Potato-Faye: ❤ you're welcome ! please enjoy ! (´ ∀ ` *)
jaffa3: happy you enjoyed it ❤
Oblivious IJ: *cough* i'm guilty of making fanart *cough*
NotDeadYet16: ❤ awe, thank you so much ! i absolutely love writing this story, especially Shotaru scenes. it brings me so much joy that you're enjoying this story. tysm. ❤
Cally: haha ~ ! ❤ i laughed out loud. hopefully it won't be much longer now. i'm sure things will move along smoothly from here on out, ehe.
❤⌒ヽ(*'､^*)chu
Swiggs: aahh, that's such a great song. while writing that scene i was listening to the violet evergarden ost, 'what it means to love' ❤ it took them long enough to make up, huh? aha ~
bbymojo: i was so eager to write their fight for so long, and the amount of joy i got when i was finally able to was great, aha ! it was intense and fun. ❤ tried to make it as meaningful as possible, aha. Shoto and Taru are so cute when they react. oh, she remembers for sure. she's just in complete denial. (*¯ ³¯*) you'll love this chapter i know it ~ what ever will Shoto do?
MissLaufeyson97: a preview? ❤ can you explain for me i'm interested but a little slow, aha.
reginna98: continuing for you ~ ! hello from America ! (⁀ᗢ⁀)
Vienna22: next chapter for you ❤
Rmack: sorry for the wait, here's the next chapter ❤ !
antisocialFox: hope you enjoy this chapter ! (*´▽`*)
ahgase007: oh my gosh ! 5 a.m.?! haha ! i'm happy you are enjoying this ❤ i hope you were able to get some rest!
lovelyhatter: aahh, tysm ! ❤ Taru is adorable, aha. i hope you enjoy this chapter !
•○●○•
hello, all. ❤
thanking you all again for taking the time to read, review, etc !
i hope everyone is staying safe and healthy.
i played through the whole final fantasy 7 remake just recently and omg, ❤ i'm in love with it. but now i'm so behind on homework.
oops. (；￣Д￣)
this chapter is full of fluff, just so ya know. a gift for all of you, and a breather from all the intensity that's been going on. i think this is one of my most favorite chapters i've ever written, aha.
anyways, please enjoy, and i apologize for any errors!
•○●○•
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Unspoken Words
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Refreshing air blasts onto Hotaru's face as the window rolls down. Her eyelids lower and her lips that are enclosed around a spiraled straw curve upwards. A happy aura surrounds her, her hair and attire whipping as Daichi drives down the bustling road.
"It's so pretty outside." Hotaru sighs blissfully, moving to place her banana smoothie in the cup holder. "The sky is already so blue—oh! Daichi! Look at all the doves!"
Daichi looks over right when he slows the car down to a stop at the red light. Her head is protruding from the window and she's pointing skywards at countless oriental turtle doves that are resting on a power line. He smiles. She's so jubilant this morning.
"That's a lot of birds." He states, and she glances at him with adorably puffed cheeks, pouting.
"Doves." She corrects, her smile returning instantly as one of the dove's start singing. "They sound like owls. When I was younger I thought they were morning owls instead of morning doves."
"I used to think that, too." Daichi admits sheepishly, and she laughs.
"Really?"
"Yup." He nods, gently pressing down on the gas pedal.
Hotaru turns around in her seat, staring at the doves until they are no longer in sight. She blinks a few times as a sudden thought strikes her. Her head turns in Daichi's direction, a thoughtful frown on her face.
"Why don't birds get electrocuted when they sit on power lines?" She asks.
"Well, it's because they aren't a good enough conductor." Daichi begins, taking a sip from his own banana smoothie.
"How? I'm sure if I shoot lightning at one it'll definitely be a great conductor—not that I would actually do that, though. Are their feet special or something? Like made of rubber?"
"Of course it would if you shoot lightning at it. Lightning is on a whole other level." Daichi lets out an amused laugh, shaking his head. "Although, I'm not saying normal electricity can't do damage to a bird. It certainly can. But, electricity in power lines is kind of lazy. It follows the easiest route, which is the electrical wire. If you had to choose from two different objects, one being low in potential and the other one high, which would you choose? In other words, lean meat or meat that's not so lean?"
"The one with the highest potential." Hotaru answers easily. "So, lean meat. It's less fatty."
"Exactly. It's like that."
"That makes sense. So, the bird isn't worth the electricity's time then? Wow." She says, awed.
"Yeah." He muses, starting to glance at her. "I'm surprised you didn't know that, considering your Quirk and all—Hey! Put your seat-belt on!"
She snickers, although doing as she's told. After she follows his command, she proceeds to happily drink her smoothie without delay. He raises a brow at her endless gulps, gawking when he sees she finishes the fruity beverage off. It was nearly full seconds ago. She lets out a dramatic breath, humming in satisfaction.
"I wish I had another one." She sighs almost dreamily.
"...You should've savored it. It would've lasted longer."
"You can get me another one, right?"
"Psh," He lets out a curt laugh, giving off the impression that he doesn't intend to do that. It's not much longer after that when he suddenly mumbles. "...On the way home. I wouldn't mind a second one, either."
"Hehe," She giggles, bringing her hand over her mouth.
Daichi pulls the car into a familiar parking lot, parking beneath a blooming magnolia tree. The citrus-like scent the ivory flowers give off are instantly detectable. It's remedying, and Hotaru gladly inhales the aroma.
She steps out of the car, closing the door behind her. Her arms raise high above her head as she stretches before falling back to her sides. The flimsy material of her over-sized and powdery blue shirt sways at her movements. A simplistic white koi is illustrated on the front of it, matching the white of her leggings.
The sound of Daichi getting out of the car makes her look over. She clasps her hands together behind her back, skipping over to him, her teal tennis shoes scraping against the asphalt ground. He holds out her empty cup.
"Oops. I forgot." She states, grabbing onto it.
"Sure you did."
"But, I really did."
He locks the car doors, nudging her playfully as he starts walking off towards a trash can while finishing his smoothie off. She follows after him, tossing the plastic cup only after he does. He adjusts his olive-green uniform before facing her.
