『Hakari Kotaro』
I sat on my desk bored out of my mind as the last bell rang, I had a plan in mind but damn were classes boring. And unfortunately Midnight did not teach enough periods for me to occupy my time with staring at her ass. So I had to spend my time imagining it instead.
Toga and I had already discussed, she'd spend her evening going out with Mina while I-
"Hey, Toru-chan. Mind coming with me? I've got a surprise for you."
-Was going to strike like a crouching tiger eyeing a piece of meat as they starved.
Toru turned to me in surprise and some joy when I strategically poked her hand and made eye contact.
"Sure! Let's go Hakari-kun! I love surprises!"
She jumped up from her seat and followed me with a pep in her step as I walked towards my destination with her in tow. I had already arranged things, as in asking a teacher if it was alright to do what I wanted to do.
After several minutes of walking through U.A's big ass building, we finally arrived at our destination.
"The Art Studio? Why are we here?"
I responded to her question as I opened the door, no one was inside as expected.
"You told me you never really saw yourself properly so..."
I looked around the rather large room with numerous art implements, much more well stocked than any school had a right to be as expected of UA. I found a proper canvas and pulled it forward before taking out the painting stuff from my bag of holding.
"I thought I could draw a picture of you to show you? I'm not the best artist but-"
Guh!
My words were interrupted by me having to let out my Bikaku and brace against the ground as a green blur shot towards me and knocked the air out of me, nearly toppling me over. Arms tightened around my chest like vices. A girl of that size should not have a grip so strong.
"Oh my god! Really? You're serious!? Please tell me you're serious! If you say you are joking right now I'll seriously cry! For real."
By looking at her beady eyes I could tell just how serious she was about that statement, now this task felt way more demanding. I gave a reassuring and comforting tap to her back and pulled her off of me by her shoulders.
"Yeah, again, I'm not the best so don't expect too much but I think I can draw something that can give you a decent idea. Hopefully. Now, mind takin' a seat? Sorry but this might take a while to get down."
Toru nodded happily, basically vibrating with excitement as I pulled a stool for her to sit on, right in front of the window from where orange rays of light shone down. She sat down and put her behind her behind her back with a nervous smile as I picked up the paintbrush and sat down. Readying my paint and mixing the proper pigments.
She... honestly looked incredibly beautiful, doubly so under that setting sun. It might have even made me blush if my heart wasn't already cold and dead.
"S-sorry Hakari-kun, I'm just a little nervous about this whole thing you know? It can look a little stupid to you, but I spent hundreds of days just wondering what I looked like. I can see the general shape with some heavy makeup but never color and stuff y'know? Sorry if I'm rambling too much and distracting you."
I started carefully sketching Toru with a pencil to make sure I didn't mess anything up, while I wasn't the sentimental type, even I could tell just how much this meant to her. Partially because she was telling it right to my face.
"Don't worry Toru-chan, as long as you don't move around too much everything should be. I'll try to do it to the best of my abilities."
"Oh no you can take your time, if it's for something like this I don't mind!"
But I did Piercing Eyes may not be a high maintenance ability but it would fucking hurt if I kept it on for over an hour, let alone several.
I kept painting while looking at Toru, admiring her features and trying to put them into paint, getting frustrated when something just didn't look right and having to redo them again but I kept the frustration from bleeding into my face.
At the same time, it was kind of relaxing and... peaceful? I'd dare say even domestic. It felt kinda stupid to care so much about a task like this, if I made a bad painting Toru wouldn't blame me and I could start again when I got a better painting skill. It held a lot of sentimental value to her but did it to me?
Was it because I was trying to court her? Now that I think about it, I never did proper romance. Most of the time, it just happened. How do you court someone?
...Fuck, do I actually have any idea of what I am doing?
I shook my head to clear my thoughts and focused on painting Toru, it was turning out well but not as well as something a professional would make. After around the 45 minute mark my eyes started properly hurting. This was as much a test of endurance as it was my drawing skills.
What really helped me along was my mental conditioning, Intermediate Biology and Piercing eyes. I could look right through the canvas without having to avert my eyes. Biology and Drawing seemed to mesh together well, allowing me to draw living things way better than inanimate objects.
After 1.5 hours my eyes started to really hurt. So I had to use Minor Cure alongside it to avoid and alleviate any ocular damage I may or may not incur due to using it for so long without breaks. Which resulted in me getting even more tired. But I was close to finishing.
"Hakari-kun? Are you alright? You kinda haven't said anything for the last 10-ish minutes, it's kinda eerie."
I blinked slowly, not that it really mattered since I could see through my eyelids.
"Yeah... I'm... fine, hold your position."
My hand felt tired, my stamina may be boundless, but my energy reserves weren't. It really started feeling like this painting was not worth the effort I put into it. I could use a break. Maybe I could finish it tomorrow?
"Really! I'm so excited."
Toru gave off an infectious smile that nearly drowned out everything else in the room.
