Author's Note: I appreciate everyone's kind words, love, and support, I hope you will enjoy this next chapter!
Song Inspiration: Make Me Want To by Jimmie Allen
SEVENTEEN | MAKE ME WANT TO
Six hours of being on the back of a motorcycle had tired Ochaco out. She didn't anticipate sitting on a powerful engine would have made her feel so stiff. Bakugo on the other hand showed no signs of soreness. Of course, the man was built like a brick wall and worked out every day—even on their vacation trip he had worked out. He obviously didn't understand the definition of the word vacation.
Ochaco stretched her arms out, rolled her shoulders, touched her toes, and twisted from side to side to release all the kinks in her body. It was almost five in the evening and she was ready to shower and lay down.
Bakugo pulled his backpack out of his motorcycle's saddle bag. "Let's go, Pink Cheeks."
Ochaco nodded, picking her backpack off the ground. The hotel appeared weathered, but the landscaping of hedges and flowerbeds showed it was in great care. Hofu was surrounded by forested peaks and screamed rural chic compared to Tokyo and even Kyoto. The air smelled fresher with a hint of saltiness from the ocean. She relished in it as they approached the sliding glass doors of the hotel lobby.
Upon entry, Ochaco paused near the escalators leading to the higher floors. While the outside of the hotel had appeared worn out, the interior gleamed like it was brand new. Not a single scuff could be seen on the polished wood floors, luxurious leather lounge chairs surrounded a sleek glass table decorated with pink lilies in a vase, and the chandeliers hanging above glimmered like diamonds. She wasn't experienced when it came to fancy hotels, but she had a feeling this one was much more glamorous than needed. Most of the time, her frugal self opted for a two star hotel.
Bakugo spoke with the lady at the check-in desk. She smiled at him, a young girl, possibly college age and typed something into the computer. Ochaco walked up, her eyes still dancing around the lobby. She stood to the right of Bakugo, peering around a pillar where an archway led to a hallway with a sign reading: Sakura House. She figured it was the hotel's restaurant and on the other side of the pillar was a small shopping area with toiletries, snacks, magazines, and other little things.
"Here are your key cards," the girl at the desk said as she handed them to Bakugo. "Please enjoy your stay."
Bakugo nodded. "Thanks."
Ochaco bowed to the woman and followed Bakugo to the escalators. She held to the railing a smile growing on her face. It wasn't often she got to experience hotels, thinking about it, Ochaco had been experiencing a lot of new things lately: charming Bakugo, motorcycles, cross country road trips, and fancy hotels. How did she get so lucky?
"Your eyes are about to bug out of your head, Pink Cheeks," Bakugo said when they reached the landing of the second floor and walked to the next escalator.
"This is like the fanciest hotel I've ever been too," Ochaco replied.
"It's a standard hotel."
Ochaco scoffed. "Uh, yeah for you maybe."
They made it to the third floor landing. Bakugo made his way down the hallway. Even the wall sconces were fancy, pearl and gold colored and just screaming warmth and richness. Ochaco came to a halt, nearly bumping into Bakugo. He stuck the key card into the door, the red light turned green and a small beep sounded. He pushed the door open, and held it for Ochaco to go in first.
She smiled. "Thank you."
The room could only be described in one word: traditional. Honestly, the room reminded her of Todoroki's dorm from their high school days. Ochaco walked past the shoji door and stepped onto the tatami mats. A low lying table with zabutons surrounding it sat in the middle of the room. Along the left side was a small kitchen like area with a mini fridge, a counter space, and a sink. Two beds lay to her right by a large window, overlooking the mountains in the distance.
That was the entire room short of the bathroom which was on the other side of the shoji door by the entry. These were close quarters, even with seperate beds. Sure they were friends and had gotten to know one another, but she wasn't sure if she was prepared to sleep in the same room as Bakugo...by herself. In high school they occasionally camped out in the main room, but the whole class was there together.
Ochaco's body heated. She was going to be sleeping in the same room with Bakugo. Why was this just now dawning on her?
Bakugo walked around her, heading for the bed closest to the entry. He dropped his backpack onto it and sat down, untying his boots. "You can shower first."
Ochaco took a seat on the other bed, facing his direction. "And then we can go eat at the restaurant downstairs?" She would keep things casual. It was totally normal for friends to sleep in the same hotel room. Even if they were the opposite sex. No big deal.
