Here's chapter 3, hope you enjoy

I don't own BNHA.

Due to an issue with his hero costume, Doko Katayama was late for lunch. In fact, he was a whole entire period late. All the people in the lunchroom were unfamiliar to him. He'd have to get a note for Ectoplasm-sensei explaining why he was late for his class, but he wasn't just going to skip eating. He needed food.

After acquiring a full tray from Lunch Rush, Doko looked around to see if he recognized anyone, anyone at all. Of course not. He was pretty sure these were all second-years, whom he knew none of.

Suddenly, his eyes zeroed in on a table with two people, surprisingly from Class A. Yao-momo and Iida. The former was eating slowly and properly, while the latter was shoving food into his mouth at a frantic pace.

He walked over to them. "Mind if I sit here?"

Yao-momo looked up in surprise. "Katayama…" She blinked her pretty grey eyes.

"By all means…mmph." Iida said between bites. "Katayama-san, what are you doing at this late lunch period? You are aware that our next class begins momentarily!"

"I had an issue with my hero costume that needed attending to. Were you two at a class rep meeting?"

"Yes," said Momo. Iida nodded, continuing to shovel in food. "You two need to speed up! We will be late!"

"We can just get a note," she told him gently, although Doko felt like she was fighting back an eyeroll. "There's no need to rush."

"Well, I am going to go ahead and get back," Iida told them, suddenly standing up, spilling a bit of spare rice everywhere. "I will tell Ectoplasm-sensei that you two were held up and are still eating. But please hurry. Every class is important to our education!"

He sped away to the tray disposal, leaving the two of them alone.

Doko sighed. "I find him difficult to deal with."

Momo chuckled dryly. "Jiro is the same way. I've gotten used to him, though, as a matter of necessity. At the very least, he's quite respectful. More than I can say for some of the other boys in our class."

"Is that a targeted comment?" Doko asked her.

Her face suddenly turned red, and she waved her hands in a panicked fashion. "Oh no, not at you! Just…well, you can probably know who I'm talking about."

Kaminari, Sero, Bakugo. Even Sato and Kirishima sometimes. They're all a bit more…red-blooded.

Even still, Doko had found himself noticing Yao-momo more and more recently. They had not started their tutoring sessions yet, but ever since they had teamed up in the training exercise…

He'd thought she was pretty before, but it never occupied enough space in his head to warrant glancing over at her so much. Now it was like his brain wanted to drink in every part of her appearance, and he didn't know what to do about it. He felt like a creep.

He turned his head, watching the class rep rocket his way out of the lunchroom at high speed. "Jiro finds Iida annoying?" he asked conversationally.

"Well, yes. A little. I think she finds a lot of people annoying."

"Mmm." Doko chewed on that for a moment. He wasn't the biggest fan of Jiro; she always struck him as being a little unnecessarily rude.

"You know, Katayama…" Yao-momo told him, daintily swallowing another bite. "You sometimes give off a similar vibe."

"What?" He looked back at her in alarm. "That I find people annoying?"

"Yes. I don't know if it's my place to say, but Uraraka has said before that she is intimidated by you. Like you're judging her."

Doko angled his eyes down, feeling bad. "That's not really my intention…what's there to be annoyed about with Uraraka, anyway? She's the sweetest."

"Well, in any case…" Momo smiled. "It seems the assumption is wrong. Your personality doesn't really match up with all that."

He couldn't tell if she was complimenting him or offering constructive criticism. She said everything in that informative, helpful tone…so it was hard to tell. At least she'll make a good tutor.

"Actually, Katayama…" Momo suddenly averted her eyes and squirmed a bit. Her arms shifted inward as if she was shielding herself, pushing her breasts together.

Doko raised an eyebrow. She was incredibly cute when flustered like that. Wait, what the hell am I thinking?! AAH!

"...I was wondering if I could ask you a favor."

"Yeah, sure." He leaned down and took a bite of his food, but he kept his eyes up at her face.