"Alright. I'm going to make my rounds." He announces, and she salutes as if she's a soldier.
"I'll make my rounds, too. Park Ranger Hotaru is ready for action."
"You're a mess." He laughs, his honey eyes gleaming. "Alright. I'm counting on you. But," He ruffles up her hair. "No death threats."
"No promises." She beams, scampering off into the tranquil park.
She passes beneath towering maple trees and smaller scaled cherry blossoms. Their foliage creates a rustling sound, and the azalea bushes are occupied by butterflies and honeybees. Any spotty clouds in the sky roll by quickly.
Gradually, her playful run turns into a pleasant walk down the stone path. The sunlight that occasionally shines into her silvery orbs makes them glisten like stars, and the songs of robin birds fill her ears. Her eyelids lower briefly, her ebony lashes resting upon her cheeks.
It's been a little while since she last came here. Preparing for the sports festival really consumed her time, so she didn't get the chance to visit. The sports festival was yesterday, and today is the first day of her short break. She wants to spend some of her day here and relax. It's been too long since she lounged around.
Not only that, but her new phone will be coming in the mail today. Overnight shipping sure is a magical thing. She runs her fingers through her wavy strands of hair. Although she's excited about that, she's even more excited about Daichi's fish store. He's getting in a shipment of fish tanks today and she's going to help him set them up. This will be her first time doing that, and she can't wait.
It doesn't take long for her beloved pond to come into view. The water is shimmering almost as if someone has through glitter across it. It reflects the sky and the flowering wisteria tree that hangs over a portion of it. Some lavender petals come drifting her way as she walks towards it. Nobody else is present.
"Hello," She murmurs, pressing her hand against the rough bark as if the tree can understand her. Her fingers glide across it, and she suddenly jumps at an obnoxious sound. A cicada is on the tree. Her nose scrunches up. "Disgusting."
Turning her attention away from the ravishing tree, she steps over its roots and moves closer to the large body of water. The water starts to ripple instantly as koi fish come rushing towards her. She smiles, her teeth showing.
She heard someone say once before that fish only have a three second memory. That's clearly a lie. They have a great memory that she's sure they cherish, and emotions that she's sure they feel.
"Hi." She laughs softly, leaning over the water so she can see her reflection amid the swarming koi. It looks like some of them have gotten bigger. However, none of them have surpassed the size of a koi that's been here for years.
That koi swims across the reflection of her face, and her eyes seem to disappear as they blend in with its silvery scales. The butterfly koi that was his favorite. She never knew why he picked it as his favorite, though. Even till this day, it still beats up the other fish. She draws back when it suddenly thrashes. Droplets of water erupt, and she brings her hands up to shield herself from the beads.
Figuring they must be hungry; she looks over at the nearby fish food dispenser that's full of pellets. She makes her way over to it and reaches towards the pockets she doesn't have. Her mouth forms an "o" shape as she stands there motionlessly. She doesn't have any change. So, she bangs her fist on top of it.
Fish food comes spilling out and she cups her hands to catch it. With a triumphed smile, she walks back over to the pond full of eager koi. She tosses some food to them, watching as they feast straight away.
"It would be cruel to feed just you guys," She whispers in a gentle tone.
She steps out of her shoes and kicks off her socks, beginning to hop across the stones jutting out of the water. There are more koi in the distance that take notice of her. They swim in her direction while the koi she just fed trail behind her.
There's something delicate about her movements, and something serene about the expression on her face. She feels at home at the place she's spent countless hours. It's her own rejuvenating refuge—her own private oasis.
She ends up back beneath the wisteria tree with now emptied hands. The koi still swim around near her as they crave for more food. She sits herself down in the prickly grass and right next to the rippling water. She'll feed them more in a little bit. Right now, she wants to sit and enjoy the scenery.
Japanese maples are scattered about. Water lilies are growing beneath the bridge going over the pond ahead. There's a bird's nest over her head, and the pavilion not too far off looks lonely without anyone in it. It's quiet, but the early hour explains that. Sunrise wasn't that long ago. She lowers her eyelids.
The sound of water, the whispering wind, that annoying cicada, all of it fills her ears. Before long she can hear children playing on the playground in the distance along with their parents' voices. She must be sitting in relaxation like this for an hour at most when she suddenly hears the scrunching of grass.
Someone is heading towards the pond. Straining her ears, she foresees something different. Those footsteps are too unsteady. Hesitant, but occasionally tenacious. Someone is approaching her from behind. They grow closer and she turns around.
Shoto grows somewhat tense, not expecting her to turn around so quickly and before he can even say a hello. Her wide and silvery eyes stare at him, resembling beautifully rolling clouds. They both find themselves overcome with a sense of déja vu.
This is how they first met.
Velvety petals rain down from above and shadows dance across their forms. Their hair and attire becomes ruffled as a morning breeze blows. A singing bird lands on one of the branches over their heads, and the nearby pond ripples from the swimming koi. Hotaru rises onto her feet slowly, facing Shoto with pursed lips.
"What are you doing here?" She whispers in question.
"I want to talk." He answers, and her eyes narrow. "You don't have to say anything. Instead, just listen to me... please."
Her lips downturn into a frown and crease forms in her brow. Ever so slightly, her foot slides backwards. He's dressed in casual clothes. Pants the color of charcoal, an oxford blue collared jacket that's unbuttoned, a white shirt, and a somewhat adorable cross-body fanny pack. He… wants to talk?
His mismatched eyes are amicable as he gazes at her, but she's avoiding them. His arms hang at his sides harmlessly—arms. Her cheeks suddenly flare pink and he blinks. Her hand instantly moves over her face and she ducks her head.
"I-I'm busy." She stutters.
She moves to step around him to escape, but he blocks her path. She tries to go the opposite way, but suddenly he's in her way again. Her teeth grit and she raises her head, glaring at him despite her vivid cheeks.
"Get out of the way!"
"Just listen to me—"
"No!"
"Aihara—"
"When I said I didn't want anything from you, that includes your words!"
The next step she takes to try and escape doesn't go as she planned. In fact, she just wishes she stayed put, or even dived into the pond to escape instead. Why is he here and ruining her day?
