Much to Luigi's surprise, Saitama and Genos' amusement, and Tatsumaki's denied pleasure, the picnic was not the pair's last date. Each date was arranged to be on a Friday afternoon barring villain or monster activity calling their attention, and they went out of their way to avoid drawing attention to their outings any time they weren't somewhere they had privacy.

Admittedly, avoiding drawing attention was somewhat difficult when one of their number was now taller than Pretty Pretty Prisoner and - while leanly muscled rather than as bulky as that S Class 'Hero' - strong enough he walked through lampposts when he was flustered, while the other was among the shortest adults in the city and had to remember not to float everywhere when being incognito. As a result, quite a few gossip magazines had interest articles of 'The Grey Dane and the Dachshund' with pictures of the pair hiding most of their features in matching grey hoodies and slacks with Tatsumaki barely coming up to Luigi's elbow, the only other noticeable feature being Luigi's mustache that defied attempts at disguise by appearing prominently out from under his hood.

They had attempted a restaurant date once. Unfortunately, they'd found that either their 'disguises' weren't enough to get into high end restaurants with dress codes, the quality of food at those they could go into paled in comparison to Luigi's cooking, the places with good food and no dress code proved too small for Luigi to be comfortable, or the few places where comfort, good food, and good ambience were available would ruin the experience by refusing to treat Tatsumaki in disguise as an adult. Luigi had given up trying to convince them otherwise, and they'd taking to turning around and leaving the moment the host or hostess asked Luigi, "Just you and your daughter?"

Movie dates were far easier. While the one selling tickets would often try and sell one adult and one child ticket to the pair, they were generally quite understanding about their mistake once Luigi looked them in the eye and corrected them. ...Tatsumaki refused to tell him just how terrifying his steely gaze glowing under the shadowed hood over his mustache as he spoke so firmly would be to those unused to fighting at their scale. She enjoyed watching the clerks pee their pants too much.

In the end, the dates involving meals proved to be picnics like the first one, with Luigi making various dishes Tatsumaki showed interest in. Much to Tatsumaki's surprise, these dates proved most fun if they met up and shopped for ingredients together before going on the picnic. It made her feel almost...normal.

That was probably the biggest draw for Tatsumaki as far as being with Luigi. To just about everyone else in her world outside her sister, she was one of three things. She was either the terrifying number 2 S Class Hero, a respected comrade only, or 'the brat'. But to Luigi, she was a fair lady he was courting. He made her feel...like a normal woman. It felt...amazing.

Admittedly, normality had to be taken with a grain of salt when their picnics were anywhere from a platform balanced on the peak of Tokyo Tower, on a flying carpet Luigi'd picked up in one of his adventures, or sitting on a cloud high above the city. She had no idea how Luigi could sit or walk on a cloud, but there was nothing quite like leaning back against his side as she sipped a smoothie he'd blended as they were supported by cloud fluff and staring up at the moon and stars with no other lights above them.

And during their dates they had talked. After the intensity of the conversation of their first date, they'd restricted their conversation to more innocent topics. Favorite foods, books, movies, sports, and things of that nature as they got to know each other with a little less intensity, working their way back up to whatever baggage they carried.

Of course, it wasn't long before conversation eventually returned to heavier subjects, though both of them attempted to tiptoe into it. In Tatsumaki's case, it was through discussion of family.

"So you mentioned your brother?" she asked softly as she sat back in his lap as he leaned against a high cliff. While not her preferred way to sit with him - no matter what her hormones said to the contrary - they were halfway up the cliff and the ledge was barely big enough for Luigi to sit on, and he'd offered her a seat on his knee so she didn't have to keep herself afloat, and she'd pushed in deeper 'for more stability'. To her surprise - and secret frustration - he'd accepted it readily, even putting an arm around her...but showed no reaction to having her rear against his lap, even when she wriggled.

"Yeah, Mario," Luigi confirmed.

She blinked in surprise. "Isn't that your last name?" she asked, having looked up his file between dates.

"...yeah…" Luigi offered awkwardly.

Quickly realizing she was stepping too close to an emotional minefield, she shifted her approach. "What's he like?" she asked quickly.

She could practically feel Luigi smile even without looking up. "If I were'a gonna sum him up in one word...headstrong. Anytime somethin' dangerous is happenin', he's charging right in ta try and save the day, no matter the danger. Really seems ta enjoy it."

Tatsumaki smirked. "Yeah, I know the type," she mused sardonically. "Most of the Hero Association's ranks is made up of that type, as well as quite a few of the S Class."

Luigi chuckled softly. "Yeah...I've never been able ta be like that. Honestly...I've always been a bit of a coward. The danger Mario loved rushin' into...it always scared me. But...I still went with him, because waiting for him ta come back - and not knowin' if he would - was worse. But more often than not...it felt like my fear made me a burden. It's why I came ta learn under Sensei. He's conquered fear. I...thought his training could help me face mine."

"Well it seems to have worked," Tatsumaki commented as she rested a hand on his arm, trying not to be distracted by the feeling of his muscles under her fingers. "You've faced quite a few of the monsters and villains that show up around here without flinching, from what I've seen."

"Still scared every time one shows up," Luigi admitted tacitly. "They're a lot worse than anything back home."

"There's a difference between being brave and being fearless," Tatsumaki pointed out firmly. "And only the former is truly worthy of respect. The latter is a sign of mental instability, in my opinion."

Luigi couldn't help but chuckle. "I've had that distinction pointed out to me a lot," he mused thoughtfully. "...so why is this the first time I really believe it?"

"Maybe all the training made you understand it better?" she suggested thoughtfully.

"...or maybe it's just the one who said it."

Tatsumaki was glad to be in his lap just then. It made it highly unlikely he would see her blush.