June 30th

( ) Fantasy

( ) Arcade (extracurricular Activities)

( x )Hanahaki

Send me Dead Flowers to my Date

Everything was perfect. The two bridal bouquets – one for walking down the isle and photos, other, cheaper and simpler, to be thrown - the flower arrangements on every table, the room décor, everything. She smiled, happy with herself and the company team. Even without her boss supervision, due to an emergency reflected on a call from her that made little sense, everything…

Her boss.

What was she doing there?

If that person could be considered the famous Kamiko Anabeki, florist of the rich and famous, always with an impeccable professional conduct. The woman in front of her had the hair on a mess. Some spots here and there as make-up, messed-up clothes with stains of, what, red wine? And her eyes, her eyes seemed glassed, sparkling with something her assistant feared in a fraction of seconds.

"Miss Anabeki, is everything all right?" she must avoid any damage to her boss or the company "why don't we go talk outside?"

But she was already rushing to the stage and grabbing a microphone.

"Love." She started, on a tone that made everyone at the party look at her. "I love my job. For a decade I used my quirk to make flowers bloom in the most perfect arrangements, worked 14, 18 hours a day to make every wedding, every party perfect. I didn't complain, because I loved this."

"Miss Anabeki…" the assistant was yet to give up avoiding damages.

"Even with such work, four years ago I also felt in love. So I was giving myself to my job and to him. I didn't complain, because I loved both. Forget vacations, forget decent sleeping hours, hello skipped meals, hello the stress of planning two, three parties at the same time while mumbling passionate nonsenses at the phone for hours. But, hey, I loved both." She pointed to the bride and groom. "You two feel the same, I bet."

The assistant was now closer, trying to tug up her sleeve, calling her attention. That allowed her to study her boss closely. The huge bags under her eyes, the marks of tears, the rouge so randomly over her face…

"All that for what? To find him kissing my own sister. And he had the nerve of shifting it to me, saying I was never there for him. For years and years I made flowers bloom for endless couples, and made the best effort to make our love blossom and grow. And he said…"

Wait, is that really rouge? And…red wine on her clothes? Or…

"Let me tell you what I found out last night. There is no love!" The assistant made gestures to the microphone to be cut, but Anabeki was talking so loudly and the dinner hall was so silent it made almost no difference. "Feelings are false!" She started to laugh like a maniac. "He should be happy. I found a way to mix the two things I thought I loved to save time. Let me show you!"

No, not wine. Not rouge. It's…. the assistant had almost no time to register the horror, as the bride took her hands to her throat and collapsed to the floor. The groom rushed to her, but stopped on a violent cough fit. Delicate petals started to fall from his mouth, his face becoming paler and paler, panic spreading through everyone there…

"Now" finished Anabeki "Death… is real. I will show this truth everywhere" and marched to a nearby theatre.

Shinsou was really not comfortable in the line. The duo in front of him were really helpful – often too helpful – on his adaptation to hero class, but this… is awkward.

"Are you sure you want me to…"

"Hitman" There was Sero again with the nickname he created for him "Are you crazy? This is 'Regular Joe 4 – Job Interview'. You know how hard it is to get a ticket to the Parcel Universe movies."

"Sure, I like quirkless movies like everybody else, but…" he blushed "I am feeling like a third wheel."

"You don't have to be-oof" Sero's elbow hit Kaminari's side, making him change to a more subtle approach. "worry. Don't have to worry. Plus, it's Valentine's week, that means free chocolate."

"For both of you."

"We'll buy you one!" Both Sero and Kaminari answered fast, making Shinsou raise an eyebrow.

"I still think…"

"Come, Shinsou, you have to watch it with us, it ties with 'Guardians of the Garage Sale 2' in November."

"But I…"

"Wasn't the next 'Lavenders' scheduled to launch first? Oh." Kaminari stood in front of the Theatre ticket guy "we'd like our candies, please."

"Sorry, but this is a promotion for couples onl…" Sero and Kaminari shared a peck, making the employee motionless for a couple of seconds. "You know what? I don't make enough money to argue so, here you go, one chocolate each, please enjoy your movie."

Kaminari and Sero marched to the theatre candy store and bought Shinsou chocolate. They have been trying to be subtle for months, Kaminari thought. Time to be more bold.

