Sputtering into a request for a little more privacy, Camie led him to a booth instead of the usual table with a huff. She was seriously ticked off about her charm not working on this oblivious man.

And she actually liked him a little, damn it.

"Utshushimi-san," he asked upon settling on the bench. "I, I didn't know you –"

She rolled her eyes. "Right. Like I haven't been eyeing you from, like, day one."

He actually blushed at that. Blushed. And he was twenty-four.

"I was waiting," he admitted slowly, adjusting his glasses to avoid catching her intent gaze. "Until you passed your test and got in."

Camie frowned, understanding slowly dawning on her features.

And then, a flash of hurt.

"Suzuki-chan, I'm taking my break now," she announced, stepping away from stupid Tenya and the stupid booth and throwing her stupid apron on the counter.

Iida blinked, clutching his briefcase with nerves. Was she offended he took so long? Or maybe…

Iida closed his eyes with a sigh. Of course. He was an idiot.

He quickly excused himself with Suzuki-chan and sped up his pace to catch up with Camie, who was already turning the corner in the direction of a café.

"Utsushimi-san," he called, stepping behind her. "It isn't like that."

She halted and turned to him, still pretty pissed off. "Oh? So it's not like I'm some bimbo you're only gonna date once she at least gets into college? You're such a dick, Tenya."

"Utsushimi-san," he repeated, pleading. "I didn't want to make you uncomfortable."

Camie paused, considering pushing him off for good measure. She had suffered some prejudice in her day, being treated like a worthless whore before – but coming from Tenya, it was a real surprise. But she guessed she shouldn't be too surprised. He was a man after all. A man who knew she was a sex worker and who probably liked his girls well-mannered and educated, so she had to be at least a college student in order for him to take her out.

"What the hell do you mean?" She crossed her arms, mentally giving him exactly one minute to explain himself.

"I didn't want you to think your answer to my invitation would affect my help in any way," he held out his hand, going out on a limb and waiting for her to hold his.

Camie frowned. At her silence, Iida continued, hand still outstretched:

"I want you to get in. You want to get in. We have a common goal. If after you've achieved it, you don't want to go out with me, you're comfortable enough to say no," he shrugged shyly. "I didn't want you to be put in a position where I asked you out and you wanted to say no, but couldn't because I was helping you with…all of this."

Camie blinked, arms relaxing and falling to her side. "Oh."

He stared at her intently, hoping he hadn't screwed this up. He liked her. She had a vivacious way about her, a funny way of talking which made him feel like an old man, but he still adored everything she said and did. Even the teasing, the jokes and modern, 'hip' expressions he had no knowledge of.

"Okay," she conceded at last, hand intertwining with his. "You wanted to wait until the test so I could reject you safely?"

He shrugged. "I just wanted to make sure that, if I was reding the signs wrong, you could comfortably tell me…"

"To fuck off," she completed with a grin.

"Basically," he smiled, squeezing her hand softly.

"Sorry for calling you a dick," she chewed on her bottom lip coyly.

"That's okay," his blue eyes were expectant. "It was a misunderstanding."

"Tenya."

"What?"

"Can I ask you out?" she smiled prettily just for him.

"S-Sure," he stuttered a little, wanting to adjust his glasses as a nervous habit, but finding he had no free hand to do so. He was both holding his briefcase and holding Camie's smaller, softer hand.

"Okay," she squeezed his hand before pulling him back to the Suzuki Restaurant's general direction.

And then he was led by hand, but not asked out.

Iida huffed a little when they circled back on the establishment, and before he could ask what they were doing at the back entrance, she pushed him against the wall with surprising force, kissing him.

Iida dropped his briefcase in shock, hands tensed as if he couldn't recall what to do with them.

When Utsushimi licked his lips, however, he snapped back to reality as he pulled her closer to him and kissed her back.

She smiled against the kiss, happy to have caught him by surprise, and meant to pull back when he squeezed her waist and kissed her again. Camie complied, happily parting her lips for his tongue to enter. Tenya hummed a little, moving his lips against hers as if he wanted to do that since they met.

Which, you know, he probably did, if he was being honest with himself.

She pulled back after a minute. "Whoa, big guy," Camie chuckled. "Save some for our date, will you?"