"Sure." Bakugo flopped back onto the bed, arms stretched past his head, exposing the slightest bit of skin. Ochaco bit her lip, but snapped out of it by jumping to her feet. Bakugo didn't seem to notice, if anything he looked ready for a nap, which made sense; they'd had a long trip and still had a good way to go the next morning.
Ochaco rushed over to the bathroom, closed the door quietly, and fell back against it. She let out a breath, blowing her hair out of her face. No need to freak out, she would shower, he would probably shower, they'd go eat dinner, and then they'd come back to their room and do whatever until it was time for bed. She had packed a book and some cards, so she had some form of entertainment. Maybe they could watch TV or a movie. She had no idea why she was panicking so much. They'd been alone together on several occasions. Then again, they were always in public or friends were nearby, in this hotel room—they were it.
She undressed and turned on the shower. The warm water soaked her hair and rolled down her bare skin, easing her tired muscles. Seriously, sitting on a motorcycle for three hours straight did a number on one's back. The helmet also hadn't done her hair any favors. She lathered the shampoo in her hair, eyes closed and hummed a little tune. A happiness fluttered within her. What was causing it, she couldn't quite place her finger on, but it was nice.
After another ten minutes, Ochaco finished her shower. She stepped out, grabbing the white fluffy towel from the shelf above the toilet. While she dried, Ochaco noticed something was missing in the room. She wrapped the towel around her body and spun around in the small bathroom. Her backpack wasn't in the room with her.
"Crap," Ochaco muttered, turning toward the door. In her rush, she left her belongings by the bed. No problem, she could just go out and grab it. Her cheeks heated. Going out, wet, wearing only a towel...no, she couldn't do that.
Ochaco bit the inside of her cheek. What was she even freaking out about? All she needed to do was open the door and ask Bakugo to bring her stuff. He wouldn't make a big deal about it. She took in a deep breath, opened the door and poked her head through, clutching the towel around her torso.
The room was quiet and because of the shoji door, Ochaco couldn't get a clear view of the main room. "Hey, Bakugo?"
No answer.
"Bakugo?"
Still nothing. Had he stepped out or something?
Ochaco opened the door a little wider and stepped out of the bathroom. On her tiptoes, she trotted to the entry. Bakugo was still in the room, in fact he was laying on the bed. She remained frozen in the doorway, eyes locked on Bakugo. The sound of a guitar riff came from his direction. She leaned forward to get a better look.
Bakugo's arm laid across his face, a set of headphones rested on his head. His chest rose and fell at a steady pattern. One leg was propped up on the edge of the bed while the other hung down a mere inch from the ground. Across from the relaxing Bakugo, her backpack lay on her bed. If she moved fast and quietly, Bakugo would never know. He appeared to be napping anyway. Ochaco bit her lip and decided to just go for it.
The first mistake she made was keeping her eyes on Bakugo and not what was ahead of her. Ochaco squealed as she tripped over Bakugo's boots and backpack. Her arms flailed, the towel loosening as she fell forward. Flopping on the floor, Ochaco's face burned, arms tucked tight at her sides, and hands hiding her face.
This is it. This is how I die.
Bakugo had sat up, she heard him the moment she hit the ground. The sheets on the bed crunched, but Bakugo didn't say a word. Ochaco wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing. She couldn't bring herself to look his way, not that her body wanted to move an inch. The embarrassment had locked her muscles in place. At least the towel was still around her body, granted it fell just short of her ass.
"Are you okay?" Bakugo asked.
Ochaco sucked in a breath. "Yup." Just dying of humiliation.
"Why are you walking around in a towel?"
"I...I...left my backpack," Ochaco muttered, pointing to her bag on the bed. "You were...you didn't...I couldn't…" Goosebumps rose on her skin despite feeling like she was in the middle of a desert. Her heart walloped in her chest and her stomach did somersaults. He didn't see anything, right? She fell out of his sightline and he was laying down with his arm over his eyes. Surely, Bakugo didn't see anything.
"Get your stuff," Bakugo said, followed by the sound of him shuffling around on the bed. "I won't look."
