The time had finally come.
After years of procrastinating making a move, anxious over whether he even could, and ignoring what he felt for Akiko at large, their date was nearly at hand. Perhaps fittingly, given when and how he'd first proposed the idea to her, he was just a little bit nervous.
He checked the time. It was 5:20 in the afternoon; only ten minutes left until Akiko would arrive. Given the fact that neither had a license nor any intention of asking someone to drive them anywhere, family or otherwise, it had been decided that they'd meet at the corner where they'd usually leave each other when walking home from school. Neither of them could get lost headed there, and it was situated at just the right spot that it wouldn't take long for them to get to the site of their date proper. A mundane, but practical meeting spot for their first romantic outing.
It almost felt surreal to Jomei now that it was actually happening. Now that their date was so close, the realization came to him that he was only mere minutes away from what could be the start of the most important night his and Akiko's friendship had ever witnessed.
He didn't know if this would be the beginning of some grand new chapter of their lives though, as he had no frame of reference to think if such a belief would be unfounded or not. All he knew was that his heart was pounding in his rib cage, his palms felt slick with nervous sweat, and his feet couldn't take him fast enough to her.
It wasn't just because going back to being 'just friends' after what could be one awkward night out would be absolutely painful to him and Akiko both, either. Yes, the damage potentially done to their relationship was a nightmare he'd much rather avoid having to encounter at every turn, but… he did genuinely want to grow even closer to Akiko.
Jomei had long denied himself the chance to think through his feelings again for her for long enough that, once he finally let himself do so after asking her out, it became exceedingly clear Akiko was someone his heart simply yearned for. Those precious moments when her nerves would fade away and her smile would show itself… like when she'd gotten accepted to U.A., or all the times he'd succeeded at making her laugh, or even roll her eyes in half-hearted annoyance while her crystal core betrayed her contentment…
Those moments lit his world up like nothing even his Quirk could do for him.
Was it cheesy? Yes.
Was it true, though? Absolutely.
The simple hope that getting even closer to her would bring about those moments of joy a little more often made anything worth it, to him. Any benefits that befell his person as a result would be secondary, so long as it made her happy.
All he had to do now was hope was that he, as he had often worried so many times before, would continue to be enough for her.
That, and their plan for the night.
'Stop it, Jomei, the date's going to be enough! You are going to be enough. Remember what Mom said. Fairy tale standards? Not necessary, and Akiko won't hold me to something like that. Storybook romances? Love doesn't have to be that way either. Love is…' He paused. 'Okay, that one's still a work in progress.'
And indeed it was. Jomei tentatively decided he'd come back to that thought later, when he had a better understanding of what the hell he was doing. Or maybe he'd never get back to it. It's not like he was about to make a date for himself to ruminate about what love was 'supposed' to look like any time soon.
He wondered if Akiko felt as nervous as he did. He knew her better than anyone, but when it came to the matter of their date, he almost wondered if she wasn't just humoring him. Maybe with Shinso's ultimatum, 1-B's sudden introduction to 1-A, and the announcement of the Sports Festival, she didn't want any problems with him to weigh on her mind too. Maybe what she had said indicated what she really felt their date meant to her – just a brief reprieve from her life.
He sincerely hoped it wasn't just that.
Well, either way, he'd simply have to try his best to make this night fun for Akiko. Even if it'd only last a little while, she deserved that much, even more so after what her parents had put her through only a few days before. Jomei couldn't fathom what having to worry about life at home and U.A. could do to someone, and yet Akiko was being subjected to that constant stress. He hoped he could give her an escape.
Jomei decided to give himself a final once-over before it was too late, just to make sure he was ready. Considering the nature of the date ahead being completely new ground to him and Akiko and the modifications he'd made to his outfit to make a good first impression, he tentatively believed he wasn't underdressed.
At least, he certainly hoped not.
Granted, wearing sneakers and jeans didn't exactly qualify as impressive date wear, but it wasn't like he didn't put any effort into the rest of his outfit… even if initially it wouldn't have seemed that way. At first, he'd intended to wrap a sweatshirt around his waist just in case it got chilly out, but his mother had shut down that all-too-casual idea for his outfit in a hurry. Although in hindsight that decision was largely for the better, he didn't give in to her when it came to his choice of what shirt, because he was not going to go out wearing a polo. Someone like Iida may have been able to pull it off, but wearing a polo just wasn't for him.
Instead, he elected to wear a plain graphic t-shirt with some techno group's logo on the back before layering a rarely-seen denim jacket over it. As far as accessories went, Jomei had his father's necklace handy, but he also made a point to don his watch for practicality's sake. His necklace may have been his trademark, but it wasn't as though he was blind to the charm other accessories could provide him on more formal occasions. All elements combined, and in Jomei's humble opinion, the result was an outfit that was both comfortable and stylish.
Ayane had also given his outfit her vote of confidence in the end, so if nothing else, he at least had that going for him. First impressions were important, but he had technically known Akiko for years now.
His attention flicked down to his watch again. 5:30.
That was when he heard footsteps behind him. Jomei turned, knowing he'd see Akiko, but the sight still left him momentarily stunned.
