A Time To Smile. Alice's Idol?

Feeling the weight of their loss, the group takes time away from everything. They don't return to school, they don't see each other, they each suffer with their grief in their own ways, trying to figure out how to move forward. As the days go by, weeks come. Samuel being the first to return to her class, a new scar across her cheek. She looks tired and worn out but knows she must move forward. She returns to her class where a few students, the ones who didn't go to the camp, are waiting. Despite not being close with Chizuru nor knowing what happened, the class stays respectful to their teacher as she stands at the podium in silence, staring at it with a blank stare. After a moment, a student speaks up.

Student "Ms. Samuel?.."

They call softly. Samuel snaps out of it and looks up at the students.

Samuel "R-right. Sorry. Let's see where we.. left off."

She says quietly as she opens her binder. More days pass as eventually Kuzan, Airi and Daiki return to class. As they step inside, Samuel gives them a soft smile as they make their way to their seats. Days pass as Suiyoubi, Kitaro and Hisana return. Once again, Samuel smiles at them slightly brighter than before as they enter the class.

Samuel "I'm happy to see you again."

Then Alice and Touma.

Samuel "Welcome back my students. I'm so glad you're back."

They give weak smiles but feel better than before. A few months have passed as soon, the rest of the class returns with Sugawara, Haru, Ryuji, Lucy, Shiori and Hikigaya. Samuel waves at them as she gives them a big smile.

Samuel "It's so nice to see you again."

They smile back as they take their seats in an attempt to return to normalcy. Shiori sits for a moment before looking to her right and seeing the empty seat next to her. She stares at it for a moment as her eyes get glossy before she lowers her head onto the desk and wraps her arms around herself. She struggles to hold back tears as the entire class sits in silence. 

Samuel "Okay, let's get started then. Today we'll.. We're gonna talk about… we…"

She stutters as the class notices and looks at her. Tears rolling down her face as she looks at the entire class except for one.

Samuel "We're gonna try.. and remember what Chizuru showed us.. Joy and smiles and hope for a better future."

The class begins crying softly as she speaks.

Samuel "No matter what, we're gonna keep a smile on our faces."

She says with tears running down her face but a smile nonetheless.

Samuel "Okay? Let's smile for her!"

She shouts with a thumbs up to the class. The class, despite their tears and grief, all lift their heads and thumbs up with weak and pained smiles on their faces.

Class "Right!"

They shout together. 

Soon, the class comes to an end and despite the community crying session, the class laughs and smiles together with tear-worn eyes as they leave together. Haru rubs his eyes and does a little shake out as the group follows him.

Haru "blluhg I don't know about you all but I can't say I want to start my days with community crying sessions anymore."

Hisana "You can say that again. My head hurts now."

She says while rubbing her eyes when Kitaro puts his hand on her head gently. She looks at him surprised as she blushes. He smiles at her softly.

Kitaro "I'm sure you'll forget all about your headaches soon enough."

She gives him a big smile.

Hisana "Yeah! You're right!"

Shiori looks a bit upset as the group talks happily. 

Hikigaya "You sure you're okay Shiori?"

He asks softly. 

Shiori "Yeah I'm just thinking.. It's all I'm really good at."

She smiles awkwardly as Hikigaya smiles a bit back.

Hikigaya "I can name a few things you're quite good at."

He leans to her and whispers in her ear before she blushes intensely and shoves him away playfully.

Shiori "Shut up! Now is not the time to be joking like that!"

Hikigaya laughs a bit despite his tired expression.

Hikigaya "Yeah, you're probably right."

Shiori stops blushing as much and looks at him surprised.

Hikigaya "But then again, love is something we really need right now."

He looks at the group as she does the same.

Hikigaya "All of us."

He says softly as Shiori gets an understanding look. 

Shiori "Yeah."

Alice then gets an idea before smiling a bit.

Alice "Hey. Do you guys want to do something fun?"

They look at her surprised before smiling and agreeing.

Ryuji "What do you have in mind?"

Alice "How about we go to the park or something after school? It doesn't have to be but preferably some place open with a lot of space. Also, does anyone know what the weather is supposed to look like later?"

