Going by all the other instances when he'd meet with the mechanic who's mind went a mile a minute, Iida should have known a simple dinner was going to be hectic. Something in his mind convinced him that she had been starving herself for her craft. Ever concerned, he approached her after school hours when she had been working and all but demanded she let him take her out for dinner. He was overzealous when it came to a lot of things, she understood that because she was the same. Though it was supposed to be an attempt at a helping hand, he was also of the mind that it could be a thank you for the girl's tireless work ethic.

But the question is, why did he bother to begin with?

Iida Tenya had been taking care of his Class Representative duties as he did every afternoon, his blazer set aside and his tie undone so he could cool off. He'd just returned for the teacher's office to see a few stragglers chatting in the class. A blonde boy with a black streak and a black haired boy with a wide grin sat in plain view conversing on a multitude of topics.

"Isn't it about time you two returned to the dorm? Kaminari. Sero." Tenya adjusted his glasses as he entered the room.

"Lighten up man… We're just waiting for Kirishima to get back from some supplementary lessons." Kaminari sighed tilting his head back."Besides, we needed somewhere to talk, if we did it a the dorm the girls would be all over our asses." Sero continued, sharing in the exasperation. The two boys, though harmless in the grand scheme, tended to be a bit of trouble makers, their antics along with a certain grape-headed youth were the trifecta of teenage hormones in overdrive. The Flirt, the Blab and the Peeper, thought they meant no real harm, the girls always seemed exasperated by their company especially when together. "I suppose that should be fine… However, I must implore you not to loiter in the classrooms." Iida announced gesturing in dynamic manner. He had all of the student's best interests in mind, despite how difficult it may be to moderate. "Come one Emergency Exit… Cut us some slack." Kaminari rolled his neck. "Yeah you know how those girls group up on us. You can't be against us too, right?" Sero begged, his toothy grin now a toothy frown.

"Like I said, it shouldn't be a problem to wait for Kirishima. However, today may not be a good day for such. I'm on a tight schedule today and I always clean the class on this day at this hour. If you would kindly clear out, it would be much appreciated?" Tenya prepared the necessary materials, quickly obtaining a bucket full of water. "You do this every week?" Sero was astonished. "No way! Are you even real Iida?" Kaminari similarly aghast. "Of course. A tidy room promotes a tidy mind. Will you please acquiesce to my request? I still need to meet with Hatsume about the new design documents for my hero's uniform." Iida fervently began sweeping, kicking up dust that gathered in unnoticed corners of the class.

"Hatsume, huh..." Sero recalled the inventor's face, exiting his desk.

"If it wasn't for her odd attitude, she'd be a real catch." Kaminari stretched out walking to the doorway.

"Though I agree, she is an odd character, I don't believe she'd appreciate those comments." Iida conversed with the boys.

"That body though? She's a total babe under that jumpsuit." Kaminari continued, not listening to the class representative.

"Have you noticed how she seems off recently?" Sero asked.

"What do you mean? Is Miss Hatsume not feeling well?" Iida wiped the windows, blowing through the tasks.

"Yeah? I'm with Specs, something wrong with her?" Kaminari threw his hands behind his head, relaxing against the doorway.

"I'm not 100% on it but I think she's been looking thinner. At least she looked thinner last time I saw her." Sero remembered his last equipment checkup. "Think she's trying to impress some guy?" Kaminari offered a possibility. "If she wanted attention, I have no doubt she'd use one of her contraptions." Iida shot down the thought. "Besides, unless it's Power Loader she's doing it for, I don't think she really leaves her station." Sero added. "You don't think she's overworking herself do you?" Kaminari spit-balled. "That would be unacceptable! Helpful or not, she shouldn't be devaluing herself for other's benefit." Iida slammed an open palm on the teacher's podium. "Slow down dude, we don't even know if that's true..." Kaminari waved the thought away. "We don't know that its not, not true either." Sero argued. "That girl's got a one track mind, right?" he continued picking his ear with a pinky. "If such a thing were true, there's no way we can just ignore that." Iida wiped down the board, erasing away the day's lesson. "In fact… I'll confront her about this business right now."