Iida sighed, supporting his chin on the top of her head. "Okay."

She chuckled, hands around his torso squeezing with affection.

"You haven't asked me yet, you know," he reminded, relieved and comfortable enough to joke around.

"Oh my God," she laughed. "You're confuzzling."

"Yeah, yeah," he shook his head as if he knew what she meant.

"Go out with me?" she asked all the same.

He nodded, happy but still self-conscious about looking the part.

Once they were back, Camie's break was over and he spent his lunch on the booth by himself. She saw to the tables – including his – and whenever she could, she glanced over as if to make sure he hadn't bailed. He was there every time, writing down notes and seemingly studying. Once he left, the tip was over the total of his bill, and she rolled her eyes. There was also a stack of papers, color-coded and with a sticker note that read 'good luck'.

She took them home that night to prepare for the test, which was in a little more than ten days.

Over text, they tried to find a weekend when they both could meet up with time off; Tenya had a previously arranged business trip he had to attend because of the lectures, and the next one had Camie's college test.

She suggested they go out for drinks on this dive bar she knew downtown after she took her exam; it'd last all morning and some of the afternoon, so she'd be free by evening. Iida offered to pick her up, but she refused by saying it was near her house already.

It wasn't. But in no way was she going straight from a multiple-hour test to a first date. She still had some decency.

She wanted to shower, get her special perfume, use her body lotion, pick an outfit, blow dry her hair… Camie wasn't superficial, she just really liked taking care of her looks. And part of her wanted to impress Tenya, even though he had already seen her in an apron and almost makeup-free in the restaurant.

killer vibe, she texted him along with the bar's address. oh dont overdress big guy. its pretty simple over there.

Understood, he replied. Iida was almost pissed he had a company-related trip, because he was already looking forward to going out with Utsushimi-san. Googling the address to better comprehend the ambience, Iida was surprised to notice it really was a dive bar, a neighborhood establishment with a free round of beers every five you purchased, appetizers available but not much of a dinner setting.

Okay. He could be cool. He wasn't thinking of taking her to a fancy restaurant or anything...

Even if he was, he should be grateful for her informal ways, because her suggestion already took off the edge of nervousness that threatened to set in. If they followed her proposition, Iida could treat this as a beer with a friend, instead of a first date he wanted so badly to impress and show a good time to.

The week before his trip was over before he could visit Utsushimi, but the next one saw him at Suzuki Restaurant with flashcards to study with her. Camie laughed out loud, all the while assuring him she was, like, super grateful, but he really was a character for doing this. They had a quick lunch so he could quiz her on the subjects, and she got most of them right. It gave her a much needed confidence boost, because even the ones she got wrong were only off by a little bit.

He said goodbye like the sweetheart he was, kissing her on the top of her head. And then he was gone, briefcase and all, to the finance world until she'd see him on Saturday.

Iida had offered to pick her up at her place to go to the date, but Camie had insisted they meet there and take the subway or a cab, because she'd make sure he'd have a drink or twenty.

Tenya eventually agreed to not go by car, taking the subway on the way there. He had put an alarm to remind himself to wish her luck at seven am, and then couldn't go back to sleep. So he jogged. There wasn't any track on that Saturday, so he was a little restless. A little nervous because of the upcoming date, too, sure. But mostly, he convinced himself, because there wasn't track that day.

He glanced down at his outfit and wondered if he hadn't overdressed against her caution. He had on a brand t-shirt with a button up on top, jeans and casual shoes. His wallet, phone and keys were on his pockets, so he was finally briefcase-free, which felt weird to say the least.

He was downtown next, and arrived at the bar about fifteen minutes too early. Because Camie arrived fifteen minutes after the set time, he was left waiting for half an hour.

Not that he minded. She walked into the room and it was immediately made brighter by her smiling face.

"Hey, Tenya," she greeted him positively beaming, her summer dress seemingly flowing in non-existent wind, flower print catching his eye and caramel hair done in a high bun. "Were ya waiting long?"

"Yes," he replied immediately, blue eyes wide at her beautiful appearance and lovely aura. Yes to all of her.

"You were?" She frowned, a little concerned. As soon as Iida noticed her full lips in a pout, he realized what he said and backtracked.

