A small lean man with jet black hair escorted them to a secluded space in the restaurant. He kept bowing to Toshinori with eyes full of love and adoration. They ordered their food and a bottle of wine. The waiter gracefully poured it in their glasses up to the curve, bowed, and retreated leaving the two alone.

"From the reaction of the employees, I assume you come here often." Ren said taking the first sip.

"I like Italian food," Toshinori replied with a smile. "This is a family business restaurant. The chef who is also the cook spent many years in Italy."

"I look forward to trying the food," she replied excitedly.

The conversation flowed surprisingly easy. Toshinori asked her about her research, Ren questioned him about his work as a hero. To her surprise Mr Symbol of Peace could crack a joke or two. Their food arrived and the look of delicious steamy pizza made her mouth water.

"Enjoy," she said and bit into the first slice. Her eyes closed and as she chewed the delicious dough with sea food topping. An explosion of flavours burst in her mouth.

Toshinori leaned forward, watching the girl eat. He did not understand why it was so fascinating, but he could not look away. Some sauce coloured the corners of the mouth making him want to reach out and wipe it away. Ren didn't seem to notice his gaze, as she continued devouring the food in front of her. He thought back to the few dates he had over the past years, where every woman ordered a salad or a chicken breast or something low-fat low-calorie and never seemed to enjoy it. Watching Ren eat was refreshing. Maybe because she doesn't think of this as a date. The thought crossed his mind, making him feel uneasy.

"I'm sorry, it's so rude of me. Want to try some?" Ren asked looking a little guilty.

He smiled and picked up his fork. "No, no, please enjoy."

"This is one of the best pizzas I have ever tried." It was her turn to watch him eat. Toshinori ate slowly, chewing on his food thoroughly. For some reason it made her smile.

"I'm glad to hear that,"

They ate in silence for a while longer. "What do you like to do when you are not…well…working?"

The moment of thought extended for longer than she expected, as if he almost felt uncomfortable with what he was going to say.

"I enjoy watching movies," he blurred out. A small blush coloured his cheeks, but Ren didn't notice.

"Do you have a favourite genre?"

He shook his head. "I can watch just about anything. How about you?"

Ren thought for a moment. "I'd say horror, mystery and detective."

"Horror?" he raised his eyebrows.

"Don't look so surprised." Ren groaned a little. "You'd be amazed at how fascinating horror can get." She sounded a little defensive almost like a child, and it made him smile. "I see you laughing at me," Ren narrowed her eyes and pouted. It was the last straw. Toshinori burst out laughing. The girl tried to keep up the pouty face, but his laughter was contagious, a few seconds later she was laughing just as loud.

His phone buzzed.

Toshinori glanced at the screen immediately rose to his feet. "I'm sorry, I have to go. There's been an attack," his words were rushed and guilty. "I'll make it up to you, I promise." He whispered something to the waiter and the next second All Might was out of the restaurant.

Ren blinked in shocked, barely wrapping her brain around the speed of the events. As she scrolled through her phone the pop-ups of the daily news busting about the attack kept coming one on top of the other. One glance on the pictures was enough to see the seriousness of the situation. She clicked on the video. Several buildings were burnings, some collapsed, there was a team of heroes working on rescuing the civilians and some were battling a group of villains. She gulped and stopped watching. Her heart was beating fast as she chanted for All Might to get there quickly.


The news were flashing on every corner as Ren made her way home. The phone in her pocket buzzed. "Hello?"

"Hey sweets," Nemuri beamed on the other end.

"Shouldn't you be saving the day?" Ren questioned as she stopped by the appliances store. Six large screens and numerous smaller ones were broadcasting All Might fighting the villains.

"Not today. All Might's already there, everything is under control."

"That just sounds lazy," Ren responded admiring the blonde's figure in HD. "I'm still angry at you by the way."

"What?" Kayama asked faking the shock.

"You left me in that club."

"Now, now. You were the one running amuck. Besides, I had it all covered. All Might was looking after you."

"He was not supposed to be looking after me. Dammit Nemu, you know how I am when I drink, I've warned you since the first time we went out together. Having the Symbol of Peace running after me around a club is embarrassing."

