Work Text:
Kirishima was disappointed but deep down, he already knew that Bakugou would decline his invitation to join him to the gym and train together.
The blond was fighting with Midoriya, something usual since the start of the school year for the two boys but because of Bakugou’s immense stubborn and prideful behaviour, it was hard to casually even ask him to hang out a little.
Maybe Kirishima needed a little break from the other presence… Of course the explosion teen was one of his more close friend but at times, he was a lot to handle.
A beautiful sunday morning, the air was fresh and the birds were chirping being a spring weekend! Perfect for a walk or a light jog.
The redhead stepped in front of the Gamma gym, he didn't even glance at the locker rooms being already dressed in his sport wear.
But before he went through the doors, Kirishima passed a well maintained and secured to the building bike that could possibly carry two people but not personally equipped to, it was old and clearly well used.
, but there was no trace of rust near it. Seeing it, he expected not to be alone and in the end he was right.
In the corner of the gym, a familiar looking guy was rhythmically punching the boxing bag with slow yet calculated strikes in a colossal concentration.
As Kirishima walked closer, going for the weights, he suddenly remembered who the purple haired boy was 'The guy from general study,' The redhead thought 'Shin… Shino? No, that doesn't sound right, Shinzou? Feels like it… Damn so manly working out on the weekend too!!'. Kirishima closed his hand in a fist bringing it to the heart, repeating in his head ‘so manly’ as he glanced at Shinsou.
He always found inspiration when people want to constantly improve themselves so the red haired boy got even more determined to work out.
He started to lift one handed heavy weights soon after a quick warm up making sure his muscles could withstand his self training without tearing. Kirishima moved the weights up and down starting from the hip to slowly bring it to his shoulder height level, his tee was tight around his biceps making them look even shinier and more juicy than usual with the slight sweat starting to form and drip down.
The redhead looked at the other boy in his general direction, Shinsō was still punching the boxing bag now starting to get more comfortable meaning he was accelerating his movements, he was using only two types of punches being rhythmically alternated; a jab and a cross, again and again.
Now that Kirishima is focusing a little more on the purplette, he seems to be talking to himself, probably counting on repeat numbers to not mess up the order. Technically in the quiet gym the red haired boy could faintly hear the other say on repeat like a broken disc “1, 2… 1, 2…” and so on.
Fortunately it wasn't a bad background noise and because he forgot his headphones when coming here, the redhead found himself pleased by not having to stay in silence, further adding to the increasingly chill sunday morning workout.
Kirishima was staring at the other while still lifting the weights but with a different motion to completely train another muscle of his arm, as he stared, he couldn't help but to think 'Man, I should ask him if he wants to spar together, he looks so manl—'
“What do you want.”
A harsh glance, “You have been staring at me since you got here.”
The tone of Shinsou's voice was sharp as he spewed out those words that broke Kirishima’s line of thought, making him fall silent but the scarlet haired boy quickly realized the acknowledgement and when he did, the first thing he said wasn’t an introduction or apology, no, his first instinct was to ask “Do you want to spar with me? You look so manly!!”
The purple haired teen was glaring at him, but not even Bakugou’s piercing stare can intimidate him. “So, do you want to?”
Shinsou sighs loudly at the redhead but regardless of his clear displeasure, nods at the question while responding quietly. “Sure.”
The boy looked away then back at him. "I don't remember your name but you the rock guy from the Sport Festival." The redhead smiled looking content. "Waaa you remember! It's Kirishima Ejiro! And you?"
"Shinsou, Shinsou Hitoshi."
Shinsou was searching for a specific tool for his, now, new training with Kirishima from the messy room full to the brim with all types of gym equipments.
The purple haired boy stops, pulling out of one of the boxes a pair of mismatched sort of long bandages modified at the ends to fit the tumb, looking closely Kirishima noticed the same type if bandages around the other hands.
Shinsou turned to him and extended his arm, showing the other his palm. There was a moment of awkward silence. "Your hand," The purplelette had quickly looked down not to meet the other gaze. "I need your hands, to wrap it... It's prevention so we don't get bloodly knuckles or painful blows from the other."
