Rule #69: Never trust a Hero who doesn't trust their Sidekick

On the morning of the fourth day of the internship and the day of the wedding, found Toru rousing a bare hour or two before she had to meet with Hitoshi-just enough time to eat, shower and get ready. Unlike other girls her age, make-up was more less useless considering the whole invisibility thing, but that didn't mean the rest of her had to look like a slob! Hot bullets of shower water pelted down on her for what seemed like hours (although it was more like fourty minutes-far longer than she needed), just enjoying the pressure of the hot water on her skin. Of course, a fair amount of that time was also spent shaving her legs (although unnecessary, but certainly felt needed).

After a hearty breakfast shared with Matchstick, Todoroki-with a healthy dose of teasing on both ends- and some of the other heroes on the floor, Toru retreated to her dorm room where she reclaimed her toiletry bag before heading off to the bathroom so that she could style her hair in front of a well-lit mirror. Ignoring the constant traffic of people moving in and out of the communal bathroom around her, she pulled her burning curling iron through her invisible locks, strands at a time.

Don't burn yourself, don't burn yourself!. She stuck her tongue out as if to help, as she brought the burning curler in close to her face. This part of the process was always hazardous-invisible or not. Taking a step back to admire her work, Toru posed this way and that as she wondered whether or not it was worth it to add some accessories to her hair. When the door opened for the umpteenth time that morning, she assumed it was more foot traffic, but instead turned out to be her mentor, Matchstick, who had appeared with phone in hand.

"Uh…Shinsou just called to day he was on his way" Matchstick reported as Toru picked up her eyelashes curler.

"Thanks, Matchstick" Toru replied, leaning over the sink so she could concentrate on her lashes.

"Uh…what the hell is that?" Matchstick stopped, confused at the contraption in his intern's hand.

"It's…a curling iron" Toru replied, switching the device off at the wall.

"Okay…uh…why?"

" 'Cause there is no way I'm gluing on extensions if I don't have to"

"Why would you even want to glue on hair extensions?!"

"Exactly"

"…Uh…right…" Matchstick backpedalled, warily eyeing up the teen and muttering something about unicorns and teenage girls with torture devices. Deciding that leaving her now curled locks down was not the way to go, she decided to pin half of it up whilst leaving the other half down, and this was done courtesy of a red and white floral pin that had been a get well gift from the Hitoshis, way back when. All in all, it was a simple and clean look the suited her well, or at least she liked to think so.


The deadline 'til meet was creeping up on her by the time Toru had retreated to her bedroom to change into the chosen dress and jewellery she'd left laying out on the bed. A quick glance at the Endeavour-themed clock on the wall showed her that she had less time than she first thought until Hitoshi was to arrive so she quickly set to work, putting on her dress.

First she pulled on a pair on tan tights which she had cut five small holes into the toes, in order for her to grip onto her shoes without the incessant feeling that they were going to slip off. It was a little odd and usually freaked people out, but it was just something she liked to do.

Next she pulled on a printed kimono-styled shirt overtop of her strapless bra; the kimono shirt was a creamy colour with red trim around the neck & sleeves and printed with red poppies and dark leaves fluttering around the fabric. The shirt was also tied in such a way that it revealed part of the transplant scar that ran down the centre of her chest. Toru then pulled on the matching red high waisted skirt which rested just below her chest and ended just above her knees. The lolita-styled skirt was pleated and tied at the waist with a large red bow that sat a little off-centre at her hip.

The entire outfit was wrapped up with a simple floral choker and dark red stilettos. Stepping back to admire herself in the mirror, Toru almost didn't recognise the girl staring back at her. The lolita-style outfit was not something she usually wore, typically opting to go for t-shirts, jeans and skirts; but it still felt nice to dress up for a change. Shit! I'll be late! Toru panicked when she shot a quick glance at the clock on the wall. Grabbing her black clutch bag, Toru made her out of her room and towards the agency's foyer where she was to meet Hitoshi soon.