Within the span of a few minutes, Tenya had thoroughly cleaned the classroom. It was spotless, the desks wiped down the seats all tucked in, the board clear, even the extra textbooks seemed to be rearranged. Quickly surveying the room, the speedy teen assured the room was spic and span. "Everything seems to be in order… Alright boys, I'm off. I entrust the supplies to you." without space for argument, Iida quickly left.

"What!? No way…"

"Man, this sucks..."

The duo put away the supplies, complaining all the way.

Though running in the hall is strictly prohibited, Iida could make a brisk march faster than most other's sprint. His footsteps echoed through the hall. His concern apparent, as he approached the R&D's main laboratory. Knocking on the door hurriedly, Iida was one to think the worst first. Cautious and serious Iida entered the room before being formally invited.

"Miss Hatsume, I'm here to discuss-" Iida marched to her desk before being interrupted by the girl's antics.

"Ah, Tenya! You made it, quick try this on!" she demanded, slipping a vest over his head. "Get your arms through here..." She pulled the vest down. "Miss Hatsume, please." despite his argument she continued. "Come on now… Here hold this." Mei gave him some kind of controller, a tube with a single button atop. "Don't press that just yet." she demanded handing him his costume's chest plate. It was heavy, but was a modified version of the armor. Namely the exhaust pipes that were decorative were smaller and jutted straight out instead of angling themselves. "Today's special my dear Iida, is a new mod just for you." She returned to his view looking at him intently. "The Ingenium Mk. 2, a Hatsume Original. You should feel honored." She giggled scanning the boy. "This controller is just a prototype to a future gauntlet design I'm brainstorming." She patted his back, encouraging the larger teen.

"Alright… I feel I should just come out with it. Is this safe?" Iida pondered reflexively nursing his last injury at the hand of Mei's "babies". "In here? Not at all… Shall we go to the school's track?" she asked reviewing her new chest plate.

She always seemed to have a way of bringing him into her pace. A shame he could possibly never live down, their first meeting being just before their match during the sports festival.

"I don't suppose I should be more covered than just this?" he asked patting down his uniform. "Not unless you're planning to try it at top speed. Right now I have it calibrated to give you a slight kick, really it's for situations where you need to redirect midair." she explained. "Now come on, if the track is too far, the hallway should be fine." She grabbed his arm dragging him out the door.

"Now wait a second Miss Hatsume. More importantly, are you feeling alright? Perhaps any differently?" He stopped in his tracks forcing her to stop as well.

"Alright? Um, yeah? I'm my usual self Tenya." She looked at him incredulously. "Why do I look different?"

"I'm not too sure… I was under the impression you may have lost weight?"

"Oh Tenya… First, you shouldn't ask about a lady's weight." She playfully huffed. "Secondly, flirting will get you nowhere." She mockingly blew a kiss.

"I was doing no such thing!" He denied as his face was set ablaze. "I was simply making small talk." the excuse earned him a scoff and a haughty smirk. "Not that I know of, but then again I don't check myself out too often." Mei posed for the boy, sticking her hip out while leaning in the other direction, hands placed by her ear and at her waist, her lips puckered. If he was red before, he may just overheat now. Iida struggled to make a rebuke to her comments waving his arms to accentuate a point he lost long ago.

"Whoa now… Settle down speedster." She chuckled patting his head, she was irresponsibly close to him at this point. Before either could come up with a segway out of this situation an alarm blares off. "Oh damn. Is it that time already?" Mei hurried back to the laboratory grabbing her phone. Shuffling with it for a few seconds gave time for Iida to return to her side. "Oh shucks, looks like we'll have to settle this some other time." She sighed grabbing her belongings. "You can lock up right Iida?" She asked halfway out of the room once again.

