"Relaxation Amidst the Storm"

As I walked off the stage, I was greeted by Mina, Ochaco, and Froppy, who were all grinning at me with excitement. "Wow, you totally killed it out there!" Mina exclaimed, giving me a high-five. Ochaco nodded in agreement, her eyes shining with admiration. "That was amazing! I'm so jealous, I wish I could sing like that." Froppy chuckled and nudged me playfully. "Yeah, you're a natural-born star." The three of us made our way to a quiet corner of the room, where we could talk without being overheard. As we chatted, I couldn't help but notice the curious glances from the others. Bakugo, Deku, Kirishima, Kaminari, Shinso, Shindo, and Hawks were all huddled together, their eyes fixed on me with varying degrees of interest and scrutiny. I could feel their gazes like a gentle hum in the background, but I tried not to let it faze me. Mina, Ochaco, and Froppy were too engrossed in our conversation to notice the attention. "So, have you guys heard about the latest drama with the student council?" Mina asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Ochaco's eyes lit up. "You mean about the alleged 'favoritism' towards the sports course?" Froppy snorted. "Please, that's just a bunch of rumors. I mean, who wouldn't want to be friends with someone as awesome as Aizawa-sensei?" I chuckled, shaking my head. "I don't know, but I'm sure it'll all blow over soon. People are always finding something to complain about." As we talked, I caught snippets of conversation from the group nearby. Bakugo was muttering something under his breath, while Deku looked thoughtful. Kirishima was grinning, as usual, and Kaminari was nodding enthusiastically. Shinso and Shindo were exchanging a look that I couldn't quite read, while Hawks was watching me with an intensity that made me feel a little uneasy. Despite the undercurrent of attention, I focused on my friends, enjoying the relaxed atmosphere and the easy camaraderie. It was nice to have a moment to unwind, away from the pressures of the performance. As we chatted, I realized that I was actually starting to feel a little more at ease, despite the watchful eyes on me. Maybe it was the warmth of the conversation, or maybe it was just the friendly faces around me, but for now, I was content to simply be. The conversation flowed easily, with Mina regaling us with stories of her latest exploits in the hero course, and Ochaco sharing her own misadventures in the support course. Froppy was her usual goofy self, making us all laugh with her impressions of their classmates. As we talked, I felt the tension in my shoulders begin to ease, replaced by a sense of belonging and connection with my friends. For a brief moment, everything else faded into the background, and all that mattered was the present.