"… League of Villain attacks are still spread throughout Japan. Currently, the only individual that has managed to reliably fight them off has been Valiant, the young prodigy that is interning under Bunny Hero Miruko-"

"It's Rabbit Hero! Rabbit Hero!" Miruko shouted at the phone, Izuku nodding. It happened quite often, with Miruko, especially on networks that weren't dedicated to Heroes. A side effect of not having anyone working for her as her contact with news networks, most likely.

"I think people get confused because…"

"Because it looks like I'm wearing a bunny suit, I know." She grunted, "Not my fault I was born with bunny ears and tail."

"Well, you are also wearing a leotard."

"Hey! No one insults the leotard!" She said, pointing her finger at him. "Also, what is going on with you?"

"What do you mean?"

"You look… excited. Is it because you are going back to school?"

"Yes." Izuku said.

"Weird. When I was in school, I just wanted to be out doing this. Who wants to go back to school?"

"W-Well, I have girlfriend…"

"Aaaah, there it is." She grinned, "Now that's a reason to want to go back to school, I respect that. So, what are you gonna do? You are taking her on a date, right?"

"Yeah, we are going to a summer festival."

"Ah, good. You need some time off from all this Villain fighting, and that's an excellent reason for it."

"… I thought you loved Hero fighting. Didn't you get expelled from high school once for Vigilantism?"

"I got expelled for being awesome, you mean." She grinned, "But you aren't entirely wrong, I love fighting and doing Hero stuff. But at the same time you need to have friends, you know? Living the normal life. I have Sameko and Kameko, and we hang out at least once a week if we can. Even when we don't, we message each other. Also, I have rizz, kid, if I want a date or… more… I can get it."

"I see." Izuku smiled, "I guess I really never thought about school as a place where I wanted to go to meet people."

"You got bullied in middle school? Or were you just a loner?"

"I guess both…" Izuku shook his head, "Well things got better in my final year, but before a lot of people avoided me. I was a Quirkless kid that wanted to be a Hero back then, after all."

"Ah, jokes on them! They could have been friend with the future Number One!" Miruko slapped his back energetically. "Don't worry about it kiddo, the only people that miss middle school once they are out of it are the ones that peaked there."

"I guess." Izuku chuckled, "But my life has changed so much since I started high school, sometimes it's hard to think I'm the same person that I was back then."

"Eh, that's just the beginning kid! One day, you'll be the Number One Hero. All you have to do is surpass your kickass mentor."

Izuku smiled. "I guess I will have to."

Miruko laughed and messed up his hair good naturedly, causing Valiant to laugh too.

-x-

"Izuku!" Himiko all but tackled Izuku when he walked through the door of the school dorms, peppering kisses on his face.

"Welcome back Izukun." Masutaro waved from the couch, where he was sitting next to Hagakure, as evidenced both by the fact floating clothes were hovering around him and by the fact something was interacting with his hair and neck, probably Hagakure's head resting against it.

Other people in the dorms waved at him, or asked how things went. Himiko smiled watching Izuku interact with so many of his friend. She remembered how her and Masutaro used to be his only friends – and maybe Bakugo. She wasn't sure, but Izuku had counted him as one back then, so she couldn't really argue with him – and hugged him as they sat on the couch. Ochaco, who had also been sitting there, waved at her boyfriend, before moving to some small talk. "So, are you also coming this weekend at the fair?"

"Yup!" Izuku nodded, putting a hand carefully on Himiko's head. She showed her appreciation for the gesture by brushing her head against her boyfriend's hand, like a cat would, and watched him blush a bit.

'He's so cute when he is embarrassed.' She decided. "I've bought a yukata with the girls for the occasion Izuku, by the way."

"You have?" Izuku asked, "I can't wait to see it."

"It's very nice." Ochaco said with a nod, "I wanted to buy my own second-hand, but Himiko insisted I accepted her paying for mine. I'm still not sure if I should have…"

"Hey, none of that. I told you I have the money and my best friend also deserves to look gorgeous!"

"Where is my yukata then?" Masutaro asked, a cheeky tone in his voice, "Don't I deserve to also look gorgeous?"

"That would take way more than a good yukata." Himiko replied with a grin, Izuku suffocating a laughter while Masutaro pretended to be indignant.

