It frustrates Camie.
She's spent so much of her time as a Pro Hero, everything seems to be on autopilot now. Despite making it in the Top 40s, Gale Force, or Inasa, passed her like a jet. A speed she could never reach on her own. Ever since that movie, it feels like a bug has been skittering through her brain. Sisicross, or Shishikura, had to wake her up when she had been staring off into space during his rambling.
"Seriously! You're being too naïve anymore, what would you do if something happens when you're off in la la land?! You're a pro now, act like it!"
Camie merely grimaces at him. His meatball hands are unsightly. "But like, don't you rank lower than me?"
"T-that's besides the point! Set an example for the future heroes of Shiketsu!" He quips, quickly marching ahead. Bystanders part like the Red Sea after laying eyes on his gaze.
If setting an example means only being an assist when it comes to heroism, then she's perfect. Though she likes to get creative with her illusions anymore. Seeing the faces on the villains once they've been had by her are the highlights of her day. Fun as it is, being a pro is more arduous than what most lead on. Shishikura makes it look gross, with his quirk and all.
"Maboromicamie, go back to the agency, I'll take over from here."
"Eh? Why?"
Shishikura spits, "Because you've been acting awfully aloof recently. Don't think I don't see it. Gale Force noticed it too. Whatever's wrong with you, get it fixed, or else your rankings will drop further." Yeesh. No wonder tons of girls dumped him. Though Camie isn't one to remark about that…
It gets her thinking. Has she really been showing discomfort in her work force? That's bad… it's already been a journey just to make it here. Maybe she'll actually take Shishikura's advice for once. Plaguing thoughts of recent events have been disrupting her job. Having a few hours to herself might help, to think things over.
Looking down at herself, Camie realizes her hands are quivering.
...Yeah.
She'll take his advice. Hero life and personal life are like different dimensions. If she slowly combines the two, it's only a matter of time before it catches up to her in both fields. It's a recipe for disaster. At work it's easy to forget about most of her everyday issues, but the second she gets home, she's reminded of the fact she's been alone for so long and nobody is there at that time to relieve her.
But… that can change, right?
…No. Sometimes she wonders if she'll be alone like this for the rest of her life. It's too good to be true, just like Hagakure said. Even if she did manage to hold hands with him at that movie, she realizes that was just an accident. Nothing was meant by it. The way he stared at her afterward must've been the confirmation.
But, damn…
She just can't that scene out of her head!
He probably doesn't have any aftertaste of it, but Camie is literally on edge about it today. No wonder Shishikura's been extra crabby…
This feeling is sickening.
Reality sinks in with dread. Like milk before cereal, it peeves her to her core, realizing her status as a hero is at stake if this keeps up. She can't focus on her job properly anymore. She understands what Shishikura was talking about, and oh, how she regrets acknowledging it.
At least she's at the agency to calm down now. A sidekick notices her walking sluggishly down the hall. Camie tells them she's fine when they ask, but even they could tell she was lying through her teeth. She passes Inasa's office and makes it to a room of cubicles, where many other sidekicks welcome her.
"What's got you in the dumps?" asks one of them in the back.
"Am I rlly that obvi?" Camie would rather quit this job than talk about her day right now. Nothing's going right.
"Obvi," they reply, as if they know exactly what's going through her head. "First you check in looking like you're hungover, Sisicross sent you back because you're 'spacing out', and now you look like you've just got your heart broken. Something wrong?"
What are they, detectives?
"I'm honestly not in the mood to talk about it rn."
"If you insist. Oh, by the way, Maboromicamie, recently we've been hiring support dealers from different companies, and we managed to get in touch with one that's pretty high-tech. Their support items are phenomenal, I hear they're the ones who create the items for Deku and Chargebolt."
"Wow," Camie comments. She's never given much thought about support items, but perhaps she could commission something just for herself. "Are they gonna take requests from us?"
"Heck yeah they are!" pipes a woman in the front cubicle. "I know exactly what I want!"
The one in the back smirks. "They're expensive, Kazeno."
"So what?! Put it on my tab! Works for alcohol! Haha!"
If only Camie could be that carefree anymore.
"Anyway," the woman continues, "Maboromi, a letter came in for ya. I put it on your desk, so look at it whenever you want. It's from Hawks!"
"Hawks?" Camie immediately perks, the name of the #1 Hero sounding like a mistake. Even the others in the room glance her way. She turns to head to her office to see what this lady is talking about. "I'll go look rn."