Ochaco licked her lips and dared a quick peek. She trusted he wouldn't look, but still it was a reflex. Bakugo sat crossed-legged on the bed, his back to her, headphones resting around his neck. She rose to her feet, adjusting her towel before snatching her backpack off the bed, and darting back to the bathroom.
Falling back against the door, Ochaco buried her face in her bag. Whatever worries she had about the evening, paled in comparison to what could happen now. She groaned, raking her fingers through her damp, tangled locks. Bakugo wasn't patronizing about it, so maybe he was going to be nice enough to just pretend it never happened.
She straightened and walked to the mirror. "Pull yourself together," she whispered as she stared at her reflection. "It'll be a funny story one day."
-xXx-
Bakugo had seen Uraraka in her swimsuit when they went on vacation with their friends. It had been a pink with white polka dot one piece with a low back and cut outs at her hips. This meant he'd seen her fairly exposed and wet at the same time. Her in a towel shouldn't have been an issue, yet he couldn't deny seeing her on the floor with the towel draped over her ass had him hot and bothered. He saw nothing, but for whatever reason he imagined what it could have been like.
When Uraraka had come out of the bathroom, dressed and hair dried, she avoided his eyes and didn't mutter a word. Her cheeks burned cherry red. He didn't want to make her feel worse about it, especially since they had the whole evening ahead of them. Not to mention, they'd have to get back on his motorcycle at some point. He tried to think of something to say, something that could make her feel a little less embarrassed, but all he managed was "I'm gonna shower."
Maybe just ignoring it and pretending like it never happened was the best solution. His palms pressed against the bathroom counter. It was almost six o'clock. He finished his shower ten minutes ago and already gotten dressed. A simple and casual outfit; dark wash jeans, pale blue button down shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. Bakugo pushed off the counter and combed his fingers through his hair. He would go out there, go to dinner with Uraraka, and pretend nothing happened.
He opened the door and stepped out.
Uraraka stood by the window, turning to the sound of his footsteps. She pressed her lips together, rubbed her hands on her jeans, and let out a breath. "Let's pretend what happened here, didn't happen. Okay?"
Bakugo placed his bag on his bed. "Okay."
Uraraka smiled. "Thanks."
He nodded. She wore an orange knit cardigan over a black tank top. Her hair silky and straight, coming just past her clavicles. And the smell of her sweet perfume intoxicated him. He liked the way she looked, standing by the window, barefoot and smiling. Before the vacation, he had never really noticed how much she had grown into such a woman. In high school, she was very much the girl next door type: casual and cute. Something about her now exuded a sense of confidence she hadn't had before.
She twirled a piece of hair around her finger. "So, are you hungry? I took a look at the reviews about the restaurant here, people seem to love it."
Bakugo looked away from her, swallowing. "Starving."
"Well, get your shoes on and let's go." She skipped past him, heading for the entryway. Beside the door, she placed her hand on the wall and slipped on some strappy beaded sandals. When she turned around, she waved him along. "Come on."
"Slow down, Pink Cheeks. I gotta get my boots on." Bakugo took a seat on the edge of the bed, slipping on his socks before stuffing his feet back into his boots. He tied the laces and stood, leaving his jeans scrunched over the top.
Uraraka stared at him for a moment as he stood in the middle of the room, checking for his wallet and phone. When he met her gaze, her whole face turned a pale shade of pink. She sucked in a breath and turned away from him, flinging the door open. "Let's stuff our faces. Remember my treat."
Bakugo followed her out of the room and made sure the door was locked. She waited a couple of doors down, hands clasped behind her back, swaying back and forth. He smirked and walked alongside her, their strides matching as they approached the escalator. She stepped on first while he went next. Her eyes moved around the space, taking in the paintings and potted plants, like she hadn't just seen it all when they first arrived.
"Have you been here before?" Uraraka asked, looking over her shoulder at him.
"No," Bakugo replied, hands stuffed in his pockets. "I've been to Hofu before, but never this hotel."
"Do you think we could explore a little after dinner?"
"Sure, but not too long. We gotta be out of here bright and early tomorrow."
They stepped off the escalator and made their way to the last one, which would let them out in the lobby. Uraraka leaned back against the rail as they descended with Bakugo across from her. "How early is early?"
"By six."
Uraraka whined. "On vacation's you're supposed to sleep in."
Bakugo chuckled. "You can sleep in the next day."