Her foot gets caught on an arched weed, tripping her mercilessly. She's suddenly falling at a quick rate. Her breath gets caught in her throat when Shoto catches her, and she freezes from head to toe at the feel of his arms around her waist. His lips part slightly.
She really is embarrassed.
"That wasn't the first time we hugged." He states shamelessly, and her fingers curl tightly into his sleeves. She straightens up and glares at him piercingly, her teeth bared angrily.
"I-I don't know what you're talking about…!" She trails off almost as if she's in a daze. "...Your eyes."
The embarrassed expression she wore fades along with her disarrayed demeanor. Her denying words and thoughts come to a halt. Her brows furrow and she leans closer to him while rising onto the tips of her toes, scrutinizing. The organ in her chest abruptly grows heavy.
"What?" He inquires and she instantly draws back.
"...Nothing." She mutters, staring at the ground.
He moves past her wordlessly, his shoulder brushing against hers. She turns, watching as he brings his hand into his pocket. He pulls out some change and proceeds to insert it into the dispenser. Her jaw slowly slackens.
"Do you want to feed the fish?" He asks.
"I already fed them." She retorts, stubbornly crossing her arms over her chest.
"Really?" He says, somewhat confused as he looks over at the begging fish. "They still look hungry."
"Well… I fed them like an hour ago."
She runs her fingers through her wavy tresses as he gathers fish food into his palms. One by one, he tosses food into the water. Droplets of water erupt as the colorful koi compete for their meal. The silver koi comes into view, and surprise crosses Shoto's features. He looks from its vibrant scales and into Hotaru's fathomless eyes.
"What?" She grumbles at his probing stare.
"Nothing." He whispers, his back now to her.
He starts slowly traveling around the perimeter of the pond. The fish swim after him, leaving Hotaru behind as she remains rooted in the same spot. The muscle in her eye twitches and she huffs.
"Traitors." She says beneath her breath, referring to the fish. With a sigh, she clasps her hands together behind her back, jogging after Shoto.
With each step he takes, his hair sways. Shadows from the trees and light from the sun cast many organic shapes onto his form. Grasshoppers occasionally leap from the grass and away from him. His brows knit together and his lips downturn.
He should've known she wouldn't be open to having a conversation. The things he wants to say are things she needs to hear, things he wants her to know. He's not sure what to do, though. The last thing he wants to do is force her to listen. That would make things even worse.
Should he give her something? He vaguely remembers that she's fond of flowers, specifically water hyacinths. They are an aggressive and eye-catching breed, somewhat invasive too. It makes sense she would like something that corresponds so much with herself. Unfortunately, he doesn't know where to get them.
Then, should he just turn back around and remind her of his requests? She'll have no choice but to listen if he does that, right? He can have her tell him about her past, then he can tell her about his in return. But, that sounds a little forceful, too.
He looks over his shoulder, pausing in his step. She perfectly mirrors his movements. She's been walking behind him the whole time? He didn't even hear her footsteps. Although, it makes sense when he glances down at her bare feet. That's something that hasn't changed. She still prefers walking around barefoot. More importantly, she's following him.
When he faces her, he holds out his hand that's full of fish food. She peers at him through her lashes, her lower lip protruding. She appears a bit timid. Carefully, she moves closer to him and holds out her hands. He gives her half of the fish food he has left before continuing around the pond with her following close behind.
Her eyes stare at the ground, and she walks over the flattened trail of grass Shoto leaves behind from his steps, almost like they are stepping stones. He has a bigger stride than she does, and his feet are bigger too. A swallowtail butterfly suddenly flutters by her, leading her to stare at the back of his head.
"Have you heard of Quirk marriages?" He asks after a couple silent minutes.
She's all too familiar with that term. It's a marriage for the sole purpose of creating a powerful Quirk, combining Quirks, or even creating an entirely new one. That's what her own parents were trying to accomplish.
"I'm familiar with it." She answers a bit dismally.
"I'm sure you're aware of how my old man has been stuck as the Number Two Hero and developed a hatred for All Might." He states rather than asks.
"Right." She murmurs, very familiar with that as well.
"That's why I was born."
For a fleeting moment, she can no longer feel the breeze or hear the occasional splashes the koi create. Her lungs become emptied of air and she's now rooted in the same place. As if sensing that, Shoto stops and looks at her from over his shoulder.
She's somewhat pale, perhaps pitying him. He's reminded of the horrified face Midoriya made when he told him this. However, the sad and cordial look in her silvery orbs is different. Goosebumps sprout out across his skin when she speaks, and his chest numbs. She's not pitying him at all, she's relating to him.
"We…" She begins falteringly, slowly confirming his thoughts. "...Are a bit similar."
He was right about their situations being similar this whole time. He faces her just as the breeze picks up. Blades of grass rise and petals circle around them. A heavyhearted smile forms on her face at his soft gaze.
"We are, aren't we?"
"Yeah." She nods, moving so she's standing by his side. "Keep going. I'm listening."
They start walking again, only this time they are side by side. Their hands slowly get rid of the fish food they hold, and it isn't much longer when they both are sitting beneath the wisteria tree. He's sitting with his legs outstretched, why she's sitting with her knees hugged against her chest.
He speaks of how Endeavor won over his mother's family and forced her into marriage. He speaks of the siblings she didn't know he had, and how he is the youngest and the "masterpiece."
His abusive childhood, how he was forced to partake in intense training, his given role to surpass All Might, how his mother was hurt every time she tried defending him, how she slowly became mentally unstable and gave him the scar on his face, how she's now in a hospital, how he was rejecting Endeavor by not using his left, how he was blinded by rage… she's now aware of it all. She knows everything.
"Your mother," She gently inquires, fiddling with the grass. "Have you visited her?"
"Earlier this morning." He answers, wistfully staring ahead. "It was the first time I've seen her since my old man sent her away. I should've visited her sooner, but I thought my presence would put pressure on her."
Hotaru frowns a bit as she looks over at him. She studies his face closely. She adjusts herself so she's sitting cross-legged, placing her hands in her lap.
"Did it go well?"
"We talked for a long time. She cried and apologized, even forgiving me surprisingly quickly with a smile." He answers softly, sounding as if he's still processing his visit to her.
