Chapter 29 Huwumi (Extra Chapter)
Chapter Summary: Fuyumi meets Hawks. Endeavor isn't happy. But who cares how he feels, right?
AN: Stein is such a pain to write! So while I'm wrecking my brain trying to figure out an in-character way of writing his dialogues, I present you this extra chapter (sort of) of Fuyumi and Hawks' coffee date! This can be read as a one-shot.
It's so much fun roasting Endeavor xD
9:10
Her watch read.
Fuyumi swallowed thickly and forced down the urge to up and leave her reserved seat, forgoing this unethical plan of Touya's.
She had arrived at said coffee shop ten minutes early just so she could leave a good first impression on the other hero. After all, she only agreed to this date because she wanted to find Hawks' weakness (despite her guilty conscience telling her No). It was already a terrible thing to do; Fuyumi wouldn't be able to forgive herself if she made him wait for her on top of toying with his feelings.
The justice part of her was the only thing keeping her from leaving the café right here and then, but it didn't stop her from imagining all the possible ways she could use this time efficiently. Like training her physique, for example.
"You must be Fuyumi-chan!"
Came a chirpy voice.
Fuyumi looked up from her half empty cup of coffee and the first thing that caught her eyes was a fiery red and very, very fluffy scarf. From afar that may be all it seemed like, but at a closer look, she could see the thousands of feathers that made up the entirety of the scarf, fluttering with the motion as its owner slid into the seat across from her. Only then did Fuyumi divert her gaze onto Hawks.
Aside from his prominent scarf, Hawks was wearing a simple sweater and baggy jeans with his iconic headphones hanging on his neck. He looked just like an ordinary teenage boy. It was hard to imagine this boy her age was so successful he already had his own agency.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Todoroki Fuyumi."
"Yeah, I know! And I'm Hawks, but I'm sure you already know that." Hawks leaned back and gave her a toothy grin. "Sorry to keep you waiting. I got caught up with something," he said cheerfully not showing any signs of apologeticness.
"It's okay! I-I understand. Being the No. 10 hero must be really busy, huh?"
Fuyumi regretted as soon as the words left her mouth.
Stupid! Stupid me! Why bring up the hero ranking now!? It's too suspicious!
"Not really." Hawks shrugged nonchalantly as he gestured for a waitress nearby. "My quirk practically gives me like a thousand hands and eyes, so things that take seconds for me to do can take hours for others."
Like climbing up the hero rankings.
Fuyumi mused as Hawks gave the waitress a charming smile and stated his order.
"A slice of chocolate cake and a vanilla shake please. Thanks you." He finished with a wink, sending the young waitress blushing and almost tripping over her feet as she stumbled into the kitchen. "Where was I... Oh right. You recently entered top 25 right? Congratz!"
"Thanks. But it's nothing much. Anyone can be top 25." Fuyumi began to stir her coffee to mask her slight discomfort. She wasn't used to compliments after all, especially after being told every day by Endeavor that her accomplishments were nothing and she was never good enough.
"Are you crazy!? Being in the top 25 is a big deal!" Hawks exclaimed, dropping some feathers in the progress. He quickly controlled them before they touched the ground and stuck them back into his scarf. "The top 10 heroes may be more popular but that doesn't mean the rest of the heroes are useless. They're all contributing to the hero society and that's what matters. After all, the purpose of being a hero is to help people. It shouldn't matter what rank you are, right?"
"R-Right." Fuyumi nodded, looking down into the swirl she made in her coffee, a sense of self-doubt taking over her mind.
Am I being a hero for the wrong reason?
"Anyway, you sure looked a lot different in person." Hawks placed his elbows on the table and held his face with one hand, staring at Fuyumi with curiosity glinting in his brown eyes.
"D-Do I?" Fuyumi murmured, shyly fidgeting with a strand of her hair.
Is he saying that I look... prettier in person?
"Yeah, you don't look as fat as you did in your profile picture!"
Fuyumi froze.
The only time in her life where she was fat was earlier this year when she was so busy with her studies and college exams she didn't exercise enough and ended up gaining a little weight due to all the food Touya was forcing her to eat.
"I honestly didn't expect you to be this skinny, considering you said you can eat an entire chicken all by yourself in one meal!"
