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"Nice try new kid. But you're not getting away that easily."

Nova jumped, eyes wide. "I'm sorry! I wasn't trying to-"

"I'm just kidding." Botan waved her off. "We're on dish duty. Come on and grab any dishes left behind. I'll show you the kitchen."

"O-okay." Nova nodded. She watched him carefully and followed his actions. Picking up trays and stacking dishes on them. Carrying them through some double doors into a large kitchen area.

"Put em on the counter beside the sink. I'll start while you grab the rest okay?" The older boy instructed. Nova did as she was told, going back into the dining room. So far Botan wasn't that bad, he wasn't being terribly friendly. But he hadn't dumped water on her head yet, and that was a good sign.

Nova collected the dishes. Several kids left them on the tables, even though there were places to put their trays by the kitchen. She passed each set of dishes over to Botan who was elbows deep into a sink of water. Scrubbing them off a little before setting them in the dishwasher.

Nova brought in one final tray with some silverware and a plastic cup. Pushing through the doors with her shoulder. She knocked the tray against a table and fumbled it completely. It fell from her hands with a clatter onto the floor. The tray and cup dropped to the ground but the metal silverware hovered over it. Nova had panicked.

She cursed under her breath and started to collect it. Putting it all on the platter and setting it on the counter.

She glanced up, only to see Botan wasn't looking down at his dishes anymore. He was watching her. Studying her, in a way Nova was used to being studied. People looked at her like that when they were thinking about something. What they were thinking about though, she wasn't sure.

"Nice save, but you do know we're not allowed to use quirks here... Right?" Botan said, a small slightly amused smile on his face.

Nova felt her heart sped up dramatically when she heard she broke a rule. Even if it was one she hadn't known. She remembered what Shinsou said, there were a lot of snitches here... Was Botan one of them?

"I'm sorry! N-no one told me-"

"Chill out..." He shook his head with a chuckle. "I swear I've only heard you say like... Ten words this whole time. And half of that was you apologizing."

"Oh... I'm- I mean- i-"

"Dear God don't say it again." He sighed, though it was more like a groan at the end. "It was cute at first but it's getting old. Come on." He gestured for her to walk over, which she did.

He handed her some rubber gloves. "You've done dishes before right?"

Nova nodded. Keeping her head down and trying not to look at him. To ignore the fact that he was watching her.

"Just clean them off enough for me to load them. We'll also have to fully wash most of the excess by hand, unless you wanna stay up all night waiting for this piece of shit." He nodded at the large dishwasher. This kitchen seemed big enough for a restaurant. Which made sense considering the amount of people they had to feed.

Nova scrubbed the dishes carefully. She knew he said to wipe them off a little, but she felt the need to completely clean them before handing them over. Scared he'd tell her how shitty of a job she was doing.

"Jeez you're quiet." He whispered under his breath after a few long minutes of cleaning. Nova opened her mouth to stay something but stopped short.

"Don't you dare apologize." He said, pointing at her. He said it sternly, but there was a glint in his eyes that told her he was teasing.

"I-i wasn't going to..." Nova mumbled. Though it was probably a lie. She had a habit of automatically apologizing for things . One this boy obviously didn't like.

"Not the additude I expected from the sports festival winner." Botan mumbled with a sigh that shifted into a yawn. "I hate UA but... Well you're a little too pitiful for me to pick a fight with."

Nova glanced over. "You hate UA?" She asked. Just like Shinsou said, it was a school rivalry. But where did Botan go to school?

"Why would I like it? Pumps out a bunch of show boat pros who get all the good positions just because they were put on display their whole highschool career.  They get all the media attention even though we're obviously better." Botan said, seemingly ranting. Nova didn't say anything, just listened quietly as she cleaned off a plate.

"Better Curriculum, better students, better records, better security. Obviously you'd know all about how shit security at UA is. Yeah we're just overall the better choice, but everyone loves UA because they get to be on TV and because All Might is there. Yippee."

Nova glanced over. "Whose we?" She asked quietly.

"Exactly! See?? You don't even know where I go to school." Botan pointed a spoon at her.

Nova looked away, wishing she hadn't said anything.

"I go to the best hero school. Shiketsu. UA's rival. Though most UA students are too ignorant to know about that." Botan grumbled, running a hand through his hair.

"I... I've never heard of that... But... That's probably just a me thing." Nova mumbled, she had almost said she was sorry, but stopped herself. "I don't know a whole lot about this stuff."

"What 'stuff??" Baton narrowed his eyes. "You mean heroes?"

"I-i um... I guess so... I wasn't super into it until I got into UA- I mean I didn't have time to... Uh..." Nova was panicking, her words stumbling more and more. She realized she shouldn't have admitted to that. She was a hero course student. She was supposed to know that stuff!

"I guess that makes sense given your evil dad." Botan said with a frown.

"Th-thats not why! It's just that I wasn't ever I-I don't know... Interested?" Nova stammered.

"So they just handed you a spot? Makes sense for UA. Having you in their school has given the quite the media presence. People are still yapping about it. Classic UA publicly stunt."

Nova frowned and looked away, she didn't like the idea of UA using her for that. Just to get more fam and attention. But she had a hunch Botan might not be far off.

"No offense but you don't really strike me as the heroic type." Botan crossed his arms and inspected her again. "First glance you look like you're rough around the edges but talking to you is like... Man you're cute in a pathetic way and shy to a fault.... No offense."

Nova looked down, his brutal honesty was completely unappreciated and she definitely felt offended. But she didn't say anything, just turning back to her dishes and ignoring him.

"Wow. No come back at all? Just proving my point I guess." He mumbled.

"I'm finished." Nova said, putting the last of the dishes down with a frown.

"Jeez I'm sorry okay?? But you have to admit I kinda have a point." Botan said, putting up the dish she sat down.

"Can I leave now?" Nova mumbled.

"What if I say no?" Botan smiled again, crossing his arms. "Would you just stand there waiting for me to boss you around?"

Nova rolled her eyes in a subtle way and looked to side. "I'll take that as a yes." She mumbled, turning to walk to the kitchen door.

"Fuck- come back. I'm supposed to show you around and shit." Botan scoffed, grabbing her arm.

Nova frowned at it but didn't argue. She wasn't it the mood. Besides she did want to see more of the place, and he did say he was sorry.

"So stop pouting, let's go." He tugged her arm to make her follow him but then let go.

"Fine." She mumbled, following a little ways behind him. So far other than Shinsou Botan was the only person to speak to her and not throw water on her face. Which meant she needed to take advantage of his willingness to show her around.

Even if he was kinda an asshole.