"Miss Hatsume, wait!" he called to her one arm extended. It caught her attention as she peeked back into the room her pink hair waving about. "Would you happen to be free tomorrow?" He asked, intent to get her acceptance. "Oh! Nice idea, if we come in on our day off I can run all kinds of tests. Let me just check." She hummed an indistinct tune as she once again sifted through her phone. "I'll be busy in the morning, but I can be here for the rest of the day in the afternoon. That okay with you?" She asked, the light in her eyes betrayed all the plans she had in mind for him.

'That can't be good.'

"Yes! Just fine. Then I suppose we can go get dinner." He answered, without hesitation. Boldly entertaining her ideas. He undid the chest plate carefully. 'That should force her to have at least one proper meal.' He applauded himself on his quick thinking.

"Dinner? I'd never turn down a good meal, but why? Don't tell me..." Her eyebrow wiggled in a suggesting manner, but Tenya would have no part in it. "Nonsense. Miss Hatsume, think of it as a thank you. A display of graciousness, a reminder of just how valued you are to not only the hero department, but to I, as well." He bowed slightly in the midst of removing the vest underneath.

'She mustn't realize my true intentions.'

"Alright you philanderer, enough. I'll take you up on that offer." she glowed a barely noticeable pink as she exited for the last time.

The next afternoon was like clockwork, it was simple enough. She'd give him a task, he'd complete it to varying degrees of success. She was right to choose the school's track, the markings made for excellent measures. The gadget worked wonderfully, a controlled burst of air pressure out of the exhaust ports had him making quick jukes better than a certain masterful exploder. His long jump was more instantaneous, and his top speed was reached faster and raised, it was a highly useful invention.

"That should be all. Excellent work!" She praised the teen, though it sounded like a self praise if one were to listen closely. "It worked better than I could have dreamed, thank you Miss Hatsume." He bowed, his hair flopped down sloppily, drenched in sweat. His clothes didn't hold up well either, the vest itself was already hot to wear. The chest piece just made it torture to an extent. Removing it his shirt was visibly soaked through, the white athletic shirt sticking to his body revealing his well kept body. He reached into his pocket, grabbing a glasses cloth.

"Perfect. Though I must say Miss Hatsume, I don't think I've been this tired in a long time." He sighed heavily approaching her. With his glasses off she could really get a good look at his face. His boisterous yet serious demeanor was his most noticeable trait, even his selling point if you asked certain people. But looking at him closely without those glasses, he was a looker too. Strong jawline, eyes that bored into your very sole, his usually clean and neat hair was cute, but as he is now? Damp and ruffled, he was rugged.

Mei caught herself ogling the boy as he interrupted her gaze.

"Miss Hatsume? Are you alright?" He waved his hand at her. She doubled back slightly embarrassed by how intently she watched him. "Wha-? Oh! I'm just fine." she waved regaining herself.

"That's good… I was worried you were feeling dazed due to the heat." He once again closed the distance between them. Hormones be damned, this was too much. Mei felt her hand raise unconsciously, where it landed was out of her control. An open palm over his toned chest she felt it through her glove, amazing… it slid down his sweat soaked body tracing his abdomen, every muscle of his stomach driving her wild.

"Miss Hatsume…?" His words fell on deaf ears as the pink mechanic was far too entranced by his body. Eyes traveled up and down as she zoomed in and out tracing every detail, she was going to want to remember this.

"Miss Hatsume!?" his voice hiked as she trailed lower than comfortable. This was wildly inappropriate! He was not about to defile the sanctity of the campus with the going on's that letting her have her way could bring.

"Hatsume Mei, unhand me!" Iida grabbed her wrist ripping it away from his lower abdominal area.

"T-that is not something you should be doing! It's inappropriate, it could send the wrong message, who knows when a young man would take advantage of you!" He trailed on dizzy on his own words. Luckily for him the moment he grabbed her, she snapped out of her stupor. Unluckily for her, she was embarrassed by her unconscious antics. She needed some explanation, she'd be damned if he kept that kind of impression of her.

"Geez Tenya, I was analyzing your body to draft any optimizations I could make on the armor… Get your mind out of the gutter." She laughed it off, begging the stars above she wasn't beet red.