Fuyumi's face flared up in embarrassment, her fist clenched tightly on her lap trembling with anger.
Touya is so dead when this is over!
Sitting at a table in the back corner and hiding his face behind a menu discreetly, Touya suppressed a shiver.
I have a bad feeling about this...
Looking away from his sister temporarily, Touya fixated his gaze on a certain individual sneaking into the kitchen suspiciously.
I have a bad feeling about that too...
"I don't care if you took his order but I will be the one to deliver this cake!"
The place of cake was grabbed roughly by another hand.
"No! I'm the oldest one here so I will deliver it!"
Another hand yanked the plate.
"I've been here the longest so I should do it!"
A fourth hand pulled the poor plate.
"Enough! I am the one who took his order so I will deliver this cake!" The waitress who almost tripped earlier cried as she pried off all the offending hands. She couldn't understand her coworkers' fascination with that cute boy. Sure, he had a handsome face, a sweet smile, pretty eyes, and a charming wink... But! That shouldn't turn them into thirsty predators who came straight out of the stone age! Where was their dignity!?
Lost in thoughts, she shielded the cake with her arms and turned towards the entrance of the kitchen, running straight into a giant, burly body that suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
"Oof!"
The waitress took a face full of muscles and fell into a pair of strong arms.
"I'm sor-" She was halfway into her apology when she came to realization that among the staff in this small café who had access to the kitchen, there shouldn't be anyone who was almost as tall as All Might, and almost as toned as All Might.
"Kyaaa!" As soon as it clicked, the waitress screamed, scrambling backward until her back hit the other coworkers. Only then did she fearfully look up into those intimidating blue eyes that seemed to be burning into her soul. "W-Who're you!? What do you want!?"
"Y-Yeah! This is a kitchen, y-you know! W-We have knives in here! We're not s-scared of you!" Threatened another waitress, but her trembling voice really wasn't convincing.
The intruder appeared unfazed.
Another waitress tried putting up a brave front. "A-And Hawks is right outside! You know! The newest No. 10 hero! He will come to save us if you tried anything!"
At the mention of the name "Hawks," the intruder visibly grimaced, clicking his tongue and glaring at them with increased intensity.
"I will not hurt you." A few awkward moments later, he said in a forced, soft voice that came out more creepy than reassuring. "I am the No. 2 hero, Endeavor."
All of a sudden, flame erupted from his body, forming a fire beard, a mustache, and... an eye-mask (?) on his face.
Unfortunately, that only caused the waitresses to scream even more in fright.
It took ten whole minutes for the ordeal to come to an end and for Endeavor to finally state his business.
"They're sure taking their time," Hawks groaned, nibbling onto the end of his straw and sipping his ice water with a dejected look. His eyebrows were drawn together, his eyes downcast and sullen, even a few tufts of his blond hair that usually stuck up in arcs above his head were now drooping over his eyes in dismay.
Cute.
Fuyumi blushed at the thought.
"I wonder what's taking them so long," she said, trying to divert her attention from the way his pink lips chewed the straw to something more productive, like how it'd feel to have his lips on h-
"AH!"
"F-Fuyumi-chan?" Hawks cried, taken back by her sudden outburst.
"I-I'm okay." Fuyumi forced a smile as she picked her head up from the table, her forehead stinging in pain and her glasses askew. "S-Sorry, I was thinking of something."
"Oh. Ok." Hawks blinked owlishly like a confused baby bird.
Adorable.
Before Fuyumi could mentally put a cork on her thoughts, a waitress appeared with Hawks' chocolate...
...cake?
"I'm sorry!" The waitress bowed as she set down a plate of brown, dough-like substance. The edge of the plate was slightly charred and the dough-like substance had a suspicious fist-shaped dent in it. "I'm so sorry!"
Both Fuyumi and Hawks stared dumbfounded at the cake, not even acknowledging when the waitress ran away before they could demand an explanation out of her.
"She's messing with you." Fuyumi decided after she got over her shock, a feeling of protectiveness washing over her, akin to the emotions she experienced whenever someone bullied one of her brothers. "I'm going to ask them what's going on-" She stood up abruptly and was about to storm into the kitchen when something light and soft touched her forehead.
