Chapter Text
Kouda sat in his room, sitting at his desk seeming to be working hard on studying. That is he would be if he wasn’t soon to pass out on his notes. Head bobbing down as he tried to keep himself from taking an unplanned nap. Realizing this, Kouda sits up, shaking his head to wake himself up.
“…mmn.” He mumbled slightly
He really didn’t want drool all over his notes. Especially since a test was coming up soon. Not that Kouda was struggling in class in any particular way, but just wanted a good grade. For himself.
Hearing a faint ticking noise, Kouda turned his attention to the clock on his desk. A simple yellow and green analogue clock. It was currently 6:34 PM. Almost time for dinner. A whole half hour away.
Blinking at the clock, Kouda felt his stomach grumble as the thought of food entered his mind. Reminding himself how hungry he actually was. Opting to study instead of feed himself it seemed.
Guess he lost track of time.
Deciding to take a break from “studying”, the tall boy leaned back in his chair, sighing quietly. He took a moment to breathe In and out for a few minutes. That is before feeling a sudden prodding at his leg.
It seemed his pet bunny, Yuwai, wanted some attention from her owner. Softly hopping into his leg. Sitting back up in his chair, Kouda leaned down to pick up Yuwai, softly caressing her fluff. A relaxed smile formed on Kouda’s jagged mouth, thankful for his pet bunny. Giving her one last pat before letting her sit in his lap, as she just huddled up close to Kouji.
Still in his own little world, Kouji was snapped out of it as he heard loud laughter from outside his room. He of course assumed that the rest of his class were up to some “shenanigans” as the rest of the class would put it.
Though Kouda was used to the noise, it reminded him that no one was ever too far away from him. He was never truly alone with such a lively and supporting class.
Class 1-A.
Kouda would’ve just shrugged off the current liveliness of his classmates. But soon realized that he had to go down soon for dinner anyway, a gentle grumble from his stomach as a stern reminder.
Sighing gently, Kouda gently picked up Yuwai, holding her gently as he slipped on his house slippers and headed for the bedroom door, Yuwai still along for the ride.
Stepping out of his room and into the hallway, Kouda closed his door behind him, taking a step backwards. Not really looking where he was going at the moment.
This seemed to have been a rather poor choice as Kouda jolted in place as someone bumped into him. Kouda was ready to turn around and sign his apologies to whomever he inconvenienced, before placing his eyes on the bird-headed person before him.
“Oh, my apologies Kouda. I didn’t mean to run into you like that. Please forgive me.” Tokoyami preceded to take a step back and bow forward to the taller boy. Kouda took one hand, the other with Yuwai, and shook his one hand in response. a silent “don’t worry about it” showed through this action. A nervous smile on his face.
“Ah, your kindness becomes you.” Tokoyami smiled to his tall friend, eyes seeming softer than usual. “well in any case, it was my fault. But enough about that.” Tomoyami placed a hand in his sweatpants pocket. A relaxed expression on his face, as well as shown by his body language.
“I’m assuming you were heading down for dinner?” Tokoyami inquired to the tense, bunny holding boy.
Kouda nodded in confirmation, as well as a thumbs up.
“I presumed. Since we ran into each other, why don’t we walk together, yes?” Tokoyami suggested to Kouda. The latter giving another nod. Happy to accompany his bird-headed friend to dinner.
“Let us make haste then.” The smaller boy began walking towards the stairs with Kouda in tow.
As the duo reached the ground floor. The entire 18 remaining classmates were sprawled throughout the common room. Denki, Sero, and Mineta were on the couch. With Mina, Hagakure, Jirou, and Asui(better known as Tsu), on the couch across from the boys.
Sato, Iida, and Shouji were in the kitchen, preparing tonight’s dinner for everyone. A gentle and sweet smell wafted through the air as they cooked.
Midoriya, Todoroki, Yaoyorozu, and Uraraka were off to the side, conversing about how to spend their weekends coming up. Apparently deciding on whether to invite the class to go to the mall for some shopping. It’s been a while since they’ve all been together for an activity that wasn’t in the dorms. A change of pace from class work and hero training.
Ojiro was mediating between Bakugo and Kirishima. As it seemed Kirishima made a joke in poor taste. A wide apologetic smile across the red-haired boy's face as an angry blondie shouted at the former. At least that’s what it looked like to Kouda.
After looking around for a minute, the tall bunny-carrying boy spotted Aoyama. Sneaking into the kitchen to steal a few fruits from the cutting board that Sato left alone as he helped Soji with something.
The class was as lively as ever. It was nice seeing everyone have a good time together. Kouda sighed contently, a gentle smile across his mouth.
“It appears that everyone is in high spirits tonight.” Tokoyami spoke up. His eyes closed as well as a small smirk on his beak.
Kouda nodded in response.
As the two walked further in. Denki’s group looked up to Kouda and Tokoyami. Waving them over to the couches.
“Hey guys! Come here for a sec will ya?” Denki yelled to the duo.
Walking over, Denki motioned the two to sit down. Doing such, Tokoyami and Kouda sat on a smaller sofa off to the side, but still in the square of seating areas around them.
“Okay so.” Denki started, clapping his hands together. “You two are aware of the bet Sero and I made to make everyone in class 1-A laugh right?” He stared at the two.
With confused faces, Kouda and Tokoyami looked at each other, before looking back at the yellow-haired boy in front of them. Both shrugging as an answer.
“I was not aware of such a wager.” Tokoyami added lastly.
“Mmhm.” Kouda hummed in agreement.
“Okay well ouch, shows how much you two listen.” Denki frowned with closed eyes before getting back to his point.
“Either way. Now you know. But I’ll add the fact I’ve made almost everyone laugh at least once. Almost everyone except…” Kaminari paused for dramatic effect. Jiro sighed, unimpressed. “You two!” He finally said excitedly.