"R-right, I shouldn't doubt your careful eye. Please just warn me before doing it." He was clearly embarrassed, his head hung low as he slouched ever so slightly, his face a noticeable shade of pink. 'God he's cute...' Mei thought to herself calming down. "On to other business. Dinner. We shall arrive at our reserved hour, I suggest you freshen up, and I'll pick you up wherever you may be." Iida was quick to recover, his focus directed fully on his end of the bargain. "That being said I'll need your address or at the very least a location to meet you." He already had his phone out. "Your contact information would also be beneficial." He was moving a mile a minute, however his mindset wasn't one of courtship. No guy would be this forward on the first date… right?

Exchanging contact info, Iida escorted the girl to the school's gate. "I'll meet you in two hours Miss Hatsume." He bowed formally. She didn't live too far off from the campus, a couple of blocks away in an apartment structure a friend of her parents owned. It was a quick commute, if she commuted at all. More often than not relying on Power Loader's kindness in lending some on-campus amenities to the girl on her overnight workshops. She arrived at her apartment where she was greeted by her landlord sweeping the street in front.

"Ah Mei, it's been a while. Have you been eating properly? Shall I set an extra plate for you?" The old woman was the doting type, slightly shorter than her, and wrinkled ever so slightly. "I'm fine ma'am, I'm actually going out tonight." Mei smiled awkwardly waving away at the kindly woman. "Oh? A friend of yours invited you out? How nice." the landlord cupped her own cheek smiling to the girl. "More like demanded I let him take me to dinner." Mei muttered turning away.

"A young man, you say?" the elderly woman perked at the words.

"Yeah… apparently he thinks I'm not eating either."

"He sounds very considerate, if not a tad zealous."

"Yeah, sounds like him."

"Well then Mei, why don't you go dress up, I'm sure he's doing the same."

The girl nodded as she entered her apartment. Nosy much? Not that she minded, the landlord had been like another family member to her, one of the few people she could talk with besides requests on their hero costume. Her apartment was filthy, clothes and trash strewn about the dimly lit living area. Her small table simultaneously a dining table, desk and workplace as she used an actual desk as a workplace of its own. Dishes, though few had been left unwashed for at least three days. As engrossed as she was in her passions, Mei knew she should've made some time for house keeping. Now wasn't the time though as she quickly stripped, haphazardly tossing clothes into a heap as she entered the bathing portion of her restroom. Quickly bathing and soaking she tossed on whatever casual clothes she could find, a graphic tank, baggy sweatpants and whatever sneakers she could find and she was out the door. Who else would be there but Tenya Iida, dressed formally, chatting up her landlord.

"My my Iida, thank you for looking after Mei. She always could get caught up in her little inventions, she's shapely but she still has growing to do. She can be a hassle to drag away from those things." The woman clasped her cheek smiling at the tall teen. "Ma'am, you speak too much of me, rather I would consider it my duty to lend a hand when I see the need arise." Tenya pushed up his glasses standing stiffly. He swelled with pride as he postured to the woman. "Oh my there she is now. Mei darling, your friend is here." she waved over at the girl. "Oh… Don't you have anything else you can wear? You'll stick out like a sore thumb in that." she met Mei half way turning her around. She left Iida in the dust shoving Mei back into her apartment.

"H-hold on!" Mei squeaked out as the old woman manhandled her. Her shirt over her head. "Just listen girl! This is for your own good." The landlady demanded ruffling through Mei's belongings. "Now… you should have something good in here..." She trailed off face first in Mei's closet space. "And this room is filthy. Why won't you just let me tidy up from time to time." She fished out a form fitting sleeveless turtleneck and some slacks. "This room is my sanctuary, everything is in it's rightful place." Mei mumbled embarrassed. "And what of the clothes pile? Is that in it's rightful place? What will you ever do if a guest were to enter?" she scolded, roughly handing her the clothes. "Easy… No one will ever enter as a guest." Mei complied, redressing herself. "You say that now, but what about that boy out there. What if he were to enter this room, wouldn't you be ashamed?" The landlady continued her tirade. "There's no way I'd let him in here." She argued back, tugging at the hem of her shirt. "We'll just see..." The landlady bit back. "Now where are your shoes." she scoured the room for footwear. When she had found a pair of black flats sitting off in an untouched corner, she tossed it at the teen. "Put those on girl. Don't keep the boy waiting. And tie that hair, it's all over the place" the landlady was a snippy old broad, her barely wrinkled hands strongly gripped Mei's own. "Oh little Mei's going on a date with a fine young man." She pinched Mei's cheeks, a light shade of pink lingered. "I feel like a mother watching her daughter grow up..." She sighed, smiling to herself. "Now go out there and land that boy, he looks like he's got money!" She joked slapping Mei on the back, out the door.