"Are we gonna climb the mountain tomorrow?"
"Depends on how tired we are."
"You think I can do it?"
"Climb the mountain?"
"Yeah."
"You floated a train, Pink Cheeks," Bakugo said as they reached the lobby and walked toward the restaurant. "I think you can handle climbing a mountain."
They reached the host podium, finding a middle aged man in dark slacks with a tucked plaid shirt. He bowed and welcomed them both before asking for how many. Uraraka held up two fingers. He gathered the menus and led them into the dining room.
"Wow," Uraraka said, eyes sparkling.
The restaurant wasn't large. They had a bar space that appeared to sit fifteen and the dining area had eighteen tables, most of which could seat a group of four. Wine glasses, polished silverware, a set of chopsticks, and folded napkins covered the table tops, shining in the can lights from above. Several patrons were already eating and drinking, chatting and laughing, appearing to be completely at ease.
The host led them toward a table closest to a massive window wall, viewing the hotel's garden and koi pond. He gestured to the two person table and Uraraka thanked him, taking a seat while peering out into the garden. The host placed the menus down before both of them and quietly left.
Bakugo didn't bother with the menu. His focus stayed on Uraraka, who was staring out at the garden. The glow of the sunset cast it on fire, the pond water shimmering like garnets. She met his gaze, biting her lip before grabbing the menu. Bakugo turned away as well, scolding himself for continuously looking at her. It was Uraraka. They'd known each other in high school and not once had he ever felt any kind of way about her. She had his respect, but now it seemed like there was something more. It bothered him.
Uraraka kept her eyes on the menu, twirling her hair around her finger as she did. He didn't recall her ever playing with her hair in such a way so often. He wondered if it was a nervous tick of hers. She pulled her finger free of her hair and looked up at him. "Let's order for each other."
Bakugo blinked. "Why?"
"For fun," Uraraka said. "Including drinks."
Bakugo raised an eyebrow. Given her smile and the glint of mischief in her chocolate eyes, he felt compelled to agree. "Let's do it."
Uraraka clapped. "Excellent."
Shortly after making the agreement, a waiter approached their table. He greeted them politely and asked if they would like anything to drink or some appetizers. Bakugo getsured for Uraraka to go first.
She clicked her tongue, closed the menu, and looked to the waiter. "He will have a Kyoto Sour and for the appetizer we'll take some harumaki."
"She'll have a Cherry Blossom Highball," Bakugo said, keeping his eyes on Uraraka. Her eyes widened and she mouthed the drink he ordered for her. "Give us a few minutes for the main dishes."
The waiter nodded. "Of course, I'll be right back with your drinks."
Once the waiter left, Uraraka leaned forward. "What the heck is a Cherry Blossom Highball?"
Bakugo smirked. "You'll like it."
"You do remember I'm a lightweight right?"
"Yes," Bakugo said with a laugh. "I remember you puking your guts out at the club."
Uraraka puffed her cheeks and sank back into her seat. "Not my shining moment."
"No judgement," Bakugo assured her. He went back to the menu, debating what to get her. In spending so much time with her lately, he came to discover she often ate the more savory type of meals. From the time he made her the bento on their trip to Mt. Kurama to now, Bakugo still believed she ate like a baby dinosaur. He peered over to the top of his menu.
Uraraka had returned to reading over the menu as well, only this time no hair twirling. Instead, she did a cute nose scrunch. Bakugo looked back at the menu before he could laugh at her expressions.
A few minutes passed, the sound of clinking tableware and chatter of the patrons keeping them company. The smell of spices and smoke filled the space, making the place feel like home. The waiter returned with a small round tray with their drinks. He placed the Cherry Blossom Highball in front of Uraraka then placed the Kyoto Sour next to Bakugo.
"Are you ready to order?" the server asked as he tucked the tray beneath his arm.
Bakugo looked to Uraraka, who nodded then met his gaze. "I am. Are you?"
"Go ahead," Bakugo said, curious to see what she'd get him. The fact she got him a Kyoto Sour, a spicy summer drink, was rather impressive. It was a favorite of his, but he didn't drink much unless it was a special occasion.
Uraraka nodded and turned to the waiter. "We're ordering for each other again, so he'll have the spicy pork and soba noodles."
Bakugo nodded. He approved of her choice. "The hambaagu plate for the lady."