"Well, don't accept it so readily…it's sort of much, and I mean, we don't know each other all that well…"

"Just tell me. How bad could it be? Unless you're asking me to move boulders with my Quirk or something."

"No, it's…" She put a hand over her chest and closed her eyes, as if steeling herself. She opened her mouth and took in a little breath. "...My family is holding a gala at our ancestral home. It's to celebrate my father brokering a deal with another company to form a conglomerate."

"I understood some of those words. Party at your family mansion, yes. What about it?"

"Well, the theme of it is partners, so…" Momo coughed. "I was wondering if you would like to accompany me…be my plus one, as it were."

Doko paled. "Yes," he said, very quickly.

Wait, did I just…?! FUCK! A date, and…my brain, my mouth, they just…holy SHIT! WAIT! I DON'T EVEN KNOW ANY DETAILS! And I said that too fast!

Momo's catlike eyes became saucers of surprise. "Truly? Just like…I mean, it's not strange?"

"Erm, well…" he coughed. "When is it?"

"This coming weekend. You told me you don't go home, so…"

"Right. I still think I'd need to…" My family will have to know about this. They'd actually probably be really happy with him attending an event by a rich family like the Yaoyorozus. As long as they didn't find out Momo's Quirk, everything in that department would be fine.

"Erm, what do I wear?"

"A suit. Preferably with a red tie, to um…" Momo's blush deepened. "Match my dress."

A beat of silence.

"Okay, okay." Doko leaned forward, resting his hands on the table. "We need to establish some things here; I think the conversation got away from us a bit. What do you mean when you say that the theme is partners? Like…"

"Just that everyone there will be in pairs. Groups of two."

"So…"

"I just figured I'd…" Momo interrupted him. "...invite a friend."

"Well," said Doko, his voice sounding higher and more eccentric than normal, "I'm honored."

There was another awkward beat of silence, and then…

Doko wasn't sure if it was just because of the unbearable tension, or the way he'd just practically squeaked, or just the ridiculousness of the past few days, but they both started laughing together.

"Hahahaha!" Momo chuckled, her chest rising and falling as she put her hand on it to steady herself.

"Heh," Doko exhaled through his nose, running his hands over his face, half-embarrassed and half-tickled.

"So you see, it's not really a big deal." Momo settled into a pretty smile. "I can even provide the red tie if you need it."

"No, I actually have one. That'll be fine. Anything else I need to do?"

"Well…" Momo's eyes drifted upward, and she smacked her lips together. She's pretty when she's thinking. Or talking. Or doing anything, for that matter.

It was a great deal of effort to fight the heat threatening to fill his ears.

"...You'll need to be added to the guest list, but that's alright. My parents may want to talk to yours."

"Ah." Doko coughed. "Well, that…"

Might be an issue, he almost said. But…this was such a unique opportunity! He'd been to some of his dad's office parties and events before, but this was on another level. And the prettiest girl in his class was asking him! He couldn't just let his difficult family get in the way of that!

I'll have to just work through it.

"Okay. I'll send you my mom's number," Doko finally said.

"Great. Thank you. On Saturday evening at 6, a car will come along to pick us up from the dorm."

"Right." I guess I'll need to get permission to leave, for once. For both Friday and Saturday. Friday to swing by his home and make sure his parents wouldn't cause problems with this. And Saturday for the event, of course.

"What time will we get back?" he asked her.

"No later than 11. These things usually go for a few hours, and only occasionally longer."

"Alright, that's fine. I'm a bit used to staying up, anyway."

"Yes," she said with a laugh. "Yes, you are."

The bell rang, signifying the end of the lunch period. "I guess we'd better get going," Doko told her, standing up with his tray. "We've missed half of math, and I'm supposed to be getting my grade up in that."

"By all means." Momo stood up and followed him to the tray disposal.

Doko's mind was racing on how he would deal with his family, but then another part of him banished those thoughts. Stop worrying. Just…be happy that this is happening. It's practically unbelievable.