"What about you?" Hotaru inquires further, that question making him look her way in confusion. "Your tears, were they happy like hers?"
His eyes widen as he's caught off guard. He blinks a few times. There's a hopeful smile on her face that brings about a sense of familiarity. Back then and even now, how is it that she can always tell if he cried?
"Yes." He answers hesitantly, and she grins with a head tilt.
"That's good." She turns her attention back over to the pond ahead. "The both of you must feel a lot better now. Daichi always tells me that it takes a lot of energy to sustain negative emotions."
He's not sure if she notices that she's humming an upbeat tune. She is leaning from side to side, her eyelids are lowered as she soaks in the warm sun. It's true that he does feel a lot better. Although, he wonders about her, too.
"Do you feel better?" He asks suddenly, and her lips purse.
"What do you mean?"
"You seem happier."
Her humming comes to a stop. She doesn't answer him right away, but when she does she smiles in a way that makes the scenery inferior. A warm glow surrounds her and her fingers play with the grass.
"I'm just relieved." She reveals. "I don't really have to worry anymore. I worried about you for the longest, but you're doing better now. I worried about whether or not it was right for me to become a hero, but so many people are supporting me. Things that I didn't think were possible are unfolding."
Her head turns in his direction and she takes in his astonished face. The tone she spoke in was alluring as it always is, yet something indistinguishable was weaved into it. Did she want to say more? Her internal tribulations are still flickering.
"Aihara-san," He speaks steadily. "Can you fulfill another request? Your past, tell me about it."
That makes her bring her hands over her face with a heavy breath. It's only fair that she does just that since he spilled out his past for her, and it would be shameful if she didn't keep her word, but she's nervous. He's not going to like it at all. Then again, she didn't like his either. There is nothing good about it. She's not sure how he will react. He'll probably never look at her the same way again.
"It's not a very pleasant story." She mumbles.
"That's okay."
"It's a bit graphic too."
"I'll listen." He assures her, and her hands fall to the ground.
"Will you listen till the very end?" She asks, and he gives her the smallest and most tender smile.
"Aren't we already at the end?"
"...Smart-ass." She grumbles with rose dusted cheeks, looking away from him instantly. "Alright. Here I go."
Her eyelids lower briefly, her shoulders rising as the inhales deeply. The fabric of her shirt wrinkles as a result of her fingers curling into it. She stares ahead, and he gives her full attention as she starts to speak.
"My mom is originally from America. She got into some trouble that was bad enough to make her flee here to Japan. Eventually, she met my dad. Them both being villains and not having any morality, they got along well. They fell in love quickly. It wasn't exactly the perfect relationship, though. Even though they were strong together, they weren't strong enough. When Endeavor kept stopping specifically my dad from committing his crimes, him and my mom got greedy. They couldn't beat him, so I came along."
She suddenly laughs a bit and runs her fingers through her hair. Outstretching her legs, she leans back on the heels of her hands. She gazes through the swaying branches, zoning in on the nesting bird.
"Of course, I was considered a disappointment at the age five. I didn't have my mom's Berserk Quirk or my dad's Lightning Mimicry. I was 'Quirkless.' They kept trying and failing to have another child. My mom became abusive, but my dad remained calm and hopeful. Me and him were always close. Even so, they were gone a lot and didn't care what I did. I was able to do whatever I wanted. So, I stumbled upon this place and met Daichi. Then," She smiles over at him. "I met you."
The story she tells is the exact same one she told in the teachers' lounge way back when. She tells him everything from before they knew each other and up till now, leaving nothing out. Honestly, it's nothing like Shoto imagined.
Her parents raised her to be the perfect villain, teaching her wrong is right and right is wrong. She wanted to be like them and help them, make them happy even. It's natural for a child to want to do those things. But, she was completely brainwashed.
She had to learn the truth of things on her own and through her gruesome experiences. The villain she wanted to be wasn't what she was brought up to admire. Meeting himself, Daichi, and even his old man was an epiphany that stuck with her.
She was born to kill Endeavor, and even later kill him. Yet she broke free of the shackles that were thrown around her and fought for what she believed was right. She fought to bring down her own parents. She enrolled at U.A. to extract her revenge, get a taste of her old dream, find someone to save her, and protect him.
Shoto stares at her breathlessly even though she's not looking his way. There's a white butterfly on her fingertip and she's gazing at it vacantly. She's done and been through a lot, and it makes his chest constrict. He knows everything, even the true reason why she almost dropped out of their fight yesterday.
He finds himself comparing her to the sky as always. She's prosperous and altering like the clouds, morphing to counteract the atmospheric conditions. When necessary she'll brew up a storm, and during times like this she's the enticing calm before it. She wreaked havoc like a tornado, and also made the world around her flourish with a gentle rainfall—a storm that left behind a gracious rainbow.
"What's that look for?" Hotaru speaks up, finally looking over at him and in distraught. He's too quiet. She knew this would happen. "Am I more awful than you thought?"
"The opposite." He answers, and her breath hitches.
After that, they gaze at each other silently. Her eyebrows are raised and her lashes flutter at her profound blinks. He's being honest and it wasn't what she was expecting. After all, he hated the things she's done.
"...What?" She voices at his serious tone. "Didn't you hear a word I said? My hands are bloodied."
"Not anymore." He states, and her lower lip trembles. "I think the most important thing is who you are now. The person you are now is genuine and considerate, even more than the person you were when I met you. You're my hero, too."
Her jaw becomes slack and the butterfly that was crawling on her hand flies off. The breeze rolls by and makes her hair somewhat cover her face. How is it that her chest feels as light as ever? The relief she's feeling now can't compare to the relief she felt earlier. She can't form any words.
"Taru," He continues lightheartedly, and she swallows thickly. "Thank you."
"Y-You don't need to thank me."
"I do." He disagrees, and she stands quickly, flustered.
"The fish are hungry again!"
He hands her a quarter, and just like that, they are feeding the fish once again. They stroll beside one another in a comfortable silence, and it's only when they come to a stop over the bridge when Hotaru breaks that silence.
