Trick of the Pencil

“I read somewhere that putting a pencil between my teeth will help me fake a smile, you see.” He picked up the pencil and placed it between his teeth. As he lifted his head to demonstrate his ‘smile’, tears started to fall from his eyes.“That faking a smile will help me feel better, that your brain will pick up on it and will help you be less stressed,” Kirishima continued, wiping away his fallen tears with the back of his hand. “But,” he laughed, tears still falling. “It’s not working.” He looked at Bakugou, who still held on to the tissue box. “Why isn’t it working?”-Struggling with some self-doubt, Bakugou helps Kirishima discard the need for a pencil to help him smile.