"'Kay, but Gale Force got one too! Don't be too upset if it's not especially for you!"
"Aight, noted…"
So both she and Gale Force were delivered personal letters from the #1 Hero… interesting. Opening her office door, Camie discovers the evidence on her desk. An envelope with the name Utsushimi Camie scribbled on the front in pen. The handwriting looks like chicken scratch.
Camie sits down and opens said envelope, discovering a card on the inside. It looks like some cheap, convenience store bought birthday card, with some balloons and confetti and the words Happy Birthday! on the front. All Camie can see is an invitation to a child's party, which is strange, considering Hawks's birthday isn't until December.
Yet she's proven wrong when she opens it and finds a handwritten paragraph that she can't make out for the life of her. After some minutes of rough translating, she manages to make out:
'Hey! If you're reading this, it means you're invited to an event hosted by me, the number one hero, Hawks! I'm the number one hero. This year for the Summer Festival I decided to spice things up a bit and include a dance floor and bar. Yes, a bar, with LOADS of alcohol, so knock yourselves out! I'm hiring a special musician for it too :p a little treat for all the heroes working to keep our society safe. Think of it as a huge birthday present! Speaking of birthdays, don't mind the cards, I just grabbed whatever was there.
P.S. Plus Ultra! I have like 100 more of these to write. Should've emailed ¯\_(ツ)_/¯'
On the back of the card Camie discovers a horrible drawing of a bird.
Huh.
Though Hawks is the definition of an actual chicken with hands, he's actually a nice guy, so Camie can excuse his dumbassery with the card issue. Besides, he's hosting a bar and dance party. Now that is something Camie can get behind on. Cheers, Hawks!
Thank god for it, too. Camie can't remember the last time she's looked forward to attending the Summer Festival. Remembering Hawks's little P.S., Camie nabs her phone, taking a quick scroll through Twitter, and yep, loads of other popular heroes got invited. Miruko colorfully expressed her hype for the occasion. Camie can't imagine what Hawks's inbox looks like right now.
She was about to take a peek at Instagram before her office door slams open and she hurls her phone to the ceiling with a squeal. There at her doorway stands Inasa, grinning ear-to-ear, costume covered in muck and grime. Leaves are trapped in the neck portion of his outfit.
"Camie!" he spouts with zero regard for anyone else nearby. "There you are! I've been looking for you! Check this out, I got invited to—"
"To Hawks's bar and dance party, yea, I got invited too," Camie interrupts. "And don't do that, you scared me."
"Sorry! I got excited and didn't realize!" For some reason he thinks bowing until his head collides with the floor is appropriate, but Camie's used to it at this point.
"'S fine, don't worry 'bout it." Recovering from his grand entrance to the story, Camie skims over his appearance and points out the obvious. "Where've you been all day? You look gross."
Inasa jovially swipes off the blood leaking from his head. "Haha, I know right?! I had to chase down this guy who could make things really shiny, but I couldn't find him because everything was too bright! I had to go buy sunglasses!"
"...You get caught up in the weirdest things, I swear."
"Tell me about it! By the way, Kazeno said you were acting weird, Shishikura too, so is anything bothering you?" Inasa inquires, the smile gone and replaced with an expectant stare.
"This again…" Camie sighs exasperatedly. "It's nothing to be worried about, I'm just, like, thinking about things. Like my personal life and stuff. Nothing related to hero stuff."
For the privacy of both of them, Inasa shuts the door behind him and plucks a handful of dried leaves from the inside of his costume. "Personal life? Like at home?"
"Mmhmm. I'll be fine tho, I'm just stressed atm. It's nothing you need to worry about."
"Is it because you don't have a boyfriend?"
Huh?!
Camie shoots him a wild expression, "What the — how'd you know?!"
On the dot, too!
Yet Inasa merely blinks. "Wait, I was right? I just took a wild guess!"
"You… ugh…"
Dirt spills from his pant leg when he vigorously shakes it, "No way, I was actually right? And that's what you're bellyaching over? I was just making a joke. Sorry to hurt your feelings."
He saddens when he sees her lay her head down in her arms, mumbling, "'S fine," into her clothes. How he wishes he could take that back…
Putting a finger to his chin, he saunters to a chair in front of Camie's desk and sits down. "If you want a boyfriend that badly, couldn't you just go grab one? Lots of people like you, I think it'd be relatively easy for you!"
"You rlly think I'd date some rando?" she says as she lifts her head.
"If it makes you feel any better, I'll date you!"