"Great, I'll get those orders in for you, may I take your menus?" The waiter took their menus and left them alone with their drinks.
Uraraka grabbed her drink and lifted it. "Cheers."
Bakugo smiled, lifting his drink as well. "Cheers, Pink Cheeks."
They both sipped on their drinks. Uraraka made a pleased hum and put the drink down. A smile spread across her face as she pointed to her drink. "This is delicious. What's in this?"
Bakugo licked his lips and put his drink down. The rosy pink drink was one he'd come across thanks to a fling he had with one of the girl's back at the agency. She loved her alcohol and swore up and down that on a late spring or relaxing summer's eve, the cherry blossom highball was the perfect drink. "It's whisky, cherry blossom liqueur, soda water, and obviously a grapefruit peel for garnish."
Uraraka nodded and took another quick sip. "I'm impressed, Bakugo. I really like this. Now, how'd I do?" She gestured to his drink.
"Kyoto Sour is my favorite drink."
"Seriously? You aren't just saying that?"
Bakugo scoffed. "Why would I lie about something like that? What I wanna know is how you know about this drink."
"Mina made me drink one when I turned twenty-one."
"Did you puke?"
Uraraka rolled her eyes. "No!"
"Liar."
"A few tears might have fallen, but I didn't puke."
Bakugo laughed. In all fairness, the drink had a spicy kick and if one wasn't prepared it could illicit some waterworks. He sipped on his drink and stared at Uraraka, who pressed her lips together and laughed. "What?"
Uraraka shook her head. "Nothing."
He didn't believe her for a second. "Oh, it's something."
She twisted her hair around her finger again, eyes fixed on her drink. "Well," she said, but paused to meet his gaze. "I was just thinking that this kind of feels like a date."
Bakugo brought his drink to his lips, but held Uraraka's eyes before lowering it down. He nodded, keeping their eyes locked. She wasn't wrong, but he didn't want to admit that out loud. If he didn't say something, would she be insulted? He bit the inside of his cheek, wracking his brain for something to say. She stopped twisting her hair, letting her hand fall into her lap. He needed to respond; any words would do. Uraraka was a nice, beautiful girl, someone who could hold a conversation and had an infectious laugh. He could see them going on a date together, but it wouldn't be like this.
The waiter came to the table with their appetizers and small white plates. "Please enjoy, your food should be out soon."
Uraraka broke eye contact and thanked the man before he departed from their table. She took a whiff of the food and clapped her hands. "I'm sorry if I made this awkward," she said as she used her chopsticks to take a few pieces of harumaki. "I guess the setting and all just, you know what nevermind. Let's eat."
It was maybe a pinch awkward, but in truth not out of the question. Besides, how could he not want to go on a date with a woman who was going to meet his family? There was a reason, Bakugo never talked about his family to any girl or vice versa. If he were ever going to bring a girl home, she needed to be smart, beautiful, and capable of kicking ass just to be considered. And Uraraka had all that and more.
"So, um…" Uraraka tried, but fell quiet.
Bakugo scratched the back of his neck and sat straighter in his seat. "You're not wrong."
Uraraka's brow creased. "I'm not?"
"This is like a classic date," Bakugo replied, shrugging.
Uraraka's eyes lit up and a small smile appeared on her face.
Bakugo felt like it was getting warmer. He grabbed his drink and took another large sip. "But it's not a date. We're just friends, having a good time."
Uraraka giggled. "Yeah, a real good time."
They ate their appetizers without saying much else. It wasn't awkward anymore. Uraraka sipped on her drink, gazing out the window. Her cardigan fell from her shoulder, exposing her creamy skin. Bakugo stuffed a harumaki into his mouth and turned his attention to the bonsai trees decorating the shelf on the wall behind her.
What in the world was this woman doing to him? She didn't even have to try. Was he developing feelings for her? Ones that extended beyond friendship. No, that couldn't be right. Bakugo didn't let his emotions get the best of him, he kept them on a tight leash and for good reason. If he developed feelings for her, he'd worry about her, he'd given up part of himself to be with her. Bakugo didn't want to be alone his whole life, he just wanted to get his career in order first.
