The entire mission nearly failed.
It might as well have stolen a few years off Ashido's life.
Camie was actually upset at the fact Hagakure was there, so Ashido, the genius she is, lied. Claimed that she had no idea Hagakure was there. The best part?
Camie believed it!
—After some pressuring. The story of Hagakure being there by coincidence bloomed and fell into Ashido's lap. She won't go into detail to why she was naked. Operation, A walk in the park, was a total success. The next operation is one Ashido has been preparing for a while. A quick video call with Tokoyami and Kirishima, and everything's set to go.
"By the way."
Both Kirishima and Tokoyami stop themselves from exiting the call. Ashido bears her signature smirk. She's got a plan in mind.
"Since the purpose of this is to successfully get those two together, we've got to somehow, and gradually, stop doing them the favors."
"How do you mean?" Tokoyami inquires.
"I mean, at some point they're gonna have to start making moves. We can't just force them to kiss, that's something they're gonna have to want to do. In the heat of the moment, their hearts race as they close the gap between each other, lips trembling as the two get closer…"
"Alright, we get it," Kirishima says. "But isn't Camie the one mostly going to do the attacking? I don't think Bakugou's on board with that stuff."
Ashido nods. "And that's the issue. Right now Bakugou has only one personal experience with her, and I already promised her we wouldn't ditch her if she came with us to the movie. Glad to hear Bakugou's coming along, but this isn't supposed to be a group outing. We need some sort of push to get them to interact with each other one and one, notably, Bakugou."
Tokoyami chimes, "So what do you propose we do?"
With a chuckle and widening grin, Ashido delivers the first step to her new plan.
"Gentlemen, I managed to get ourselves a secret weapon. I call this new mission, 'Movie Night.'"
Thus here they are.
Ashido was cautious about her appearance this time, the previous encounter of her going out in public with no disguise being her biggest mistake yet. Long sleeved pants and a shirt work for her body, and a few pounds of foundation was enough to get her skin to a lighter color. The colored contacts work wonders.
All Kirishima needed to do was to let his hair down and wear some shades. Tokoyami was a bit of a nightmare, but in the end he settled for a face mask and hoodie. It seemed to do the trick, anyway.
Bakugou himself, glaring with his hands down his pockets, had the same scheme as Tokoyami, the only difference being him having mirrored sunglasses and a hat. They stand in place waiting for Camie as Bakugou glares at the surprise guest hanging with Ashido, whose mouth won't stop talking.
Their guest, you ask?
The very popular, very adorable, and very curious Nejire Hado!
"Hey, hey, Ashido, what happens if I pull on your horns? Wait wait, what about your eyes, are they just naturally dark? Your skin, too, what's that all about? Hey, did you put on weight?"
And so forth.
Nejire happily agreed to join them on their little outing, and seeing Kirishima in his 'disguise' mode from any fans, she was definitely glad she came along. Though confused as to why Ashido immediately tied her twisting hair into a braid, she can't wait to meet the other girl that's supposed to show up.
Come to think of it, has Nejire even met Camie before?
Ashido giggles.
Little does she know.
Poor, poor Camie. Little does she know that this girl, this woman, has the curiosity of a cat with one brain cell. She is their key — their secret weapon.
"Hey, hey, Ground Zero, what's the capacity of your quirk?"
"Don't call us by our Hero names in public, Hado!" Ashido warns. "We need to stay low, that's why I'm wearing colored contacts!"
"Ohhhhh," Nejire beams. "I thought you were a hippie."
"So why is she here?" Bakugou suddenly asks, pointing angrily to Nejire.
"Whoops, guess no one told you," Kirishima laughs. "Hado was a last minute invite. This is her first weekend off in a while."
"Yeah!" Nejire adds. "I was going to see this movie with Tamacchi, but he insisted he stay home! He's so chicken-hearted, but I love him anyway!"
The words hit them all like a hammer. Bakugou included.
"Love?" Ashido slurs, already knowing where this is going. Glancing at Bakugou, she continues, "I didn't know you and Amajiki-senpai were a thing."
