AN: Thanks for reading and leaving reviews, everyone!
Himiko sat up in her bed with a loud groan, glaring at the rising sun as if it personally offended her. It was probably her fault that she forgot to close the windows last night because of how late she was up watching anime, but right now, she was annoyed by the rays of light that woke her up.
Looking at the clock, she sighed and gently moved her plushies next to her pillow before getting out of bed. Grabbing her phone, she felt a smile tugging at her lips as she saw a message from Emily. She opened the message to see that the other girl was still on for their trip to the seaside park. For as smart as Emily was, she was frustratingly high strung, and Himiko had made it her personal mission to rectify that.
Sending off a quick message, Himiko grabbed the cute aqua-colored sundress she had chosen for today and dashed off to the bathroom to prepare for the day.
As Himiko left the train station, she scanned the crowd for her friend. Sure enough, she saw a blonde head of hair poking out above the crowd across the plaza. Grinning, she took off toward the other girl, weaving through the crowds until she caught sight of Emily standing there in a loose-fitting orange shirt and a pair of jean shorts. The other girl had her arms crossed and an annoyed look on her face, tapping her foot impatiently as she searched through the crowds.
"Emily!" Himiko called out as she waved her hand at the girl.
"Himiko!" Emily replied. "You're late!"
"I'm five minutes early!" Himiko snickered as she closed the final few meters between them. "I checked."
Emily looked down at her watch and her gaze softened until she looked up and saw the obnoxious grin on Himiko's face. "You did that on purpose!"
"Maybe. Maybe I just wanted to spend more time with you?"
Emily let out a strangled sound and averted her eyes, her cheeks heating up. "I still don't get why you insist on spending so much time with me."
"Because someone's gotta get you to lighten up!" Himiko tugged on the other girl's sleeve.
Emily let Himiko take the lead, following right behind her friend as she weaved through the crowded plaza and onto the open street where the crowds thinned. Letting go of her sleeve, the two walked in lockstep with each other, resuming their conversation.
"So what's so special about this park?"
"Because I'm visiting it with you, obviously!"
Emily made a sound that could best be described as a dying cat as she froze on the spot before wheeling around to face Himiko. "What's that supposed to mean?!"
"What do you think it means?"
Emily looked around and noticed exactly how many people were on the street. Grabbing Himiko's arm, she bodily dragged her into the alleyway before letting go. When she faced Himiko again, she felt her face heating up as she saw her fanged grin. "Are you implying you like me?"
"Maybe…" Himiko teased.
"As in, you like like me?"
"I thought I was being obvious." Himiko crossed her arms. "Not that you noticed!" She paused, giving the other girl a chance to fire off one of her usual retorts, but Emily was uncharacteristically silent. Taking a breath, Himiko continued. "You're smart, passionate, and hot." Himiko felt her cheeks heating up as she recalled a memory. "And you accepted me for who I was from the moment we met when so few people did."
"Himiko…" Emily spun away from the other girl, her face turning bright red. "Why now?"
"Because you'll be going to UA in two days." A predatory smile grew on Himiko's face. "And I don't want to have to fight off the hero students who'd be confessing to you if you're still single."
Emily scoffed. "The only people who ever tried confessing to me on I-Island were boys." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "None of the girls I was interested in felt that way back."
"Then they were stupid!" Emily gasped and spun around to face Himiko, brilliant blue eyes locking with golden. "And I'm glad that they didn't."
"Why? So you could confess instead?"
"Yep!"
Emily felt a smirk tugging at her lips. "Someone's confident."
"You know you love me." Himiko's grin softened, losing its edge and gaining a hint of playfulness.
"You're right, I do."
Himiko's eyes went wide as it was Emily's turn to grin. "You put up with me and keep dragging me out, despite my protests. Most people are fine to just let me do my own thing but not you."
"Someone's gotta do it. Besides—" Himiko felt her permanent blush spreading. "—you were one of the first people who really accepted me without any qualifiers. Just a random stranger in a cafe asking about my quirk and telling me how cool it was."
"I couldn't help it! Your quirk is so cool!"
"That's what I mean! I never had that before. Then the day we had together… It was fun!"
"I had a lot of fun too," Emily admitted. "You throw yourself at everything, trying to live your best life, and somehow you decide to bring me along with you. Why wouldn't I be interested in you?" She giggled. "And it doesn't hurt that you're cute too."
Himiko grabbed the collar of Emily's shirt and pulled herself up, crashing her lips onto hers. Emily responded in kind, gladly returning Himiko's kiss with her own enthusiastic response. The two wrapped their arms around each other as their kiss deepened, finding their own rhythm as they explored each other's lips. It wasn't until they were both out of breath that they broke apart, both panting heavily.
"When'd you learn to do that?" Emily asked.
"Some cute American girl helped me just now," Himiko teased as she stared up through lidded eyes. "She's a pretty good teacher."
"I see." Emily smirked. "Tell her I appreciate it."
