DISCLAIMER: The next story arc was written by Sylvi :D Enjoy!

Sero looked at his watch. He was at the bar hanging out with Kirishima and Kaminari after the two of them managed to convince him to go out with them. Yumi would be getting off work soon and he needed to be there to pick her up when she got out.

Downing the rest of his drink, he set the glass down. Motioning for the bartender, he reached for his wallet. "Well it's been fun guys, but I gotta get going."

Kaminari set down his glass and looked at him. He was probably on his second Amoretto kiss. Kirishima had mentioned that he and Sero would be buying the drinks earlier in the night, and Kaminari intended to take advantage of it. "Come on, Sero. The night is still young and I don't get to hang out with you guys as often anymore because Jiro has me so busy prepping for my classes."

Kirishima looked up from his own drink. "Yeah, dude. Have another drink." Usually the voice of reason, he'd also had too many drinks.

Sero rolled his eyes a bit. "I wish I could, but I got to go pick up Yu - "

" - She's probably still working! Wouldn't she call you if she was waiting?" Kaminari asked, gesturing to the bartender for another drink.

He thought about it. While she usually got out around the same time, it was possible that she was still working. After all, it was a Friday evening. Maybe she was still working? It was possible that they could be busy. "Yeah, you're probably right. I'll stick around a bit longer," he said, gesturing for another drink.

Kaminari and Kirishima clinked their glasses together, glad that they managed to get their friend to stay.

~.~

Yumi sat at one of the tables, counting the wad of money in hand. Almost $700. Friday nights were always the best nights. Guys tipped heavily, hoping it would impress the girls. It never did.

Hooters had been closed for almost an hour. The front was clean and Yumi could hear the kitchen staff preparing for the next day. Most of the girls already left.

"Yumi, are you taking off soon?" Hizashi asked, coming over to the table she was seated at.

"In a moment. Just waiting for my ride," she said, smiling up at her boss.

Giving her a look, Hizashi smiled. "Alright then." He walked away, going back to the kitchen.

Yumi looked out the window. What was taking Hanta so long?

~.~

The guys stood around the pool table. Sero was lining up his stick, ready to take his shot.

"I swear, you're cheating," Kaminari said, as he stood off to the side.

Taking his shot Sero looked at him. "It's pool. How do you cheat at pool?" he asked, walking around Kaminari, who was preparing his shot.

"You'd be surprised what I've learned in college," Kaminari said, taking his shot. He was disappointed in it.

Kirishima stood off to the side, just watching the two play. He took a sip of his beer. "I hope you're actually learning from the classes and not at the parties."

Sero chuckled as Kaminari looked at him. "I can learn from both." He took a shot. Got a ball in the pocket.

Now it was Sero's shot. "Really? I'm not that convinced you're actually learning. I think you went away to party. You can admit the truth to us, we won't tell Jiro."

Kirishima laughed as Kaminari puffed his cheeks. "That's not cool! I'm actually learning some interesting stuff from my classes."

"Like what?" Kirishima asked him, curious if he had actually been learning anything.

Kaminari proceeds to tell them what he's learned while Sero looks at his watch. It was still early enough.

~.~

Setting the money down, Yumi checked her phone.

No messages. No missed calls. This was weird.

Stuffing her phone and money in her purse Yumi reached over her chair and grabbed her hoodie. Probably best to go looking for him.

Putting her hoodie on, she headed to the door. The parking lot was empty, most of the cars belonging to either kitchen staff or rides for the girls still inside.

Heading towards the mall's main entrance she walked inside. All the stores were closed. Some empty for the night. If he was in the mall he wouldn't be at the food court. She walked in the direction of Hot Topic and Spencers.

The doors were closed, but she could see Dabi and Keigo cleaning. She tapped on the door to get their attention.

Hearing the tap Keigo looked over to see her at the door. Going over he unlocked the door for her. "Hey kid, what's up?"

"Have you seen Hanta?" She was hopeful that he was just hanging out there.

Keigo thought about it. "I can't say that I have."

"Oh." That crushed her hopes of him being there.

Keigo took note of the look on her face. It was weird for Hanta not to be waiting for her. "Maybe check next door? If you don't find him, just come back here and I'll give you a ride home."

"Thanks, Keigo," she said, walking away from the door and going over to Hot Topic.

Going to Hot Topic's door she peeked inside through the glass. The lights were on, but she didn't see anyone.

"Probably in the back," she said to herself. She knocked on the glass door anyways, hoping that whoever was back there would hear her. When no one came out back she sighed and turned away.

Although Keigo offered her a ride she didn't want to be a bother to him and Dabi on a Friday night. No point in ruining any plans they might have. She didn't want to bother Mina or Jiro, thinking they were hanging out with Kirishima or Kaminari.

Taking out her phone she tried calling Sero. It went to voicemail. She didn't leave one. Walking away she headed to the mall exit and out to the streets.

She didn't want to use her tip money to call an Uber. Looked like walking home was her option. Clutching her purse tightly she started the long walk in the dark.

~.~

The guys are at the bar again, having a round of shots this time. By this point all 3 were intoxicated.