"I meant no! I thought you had asked me if I was alright."

"Oh," the easygoing smile came back just as easily as it had disappeared. "And are you?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I just ordered my first beer. They craft their own over here from what I read on the signs." The establishment had a dozen hand writings on the walls, indicating prices, dishes and beer options.

"You know, I really thought you were classier than this joint," she teased, looking around and taking in the waiter who brought Tenya his first pint.

"You were the one who suggested the location," he defended slightly, grabbing the drink and thanking their server.

"Tenya, chillex," she grinned at him, pointing to a fruity drink on the menu as the waiter nodded and left. "I'm just trying to loosen you up."

Iida grumbled almost shyly as he took a sip of his cold beer.

The problem with that particular establishment was that the beer was cheap, nice and cold. And the waiters fed you a refill as soon as you were done with your pint, barely giving you a chance to refuse. That saw both of them tipsy in no time, appetizers doing little to distract them from their numerous toasts.

"Ya know," Camie started slurring after Alcoholic Fruity Drink #4, "I'm doing this to celebrate me getting into college in my mid-twenties. Orrrr," she drew out the word. "Falling on my face and failing so hard… Fuck, so many f words. F is a funny letter don't ya think?"

"The funniest," Iida smiled a little, a little tipsy just like her, but way less than the first time they met.

"Anywayzies. Here's to me getting in," she raised her half-full glass. "Or not."

"You're getting in," he clicked his larger glass with hers. "I know it."

"And you're a know-it-all," she smiled teasingly, tongue peeking out between her teeth in a sensual manner. "Aren't you?"

Iida felt his cheeks warming up, but still took her hand in his. Drinking was slowly crumbling his usual defenses of proper advances on a first date, and soon his thumb was caressing hers, and her foot was touching his under the table. They stayed like that, eating warm fries in between rounds of drinks, glances and looks meaning much more than the subjects they eventually spoke about.

Iida was truly mesmerized. He hadn't paid much attention when Tensei spoke about feeling a connection with Mei, or when Ochako gushed about being able to tell Bakugou was special.

But he understood now. It wasn't anything they had in common, like when he started a new friendship based on shared interests. It also wasn't the usual one-glance-only attraction, when you spotted someone and randomly thought hot damn, I want her to mother my children.

It was somehow an entirely new territory. It was wanting to be her friend and helping her achieve her goal, sure. But it was also suddenly wanting her opinion on everything. Iida Tenya, a man who owned his apartment in his mid-twenties and highly valued his privacy and taste, would throw out his entire furniture set if she so much as frowned at it. He had an inexplicable drive to want her happy and by his side, preferably both. If she decided he needed to change his entire wardrobe for her… In that particular moment? He would. Anything to see her smiling like that at the sight of him.

"You look really handsome," she whispered, eyes twinkling with an indecipherable message.

"You're gorgeous," Iida breathed, head lowering so his forehead could touch hers. "It's actually really distracting."

She chuckled, the sound delicate and happy. "Sounds like a PP to me."

"A what?" He prompted, moving his forehead away from hers, supporting his chin on his fist.

"A personal problem," she nudged him with a good-natured eyeroll. "Geez, I really speak mumbo jumbo to you, don't I?"

Iida just hummed. "It's fine. It's you."

Camie had no reply to that, so she just smiled sweetly, putting her other hand on top of his. Noticing tiny scars on his knuckles, she frowned.

"What's that, babe?" She asked and it was so, so soft that Iida almost melted, principle of finding couples that called each other 'babe' ridiculously cringey gone out the window.

"I used to box a couple of years ago," he explained, grateful that she chose the dive bar instead of the ridiculously fancy place he wanted to take her to. This way they could sit closer, spend less, and be more comfortably private. "When my brother had his accident."

Camie blinked. "You never told me about this… Was it bad?"

He just shrugged. "It never came up." His hand continued to caress hers, as if addicted to the feeling of her soft skin. "He was paraplegic at first. I was…really upset. I really look up to my brother. He's seven years older, so you can imagine…" Iida trailed off and this time, Utsushimi was the one to pet his hand gently.

He looked up to find her honey eyes, encouraging but patient. Tenya felt he could share more or he couldn't. He decided to go ahead, explaining when it occurred and how, and how Hatsume Mei's innovative research helped him walk again.

