Second Date or Shinso Makes A Move

You know some real bad tricks
And you need some discipline
But, lately you've been trying real hard
And giving me your best - Underneath it All by No Doubt

Mina nodded morosely as we headed back to the elevator to our shared floor. We rode it in silence, and she hugged me again in front of my door. I returned it, but my spirits were still low as I stood at the threshold. I knew this wouldn't be easy.

After Iida, I should have realized that I wasn't the only one with real human feelings. That, no matter how nasty Bakugo is, he made me really think about how I was going to approach the rest of the dates. I can't afford to let them get too personal. I can't allow anything to get in the way of becoming a hero.

I plopped down at my desk, and rummaged in my bag, pulling out the decadent candle and centering it on the only free area. It's smooth scent soothed me as I checked my email for next week's schedule from Ryuu's agency. It was there, but there was another one right above it. One from Shinso. My heart gave a bump, and I suddenly didn't know what to do. I actually did like Shinso. He was genuinely nice, and he seemed to like me back.

My pointer hovered over his e-mail as I stared at it. What a time to try to be tough! I clicked into it...

I really had a lot of fun on our last date, and I didn't think I should give those guys any more chances to be better than me. Will you go out with me again? I'll make time for you, Ochaco-chan.

I felt my cheeks heat, and I let my fingers hesitate over the keyboard. The way he said it, the way he asked for a date, telling me he'd make time for me. My eyes closed, but when I opened them, the message was still there, still needing me to say yes. So I did.

I went to bed, and lay for a long time staring at the ceiling. Wondering if things would be better or worse. All I knew was, if this date was a dud, then it was over, and I'd just stick to being miserable all alone right here in my room. At the very least, no one could see it here.

Friday Night

Shinso was leaning against one of the pillars in front of our doors, where all my classmates were unabashedly staring at him through the window. He'd not made any friends here except me, I thought with a shake of my head as I left Alliance Heights to meet with him. He straightened at my approach, and his grin came on.

"Hey, you look pretty tonight."

I gave him a twirl, and blushed at the compliment, "Thanks, so do you. We'd better scatter before they get the chance to stare a hole through you."

He snorted, "I've had worse." His eyes were shadowed though as we walked off the stoop and onto the sidewalk. "I sort-of heard what happened. With that Bakugo kid."

"Ah." I licked over my lip, "It was a hard lesson. This is the test."

"How so?"

"No pressure. Let's do what you wanted to do and if you still want to know if the test went well, I'll tell you later, alright?"

"Sounds fair." His bright eyes crinkled with his genuine smile, "Well, I hope this doesn't disappoint, but I wanted to take you out for ice cream."

I clapped my hands together, "That does not disappoint!" He chuckled at my enthusiasm, and we walked together out to some of the small shops set up to tempt the teenage palate of the average UA student. There were all kinds of stands and little eateries, and he led me to one with a bright sign and a bunch of people talking, laughing and slurping ice cream.

"I can't believe this place is so full!" I let my eyes take in the space as my nose tried to lead me straight to the ice cream counter. "I mean, it is a little chilly outside."

Hintoshi brushed my hand with his fingertips, almost as if he was thinking of grabbing it. I don't know if I wanted him to, but I know I didn't not want him to. My mind chased that thought around, and I followed him into the shop. I had to get out of my head or I was going to ruin ice cream. It seemed like the kind of thing a hero wouldn't do.

"Don't you eat ice cream in winter?" A couple moved out of the way, and we walked fully inside, the sounds of happy people and the scent of indulgence washed over me, and I let it carry away at least a little of my anxiety.

I shook my head, and we joined the line, "Not usually, no. I'm a mochi girl anyway."

His brows raised, "We could go somewhere else? Your favorite mochi stand is around here?"

I bumped his arm with my shoulder and he grew rosy cheeked, "No way, this is your date, remember?"

"Of course," his fingers made definite contact this time and I turned my palm toward the questing digits, the most natural thing in the world. Just like that, I was holding hands. I felt heat rush to my ears and cheeks, and a smile I couldn't help spang to glorious life. He wasn't going to ruin this, he meant it! I could feel it. Bakugo was too sure, every move calculated. I could almost hear his taunt 'this was textbook...'

He continued speaking over my inner monologue and I managed to hear the question, "If I strike out, then you're done?"

His grip was suddenly more, a little warmer, a little more sweaty, and I gave his hand a small grip back, "You won't."

AN/ I'm not giving up on love, and neither is Ochaco! Next, my third biggest test! Ayoma! *belly lazers onto the scene* Now, when I had these all planned and timeline-d, I realized that some of this happens during 'season 4' where **** gets... well, too many spoilers, so I'm ignoring the manga from this point on. It doesn't really matter with this kind of thing anyway. SO IT'S BEEN A YEAR. SORRY