This wasn't how I expected my date with Toshinori Yagi to go.
Surrounded by loud laughter, beer sticky on every surface, and the spindly back of my date walking away.

But we're getting ahead of ourselves.


With the news of a student field trip into the Great Unknown, my nerves were dancing witches at a demon summoning. Yes, there would be trained professionals- including the most powerful, supreme piece of ass in existence, All Might- and sure, it was just simulatory to better train our budding heroic students, but this was all still foreign land to me.

The last time I was involved in a simulation, Aizawa had to save my sorry self and I spent the night in his hotel room, conflicted in more ways than one.

He'd promised there was no danger; I made him promise not to save me, trying to share in the joke that still had me uneasy. There were students involved- what if something happened? What if I couldn't help them, keep them safe?

'It's not your job to keep them safe. You go, you teach, you keep yourself safe, you understand?'

I rolled my neck, trying to release the aggravating tension and Mom's voice at the same time.
My unsmiling mother had been a bottle of quiet rage when I'd returned home, steam rising from her as much as the chicken congee she'd made for dinner. Slowly but surely, she'd pulled every last detail from my heartstrings, silent and fearful through the entire retelling. It'd taken every vow in me, promised adherence to every condition, just to stop her from guilting me into quitting UA.
I didn't mention the regulation or submersions. For now it was still my dark little secret, shared only with Shota Aizawa.

-Feeling ill over tomorrow's field trip (are you going btw?) Mind if we partake in some recreational drinking downtown? I promise not to make you sing karaoke.

-I'll pick you up at 7?

-Great, see you then!

My classes were all but cancelled for the field trip and we wouldn't leave until later in the morning. With my quick negating of alcohol retention I wouldn't suffer any major repercussions to a little drinking, anyway.

The doorbell rang on the nose of seven o'clock and Nasu released a pitiful yeowl, glowing eyes casting violent judgment in my direction. Toshi couldn't even get past the front door with Nasu around, the vindictive little shit. I'd apologized profusely, commenting on how he was hateful towards everyone.

Well, not everyone.

"Hey!"
"Good evening! Ready?" His smiling face poked out like a dandelion from too large a shirt. It was probably hard finding clothing to fit his towering, lanky figure, I realized.

"Yeah, just let me-" Words fell flat as Toshinori reached in, turned the lock of the door, and promptly closed it. I grinned. "Well, never mind then."

Twilight crisped the air. Toshinori filled the void with endless chatter and questions, asking my input on technology preferences in the classroom and how I was enjoying teaching every section of the students, rather than just the hero course kids. I answered as best I could, given my out of breath state; for every one step he took I needed three, just to keep up.

"You didn't answer before! Are you going on the field trip tomorrow, with Class 1-A?" I fought to keep the pant out of my voice. We had arrived in a vein of downtown, people walking with shopping bags, children enjoying the last few minutes of sunlight with a basketball game across the street. The buildings were mostly brick with personal, hand-painted signs differentiating bistros from breweries. Toshinori stopped walking and I took the opportunity to catch my breath.

Actually," He said with a rub at his neck. I straightened; I'd learned this tell. Whatever he was about to say would come with a grain of embarrassment on his part. "There's something I've been meaning to talk to you about."
My forehead wrinkled with my brows, curious. He let out an awkward laugh.
"Maybe we should grab a drink first? I don't know how this is going to exactly play out."

He had moved towards a bar- coincidentally, the bar Kayama had dragged me to all those weeks ago- before I caught his arm, solid as concrete. "Can you just tell me now? You're freaking me out a little."

"I...It'd be best if we weren't out in the open like this first," He answered in a hushed tone.

Are you...breaking up with me?" My voice rose with forged hysterics. I staggered back for effect, letting my eyes grow larger than the moon. Instantly Toshinori bloomed in color.

"NO! What? You- me- Are we? I just, there's something I need to discuss- Nothing of that nature- Do you mean, are we-?"

"Toshinori," I interrupted, standing on tiptoe to smother his babbling mouth with both hands. Blood was starting to dribble between the squares of his teeth. Did...He not even realize what we were? "Toshi, you've gotta calm down. I was just teasing."

"AH HA HA, BUT OF COURSE-" I pressed my hands against his lips harder, pinching them closed with a face full of warning. People were starting to take notice of us. He blinked before a slow nod of understanding moved his unkempt hair.
Only when his great body stopped shaking with jitters did I remove myself, taking a cautionary step back.

There was no way this man was ready for the next step of my plan.

"Come on," I sighed, leading him by the hand into the dim ambiance of the establishment. Halfway to a table I felt his fingers curl around mine.
His blonde head bobbled, retrieving our drinks from the bar, before at last sitting across from me. The joviality of before had dissipated. I drew my face as serious as his, folding my arms on the table.