He caught himself glancing at her again as they walked through the hallway, back to class. She looked up and met his eyes with a curious expression…then tilted her head, and smiled.

Doko had to turn away to hide his embarrassment.

Yep. He had it bad.

…

Later after hero training, the six girls of Class A were changing in the locker room.

"What are you all doing this weekend?" asked Mina.

"Going out with you!" Toru chirped.

"I already know that, stupid! Besides you and me!"

"Just heading back to my house, ribbit," Tsu answered. "My younger siblings need watching while my parents head out of town for something. But they'll be back on Monday, so I only have to do it for the weekend."

"You're such a good older sister, Tsu-chan!"

"I wish my siblings would realize that, ribbit."

"Hehe, I'll just be staying here like usual…" said Ochaco, smiling sheepishly and scratching her neck.

"Same," Jiro curtly piped up. "It's easier to practice music with less people in the building."

"What about you, Yao-momo?" Mina asked the black-haired girl.

Momo was busy untying her ponytail. "Well," she said, slowly, "my family is holding a gala at our home. So I'll be doing that."

"Wow! A gala!" Stars filled the pink girl's eyes. "With like, dresses and suits and fancy stuff? Ohmygod!"

"Yeah, sounds awfully…extravagant," Jiro muttered. Both her and Mina had seen Momo's house before, so they probably were conjuring visuals in their head.

"It sounds romantic to me!" Toru added, waving her sleeves around.

"Yaomomo-chan," said Tsuyu, flatly.

Momo looked up and met the frog girl's big, blank eyes. She suddenly felt a spike of fear shoot up her spine. "Y-yes, Tsu?"

"Are you going with anyone, ribbit?"

All eyes in the room shot to Momo to see her reaction. Already, she could feel the heat rise up in her face. It's not like that. It's not.

"Yes," she finally muttered, seeing no sense in lying about it. "I have invited someone to go with me. But it's none of your business."

Jiro whistled, and Ochaco averted her eyes in discomfort. Tsu blinked. "Alright, sorry Yaomomo-chan. I didn't mean to pry."

You're far too observant, Tsu.

And then there were the other two to deal with.

Mina and Toru were upon her in moments, dancing in circles around her and peppering her with questions.

"Who is it, Yaomomo? Are they in our class?"

"Is it a boy?!"

"A boy from ANOTHER class?"

"From another grade? Like a third year, or something?"

"Tell us, girl!"

"Spill!"

"I already said it's none of your business," Momo said a bit more sharply, shoving them away. "I don't have to answer any of those questions."

"Well, why not? We're just curious…" Mina complained. "No one ever wants to tell me anything."

"Because it's not even that big of a deal," Momo told her, more gently. "I'm sure you'll find out on Saturday night anyway. We'll be leaving together."

"Oh! So it is someone we know!"

"...Yes."

"It's a surprise!" Toru declared. "Yaomomo, are you trying to build anticipation? Because it's working!"

"Well, not really. But sure."

"Oh boy. I can't believe I have to wait until Saturday to know."

"I wonder who it is? Toru!" Mina barked, grabbing the invisible girl by the arm somehow and dragging her along like a subordinate. Toru yelped in surprise. "Come with me, comrade! We must retire to a private area to speculate!"

The two of them left the locker room.

Jiro twirled her earphone jack around her finger. "That was excessive. Sorry you had to deal with that," she told Momo.

"Yes, well…it's not a big deal, anyway. It's not even really a date."

Jiro's face was hard to read. "Right," the rocker girl mumbled, seeming to retreat into her own thoughts.

…

Doko was reading a book about dinosaurs when he received a knock on his door.

I hope it's Momo, he thought instinctively. Oh god, how has this progressed this far already?

He opened the door. It was Momo.

"Hello!" he greeted, maybe a bit too enthusiastically.

She looked him over, biting her lip. He suddenly felt as if he was about to be preyed on.

"...Yep," she finally said, nodding. "I was right. You need a haircut."

"Huh?" he asked dumbly.