Soon their food arrived and the waiter refilled their drinks. They had casual conversations about working out and training. Bakugo told her about Kamui Woods and his unique ways of wanting things done. Their dinner was relaxing and warm, something that brought peace to the soul and joy to the heart. They praised one another for picking perfect meals for one another and nearly finished their second round of drinks.
Uraraka had a glow about her as she brushed her hair behind her ear and giggled. "People always told me I just needed to find my drink. And here it is." She finished the last of her highball and let out a refreshed breath before sinking back into her seat. "This was really good."
Bakugo nodded in agreement, downing the last of his own drink. "Solid four stars."
Uraraka chuckled. "What's five star to you?"
"The diner back in Masutafu."
"Really?" Uraraka asked, eyebrows raised. "Won't disagree though, cause those burgers and shakes were to die for."
"Are you still interested in going for a walk around?"
Uraraka nodded. "Definitely. Let's find a place to get a dessert."
"I know a place," Bakugo said as he looked across the room. He flagged down the waiter, signaling him for the check. The waiter came over with the check and Uraraka handed him her card. "Thanks for buying."
"Please, it's the least I can do." Uraraka waved the matter off. "So tell me about this dessert place?"
"And ruin the surprise?" Bakugo shook his head. "No way."
After having paid for their meal, Bakugo and Uraraka made their way outside the hotel. The evening air perfect for a quick stroll around the neighborhood. Uraraka put her hands above her head, soaking in the dying orange rays of the sun. Bakugo walked alongside her, hands in his pockets, and eyes every so often sneaking glances at her. He never would have guessed they would have become friends. In high school, they were acquaintances at best, but now he'd definitely call her a friend. The comfort she brought to him was weird, but exciting at the same time. She had this way about her to make him feel content.
They walked down the street, walking past a park. Some children were playing on the jungle gym while their parents sat on the benches. The blue hydrangeas were in full bloom and the plush green grass looked like a nice place to lay down and stare up at the clouds. First, he would take her to this hole in the wall ice cream parlor he had stumbled across on his last visit to Hofu. With Uraraka being such a sweet tooth, she'd be over the moon when they got to their destination.
Uraraka bumped his shoulder. "What's it like to go on a date with Katsuki Bakugo?"
He choked out a laugh. She was completely unabashed when it came to asking romantic or sexual questions. It was a little weird sometimes, but he always answered. Bakugo clicked his tongue, thinking about it. He'd gone on dates, but short of going to a bar or out to dinner, maybe a movie too he never did much else. Classic dates were easy to put together, and he had never met a girl he wanted to do something out of the ordinary.
"Your silence makes me think you have never been on a date before. Don't tell me you screwed all those poor girls without at least wooing them a little." Uraraka grabbed hold of his arm and chuckled.
Bakugo rolled his eyes. "They were flings, Pink Cheeks. None of them lasted longer than six weeks. It was just sex, I wasn't trying to date any of them." Uraraka looped her arm through his. He had grown used to her doing that. He glanced down at their interlocked arms, a small smile tugged at him.
"So then you've truly never been with anyone in a serious relationship?" she asked, eyes forward as they continued down the street.
Bakugo pursed his lips. That was a fairly accurate statement. Slept with four women, flirted with many others, but never pursued anything serious. His goals of becoming a hero were just more important to him. Although, when he thought about the fact he was twenty-five and never been in a serious relationship that made him feel odd like he was missing something. It was his choice though, so it didn't matter. He was happy with how things were.
"Is there a reason?" Uraraka asked a few moments later.
Bakugo let out a breath. "Just focused on my career. No big secret there."
"You never get lonely?"
Bakugo snickered. "Well, obviously I did otherwise I wouldn't have had flings."
Uraraka shook her head. "So you don't plan on starting a serious relationship with anyone until you're what? The number one hero?"
"I'm not sure," Bakugo said, coming to a halt at the intersection. They were about a block away from the ice cream parlor. He cast a sideways glance at Uraraka. "I guess it would be more correct to say when I meet the right girl I would."
"Okay, so what is the right girl for you?"
"Smart, beautiful, and tough." Bakugo tugged on Uraraka when the light changed, allowing them to cross.
Uraraka laughed. "Is that all it would take?"
"Oh no," Bakugo replied with a smirk. "That's just what it would take for me to at least talk to her, maybe go on a date."
"Well don't hold out on me, tell me what your perfect girl is made of."