All things considered, it wasn't a complex outfit. For starters, her long-sleeved shirt, despite it being fashionably long on her, didn't look out of place from how she wore it. The v-neck exposed just enough skin to allow her crystal core to breathe, and the necklace she wore only drew further attention to it thanks to how it framed her Quirk's namesake. It may have had some tan buttons near the hem for no discernable reason other than fashion, but it didn't detract from the look – if anything, it added more character to it and broke up the black of the shirt.
Below the waist, she looked to still be dressed for both fashion and comfort. Form-fitting dark blue jeans accentuated her legs without bordering anywhere close to risque, and the flats that matched her shirt didn't look at all out of place with her wearing them. Add in a nice handbag with a decent-length strap at her side, and it was clear she'd thought about what she was going to wear just as much as Jomei to make sure she was dressed for the occasion. His eyes then met hers, and he couldn't help but smile. She was still the same girl he'd met at this spot hundreds of times before and yet she somehow managed to seem like a new person entirely. His stomach flipped a little when she smiled back.
Despite how relatively modestly she was dressed, she didn't just look good, in Jomei's eyes.
She looked beautiful.
It was with this realization that Jomei finally found his voice again. "Hey, Akiko. You look… really good."
Akiko bit her lip and looked away for a moment, a little color flushing her cheeks. "...thank you, Jomei. You um… you look good, too."
'Remember, Jomei, just don't be awkward…'
"So, just making sure – your parents gave you the night out tonight, right?"
She nodded as she moved towards him. "They did. So long as I don't come home past something crazy like eleven at night, everything should be fine."
"How'd that go, anyway? Asking them about going out?"
"It wasn't… terrible."
"Oh?"
"Mhm. This isn't anything related to hero stuff, and it's not like I was grounded or anything after what happened at the USJ. Still…" Akiko sighed. "I think this might just be my dad trying to avoid having to confront me any more than he has to. At least Mom was a little more involved. She even wished me luck."
"Well, that's good," Jomei said, and he tried to look careless as he spoke next. "But hey, are you looking forward to this?"
Akiko looked up at him. Nervousness was clear in her eyes, but after a moment, it began to dissolve into something else. "I'm still trying to accept that this is a date. It just feels so… surreal. Like it isn't even happening even though we're right here."
"Trust me, I'm still trying to get over that too," Jomei admitted. "But I figure there aren't any rules saying how a date is 'supposed' to go, right? So it might sound cheesy, but we should probably just go ahead and do what we want with it."
"I'm guessing your mom gave you that advice, too."
"...yeah."
A ghost of a smile crossed Akiko's face. "She might be right, though. Maybe we should just… act normal and see where things go from there."
"As normal as we can," Jomei agreed. "It really is probably the best way we can go about 'dating,' though, since we don't have any clue what we're doing. Besides, if either of us acted any different just because of a date, it'd probably make things… a lot more painful than they would be otherwise."
"Right. So should we just go over our plan for the night?" Akiko said as they started walking.
"Sure. Not much to go over, but, first and only stop, Musutafu Shrine. We go see the sights, do or say whatever comes to us, and wing the rest of the evening because we couldn't come up with anything else in particular to do."
"It's not much of a plan…"
"But it's the best one we've got."
Akiko and Jomei looked at each other as they continued to their destination. Indeed it may not have been much of an elaborate agenda for their first night out, but they were right – it was the best one they could come up with.
Now it was time to put it to the test.
Musutafu Shrine was much like the city in which it found both its home and its name. It was a place that was relatively new in the grand scheme of Japan's long and storied history, but it was a place many frequented for a variety of reasons. The obvious difference was, whereas Musutafu City was a metropolitan sprawl built to support an ever-growing and complex world of Quirks, Musutafu Shrine was designed to harken to the past.
Architecturally reminiscent of one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Japan, Sensō-Ji, the shrine was a place that anyone, heavily steeped in tradition or not, could go to pray in relative peace. To many, it was a refuge from the sometimes overwhelming nature of the urban lifestyle that commonly pervaded modern Japan. To many, it was an escape.
Jomei was not one of these people. He knew Akiko enjoyed their country's cultural heritage, given her love of literature, but neither he nor his parents ever went out of their way to visit places such as Musutafu Shrine.
In truth, this was one of the reasons he wanted to go there. He had proposed the place as somewhere he and Akiko could go for their first date because he knew Akiko would, without a doubt, enjoy visiting the shrine. Not only that, but in the process, perhaps he'd also learn a thing or two about the cultural heritage of the country he'd lived his entire life in. It was the safest option he could think of for the most uncertain outing of his life thus far.
And looking at it now… he realized he truly had been missing out.
They stood a few meters away from their destination, and even from outside the gate, Jomei could see why the shrine was a place of wonder to many. Brilliant red paint and old-fashioned upturned roofs highlighted centuries of the rich tradition and faith that was contained in Japan's long history, but that wasn't all the shrine had to offer. In addition to its feel reminiscent of antiquity, there was so much foliage woven in between the stone tiles and around its walls that it truly did seem like the shrine was a window into another world.
Jomei couldn't see the shrines to the kami exactly from where he was, but he could see orbs of light hovering in place, each illuminating the paths of the location itself, and each adding to the hushed other-worldly atmosphere.
It didn't explain where they came from, though.
"Akiko? Any idea what's with those orbs up ahead?"