Nejire bounces on her toes, blushing with a smile. Like a lovestruck teenage girl. "We're not, actually, but I like him that way! I mean, I wouldn't turn him down if he asked… but Yuyu said she'd marry me in his place if things didn't work out!"
"Awww, that's so cute! Is Amajiki-senpai still a flea?"
"Uh-huh, but that's okay! I'll make sure he gets out of the house and goes to the Summer Festival. I think that's where I'll tell him how I feel, also Bakugou, where's your girlfriend?"
What the?!
What happened to Tamaki?! A split second was all it took for Nejire to change the subject! It was so sudden, even Bakugou looks rattled at the question! He recoils like she's insane! Tamaki's been abandoned!
"Is she here yet? It's been a while, can you make sure she's coming? Can you text her real quick? Just to be sure? Hey, what's her name?"
She just doesn't stop!
With each question spit, she gets closer and closer, up until she's standing on her tip-toes, fists pumping as she gets up in Bakugou's face. He leans back, given no room to even think as he's processing the questions all at once. The other three beam like crazy. Does she even breathe?!
"Shut up, I don't have a girlfriend!" Bakugou finally manages to get out, putting a distance between him and his senior.
However, Nejire actually pauses, blinking. "Ehhh? Wait, huh? You're actually single?"
"Yeah, so what?! Got a problem with that?!"
"No… I just don't remember ever seeing you officially get together with someone. I thought the girl coming was your girlfriend!"
"Hell no, the hell is wrong with you?"
Kirishima and Ashido share a glance. Tokoyami grins underneath his mask.
Nejire's eyes widen as she frowns. "Hey, hey… so you don't have a girlfriend? Or a wife? Aren't you lonely? Don't you want to be with someone? Is it hard knowing you sleep alone every night?"
The big guns are here!
Nejire spitting the facts! Bakugou can only swallow his words, seeing that Nejire is actually pitying him at the fact he's never had a single relationship before! Wasn't she just talking about Tamaki?
Their secret weapon has struck gold!
"I don't need a relationship, so shut up already, or I'm going home."
"Hey, don't say that," Kirishima decides to say. "She's just teasing. Camie should be here any minute, Hado."
"Camie? That's her name? That's cute!"
Like Kirishima said, only a few more minutes pass before Ashido spots Camie coming their way. Nejire rushes ahead to meet her new friend, only making the illusionist dizzy by spilling nonstop questions with zero answers. Greets are exchanged, and finally, they all enter the theater.
Ashido's persistence skyrockets, making sure Camie and Bakugou are side-by-side as they get their tickets. Bakugou doesn't even look at Camie as they make it to their seats. With popcorn and drinks in hand, they conveniently sit next to each other in the back of the theater, with Tokoyami next to Camie and Nejire next to Bakugou.
Alright...
Operation: Movie Night, is in action.
Ashido quickly texts Tokoyami. Given the go-ahead, he nods to her once before taking his place in the mission.
As if broken from restricting chains, Dark Shadow blooms from within Tokoyami, a wily smirk on its face. Tokoyami has mastered his ability to control Dark Shadow in the dark after years of training and being a Pro Hero. Never could he let the nightmare that occurred that one summer, all those years ago, happen again.
Yet.
Dark Shadow awaits his command. It is two words, a sentence Dark Shadow never would have guessed he'd hear from his host—
"Go wild."
And go wild he shall!
Tokoyami can hear Dark Shadow chuckle mischievously as it vibrates through his body. All he has to do now is enjoy the movie. His job is complete.
Dark Shadow makes a beeline for Bakugou. He taps his shoulder, getting the blonde's attention, only to be scowled at when Dark Shadow whispers to him, "That blondie's pretty cute, huh?"
Oh yes.
Ashido can't stop smiling. The movie hasn't even begun, but the party's just getting started. She holds hands with Kirishima, sharing a moment of happiness at how far they've come from the moment they met.
Dark Shadow — their ultimate weapon.
When the lights dim, Ashido can only think of one sentence to fit the mood here.
Revelry in the dark!