Chapter Text
(the sight of her smile)
☼
The graduation of the students of the Hope's Peak Academy was closer by now. In that way, as there was a possibility that they would not keep contact after the event, Koizumi suggested taking a picture of everyone, as a remembrance of sharing all the years with one another in that school.
Since the idea gladly was agreed by them, the students started proposing places to go after the ceremony. The courtyard was their final choice; after all, there was a huge cherry blossom tree planted in there that would turn into a good background for the picture.
And, then, the days passed until the great moment.
☼
Before Kiibo can make his appearance in the marked place, he decides to go one last time to the Ultimate Inventor Research Lab. It is the room that he spent time with Iruma, in the end; so, without doubts, that place will be one of which he will miss more.
Because even when he cannot feel emotions like humans, those memories are important to him.
Then, already in front of the lab, Kiibo gives a glance at it from the outside. After some minutes, he notices that someone else has the same idea to go there.
“Oh, what’re ya doin’ here, Kiibo?” Iruma approaches him. “Won’t you goin’ to take that shit picture with all those losers?”
“Just verifying something.” It is his response. The shyness does not allow him to say that he is there because of her. “Will you not going too, Iruma-san?”
“Yeah, yeah…or else that bitch’ll take the shit over me.” She frowns, but quickly her expression becomes some kind of soft. “But, y’know...I wanted to check if everything was okay in here before of it.”
Something in Iruma’s face says that she does not want to let the lab behind. It is as if she created a spiritual bond with that place after these three years, at last; and Kiibo cannot find any words to say, once the nostalgia starts to grow inside of them.
In that way, both enters the room. They do not take too much time inside of there, however, as it is confirmed by their research that all the inventions that Iruma cares the most about already are with her.
When the two get out of the lab, Kiibo looks at Iruma and confesses with a sad smile, “I’ll never forget the days we passed in that school. And the maintenances you did to me, Iruma-san.”
In response, Iruma suddenly freaks out, trembling a little bit. “W-why’re you startin’ to get so fuckin’ sentimental, Kiibo? It’s not like anyone will die!”
“I know!” Kiibo tries to explain himself, in an attempt to calm her down. “But if we never come back to talk? I need to be sure that you’ll know how grateful I am for all that time with you.”
His words are sufficient to make her eyes drop some tears.
“I-Iruma-san?” He starts to be in panic. “I-I said something wrong?”
“Uh-uh…I know it’ll be a farewell, but…” Iruma tries to recompose herself, but it is in vain. “I give a shit to you, Kiibo. I’m not okay with it…”
Kiibo is not sure of what to say. Yet, he is certain of something: it is not a good sight to see her so down like in that moment.
“I didn’t know that, so…thanks.” He caresses the top of her head with tenderness. “I’m glad because I feel the same about you, Iruma-san. So, please, don’t cry. We still can try to find a way to keep contact, right? It’s nothing for a genius like you!”
After a few seconds, Iruma takes off his hand of her head and holds it with her own hands. It is like she has come back to normal. “A big fuckin’ genius like me can handle that, ya’re right. So…let’s go to take that damn picture or not?”
The sight of Iruma’s smile is undoubtedly more fitting to her face than tears. Kiibo cannot help but smile because of the thought, and then they go to the courtyard.