Upon arriving in the foyer (and smirking slightly at Chisoe's slack-jawed expression) Toru made her way over to where her purple-haired teen stood chatting with Matchstick, Todoroki and some other heroes as they waited around for Endeavour, who had declared that they were gonna go patrolling around Hosu city.

"Hey 'Toshi, you ready to go?" Toru called as she approached, double checking her clutch to make sure she had everything she needed.

"Kami almighty…" Breathed another intern from Ketsubutsu Academy High School, upon catching sight of the well-dressed Toru, eyes trailing up and down her figure.

"Hm?" Todoroki turned to follow the elder teen's line of sight to his friend; leaving him red-tinted and speechless at what he saw.

"You lucky bastard…!" Added another young hero, clapping Shinso on his shoulder as the group turned.

"Hey Toru, yeah, I'm good, let's go" Hitoshi replied, looking rather relieved that she had finally arrived and getting him out of the one-sided conversation that an exuberant Matchstick seemed to be heading.

Doing a quick once-over, Toru saw that Hitoshi had garbed himself in a navy blue suit overtop of the matching vest and burgundy tie—today's uniform for the groomsmen.

"Good" Toru clung onto her clutch as she talked, "Have you got your boutonnière yet?"

"We're getting them at the venue" Shinso replied.

"Right, well, we should be heading off then" Toru commandeered, pulling Shinso along behind her, "See you later" She waved to Matchstick and the other heroes still standing in the foyer.


Upon arriving at Yoshino Mikumari Shrine where the ceremony would take place, Toru was directed towards the bride's room and Shinso towards the grooms where the two were getting the last minute things ready with their respective bridesmaids and groomsmen.

"Oh wow! Ichika! You look beautiful!" Toru cooed upon seeing her friend admiring herself in front of the mirror. The purple-haired woman hadn't opted for the traditional white wedding kimono that the more traditional brides favoured nor the red and gold kimono that was more popular nowadays. Instead, she chosen a pearl-coloured kimono that faded into a delicate lavender at her hips and was emulated along her billowing sleeves. The silken fabric was held together with an obi of the same lavender colour used in the kimono.

Just like how her wedding kimono was far from traditional, her Uchikake followed the same path. The fabric held a translucent quality that flowed around her curved figure like water over rocks and the entire fabric was decorated in delicate little wildflowers winding around her frame, varying in shades between pearl, lavender and pastel pink.

"T-toru!" Ichika spun on her heel with her hands clasped over her mouth and tears gathering in her eyes, "Y-you're here!"

"Surprise!" Toru grinned walking over to hug the older girl.

"What are you doing here? I thought you couldn't make it?"

"What kind of friend would I be if I didn't attend your wedding? Or better yet, what kind of father wouldn't walk his daughter down the aisle?"

"T-toru…?" Ichika pulled back from the hug "What are you saying?"

"We thought that even though your father couldn't be here entirely, at least part of him could give you away" Toru explained.

"Oh Toru! Oh! Thank you! Thank you!" Cried the bride.


During a traditional Eastern wedding, the shrine maidens and masters would typically walk the bride and groom down the path to the Shinto shrine, however since Ichika and Noah—her groom—had wanted to do things slightly differently, it was the groomsmen, each paired with a bridesmaid, who led the bride and groom down the path.

Passing under the red gate of the Shinto shrine, Noah's mother walked arm-in-arm with her son and Toru (trying her best not to trip over the cobblestones) took up the rear with Ichika on her arm; as the shrine maidens and masters stood on either side of the courtyard path, performing the ancient court music as the wedding party passed.

Upon arriving on the steps of the Shinto shrine, the guests were directed into seats on either side of the pavilion—bride's family on the left and groom's family on the right—as they waited for the bride and groom to be delivered to the altar at the front of the room. Separating from Ichika, Toru found a seat between Shinso and an unknown bridesmaid on the uncomfortable wooden pews.