"I'll have you know, I am considered handsome." He said, looking at his girlfriend, "Isn't that right, Tooru?"

The invisible girl chuckled and whispered something in his ear that made Masutaro turn bright red and cover his face with his hand out of embarrassment. "Oh my god what did you tell him?" Himiko asked.

"I don't think I can say." She said with what Izuku deduced by the tone was a grin. He supposed.

Masutaro coughed in his fist, "Anyway, since the girls are dressing up, we should too right?"

"You think?" Izuku asked.

"Yup. Why don't we go to the mall tomorrow? We can look for a shirt that doesn't read 'clothes'." Masutaro replied.

"Come on, Himiko put a lot of less funny shirts in my wardrobe…" Izuku said, looking away. Himiko interrupted her brushing her hair against his head to pout and tap his cheek with her finger.

"Don't blame me for having taste in clothing, 'Valiant'. Your fans would be in shambles if they saw what you were wearing before we started dating."

"I think his fans are in shambles at the notion he is dating someone." Masutaro replied, and Izuku turned bright red, waving both hands in front of him.

"C-Come on, I'm sure I don't have that many people that see me that way, right?"

"Izuku, you had to literally spend two days saying no to girls that wanted to date you." Masutaro replied, Himiko feeling proud. Yup, he had said no to all of them. He could have dated any of them – she had no right to stop him back then – but she was the one he chose. She appreciatively leaned more into the pat.

"You look happy Himiko." Izuku said, "Something good happened?"

"You did." She said.

"God, kill me, help!" Bakugo shouted from the kitchen, "I was trying to get some food, but if you two get any sappier I'll end up dying of diabetes!"

"Oh, hey Kacchan." Izuku waved, and she could tell he was unsure of what to say. He hadn't actually talked with Bakugo in a while, had he? Well, aside from just saying a few sentences to each other.

"Sup, nerd." The teen replied. Well, it seemed today would be no different.

"Hey, Kacchan, I need to ask you a favor." Or would it?

"What?"

"You learned from Auntie Mitsuki all about fashion, right?" He asked.

"Yeah, and? The hag taught me how to look good."

"Can you come with us to the mall to help me, Masuchan and Todoroki pick some clothes?" He asked.

Bakugo stared at him in confusion. "Why would I? I have better things to do."

Izuku grinned, "Well, alright, but in that case I can't help you."

"Help me with what?"

"Why, with your issue with domi-" Before Izuku could even finish the sentence, Bakugo had physically jumped over the counter of the kitchen and closed his mouth.

"Ohi, Deku, the fuck are you saying?"

"Well, I just figured you have no problem about people knowing you like do-"

"Alright!" Bakugo said out loud, "And what the fuck De- Midoriya, when did you become… this?"

"I…" Izuku looked down at Himiko, "I think I got a good influence." He said, Himiko smiling at that, "Or more than one. Miss Miruko would kick my butt if I didn't 'show some spine'."

"At least we agree on something." Bakugo groaned, "Fine, I'm coming to your little get together of desperate fashion cases. You'll need the guidance anyway, God knows if we leave you to their advice you'll come back with some t-shirt and an iceman cosplay."

-x-

The mall was the same place Izuku had visited for one of his date with Himiko. He smiled fondly at the memory.

"Ohi, move it nerd! What the fuck are you spacing out for?!"

'Beautiful memories: ruined.' He sighed, as he watched the bags of clothes Kacchan had made him buy. As it turned out, he had actually followed through with his promise to help, since now Izuku owned more good looking clothes than he ever had before.

Though he still argues that shirt with 'carpet' on it would have been hilarious. Although Kacchan hadn't really appreciated when Masuchan had pointed he could put it on if he wanted Momo and Tsuyu to step on him.

Saving his best friend had been complicated after that. Kacchan had growled at him but what was he supposed to do, not tell Masuchan about a call that started – and ended – with 'Izuku, how do you deal with dominant women'?

Izuku was a nice person but he was still a teenager, although of course he had made it clear to Masuchan he wasn't to tell anyone else. That would have been too close to bullying for his tastes.

Masuchan stepped next to him. "You ok?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just… I don't know, I've been trying to be more sure of myself, you know? It's what Himiko, Stendhal, Miruko, Gran Torino - wow, that's a lot of people there - and everyone else has suggested I try to be. You know, what led me to Valiant and all that. And it seems Himiko and everyone else likes it, but… Am I going too far?"

