Carlos League Hero AU

[dusky kernel]

Kinta is Mustard btw:

"I...I failed," he finally admitted.

Toga stared down at him, her golden eyes glistening. "So what?" She said, crossing a leg as they finally came to a stop near the stadium's concession stand. "Everyone fails sometimes, Kinta-Kun."

Kinta looked at her, his fingers drumming against his arm, "It's...just when you work so hard for something, and you don't get that something. It's...it just sucks."

Toga thought about this for a moment. Then she slowly nodded, "I can kinda see where you're coming from but think about it this way: You've got another oppertunity next year, the year after. I mean heck, I've told you all about how I failed, didn't I?"

"Yeah..." he let out air through his nose, "it's not as bad as failing the entrance exam to UA at the very least. That was way worse if I'm being honest."

"See?" She smiled wide with a giggle, her fangs shining in the setting sun, "just think of something that sucks worse and now whatever sucks at this moment isn't so bad!"

They shared a laugh between each other, Kinta pushed up his glasses and looked at her. She uncrossed her leg and looked at him. Then she did something that made this day better than any other for him. She leaned in, taking his shoulder so that she steadied him for a peck against his cheek.

For a few seconds he failed to register what she just did. His heart restarted several times and slammed against his ribs, his face turning the deepest shade of red humanly possible, his breathing came in choked gasps as Toga stood back and smiled. "That's for doing your best," she whispered gently.

"Uh..." but he couldn't hardly breathe, much less speak.

Unfortunately they weren't alone. Rounding the bend, a certain three Shiketsu students looking for their fourth at the request of their third year leader found more than they bargained for. Witnessing both the event themselves and Kinta's mutterings.

"Ohmygosh..." Camie instantly squeaked as they all watched from around the corner at the sight. Then she realized something and whirrled around, "broski let it slide! Broski let it slide!"

There was Inasa too, ever the golden retriever who simply looked excited for his fellow first year. However who Camie was really worried about was their second year prefect. Seiji Shishikura whose disapproving glare was so intense it bordered on religious fury. He whispered in an almost trance, "Unregulated...affection..." the words dragged out of him like he was spitting bile.

Camie planted her hands against Seiji's chest, giving him that look that occassionally worked whenever she was committing a few infractions herself. Sometimes it worked, "Babe, this ain't the vibe. C'mon-"

But it wasn't working this time. His eyes blazing, he stated, "Rules. Must. Be. Followed."

Inasa watched this confusedly, "Why's he shaking like that Camie-San?" He pointed at his shimmering upperclassman.

"He's just activated his prefect mode!" She squealed in mortal terror, having witnessed it more than a few times.

Seiji moved fast, like a spectre. Swift punishment ready to be dealt.

Kinta only registered a blur of maroon before a smack across his back nearly sent him to the ground, more surprising than painful. He yelped all the same, however.

Toga's eyes shot up as she squeaked embarrassingly.

Camie wailed, all too familiar with how it felt.

Inasa gasped, rubbing under his chin, "Wow, that was clean..."

Seiji stood over Kinta with immaculate posture, a long discipline stick held in his hand. Everyone had no idea where he'd been keeping it, that was for sure. He cleared his throat, "Shiketsu students are prohibited from engaging in romantic entanglements, Osore-San. Consider this a warning, next time there'll be a formal citation."

"Hey!" Toga waved her arms around furiously as she got up in his face, "I kissed him for one!-"