Cinderella said to Snow White
How does love get so off course
All I wanted was a white knight
With a good heart, soft touch, fast horse - This Kiss by Faith Hill

Mina was waiting for us in the living room, her legs curled underneath as she flipped though the latest Newtype magazine. She looked up, her gold on black eyes shining as she closed the magazine and got up to follow me to the elevators. I bid Koda a good night as the boy's elevator arrived to take him up.

"You don't even need me anymore!" She gave me a tiny fist pump as we waited for the other car to arrive, and I blushed. I didn't need her in the first place; but I had to admit, my life had certainly gotten much more interesting after Operation Ochaco-chan.

I shook my head, "I do still need you." She bumped my shoulder, "I haven't found anyone to fill that Midoriya shaped hole in my heart yet, so your work isn't over."

The elevator chimed gently, and we stepped in, "That's so awesome, because I've gotten a few more dates lined up!"

"I.." I giggled, "I have a date on Friday. I'm sorry, I should have said something."

"Ohhh!" The elevator moved to our floor, "Who is it?"

"Shinso Hitoshi?"

I watched her as her face closed in thought. She glanced back up, "That brainwashing guy? From the Sports Festival?"

"Not you too?"

"No?" She shrugged, "He was kinda hot." She stepped out at our floor, and I followed, "Just leave the weekend open. I have it all booked up for you."

Friday

I pulled my cardigan tighter as I waited for Shinso to show up. I saw him out of the corner of my eye as he jogged close. He slowed before he reached me, sliding on a leather-trimmed jean jacket, and smiling as he caught his breath.

"Sorry!" He ran fingers though hair that looked freshly washed, "I was training and had to shower before meeting you, because, you know, date."

"Right," I laughed, "date."

His shadow-rimmed purple eyes blinked, "You're not calling this a date?"

"Oh!" I clapped a hand to my mouth, "No! Of course!" I backpedaled, with a giggle, "Let's start over, okay? Let's see, I'm happy to see you again, Shinso-kun."

"Hitoshi, if you don't mind, Ochaco-chan?"

I smiled, enjoying his easy going manner, "Yeah, Hitoshi-kun." I tipped my head as he continued to watch me, "So.." I shrugged, "Was I supposed to choose where to go on our date?"

"Oh!" He reached a hand up to rub his neck, "No, I thought we could go to Tokyo, see the Skytree."

"Really? That's so cool, but won't it be busy, Friday night and all?" I blushed, "Do you want me to go get some money? I don't think I have that much right now, but I do have some stashed in my room, it won't take very long at all!"

Hitsoshi's brow furled and he shook his head, setting his hair to wagging, "Hey, it's my treat, okay?" He flicked out his hand, motioning toward the train station, "Plus, it's not like we can go during the week, and busy is good."

We walked to the train station, talking about our differences. The differences in what we were doing in class mostly. How much he wanted to be with us in the Hero course. Why he didn't want to end up some side-kick. His dedication to his dream to become a hero.

I really admired him for that. Being a hero wasn't why I started. I'd wanted to help my parents. I wanted to make money, and with my ability, I could. It was only though my friendships with Midoriya, Iida, and even Bakugo, as crazy as it sounds, that I realized I wanted to be a hero, too.

"Just keep working at it." I bit my lip, "Aizawa-sensei says that 'no good hero is a one trick pony.'"

He nodded, "I've been training. After seeing you guys in action..." He paused, his smokey eyes turning toward the school that sat high on the hill behind us, "My mentor says the same thing."

"Keisei!" The PA dinged sharply, the kanji flashing on the monitors overhead.

"That's us," He said, another wide smile accompanying it as we got on our train. It took only a few more changes before we were at the Skytree Town, where we disembarked.

"Oh, wow!" I stared up at Skytree, it's soft white light making me ahh like a child watching fireworks. Hitoshi looked up, his eyes reflecting the light from the street, making him look like he'd achieved some sort of inward glow. "It's so beautiful," I said with a quiet awe, "Thank you so much, Hitoshi-kun."

"We haven't seen anything yet." He gave me a razor smooth grin, "Come on, let's do the tree and then, maybe dinner?"

