101: 𝙿𝚛𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎
"So um... That's it right? Do you have any other edits?"
Nova and Jirou were now side by side. Looking at Jirou's computer. It was nice typing it out on one of their own. Jirou tucked some hair behind her ear. "No... It's really good. Thanks... For um... Putting up with me."
"No problem." Nova said with a small smile. Standing up. "Would you mind printing it? I should probably get going."
"Wait-" Jirou stood up, holding up a timid hand. Nova tilted her head.
"Um.. me and... A few other of my friends were planning on... Grabbing a bite to eat." Jirou said nervously. "It would be totally cool if you came..."
"Oh..." Nova whispered, cheeks pink. She wasn't expecting an invitation. As much as it delighted her...
She didn't want to accept it.
She felt exhausted, simply from being stressed out all day. And while she assumed her and Jirou were cool now, she still felt anxious around her. Carefully watching every word and move she made. Hoping it didn't make her remember why she hated Nova in the first place.
Plus there was Zoey.
And money. While Nova had money now, she wanted to save every cent for a future home. She had three short years before she was eighteen. She couldn't afford to spend money on going out to eat. Especially since recently she'd been buying more groceries.
With Karon gone.
"Thanks but... I brought my sister and we should really be getting home." Nova smiled. "It's really nice of you to ask though..."
She almost hated herself for turning it down. This was the first time... Anyone ever offered to hang out somewhere public.
She didn't even think Jirou realized the gravity of that. Of volunteerly being SEEN with her. Especially now that she was very known by the public. She got looks just entering the library, she couldn't imagine a restaurant...
In fact... She didn't think she'd ever BEEN to a restaurant before.
"Okay... I get it. Thanks again... I'm sorry for being so harsh with you in the past. I-it wasn't because of you I swear... I just... I have trouble managing my emotions sometimes I guess..." Jirou fiddled with her fingers. Chipping off some of the black pain on her nails.
"I understand..." Nova smiled. "Can we... Be friends now?"
"Y-yeah! Yeah totally!" Jirou nodded with a smile much bigger than Nova's.
"Nice..." Nova backed up, glancing at the kids section.
"I should... I should go find Zoey."
⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘
"You're taking this surprisingly well."
"I swear if you say ONE word I'll blow you to hell."
"No swearing!" Mina said, shoving Bakugou's arm.
"That's not a swear word! Hell is a real place that HE'S going to." Bakugou hissed, pointing at Denki who snickered.
"I didn't think you'd be religious Bakugou." Kirishima said with teasing smile.
"I'm not. I just believe in hell."
"Shhh she's about to beat it!" Mina said in excitement.
Zoey's eyes were completely glued to the computer screen. Deku's score was far behind her, Bakugou's within her reach. The dinosaur jumped as commanded by the tiny girl. Who was insanely good at the game, to their surprise.
"Ahh!! You did it Zoey!!" Mina cheered as she beat it. Zoey grinned but kept going.
"Dino queen! Suck it Bakugou!"
"The only reason I lost there in the first place was HER fault!!" Bakugou argued, dispite him fighting it, Denki had been right. He was taking all this surprisingly well.
Although she was an annoying brat, this Zoey kid was more tolerable than most kids. Mostly because of her spunk, while it annoyed him having her take these silly little jabs at him... He was also a little amused by the sassy little kid.
How her and Nova were related he had no idea. Literally. Although it was fairly obvious she wasn't ACTUALLY her sister.
They looked nothing alike.
They acted Nothing alike.
And there was no way in Hell this was the daughter of Kurayami. Although it was possibly a half sibling... But she said her mom was in prison, for God knows what. So Bakugou deducted it was probably Via foster care.
He never expected to care about Nova's home life. But found himself pondering it, he'd never thought about her being in foster care. Hell he didn't even know who or where her mom was.
Probably not living. Or maybe she left her daughter. Either seemed possible. He definitely wouldn't stick around if his partner was arrested and executed for terrorism.
"Awh man." Zoey said, slumping back when her dino got a cactus and died. Even though she had clearly beaten his score.
"Zoey... Zoey!"
They turned as Nova turned a corner. "Zoey I told you to... Stay..." She trailed off as she looked at the lively group. Zoey sat on Mina's lap infront of the computer. Surrounded by teenagers Zoey barely knew.
Teenagers Nova barely knew.
Her anxiety spiked. She didn't like Zoey and Bakugou being in the same building, let alone sitting right next to each other. She was in edge with Mina and her so close. Was Mina bothering her? The teen tended to be pretty nosey. And while she put up a good front, Zoey was actually fairly sensitive to certain things.
Had they said anything around her? Even on accident, cursing or bad talking people. Especially Nova. Even casually mentioning things Nova didn't want her to know about.
Nova was suddenly... Very protective of her sister.
"Come on... I'm finished we can go now." Nova said calmly. Her heart thundering in her chest. She suddenly felt the same as she had in the Iida's house.
Dear God please don't steal from them.
"Mkay. I met your classmates. And I won the dino game, look!" Zoey hopped off of Mina's lap and pointed at the screen.
Nova tried to push away her unease. She couldn't freak her out the same way she did last time. Nova had a feeling that Nova's own panic had overwhelmed Zoey with confusion and fear that day.
Those negative emotions could have been what made her feel the urge to steal. Through brief Internet surfing, Nova found that kelptomania was often an outlet. A way kids regulated their emotions.
They got a good feeling from stealing, so when they felt a bad one they did it again to calm down.
Kinda like Nova and her cigarettes.
"Wow good job." Nova smiled, gently touching her sister arm. "Are you ready to go home now?"
"I'm hungry!" Zoey chirped, fooled by Nova's calm facade. She was getting better at those.
"I'll make you something at home."
"You should come with us!" Denki suddenly offered, in the same way jirou did. Nova put together the fact that they must be with her.
"No thanks." Nova said, the moment Zoey opened her mouth to accept the invite.
Zoey snapped her mouth closed, looking up at Nova with a pout. But she didn't argue.
"Thank you guys for... Um... Watching Zoey." She said politely.
"She's so fun!" Mina gushed. "And sweet, It was nice to meet you Zoey."
"Thanks Mina!" Zoey smiled happily.
Yeah. Zoey could make friends with anyone.
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