...Just keep painting it.
After another half an hour I was finally done as the final brush stroke passed through the canvas. I stood up and held the painting in my hands.
Not that great, but it does portray Toru adequately. It was amateurish work. Not something to take pride in but something that barely qualified for its job. Perhaps I should have practiced some more with my skill before going into this?
"You're done? You're done! Lemme see! Gimme gimme!"
Toru bounded from her seat and all but snatched the painting from my hands, holding it in her hands she looked over it slowly and without changing her expression. Which felt awfully awkward to me, the painter. Perhaps I put too much stock into a Common Skill.
"Told you I wasn't that good. I could probably draw a better one down the line y'know."
Sniff
A few beads of tears collected on the sides of Toru's eyes as she held the painting, letting a short sniff loose. She looked just about ready to burst into tears and just barely held herself from doing so. She set the painting down and wiped her tears away as I stood there like a complete buffoon.
"S-sorry, no, it's perfect Hakari-kun. It's just the first time I've seen myself in the last 10 years. Your painting is beautiful. I love it. I really do, thank you so much."
This felt nice, for some reason. I felt a kind of satisfaction I rarely ever felt before as I watched Toru absolutely gush over my painting. I couldn't pinpoint the reason why. My own feelings seemed to elude me at this moment.
"I'd say the person I painted is the one that makes it beautiful. Or did you think I was kidding when I said you were one of the prettiest girls I had ever seen."
She chuckled breathlessly. Wiping her tears away.
"No, I guess not. I thought you were just saying that to make me feel better."
I was caught off guard with a quick tackle again, except this one was much weaker so I was able to just barely stay on my feet.
"Really... thank you so much Hakari-kun, you can't know how much this means to me."
I didn't think so either, but the tears staining my shirt at least gave me some idea. This felt like it was worth the current of incredible pain ripping through my eyes.
"H-Hakari-kun? Are you feeling alright?"
Toru said with worry in her voice for good reason as I damn near collapsed when she let me go, having to brace myself against the window for support. My vision felt rather blurry. In my fugue I perhaps pushed myself farther than I'd like to admit.
"Yeah I'm just feeling rather tired. Using my ability isn't exactly easy. I'll need some rest but no harm done y'know?"
I felt dizzy as hell and was about to pass out on my feet. I pulled out Hypnos' Sleeping Mask and wrapped it around my head. A roughly 30 minute nap should put me in working condition.
Just as I was about to lay down I saw Toru sit down with a nervous expression and pat her admittedly rather soft and plump looking thighs- why the fuck am I still using Piercing Eyes? I turned it off and Toru turned back to a floating pile of clothes.
"U-um, would you like to rest a little Hakari-kun? After you spent all that time drawing me, it's only fair! And I'd feel bad if I made you rest without a cushion. You said it yourself right? Wouldn't resting on the lap of a beautiful girl be a good reward?"
Damn, she was spitting facts and logic right now for sure. I did not find any reason to refuse, I'd be resting anyway, better do it in the lap of a pretty girl.
"I'll take you up on your gracious offer."
I lowered myself onto the lap of the invisible girl as two notifications appeared in front of my eyes.
Feat Achieved! Draw the first ever painting of Toru Hagakure
+1x Bronze Item Gacha Ticket
Feat Achieved! Get Toru Hagakure to have a crush on you
+1x Gold Trait Gacha Ticket
I uh, didn't expect that to happen so quickly. Nor did I expect the Gacha to just... tell me. But that is enlightening. Might as well use them before falling off into dreamland.
Rolling Bronze Item Gacha...
A Common Item!
[Kanaeda's Bike]
|Common Item|
A very fancy and fast sci-fi-ish bike, very iconic.
Oh hell yeah, I was already planning to buy a motorcycle since I have experience in using them but this is even better. I can't wait to break several dozen laws by getting this baby out.
Now then, hopefully the next ticket is even better.
Rolling Gold Trait Gacha...
A Rare Trait!
[Ice Resistance]
|Rare Trait|
You are naturally resistant to ice and ice-based attacks and effects such as being frozen, being in low-temperature environments, or eating a large icicle to the face. This resistance scales with your basic stats.
RIP Todoroki, rest in peace bozo. Just try and not use fire on me. And it also fucks over Geta or whatever ice guy who is a massive threat. I'm satisfied with this one. Toru may also be a good luck charm.
As Toru's soft thighs stole me off to dreamland I could only whisper one word.
"Torunite..."
And then I fell asleep.
A/N: This chapter was a fun write, Toru was absolutely adorable and it gave Hakari some development even if he himself hasn't exactly noticed it yet. And Toru will sent on the deep end of a crush after that whole thing. What did you guys think about her scene?
Hakari is destined to end up with that bike it seems. And now Shoto is utterly screwed beyond all measure, so is Geten and any cold use in general. Also what did you guys think about the centered text, prefer it or should I change it back?
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