She says with an excited look.

Suiyoubi "You just want to go test your new powers."

Alice blushes and rubs the back of her head rapidly.

Alice "Whaaat?? No no! I'm just throwing out ideas here!"

Ryuji "Something fun does sound nice."

Lucy "Perhaps an arcade?"

Kitaro "I'm down for that."

Sugawara "Ooh! Can we get some soup before we go?"

Hikigaya "Soup? What does soup have to do with arcades?"

Sugawara "I like soup. It sounds yummy."

Haru "Aw, you are yummy you little cutie! Come here!"

He picks him up and starts kissing him all over his face as Lucy smiles and shakes her head.

Lucy "Guess it's dinner then the arcade."

Hisana "Food does make the games run better."

Alice "No… No, I don't think that's how that works."

Hisana "Kitaro told me so."

Kitaro "I have never said anything like that in my life."

The group all smiles and laughs as they walk off together. Touma smiles warmly as he follows behind them when he feels a tapping on his shoulder. He stops and turns around with a surprised look only to find no one standing behind him. He looks confused for a second as he examines the area.

Shiori "Hey Touma! You coming?"

She asks as the group has now made a little ways away since he stopped. 

Touma "Y-yeah.. Coming."

He says with a confused look before following them. 

One weekend morning, Shiori leaves the house in her workout attire. She stretches her arm as her body still recovers from her injuries. She feels the lingering effects of them but prepares to workout anyway. She readies herself to go on a run but before she can start, she looks up confused when she hears something.

Alice "sshhiiIOOORRIII!"

She hears cry through the air before Alice comes flying at her and crashes into Shiori and onto the sidewalk. They groan as Shiori sits up a bit.

Shiori "Alice? What are you?.. Why were you in the air?"

Alice "Ow… Well, I was flying obviously!"

She says, jumping up. Shiori looks concerned.

Shiori "You were flying… As your first practice run?.."

Alice "Mhm mhm!"

She nods happily as Shiori stands up. 

Shiori "Okay, first of all, try not to use your powers in public. Even if it's not illegal to have them or use them in subtle ways, you still want to avoid it. Secondly, maybe don't start with flight as your first practice. Having powers doesn't innately make your body stronger or anything. If you go high up and can't catch yourself, what happens then?"

Alice thinks for a moment before getting a look of realization.

Alice "Oooh, yeah, that's probably a good idea."

Shiori sighs and shakes her head as Alice looks at her excitedly.

Alice "Which is exactly why I came here, to you!"

Shiori looks at her confused.

Alice "You can teach me how to use my powers!"

Shiori looks concerned as she shies away from the statement.

Shiori "I.. don't think that's such a good idea.. Why don't you go to Hikigaya? He's probably way better at teaching than I am."

Alice "Nah, that brute, as cool as he is, just doesn't have the delicacy I'm looking for. I want to be like you!"

Shiori looks down a bit.

Shiori "I don't… think you should want that.."

Alice looks at her confused.

Alice "Why not?"

Shiori "I'm not someone who should be admired."

She says softly as she looks away. Alice then takes her hand excitedly.

Alice "Shiori, you're literally Fullsky, my idol! You've been my idol for years! The great vigilante Fullsky! An elegant but strong hero who faces off against even the strongest opponents and always gives it her all to do it with style! You're way cooler than any of those other 'real' heroes."

Shiori looks at her surprised but still hesitant.

Shiori 'I never tried to be like that. I guess people really just see what they want to see..'

Alice "I don't think you realize just how many people you've inspired and saved."

She says with a soft, warm smile. Shiori looks down with an uncertain look.

Shiori "Yet I've failed so much… People have died because of me… I haven't saved anyone…"

She says quietly.

Shiori "I'm not… I shouldn't be your idol… I'm not worth that praise…"

Alice tightens her grip on Shiori's hand just a bit.

Alice "You're wrong."

She speaks softly as she smiles at Shiori. Shiori looks surprised a bit.

Alice "We met before, do you remember? Before we became friends."

Shiori looks a little confused as Alice speaks softly. 

Alice "It was years ago. You had probably just started being Fullsky at that time."