Chapter Text
For most of the class, Friday was a good day, normal, not good nor bad, and that was that. No more nor less for a less than average day at a less than average school. Time stood still and waded through molasses and the gears cranked and fought against the stickiness that sat on everybody’s shoulders. Slowing down the trek from school to dorm was this soup of time and motion and for some, this weight, however small it was, felt like it was going to crush them. Currently being crushed was the shortest of the class 1A roster.
Mineta trudged silently, ditching his friends, and opting to go back alone. ‘Besides,’ Mineta felt his eyes trace the tiny crack in the pavement yet it wasn’t intentional, ‘I need time to myself…’ Mineta almost felt himself smile for a moment, his mind drifting to his plans for the weekend. The dorms weren’t always empty but this weekend was a lucky one, almost everybody had plans with families or friends back home, the handful that was staying in the dorms made plans to go out as a group. Mineta, however, declined being a part of the plans made, he passed saying he needed to catch up on studying and a few missed interviews. After that comment everybody wrote him off with a sneer or an eye roll. While Mineta initially felt hurt and wanted to tell everybody his real plans he realized the truth was worse than the lie could ever be.
Still, Mineta found himself longing for a partner, somebody to watch over him, play with him, tell him what to do, or what not to do. To truly be accepted and not judged for his pastime, a secret that nobody knew, not even his closest friends. Age regression, the word could solicit many reactions and most weren’t good.
‘The last thing I need on my plate is to add to the list of things that make me so unlovable. Short, lispy, useless, weak...what good am I?’ Mineta let his mind drift down the list that went for miles and miles. The door shut behind him, his mind trying to catch up to the fact he was safe in his dorm room. Mineta dropped his bag in front of the door and walked to his bed, safely tucked away in the left corner of his room, dropping face first into the soft comforter and the many blankets he kept on hand. He let out a groan, finally feeling true relaxation in his bones and, and basked in the silence.
‘How soon is too soon to start?’ Mineta wondered with a hum, his fist held against his mouth. He already felt himself slipping into his safespace at the thought. Rationally he knew it’d be better to wait for tomorrow as he wasn’t truly alone, every friday the class made an effort to eat together as a group, and this friday was no different. ‘I can’t pass up Sato’s cooking…’ Mineta curled up slightly, resting his head on his knees, fist still pressed against his mouth. He mused over his options for a few moments, feeling embarrassed at his lack of restraint, his mind drifted to his list again. He didn’t want to think about how lame he was but it was so hard when he sat on the cusp of regression. His mind wanted to shame the rest of him into submission but Mineta knew he couldn’t wait until tomorrow. He was too excited and there were so many things to do! Coloring, napping, cartoons, and snacks were too alluring to say no to. ‘Besides, dinner isn’t for a few hours!’ Mineta opened his closet and grinned at the dresser hidden in it. He opened the bottom drawer and pulled out his pajamas, a single piece that cut off at the ankles and were patterned to look like a Pikachu.
He slipped the clothes on, ditching his uniform on the floor, sighing at the soft insides that warmed him up and made him feel safe. Shutting the bottom drawer he reached into the one above it. Pulling out a plain white pacifier he popped it into his mouth, chewing on it softly and letting out a soft hum, his mind drifted away from his regular problems and into a soft sort of bliss. The weight of time and worries lifted off his shoulders and for a single moment he felt bad for everybody else. They couldn’t relax the way he could. Shaking the thought away, the ring on his pacifier jingling at the motion, he closed the closet and sat at his computer desk and set to work, finding an episode of a kids anime and getting the materials ready to draw. Slipping in his earbuds the world around him vanished, no worries, no friends, just himself and the voices that talked about traveling to a new town for a new adventure.