Her eyes widened in realization. "Oh! Those are probably from a Kannushi, one of the keepers of the shrine; or more specifically, one of their Quirks. You can get licensed to use your Quirk for things other than hero work, after all."
"So do you come here all the time?"
"Well, not all the time, but… this really does never get old," Akiko murmured.
Jomei tilted his head in the direction of the entrance. "So I'm assuming we should head on in, then?"
"Hm… yes and no. There are a few things we have to do first before we go deep into the shrine."
"Oh?"
Akiko started towards the gate. "Just follow my lead."
It wasn't long before Jomei realized just how little he knew about his own culture. Whereas at first he thought entering Musutafu Shrine would only be as complicated as taking a few steps through a cool-looking gate, in reality, there turned out to be a few things one needed to do before heading further inside. For starters, as Akiko patiently explained, one was supposed to bow at the Torii Gate before crossing the threshold to the site whatsoever – this much, Jomei had no issues doing. After doing that, though, he started to fumble, if only slightly.
At the handwashing basin just past the gate, it took Akiko ceremonially washing her hands right to left in front of him for Jomei to even catch on to what she was doing. He followed her lead, copying the pattern before he dropped a coin into the offering box just beyond the basin, and finally, the buildup to being able to freely traverse the shrine was over. Admittedly, Jomei felt a little embarrassed at first, not knowing what to do at every turn, but Akiko seemed more than content to explain the meaning behind each gesture as she led him along.
To Jomei, that much alone made his initial confusion worth it.
It was as they walked together further into Musutafu Shrine that they quickly ran into two well-decorated statues on either side of them.
Both looked utterly demonic, their faces one-to-one resembling onis straight out of Japanese mythology. Given the place the statues were located, this was no surprise, but the rest of their appearance distinguished them from one another far more. The grey statue on the left stood atop a cloud, its stone hair flowing up and defying gravity, a series of drums hovering behind it, and its face was contorted in some inscrutable fury. The other, colored a warm green, was far less intense in its expression, wearing little more than a leopard skin for modesty alongside some kind of long bag that it draped over its shoulders.
The contrast between the left's statue's fury and the right's confident, almost grinning expression should have made them seem totally unalike, but somehow, the two entities' depictions complemented one another. If not for his lack of knowledge on the matter of mythology, Jomei would've loved to identify who or what the statues depicted, so he could appreciate them just a little more.
Fortunately for him, he was accompanied by a living library of literary knowledge.
"So, I'm guessing you found something you like?" Akiko asked, breaking him away from his staring.
"Yeah. These two statues… I feel like I should know who or what they are. Why else would they be so detailed?" Jomei wondered. "Or is it just normal for shrines to have statues like these all the time?"
Akiko smiled. "Well, not all shrines need to have statues, but as for you needing to know who they are? It's no big deal that you don't – it's your first time to a shrine, after all. But what I will tell you is that these statues are so detailed because they're actually gods. Want to guess what they're the gods of?"
"Taking an educated guess from what they look like... I'd say that the one on the left is the god of war and the right one is maybe the god of… nomads. Or maybe hunters. But that doesn't explain the bag…" Jomei scratched the back of his head. "Okay, yeah, that's the best I've got."
"On the right track, but not quite," Akiko said. "The two of them are, in fact, brothers. The left one is Raijin, the god of lightning and storms, and the other is Fujin, the god of wind. The bag on his back is actually a bag of winds, which he can unleash as he wants to so he can create storms."
"They sound pretty important," Jomei noted, looking at the statues again. "Why aren't they deeper in the shrine, then?"
"Because they're protector deities. It's believed that having their statues closer to the entrance lets them protect the shrine from evil spirits – if you read into some of the stories, they've even protected Japan from invasions a few times in the past."
"Seriously?"
Akiko nodded.
"Whoa. That's… kind of intense. And cool."
"Now you're starting to get why I like reading so much," she said wistfully, a soft smile tilting the corners of her lips.
It was so slight that someone else might have missed it, but Jomei noticed, and his heart soared at the sight. "Isn't it crazy how Quirks have made people with powers like gods, like, an actual thing we see every day? Heck, I think I remember reading somewhere that there was a Pro Hero back when they were still a new thing that was named Raijin. I just never knew the meaning behind the name until now."
"Yeah, I guess you're right," Akiko said, and she started to chuckle.
For a moment, Jomei didn't think twice about Akiko laughing. He was happy to have a clear indication that she was having fun, as was his goal for the night – hell, he was having fun learning a thing or two – but then it hit him that he didn't know what she was laughing at.
'Please don't tell me I did something stupid…'
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing, it's just…" She caught her breath. "There was a Pro Hero called Raijin, yeah, but he was even more reckless than Midoriya, if you know about him. His Quirk let him call down lightning, sure, but it could only be called onto himself. His fighting style was just about boiled down to him tackling people and looking intimidating beforehand so he could try and get a clean hit on villains. Kirishima would've probably liked him."
"Wait… does that make him like, almost a worse version of Denki, then?" Jomei wondered.
"I don't know about that. The hero Raijin had trained for years before he became a pro when he was an adult, and I don't know enough about him to say if his Quirk had any drawbacks that he overcame when he was younger. Denki's still training to get past his, even if his Quirk has a little more range when he lets loose."