"Chiyo-"
"Toshinori."
The dancing light didn't catch in his eyes. I sobered up. "What is it?"
"There's something I've been meaning to tell you, but I've struggled with how, exactly." I fought back the urge to make another joke. You really are in love with All Might, Toshi? Man, it's all coming together. "I...still don't know how."
"Well, what's it concerning?"

He looked at his cup, lost in his thoughts. I was fairly certain there wasn't an ounce of liquor in that fizzling cup of amber, just soda. At last he looked up at me. My left calf gave a nervous jolt at his somber expression.

"What is it about All Might that makes you look up to him?"
Well this is out of left field.
"Oh," Came my articulate answer. I sat back, pensive. "Outside of his manly good looks, you mean?"
"Yes."
No mood for joking at all, I see.

Could I pinpoint what it was that drew me- drew anyone- to All Might? Because he was the most powerful, certainly. Even Mom seemed to breathe a little easier during Hero and Villain segments on the news when he was on the television. But what was the real draw for me?

"...As a little kid, I was always so timid. When I started kindergarten I was literally afraid of my own shadow, in case I developed some sort of darkness quirk. I didn't really have any friends, I kept to myself so much. It was around the time I entered middle school when All Might started gaining a lot of notoriety," I spun the straw in my glass absently, the swirling mixture matching my thoughts.

"My...I didn't know my father, but I have this feeling that he was killed, somehow. I don't have any concrete details or evidence, but my mom has always been so protective of me and would go out of her way to keep me away from quirks that I...They must be connected. Even as a kid, I realized this.
"So imagine frightened kid-Chiyo, scared of absolutely everything, seeing this brilliant, smiling hero who promised he'd always save the day. It made me...I don't know," It was my turn to rub my neck, bashful. "It gave me-"

"Something to believe in." Toshinori finished quietly. I nodded, surprised.

"It's silly, but I didn't feel so scared after that. But then the Manami thing happened, and I basically molded myself into a permanent state of doom and gloom, so here we are," I laughed, feeling awkward at how dark this night was turning out.

"Did you tell all this to Aizawa, too?"
An ice cube splintered in my glass, shining like a dozen sharp diamonds.
"Excuse me?"

"After I told Aizawa about- When I told him to be watchful at the seminar, I wondered if he brought it up, and what that conversation led to. Which I'm sorry for, again," He added quickly. I waved off his apology.

"We didn't discuss it much. He asked what happened to Manami, but I don't really know. That was the end of the conversation for the most part," Though I had been curious after. "Turns out Manami wasn't expelled, or anything of the like. She graduated at the top of her class. In fact, she doesn't live too far from here. It's a wonder I've never run into her."
"For your sake, I hope you don't."

The comment was so casual, earnest, but strangely stung all the same. I nodded again.

"Anyway. You said you had something to tell me?" I waggled my eyebrows. Toshinori nodded, looking strikingly determined now. His lips parted with an answer and then his entire head was abruptly enveloped by the soft flesh of Nemuri Kayama's chest.

"Damn," A familiar voice muttered. I glanced up in time to catch Shota Aizawa hurrying for the door just before a cockatiel caught him around the shoulders.

"I don't think so man, you promised to come out with us-"

"Love of my life; the essence of my fragile, throbbing heart-" Kayama crooned, moving from Toshinori towards my vulnerable neck, arms outstretched lovingly. I ducked, quick as lightning, and staggered over to her comrades for cover.

"Nothing about you is fragile." I hissed behind Aizawa's arm. He glanced back at me and I swear that dimple twitched.

"Toshinori, you monstrous bastard, are you trying to put the moves on my young protégé? So young, so sweet, so wholly untouched-"

"If you can't control yourself, Kayama, I'll lock you back in the car." Aizawa cut in dryly. The once-again scandalously dressed woman mimed locking her lips, dropping the invisible key down the front of her dress. I wondered, vaguely, who would be fishing that key out later.

"What are you guys up to? I wouldn't expect so many of us to be out on a weeknight," I said. Yamada had disappeared to grab drinks and Toshinori pulled a few extra chairs to our table before everyone sat, some more obviously comfortable than others.

"It's still early. We won't stay out late," Aizawa said. Kayama nodded in agreement.
"Yamada djs here on Thursday nights and we, on occasion, will come to root our curassow on."
I laughed. "You're cura-what?"
"Look it up," Aizawa commented into the bottle Yamada suddenly placed in his hand. I'll have to as soon as I get home.

The conversations were easy, relaxing. Yamada and Kayama took turns leading the discussions with natural animation, Toshinori and I adding comments and jokes along the way. Aizawa, ever himself, spent more time nursing his bottle than engaging with us.
I tapped his foot with my own under the table amidst landing a slam on Yamada's shades-indoors look. The gentle pressure of his shoe pressed back against mine, face a passive mask. I blamed the spike in my heartrate on the liquor.

