Music filled the venues and voice echoed around them as they stepped inside the large building. Hanako looked around, amazed at the size of the building, and how open the interior was. But when she noticed how many people there were, she felt her nervousness growing and stepped a bit closer to Keigo.

"You alright?" Keigo asked, feeling her press into him slightly.

Hanako looked up at him, blushing a bit with embarrassment. "Sorry... I've just never been to anything like this before. There are so many people."

Keigo chuckled. "Just stay with me and you'll be fine."

Hanako took a deep breath. "OK."

"Hawks!"

Keigo and Hanako looked over as the hostess, Rumi Usagiyama aka the Rabbit Hero: Miruko, waved enthusiastically at them.

"You made it!"

Hanako stepped back as Rumi hugged Keigo. 'She has so much energy.'

"Who's this lovely little beauty?"

Hanako offered her a bow. "My name is Hanako Itami, it's a pleasure to meet you Miss Miruko."

Rumi beamed at her. "Just 'Miruko' is fine, no need to be so formal!"

Hanako stood upright and returned her smile. "This place looks amazing."

"Thanks, it took three days to get everything done just right." Rumi turned back to Keigo. "You should go say hi to everyone!"

"I'll make my rounds, I promise."

"Good, now if you'll excuse me I have other guests to greet. I'll catch up with you later." Rumi offered Hanako a smile and a wink. "Have fun!"

Keigo and Hanako watched their hostess bound off to greet more of her guests, then Keigo took Hanako's hand in his and placed it back on his arm. "Ready to mingle?"

"S-Sure."

"Come on, I'll introduce you to everyone."

The evening was off to a good start and Hanako was feeling less and less nervous to be in such a large crowd. She did still feel way out of her element, though, but having Keigo there with her made it more bearable.

Keigo took her around, introducing her to the other big shot heroes like Edgeshot, Fourth Kind, Gunhead, and Uwabami. Even some of the heroes who taught at U.A. and Ketsubutsu Academy High School were present. He watched Hanako greeted each of them and spoke with them for a few moments before someone else came along and he was impressed with how well she was doing.

'She seems to be doing much better now, not as nervous.'

The more he watched her interacting with everyone, the more at ease he felt being there. He never really liked going to formal events like this, but he did it anyway out of professional courtesy. Plus, it was for charity and every year it was either for an orphanage or for one of the local schools. And Ryushi was right, he normally would take some random fangirl with him to events like this but this time was different. He genuinely wanted to bring Hanako with him instead and he was glad that he had. Aside from her being much better company than his previous dates in general, she actually engaged with the other partygoers instead of standing there absentmindedly or looking at herself in a compact mirror. As he watched her though, he found himself thinking more about what Ryushi said earlier about him liking Hanako.

'What's not to like about her? She's kind, hard-working, helpful, loyal, good-natured, and she's attractive.'

"So, Hanako, what is it that you do for Hawks?" Uwabami asked.

"I'm his secretary. While Ryushi handles the administrative work, I handle everything else." Hanako explained.

Keigo chuckled and put a hand on her shoulder. "You should see what she's done with the place. She's turned the whole building into a beautiful indoor garden and takes care of it herself."

"You best not be overworking such a beauty," Uwabami remarked, eyeing him with a brow raised.

"I don't mind in the slightest, Miss Uwabami," Hanako replied. "In fact, it's one of my favorite parts of the day."

"She definitely has a green thumb, with or without her quirk," Keigo smiled down at Hanako.

"Oh?"

Hanako blushed a bit. "My quirk is botany," She pointed to the flowers woven into Uwabami's hair. "May I?"

Uwabami nodded and took one of the flowers from her hair, presenting it to Hanako.

Hanako took the flower and held it in her open palm. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment, then gently blew on the flower.

Keigo and those gathered around watched as the flower- a deep red carnation that accented her hair and complimented her dress- began to really bloom, nearly doubling in size. Keigo smiled, amused by their looks of amazement, and how proud of herself Hanako looked when they began complimenting her.

'She's cute when she blushes.' he thought to himself.

"What else can you do with your quirk?" Miruko asked, coming over just in time to see the blooming.

"Not much, really," Hanako said, laughing nervously. "My quirk isn't that strong."

"Now, now, Miss Itami, no need to be so modest here," Keigo said, teasing her a bit. "What about that thing you were telling Kana about the other day?"

Hanako felt her cheeks burning even more. "You overheard that?"

"I did and I must admit that I have been rather curious myself what it looks like," Keigo offered her a reassuring smile. "Please, show us what you've learned?"

"A-Alright," Hanako breathed in deeply and closed her eyes once again, really focusing. She used her connection with the flower in her hand to connect with the other plants in the venue.

Keigo and everyone else watched as petals and leaves broke free from their places among the decor, floating towards Hanako as she drew them to her. Their eyes widened and many jaws dropped as the petals and leaves hovered around Hanako before spiraling up towards the ceiling and dispersing in a colorful array across the venue. It was as if they danced above the party guests and their hostess, slowing floating back down as Hanako released her hold on them.

"That. Was. Amazing."

Hanako's cheeks felt like they were on fire as Miruko bounced up and down excitedly and asked her to help out with the next big event. "S-Sure, I'd be happy to."

Keigo was just as surprised and wowed as everyone else, but he was more than impressed with her progress as well. He knew that she had been trying to grow her quirk just as she grew the plants at the agency and her relationships with the people around her, but this was something that he knew no one would forget about.