"Hard pass."
"My apologies!"
…Aaaand he's face down on the table. Doesn't his head hurt from doing that?
Yet he's back to normal, lifting his head back up and asking, "But does that mean you're looking for a specific person to date?"
"That's the long and short of it, yeah."
"You got a specific person in mind?"
"...Long and short of it."
"So you've got a crush!" he deduces, as if he's figured out the solution to an impossible puzzle. "I'll root for you in your battle for love!"
"...Thanks. That means a lot. I've actually liked the guy for a long time, and we even hung out a couple times…" Once again, Camie finds herself spilling her words without even thinking of what she's saying. "Idk, there's just like, something different about him. Like, he's got this energy that's totes incredible. Idk how to explain it. He's… rlly amazing. Like, you should see the kinda stuff he can do, with his explosions and everything. I just wish I could get enough courage to tell him. Pinky said she'd help me out, but most of it is just…"
Oh…
She'd been rambling…
But Inasa sits there with that goofy grin on his face. "Sorry, but would it be okay to assume the one you're talking about is Ground Zero? He's the only one I can think of that has explosions."
So stupid!
That's embarrassing…!
Camie wants to be incinerated.
Sure, blatantly telling someone who she likes isn't the worst possible thing, but as of now it literally threatens her rank. The reaction she gives him basically tells him he's correct, and she couldn't be more agitated that she's so easy to read.
"Why don't you tell him then?"
Behold, the dumbest question anyone has ever asked her.
"No!" she retorts. "I can't do that!"
Inasa's head tilts, clearly puzzled. Like she's the confusing one here. "Why not? He won't know otherwise!"
Camie stutters to find a valid reason why telling Bakugou that she likes him is a bad idea. She falters when zero come to mind, until one settles in her brain and she spews, "'Cuz like, what if he doesn't like me?"
"That's a childish thing to say! You won't know for sure if you don't ask!"
"No, no, I can't, I just can't. I don't wanna risk anything rn."
With that, Camie stands, stressed enough to simply run away from this conversation. She heads for the door, ignoring whatever Inasa is telling her, his words already echoing throughout her head as she exits and leaves him on his own. The second she steps out for a breather, the day just feels like it's getting worse. Great. Now he knows about her lifelong secret.
Can anything else go wrong today?
Camie checks out and tells Kazeno she'll be heading home now. Stepping into the elevator, her stomach rumbles — she had skipped lunch earlier due to her awful day. She could really use some food right now. She'll make a pit stop to the donut shop before heading home. She can already taste the sweetness of her future treat, yet it becomes sour when a harsh commotion greets her ears when she steps off the elevator.
"Oh, don't worry about it! I'll tailor these babies so you can be flashier than ever! My latest project is something you'd die for, trust me!"
"Ma'am, please…"
Now what kind of hellscape is taking place down here?
Entering the main lobby, Camie turns the corner and pauses at the sight. Several sidekicks are gathered in front of a woman who dons a business outfit. Despite her classy appearance, her expression says otherwise — yellow eyes wide and wild with a passion stronger than anything Camie has seen in a long time. The lady's pink hair is tied back into a high ponytail. Several sidekicks appear very, if not extremely, uncomfortable.
The two converse for another minute, Camie simply observing, something in the back of her mind telling her to not get involved or anywhere near that lady.
Until the lady's head zips in her direction, eyes landing on Camie instantly.
Dread .
They become as wide as saucers, and her passionate smile grows twice its size. "You!" she calls, and Camie's natural instinct is to flee, but for some reason her legs won't move, she's stuck. Frozen in fear. The woman starts marching toward her, announcing, "My name is Hatsume Mei! Nice to meet you! I'm from Yakunita Supports!"
It only takes five large strides before Mei is situated in front of a perplexed and frightened Camie. Shoving a business card into her hands, Mei's next words are equally professional.
"I have been called here because heroes here are in need of support items, and that is exactly what we at Yakunita supply! Our workshop is always busy creating new items for heroes nationwide! We have top notch results and only the most organic resources. Our engineering and building is professional, with many graduates of schools, such as UA, coming in seeking work! We currently supply about 40% of Japan's heroes, including popular ones such as Imperium, Phantom Thief, Mount. Lady, Cellophane, Chargebolt, Edgeshot, and even the #2 Hero, Deku! I myself come from the engineering department. I have several years of experience via high school, many personal experiences via childhood, and even the most professional experience via Yakunita. I also have over twenty-five support items ready and finished for over fifty more heroes who have yet to hire us. That includes you, Maboromicamie! I look forward to working with you!"