"Are you uncomfortable with it?"

"Not really." Izuku said. He was worried he'd sound arrogant, but personally it had been a change so gradual he felt there hadn't really been one to begin with. Nothing to be uncomfortable about. It hadn't changed his core ideals, who he was and wanted to be.

"Are you hurting someone?"

"No! I-I hope not at least. You think it's hurting Kacchan? I might have been a bit mean to him yesterday."

"Does he look like he is hurting?" Masuchan asked. They both stared at Bakugo, who in response passed a finger over his throat and pointed it at them both.

"Touché."

"Alright, last question." His best friend grabbed him by the shoulder. "Is this new you that you made a fake mask you are wearing? Are you forcing yourself to be someone you hate?"

"No." Izuku shook his head. He didn't dislike his newfound confidence. He felt… happy, about himself and about the reaction other people had.

Also he was fairly sure his sanity actually depended on it.

"Then I don't see why not." Masuchan grinned, "I call dibs on the merit of this change, by the way."

"Miruko and Himiko would have something to say. Them and just the general insanity my life became in the last year or so. Frankly I think that did it more than anything else."

"Still claiming that title." Masuchan said, "I am your best friend, Izukun. Trust me, you are still the same guy I showed Monogatari to." He grinned, "Or the one I cockblocked on our first meeting."

"We weren't doing anything!" Izuku shouted, his face heating up and turning a deep crimson.

Masutaro's grin grew, "Really? You and Himiko, laid on the floor, her on top of you, breathing heavily as you stare at each other?"

"We had just fallen."

"Yeah, fallen for one another." Masuchan replied. Izuku grumbled, and he laughed, "Don't worry Izukun, you are always you. We grow up and change in life, but it doesn't change who we are to our core."

"Wow, thanks for the wisdom, Master. Which fortune cookie told you that?"

"Actually Sta- Stendhal did." He shrugged, "I guess I understand what it means now."

Izuku nodded, though he did think people could get better with time. But he figured that Stendhal meant people always have a core of their own personality that never changed, not that they could never change at all.

Probably. Master Stendhal could be weird sometimes.

They walked on, heading toward the exit, when Izuku noticed a store and remembered something from his previous date with Himiko. An idea formed in his mind. "Changing subject, Masuchan, can I ask you a favor?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"I need to buy a gift for Himiko and I need a way to deliver it, can you help?" He explained his plan and Masuchan grinned.

"Now that sounds like a good plan."

-x-

"You think I look fine?" Himiko asked. Uraraka rolled her eyes.

"For the fifteenth time, Himiko, yes, you look good in that yukata." She looked at her friend. The yukata she had picked had golden designs of swallows and sparrows flying over a red sky. It was a very artistic one, especially compared to Uraraka's simple blue one, dotted with white star-like patterns to resemble the night sky.

"Yeah, you look amazing!" Hagakure said. Her own yukata was white, decorated with azure cloud patterns.

"Thank you girls…" Himiko said, looking nervous.

"Is it your first time at a summer fair with Izuku?" Uraraka asked. Himiko gulped.

"Y-Yeah, we didn't come around last year…" She said, evasively. She looked behind her back. The fair was held around a temple in Musutafu, as one would expect. There were different sections that extended to the city park, essentially extending into more classical stalls and the more modern fair with various machines.

She wasn't sure how early or late for a summer fair it was. Uraraka thought it was early, but the night was warm and according to Hagakure Kanto tended to start summer celebrations like that earlier than Kansai, where Uraraka was from.

Himiko had never gone to one before. Even before the… incident, Himiko's 'friends' hadn't been interested, and wanting to fit in she had never gone against them.

She wondered what Izuku would think of her clothes for the sixteenth time. They had agreed to meet at the fair, so she could only wait and see- Compress' car came to a screeching alt in front of them, interrupting that thought. The man really needed to learn how to drive, especially considering that Himiko was fairly sure cars weren't even supposed to reach this close to the fair if they didn't have specific permits.

Then Izuku walked out and Himiko forgot entirely about the stupid car.