"I'm sorry, this was something I forgot about the gala. If you're a guy, then…" she suddenly reached her hand up, and stroked a strand of his hair. The long wavy part, the one that fell partially over his face to the left. "This won't do at all."

Doko didn't shy away from her touch, but he was surprised at her demeanor. This was a new side of Momo that he'd only seen from a distance. She was all business.

"Right," he said. "Well, let me look up places to get a haircut…" He pulled out his phone and went to the map.

He clicked his teeth in annoyance. What was it with Musutafu? "There's nothing nearby," he told her.

"Well…" she repeated the shy gesture from before, swaying back and forth and bashfully pushing her breasts together between her arms. "I could always just do it myself…"

Doko raised an eyebrow.

"It's okay if you don't trust me or anything!" she said quickly, looking up into his eyes. "But, I have cut my dad's hair before when I was younger, and this wouldn't take too long…just looking at you, I know what would need to be done."

He thought for a moment.

Well.

If these strange opportunities are just going to keep falling into my lap, then I may as well just keep saying yes to them until something goes horribly wrong, right?

"I guess I'm once again leaving myself in your capable hands, Yao-momo."

She paused for a moment, her mouth slightly open, and then she clapped her hands together, smiling. "Great! I have the stuff for it back in my room, so we can go there."

…

And that was how, that afternoon in the Heights Alliance, Doko Katayama found himself in a chair in front of a girl's vanity, while said girl ran her fingers through his hair and snipped away.

Strands of dark grey fell past his face, resting on the towel around his neck or the towel on the floor. "Your hair is quite thick and silky," Momo commented, almost like any average female barber might. "Any girl would be jealous of it."

"Well, thanks…I guess."

"After this, I'd actually suggest you grow it out more. It might look cool if you let it get to, I don't know…perhaps Todoroki's length." She ran all five fingers through it, pushing the hairs one way, so she could cut around the sides. "Let me just trim it all up a bit. It's kind of messy." Her fingertips brushed his ear.

Doko nearly shuddered, gooseflesh crawling down his arms. She'd been in his thoughts far too much recently, and her constant touch was…distracting.

The way Momo felt his hair, no matter how practical it was, just felt so caring and gentle.

Calm…down…Doko told himself, taking deep breaths while trying to remain still. He'd never felt so…hot before. Hot and bothered.

Momo whistled while she worked, a pleasant tune. The level of the chair meant that he could not see her face in the mirror. In fact, her ample chest was the thing that was level with his head. That was not helping. Not at all.

And he couldn't think of anything to say. He wanted to make conversation, since they were here alone in this room, but he just…he was just too distracted!

Should I ask about the gala? Should I ask what I should expect? No, he didn't really want to…it just felt strange. Maybe more indirectly? Something about her home, or her parents? Her family life?

He knew Momo was wealthy and refined. She'd grown up under a very different roof than his own. That was something he was definitely curious about, but…

I can't just ask her what it's like to be rich! She'd hate that!

I have to ask…I have to figure out some other way to…

"Yao-momo," he half-whispered. "Is there anything you feel like…you've missed out on?"

She paused, letting the scissors rest. "Hmm? I don't…missed out how? What do you mean by that?"

"Just whatever your initial interpretation of the question was upon hearing it. That's how I'd like you to answer it."

He wished he could look up and see her face. He wondered what her expression was.

There was a long moment of silence.

"...Sometimes I think about the twenty-first century," she finally muttered. "The 2000s, specifically the first few decades of them. Right before the Quirk emergence and the stagnation of technology. They had basically the same lives as us, technologically, just…"

"...without superpowers," Doko finished. "I think about that too. Reading the history, it seemed like they were superhero-obsessed. The most popular stories back then were about superheroes."

"Sometimes, I think that it would have been nice to live back then," said Momo. "Sometimes. I don't always think that."

"Well, when you inevitably crack time travel with that brain of yours, maybe you can go back and take a look."

He heard her chuckle at that, and then she continued snipping at his hair. "Why the question, Katayama-kun?"