Mei had never felt so rushed in her life. She barely made an argument, this wasn't even a date to begin with, was it? However she had just enough time to fill a tote bag for herself while the old woman was ranting. She smiled to herself, there's no way she was going to waste even an hour that could be spent working on her babies.

"Ah Miss Hatsume, it seems you've changed." Iida acknowledged her scanning her up and down. "Yes… your attire seems more appropriate now. You look nice." He paid her a compliment. They both knew Tenya Iida was far from a philanderer, his words as earnest as his attitude. Mei couldn't help but feel glad he'd even notice. The light gray turtleneck hugged her body accentuating her curves, the black slacks formed around her hips and thighs before gradually flaring out at the foot, her shoes though plain made the whole outfit feel uniform. The dark khaki tote bag however worked against it, as the rest of the outfit held a sort of urban elegance the raggedy sack that hung over her shoulder looked like something out of a mechanic's garage, signature Hatsume.

"We should be meeting with our taxi soon. Our reservation is in half an hour." Iida peeked at his watch rolling up his sleeve slightly. He wore something that just seemed like the Tenya Iida thing to wear. A dark blue sports coat buttoned over a gray dress shirt, light slacks that seemed recently ironed and brown dress shoes shined to perfection. His hair was cleanly tucked away and his posture even straighter, if that was possible. "Shall we?" he directed a hand towards the main street, a maroon vehicle waited.

"Alright..." Mei was hesitant. 'What's all this about?' she pondered as Iida stepped ahead holding the door open for her. He had been so gracious to her, she barely had time to joke as she sat down in the back seat. 'Come on! And he's holding doors for me? It's like he's trying something.' The ride over was fairly quiet, few words were shared between the teens. Upon arrival Iida took it upon himself to open Mei's door once again, escorting her out of the car with a small courteous bow.

"Miss Hatsume, we have arrived." he waved his arm towards the entrance to a hotel atop stood a rotating restaurant, one of the fanciest in the city. She stared in awe, gripping her tote bag. Again he led her in, unfazed by the glitz and glamour. "How'd you even get a table on such short notice?" Mei looked at the boy curiously. "A friend of my brother works here. We were able to capitalize on a canceled reservation." He answered clearly. As they entered the elevator Tenya finally took notice of the large tote bag, curious to know yet dreading what he already expected, he asked a simple question. "May I ask… What exactly is in that bag Miss Hatsume?" he pointed awkwardly tensing in anticipation.

A smile began to grace her face. Not a good sign…

"Well Iida my boy, what just so happens to be in here is the future!" she laughed to herself. Suddenly her bag was much more ominous. "I don't like the sound of that…" he mumbled under his breath.

"Well I'm sure that you're sure to love it." she grinned cutely at him as the elevator doors opened. Now at the top floor the city's skyline was visible. He cringed as the girl all but skipped out the door. 'Mistakes were made...'

The escorting to their seats had Tenya's blood run cold as the smallest of smiles widened on the girl's lips. 'How could something so pretty be so threatening...' he thought in a huff. He took every few steps to peek at the bag, the damnable thing was sure to have a number of gadgets that could ruin the night. He sat with a sigh as Mei sat his opposite. They were at the far edge of the establishment, perfect for the viewing experience. Not that Iida could enjoy it, not with Hatsume sitting there with a mysterious sack of lord knows what.