He was wearing a black polo shirt, of a tone that worked extremely well with his dark green hair. The shirt had the two buttons open, showing off a good chunk of the upper part of his pecs and being fitting enough it made it clear there was more where that came from. The pants were simple, but once again just as well fitting as the suit. It was clear they were at just the perfect mix of being comfortable to work around and elegant to look at.

Izuku had also, miracle of miracles, changed his usual red shoes, switching them for a pair of white ones that completed the ensemble. He had to wear the face mask, of course, since he didn't want to be recognized and cause a commotion, but that didn't really harm the overall outfit.

"S-So, what do you think?" Izuku asked, "Kacchan says this should be good, I'm not su-"

Himiko grabbed his chin, pulled aside the face mask and dragged him into a kiss, "Oh, Himiko likey." She purred. Izuku made a sound that sounded like a strangled dolphin, and she smiled. Sooooo adorable. She pointed down. "So, what do you think of mine?"

He looked down too, and her grin grew vicious as she saw him realize where he was looking with her pressing against him like that. He gulped, his eyes fixating for a second too many before he looked to the yukata. "It's… enchanting." He managed to blurt out.

She smiled again and moved her index finger, gently touching his lips, "Keep it up and you will get a lot more kisses." She said, before pushing back in place the face mask, "But for now, I think we should go. I want to see what a summer fair is all about."

Izuku nodded mechanically as she turned around, and she smiled satisfied as he brought a hand to his face and touched the mask and his mouth behind it.

Yep, the night promised to go really well.

-x-

'Oh god he is hot! How is he so hot and cool at once- don't say his Quirk brain! Goddammit! Shut up! Don't! Aaaaaaah!' "Hi Todoroki." Ochaco said.

"Hello Ochaco." Todoroki waved with a smile. "Your yukata is really nice."

The mini-Ochacos that administered her brain exchanged rapid high fives at the comment, while the actual Ochaco blushed and looked away. "O-Oh, thank you!" She said with a smile, "Uhm, you look beaut- charm- ho- coo- nice too." She stuttered out.

"Thank you. I should ask Bakugo for help with my clothes again in the future." He said, and Ochaco could only beg he did. She had never been overly interested in how people dressed – hard to be judgmental when you owned mostly second-hand clothes and stuff bought from the '90% off' bins at the mall – but boy did this outfit fit him to a tee. Bakugo had picked a button-up shirt with muted azure colors that worked well with Todoroki's attitude, while also not clashing with his hair. His pants were a darker blue, but somehow the whole outfit didn't look so cold it was off putting.

"Did you have fun shopping?"

"Sure." He said, "I guess I never got to do it much, so it was a novel experience. I think Bakugo was having even more fun though, he said that we were so bad at this that he'd have to come every other time we went or suffer all his hard work turn into ashes as we buy bad ensembles. I never thought he was so kind to offer to help every time I go buying clothes from now on."

Ochaco felt the need to point out this made it more sound like Bakugo had a complete lack of faith in their ability to so much as put two colors together, but she had to admit there was a non-zero chance Bakugo was just a tsundere. Who knew? "Nice. And Midoriya and Masutaro? How were they?"

"Nice too. I think we could hang out more? If they want to, I mean."

"Excellent!" Uraraka said. She was happy for Shoto. Given his home life, he probably needed some more friends. "Let's go, it's time to show you how to have fun at the summer fair…" She paused, "Uhm, though I'm short on money, so we will have to do only the free stuff…"

"I could pay."

"No, I don't want to use you like a wallet. Come on, there is a lot of stuff we can do on my budget!"

"Sure." Todoroki said, "I can't wait to… let me check…" He pulled out a manga volume from… somewhere. Uraraka wasn't sure how that happened. "Play some fair games, find out an important secret about one of our friends and watch fireworks." He nodded, "All that seems extremely enjoyable, don't you think?"

"… Wait you assume we are going to find out an important secret because of a summer fair?"

"Yes? This book doesn't lie." He said, handing the manga over. She started to check the pages, looking at the protagonist – or who she assumed was the protagonist, a girl that was the center of the attention – as she first found out some secret about the boy she liked, then ended up on a date with him. She chuckled.

"Todoroki, this is just-" She paused as the pair ended up looking up at the fireworks and she asked an important question, both stammering their way past the encounter, the girl clearly happier and more in love than before. "W-Well, maybe we can see what happens, right?"