"You know the meaning of chocolate at Valentine's Day, right?"

"Sure, but…"

The Electric kid unwrapped a bonbon and approached it to Shinsou lips, as Sero passed an arm around his shoulders. Shinsou's system collapsed. What should he do? What those two are trying to…

Screams. A young woman running, shouting something about her boyfriend. Looking around, Sero saw a young man, coughing blood and petals. Near him, a scary-looking woman shooting something about love and loss.

"Well," Kaminari got his Provisional Hero ID "that's what we're studying to do". Sero was already launching himself toward, capturing the woman on his tape, while Kaminari went to the victim.

"We're heroes, folks. Please leave the area" said Sero, trying to dominate the woman.

Kaminari was saying almost to himself

"Recovery Girl classes, don't fail me now." While performing CPR on the man. He checked his pulse worried. "Well, I always wanted to try that." He put both his hands on the side of the man's chest and shouted "Clear!" before sending a shock to his system.

"Heroes?" said the woman, all wrapped up in tape "You're too young for that. Too young for anything! I should spare you of love and pain. Yeah. Die young and don't have your heart broken."

"Huh, Hitoshi, a little help here?"

The fact he does not have a license or that he has mere weeks on a hero class passed by Shinsou head in a flash. The heck with it. People need help.

"Hey, flower lady?"

"What do you…"

Connected! He smiled inside.

"Stop using your quirk."

It took Sero one or two seconds to realize what was happening. The antagonist stopped resisting and had a blank stare on her face. Kaminari said the man breathing was slightly better and steady. That means…

"We did! Solid hero work here! Now, someone call the po-po and…"

"Miss Anabeki! Miss Anabeki! Please stop!"

Her assistant meant well trying to stop her maddened boss, but all he managed to break the link between Shinsou and her.

"Oh, great. Lady, get out of here, it's not safe."

"But my boss…"

"Now!" shouted Sero on a commanding voice he didn't know he had.

"Noisy kids." Anabeki made a large gesture, making Shinsou start to cough. "I bet you're the kind that smashed flower pots with soccer balls. No more!"

"F-flowers" Shinsou managed to say between coughs. "you… arrested… your flowers… alo…alone."

"What?"

Sero suddenly understood what Shinsou was trying to say.

"Yes, flower lady. Pro heros and police are coming. Who will take care of your flowers when you're arrested?"

"I… my assistant… I think?"

"The more damage you do, the longer the investigation, lady. Do you want to see your house surrounded by yellow tape for weeks? That will happen, right, Kaminari?"

"Huh? Oh, right, tape."

"Shinsou there knows more about it, but he can't answer…"

In a flash, he stopped coughing and managed to half-stand, leaning on Sero.

"Tell me how I can protect my flowers!" the villain demanded

"Do you know the law in these cases, lady?"

"Enlighten m-"

"Sit down and do nothing" Shinsou went, with a sight.

An hour later, after the police finished interviewing the trio after the arrest.

"How did you know what to put on all those forms, Hitman?" Kaminari got his copy and started to read " 'Once confirmed the antagonist presented lethal abilities and murderous intend, the provisional heroes present agreed on taking the course of action with less collateral damage and that secured the well-being of civilians, recruiting the help of a third party, Hitoshi Shinsou, UA student, id number… "

"Aizawa made me memorize all these, he says it could get me out of trouble with the police."

"Indeed it did. We got just a reprimand, instead of demerit points on our Hero cards… and jail time for you."

He looked at Kaminari and half-smiled

"He also said it is part of regular classes for the provisional hero exam."

Both Sero and Kaminari looked away. The tape hero tried to change the subject

"And the flowers? How did you know about her flowers?"

"I didn't. But I taught myself several psychologic tricks to trigger people. How to read them. Helps with my quirk. I just imagined someone like her would have tons of plants."

"Ah. Clever. Too bad we missed the movie, however. Well, we can watch something on the dorms." Sero sighed, leading the way to the subway, while fidgeting on his phone. "How about 'AccountAnt-Man'? Oh, the cartoon 'Barman: Bad Blood Mary'. I haven't seen that."

When going down to the station, Shinsou was thinking. He does know how to read people, right? Making a quick stop at a shop, he bought and split a cheap chocolate bar in three, blushing and giving a piece to Sero and Kaminari.