Before long Yamada was swaggering up to the stage, sliding into his Present Mic persona like a well-worn glove. "How's everyone doing tonight?"

Within seconds everyone was on their feet, dancing like there was no tomorrow. Kayama grabbed my arm and in turn I took Toshinori's, dragging him along for the ride. Aizawa observed, long legs crossed at the ankle and sipping his drink, from the forlorn corner table the rest of us abandoned.

It shouldn't have been so surprising that Yamada would be a great dj; each song flowed seamlessly into the next. Before long sweat pooled between my shoulder blades but the worry over the field trip began to wear off- my goal of the night, achieved. Mic eased in a slower ballad and everyone seemed to take a breath. My blonde sunflower of a date watched me shyly. I grinned, holding out a chivalrous hand to him.

"May I have this dance?"
"I think that's my line."
His hand was clammy as we swayed, my neck nearly breaking in half just to see his face.

"You didn't get around to telling me whatever it was you wanted to tell me," I said pointedly. A sudden pain struck my toes; Toshi had misstepped, thrown off by my comment. With a little pressure against his shoulder I righted him, trying not to smirk. "I guess it has something to do with All Might?"

"You could say that," His arm tightened around my shoulders, just a fraction. "What if- Chiyo, what if he isn't as perfect as society thinks?"

"What?" I laughed, but once again there was no humor in Toshinori's eyes. I shook my head in confusion. Today was a hair-wash night, so it hung loose and a little more wild than usual, curling beneath my shoulders. With the move of my head I noticed how tendrils were caught by his long arm. I pulled, just slightly, to free them. "I don't understand."

"I mean, what if All Might isn't as powerful as he once was? What if that power was fading?"
"Did he...Tell you that?"
A frustrated breath heated the top of my head.
"Chiyo, what I'm trying to tell you is-"

"Time fades all things," I cut in gently. This time when he staggered, I knew where to place my feet. "All Might can't always be the beacon of hope and power he is right now, and that's to be expected. It's important for you to be there for him, when the time comes," I squeezed his arm for emphasis. "You are the kindest, most earnest human being probably on this planet; if I were in need of a friend, you are the first person's door I'd be knocking on."

My voice rang out as if on a phonograph, captured by my own ears.
It was, quite suddenly, very clear what Toshinori was to me.

Shit.
I froze up, fearful he recognized the message behind my words as well.
But Toshinori Yagi was in a different galaxy, far, far away, staring off into space.
"Toshinori?"
"Hm?"
Would he argue? Pull me closer, prove a point?

All these days, the shyness, the dates.

Show me- this is your chance.

"Thanks, Chiyo. I think I'll know just what to say to him when the time comes." He beamed down at me and a murder of crows squawked noisily in my conscience, laughing.
"...Great, yeah. Glad I could help."

Kayama suddenly pounced into our bubble, grinding against my hips just as the music took a dramatic turn. I turned and snatched the drink out of her hand, taking a hard pull before gasping.

"Who the hell drinks straight tequila?"

The nighttime enigma laughed maniacally, bouncing in time with whatever eighties music Yamada had stumbled upon. It was, actually, extremely catchy. I looked to Toshinori and shrugged, sheepish, shoulders continuing to bounce as I fell in tempo with the crazed Midnight.


Shota Aizawa had been in a funk ever since Chiyo Tsutomi arrived on the scene, and it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out why.

Or, in this case, to be figured out by two pro heroes with way too much time on their hands.

He was always the quietest, moodiest one of their little trio, never showing more interest than a general head nod or grunt for an answer, eyes half-lidded and always on the verge of falling asleep.

When he watched her, though, his attention never even wavered.

Word in the halls was their little Chi-Chan was a deer caught between the safety of a known meadow and the Great Wide Open, with Shota Aizawa amidst the latter.

Yamada argued on the side of his best friend- the man who never seemed to ask for anything- who, throughout the years, had experienced as many romantic flings as Yamada had thumbs.

Kayama was devoted to Team All Might, pointing out his complete lack of a love life and selflessness, who seemed to find it valiant Toshinori wanted to shield Chiyo from the truth.

Hard pass, in Yamada's opinion.

They had agreed not to interfere. This was a potential love triangle between their friends; it wasn't their place to meddle.

But where was the fun in that?

"Alright heroes and villains, it's time to mix it up. Find a partner to swoon with, but- a catch! Not the one you came with tonight!"

The sprightly, shaded DJ ducked from the sudden glares he knew was aimed at him, generally avoiding the entire right corner where his best friend surely glowered from. Kayama, too, was trying to peel his skin off with her eyes. Stealth and slyness had never been his style; both adults knew exactly what he was up to.
With a sour face Kayama finally, reluctantly, grabbed All Might by the hand and dragged him off for the commanded dance.

