The text she sent read, “Let’s go somewhere. You don’t even have to talk. Just walk.”
The reply came two minutes later: “I can’t, I’m busy today.”
That was it. No punctuation, not even an emoji to soften it. Robinn’s usual polite cheer was nowhere in sight. Just a flat wall of refusal.
Uraraka stared at the message, chewing her lip. It was Sunday, so no school, no training sessions. What could Robinn possibly be doing that was more important than having a normal, human interaction?
She tapped on Kirishima’s contact before she could talk herself out of it.
He picked up halfway through the second ring.
“Hey, what’s up?” he said, voice already chipper.
“Quick question,” Uraraka said, curling up on her bed. “You mentioned Robinn lives kind of near you, right?”
“Yeah, she jogs past a park near my street every morning. Why though? I thought you two were tight.”
Uraraka let out a weak laugh. “Well, she hasn’t exactly shared her address with me...”
There was a moment of silence.
“So you wanna ambush her or something?”
There was an even longer moment of silence. “...Yes,” Uraraka said a bit quieter.
She could hear the grin in his voice. “I’m in.”
They didn’t actually hide, just sat on a worn park bench near the edge of the trail. Kirishima brought some coffee and Uraraka brought nothing but the vague hope that Robinn wouldn’t be weird about this.
Birds chirped overhead. The path was damp from yesterday’s rain, but the sky was clear this morning. A few early joggers passed. Kirishima made a game out of guessing their quirks, just to pass the time.
Ten minutes in, Robinn appeared around the bend, jogging at a relaxed pace. Hair tied back, face a little flushed from the run. She didn’t see them at first. Then her eyes flicked toward the bench.
She slowed, stared, and stopped with a small huff of breath.
“...Seriously?”
“Good morning to you too,” Uraraka said, grinning.
“Nice form, by the way,” Kirishima added.
Robinn placed her hands on her hips, catching her breath. “I’m on cooldown. Don’t flatter me.”
She was smiling, like usual. But it was the same smile she wore during homeroom introductions.
Uraraka clocked it immediately. Robinn wasn’t mad. But she was tired. Not from the run. From them.
Still, she didn’t walk away. That counted.
“Wanna walk a bit?” Kirishima offered as he stood up. “Not far. Just the neighborhood.”
Robinn looked like she wanted to say no. But instead, she just nodded. “Sure.”
They meandered through the residential blocks. Kirishima took the lead, pointing out spots as they passed.
“That ramen stand used to be way better, the new owners kinda ruined it. Less garlic,” he said.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
“Isn’t that the gym you almost joined?” Uraraka asked, raising a brow.
“Almost. I took one look at the paperwork and dipped.”
Robinn mostly stayed quiet. She kept pace, but her eyes didn’t wander. Just polite.
Uraraka glanced at her sideways.
“Do you even live around here?”
Robinn blinked. “Uh... yeah. I just don’t really pay attention to this stuff.”
“She’s only got training on her mind,” Kirishima said, grinning.
“Mhm,” Robinn replied, dead serious.
Uraraka almost laughed.. until she realized Robinn wasn’t joking. Like she hadn’t even noticed the teasing.
They stopped near a vending machine. Uraraka got an orange soda. Kirishima still had his coffee. Robinn didn’t get anything. Just leaned against the rail and watched them, as if trying to figure out why they were still there.
Then, suddenly, she asked, “Hey Uraraka. Have you been training your Quirk?”
Uraraka paused, can halfway to her mouth. “What?”
“I’ve seen you have trouble with heavy stuff. And using it for a long time.” She said kicking off of the railing and taking a step towards Uraraka.
There was no bite to her tone. Just an observation.
“I mean... kinda? Not really. I’ve been focusing on school more lately. Midterms are right after the Festival and all.” She admitted sheepishly scratching the back of her neck.
Kirishima gave a slow nod, finished his coffee cup, tossed it then spoke. “Yup. Gotta study for those...”
Robinn slouched a little, shoulders dropping. “Midterms...”
She sighed. “There goes my Sports Festival hype.”
Kirishima looked at her, curious. “You did seem excited when they mentioned it. Makes sense, though. You’re totally into that kind of stuff.”
Robinn perked up again. “Yup. I watched it every year. Even when I was in America.”
She took a step toward them like she was letting them in on something good.
“And now I get to participate.” ... “And win, of course.”
The words hung there for a second. Not cocky. Not loud. Just... final.
Uraraka raised her brows. “Win? You’re just calling that now, huh?”
Robinn didn’t blink. She didn’t smirk. She just nodded once.
“Manifesting,” Uraraka added, a little softer, trying to draw a laugh or something from her.
But Robinn didn’t laugh. She didn’t even look smug. She just looked forward, eyes calm and steady.
Kirishima glanced over. He was smiling too, like usual, but it faltered.
She meant that. Every part of it.
That wasn’t manifesting. That was a statement of fact.
And somehow, it didn’t feel arrogant. It felt heavier than that.
They kept walking, but the pace slowed. The rhythm of the conversation lost its step.
The air shifted. Not tense... just thinner for a second. Like the conversation had lost its footing and was quietly looking for a new one.
Clouds filtered the sunlight to a pale grey. The heat softened. They passed a pair of kids walking a tiny dog in a sweater. The dog barked, sharp and yappy. Robinn blinked at it, gave a soft “huh,” and kept walking.
Uraraka glanced sideways, trying to fish for the next topic.
She considered bringing up training. Or the vending machine by the station that always ate her coins. She didn’t say any of it.
Robinn wasn’t quiet, exactly. She’d answer if you spoke to her. She smiled when they joked. But it was like smiling through a window. You could see it, but you couldn’t touch it.
Still, it didn’t stall the day. Kirishima kicked a stray pebble off the path and cracked a grin.
“So!.. That takoyaki stand I was talking about? Still there. Terrible food. Great memories.”
Uraraka laughed. “Isn’t that just food poisoning?”
He pointed at her. “That’s what makes it authentic.”
Robinn let out a soft chuckle. It was small but real.
They wandered into the park without much thought. The trail curved past a playground, some open grass, and a few benches half-soaked in shade.
A toddler had climbed to the top of the slide and refused to go down. Just sat there, legs stiff, shouting nonsense into the wind like it was taking requests.
Uraraka pointed. “Mood.”
Kirishima grinned. “Nah, he’s stalling. Trying to psych the slide out.”
Robinn watched the kid with a blank expression. “He’s scared.”
Both of them looked at her.
She wasn’t frowning, just... observing.
“Waiting ’til he feels ready,” she added simply.
Kirishima gave a small nod. “Yeah. Been there.”
Robinn gave a noncommittal shrug and sat on the nearest bench, tying and retying one of her shoelaces.
Uraraka flopped down next to her. “This is what I’m talking about. Free entertainment. And no homework.”
Kirishima stretched, arms overhead. “See? Told you this was a good idea.”
Robinn muttered, “Ambushing me, huh?.”
“Yeah of course!” Uraraka said, “Weren’t you supposed to be busy today?”
Robinn just glared at her. Both of them laughed it off.
They stayed like that for a while. Just sitting. The kid on the slide finally gave up, turned around, and climbed back down the stairs like a quitter. Kirishima booed under his breath.
No one said they were hungry. No one said they were bored. They just sort of... stayed.
Eventually, they got up again.
Not because they had a plan. Just because the day kept moving and it felt weird not to move with it.
They walked the edge of the park and crossed the street without checking where it led.
Kirishima in the front, hands behind his head.
Uraraka lagging behind, arms swinging lazily at her sides.
Robinn somewhere in the middle.
Three kids, no schedule, no destination.
Just walking.