“Really? Seems like a fruitless activity. Wouldn’t you rather use this time for something useful? Like studying?” The bird-head spoke bluntly. A proverbial smack in the face to Kaminari.
“Dude do you even know who you’re talking to right now…” he said in disappointment. “It doesn’t matter how pointless or not it seems! The point is I just need to make the two of you laugh. Right, Sero?” Kaminari looked to Sero, who seemed to not be listening at all. Staring at his phone. “Dude were you even listening?!?” Denki sunk into his seat.
“Huh? Oh. Sorry dude. I got like half of that. But I have the gist of it.” Sero started. “Just you two left right?” He asked the two. Who could only shrug as an answer, still pretty confused about why do this at all.
“I must now ask. What are the consequences of this wager? I must know before deciding to humor this any longer.” Tokoyami inquired.
“Oh that? Kaminari has to be my butler for a week and do whatever I say. Well if I win the bet, obviously.” Sero spoke while still scrolling on his phone.
“And WHEN I win-“ Denki said, enunciating the “when” aspect. “-Sero has to do something embarrassing in front of the whole class. I get to choose what of course.” Kaminari seemed pretty proud of his little explanation. But only added more confusion to the mix.
Kouda couldn’t help but blink at all of this. It all seemed so absurd. But humorous in its own way he guessed.
“But no more explanation! It’s time to make you two laugh!” Denki exclaimed.
“Dude you aren’t winning this bet. Listen, Kouda there. He hasn’t laughed a single time since we’ve first been enrolled in U.A.” Sero added, ruining Denki’s moment.
“Wait. What?” Mina asked, now interested in the conversations “Kouda hasn’t laughed a single time??” Sero nodded, confirming Mina’s question.
“Is this true Kouda?” Tokoyami questioned the quiet boy. Tilting his head in curiosity. The rest of them now looking to Kouda. Who seemed to be getting unwanted attention. Waving his hands in front of him, hoping to wave away these curious eyes.
“Well he isn’t denying it. Seems so.” Tsu added with a ribbit, finger pointed to her chin. Sitting cris cross on the sofa, with socks on of course.
“There’s no way you haven’t laughed while being in THIS class!!” Mineta objected to this. “You have to find something funny right?” He asked.
Kouda thought for a moment, before shrugging to the rest of them. Kouda wasn’t one to laugh, especially out loud. It just wasn’t something he did. Especially around other people.
Kouda shook his head, answering his classmate's questions. Letting Yuwai down from his lap as she hopped down. Hopping over to the green-haired girl. Jumping into her lap. As the aforementioned welcomed this with a ribbit.
“So like… is your laugh box just broken or something?” Denki asked. Before getting stabbed with one of Jiro’s ear jacks. “Rude.” She spoke.
“Hey that was rude too!!!” He angrily pointed to Jiro. “So you admit it was rude?” She retorted. Leaving the yellow-haired boy to deflate into his seat. The few people in the area laughed at this. All except tokoyami and Kouda. Whom just watched this unfold.
“Seriously? Not even you Tokoyami? You have to have laughed since you’ve been in this class right?” Hagakure asked.
“I doubt it, but maybe I have. Though I have no recollection of this. My taste in humor is vastly different from you all. As it seems.” Tokoyami spoke. “As is kouda’s as it is evident.”
“Well I’m going to make you laugh! Mark my words!” Denki shouted. Earning an elbow in his side accompanied by an “ow!!”
“You aren’t winning this. Might as well call it now.” Sero said, looking up from his phone to pester his friend.
The group continued to joke and talk until dinner was ready.
Soon enough, the entire class sat at the big table in the dining room, seating themselves with a plate of pancakes with berry syrup. It took a bit of convincing to make Iida allow this, but it all seemed to work out. Though Iida had to make sure everyone remembered to brush their teeth afterwards. Since they were eating something with sugar.
After dinner was well and done, the common room became thinning in numbers. Many were returning to their rooms to sleep. Or not sleep, whatever they did was their time and theirs alone.
After finishing his plate of pancakes, Kouda relaxed in his seat. Taking a breather from the hearty meal the class enjoyed. Kouda made a mental note to thank Sato, Iida, and Shouji for the meal.
Opening his eyes to see Tokoyami was also finished with his serving, Kouda decided to take his and Tokoyami’s plates to the kitchen sink to wash them. As they were the last two people at the table. Seeming to have finished last.
Tokoyami wanted to protest Kouda washing his plate but decided not to. Letting his quiet friend wash their dishes.
“Thank you Kouda, I very much appreciate that. I am in your debt.” Tokoyami made it sound more serious than it was, but as was how the bird boy spoke. Kouda shook his head and his hands in front of him, dismissing the idea of debts being paid back.
“Well at the very least, let me walk you back to your room. It’s the least I can do to show my appreciation.” He smiled at the quiet boy, a gentle, genuine smile.
Kouda couldn’t help but feel his face flush with red heat, signing a quick [Don’t worry about it.] to Tokoyami, but Tokoyami wouldn’t be so quickly dismissed.
“I insist. Besides. You look tired. I have to make sure my friend makes it back to his room without passing out on the way.” Tokoyami insisted. Though this felt like more of an excuse than anything else, Kouda decided to just let his friend take him to his room. The company might be nice. Kouda sighed with a smile, finally nodding his head to agree to this.
Tokoyami smiled at this, standing up from his seat at the table. “Let us be on our way then. After you Kouda.” He motioned for Kouda to walk in front. Agreeing, Kouda began walking to the staircase with Tokoyami in tow. Deciding to leave Yuwai to Tsu, knowing she would bring his rabbit back when she returned to her room.