Avoidance is my Specialty 1

Hitoshi's lip twitched upwards as Mashirao attempted to balance the plates on his tail, hands full with textbooks. To his credit, the plates were holding surprisingly steady. They were both in their casual clothes, and Hitoshi appreciated the fading colors streaming through the windows onto Mashirao's soft expression.

He hadn't been sold on the idea of helping someone he barely knew setup, but one kind smile from Mashirao later, and here he was... Hitoshi dragged a dry cloth across the wet table as everyone bustled around. If someone from his new class was willing to help him, the least he could do was help them as well. Though he was starting to think this was all just an elaborate ploy from Star to avoid talking to him about the Hero Killer...

Yaoyorozu's voice came floating around the corner from inside the kitchen, slightly strained. "Mashirao, can you put the English books next to Star's chair?"

Leaning forward, Hitoshi grabbed the top half of the books from him to start sorting through. Mashirao shot him a thankful smile, placing the rest on the table. The sheer amount of books scattered around was overwhelming. Letting out a sigh, Hitoshi glanced at his watch. While it wasn't like he would sleep well anyway, he was still hoping to start before the sun set. The rate things were going though, the sun would already be leaving them before they even started.

As Yaoyorozu rounded the corner, she bit her lip, frowning. "Actually, we should sort them by difficulty!"

Hitoshi nodded, swapping half his pile with Mashirao's to accommodate her request.

"Or perhaps subject?" Momo's eyes glanced up as if she was trying to read the thoughts in her own head. As she paced back and forth in the living room, she continued gnawing on her bottom lip.

"Maybe we should have stations for each class? Or perhaps we put the books next to each tutor? Should we even use books?! Would notes be more beneficial and save us time? Then we can revise again after the..."

Hitoshi and Mashirao paused in their sorting, the book half raised in the former's hands and plates still balancing neatly on the latter's tail. The tall regal woman didn't look very well put together for once as she wore down the rug next to the common room table. Her mutterings became incoherent and Hitoshi looked at Mashirao skeptically, already doubting this idea. He was all for catching up to the Hero class, but he was beginning to wonder if they were all just as crazy as Star and Hot-shot.

Speaking of her… Hitoshi glanced up as he heard a crash in the kitchen, and Mashirao cringed next to him. Low and behold, a second later Star herself glided into the room with flour in her hair and on her face.

"Momoooo! Bakugo isn't letting me help in the kitchen!" She whined, seemingly oblivious to her appearance. Wringing her hands together, she glanced back at the kitchen suspiciously before whispering, "And he's making a mess too-"

"I CAN HEAR YOU!" Bakugo's voice roared from inside the kitchen, making both Star and Yaoyorozu jump in surprise. "Damn off brand icy hot…"

Yaoyorozu looked up at that, and her anxiety seemed to melt away as she stifled her laugh with her hand at Star's appearance. With the white of the flour contrasting against her red locks, she did indeed look related to Shoto. Star looked over and locked eyes with Yaoyorozu as she listened into her mind, momentarily forgetting her complaints as she cracked a smile as well.

The moment was broken when Bakugo stormed out of the kitchen holding a bowl and mixer, shooting the redhead a glare before addressing the more mature of the two women. "Thanks to little miss 'helper' over here we're out of damn flour." He sent Star another look as he spoke to Yaoyorozu, not breaking eye contact as he called her out.

Star avoided his eyes, letting out a small 'humph'. "If you had just let me help-"

Sensing another fight, Yaoyorozu jumped in. "Star, would you be able to pick up more flour at the store before the others come down?"

Hitoshi sighed in relief, glad he wouldn't get another headache from the two bickering. "I can go with her, I could use some fresh air." And some answers, he thought warily to himself.

It wasn't until Star's eyes widened a fraction that he realized his mistake, and she hastily blurted out, "I can go alone! Ha ha! Yup! Look at me, I'm leaving now, good luuuck!"

And before he could nab her, she half ran to the door with her wallet in hand, hastily waving over her shoulder as the door closed behind her. Hitoshi sighed, running a hand down his face, then through his hair. Star avoided conflicts better than anyone he knew..

And while it was a great talent for her to have as a celebrities daughter… It was less great when it was used against him.

"Is it safe for her to go alone?" Mashirao asked curiously, also staring at the door in disappointment.

"Tch, you could at least act like you believe in her as a hero." Bakugo snapped, and without waiting for a reply, he stormed back into the kitchen.

Taking the plates off of Mashirao's tail, Hitoshi frowned. Her ability as a hero wasn't what he was worried about.