Once everyone was seated, the wedding ceremony truly began. Kneeling at the altar, both Ichika and Noah were presented with the cups of Sake as the sunken no gi began. When the shrine maiden poured the drink into the first cup presented to Noah, they started small at first, before increasing in size on the second and third pour. In turn Noah repeated the same technique when drinking the liquid, starting small at first before taking larger sips before it was handed off to Ichika.

This was meant to symbolise the heavens, showing their appreciation for their ancestors. The second cup of Sake was meant symbolise the earth and the couples' vow to care for each other for as long as they live and the third cup represents people & the praise for the couple's fertility.

The second ritual that the couple performed was one that was unique to the Yoshino Mikumari Shrine and involves offering a simple wooden comb to the Shinto Gods. Toru watched as Ichika picked up the comb wrapped in sheer floral cloth and placed it in front of her heart as she silently said a prayer before handing the comb over to Noah.

In accepting the comb, Noah had shown Ichika and the attendees his determination and willingness to make this marriage work. After Noah had accepted the comb, it was then placed on the altar for the Shinto Gods as an offering, for which both of the couple bowed to after presentation.

Next came the reading of the vows. The first lot was read in Japanese to the Shinto Gods; from where she sat, Toru could see Ichika smiling slightly at how Noah was trying his best to correctly pronounce the Japanese words as he read the vows to the Gods.

Then the two then turned to each other and read their own vows to one another, promising to love and hold each other, as they reminisced on funny little scenarios that happened in the past when they realised that they loved each other. Ichika went first, describing first, a food fight at a summer camp and then again later when Noah had helped to care for her family when they were going through rough times.

Noah went next and with tears in his eyes and voice choking in his throat. He described days where the two would just horse around, acting completely childish and days where they would just snuggle together under blankets and watch the world go by. It was clear that the two loved each other dearly.

Following the vows, came the tamagushi hoten, a special ceremony which involved offering a sprig of flowering evergreen to the Shinto Gods, meant to symbolise the passage of thoughts from one end of the branch to the other as they reached out to the Gods. Both Ichika and Noah bowed before the altar, clapping twice as they gave their prayers to the Gods.

And finally came the exchanging of wedding bands, as the two sealed their promises of love and marriage to each other. Ichika and Noah left the shrine to the applause of the attendees as they moved to take their wedding photos out on the grounds.

Quietly following after Shinso, Toru joined the procession to the altar where the attendees were then given the opportunity to participate in shinzoku katame no sakazuki—where they celebrated the bonding of these two people by drinking a cup of Sake and gave thanks to the Shinto Gods.


Later that evening after everyone was stuffed with food and drink, Toru found herself laughing heartily as she watched Shinso dance with his sister like they were little kids again—wild and free, all limbs practically flying akimbo as they twirled around the dance floor. Following the formal ceremonies at the Yoshino Mukimura Shrine, the wedding party had moved to an adjacent building where they held the reception.

The newly married couple had danced to a song from their childhoods—something from a cartoon that described how just being together was just the best day ever. Moving on from that, Shinso had danced with Ichika during the Father-Daughter dance whilst Toru performed the song Ichika had first written for her during their first few days of correspondence, the year after her transplant. This one described how destiny was written in your heart and the friends you'll make forevermore—Ichika had cried both times.

And now that the day was winding down, Toru had seated herself at one of the empty tables pushed aside to make room for the ever-expanding dance floor with her heels locked together and plopped aside amongst several other pairs.

BZZT! BZZT!

Glancing down at her quietly vibrating phone, Toru winced at the sudden brightness in the dim room before she opened up the message from Midoriya who had mass-messaged everyone in 1-A with his location in a back alley of Hosu city.

Sobering slightly, Toru sent back a question mark, asking the green-haired boy what he meant. When she received no reply from the green-haired boy, Toru began to worry, biting her lower lip between her teeth. Just what have you gotten yourself into this time, Midoriya?