"Sho," She says, leaning against the bridge's railing and peering over the edge. "How are you going to prove to me that we can be friends? I'm curious."
The koi fish are swimming beneath the bridge, making the lily pads wobble. Shoto leans against the railing next to her, although his back is against it unlike her. The air is growing warmer as noon approaches, but the temperature is still refreshingly cool.
"I won't walk away from you again." He responds.
"Really? Well, I walked away from you too, you know." She reminds him.
"I won't let you walk away either."
She smiles, and it shows in her distorted reflection. Through the water's reflection, she can also see Shoto looking at her. She crosses her legs and tilts her head, meeting his kind eyes with her own.
"Alright." She accepts that. "Want to make that a promise?"
"Yeah."
Pushing herself off of the wood railing, she moves closer to him. He straightens up and faces her fully, watching as she holds out her pinky finger to him. His pinky finger coils around hers, her skin velvety to the touch just like his. Their thumbs press together to seal their promise. She grins with rosy cheeks and he frowns thoughtfully.
"Is there really nothing you want from me?" He questions suddenly. "I'm still willing to let you ask for three requests, too. It feels weird being the only one asking for something."
"Actually, I lied to you then. Sorry." She admits, shifting her weight with a mischievous smile. "There are lots of things I want to ask of you."
"Only three." He emphasizes with slightly narrowed eyes.
"Yeah, yeah." She waves him off, pulling him by his hand.
She leads him across the remainder of the bridge with a skip in her step, making her curls bound. He's dumbfounded as she drags him along. Where is she taking him? He glances down at her painted toes just when they go down a stone path.
Suddenly and like a dance, she moves behind him and places her hands on his shoulders, forcing him to come to a stop. She leans to the side and peeks around his taller frame. Her index finger points ahead and she beams up at him.
"I want ice cream." She states.
After taking in her happy face, he follows her pointing finger that leads him straight to an ice cream trolley parked ahead by the playground. It's the same one that his mother bought them ice cream from all those years ago. Out of all the things she could ask for, she asks for ice cream?
With a rather dull expression, he looks over at her. There's a smile still on her face, and her silvery orbs are shining as she gives him the stare of a begging puppy. A drop of sheepish sweat forms on his temple as he sighs.
"Fine."
"Thank you~!" She clasps her hands together happily.
They stand before the trolley consequently. He's now holding cash and she grins in excitement from next to him, viewing all the options she can choose from. The laughter of the frolicking children nearby resonate.
"What flavor?" He asks, and her finger grazes her chin in thought.
"Hm…" She hums as she contemplates, pointing at her choice. "The wild berry flavor, right there. With the white chocolate."
"Two of those." Shoto informs the worker, handing him the necessary amount of money.
It doesn't take long at all for their waffle cones to be filled with two decent scoops of ice cream. Shoto hands Hotaru her cone and she takes it gleefully, her fingers brushing over his. Instantly, she drags her tongue across the icy treat.
"It's so good." She sighs aloud as they start walking back towards the pond. She snickers, watching as he tastes his ice cream. "You got one, too."
He's not sure why she felt the need to state something so obvious, but he nods at that. They situate themselves on a wooden bench beneath the pavilion that has climbing hydrangeas growing up its oriental structure. A cooling shade shields them from the warming sun. Silently and contentedly, they eat their treats.
"What else do you want?" Shoto asks just as they finish their ice cream. Hotaru springs onto her feet promptly.
"I want you to tell me," She begins, jogging over to the pond and pointing at the silver koi. "Why that fish is your favorite."
It's another unexpected request, although it's not so surprising. She's unpredictable. He stands up and walks over to her at a slow pace, looking over the edge of the pavilion and at his favorite koi swimming about.
"Because it's the same color as your eyes." He answers, and she freezes.
She faces him so quickly and like a blur, wide-eyed. Surprise is evident on her features. Because it's the same color as her eyes? That was out of the blue. Her brows furrow and she brings her hand over her chest.
"Why because of that?"
"Is that your third request?"
"No!" She quickly shakes her head. "My third request is that I want three more requests."
"No." He shoots that down instantly, and she pouts.
Although she's curious about why that fish is his favorite for a reason such as that, she's not curious enough to use her third request to figure that out. Since this will be her last request, she wants to make it special and more important. Unfortunately, she can't think of anything else at the moment. She doesn't even think she wants anything else.
She stares down at the glistening water with upward curved lips. She's not so sure what she's feeling right now, but whatever it may be is sweet. It's been a very long time since they were last together like this. He hasn't been here since their friendship fell apart. Now, it's mended again. This is all she wants—to idle her time away with him like this.
And he knew exactly where to find her.
"Shoroki," She speaks in a wispy voice, the wind carrying it in his direction. He doesn't say anything, although awaiting what she has to say. "I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?" His brows raise slightly.
"Well, if we are going to be friends again, I want to start fresh and get everything off of my chest." She explains, outstretching her hand over the water so the sunlight can coat it. "I haven't been very nice to you and said some unseemly things… sorry." Her silvery orbs look his way timidly. "You're nothing like your old man. You're too kindhearted… on rare occasions, anyway."
He almost lets out a sarcastic laugh. There's a sudden shrewd smirk on her face that's ridiculing him. She's not going to simply let him overlook his past words and actions. He can't. At least, not until she forgives him. She completely shot down his earlier apology. Now's his chance to say a better one.
"I forgive you." He says, his hands moving into his pockets. "I'm sorry, too. I haven't been being definite with my words or actions, and I've done some regretful things. The villain I always referred to you as, you're not that. Well," He looks off to the side. "When you want to be, at least."
Unlike him, Hotaru lets out a laugh while bringing her hand over her mouth. Her hair falls over her face when she hunches over slightly. The moment she straightens up, her eyes are sparkling and there's a delighted smile on her face.
"I don't have anything to say against that. But," She gives a small shrug, gently knocking her fist against his arm. "I forgive you."
Shoto feels a sudden wave of relief at that, and he lets out a breath he didn't even know he was holding. He wonders if this is how she felt when he forgave her for the first time. It's almost overwhelming.