Todoroki nodded, taking back the manga. Uraraka swore she was watching and it just vanished. Did Todoroki have actually three quirks? Or did someone teach him some way to do that?

-x-

Izuku sneezed, unsure of why. They were walking through the fair, he and Himiko making their way through the crowd. Masutaro and Hagakure were a bit ahead, and Todoroki and Uraraka were following along. Himiko was holding his hand and leaning on his shoulder, and he felt like he could melt then and there. He was barely noticing the stalls around them, despite Himiko stopping him to buy some food they shared. No one was looking for Valiant at a small summer fair, especially considering that he had last been seen in Kyushu, so they were even able to take off the face mask for long enough to do that.

He had never been this happy in his entire life, that was a fact. He had come close to it, once or twice, but this happy? No, never. Well, maybe when All Might chose him as his successor, but that was a difficult one to beat.

He was sure there were meant to be ups and downs in every relationship, and he was sure there would be in theirs too – heck, one could say the whole 'We have to marry to stop a gang war' was a down – but right now things were perfect.

-x-

"He jinxed it, didn't he?" Daigoro asked, the Vestige crossing his arms with a grumble.

"Oh, he absolutely did." En replied.

"You know, it feels like it's been a while since we talked at all." Shinomori commented.

"Well, we were watching." The Third said, "Plus, the author probably has a hard time introducing an element like our rambling without feeling like he is just padding the chapter instead of showing something of value."

"… What?" Yoichi asked.

"I said it doesn't make much sense for us to comment out loud all the times when we are essentially a spiritual hivemind. Are you ok Yoichi?"

"Sure, just… Tired."

"You can't be tired, you are the projection of a guy that died a century ago. Strictly speaking, you aren't real." The Second pointed out.

"I can give it a good shot though." Yoichi countered, "And I feel real enough, thank you very much. But I don't get it. Nineth has been at this for month. Where is my brother? He knows where he is, he knows him enough the Nineth actually lowers his guard around him, and the option to steal the Quirk is right here!"

"Maybe he just really trusts that successor of his?" The Second suggested.

"Well, not Himiko really, he made her heir for some other reason, I'm sure. And you mean Handjob? I don't know, my brother has always been the kind of guy that does everything by himself, without any help from others."

The two looked at each other for a long moment.

And then they started laughing.

-x-

Sitting in his Togaraki office, back against the sofa and hands on the controller, Shigaraki felt a moment of intense anger.

Weird. He must have been thinking of Valiant. That moment of distraction cost him as his opponent managed to KO his character.

"Goddammit Valiant!" He shouted at the screen. This was all his fault somehow.

-x-

"We have a grand prize winner!" The owner of the ring toss stall shouted, as Masutaro grinned and Tooru looked down in disbelief at her new stuffed animal, a cute teddy bear with a bowtie. It was SO adorable.

"How did you do that?!"

"Eheheh…" He grinned, "I went to the summer fair every year, and I got some serious skills. Do you want me to win another prize?"

"You really think you can?" Tooru asked, eyeing a jack in the box that could open to reveal a cute bunny. That was her favorite kind of toys.

"Leave it to me." He said, grabbing more ring and tossing them. Sure enough, to Tooru's amazement, soon after he was holding in his hand the jack in the box.

"Oh my gosh, Masutaro! You are so great!"

"Eheheh…"

"It's just like you to have a talent with no practical applications!"

"Eheh- Wait what?"

Before he could think more about her comment, she leaned in and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "My hero." She whispered in his ear, and he turned bright red.

"W-Well, if I have a talent like this, I better show it off more. Come on, I'll win you every prize at this fair!" He said.

Tooru smiled and followed her boyfriend as he walked to the next game stall. Yup, this was a great night.

-x-

"This is really good." Shoto said, slurping his cold soba. Uraraka smiled.

"See? I told you, it doesn't take a lot of money to enjoy a summer festival."

The teen nodded, as they walked forward. The three pairs had ended up separating fairly early in the night, but it made sense, he supposed. Both Masutaro and Midoriya were going out with their girlfriend, so of course they'd want some alone time. They had arranged to meet up again after the fireworks to do some final walking around as a group, but until then- Was that Natsuo?

"Natsu?" Shoto asked, looking at the guy standing behind the Takoyaki stall's counter. His brother looked up, wide-eyed.