Kirishima softly opened his mouth in an 'Oh' as he realized, it was logical afterall not to get hurt given that the infirmary was closed for the day so without any complaints he gave Shinsou his hands for him to wrap. "Sorry, I didn't understand at first---" "Uh. Whatever, it isn't a big deal anyway." The purple haired boy interrupted the other in the middle of the sentence, Kirishima wanted to ask Shinsou a lot of questions about him, about his training, his motivations, can you seriously blame a guy for being curious?
They spared together, Shinsou was agile and fast yet not strong enough to move Kirishima even without him having to use his quirk.
The purplelette lost spars again and again without seemingly losing hope but after around an hour, he sighed in defeat when Kirishima decided to take a break.
"The hero course is truly something else..." Shinsou whispered leaning into the wall and sliding down to sit. The red head brought him his water bottle. "Thanks.. I guess." He added in a higher tone taking the water bottle from the other hand.
"Also you did great man!! Of course if you continue training with this type perseverance you're going to become a monster and surpass a good bunch of the hero course in raw strength, being already quick with your movements and precise is awesome and super manly!"
At that Shinsou looked down at the matted floor a slight pink tinting his cheeks and ears. "If you say so.." He muttered unsure if that was the truth or a lie coming out the other boy.
No one ever compliment him that way.
Hearing a peer validating him, that he believes he can achieve his dream...
It was fulfilling.
Maybe It wasn't a bad plan trying to learn from the red head afterall Kirishima was a member of class 1-A meaning that his homeroom teacher is his mentor, Aizawa-Sensei, so the red haired boy must have had an exceptional training since day one.
They resumed the training and as the hours passed the two boys consumed most of their physical energy, when they were finally satisfied with the workout they stopped. Both stayed silent while drinking water together.
"The staff should close the school in a while, do you want to go get a coffee together or something?" Kirishima asked breaking the ice.
"Do I have to pay or... Because if you pay, sure, why not."
"Then it's a date!!" The red head chirped. Date. Date? Shinsou internally shook his head, the other surely didn't mean it that way.
'Was he making friends?' He thought.
'Ew.' Was Shinsou natural response only thinking about the question.
He looked up to Kirishima eagerly nodding with big stary eyes. Almost like an overly excited puppy. He coughed covering up the light chuckle threatening to escape his lips.
"So Shinsou, there is a mall near UA, there is this adorable cafe just around the corner. We definitely can try that!!" The purplelette rolls his eyes and mutters "Huh." Under his breath to positively answer the red haired boy.
Who just seems to rapidly shift his weight up and down while grinning wider, in the end, Kirishima dragged him all away to the coffee shop.
"Welcome to the Cofy Cozfe! Please take a seat by the window boys." The red head teen smiled at the server and the two of them walked to the empty table in the corner.
Kirishima took to lead in the conversation with the liliac haired boy but to his talking only hums and non verbal responses were being granted. He didn't seem offended by it single bit.
"Sorry for the wait boys, what can I get for yall?" The server chirped in a high pitched cheerful voice.
Board out ready to get their orders and Kirishima responded first. "A cappuccino with a white chocolate chip cookie, thank you!!" He said matching the server cheerful tone.
"For me a dark chocolate-coffee drink with a tiramisu on the side. And hold the sugar in the drink." Shinsou said loud enough to be heard and rather quickly. He sighed lowly before looking at the other boy in the eyes. "Why do you keep bothering yourself with trying to befriend me. I... I made it clear I don't particularly like your class."
Kirishima looked slightly right to supervise the counter where the drinks were being brewed before saying. "If you don't like us why did you came here with me? We could have ended our interaction in the gym." The liliac shrugged. "I mean, I don't dislike you enough to refuse free food."
"Still you have to decency to listen to me a little and even respond!" The red head stated before adding "And we trained together, that's big stuff! I train mostly with my---" "Don't even dare suggest we are friends. I have a goal to achieve and I don't need friends. We are not friends."
"...Gyum partners?"
Shinsou sighed. "Fine."