"Why do you care?" Bakugo asked. He understood she was the nosy curious type, but he had a hard time believing that was all. In a way, he felt like she was trying to figure all this out just so she could find someone for him. And he didn't want that at all. If Kirishima, his best friend, couldn't find a girl for him no one could.
Uraraka sighed and raked her fingers through her hair. "Well, curiosity for one thing, but also because aside from being a grump sometimes, I think you would make a woman very happy."
"You wanna put that on a want ad for me?" Bakugo teased.
Uraraka giggled, playfully smacking his upper arm. "You might have the right idea though."
"About what?"
"Waiting until you find the right person, or even until you have your career together."
Bakugo stopped in front of the ice cream parlor, pulled his arm free and placed his hand on Uraraka's head. "All that's gonna happen for you, Pink Cheeks. Stop worrying about it."
She smiled up at him. "Thanks."
Bakugo smiled back and nodded toward the building beside them. By no means was it anything super special or cutesy, but their ice cream was unparalleled. Granted, Bakugo wasn't much of a sweet tooth, but when he did crave something sweet he wanted it to be just the right amount.
The front of the store had a simple teal-colored awning and on the glass door in a handwritten style font it read: Sweet 'n' Swirl. Bakugo reached for the door handle, the saccharine scent of freshly made waffle cones greeting them. Uraraka oohed and awed before scurrying inside. He followed her in and chuckled at the sparkle in her eyes and the grin on her face.
"Welcome!" the woman behind the counter greeted.
"Hi! It smells so good in here," Uraraka said to the woman as she stepped up to the glass display case.
Behind the counter chalkboards with the prices and flavor specials hung and below them were two shelves with over a dozen glass jars containing various mixable items like sprinkles, gummies, and cookies. Off to the right of the shelves were three blenders along with a coffee machine. Bakugo read the menu, debating if he was going for something traditional or adventurous. According to the board, the flavor of the week was chocolate orange swirl. That sounded like summer in a cone, hopefully it tasted that way too.
"I'll have the flavor of the week in a cone, please," Bakugo said to the woman then looked at Uraraka. "What about you?"
"Can I just have the whole display case?" she asked, her hands pressed against the glass, nose a hair away.
Bakugo snorted. "Like you could even eat it all."
"Try me," Uraraka deadpanned, locking eyes with Bakugo.
He blinked. "Self control, Pink Cheeks."
She giggled and turned back to the display case. "Okay, I'll have the cherry with chocolate sprinkles, please and thank you."
The woman nodded and went to work. Uraraka took a seat on one of the bar stools beside the front wall. As far as seating went, there were only four tiny tables. Bakugo joined her, leaning against the table. He cut a glance toward Uraraka, who just so happened to be sneaking glances at him. Bakugo turned toward her, studying her face. Big, brown beautiful eyes framed with thick curly lashes, ever rosy cheeks, and such softness in her lines. She pressed her lips together and turned away from him.
"Here you are," the woman said, holding both cones over the display case.
"Thank you," Bakugo said as he took both cones, handing the cherry cone to Uraraka as she dug for her card. "I got it."
Uraraka looked up at him and took her cone from him. "You sure?"
Bakugo nodded and walked over to the register to pay the lady. Once he'd paid, he walked back to the door and held it open. "Come on, Pink Cheeks."
She licked at her ice cream as she shuffled outside and headed in the direction of their hotel. "Thanks for this, Bakugo. It's delicious. Not too tart and not too sweet, a perfect balance."
"No problem." Bakugo licked some of his. The richness of chocolate came first followed by the tangy, citrus notes of orange. Just as he imagined, it was summer in a cone. They walked side by side, the light from the sun nearly gone from the sky. Fluorescent lights flashed on at every street corner.
"So where are we going?" Uraraka asked.
"The park a few blocks up. They have a foot spa."
"That sounds nice."
They walked on, their strides in sync. A few others walked around the streets of Hofu as well. When they finally reached the park they'd passed earlier, Uraraka had eaten half of her ice cream and was close to the cone portion. They followed the winding sidewalk across the plush blanket of grass, passing the park lights, benches, and occasional tree.