Sero looked down at the bar, staring at the shot glass as Kaminari was talking about something his professor had told him.

Kirishima, tired of hearing the conversation, looked over at Sero. "Dude, wasn't there something you needed to do?"

Sero looked at him. Was there something he needed to do? "I don't think so..."

Kaminari tilted his head. He forgot about what he'd been rambling about. "Drink some more. Maybe that'll jog your memory."

Downing down his shot, Sero thought about it. "Nope. That didn't do it." He gestured to the bartender for another shot.

"Was it something important?" Kirishima asked, ordering himself another shot. He felt like Sero had mentioned it before. It had to be something important.

Sero thought about it. If it had been important he probably wouldn't have forgotten about it. "I don't think it was important," he said, taking his shot before ordering another.

Kaminari, tired of shots, ordered another Amaretto kiss. "Maybe you put it on your phone? To remind yourself not to forget."

Taking his phone out of his pocket, Sero looked at his notifications.

One missed call from Yumi. Why had she called him? She never called when she knew he was with the boys.

Staring at the notification, and thinking about why she'd call, the realization of what he forgot hit Sero in the face. "Oh shit! I was supposed to pick Yumi up from work!" Getting out of his seat he grabbed his jacket and gestured for a bartender.

Kaminari and Kirishima looked at each other. This was bad. Sero was a dead man.

"Better hurry and go get her, dude," Kirishima said, ordering another shot.

"Let's hope she doesn't dump you. You'll never get another girl like her," Kaminari added, having a sip of his drink.

Sero shot the two a dark look. "Gee thanks, like I don't know that!" Paying for his tab and a portion of Kaminari's tab, he hurried out of the bar. It was true that he was lucky to have a girlfriend like Yumi. He only hoped he didn't screw things over by forgetting to pick her up.

~.~

Yumi entered the apartment with a sigh. She hadn't seen his car outside either. Where was he?

Dropping her purse on the table she stripped off the hoodie and tossed it aside. Steadying herself against the wall, she took off her heels with a sigh of relief.

'The one time I forget my Converse in the car,' she thought, dropping her heels on the shoe rack.

After a long day, she wanted nothing more than to take a hot shower and curl up in front of the TV. Heading to the bedroom, she grabbed a T-shirt and some pajama shorts before going into the bathroom.

Turning on the water she stripped off her clothes and got in. The intense heat felt good against her skin after so many creeps tried grabbing her at work. While she enjoyed working at Hooters, that was one part of the job she could do without.

Her thoughts drifted to Sero. Their relationship. For the last few weeks since moving in together, it seemed that they couldn't do anything without him saying or doing something to imply sex. When he wasn't doing that, he ditched her to go hang out with the guys. Lately, it seemed Sero was falling back into his old patterns. The night was still young, but she knew they wouldn't go anywhere. No, he was probably out with the guys, and when he got home, he would do what he could to get her excited and lead her to the bedroom or the kitchen or the living room or wherever he wanted to bang her. It wasn't like sex with Sero was bad. It was pretty fucking amazing actually, but in the end, she wanted more out of the relationship than just sex.

She wanted to spend time with him.

Did he want to spend time with her?

He'd already promised to do better. She was still waiting for better.

~.~

Yumi turned off the water and reached for a towel. After drying off and getting dressed, she walked out of the bathroom, still drying her hair. She heard the front door open and close in a hurry.

"Yumi? Are you home?" Hanta asked, calling from the front of the apartment.

"Yeah," she said, making her way out of the bedroom towards the living room.

"There you are. I went to Hooters and you weren't there. No one saw you leave so I got worried," he said, setting his keys on the table beside her purse.

Yumi dried her hair. "Yeah. I walked home after someone forgot to pick me up."

Sero rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry about that. I lost track of time."

Yumi shrugged her shoulders before plopping down on the couch and reaching for the tv remote.

Sero looked her over and made his way to the couch. "Hey, don't look so upset, gorgeous. I didn't mean to be late. It won't happen again," he said, sitting down on the couch beside her. His arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her close. "I promise."

Yumi looked at him. She could smell the alcohol on his breath. He must have been out with the guys, just as she had suspected. They'd come first. Once again.

"I believe you," she said, pulling away as she turned her attention back to the TV.

Sero looked her over. "You're not mad at me, are you?"

"No, I'm not mad. Just tired from work and the walk home afterwards," she said, hoping he'd take the hint.

Sero sighed. Pulling her into his lap, he wrapped his arms tightly around her. "I care so much about you. I never want anything bad to happen to you, especially if you're walking home. You're too good for me, and I know that I messed up by not being there. I'm very sorry."

Listening to him, Yumi gave him a weak smile. She kissed him softly. "Alright, I forgive you."

Sero smiled. "Love you."

"Love you too."

Holding onto her close, Sero rubbed her shoulder. "I think I know a way to make you feel better," he said, pulling her shirt up.

"Don't even think about it." She knew what he wanted. After this stunt, it wasn't happening.

Sero pouted and let go of her waist. "Okay." Sitting beside her, he draped his arm around her shoulder. Yumi cuddled up against him as they watched TV, unspoken tension between them.