"Fair enough…" Jomei trailed off, and they started to move again. The gap in conversation that ensued only lasted as long as it took for two smaller, shack-sized shrines to come into view along the path to the main hall. "But, hey, how about you enlighten me about the other kami guys? These two little shrines here have plaques on them, so you can tell me all about Amaterasu and… Tsukuyomi? What's up with them? And… wait, if they're both kami too, why do they just have these two little shrines?"
Akiko inspected the plaques thoughtfully, though the content look on her face didn't go anywhere. "Well, for starters, Musutafu Shrine is rather unique in that it isn't dedicated to only one kami. The main hall is dedicated to one in a major way, but… Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi also got their own shrines here too. I think it had something to do with a dispute between architects who helped build the place wanting their own personal touches on the project."
"So they just decided to add two more shrines instead."
She nodded. "It certainly helped give Musutafu Shrine its own identity besides it being made with the help of Quirks, but back to the kami. Amaterasu is the goddess of the sun and the universe, while Tsukuyomi is the god of the night. Amaterasu has a few more stories written about her than Tsukuyomi from what I've found. If I had to guess, it probably has to do with how important a goddess she is more than anything, though."
"Gods of the sun and night… sounds like they compliment each other pretty well. I guess it makes sense that their shrines were put right next to each other, then."
"Right. There are also other reasons, but I don't know if you'd want to hear about those," Akiko confessed.
"Why not?" Jomei asked. He moved closer towards the shrines, bending over slightly to get a better look at their fine ornamentation and many offerings.
"Well, it's because some of their history is a little… interesting. Consider this me warning you. If you still want to hear about it though, I'd be more than happy to tell you what I know."
He stood and returned to her side. "Go for it. I mean, they're the kami that make day and night happen, how crazy can some of their stories be, right? Besides, I've got a thick skin, I think I can take it."
Akiko smiled mirthfully. "You asked for it… first of all, alongside the god of Susanoo, the god of the sea, Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi are two of the three oldest and most important kami of all. It's said that they shared the sky together, in the beginning, while Susanoo ruled over the seas. But back then, there wasn't a difference between night and day."
"Then something happened," Jomei guessed.
"Yeah. Even though they were brother and sister, Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu were also husband and wife. That's why day and night weren't separate things yet."
His eyes widened. "Okay… yeah, that's… that's weird."
"That isn't even as weird as it gets though," Akiko continued. "Without going into too much detail as to how she came about, one day, Uke Mochi, the goddess of food, was hosting a feast for the gods and Amaterasu wanted Tsukuyomi to attend and represent her there. Tsukuyomi went, of course, but… then he saw how Uke Mochi created food. Whenever she wished to create food for the oceans, she'd spit out fish. To the forests, she spit out game. And for rice paddies… she coughed up a bowl of rice. Disgusted, even though the food looked amazing, Tsukuyomi didn't hesitate and decided to kill her."
"That seems… a little harsh." Jomei shuddered.
"There's still a little more to the story though, if you want to hear it," Akiko offered.
It took a few moments, but he eventually shrugged. "I mean, I'm never going to look at rice the same way again, but sure. I'll just… try to focus on the not-spitting-up food part of the rest of this story."
Akiko giggled. "Well, there's not much more to it than what I told you. After Tsukuyomi returned, Amaterasu was so furious about what he'd done that she swore never to look at Tsukuyomi again. She moved to another part of the sky, creating the difference between day and night, and they were never in the same place again."
"I think I'd be pretty pissed too if I was in her situation… so I guess what she did makes sense. Still… spitting up food? I…" Jomei trailed off, utterly at a loss. "Even with Quirks being a thing that's just… weird, you know?"
Akiko's giggling returned, and this time, it didn't seem to be coming to a close any time soon. The difference was that this time, Jomei knew that it was probably a combination of his reaction and the dumb look on his face that probably set her off – embarrassing though the situation may have been, he had no objections to it. If it meant Akiko was happy, he was happy.
Then Akiko reigned in her laughter, and suddenly took hold of Jomei's hand, a rare smile on her face so genuine that Jomei only realized his feet were moving when she spoke up again.
"Come on! There's still something else you need to see here!" she breathlessly exclaimed. "If you think his shrine is amazing right now, just wait until you see the inside of the main hall. Just don't make too much noise and be respectful, and you're going to love it."
"Who are you and what've you done with Akiko?" He laughed.
"I'm serious! Come on, it's not too much farther up!"
Soon, the main building that presided over the rest of Musutafu Shrine loomed directly before the pair, and as they slowed during their approach to the entrance of the main hall, neither spoke a word. Somehow, it didn't feel like they needed to, lest either of them dare to break the sudden anticipation that filled the space between them.
As Jomei followed Akiko through the open doorway and deeper into the shrine proper, he couldn't help but find his attention firmly fixed on her. In the back of his mind, it felt as if he looked away for even a moment, the blue in Akiko's crystal core that proudly displayed her contentment would vanish, right along with the glowing smile he couldn't help but adore.
Even still, it wasn't long before he found his eyes drifting back to the shrine around him.
What he saw made his mouth fall agape.
Yes, the rest of Musutafu Shrine was beautiful. The sun's evening rays streamed through the trees and bathed the place in a heavenly array of light and shadow, and the orbs along the path twinkled with an almost magical appeal. But at no point before now, in the heart of the shrine, did he find himself so thoroughly entranced by the place so many before him had frequented.