"It's fine." Hawks chuckled, taking back the feather he used to stop her and cutting off a piece of cake.
Fuyumi stared at him with suspicion as she watched him eat. Hawks was quite a popular hero. Maybe someone who despised him tampered with his cake on purpose in an attempt to poison and kill him...
"Umph! It's good!" To her relief, Hawks did not drop dead or start puking up white foams. Licking his lips, he eagerly cut off another piece of cake. But instead of eating it, his pointed the fork at Fuyumi. "Try it! It's really good!"
Caught by surprise, Fuyumi gaped at the fork, completely ignoring the piece of cake on it.
I-I-Is this an i-indirect k-k-kiss!?
This was her first date after all. A romance noob like her had never experienced any sort of intimacy with a guy let alone kissed a guy (she didn't even have any guy friends!). A situation like this was something that would only happen in fictional stories! Never in her eighteen years of life would she expect this to happen on her!
"Fuyumi-chan?"
"Y-Yes!"
Ahhh whatever! I don't care anymore!
Fuyumi squeezed her eyes shut and ate the offered piece of cake, trying to keep her mind off of the embarrassing thoughts currently running through her mind as she chewed and savored the taste.
"It is pretty good." She decided at last, opening her eyes to a sight that instantly made her heart run like a madman.
Hawks was staring at her as if she were the most precious person in the world. His warm, brown eyes drew her in like nothing before, making her whole body go weak. The intensity of the adoration in his eyes was so overwhelming for a split second Fuyumi even forget how to breath.
And then he smiled.
And her heart stopped.
.
.
It's dangerous.
.
His smile is too dangerous.
.
"Please stop smiling..."
Those words escaped her lips before she could stop herself.
"Why?"
Hawks tilted his head in confusion.
Because my heart can't take it anymore!
Thankfully, Fuyumi was saved from having to answer this question when the waitress showed up with Hawks' vanilla shake.
"S-Sir," the waitress stuttered, her eyes darting around glancing at anything that wasn't Hawks. Fuyumi instantly narrowed her eyes. "Here is your vani- Ah!"
She tripped in a very obviously intentional manner. The drink she was carrying fell off of her serving plate and its content was about to spill all over Hawks when time seemed to have stopped.
The serving plate halted in midair, the vanilla shake frozen above Hawks' head in an upside down position, its content remaining in the glass defying gravity.
"Why're you doing this?" Fuyumi confronted, her voice cold and sharp like her ice spikes.
A blade of ice suddenly shot out of the wall of ice she created to hold up the drink, the tip stopping precisely an inch away from the waitress' eyes.
The young waitress shrieked in terror, her legs giving out underneath her and she fell onto the ground with tears streaming down her face.
"I-I'm sorry!"
Fuyumi moved to grab ahold of the drink but the young waitress clearly misunderstood the action. She scrambled onto her feet and sprinted into the kitchen, no doubt planning on seeking help.
No matter what the reasons were, Fuyumi would not go easy on anyone who dared to attack the people she cared.
Fuyumi grabbed the bottom of the frozen glass that was sticking out on top of the wall of ice and melted the rest of the wall. She then placed the glass upright on the table and melted the ice coating it.
It was only when she sat back down and all the adrenaline vanished from her body did she realize what a scene she had caused and how she had utterly destroyed her image of having a good personality against the guy she... might have feelings for.
"I'm sorry!" As soon as she realized that, Fuyumi stood back up and apologized to the stunned onlookers for interrupting their meal. She had to do it, not just because it was proper manners, but also because she needed to keep up a good image as a pro hero. Being in the top 25 may not be much for Endeavor's standard, but to everyone else, it was quite a feat and "Yumi" already had a small group of fans rooting for her.
After the other customers looked away, Fuyumi sat back down and sighed.
"I love it when you're like that."
Came the unexpected response.
Hawks took the straw from the glass of water and put it in his vanilla shake, stirring it with a soft smile on his face.
"Strong, independent, and honest. Others' opinions won't affect your determination to do what you think is right. I think that's the most attractive aspect of you."
Attractive. The word echoed in her ears. He called me attractive.
"Do you know me?" Fuyumi instantly regretted her words.