Nemuri laughed heartedly.

"It's not funny!"

"Oh please, it's hilarious. And it's a nice change for him too."

"What does that even mean?"

"Nothing, forget it."

"What were you doing anyway?" Ren sighed and resumed walking. The night was chilly, and she snuggled into her blazer.

"You know exactly what I was doing."

"Getting an STD?"

"Rude." Kayama frowned but did not feel the slightest bit offended. "So, did you manage to get him to participate?"

Ren sighed.

"No, he rejected it."

"Damn, I'm sorry to hear that. I'll talk to him for you."

"No!" her rushed answer shocked Kayama before a mischievous grin appeared on her face. Ren cleared her throat. "No, it's fine. I will contact Endeavor's Agency. My supervisor knows him, he said that he can put a good word in for me."

Kayama hmphed.

"So, where are you?"

"On my way home, just passing by that club where we went wasted and you fell over and lost your glasses. The bouncer who helped you find them still works there."

"Hahahahaha, that was a great night!"

Ren smirked. "Sure was."

"Your meeting finished pretty late," Kayama noted sneakily.

"We went for dinner." As soon as those words left Ren's mouth, she regretted them. Nemuri squeaked on the other end, and Ren could swear she heard her hit something.

"You and All Might?"

"Yes."

"You and All Might."

"Uh huh."

"Oh, my drink! You like him! You like All Might!"

"What are you talking about?" Ren said feeling annoyed. She did not like the turn their conversation was taking.

"You like All Might."

"Everybody likes All Might, he is the symbol of peace." She argued, but dep inside Ren knew that she lost this battle. Once Kayama grabbed onto an idea, she was not going to let it go easily.

"Ren, you like him."

"You are delusional."

"Ren..."

"Fine." the girl exclaimed with a loud sigh. She turned the corner and quickly approached her building. The intercom beeped as she pressed the chip key to the lock. The door opened and Ren walked inside. "I'm attracted to him." she finally said. "Physically."

Nemuri gasped. "That's shocking. He is not your type and he is at least ten years older than you.

"You don't have to tell me that, I know." The small apartment greeted her with deafening silence. Ren made her to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water.

"What are you planning to do?"

"I was thinking of taking a shower and going to sleep."

"I mean about All Might."

Ren cringed. "Nothing. I am planning to do nothing."

"That's so unlike you, girl." Although Ren couldn't see her, she knew Nemuri had a judgemental look on her pretty face.

"I'm hanging up now."

Nemuri chuckled into the phone.

"Text me when you are free, we'll go catch up."

Ren winced at Nemuri's clear suggestion and hung up. She listened to the large round clock on the wall ticking away oblivious to the worries of the world. Did she really like Toshinori Yagi? She did find him surprisingly attractive and Ren caught herself on the thought that she would not mind exploring that attraction. The image of white shirt clinging onto his muscles invaded her mind, spreading pleasant heat throughout her body. Was he attracted to her? Ren was almost certain in it. She noticed the way he looked at her every time he thought she wasn't looking.

As if on queue, her phone lit up with a new message from an unknown number.

I'm sorry about today. I want to make it up to you. If you are free on Friday evening, there will be a viewing of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom in Central Park.

Ren smiled. Her phone flashed again.

This is Toshinori Yagi, sorry I forgot to mention.

The girl laughed at the awkwardness of his texting. It was sweet, proper and innocent, it made her heart race.

I'd love to. Text me the time.

Suddenly her chest felt lighter. Ren kicked off her shoes and walked into the bedroom. She turned on the laptop and let the music play. Her hips swayed to the rhythm while she changed.

She dropped on the swivel chair and quickly typed the message.

Saw the broadcast of the explosion. You made it.

She threw her phone on the bed and put on her headphones. The night was young giving her plenty of time to work on her research.


He clenched the phone in his hand making it crack by accident. You made it. Those simple words made him feel unsettled. Something stirred and clawed at his chest, begging to be released. Toshinori took a deep breath trying to calm down. Tomorrow he needed to get a new phone.