think that he could translate such thing to a practical exercise. He didn't know about Rin but, at that time, Ryuusei was sure that he would most likely fail all of Yuuei's practical exams.

It was after responding to her and looking up that Ryuu asked the girl if they should walk together. Rin's response was a positive one. Well, not really. More of a "yeah, there's nothing that I can really do about it, so let's go". The sentiment was shared by Ryuu himself, so it didn't bother him that much. Maybe the girl was like him and didn't feel at ease around other people. If that was the case, they would have to endure: the market was close, but they would still have to alk together for some minutes.

Taking her first steps, Ryuusei was quick to follow, walking side by side with girl. The height diference made for a funny view if someone was following them. He walked with his hands still on his pockets, looking ahead. Calm, relaxed, at peace. He would rather be alone, but the girl had showed to not be like the people from his previous school - at least, it appeared so. Even with that in mind, it was difficult for Ryuusei to trust people. So, when asked about his home...

My house is also beyond the market, but it's stil a little far from it - he said - So, it's probably after your house too, he finished.

He wasn't lying, but rather hiding the fact the he lived in more of a mansion rather than a "house". There was no point in telling her that, especially because it wasn't something that he liked to brag about. At his previous school, most people only knew about his wealth after what happened to Yaso appeared on the newspapers. After that, being followed home while getting insulted was common. Afterall, "a guy like him didn't deserve a house like that".

It took a few seconds to come up with something to ask - making conversation was something that he almost never had to do. Asking "What's your Quirk" seemed like too much of an offensive question, as if he was asking the girl what her weight was. So, being that they were both at the first Hero School in the world, he decided to ask the second thing that made the most sense on his mind. However, if Rin was going to respond was a question by itself.

Well Rin-san, why did you enroll at Yuuei?

Notes: Making conversation is hard.
Words: 538.

I often feel like a butterfly with broken wings

They kept on walking slowly throught the empty street. One person or other would ocasionally walk past them, but overall they couldn't see anyone. At that time, most people either had already arrived home or were still working.

The girl seemed to be a little annoyed at his words about not having confidence for the practical exams, putting herself down in his place. Ryuusei decided to give a simple response.

If you don't give up there's always a chance, he said, a hopeful advice hidden in his cold voice.

It was funny. He didn't realize, but he constantly said things that he himself didn't believe or practice. Maybe saying the things he wished to hear from someone was his way of handling his own loneliness and pain. That or the intelligence that he had for some things was just something he didn't haave for others.

To his answer to where he lived, Rin showed her dissatisfaction by her own reply: "That was oddly unspecific...".

Talking to other people really was a weirrd thing. Was his answer really that odd? He just told her that he lived even farther from the market... Yeah, he didn't give other specific point of reference, but that was because of his fear of being judged by his wealth... Should he have that fear? The zone where Rin told him she lived wasn't particularly known for being the best of places to live and she wasn't afraid of being honest. But wouldn't that make her judge him even more if he told her the truth...

O-Oh, I-I'm sorry... It's, hum, near the park, he ended up saying, taking some kind of a leap of faith.

The conversation then shifted to Rin's reason for enrolling at Yuuei Acedemy. It was a simple yet beautiful motivation. An ordinary thing like donating blood as the savior of one's life.

Things like that often made Ryuu wonder about the shifts happening in society and if the titles of "Vigilante" and "Hero", their officialization... Could they be just self-centered terms that gained the media attention? If on the previous years Quirkers were subdues by the Quirkless will, would the opening of Yuuei mark the beginning of a time where the Quirkless were manipulated by the Quirkers?

It wasn't time for such thoughts though. Finished hearing Rin's story of how that little kid saw her as a true hero, he couldn't help but smile a little. A hidden smile.

It's not strange at all. I think it's a pure and good reason for wanting to be a Hero, Rin-san - he paused for a bit though - I actually go to the hospital often, but, hum, I've never seen you there, he decided to reveal, almost unintentionally being that he was just trying to keep up the conversation.

"What about you, Ryuu-san? Why did you join Yuuei?"

That question. The question that he had been debating over the past couple of months, the one that was stuck on his head since that day had started. How was he supposed to respond to something that he himself didn't even know? After hearing Rin's motives, how could he just say "I don't know"? He hesitated a little bit, but eventually opened his mouth. This times, the words were more nervous than distant.

Actually, I really...- he paused - Because of my sister, her name's Yaso. I owe her alot, so this is my way of paying her back, I guess... My parents also did some Vigilante work for some years, so maybe it runs in the family, he added trying to smile for a little bit... Trying to hide what he really felt.
 
Notes: --
Words: 609.

I often feel like a butterfly with broken wings

Ryuusei and Rinkusu hadn't been walking together for long, but they should've been pretty near the girl's house at that point. They kept a slow pace but steady pace as the moon began appearing, ready to take the sun's place. Ryuu had his hands on his pockets, his shoulders slightly recoiled. A little shell to protect him from exposing too much of himself. At least, it was how he saw it. From the outside, it could've just looked like he really didn't want to be there... Which was half-true. The feeling of being alone on his room reading or playing videogames was a good one, especially when compared to the feeling of interacting with others.

However, by the corner of his eyes, he caught the girl smiling for the first time. It made him happy to have spoken; to had made the choice of walking home with her. It was a pure smiles for him. Still scarred, he tought that such smile could be a fake one and, like many times before, just a deceitful tactic to disappoint the teenage boy in the future. But, at that exact moment, Ryuu didn't care about that possibility that, in his mind, was the most likely one. Instead of drowning himself on such possibilities, he made his best effort to respond normally.

Yeah, I don't really like any other way of transportation besides walking, so a bike wouldn't work that well... - this was the best way he found to tell her that he was afraid of any type of vehicle - It takes around 30 minutes, 20 if I walk fast - he added - I like it though, gives me time to think and take pictures.

By the time the girl said it took her to arrive home from Yuuei, they should be getting close to her house.

Notes: Their first time walking home together should be almost over!
Words: 307.