Hawks had an utterly confused look. "What're you talking about? We've known each others for weeks."
Right! Touya had been using my name and photo.
"R-Right, sorry, it's just you sounded like you've always been watching me."
"Well, you are the only other person my age to climb up the rankings so fast and make it into Top 25. Naturally, I grew curious of you and looked you up. I saw you during the license exam actually and the way you set the whole place on fire and just walked out of the obliteration without sparing the others a glance was super badass!" Hawks cracked a lopsided grin and winked. And Fuyumi felt it shoot straight through her heart. "You were smoking hot when you're fighting, Fuyumi-chan. Literally and figuratively."
So Touya learned that line from him…
Before either of them could say another word, a flame-covered fist came crashing down onto the table, breaking it in half and sending tableware flying everywhere.
"Ah!"
"What the-!"
The customers nearby screamed when splintered pieces of wood flew towards them. All of them were stopped by red feathers before they could harm any innocent bystanders.
"Father!" Fuyumi took a step back, her muscles tensed and prepared to fight or flee.
Hawks, on the other hand, remained seated on his chair with his eyes closed and continued drinking his vanilla shake.
"How dare you."
Endeavor took a menacing step towards Hawks.
"Flirt with my daughter."
He yanked Hawks' scarf and dangled him in the air, his huge physique incredibly threatening when put next to Hawks' relatively small one.
"And wink at her!"
Hawks finally opened his eyes and smirked, staring straight into Endeavor's raging blue eyes without a hint of fear. "I can wink at whoever I want. It's my eye. I can do whatever I want with it."
"You can wink at whoever you want, I don't fucking care." Endeavor spat in distaste, bringing Hawks' face closer to his. "But don't send your disgusting charm at Fuyumi's direction. Your gaze will not land on her without my permission. And you will not make her blush without my permission. Understand?"
"Now you're just being unfair." Hawks pouted, his scarf suddenly dispersing into thousands of feathers that flew onto his back, forming his iconic red wings and causing many bystanders and fans in the café to scream in delight. Hovering in the air, Hawks crossed his arms and rebutted, "Of course I won't do anything Fuyumi-chan doesn't like."
Endeavor grumbled out "Don't call her 'Fuyumi-chan'" but was ignored.
"If she doesn't want to, she wouldn't meet me today. If she doesn't like my flirting, she would turn me down and just get up and leave. Right? Fuyumi-chan?"
Standing right next to her seething father who was glaring at her as if daring her to agree, Fuyumi couldn't do anything except smile hesitantly.
"See? Silence means yes." Hawks smiled back, totally unperturbed by the way Endeavor was scowling at him like he wanted to rip and burn that smile until not even ashes remained. "And if she doesn't want me to wink at her, then she wouldn't blush every time I do."
To prove his point, Hawks winked at Fuyumi as if he were purposely antagonizing Endeavor.
Fuyumi blushed.
Endeavor fumed.
"Silence," Endeavor growled, "does not mean consent. My daughter is innocent. She'd blush if any cute guy winks at her."
"Are you calling me cute?" Hawks yelped, looking quite happy for receiving this compliment from someone who looked ready to incinerate him.
"I!" Endeavor roared, the flames covering his body shot up above his head and scorched the ceiling. "Am saying, my daughter does not like you one bit! She's only meeting you here today so she can rise up in rank."
"Father!" Fuyumi paled in horror.
Hawks suddenly went silent.
"The one talking to you on the internet wasn't her either. It was my son, Touya. Fuyumi never liked you. She only met you so she could find out your weakness and top you on the hero rankings." Endeavor sneered. "Not a bad tactic, I'd say. But too careless and risky. I'd go for the ones close to him first."
Hawks didn't speak for a while. Seconds ticked by as the agonizing silence dragged on. Fuyumi's heart was at her throat ready to leap out as soon as Hawks reacted negatively. Actually, scratch that. Her heart was ready to jump out as soon as Hawks said something.
After what felt like eternity, Hawks lifted his head and looked at Fuyumi. He remained silent, but that one look was enough to express everything he wanted to say.
His lips trembled and opened slightly, only to purse shut as he glanced away.
Fuyumi felt her heart break as she stared at this pitiful sight. She had to do something.
