they're in a meeting at UA seated beside one another. principal nezu is going over the plans for the parents move in date and protocols that needed to be followed. extra security was needed, as not all teachers were free of the hospital yet, hence emi's presence.
there's tension in the room, all the heroes feel differently about what's going on, but emi can only wonder how shota's doing in all of this. while nezu continues emi slips her hand over onto his lap, and twins her fingers with his. she gives him a little smile and looks back at the plans written across the projector screen.
Shota was so focused on Principal Nezu's plans, he almost forgot that other teachers were even in the room, much less who was sitting beside him. He was soaking in every bit of information Nezu was dropping, looking for flaws, places of improvement, where he'd be best placed--her soft hand over his calloused fingers caused him to flinch initially. His focus was broken.
He glanced over slowly to see who took his hand. Oh, it was just Emi. He almost wondered if she was taking any of this seriously, but he dispelled that thought quickly. Of course she was. She was as much a pro hero as him--as any of them. If anything, what she did was absolutely appropriate; breaking the tension, only slightly, without trivializing the matter at hand.
He tried to control himself a little better, but he couldn't resist; he cracked a little smile. Just as quickly as it came, though, it left, as he returned his attention to the presentation. He couldn't deny, even as his stone-cold scowl came back; he did feel immensely better. He didn’t feel like he was forcing himself to focus anymore.
Under the table, he slipped his fingers out to readjust his hand over her's. He couldn't help running a thumb over her knuckles. She was a pro hero too; how were her fingers so soft?