"Hotaru!" A new voice calls out, making the two of them look over. Daichi is walking up the stone pathway and towards them. He has Hotaru's shoes in his hands and he's frowning. "You shouldn't leave your shoes lying around. I thought it was litter, and not to mention someone could steal them—Todoroki?"
He falters in his step, blinking rapidly to make sure he's not seeing things. He's not. Sure enough, Shoto and Hotaru and leaning against the outer railing of the pavilion, close to one another, and together.
"Did I interrupt something?" He mutters quietly, and Hotaru pushes herself off of the railing while shaking her head.
"Nope." She smiles brightly.
"Good." He sighs, stepping beneath the pavilion and joining them. He holds out her shoes and she takes them with pursed lips. "Here."
"I don't need them right now, though."
"Yeah, you do." He ruffles up her hair before smiling and Shoto. "What's up, Todoroki? It's been a while since I last saw you here. You did great in the Sports Festival."
"Thanks." Shoto responds, not really knowing what else to say. It's been a long time since he last talked to the Park Ranger like this. "I'll visit more."
"Really?" Hotaru gapes over at him, and he nods.
"That'd be great." Daichi grins, whispering his next words. "Maybe you could help keep this girl in line…"
"What do you mean?" Shoto questions, genuinely curious. Daichi uses his hand to shield his lips from Hotaru's sight.
"Luckily it didn't happen today, but I get a lot of complaints about her saying death threats—"
"But, I don't do it for no reason." Hotaru instantly defends herself. "I wouldn't have to do these things if you just did your job better."
"I can't be everywhere at once!"
"Well, who's fault is that?" Hotaru huffs with narrowed eyes, and he waves her off.
"Anyways, sorry about this, but I'm going to have to steal Hotaru away from you. We got fish tanks to set up." Daichi informs, and Hotaru's face lights up.
"Is it time already?" She gushes, sparkles in her eyes. She turns to Shoto with her fists clenched in excitement. "Daichi's fish store will be reopening soon. You should check it out. Maybe you can even buy your own fish!"
Shoto stares at her wordlessly. Literal waves of happiness radiate around her form, all because of fish. What a fanatic. He redirects his gaze at the ground. It seems like their day ends here.
"Wait a second." Hotaru suddenly leans closer to him, so close that he takes a step back. Her cheeks darken in her state of euphoria. "Are you free? Do you want to set up a fish tank with us?"
His hand finds the back of his neck, and he looks at anything but her. Does she seriously want him to help set up a fish tank? It's true that he is free and doesn't have anything else planned for the day. Despite that, does he really want to do that?
The glittering sparkles surrounding Hotaru let off an enchanted sound that's impossible to ignore. She's impossible to ignore. He's not so sure about setting up a fish tank. It doesn't interest him. But, he needs to prove that they can be friends. That's what he tells himself, at least. Truthfully and unknowingly, he just doesn't want to break away from her just yet.
"Whatever." He mutters, looking at Daichi who just got done snickering to himself. "Is that okay?"
"Sure!" He gives a thumbs up. "The more the merrier."
"Seriously?" Hotaru beams, spinning on the balls of her feet and running off. "Then, let's go—!"
Crunch.
That gruesome sound seems to grate against her ears. She grows deathly still, Daichi and Shoto's eyes boring into her. She stares down at her foot. At a very slow pace, she lifts her foot up to see a brutally squashed cicada beneath it. Blood and guts. A gloomy aura surrounds her as she brings her hand over her face.
"That's why you should wear your shoes." Daichi runs his fingers through his cedar brown hair, shaking his head.
"Why do they always get in the way…?" She whispers.
She doesn't understand. What's with them? Sure, she has killed them purposely a few times, but she's also killed them unintentionally countless times, too many times. These bugs have to be getting in the way on purpose. There's no other explanation—
"Bug crusher." Shoto blatantly states, and she shoots him a glare from over her shoulder.
•○●○•
"Okay, you're going to rub your foot raw." A crease forms in Daichi's brow as he watches Hotaru from the outer corner of his eye. Ever since they got in the car, she's been cleaning her foot with a wet wipe.
"I need to get all the germs off." Hotaru mumbles, continuing to excessively wipe the bottom of her foot.
Shoto sits in the back seat quietly, merely staring out the window. Honestly, he feels a bit weird being with these two. They are an interesting pair. Sometimes they bicker, sometimes they laugh at the most dumb things, and sometimes he feels like he's sitting in an environmental science class just listening to their conversations.
"Got any lotion?" Hotaru asks Daichi.
"No."
"That's disappointing." She sighs.
"I'm sure your foot will be fine." He rolls his eyes.
"For now, at least. Until I step on something else. Anyways," She suddenly props her foot up on the dashboard. Her glittery nail polish sparkles beneath the sun. "Do you like my toenails? I painted them last night."
"They are beautiful."
"Are you being sarcastic?"
"Of course not."
"Yeah, you are!" She huffs, crossing her arms over her chest at his muffled snicker.
"Wait a second." Daichi suddenly gawks at her, a thought striking him. "Where did you even get nail polish?"
"Last week when we went to the store. I snuck it in the cart."
"What?!"
"I thought you would notice. It was rung out right in front of you." She laughs, sliding her sock and shoe back on. "Don't worry. I paid you back. Did you not notice the additional money in your wallet?"
"Where did you get that money...?" He mutters with a frown.
"On the ground in the parking lot, just before we left the store. I'm quite the scavenger."
"No kidding."
"Mhm. One of my many talents—look at that dog!" Hotaru gushes, poking her head out the open window suddenly. "What kind of dog is that? It's like a little fluff ball."
"It's a Pomeranian." Daichi answers.
"Do you think we can get one?"
"We can't take care of a dog. We're never home." He shakes his head, and she pouts.
"Disappointing."
Shoto's expression becomes more dull by the second. Maybe he should've just said no to this whole thing. This is too awkward. Just as he thinks that, Hotaru turns around in her seat and looks at him. He stares right back at her.
"Do you have a dog?" She asks curiously.
"No." He answers, and her head tilts.
"A cat?"
"No."
"Do you want any pet?"
"No."
Her lips purse. She folds her arms over the headrest of her seat, the air coming in from the open passenger window tousling her hair about. A sheepish smile forms on her face.