In front of him and Akiko, at the deepest point within the main hall, sat what had to be the most important shrine of the place by far. A variety of offerings covered the immediate vicinity around the shrine itself, ranging from letters to flowers to prayers carved into blocks of wood and left behind by visitors for some heavenly being to hear. Aside from another offering box and an accompanying bell in the center of the room, and some illuminating orbs nearby, the majority of the area away from the shrine and its offerings was empty.
But amidst those countless offerings, there was a statue.
It was made of polished wood, and it was more impressive than anything Jomei had ever seen. The presumed kami depicted was female in appearance, sitting with its legs crossed beneath it in a meditative pose, sculpted with precise detail and ornamented with elaborate regalia fit for a goddess. It was a solid fraction as massive as the wall it sat against, and what looked to be easily a thousand arms stretched out behind it, palms forward and somehow managing to look more welcoming than intimidating despite the absurdity. Perhaps that last effect originated from the statue's tranquil expression, or maybe it was the comforting aura the area around him and Akiko seemed to exude, but…
That was a mystery Jomei didn't want answered.
"So… I'm guessing this is the big kami the whole shrine is dedicated to?"
"Mhm. She's called Guanyin, or as many people call her, Kannon," Akiko said, still looking reverently at the massive statue. "She's the goddess of mercy and the unique thing about her is that she originally came from Buddhism, but she just became such a popular deity that she was adopted by a whole bunch of other faiths over time."
Jomei paused. "Do you think that's why this place seems so… magical, then? Because it's dedicated to her?"
"Maybe. A lot of people like to believe that's the case." She looked down peacefully. "Some people think that, besides the building just being beautiful by itself, that Kannon herself has blessed Musutafu Shrine to be as otherworldly as it sometimes feels. After all, it's said that it's easier to count the grains of sand on Earth than it is to count the blessings Kannon has given humanity – thus, the thousand arms. The fact that this place is so peaceful might just be one of those blessings if you were to believe in that kind of thing."
"Do you?"
"I don't know," Akiko looked back up. "I've never really thought about it. Whenever I come here it feels like the first time all over again, and it's never occurred to me to think about that. Usually I just… stand here and admire the place, maybe pray a little, but…"
Jomei didn't interrupt her gazing at Kannon to get an answer out of her. From the awe that laced her tone as she spoke about the goddess depicted in front of them, it was clear to him that Akiko was truly at ease now, even without conversation keeping them company. Considering what wonder he'd felt seeing Kannon's statue for the first time himself, Jomei decided not to intrude on Akiko's tranquility. Instead, he decided to join her in that state, and let himself stare up at the goddess of mercy without a care as to the silence around him.
He didn't know what Akiko was thinking. He didn't know how much time would end up passing before either of them finally spoke up again. He didn't even know when it occurred to him, but, standing within the presence of Kannon, Jomei began to think that maybe there was something to this whole 'innumerable blessings' thing, after all. After everything he'd seen and learned at Musutafu Shrine, he felt he owed the place that much.
But looking at Akiko, so utterly at ease beside him, he believed that much.
Eventually, Jomei and Akiko left Musutafu Shrine. They bowed on their way out, as Jomei learned was customary when visiting a shrine, and were on their way. By the time they exited the grounds and the shrine began to shrink behind them, the sun had already set, and the sky was consumed by darkness once again.
As the pair began to wander aimlessly through the rest of downtown Musutafu, it was as if the setting of the sun did nothing to reduce the buzz of activity that one could expect out of an urban setting. People were still out and about, every square centimeter of the city lit up with a mix of screens, lights, and billboards, and Pro Heroes could be seen still performing their typical patrols. Altogether it made the city seem like it was as safe as could be, despite the dangers nighttime typically posed to the populace. It filled the air with a sense of ease, even if it had only been dark for a little while.
Despite their wanderings, though, neither found anything they were interested in along the way, and it seemed as though they'd just wind up contenting themselves with taking in the sights and sounds of the city before their date came to an end. That, and casual conversation along the way.
"Okay, so some versions of Uke Mochi have her vomiting up food instead? Lovely."
"Hey!" Akiko exclaimed. "You asked if there are different versions of that story, and I told you the answer!"
"True, but still, I don't think I'm ever going to get over the fact that vomiting up food is a thing in our mythology," Jomei said.
"Other mythologies can get really weird too, you know. I've also read a little about the Norse and the Greeks and some of their gods' origin stories and other myths can get downright bizarre in some places."
He nodded. "I'd ask for examples, but after Uke Mochi, I think I'm good for tonight."
"Can't stomach it?" Akiko smiled.
"Oh ha, ha. Very funny," Jomei rolled his eyes, feigning annoyance. "But hey, speaking of stomachs, you didn't have anything to eat before you left, did you?"
"Kind of? I had a little something to tide me over before I got ready."
Jomei grinned. That was exactly what he wanted to hear. "Good! And since we have a ton of time before you have to go home, that means I can go ahead and treat you to dinner!"
This time, it was Jomei's turn to wrap his hand around Akiko's, and he started to lead her forward before she had a chance to protest. At Musutafu Shrine, she'd been the one that was in her element, seemingly knowing the layout of the place of worship by heart and leading him along every meter, but right now, Jomei was in his. He didn't go out wandering just to familiarize himself with the city he'd been born in, but on the street they were at now, he knew enough of his surroundings to know exactly where he wanted to take them.