She ends with a polite bow.
Camie gazes down at the business card, utterly speechless. This woman… Mei Hatsume…
She's the real deal…!
Mei stands back upright before Camie has a chance to even say anything. "If you'd like, we can discuss the item costs now or tomorrow. Either one. We can't later. I'll be busy tonight making new babies."
"B-babies?"
"New items. So what'll it be? I can arrange a test run for you whenever you want. My recommendations for you are two recent projects I've finished. One is the Whistle, fashionably named by me. It allows you to spread your illusions at a faster speed and lasts longer from the humidifier within the item. The second one is called—"
"Hatsume…"
"—Yes?"
This must be what getting mugged feels like. "I don't… like… I'm not looking for support items rn…"
"Oh, no?" Mei says, still as happy as can be. "Well that's okay! If you don't mind, could I then be directed to the other heroes in this place? I would love to—"
"MMMEEEIIIII!"
"Oh?"
Camie and the rest of the sidekicks instantly turn to the clamor, just in time to see an armored person burst through the doors of the agency, yelling out, "MEI!" as he frantically looks all over the place for, supposedly, Mei.
And like some clueless child, she waves and calls out, "Over here!"
What.
The armored person looks their way. But judging by their movements, such as swift arm chops, Camie can tell that he isn't a stranger — that's the Rapid Hero: Imperium! He zooms over to Mei and promptly puts distance between her and Camie, zipping Mei over to a corner and holding her by the shoulders, distraught words not being whispered. The helmet is removed, revealing his face and eyeglasses.
"Where have you been?! I called in to check on you but you didn't answer! I went to Yakunita but someone said you went out! I have looked everywhere, what are you doing?! Don't disrupt other heroes! My apologies, ma'am!" Iida turns to Camie and bows repeatedly.
Now she's starting to think this freak show is an act.
Although Mei seems unbothered, "I was hired to supply these peeps for support items! I came to see if they're interested in buying them now!"
"You don't rush things!" Iida retorts, "And you aren't supposed to be playing salesman right now! I keep telling you, you need to have some patience!"
"You did?"
"Yes!"
"Didn't hear ya!"
Bruh…
The other sidekicks in the room leave, not wanting to see anymore of this. Camie would have gladly followed them and finally gotten her donut by now, but Iida stops her once more. She doesn't want to be a part of whatever these two have going on.
"Ma'am, once again, I am so sorry! If I may, is there any way I can repay you, Miss…?"
"Utsushimi," she finishes for him. "Utsushimi Camie. And, uh, no, you're aight."
"Utsu…" Iida trails off, like he's malfunctioned. He blinks several times behind his glasses, staring at Camie for an uncomfortably long time, like he just realized something extremely important. Finally, after an eternity, he snaps back to real life and days, "U-Utsushimi, okay. Uh, nice to meet you. My name is Iida Tenya. Also known as Imperium."
?
What's with the formalities all of a sudden?
"Nice to meetcha…"
Again, Camie was about to excuse herself from this extraordinary scenario, until she heard a loud series of thumps behind her, turning around just in time to see the door to the stairs swing open. Lo and behold, Inasa marches through the opening full clad in his hero costume. He freezes in place when he sees all three of them are looking at him.
"Whoa, what's goin' on here?"
But Camie one question is said aloud. "Why'd you take the stairs?"
"Elevator's too slow!"
"Oh."
"Why's Imperium here?"
"Idk."
"Oh."
Mei, on the other hand, has many words to say aloud. Two strides and she's standing in front of the taller male, handing him a business card and announcing, "My name's Hatsume Mei! Nice to meet you! I'm from Yakunita Supports!"
Inasa jovially takes the card, yet before the madness could be said all over again, Iida interrupts their greeting, reminding Mei this is exactly why he can't let her out of his sight.
"Wow!" Inasa balks, "You guys are really good friends!"
…
…
Both Mei and Iida stare like they had seen Medusa's head. Camie is as equally as confused as Inasa, glancing at each other, exchanging ambiguous messages through the eyes. Mei and Iida blink.
…
Then, they burst out laughing.
Mei can't contain herself, hunching over as she holds her abdomen, the heels becoming hard to balance in. Iida himself is trying his best to stifle the laughter, yet his effort is fruitless, the tears prickling in his eyes. The reception lady even caught ears of the noise.