"Wow the view is beautiful..." Mei sighed in awe mouth agape at the skyline's vision.

"Yes… It's a wonderful night, not a cloud out there." He got his calm, much to his surprise. 'So far so good...'

"You know what would make it better?"

'Oh no.'

"You my friend, sadly don't have eyes like mine. You can't appreciate it like I do."

'Why do you do this Hatsume?'

"But with this..." She rifled through her bag, the sounds emanating from it as metal clanged against itself worried the boy to no end. "Handy Hatusme Original! You too can see as well as the creator herself." She pulled out a single eye piece, a scope of some sort. "That's right with this high fidelity scope you too can see the world zoomed beyond the conventional telescope." She handed the piece over the table smiling that salesman smile. "But do be careful, as impressive as they are, my babies are delicate." She laughed to herself. Tenya eyed the piece quizzically, looking for any imperfection. "Don't be afraid. Just remove your glasses close one eye and look through." She continued to push the product. Doing as she said trying not to cause a scene, he peeked through to see the cityscape in an all new way. The buildings vibrant with all kinds of lights shining from each window, the barely visible clouds in clear sight, the stars themselves seemed so much more noticeable, it was amazing.

"Wow… Miss Hatsume, it's beautiful. Do you really see like this all the time?"

"Yes I do, and you can too with just a few adjustments to your helmet. That is if you want it."

"How could I possibly pass that up!?" He enthusiastically claimed pulling away with a grin.

'This wasn't so bad.' he concluded handing back the gadget. Mei giggled softly packing it back in the bag. "Is something funny Miss Hatsume?" He asked as a waiter came to take their order. He too stifled his giggling staring at Tenya. 'Something about this seems wrong.' he pondered looking at the girl across from him. "Miss Hatsume… What did you do?" Tenya asked grimly, his face thoroughly done with whatever she had done.

"I swear… it wasn't intentional… I just-" She giggled between the pauses. Iida scrambled for a reflection grabbing his spoon. There it was, a black ring around his eye, with the way he was dressed he looked a fool, a character out of an old black and white comedy. "What is that!?" He growled bringing his napkin to wipe the unknown substance out. "I'm not too sure. All I know is. That you look silly." She continued her fit as she clutched her stomach. Luckily, it came off. Taking a wiff, it smelled like oil.

"Oil… Petroleum I assume this came from you work desk." He sighed

"You would be right. How astute of you." She smiled.

"Hmph. Nothing good comes from the stuff." He huffed crossing his arms.

"Bad experience?"

"Not even the half of it."

"Ooh tell me!" She leaned in, her eyes beaming.

"I'd rather not."

"Oh come on! Keep me distracted long enough and I won't bring out another baby." She bartered.

"Fine..." He sighed in defeat. They ordered their meals getting comfortable.

"It was nearly a decade ago now..." Iida began his story apparently when he was just old enough to start understanding things he watched a documentary of cars.

"I never pictured you the car type of guy."

"Yes, I related with motor vehicles very much as a child."

"The engines?"

"Exactly. I remember as soon as I could run, I would try to footrace most any car that came past my way."

"You? No way!" She looked at him like she had seen an emu on a unicycle.

"Yes, yes. Tensei would often tell me stories of how I would often get in trouble with mother for running in the streets. I must have been a rambunctious little tyke." He reminisced.

"And look at you now, Mr. Square." Mei joked winking at the boy.

"More like I understand the value of safety."

"Booring." She smiled. She was absolutely radiant, the low lighting accompanied by the candle light made her shine in the most catching of ways. "Now come on. Tell me about the oil story." She readjusted bouncing in her seat.

He recalled the story, his face twisted at his own embarrassing past. How foolish he was, how impressionable he had been, he cringed at the idea of being so innocent and reckless. But Hatsume listened on through, giggling and grinning all the way. Had it not been for that, he may have died of the shame.

"So you're telling me you tried to drink motor oil for a week?"

"I had just watched that documentary for the first time. Not only that but Tensei's words on any matter were fact back then."