'Come on, just a little bit further…'
"Wait, where are we going?" Akiko hurriedly asked.
"Right… here!" Suddenly, he let go of her hand. He hopped forward and spun around, stretching his arms out beside him as if to display the small building behind him. "Ta-da! Takayama Ramen! On me."
Akiko smiled shyly. "Thank you, Jomei, but you don't have to spend money on me. I can pay for myself."
"Uh-uh. My treat. I'm not hurting for yen either, and it isn't right that I make you do all the heavy lifting at the shrine without returning some kind of favor. Remember, you're the one that told me all about those kami, and you kept me from looking like a complete idiot the whole time we were there." He moved forward and opened the door, motioning her to enter first. "So if you wouldn't mind…"
A wistful sigh was the only response Akiko provided, but she accepted the gesture without any further protest. Jomei turned to join her and took a moment to look upon the ramen house. If compared to even just the main hall of Musutafu Shrine, the restaurant seemed downright quaint. Despite how unremarkable it appeared to be in terms of size, however, the sights and scents of the moderately-busy establishment offered the space no small degree of its own charm. Stools, tables, and booths littered the limited space the restaurant had to work with in a sensible pattern, and a variety of personal items, photos, and musical instruments decorated the walls.
Upon looking back to Akiko, he saw the small amount of tension that had made its way into her shoulders dissolve, and his heart warmed a little at the sight. He'd known that Akiko would worry about him taking her somewhere expensive, and thus, it was here he brought her. He knew the food and the prices were good, and it was just charming enough that it'd hopefully convince Akiko to loosen up a little.
"You like it?"
"Yeah. It's… nice," Akiko said, inspecting the decor before throwing a look more directly at him. "Honestly, it is. It isn't cramped, it isn't fancy, but feels almost… homely. I like it. Where'd you find this place, anyway? Were you planning on taking me here the whole time?"
"Kind of. When I asked you if you ate before we met up, I was sort of just making conversation. Then I realized where we were, I knew this place wasn't too far away, and hey presto, dinner on me!" He smiled. "As for how I knew this place was here? My parents used to come here all the time back when they were still dating, and Mom even brought me here a bunch of times when I was younger and she'd get home from work too tired to cook. I might be biased, but I like to think this place is one of the best in town just based on charm alone."
"No arguments there…" Akiko agreed. "Thank you for sharing this place with me, Jomei. I'm still paying for myself though."
Her stomach growled, and Jomei raised a brow. "Yeah no, that isn't happening. Don't worry about it though, seriously. Price isn't a problem, and do I look like the kind of guy who'd spring some fancy dinner on you on our first date?"
"Right. Thanks again, though."
As she proceeded further into the restaurant, Jomei caught a glimpse of Akiko's smile returning in full force. His heart glowed in response, and it wasn't long before one of his own formed along his lips as he followed after her.
Thus, the impromptu second leg of their date began. They were seated at a table not too far away from the kitchen, ordered their meals, and in a surprisingly short amount of time, began to enjoy them. At no point did conversation die down between either of them. Jomei regaled Akiko with tales of the musical artists and memorabilia that dotted the walls, and for every minute detail, Akiko listened with rapt attention. In return, Akiko offered her insight on the more historical pieces dispersed amongst the musical ones, once again reminding Jomei of just how deep her comprehensive collection of knowledge ran. Even when their food arrived and their attention was split squarely between each other and their meals, the conversation continued – school, anecdotes about their Quirks, their classmates, nothing was off the table.
Time flew by as a result, but neither of them paid it any mind. Nothing life-changing ended up being said, sure, but the entire spur-of-the-moment meal was more than companionable enough for them. In truth, it didn't feel all that different from when they'd hang out normally, be it between classes or on their way home, and… it felt good. For both of them.
Of course, eventually, the time came for them to leave, and as Akiko was fetching some money from her bag, still insisting she should pay for herself, Jomei stealthily slid enough yen to cover the bill over their waiter's way. One goofy smile on his end and one eye-roll of feigned frustration on Akiko's later, and the pair were off once more.
It also became clear, as they left the ramen house, that neither of them were in any hurry to let their first date end just yet. Both were aware of this, but neither felt like they had had any idea as to why this seemed to be the case. Jomei entertained the idea that they were both waiting for something to happen between them, or perhaps Akiko was simply hesitant to return home just yet. Given how abundantly clear a picture she'd painted about her home life earlier that same day, and the hesitance he also felt about letting the night end, Jomei concluded it could've very well been a combination of both.
Checking his watch, he saw that they still had an hour and a half left before Akiko had to be home. It was with this information in mind that Jomei proposed they head back to his place. They may have not had enough time left in the night to do anything else major, but there was enough to make it there and have plenty of time to spare before their night together had to come to a close.
And he was going to make it count.
Through the help of a friendly taxi, it wasn't twenty minutes later Akiko found herself beside Jomei atop his roof. Despite the eventfulness of the night and the nonstop conversation they'd indulged in along the way, neither of them had said much of anything since they'd made their way up there. Instead, they both seemed content to stare off into the sparsely star-filled sky until one of them finally broke the comfortable silence. Akiko wasn't one to complain about such an atmosphere and relished in the simple sweetness of it all.