"Today, her nerve study has helped countless more to regain mobility," he concluded. "But Tensei was one of the firsts. He worshipped the ground she walked on… We thought it was gratitude for accepting him into her program. But they're married now. Just came back from their honeymoon, actually."

Camie chuckled. "Wait, so he was the brother from the bachelor party?"

Iida rolled his eyes, smiling. "Yes, yes. I only have the one." A comfortable pause during which they glanced at each other, then: "What about you?"

"Only child," she pouted. "Always wanted a sibling, though."

"Pfft. You'll get two with Tensei and Mei. Then trust me, you'll wish you never said that."

Camie had a much needed sobriety shock once she heard those words; and after a couple of seconds, so did Tenya.

"Wait –" He started.

"Oh no," Camie laughed. "No takesy-backsies! You said you wanted me to meet your family!"

"I meant, when you're ready, of course, and if you want to," Iida was already making that chopping thing with his hands, getting more and more worked up by the minute, and her laughter wasn't helping in the slightest.

"On our first official date," she kept snickering, eyes actually watering from this dork.

He briefly wondered if she had been too turned off by it; he was acting a little crazy for thinking so ahead, wasn't he?

Iida pinched his nose, adjusting his glasses as an afterthought. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I'm a little loose on the lips, is all."

"So you take it back?" Camie teased, but deep down she wanted to know how he truly felt. They had been at this awkward side-stepping dance for months now, and even though she considered him a friend, she never entertained the idea of calling someone her boyfriend after one date.

But for Tenya, she might.

"I don't," he mumbled, almost upset that she made him say it. "And I'm not saying, 'meet them tomorrow.' I'm just…"

"Being open to the possibility," she completed to give him a break.

"Exactly," he sighed, relieved. Camie smirked at him, just a little – he was way too nerdy for her, but she liked him even so. After torturing him for a minute with her teasing glance, Iida cleared his throat and decided to change the subject.

"So, do we know when the results of the test come out?"

"SHTF in a week, my dude."

Iida blinked. Camie grinned.

"Shit hits the fan," she explained.

She heard Tenya mutter something along the lines of "the same number of syllables, same effort" but gave him a pass.

"You know," she took his hand in hers, fingertips caressing his knuckle scars. "I joke, but you really did me a solid. Do you have any dreams you wanna achieve too? I can be your pinch hitter or somethin'."

Iida smiled. "I mean, I could really use a personal trainer to keep me in shape. There's this huge redhead in my track team, Kirishima, who's been leaving me to dust."

"Consider it done, babe," she winked at him, squeezing his hand. "Next Saturday it's just gonna be you, me, and my yoga pants."

"Hopefully not just that," he added thoughtfully. "I wouldn't want you to think I was being too forward."

"AHAH!" Camie hollered, and this time she actually cried from the sudden laugh. Her shrieking subsided to chuckling, and Tenya just glanced around as if he had missed the joke.

"You're too funny," she wiped the tear away before it ruined her mascara. "Seriously."

"I am serious," he frowned. "There is at the very least a three-date rule that should be observed before engaging in –"

"I'm gonna stop you right there," Camie raised her palm in his direction. "And tell you that there shouldn't be a rule. One size does not fit all, if you know what I mean. It's adorable that you like to take your time, but sometimes you date someone who wants to have sex only a year into the relationship, others begin with sex before even having a connection..."
"Yes I know all that," he interrupted, wanting to explain himself. "But for me, personally, it doesn't happen so fast. I need…intimacy, if I'm going to…"

"Perform," she used the same word from when they met and he refused her lap dance.

He nodded.

"Well, no prob, big guy," Camie squeezed his hand. "I can totes understand your pace. I mean," she adjusted her ponytail almost shyly, "I was ready to take you to my place tonight, but I want to respect your time. You need to be comfortable with me to –"

"Wait, you were?" Tenya blinked.

"I mean, yeah," Camie shrugged. Ever since that first Saturday when he showed up after track there had been little else on her mind, honestly.

Well, that and the stupid test, of course.

Blue eyes narrowed as if in thought for a millisecond. Then:

"You know, I don't live very far."