Near the other end of the park, the public foot spa lay empty. A couple of mothers called for their children, telling them it was time to go home. The children rushed past Bakugo and Uraraka, joining up with their mothers at the picnic tables under the cherry blossom trees. When they made it to the little rectangular pool surrounded by stone tiles, Uraraka kicked off her sandals, rolled her jeans up, and stuck her feet in.
"This is great," Uraraka said with a laugh as she sat on the edge. "Come closer, I'll untie your boots."
"Just hold my ice cream." Bakugo held it out for her.
She took it. "Can I have a taste?"
He knelt down to undo his shoes. "Sure."
"Wow," Uraraka said, making a few lip smacking sounds. "I should have gotten this instead. I like it!"
Bakugo got his shoes and socks off then stuck his feet in the pool. The warm water was soothing and relaxing, which is exactly what he needed. He turned to Uraraka for his ice cream cone. "Hey! You said a taste," Bakugo snapped seeing that she'd take it all the way down to the cone. "That's practically eaten."
"I'm sorry," Uraraka giggled, her mouth full of his ice cream. "It was so good, I couldn't control myself."
Bakugo groaned. "You have no self control."
"When it comes to sweets I have none," Uraraka said as she handed him the remaining bits of his ice cream. He took it from her and shook his head as he bit into the cone. She giggled and continued eating hers.
"Well the least you could do is let me try some of yours."
Uraraka smiled and leaned it toward him. "Okay."
Bakugo went in for a taste, but Uraraka pushed it forward, smearing it on his nose and chin. He pulled back, mouth open, skin sticky from the cherry ice cream covering the lower part of his face. "Oh," Bakugo huffed, his eyes narrowing at Uraraka. "Oh, you are so dead."
Uraraka giggled. "I couldn't resist."
Bakugo licked his lips, the tartness danced across his taste buds. He glanced at his own ice cream cone and smirked, pressing it right onto Uraraka's cheek. She squealed, eyes wide and mouth hanging open as if she couldn't believe he had just done that. He laughed as she used a finger to wipe some of it from her face, then stuck it into her mouth. "That's what you get."
She raised an eyebrow at him, reached down into the water and splashed him. Bakugo yelped as water splattered across his shirt. His ice cream fell onto the tile floor beside him. Uraraka gasped and jumped to her feet, dropping her own ice cream as she took off barefoot into the field of grass.
Bakugo pursued her. He tried to snatch her, but she dodged by spinning around. His reflexes were just as good as hers. Uraraka screamed and laughed as Bakugo closed in on her, wrapping an arm around her waist. He lifted her from the ground, pulling her close to his body, and spun around.
"No! No!" Uraraka cried out, trying to wiggle free.
He didn't loosen his hold. He slowed his spin, but kept her feet off the ground, still holding her close. She squirmed, breathless laughs escaped from her mouth. Her soft hands laid against his forearm. It was so warm and for a moment, he felt like he was floating. Wait...he was floating!
"Uraraka!" Bakugo growled as they continued to rise.
"Hey, this is the only way I could think to win," Uraraka stated proudly. "I will let us down when you let me go."
"Technically, I still have you so I'm the winner," Bakugo pointed out, glancing down at the ground. They were about three feet off the ground at this point, raising higher and higher with each breath he took.
"But, without me you can't get back down. You'll float up into space and die from lack of oxygen."
Bakugo snickered. "Might I remind you that you need oxygen too."
Uraraka looked back at him, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "So, let me go."
Bakugo huffed. "Alright, alright." He loosened his grip around her petite waist and they parted. Uraraka turned around to face him and winked. Bakugo shook his head as she smiled at him and placed her hands on her hips. "Now, let us down."
"Release." She pressed the pads of her fingers together and they fell back onto the grass.
They both looked at one another and started to laugh. A wholesome, shake your whole body type of laugh. Bakugo imagined they appeared crazy to any bystanders, but that didn't really matter to him at the moment. He had cherry ice cream on his face, his shirt was wet, grass was stuck between his toes, and Uraraka was before him, glowing and warm like a sunrise.
After a few more seconds, they finally stopped laughing and just stared at one another. Uraraka combed her hair back, trying to keep it from the ice cream on her face. She glanced back to the foot spa, where their shoes and broken cones remained. "That was a lot of fun. Actually, this whole evening has been a blast. I haven't laughed that hard in a long, long time. And I'm really excited for the rest of this little adventure."
Bakugo nodded. "I am too."