"Shoto?" His older brother blinked, "Wait, Shoto? What are you doing here?!"

"I'm out with some friends." He said, gesturing at Uraraka.

"Oh, I see." Natsuo's smile changed into a grin, "And who is this nice little lady you have with you?"

"Hi!" Uraraka waved, "I'm Ochaco Uraraka, Todoroki's friend. And you are…"

"This is my older brother, Natsuo Todoroki." Shoto explained. "What are you doing, Natsu?"

"A friend of mine is sick and since he knows I can make good fish food he asked me to cover for him at this stall." Natsuo explained, before leaning in to comment to Shoto and Uraraka in a lower voice, "I asked if I could make sashimi but he said it would be too expensive for the festival."

"No kidding…" Uraraka said. "Well, we will take two servings then." She said.

"We don't have to, if you can't…" Shoto said.

"Don't worry, don't worry, we can give up on one of the rides. The ferry wheel is overrated anyway…"

"Nonsense!" Natsu shouted suddenly, whipping out two servings of Takoyaki, "Here you go, it's on the house."

"A-Are you sure? Won't your friend be mad?" Uraraka asked.

"Don't worry, there is always some leftover from events like this. A serving or two can just slip out without much trouble." Natsu said, before glancing at his brother, "Plus I can't really let Shoto's first date go to waste."

"I-It's not a f-first date!" Uraraka shouted.

Shoto nodded. "It's true. We had what you'd consider a 'date' already."

"That's not what I meant!" Uraraka shouted, turning bright red.

-x-

Natsuo watched the two teens walk away, chatting as the Uraraka girl blushed and Shoto seemed genuinely confused. He shook his head, a smile on his face. He barely knew his own brother, but this was already the second time he helped him with the Uraraka girl.

"Never thought I'd see him so happy." He thought. Good for you Shoto, good for yo-

"Two servings of Takoyaki, please." A female voice said.

Natsuo smiled, turning around, "Naturally m- Fuyumi?!"

"Sssssh!" Fuyumi hissed, silencing him with a gesture of her finger, before glancing at Shoto.

"What are you doing here?!"

"I'm keeping an eye on our little brother of course." She said. He looked at her raising an eyebrow, looking down at her blue yukata decorated with white snowflakes and patterns that resembled wind. "I need this to hide better-"

"There you are!" A voice Natsuo recognized shouted, and he saw his sister turn bright red as she did as well. Burnin', her firey hair tide in a ponytail, walked up to them, wearing a white yukata with red fire patterns, "Oh, and if it isn't the other Todo-sibling! What are you doing here, Natsuo?!"

"Selling Takoyaki." He said, pulling out the two orders and accepting the money from Fuyumi's trembling hands. "Something I should know?"

Fuyumi was still bright red, but Burnin' wiggled her eyebrows and glanced at Fuyumi with a very clear look. Natsuo snorted. "We-We should really go, or Todoroki and his girlfriend will go away!" Fuyumi said, dragging away a laughing Burnin', who was in turn holding both servings of Takoyaki.

"Bye bye Natsuo, have a good night!" Her father's sidekick shouted, and Natsu shook his head.

'Wish Touya was here.' He thought, 'He might feel better seeing the family like this.' He frowned, 'Then again, that problem father is still there, so not much we could do. I don't really trust Fuyumi's spray bottle and gasoline solution.'

"Can I have two servings?" A raspy voice asked.

"Sure thing sir." He said, handing over one of the servings he had cooked. He looked at the scarred man with black hair that picked them up. His face was a patchwork of burns and piercings, giving him quite the intimidating look.

"Can I help you?" He asked.

"Ah! Sorry, just…"

"Right, not the best face to look at." The man replied, "Don't worry, I get that often."

"Sorry, I really didn't mean to." Next to him was a foreigner-looking girl with a green yukata and arrow patterns on it. As he handed over the food, the man spent a long moment staring at him, before handing over the money.

"Thanks." He said, before walking off. Natsuo wondered why he looked oddly familiar.

-x-

Izuku patted his pocket, making sure his gift was still in place, as they walked toward the ferry wheel, and took a deep breath as they were let in. He had counted the time well for this, he reminded himself.