"My father was right." At last, she admitted. The betrayal in Hawks' eyes was hurtful to look at, so she looked down at her hands instead. "I did come here today with the intention of finding out your weakness to use it against you, so I can use you as a stepping stone for my selfish desire to enter top ten. And after that, I would just leave you at your lowest and cut off all connections with you."
It was painful to admit this. Fuyumi had to force the words out of her mouth.
"I was only concerned about ranking and didn't care about being an actual hero and saving people. After all, I never wanted to become a hero. My dream was to become a teacher. But things happened and I'm here now, being in the top 25 and admired by fans when I don't deserve any of that. I'm not worthy of their praises because I'm not who they think I am. I didn't realize this until I met you, Hawks."
"Fuyumi-chan," Hawks murmured, his voice broken.
"You changed my mind. You changed me. I've never liked anyone but today... I-I... like you. I didn't know what attraction is until I met you. I've never had an indirect k-kiss before I met you."
Fuyumi could hear Endeavor's breath hitch at this.
"Hawks." Fuyumi steeled her resolve and lifted her head, looking straight into Hawks' eyes. "I'm sorry for being a horrible person and trying to do horrible things to you. I don't expect you to forgive me. I just want you to know that I've developed feelings for you throughout the course of meeting. My feelings are genuine. It's not a lie this time."
"No, Fuyumi." Endeavor snarled before Hawks could say anything. "You do not like him. You just confused it for love because you've never dated anyone before. You will understand when you're older-"
"I am old enough! I'm eighteen, father! I think I can identify my own feelings!"
"Eighteen is still too young!"
"Oh really? Old enough to become a pro hero but not know what love is!?"
"Anyone can become a pro hero! But not anyone can understand love! Love is a complicated emotion! You're just mistaken! You think you like him when in reality the slightest intimacy will disturb you."
"No." Fuyumi took a deep, shuddering breath. "You're wrong, father."
Before Endeavor could stop her, Fuyumi rushed past him and grabbed Hawks' hand to pull him down onto the ground. She then held his face with both hands and gently kissed him.
Sound of silverware being dropped, camera shutters, excited murmurs, and even someone fainting could be heard, but Fuyumi couldn't care less at the moment. Her senses were too overwhelmed with how perfectly they lips melted against each others and the heavenly sensation it brought to take in what was going in the background.
This is it.
Yes...
This is what I wanted.
Half an hour later, Hawks and Fuyumi were strolling down the street casually laughing when a certain message popped up on Fuyumi's phone.
"TELL HAWKS HE OWES ME 400 YEN FOR HIS DIRNK" -asshole
Fuyumi giggled. "You should have at least paid for your drink before escaping with me."
"What's the fun in that?" Hawks smirked. "Just seeing that old geezer storm around raging makes my day. I live to make his life miserable!"
"You're the worst!" Fuyumi hit his arm playfully.
"And you love me for it." Hawks looped an arm around Fuyumi's waist and leaned forward.
"Wait, people are watching!"
"Let them watch. After what happened in the café, it shouldn't take long for everyone to know that we're dating. It should help you boost your popularity and ranking, too. Isn't this what you wanted?"
"I hate you!" Fuyumi shook her head, laughing and leaning in. "I hate you so much."
"Love you too, baby."
Omake:
"So why're you really late?"
"Your dad was blocking the entrance glaring at anyone who walks past him, so I had to find another way in."
Omake 2:
Seeing Fuyumi forcefully kiss Hawks, Touya quickly sent a message to Natsuo while trying to suppress his excitement.
"It's a success. Tell Shouto to get ready for a bird brother-in-law." -Touya
.
Middle school student Shouto who was currently studying in his bedroom received a text.
"Shouto, your new brother is a bird." -Natsuo
Shouto: "!?"
AN: This chapter surprisingly wasn't as hard to write as I thought, considering I'm aromantic. Maybe I low-key ship them as well? Lol
I considered posting this as a one-shot but then not many people follow me so I doubt Digitalization readers would see it, or be interested enough to go take a look. So I'll just post it here to save ya'll the time to look this up. It'll save me the time too by posting all Digitalization-related stuff in Digitalization (what a mouthful lmao).
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Please fav/follow/review if you want!