"Hahaha! Nice one! I like your humor!" Mei cackles, "We're not friends at all!"
Camie's head tilts. "You ain't?" Weird, they look like they're best friends…
"No! This guy's my husband!"
Husband!
An arrow through the head!
"Yes," Iida says. "And she is my wife."
Wife!
An arrow in the knee!
Inasa balks some impressive words, but Camie's mind turns blank. When did… why did she never hear of this?! When did they get married?! Did she miss the article?! The news?! How did they slip under her radar? A private marriage? And did they have to remind her of how lonely she feels right now?
No wonder that woman radiated danger!
"Hold up, you 2 r married, but you have separate last names...?"
"Hatsume is the name I go by at Yakunita, but my real last name is Iida," Mei explains. "It's easier for peeps to find me on the website and in person!"
Strange reasoning, but helpful...
"What a coincidence!" Inasa says. "Camie and I were just talking about the dude she likes!"
INASA!
"Shut your mouth!" Camie's quick demand is followed by her hand covering his mouth as swiftly as possible. While he immediately silences, his previous words don't go unnoticed.
"The dude she likes?" Mei inquires. "You mean you're single?"
"Well — yeah…"
It's embarrassing to say it out loud…!
"So what you're saying is you have a crush on a guy but he doesn't know it but you want him to know but not tell him directly?"
Camie feels like she's a book at this point.
Mei somehow grins even wider, "If that's the case… then I have just the thing for you!"
Oh dear.
"I've lately been super interested in chemistry! Did you know that mixing nitroglycerin with fluoroantimonic acid makes a massive, corroding explosion?! I'm surprised I'm even alive! My entire workshop was obliterated! Anyway, you're in love, right? So what you need is a good old fashioned love potion. Am I correct?"
She can't believe what she's hearing. "You can lowkey make that?"
Despite her interest, Iida looks unsettled. "Mei—"
"I can try to make it! Lately I haven't had any test subjects for my little chemical creations, but that dude you like could be a perfect candidate! Tenya is too much of a coward! Haha!"
"I am most certainly not a coward, I am merely being reasonable!"
"One sip of a love potion and he's as good as yours!"
"Are you paying attention to me?!"
No wonder they're married.
Dragging Mei back over to the corner, Iida tells her to stay put and not mention anything about 'love potions' anymore until he's finished. With a sigh, he approaches Camie with a serious air about him. He looks exhausted.
"Miss Utsushimi," he says earnestly. "I realize things may be looking grim for you. It's not your fault. This happens to everyone, including me. I had dark days where I had no idea where to go, too. If a love interest is something you want, then shoot for the stars for it. Give it your all and don't give in to the pressure. You don't need love potions in order to get what you want. When the time is right, make your move. I know it will end in success."
…
…
Say what now?!
"Um… thanks…"
Grinning slightly, Iida sighs out a breath he'd been holding, nodding to Camie and then to Inasa. "It was my pleasure to see both of you here. I'm sorry for any trouble Mei has given you, and she's sorry, isn't that right, Mei— AH!"
Mei has vanished.
"What the?! Not again! Mei!" His frantic motions return, looking in every nook and cranny for his missing wife. "Did you see where she went?!"
"She walked out a while ago!" replies Inasa.
"And you didn't care to tell me?!"
"You were speaking to Camie, though!"
"Aagh! Which way did she go?!"
The wind hero gestures to the exit, pointing dramatically as if Mei told him exactly where she was going. "That-a-way!"
Slapping his helmet back on, Iida gets in a sprinting stance before saying, "Thank you! Oh, and I'll meet you two at Hawks's party! Goodbye!"
Iida is gone like the wind. The dust settles, Camie coughing away the exhaust of his engines. The smell of burnt rubber fills the room, but luckily, Inasa helps out by using his quirk to sweep the muck out of the air and out the door.
"That was interesting!" he exclaims, despite the fact he witnessed the last half of a shitshow. "I don't know what he was talking about at the end, but I sure was inspired by it!"
She merely stares at the wood floor below. "Yeah, same, I guess…" Iida's words made no sense, but now, in retrospect, she's positive they meant something. He mentioned a love interest . How did he…
Yep. Today got progressively worse. Inasa tells her he'll be back on his patrol for the rest of the day and that she can head on home. Finally. Maybe she'll be able to decipher Iida's message over her donut. All that talk about support items and love potions and the reminder of Hawks's party only put more weight on her shoulders.
Fantastic.
Hopefully Ashido gives it a rest…