"But for a whole week? And you just kept trying."

"Mother was furious, every time she'd have to stop me."

"You put motor oil in your cereal."

"I thought it would make for a good breakfast."

"You tried to fool her into thinking it was apple juice."

"Her nose is quite honed."

"I wish I could have been there to see you."

"I can only hope that no one would ever know that part of me for the rest of my life." he wallowed in self pity.

"Oh come on we all do silly things as kids." She tried to comfort him, though her smile betrayed her laughter.

"Oh? Just what crazy thing did you do?" he challenged her.

"The first thing I ever built was a modified version of a baby doll when I was five."

"and what could have possibly gone wrong?"

"I blew up part of the jungle gym at the park." His eyes bulged. 'What could she have possibly done?'

"I was making am exosuit that would make it walk on its own." she chuckled. "No one got hurt of course. Just some minor vandalism..."

"Minor!?"

"Yeah. The thing was old anyways..." she averted her eyes.

They continued their chat as the food arrived.

"I have to assume you have interests beyond the occupation, right Hatsume?"

"Me? Not much… I guess I like old sci-fi movies. You know old B-movies" She pondered the question fiddling with her meal.

"Oh? Tell me more."

"I love looking at the old tech they'd dream up for the aliens to have."

"Hmm, I'd imagine they'd be good for a laugh here and there. Machines imagined back then probably don't hold a candle to what we have today."

"No way… Its about looking at those things from a different angle, Iida" She argued her point, using her fork to act out a period. "How could I take the fantastical function of their gadget and give it a practical form. Looking at them that way builds hypothetical blueprints in my mind. Bringing them to life is the joy of being an inventor." She puffed her chest in pride. Tenya was enthralled, this side of Hatsume was not privy to him. The prankster that seemed to put him into escalating forms of strain was what he usually dealt with.

"What about you?" she paused looking the boy in the eyes. "What kind of movies do you watch?"

"Movies aren't really something I make time for."

"Oh come on you gotta have something in life other than the job too, right?" she almost seemed like she was begging. "I know you'd love seeing just what kind of ideas they threw out back then."

"Hmm your mirth for something other than dangerous machines has me interested. I suppose I could try one, once in a while." He muddled over his thoughts.

"Oh! Then you've got to see my collection, I think I've still got it somewhere in my room. I'll loan you something once we get back." She smiled to herself excitedly, it wasn't often she'd get an opportunity like this.

The rest of the dinner seemed to go off without a hitch. They continued to chat as the night progressed, laughs were shared, and the oddest topics seemed to come up. Finishing their meals, Iida paid for their meals before they exited. The car ride home was much of the same, as the teens excitedly tossed out ideas for new inventions that could help not only Tenya himself, but other students as well. They had returned to the complex at a good time as it seemed the streets were empty.

"I really enjoyed dinner Iida, you even distracted me from my babies, impressive." Mei joked elbowing his side. At some point he had offered up his jacket, the sleeveless top not suitable for the night's temperature. "Maybe I should guilt trip you into another dinner." She smiled reaching her apartment door.

"Miss Hatsume, I would rather you not try any unscrupulous business to get my attention. If you want another dinner simply ask. Though you'd have to pay your own share if you ever did." He pushed up his glasses chuckling to himself.

"Hey it's still kind of early, why don't you come in and have some tea while I find those old DVDs." she opened the door rocking her head to direct him in.

"I don't see why not." He agreed stepping through the doorway. Unknown to the pair, a certain nosy old woman peeked through her own door way.

"Don't go doing anything inappropriate children." She spoke up to both their surprise. The pair jumped in unison, as the old woman cackled. "Oh, and I cleaned up your room just in case. Have fun, Mei." the landlady laughed to herself closing her door.

'Dammit… she got me.' Mei thought to herself. 'I suppose the sanctuary could have a guest, once in a while...' she huffed closing the door. Tenya was standing in the living area awkwardly considering where to sit.

"Don't worry big guy, just sit at the table while I fix us up some tea."