"Are you bored?" She inquires, and although he doesn't respond to that, his silence is a clear answer to her question. "You could've said no to this, you know."
"I'm just fulfilling my final request to you." He turns his attention over to what's beyond the window, and she gapes.
"Wait a second! This wasn't a request!"
"I'm making it one." He waves her off, and she glares.
"That's not how it works—!"
"Hotaru, please, learn how to put your seat-belt on!" Daichi's voice overpowers hers.
It doesn't take long at all for them to reach the newly refurbished fish store. Daichi parallel parks right in front of it, and the very moment he turns the car off, Hotaru steps on out. She closes the door behind her. There's a smile on her face as she takes in Daichi's fish store.
The structure and design is exactly the same as it was before, although somehow it looks even better now. Bees are flying around the potted plants, landing on the petals of the flourishing flowers. Hotaru can't help letting out an alleviated breath. Seeing his store like this makes her feel mollified inside. After all, it was her fault it was destroyed in the first place.
"This is it?" Shoto speaks up from next to her, dragging her out of her thoughts. She was so lost in them she didn't realize he had gotten out of the car.
"Yeah." She nods, her smile faltering slightly. Her hands clasp together tightly behind her back, and her next words are spoken more to herself than him. "It's here."
"I know what you're thinking." Daichi suddenly uses her head as an arm rest. "I must have told you this a hundred times. It's not your fault."
His arm falls away from her when she steps forward. She faces him with a helpless shrug, not uttering a single word. It's obvious she doesn't believe him, yet her simple smile suggests she's content regardless. She has already accepted that everything happened because of her, and that makes both Daichi and Shoto frown.
"Can we go inside?" She asks, squeaking in surprise when Daichi abruptly tosses the keys her way. She just barely catches them.
"Sure. You two go on ahead." Daichi smiles, and her head tilts. "The delivery guy is going to be here any minute now. So, I'm going to wait out here for him."
"Oh. Okay." Hotaru nods before grinning at Shoto as he stares at the ground. "Get ready for the grand tour!"
"Can't wait." Shoto says a bit sarcastically, following behind her as she moves towards the door. She twirls the keys around her finger and gives him a bland look from over her shoulder.
"At least pretend that you're happy to be here." She begins, moving to unlock the door. "Since it is a 'request' you're fulfilling, even though I totally didn't ask for this."
"You did ask for this." He argues.
"I know I did, but I didn't intend for it to be my last request. You know what I mean." She grumbles. "I just asked to ask. My last request… I wanted it to be something more special."
The silky tone she used and her attentive gaze makes Shoto's curiosity spike. Something special? What would be special to her? He faces her with a tiny frown.
"Like what?" He asks.
A few seconds of silence hover between them as she thinks. Nothing comes to mind. Once those few seconds pass by, her lips curve upwards in a playful manner and she shrugs.
"I don't know. I guess I just wanted something to hold over your head."
"Not happening." He scowls.
Since she's obviously struggling to unlock the door, he takes the keys from her and nudges her aside. He unlocks the door with ease and she places her hands on her hips. She was sure Daichi gave her the wrong key, but it turns out she was turning it the wrong way. He glances over at her as if to mock her. As he opens the door, he stares at her. Neither of them move a muscle.
"What?" She speaks in an irked tone.
"I'm just holding the door open."
"To rub it in—?"
"For you." He cuts her off, making her freeze. "A tour guide should take the lead. It's common sense."
"...R-Right." She stutters. "Of course I know that. You should've said so earlier."
"Why would I state the obvious?" He frowns as she walks inside.
Daichi watches as Shoto follows behind Hotaru. When the glass door shuts behind them, he shakes his head with a chuckle. They are more similar than they know. He turns his attention over to a tractor trailer driving down the road.
When Shoto steps inside, the first thing he takes notice of is the checkered tiled floor. The only source of light is coming from the large windows behind them. His shadow stretches across the ground and gently touches Hotaru's form.
Little dust particles are floating about, shimmering in the sunlight that's flooding inside. That same light casts subtle highlights and shadows on Hotaru. She looks around the large room that's full of shelves, slowly spinning in a semi-circle as she does. The smell of paint lingers in the air. A fresh and new smell.
She moves over to the counter all of a sudden, placing herself behind it and crouching down and out of Shoto's sight. His brows furrow and he walks over. She's keenly surveying the cupboard beneath the counter-top. If she didn't tell him about what transpired here before, he wouldn't have the slightest clue what she's looking for.
"Ta—Aihara-san." He quickly corrects himself, and her head turns in his direction. "It's safe."
She stares at him silently before smiling softly. She straightens up and brushes imaginary dust off of her attire. His reassurance and the fact that nothing seems out the ordinary comforts her immeasurably. Something else does, too. Tucking some strands of hair behind her ear, her eyes meet his.
"You can call me Taru." She utters while skipping around him. "I don't mind."
"It's a habit… sorry." He says a bit awkwardly, and she shakes her head.
"There's nothing to be sorry about. It's not an insult or anything. I am Taru."
"But, you told me to address you with respect."
Her bounding steps come to a stop and her lips part in surprise. Those words she spoke to him during the sports festival hit her like a truck. That was just yesterday. It feels like forever ago since it was such a long day. She spins around and faces him.
"Of course, but that was yesterday. Now I'm granting you permission to call me whatever you'd like, Todoroki-san." She raises her hand, pointing her finger at his nose with a simper. "Taru, Hotaru, Aihara, with an honorific or without. Whatever you want."
It's like time has been inverted. That carefree expression and even her words, it's all so familiar to him. He always did call her "Taru" up until their reunion after their separation. That nickname has been slipping out more often, all because he's starting to see her exactly as he did back then. Although there are some changes, her heart is still the exact same.
"Then, I'll call you Taru." He states, and she lowers her hand. "In return, you can call me whatever you want, too."
"Shoroki it is." She instantly responds to that, and his lips purse. "That suits you the best. Because, you're like a whale shark."
"A whale shark…?"
"Mhm. Even though they are handsome, they are giant and intimidating. But, really they are so gentle—Hey. Where are you going?"