"Yeah." I agreed with a smile, and he led me toward the river, all the lights of town and the Tree itself shining off it in a kaleidoscope of color. It was a cold walk, and I shivered a bit in my cardigan, wishing that I had a heating quirk. Or that he had one.

I felt the weight of his jacket on my shoulders, I looked up to see him sheepishly look away. "I'm fine."

I ducked my head, a blush warming my ears, "Thanks." I pulled the jacket close, the scent of whatever he'd used wafting, tickling my nose.

Skytree loomed ahead of us, and he got in line, buying two tickets and then joining me in front of the doors to the gallery open to the street.

"You should download this app," he showed me his phone, and again I blushed.

"I don't have a smart phone."

"Oh." He bumped my shoulder, "We'll share mine. It's a guide to what we're looking at when we get to the panoramic deck."

We rode the elevator, a harrowing 350 meters, making me feel a little like I should release my gravity, to really... feel the ride. It was almost hard to just feel the hum of electricity, to know that I was rising though the atmosphere not by my own volition, but a man-made contraption. Getting out on the Tembo deck was a relief.

I looked around with interest, the crowds way up here, past the first panoramic deck a little less than I thought. The whole world was spread before us. Shinso stared down, the glass under his feel making him gulp, though he almost managed to hide it.

To be honest, this was higher than I'd ever gone, but I felt like... jumping! To rise to the very top, where people don't do! For a reason, I reminded myself, but I couldn't stop the tingle in my fingertips as my quirk begged for release.

When I noticed Hitoshi's bald stare, I felt my entire body flush, "You're so alive here."

"Huh?"

I was fighting my body, trying to regain my footing as he came closer, "I know you fly, but..." He indicated the city beneath us, the sky above with a sweep of his hand, "Seeing you in your element is really.." He smiled, but it almost faltered, and I wondered if he was just as embarrassed as I was. "It's amazing."

Blushing be damned. My ears singed, and I couldn't help the dopey grin that appeared. Instead of answering though, I moved the the window, staring out. He came beside me, activating his app, and together we did the tourist thing. A nice, safe, non-embarrassing thing.

We looked at the exhibits, and grabbed a coffee and a couple of sandwiches to eat on our way back to UA. It was the latest date I'd been out on so far, even Mineta's movie had me home before 9. We practically ran back to the Skytree station.

It was busy, people crowding as others flowed to and from the trains as we waited for ours. Shinso turned toward me as someone bumped me hard from behind. His arms flew out to catch me, as we crashed together. Doesn't this stuff only happen in shoujo manga? Our lips met just as he tightened his hold and my body pressed against him. An accidental kiss, and to my secret pleasure, I leaned into it.

He broke away, "Sorry.." His face was tomato red, as I'm sure mine was. "I'm just..."

My hand crept up, the fingers fanning over my lips, "No, it just happened, it was an accident, it.."

"Don't." He interrupted my babble, "It meant something, okay. Don't say it didn't mean anything."

"I'm sorry, Hitoshi-kun." I could feel my heart beating in my chest, "It's just that.."

Someone bumped him from behind, and he swayed, but his blush was gone, and his eyes were intense, "I'll settle for that now. But I want another date."

"You do?" I swallowed, searching his eyes, "Why?"

"Because I like you, Ochaco-chan. I want to see you again."

If I thought my heart had been beating before, it was nearly thunder in my throat, now. "Okay." I smiled a bit, "I'll e-mail you, okay?"

That infernal smile again, "That's fine."

The train ran back to Tatooin Station and the city of Musutafu which still sent out bright lights and the noise of a bustling city. I was feeling so many different emotions. When I came home with Iida, I'd just felt overloaded, like he wanted something I couldn't give. Now, with Shinso walking at my side, trying to pretend that he didn't want his coat back... I just felt happy.

This has to be what Mina wanted. Not all she wanted probably, but I haven't felt this... energized in a long time. I smiled, a secret little thing just for me. She was right, though I wouldn't tell her that. Operation Ochaco-chan was a complete success!

AN/ I actually have a TIMELINE. ROFL If you knew me, you'd be flippin' impressed. Thanks to my friends, without whom this story would never have seen the light of day. Tasia and Mosevic, you guys rock my socks!