Aaaah, why was he so worried he'd mess up? What if he had the timing work? What if she didn't like it? What if he had misunderstood her words last time? What if she liked it but it was the wrong time to show it off? Masutaro had promised he'd make the arrangements to make sure she didn't have to carry it around all night, and had already sent the message confirming everything was well, but he was still nervous.

'Calm down, Izuku. I'm sure she will love the gift.' He told himself, as the wheel started moving upward.

"This was a great night." Himiko said, looking outside the window while biting into the last bit of her cotton candy, "Thank you, Izuku. I had a lot of fun."

"I did too, Himiko. Spending time with you is always…" He paused as a loud bang echoed outside, and the first firework exploded. He sighed in relief. He had counted well, it seemed, at least to be on the ferry wheel in time for the fireworks.

He watched Himiko's wide smile as she looked outside and felt he could melt of pure joy then and there.

"It's always beautiful." He said, before coughing, the fireworks in the background, "Uhm, Himiko, I know today technically isn't a special occasion, but… I have something for you."

"Y-You do?" She asked, suddenly ignoring the fireworks outside. He wondered if the beating of his heart in her chest was also drowning out the fireworks outside like it was for him. He looked outside, seeing they were reaching the top of the wheel.

"Yeah, I…" He took a deep breath, "I remember our first big date at the mall. A-And so, when I saw this, I couldn't help but think of it and I… I bought you something."

She looked at him as he brought his hand to his pocket and pulled out a small, round marble. Masutaro's dad had assured him it would keep enough air inside for it to be safe to carry around for six hours, given the content. He hoped he was right, or this would turn really awkward really fast.

"So I got you… this." He said, and broke the marble.

A large cage popped out. Inside it, a pair of canaries, one with green feathers and the other with golden, chirped, probably a bit confused at suddenly finding themselves in a ferry wheel. Himiko's eyes went wide. "You got me…"

"I-I remembered that you like birds, and you seemed so happy just looking at them, and I-I just thought that you would like to have them as pets, since the dorms allow animals, so I figured I'd buy two, and I asked for two, a male and a female with the right colors but they didn't have black canaries so I got a green one and a golden one because I remembered what color your hair was the first time we met and I figure you just stopped coloring them but I hope it still fits and I hope that you like it because I know usually giving pets as a gift is frowned upon but they seemed to make you so happy and I-"

"Izuku." She interrupted him.

"Yes?"

"I love you." She said, cupping his face in her hands and dragging him into another kiss.

-x-

"Are you sure you want to go alone?" Izuku, his face covered in kisses, asked as Himiko and he walked away from the ferry wheel, "I can accompany you."

"No, no, you said Compress is waiting just outside the park right? And you showed me where that is, so I can take it there and come back." She said, "Wait for me with the others at the meeting spot." She said. He watched her walk away, stop a moment to take a swig out of her thermos, and then rush off, surprisingly agile even in the yukata.

Izuku sighed in relief. "Thank goodness that went well." He murmured.

"Hey, are you Valiant?" A voice asked from behind him. He froze, then sighed, knowing there was no escaping this.

"Yeah, but please, don't make a scene, I'm out of work right now and…"

A hand came resting on his shoulder, as a man with dark hair, golden eyes and a simple black face mask dragged him in. Initially, he thought it was to take a selfie, then his mind registered who the man was. "Over-"

"Hello, Valiant. Or should I call you 'Heir of the Green Valley Clan?'" He said, his hand, that Izuku knew could kill him in an instant, resting on his shoulder. "Why don't we have a chat?"

"I…"

"Fantastic." Overhaul replied. And he led Izuku into the crowd.

(XX)

Gifts! Yukata designs! Yakuza! Romance! Isn't this a great festival to come back to?

Well, at least a good result of my being so slow is that this chapter got released in the appropriate season now... But man, have I been waiting for this. It's the summer festival of love, laugh and yakuza and it's the propellant for so many new events ahead.

Himiko's fascination with birds is a bit unusual, as many people will know. I'm sure the meaning of such a gift wasn't lost on some readers, but for others... well, wait and see.

And Handjob is home alone while Dabi is taking out Beros. Is this a date? Is this work? Is this Dabi being a creep on Shoto? Only time will tell.

See you next time for more love, laughs, lies and yakuza (Dammit, that doesn't start with 'l').