Chapter Text
Winter break is a single night away for the students of UA, and they couldn’t be more excited for it. It’s the first time in a very long time that snow has fallen, and it covers the ground in a glittering blanket of white. Just earlier that day a bunch of them were playing in it; be it sledding, making snowmen, or partaking in dangerous snowball fights they’ve been having the time of their lives.
On top of the fun days of snow fun they have ahead of them, Christmas is right around the corner. All of them are filled to the brim with excitement at all the plans they have laid out and getting to see their families again. Since they were assigned to the dorms, getting to be in the presence of their loved ones is rare.
Currently, the kids of class 1-A are sitting together in the common room of their dorm building, chatting away. Kirishima and Bakugou have their hiking trip plans that will take up a small portion of their break. The girls have gotten together to plan a sleepover at Yaoyorozu’s house about a week into the break. Deku talks about dinners with his mom and how he’s missed her cooking since coming to the dorms. Most everyone agrees that they’ve missed their families’ cooking.
Stella, however, has been silent during this chat, and it doesn’t go unnoticed. She sits curled up with some knitting on one of the couches, smiling softly as everyone else talks. Uraraka takes it upon herself to bring her into the conversation.
“What are your plans for the break, Stella?”
Stella looks up from the black scarf that only grows longer in her lap, but her needles don’t stop moving. She gives a small smile, but it’s hollow and doesn’t reach her dark eyes. “Other than the sleepover, I don’t have any plans. I’ll be staying here in the dorms ‘cuz I don’t have anywhere else to go or family to visit with.” Her voice is sad, but she insists it’s fine. Nothing to worry about.
All the same, some of her classmates can’t help but feel a little bit bad about talking so openly about their plans in front of her when the likelihood of her spending the holidays alone is so high. She’s the only person they’ve heard from so far that will be staying on school grounds for the duration of the break.
A close friend of hers, Tokoyami, is somewhat aware of how much Stella already hates this time of year. She’s alluded to Christmas being her least favorite holiday several times before. He doesn’t know the reason why she holds so much disdain for it, but he knows he cannot sit back and let her drown in the misery she’s already waded into so far this season. She doesn’t need to be alone. He doubts he can change her mind and feelings about Christmas, but he doesn’t plan to. All he wants it so help her out of this sad funk and get her back to being her usual cheerful self again.
Tokoyami excuses himself from the group for a moment and steps outside to make a phone call.
It’s late when everyone decides to turn in for the night. Some had left earlier, be it to finish packing for the two-week break or to get plenty of sleep, but the rest of them head to their rooms closer to midnight.
Stella is just heading up the stairs to go to bed herself when a voice stops her. She turns to face her dear friend Tokoyami, asking him what he needs.
“I was wondering,” Tokoyami begins, looking rather troubled. Stella waits patiently for him to find his words, ignoring the fact that him having difficulty speaking is quite odd. He’s usually a very well-spoken individual. She blames it on how late it is and how energetic the night has been; his social battery is likely drained, “would you like to stay with me and my family for winter break?”
The invitation catches her by surprise. A beat of silence passes as his words repeat in her mind. Stay with him and his family? It sounds wonderful and as much as she would love to something about accepting feels wrong. This is supposed to be time to spend with his family, and she doesn’t want to disrupt that.
“I don’t want to impose.”
He hurries to speak before she can turn away, “It’s no trouble. I already asked them if it’s okay that a friend stays with us for the duration of the break. They don’t mind at all.”
A soft smile tugs at Stella’s lips. Tokoyami’s always been very thoughtful, but this is on a whole new level. Her face heats up slightly as she gives her response, “Thanks, Toko. I’ll be ready to go in the morning.”
With that, they bid each other good night and head to their rooms. Stella spends the night packing a bag for an extended sleepover; Tokoyami spends a portion of the night lying away, replaying her acceptance of his offer over and over in his mind. His feathers ruffle up as he grows flustered, suddenly unsure of how two weeks of it just being him, her, and occasionally his parents is going to play out.