In this silence, lost gazing into the black infinity beyond Earth, Akiko reflected on what had happened over the past few hours. The first date of her life had been so very simple, and yet it still blew her expectations out of the water. Despite the buildup, despite all the nerves she'd had concerning the date when she first accepted Jomei's proposition in the first place, it turned out to be… comforting.
It wasn't what she had worried it could've been. At no point had she been flustered or uncomfortable, nothing they had done felt weird or unnatural, and the entire date could've been summed up in her terms as just another day with Jomei. It was just what she needed to take her mind off of the tumult that was her life lately, but it also felt completely normal. Natural, even, despite nothing overtly romantic happening between them.
But… it also felt like something more. Somehow, she could tell Jomei felt just the same way.
As that peaceful observation fluttered freely around the back of her head, she also took the time to try and discern where her feelings for Jomei even came from. Surprisingly enough, it wasn't something she'd spent any time thinking about too deeply, especially in the aftermath of the USJ incident and her parents' ultimatum. She'd fantasized about someone like Jomei coming her way, this was nothing new, but she never once considered why someone like him appealed to her as a potential partner in the first place.
At first, she considered that it was the possibility that the simple kindness Jomei expressed toward her is what earned him a special place in her heart. Given the sorrowful lack of positive regard she was given in her life, whether it be from her peers in junior high or her family, it wasn't that far-fetched an idea. She may have not been a psychologist, but even she knew that even a modicum of genuine praise and appreciation could go a long way when given to those in dire need of it. Considering the crippling degree of shyness she'd been burdened by before she met Jomei, it certainly seemed like she fit the bill.
Then again, it could've also been his insistence on doing things for her, like his paying for her meal, or keeping her grounded when she delved too deeply into her own head. Maybe it was because he reminded her she had an anchor, someone she could rely on no matter how tough things got to have her back. In a time before Takai had pledged to support her and proven his promise as bearing weight, such a reliable sort of friend was exactly what she'd needed to make life a little more bearable.
Or perhaps, in the simplest terms she could consider, she was falling for him because the world just seemed a little bit brighter when he was around – and not because of his Quirk.
In the end, though, she was just fine with the mystery of not knowing. She didn't need to know exactly why she might be falling for Jomei, just like she didn't need to know why her first date felt so fulfilling despite its straightforwardness. She was content, and that was what mattered.
Akiko blinked and turned her attention to her bag for a moment. She looked at her phone to check the time, and was pleasantly reminded that she still had plenty to spare before she needed to leave. She looked to Jomei, his hair blowing softly in the breeze, and it occurred to her that he looked rather charming. Between his hair, his amber eyes, and the confident way he carried himself, she supposed it shouldn't have been a surprise, but only now was she calm enough to appreciate how handsome he looked. Jomei had complimented her earlier, but she still found herself hoping that he felt somewhat the same about her as well.
Eventually, her eyes landed on his necklace, and a new thought popped into her head. She knew it had belonged to his father, Jomei had told her as much once, but she realized she'd never truly asked all that much about it. With time to kill and no reason not to, she decided to do just that.
Jomei detected her looking at him.
"What?" he asked.
"That necklace belonged to your dad, right?"
"Uh, yeah," he raised the ring up between his fingers. "It was his engagement ring. He didn't want to get rid of it, so he turned it into a necklace. He gave it to me when I was old enough and… yeah, that's when I started wearing it. Why?"
"Because… you seem to wear it with everything. Your uniform, your costume, with what you're wearing tonight… I was wondering why that's the case, is all," Akiko admitted.
"Oh," Jomei looked at the ring. "You remember how a lot of why I want to be a Pro Hero is because of the fame, right?"
Akiko nodded.
"Well, my dad made me want to be famous. I mean, even if he isn't a huge hit making number one on the charts, how couldn't I want to be like him? I still looked up to Mom, though, so I ended up wanting to help people just like she did too. Obviously, becoming a Pro Hero would let me do both at the same time though, so… it was just the best option for me." Jomei's shoulders slouched a little. "But it's not like my dad's around to see me becoming a pro all the time."
"That's why he gave you his necklace," Akiko guessed.
"Yeah," Jomei confirmed. "It's sort of like a little link to him when he isn't around. Now that he's gone even more after his gig with Auditiva a while back… this thing's just even more important to me now, I guess. It isn't much, but it makes me feel like I'm becoming more like him and that he's watching me grow the whole time whenever I wear it. Sorry if that doesn't make any sense."
"You don't have to apologize," she said. "It makes sense. I think so, anyway. I may not know what it's like to want to be like my parents, but I do know what it's like when you want something from them that you just know you aren't going to get."
His eyes widened, and he dropped his necklace. "You really think your parents don't love you?"
"They pay for tuition at U.A., so that might count as supporting me somehow, but… I don't know. They don't understand, they never understood why heroes are willing to put their lives on the line for pay that's decided by the government, no matter how I tried to explain it to them. They don't understand me. My dreams. But I guess that much was obvious, given what happened with them earlier." She sighed. "The only person that does is Takai, but even though he cares, it's not like that little bit of support completely makes up for my parents, especially when I'm always trying so hard to become a Pro Hero."
"I'll always have your back, too, Akiko."
