Morning Serenity

He snorts, thinking back to all the times he had to be let into my room by my exasperated parents in order to throw me out of bed. He never had the courage to force me to get up, always asked politely, but I felt so bad for his fumbling attempts that I did so anyway. "Yeah, you aren't really a morning person," he chuckles. I snort. "That's an understatement." He smiles again, so free, like I have never seen him in the anime before going to UA. Never this confident. This happy to simply be walking to school with a friend. "Still, thanks for waiting for me. I was just so caught up in writing about that new hero yesterday evening and I stayed up too late-" I let him ramble, even though I know that the moment he realizes it he's gonna stop, blush and apologize. I just want to observe the way his eyes lit up, and deep concentration falls on his face like a tablecloth to show all the little gears turning inside that curly head. I like seeing him like this: no shame, no embarrassment, no insecurity- all defenses lowered and forgotten. I like knowing that he can be like this with me. I like knowing that maybe, if I weren't there, this wouldn't be possible. "Ah!" He exclaims, realizing he has been ranting my ears off, and exactly as I predicted he stops, blushes, and apologizes. "Don't," I raise a hand, a smile on my lips. "I like listening to you." He looks at me, his eyes sparkling with gratitude, and his blush deepens. "Really?" he asks, his voice barely above a whisper. I nod, smiling. "Yeah, really. You get so caught up in your thoughts, and it's adorable." He chuckles, looking away, his face still flushed. "You're just saying that to make me feel better," he teases. I shake my head. "No, I'm not. I genuinely enjoy listening to you talk. You have this... enthusiasm, this passion that's infectious." He looks back at me, his eyes searching mine, and for a moment, we just stare at each other. Then, he grins, and I can see the tension in his body ease. "Thanks, I guess," he says, his voice filled with sincerity. "It means a lot coming from you." We walk in comfortable silence for a while, enjoying the morning air and each other's company. The city is coming alive around us, and I can feel the excitement building up inside me. Today is going to be a great day, and I'm glad I get to spend it with him. As we turn another corner, he starts talking again, this time about his plans for the upcoming hero internship. I listen intently, enjoying the way he gets so caught up in his ideas, and the way his eyes light up when he's excited about something. It's moments like these that I cherish, moments that make me realize just how much I value our friendship. And as we walk, I know that no matter what the future holds, I'm glad to have him by my side.