"I dunno, but here's another. Before that night with me on the stoop, when was the last time you looked up at the sky?"

Another pause, as she continued snipping. Then: "You're making me get awfully personal, Katayama-kun."

"You don't have to answer if you don't want to."

"No, I will. Something about this is thrilling, although I can't identify it. The last time was when my parents took me to Europe. I was thirteen. We were in the Black Forest, in south Germany. Lots of fairy tales are set there."

"Sounds appropriately magical and spooky."

"It was. We stayed at an inn in a village on a mountainside. There were goats everywhere. The people who ran the place had never left their hometown, never seen Asians before. They were curious about us, and we them. It was quite a learning experience."

"Do you know German?" he asked.

"Ich weiß es so gut wie ich weiß, dass ich dich mag."

"I guess that answers that question." He didn't ask what she'd said, although later he wished that he had.

"But anyway, there was no pollution in that place. Even today, there are a thousand trees for every human, and the Earth breathes through clear nostrils. You could see hundreds of stars when you looked up. The night sky wasn't just black there; it was all shades of blue and violet. I saw the band of the galaxy stretching over my head. Later, my parents would tell me that they'd never seen my eyes get so wide. They were happy that I was happy."

Doko drank all of that in for a minute, somewhat stunned. Then, he said, "Well, after all that, I'm almost disappointed you didn't keep an interest in astronomy."

She laughed. "Doesn't make a lot of sense, does it? But space didn't really offer anything for my Quirk, sadly. I needed to keep studying material things if I wanted to improve my powers."

"That makes sense."

"That brings me to a question for you, Katayama-kun," she said. Wait, when did she start using kun at the end of my name?

"How did you train your Quirk as a child?"

"Umm." He sat for a moment, wondering how to respond. I didn't train it. My parents didn't let me. They hated his Quirk, and in fact all Quirks that they regarded as "overly convenient." They were hard traditionalists that way.

Which is why it was critical that they didn't find out about Momo's.

"I didn't use it very much, I guess. I didn't decide I wanted to become a hero until a few months before the entrance exam."

"Wow, really? I suppose that explains your rapid growth during the first half of the year…you and Midoriya both had far more Quirk-based improvements than the rest of us."

"Ha, yea…" To tell the truth, his Quirk was already quite powerful, and the fact that it was so powerful even with minimal training made him a bit afraid. But that was a worry for another time.

"Well," said Momo, taking a step back. "I'm about finished."

Doko looked up. The wave of his hair was nearly gone, with a sharp, close-cropped cut replacing it. His hair was well off his ears and forehead and neck. It would grow back, of course…but now he looked like someone unknown. Like a soldier, maybe.

It certainly looked clean and nice in a gala-sort of way. She'd done her work well.

He finally looked up at Momo in the mirror, who was biting her lip again, waiting for his reaction. So cute…

"Do you like it?"

"Why, yes." He ran his hair through it experimentally. There wasn't much to run through, but still. "You cut it very cleanly. If the whole hero thing doesn't work out, you could open a salon."

Momo laughed. "I'm not sure my family would take very kindly to that idea."

"But I've never been too fussed about my hair anyway. What's more important is if you're happy with it, since you had the idea in your head. Does it look like how you wanted?"

She seemed surprised at the question, and Doko thought he caught a faint dusting of red on her cheeks in the mirror. "I like it…not to toot my own horn, or anything. But you look good." She half-muttered the last sentence, as if afraid to say it.

"Well then." Doko stood, letting the loose strands of hair fall off of him with the towel. "Oh, sorry about that. I should help you clean up."

"No no, that's alright! I'll just sweep it…"

"Do I owe you anything else?" He felt weird, having Momo do all these things for him. Tutoring him, taking him to a gala, cutting his hair…it's almost to the point where I fear something else is going on.

"You don't owe me a thing," Momo told him firmly, and then she smiled. "Just your company, on Saturday night."

Doko's heart fluttered.

I think I'm in heaven.

That's it for chapter 3. Review, follow, etc. Leave feedback