"I know." She drew her knees up to her chest before wrapping her arms around them. "Thank you for that."
For a few seconds, all was silent between them. The wind flowed past their ears, the distant sounds of the city could be heard, but not a single word was spoken. Akiko knew that Jomei was looking at her with that concerned expression only he could make, but she didn't turn to see it for herself. Instead, she tried to close her eyes and ignore the familiar pang of heartache that threatened to make its ruinous return back into her life as she thought about the people who waited for her at home.
Slowly, cautiously, Jomei spoke up once more. "Is it okay if I ask you something?"
She opened her eyes and glanced at him. "I don't see any reason why not. I don't have anything to hide. Not from you."
"I've noticed something about you. You've always dressed… I don't know, maybe modestly would be the right word?" he said. "I was wondering… is that because of your parents? Did they tell you to dress that way to 'protect the family reputation' or something?"
Akiko looked down and hugged herself a little closer. "It's not that, it's… it's dumb."
"And I won't judge you," Jomei said gently.
"Well… I dress the way I do because I'm… not all that confident about my body. It's vain, I know, but… it's also a little reason as to why I didn't know if I was even cut out for dating in the first place."
His brow furrowed. "Why's that?"
"You know how my family does work with models to advertise our jewelry?"
"...oh."
Akiko sighed. "When my parents are always working with people that look so incredible… look at it from my point of view. I couldn't help but compare myself to them. My chest isn't as big as any of theirs, I'm not the right height like they are, my hair isn't as long or pretty as theirs… you can see where this is all going. Combine seeing those models at our house sometimes to talk with my parents with Yaoyorozu and the other girls in class and… I can't help but feel I'm not the prettiest person around."
Jomei frowned, staring at her for a brief eternity before he said something again.
"You're wrong."
Akiko's posture straightened a little, and she looked at him in confusion.
"You know how you said that Kannon was supposed to have given an almost uncountable number of blessings to humanity, right? Well, unless I'm wrong… you don't have any reason to think of yourself the way you do… because I know I've found at least one." He smiled at her. "You. Everything about you. Who you are, what you look like, how you act, everything. So don't think that you aren't amazing in every single way Akiko, because to me, you are. You're everything I never knew I wanted in a friend and more… in ways I can't even begin to describe."
Akiko felt tears brimming in her eyes. Of course it would be him. Of course it'd be Jomei that could, with a single compliment, make her heart scream in her chest as she heard his simple words, and it'd be him that made her realize that the pain within her was that of years worth of her longing to hear such a thing said about her.
It'd be him that'd make her feel truly beautiful for the first time she could remember.
She wiped at her eyes. She wanted to respond, but the tightness in her throat assured her that she'd choke on anything she tried to say. Thus, without a word, Akiko moved closer to Jomei, her legs to the side, before finally resting her cheek on his shoulder. She felt him tense for a split second, but he then relaxed not too long after.
Then, in return, Jomei's head tilted. His cheek wound up resting lightly atop her head and slowly, hesitantly, his hand eventually wrapped around her shoulder to hold her close.
In that gesture, an acknowledgment was shared between the pair without the need for their thoughts to be spoken. Neither of them were strangers to one another's touch, but this time there was something more in their contact. An expression of their shared desire to just have someone to hold, somebody to truly love, was housed within the connection their bodies shared now. They both knew they were more than friends, more than even confidants in whatever woes they experienced throughout their lives after tonight. Now, in the truest sense of the word, they were partners. A couple.
And not a single sound needed to be uttered for them to reach such an understanding.
Despite the trials and tribulations it has taken them to get there, and the fact that this was clearly the start of something more, something far more than the friendship they'd shared for years, it was also clear that they were in no rush. The road had been long to arrive at the crossroads they were at now, and they weren't about to hasten their pace just because they'd opened their hearts to one another. They'd take their time, and no matter how long it took, they would be content to bear witness to wherever this new road would take them. Neither of them had thought they were ready for the night that had just transpired, but now that it had come to pass, it was worth it.
Two souls had journeyed far to reach where they were now. Two hearts, now joined, stared off into the urban sprawl that glowed warmly before them in the distance.
Into the distance, and into the future, eagerly awaiting whatever the world of tomorrow would bring.
Authors Note: Well, shit. This is it huh? The big payoff. I thought I'd have more to say here but uh… yeah. I know I may sound like a broken record but this chapter was a blast for me to write, and honestly? I had every major element of this thing planned since Jomei & Akiko's inceptions as characters. Every emotional beat I wanted to hit I felt like I hit and… yeah, I think that this chapter got the job I wanted it to do done rather effectively.
Now, Akiko and Jomei (heretofore known as Glowstone bc cute ship names) are officially a couple without having to go through the cliche 'is this where we become boyfriend and girlfriend officially' talk! I sincerely hope I managed to portray that lack of conversation yet complete understanding with some semblance of accuracy and emotional impact, especially after 19 chapters, but hey, don't you worry about WFAF becoming nothing but a lovey-dove fest. Akiko and Jomei are still going to be themselves, and there's going to be a lot more going on in this story, just like MHA itself, than merely the protag pair making goo-goo eyes at each other.
If at all. I mean, can we say for certain that they're that type of couple? As with all things… time shall tell. And my planning sheets, but we don't speak about those.
Stay awesome everyone!