She only catches a glimpse of his face before he starts strutting towards the door. Her jaw drops as she feels like she's caught in a dream. Quickly, she runs after him and latches onto his arm. He looks away from her instantly as he opens the door, keeping his face out of her sight.
"Shoto! We didn't even finish the tour!" She complains.
"Stop messing around." He grumbles, and she laughs in a way that makes him sweat-drop.
"...Seriously?" Daichi's distressed voice gains their attention.
Hotaru looks over, seeing Daichi leaning against a trailer. One hand is over his face with the other is loosely holding onto his phone. Another man who appears to be the delivery guy is standing next to him with a clipboard. Something is wrong. That much is obvious. Releasing Shoto, she runs over to them.
"What's wrong?" She asks Daichi with a frown. After that, she turns and glares at the delivery guy intense enough to make him yelp. "Did he do something?"
"No." Daichi answers. "The people I hired to help unload the truck aren't here. I called them just now and they are claiming I never contacted them. Now they are trying to charge me double."
"Are they on the phone now?" Hotaru asks, and he nods.
"Yeah, but—Hotaru?!"
Faster than he can comprehend, Hotaru snatches his phone from him and brings it to her ear. Everyone stares at her with wide eyes, especially in the eerie tone she speaks in. The delivery man takes a backwards step and Shoto lets out an inaudible sigh. Here's her villain side.
"Hello. I'm Aihara-san, a coworker of Daichi's. Yes, Aihara. Can you explain the situation to me?" She begins, using her finger to twirl a few strands of her hair. "We never scheduled? That can't be right because I'm looking at our contract right here."
"...S-She's an incredible liar…" Daichi murmurs in awe, before shaking his head. He tries snatching the phone back only for her to duck under his arms. "Seriously?!"
"Mhm. You're mistaken if you think we're going to pay extra for a mistake you made on your end. It's disappointing how unprofessional you're being right now." Hotaru continues, running away from Daichi. "You know what, let's just terminate the whole thing. Don't even bother coming out. You want my name again? It's Aihara. Sir, are you okay? You sound afraid. Oh? You're offering a discount—?"
She's cut off by her own yelp when Shoto unexpectedly grabs her by the arm, holding her in place. Daichi takes that moment to snatch his phone back. He instantly brings it to his ear.
"What's the discount?!" He asks without delay.
As Daichi gathers information about this new discount, Hotaru pouts at Shoto. He releases her arm and her eyes narrow severely.
"Why'd you do that? I was going to get them to come out for free!" She says.
"I'm sure you were." He responds, not doubting that. At how quickly she got a discount, he's sure she only needed to speak a few more sentences. "In a villainous way."
"...I was just responding in kind to their rip off."
She looks off to the side with a glare, obviously having no regrets. Shoto's eyelids lower and his lips twitch. Daichi hangs up with a successful laugh, facing the two of them with a grin.
"Maybe I should let you handle my phone disputes from now on. You got us 70% off! They'll be here first thing tomorrow morning." He beams, and Hotaru runs his fingers through her hair in a smug manner.
"Perfect—" She starts, only for the delivery man to speak up.
"That's not going to work. This truck needs to be unloaded today. I need it for another delivery tomorrow."
Right after that, a heavy silence hovers in the air. The only sound that can be heard is from the cars driving by them along with distant sirens. Hotaru slowly looks over at the delivery man.
"Are you being serious?" She asks, and he nods stiffly, nervous under her gaze.
"Why is my luck so terrible…?" Daichi hunches forward.
"You know what. Fine. Let's just unload this truck ourselves. It's only fish tanks, right? I can manage lifting that." Hotaru suddenly blurts, stomping towards the truck. "Between the three of us, I bet we'll have it empty in an hour."
"Three?" Shoto's eyes enlarge. He didn't sign up for manual labor.
"That's right." She nods with a smirk, climbing onto the bumper. "This is part of the request you agreed to, Shoroki. We can't set up a fish tank if they are all in here…"
She trails off when she opens the large door, and a shadow falls over her face. What is this? This can't be right. She doesn't see a single fish tank. All she sees are countless bags of gravel.
"...What is all of this?" She mutters.
"Gravel. For the fish tanks." Daichi answers miserably.
"...Why are they fifty pounds each?" Hotaru questions further.
"Because that's what I ordered. The fish tanks must be behind all of this."
"...You mean… we have to lift… I can't…"
At a slow pace, she moves off of the bumper. What the hell? She can't lift something so heavy. Sweat forms on her temple and she lets out a forged laugh, fiddling with her shirt. She should've threatened that guy over the phone. She draws in a deep breath in an attempt to calm herself.
"It's fine. We can just pull down the ramp and push them down—"
"There is no ramp." The delivery guy interrupts her, and her head snaps in his direction.
"What trailer doesn't have a ramp?!"
"I-I…!" The guy stutters out, not being able to finish.
Shoto looks between the three of them. Hotaru has sunken onto her knees with a gloomy aura surrounding her, Daichi is slouched against the side of the trailer in misery, and the delivery man is shaking in his boots. It's a hopeless sight. He lets out a heavy breath. They genuinely need help, and helping people is what a hero does. He blames her for this.
"Taru," Shoto begins, making her look at him through her doom and gloom. He walks over to the opened trailer, placing his hand against it. Ice crystallizes and she lets out a surprised gasp. His ice stretches from the back of the trailer all the way to the door of the fish store. His eyes meet her wide ones. "I want three more requests for this."
He's really going to help them? Her lips curve upwards as she gives him a grateful smile. For this, she'll happily give him three more requests. She'll give him anything. She nods and brings her hands together as she speaks.
"You're my literal—"
"Hero." Daichi finishes breathlessly.
~ Next Chapter Sneak Peek:
❤•○●○•❤
Hero Names and Internships
❤•○●○•❤
"I couldn't think of anything for the longest." Hotaru admits as she stands before her class, whiteboard in hand. "Our names are supposed to represent who we are. Everyone knows I was a villain before, and now I'm working hard to become a hero. Some people may think this dream of mine is a lost cause, but whatever. It's what I want, and this is who I am."
She holds her white board up for everyone to see with a smile, and Mineta screeches with red cheeks.