Himiko responded by leaning in for another kiss, slower this time, but with the same level of passion behind it. Emily closed her eyes and followed suit, holding the other girl tightly and not wanting the moment to end as they shared their second kiss. As they kissed, they began to notice new things that they had missed. Emily tasted faintly of smoke, and Himiko the faint tang of iron. Neither girl could get enough, and both found themselves excited for what else they would discover in the future.
Neither could stop smiling as they pulled away from each other, Himiko giggling before Emily joined her. Both were lost in their own world, uncaring that they were simply in a half-hidden alleyway off a main street.
When the two finally calmed down, Himiko wrapped herself around Emily's arm and leaned into the other girl's shoulder. "We should probably get going. We still have a park to visit!"
"Right!" Emily agreed, her stress about school all but vanished.
As they left the alleyway and continued to their destination, Emily looked down at their joined hands and couldn't help but smile.
"You were right—this park is going to be pretty special."
As Izuku and Ochako spent the afternoon on the beach together, they realized that even though everything had changed, in many ways nothing had changed either. If anything, they now felt more aware of each other, their smiles a little brighter and their eyes a little warmer as they looked at each other and felt their partner's presence next to them.
They had lost track of the hours until Izuku's stomach started rumbling. Ochako giggled at her boyfriend, ready to make a joke when her own body betrayed her by announcing she was hungry as well. Red-faced, the pair decided they had spent enough time on the beach and should go get food.
The two changed back into their clothes and took a train to the shopping district. The two were walking along debating where to eat when they noticed something unusual.
"What's Himi doing here with Song?" Izuku asked as he noticed his sister up ahead.
"Hrm?" Ochako asked, looking around until she noticed them as well. "They're holding hands now, too!"
"Do you want to say hi?" Izuku asked. "We don't have to if you don't want to. Today's supposed to be just the two of us, after all!"
Ochako felt her permanent blush spreading as she avoided Izuku's gaze. "I did, but I'm kind of curious what's going on? I-if you don't mind, that is!"
"Nope." Izuku shook his head.
Speeding up, the two approached the other couple before Izuku called out to them. "Himi! Song!"
Both girls spun around at the sound of their names. Himiko's face lit up in recognition, a grin splitting her face. "Izu! Ocha! We have good news!"
"We're dating now!" Emily announced proudly.
"Yep! Unlike you two." Himiko's eyes darted to their hands.
"Um, actually…" Izuku started rubbing the back of his head as his eyes darted over to Ochako.
Mine as well rip this band-aid off now. The resigned look on her face told him everything he needed to know.
"...we got together last night," Izuku finished.
"Last night?" Himiko asked incredulously, her eyes going wide. "You mean to tell me you two got together before us?!"
"Yep!" Ochako boasted. "I may have accidentally blurted out how I felt and then we talked it over, and now…" She gave a warm smile to her boyfriend.
"You two weren't together when Himi and I talked last night!" Emily said, trying to figure out when it happened. "Wait… did you confess to him over the phone?!"
Izuku, Ochako and Himiko all fell into an awkward silence as the three of them glanced at each other. While Himiko knew about the shared vestige realm and how they spend most of their nights together, they weren't ready to bring Emily in on the secret of One For All. Not yet. And certainly not in the middle of the shopping district.
Taking the silence as confirmation, Emily turned toward Izuku. "I can't believe it! I feel so bad for you Midoriya!"
"S-so what if I did?" Ochako asked a little too loudly.
"You were going to see him this morning! Couldn't you just have waited until then!"
"It doesn't matter how she did it!" Izuku came to his girlfriend's defense. "All that matters is we love each other."
"Finally! Now I don't have to keep trying to wingwoman the two of you."
"I can't believe you're ok with this!" Emily looked at her girlfriend.
"We confessed in an alleyway. I don't think we're much better," Himiko remarked, giving her girlfriend a flat look.
"Wait, you confessed where?" Ochako asked.
"It doesn't matter!" Emily squeaked. "I can't believe it. Why am I surrounded by you people?"
"You know you love us," Himiko teased.
"So why are you two here?" Izuku asked in a desperate attempt to change the topic. "I thought you were going to a park?"
"We did!" Himiko chirped. "And now we're looking for dinner."
"So are we!" Ochako said.
"We should eat together!"
"Ocha?"
Ochako gave her boyfriend a playful smile. "I kind of want to hear all about this alleyway confession."
"We're not talking about it!"
"I'm not asking you! I'm asking Himi. You'll tell us, right?"
"Of course!" Himiko grinned.
"I can't believe this," Emily groaned.
"Are you really surprised?" Izuku asked.
"No." Emily turned to look at her girlfriend whose grin split her face. "Not in the slightest."
"Next time pick a more romantic place for us to confess!"
"That means I'd have to break up with you first."
"True." Himiko put an index finger to her face as she mimicked a thoughtful expression before grinning again. "I guess we're stuck with our alleyway confession."
"I hate you."
"No you don't."
Emily let out a sigh. "No, I don't. So where do we want to eat?"
A few minutes later, the four chose a restaurant. Izuku was actually impressed by Himiko's discipline as they walked to the restaurant, sat down, and ordered food.