Which left Chiyo Tsutomi, vulnerable in the midst of a parting crowd, alone.

Yamada counted under his breath as the song began, hopeful. The ballad was one he'd caught the lazed Eraser bobbing his head to once, just for extra effect.
Tentatively, two yellowed eyes raised to peer at the right-corner table, only to find it vacated.

He might find his goose cooked come tomorrow, but the muted blush on Chiyo Tsutomi's nose, slowly bleeding into Shota Aizawa's neck, was beyond worth it.

Team Eraser: I

Team All Might: 0


He was standing in front of me, fitted in a simple shirt and jeans. Only Shota Aizawa could make me feel overdressed in a nice dress and muted heels.

Because Toshinori towered over the general populous, his arms proved too long to dance normally; one had bent at an odd angle to catch my hand, the other fallen over my elbow to graze my modest upper back.
Aizawa, while also tall, was a more moderate height for my heeled stature. His hand slid between the crook of my arm and the curve of my waist, fingers gently brushing the small of my back. Instinctively I moved closer, placing a hand on his bicep.

"You pulled your hair up," I noticed. There was that flickering dimple again, his hand readjusting in mine.
"You certainly pay a lot of attention to my style, Tsutomi."
"It's a fun pastime, seeing the various ways you can make yourself look disheveled."
"Mm." Was all the response I received. My head fell back, taking in the music.
"Yamada's actually really good. I love this song."
He blinked. This close again, I could pick the glints of grey, mixed into the dark ink of his irises. "Really?"
"Why do you sound so surprised? Do I look like someone with poor music tastes?"
"Nursery rhymes seem more your speed, yeah."
I gave his arm a pinch and he grunted in pain, ever the baby.
"I hope we didn't interrupt anything. You seemed to be in the middle of a pretty serious conversation with Toshinori."

I didn't answer right away- mostly because I didn't know how. The entire ordeal had left a strange taste in my mouth, marched ants down my veins. What point had Toshinori been trying to make? Something told me that- whatever it was- he hadn't actually spoken it. Is All Might sick? I thought I felt something twisted in his blood, but I was also half-drunk-

The cool touch of Shota Aizawa's mouth against my temple brought a rush of blood in my chest, lower belly ballooning with an ache I couldn't quite place.

"You're doing it again," He murmured. I startled and he chuckled; a soft sensation against my skin. He pulled away just enough to search my eyes with a tint of mirth.
We continued to sway in perfect unison, body language mirrored.

"Where do you go, when you disappear like that?"
"Down the rabbit hole with Alice, I guess."
Aizawa nodded seriously. "Do you find a lot down there?"
"Just you," I spoke in surprising honesty. "You and a vortex of questions."

If this were a school dance, a matron would have certainly demanded room for the holy spirit between us by now. I could practically taste his breath, he was so close.

His jaw fidgeted, as if running through several responses, the bristles of the shadow he so lazily neglected catching the light. "Questions like what?"

I could lie, I realized. Could ignore my emotions, feign through an expression or two, dedicate myself to the idea it's simply better this way.
But the pull on my bones was too great, and I found myself being too honest once again.

"Like no matter where I go, the thought of you seems to follow. And just when I ask myself why- why do you keep rising to the surface, and tell myself to just let it go, there you are," His body stilled against mine and I followed suit, not breaking eye contact even as my nerves demanded it. "Why are you here, Shota? Why are you here, of all places, dancing with me?"

His mouth opened, a silent answer beginning to form between his teeth.
It was then I noticed how quiet it had truly become. When had the music stopped?
I couldn't look away from his face. Not yet.
A movement caught his attention. He pulled out of our dancing embrace, taking all my courage with him.

"Your date is leaving," Aizawa said, looking away. I blinked, stupid, and he sighed, gesturing behind me. "Toshinori is leaving. If you hurry, you can catch him."

Was he dismissing me? I looked between the two, heart pounding an indecisive beat.

"Why are you here, Shota?"

This wasn't how I expected my date with Toshinori Yagi to go down.
Surrounded by loud laughter, beer sticky on every surface, and the spindly back of my date walking away.

And here I was, staring at a man who was clearly not my date, waiting on a tightrope for him to give me an answer.

"I just came to blow off some steam," Came his quiet response. My stare was relentless, forcing him to continue, "I came with my friends, and you happened to be here, too. It...Doesn't have to mean anything more than that."

I didn't believe him.
I didn't believe that bullshit answer for a second.

I could reach into him, feel his heart to tell if he was lying.

"If you say so," I said instead, body turning on its own accord. As mechanical as a robot I walked away and then out the door.

I didn't follow the frizzy ball of yellow moving down the sidewalk lit with tiki torches and firefly lights.

Instead I turned left and walked home, alone with nothing but my hornet's nest of thoughts for company.