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>"You shouldn't back up into doorways, you'll trip on someone. Ribbit." Tsuyu advises, gently pressing you back into the classroom.
"Howdy sugah! G'mornin'!" You immediately greet her while taking a long step back in before pivoting around. "We got the results of the exams on the wall, and Ah'll tell ya now, ya did pretty dang great so I can't wait to go to the resort, and then go campin' with y'all, and rest a while, and y-"
>"I think you should breathe." Tsuyu interrupts you without raising her voice.
You blink, nod, and then exhale. You don't trust your uniform’s buttons with real deep breaths.
>"Are you really that excited to go camping? Or are you trying to leave something behind?" Tsuyu asks, her large eyes looking straight into your own, just like Shoto before her.
You think about her question a second, then sigh.
"...Both." You answer, letting your smile falter, eyes lower, and shoulders droop a bit. It’s been a long while since you’ve gotten to sleep under the stars, but you don't want to dwell on the incident even more so. You’ll take just about any excuse to not think about the still-at-large threat to your and your friends lives… But Tsuyu has got a point. Maybe you shouldn-
>"Is it working?" She asks with a slight tilt of her head, taking you out of your darkening thoughts.
"...Say again?" You ask in kind, puzzled.
>"Not thinking about it." She continues. "Does it make you feel better?"
"Y-yeah, Ah think?" You admit, scratching the back of your head, a little unnerved by her head-on questions.
>"Then keep doing it. Ribbit." She says, tapping her chin. "It's good to mull things over and consider how they could have gone differently, but you don't have to make it your new walk of life, I think. Just take what you can learn from it and go, if that makes sense."
Taken off guard, you just silently stare back at her.
>"And if you want to talk about it later instead, I'm always available." She continues with a wide smile. "I've been told I'm a good listener. If you don't, that's fine too."
"Thanks, Ah'll keep that in mind." You reply, gingerly being pulled by the much shorter girl into a hug. You were hardly expecting any of that. Don’t have to be a genius to tell Tsuyu’s got a good head on her shoulders but you didn’t think you were about to receive some sound motherly wisdom this morning. It makes you wonder what else you’d find out if you hung out with her more than just around school.
Your embrace lasts only a moment, quickly letting her go after she gives a couple pats on your back.
>"Even if you feel responsible, you don't need to do it alone, Ribbit." Tsuyu finishes before walking over to her seat. You glimpse Shoto giving a slight but noticeable nod to her from the corner of your eye. Seeing it from across the room, it’s about as emphatic a gesture as you’d ever expect from him.