His relief was short-lived as the moment the waitress left Himiko turned toward her brother. "Ok what happened?"
Ochako smirked at the other girl. "I asked first. An alleyway?"
"Look, there wasn't anywhere else private nearby and I wasn't thinking clearly!" Emily exclaimed.
"Did it even matter?" Izuku asked his sister.
"Nope!" Himiko gave a serene smile to her girlfriend. "It was perfect."
"I'm happy for the two of you," Izuku said softly before turning to Emily. "You two are great for each other."
"Of course we are!" Emily smiled at her girlfriend happily. "I'm glad you two ditched her on I-Island."
"Hey!" Ochako protested. "That was months ago and we made it up to you!"
Himiko burst out laughing before leveling a stare at the pair sitting across from her. "I guess I can finally forgive you for that."
"My turn!" Himiko said before leveling a stare at Ochako. "Details, now."
"I wasn't thinking clearly," Ochako admitted. "I was waiting for Izu to make the first move, but after our mission I decided that I needed to tell him."
"But over the phone?"
"I didn't want to wait, ok?" Ochako glared at Emily. "It felt like there was always someone there to interrupt us and so it just sort of slipped out!"
"So why didn't you tell her sooner?" Emily turned toward Izuku. "It's not polite to keep a girl waiting like that!"
Izuku rubbed the back of his head. "Well I just - with our training and studies I didn't want to be a distraction."
"My life is suffering." Himiko put her head on the table before her head shot up and she looked at her girlfriend. "See what I had to put up with?"
"It sounds like he's just trying to be responsible!"
"You've seen how they act around each other!"
"It's fine," Izuku said softly, gazing at Ochako. "When I'm with her, I feel like I can do anything. Even though we may not have a lot of free time, we'll figure it out."
Emily felt her face grow red as she looked at Himiko's satisfied grin before her face was filled with its own determination. "Well if they can do it, so can we!"
"Exactly!" Himiko said. "We just have to take our moments when we can get them." As if to prove her point, she leaned in to kiss Emily, who gladly reciprocated.
"Himi!"
"In public, really?"
"What?" both girls asked simultaneously.
"This is my life now." Izuku cradled his head in his hands.
Ochako giggled and patted him on the shoulder. "I'm sure you two'll be fine. I don't think Song will let either of your grades slip."
"You're damn right I won't!" Emily slammed her hand on the table. "Now that I'm dating Himi, she'd better be getting into UA next year!"
"We'll be training hard next semester." Ochako punched her fist into an open palm. "We've all got hand to hand teachers lined up, and somehow Himi's got a stint with Mr. Brave!"
"Hey, that's not just me. Jiro's coming with me to that!" Himiko pointed out.
"And don't think I'm going to go easy on our study sessions now that we're dating," Emily said.
"I didn't." Himiko gave a predatory look to her girlfriend. "At least I'll have a nice reward waiting for me at the end of our sessions."
Emily made a strangled sound before glaring at Himiko. "Only if you earn it!"
Izuku and Ochako started giggling at the antics of the two girls. Himiko quickly joined them, and finally Emilly followed suit, the four letting the tension and worry flow out of them. Soon enough they'll be restarting school, but before then, they still had one day left to enjoy themselves.
With their meal finished, Izuku and Ochako said goodbyes to Himiko and Emily and trekked home.
"Feeling less frustrated than yesterday?" Izuku asked as they left the commercial district.
"Mhm." Ochako gave a warm smile to her boyfriend. "Much."
"I'm glad." Izuku gave her hand a subtle squeeze and felt her return the gesture.
"I feel like we got lucky, though," Ochako giggled. "If Himi didn't have Song to distract her…"
"You know she's gonna be bugging me as soon as she gets home."
"And your mom is going to be after both of you. Good luck!" Ochako turned her head and gave Izuku a bright smile.
"Ehehehe." Izuku rubbed the back of his head with his free hand.
When they reached their traditional spot to part ways, they didn't even slow down as Ochako gave Izuku a questioning glance, his subtle nod all she needed to know that he wasn't going to leave her side yet.
"I think I like this new routine," Ochako said as they reached her parking lot. "Are you ok staying out late every day?"
"Mhm." Izuku gave her a reassuring smile. "I don't mind. You're worth it."
Ochako gasped, feeling her blush spreading before she whacked his shoulder. "You're worth it too, you know."
"I know. If it makes you feel better, we could start taking turns? Next time you walk me home?"
"I think I'd like that."
As her eyes locked with Izuku's, Ochako felt her heart speeding up as she once again realized that he was her boyfriend - her partner in all things. Closing her eyes, she began to lean forward, meeting him in the middle as she felt his arms wrap around her waist. His kiss was gentle, just like he was, and she wouldn't have it any other way. When they were done, she reluctantly pulled away, folding her hands behind her back lest she be tempted to wrap them around his shoulders a second time.
"Love you Izu. See you soon."
"I love you too Ocha. I'll see you later tonight."
AN: Since people have been curious when it'll happen, after this there's gonna be a time skip to jump ahead in the timeline.