The ice cream parlor was where Izuku and Shouto could be found for the time being. As Shouto seated herself at the booth, Izuku ordered two scoops of rum raisin for himself and two scoops of neapolitan for her. Rum raisin wasn't his particular favorite but according to Tenya and Ochako, eating rum raisin was a sign of good luck for a successful date.

And on an unrelated note, it was apparently good for fertility. That was at least Ochako said after reading a few blogs about it.

"Here you go!" The shopkeeper said as she handed Izuku their dairy treats. True to his word, he used his debit to pay for the dessert. Shouto insisted that she should but Izuku wasn't going to budge. The last thing he needed was a nagging ear or a wrung ear if his mom got word of it.

That was if he was able to come home from a certain fiery hitsquad who would love to see Izuku's head on a silver platter.

"Thanks!" Shouto said as she was handed her neapolitan. "I'll cover for dinner."

He wavered his hand as he took a seat across from her. "No worries. I'm a gentleman so it's right to pay for your meals."

She smiled, trying her hardest not to laugh.

"What's funny?" Izuku wondered.

"It's sweet that you're trying so hard to be chivalrous." She then took a bite into her ice cream. "Yummy," she commented as she took another bite.

He was taken aback, trying to keep his so-called cool composure. "I just feel when you take someone out, it is the role of the gentleman to take care of their dates."

"Like yeah…but when beepers and mood rings reign supreme." Shouto took another bite of her ice cream. "Relax, Deku, we're in the 21st century. If women want to have equal rights, then we, too, must partake and have our similar course of action." She nodded to herself before taking another bite. "Take a bite of your ice cream before it melts, okay?"

Blushing at her retort, he sank his teeth into the diary treat. "A bit bitter but not rejectable." He then indulged in another bite.

"It's the least I can do since I got the dates to the movie mixed-up," she said as she flicked her forehead. "Silly me, sorry about that."

It turned out that the viewing for The Lion King was for the next night. When going to the theater, she was met with embarrassment when realized that she had her days mixed up. The movie was sold out for the evening and they were offered a refund. Shouto, being the kind, caring, and resilient teen that she was, donated the tickets to someone who couldn't afford or couldn't get a spot. That alone made Izuku grasp his chest, especially how altruistic the Iwa no Hana was.

"Don't be upset. Mistakes happen."

"Well…I have been a scatterbrain lately. Too much on my mind." Shouto said as she took another bite. "With school, clubs, projects, family commitments, a lot can take its toll…and I hope that I had this one day out of my busy schedule to make it fun with an amazing guy."

Izuku blushed when hearing those words penetrate through his chest. "Y-y-you think I am…amazing?"

"Of course, silly," she said as she took another bite of her ice cream. "Why did you think I asked you to come to the movies with me?" She then lowered her gaze at the table. "I can tell that your mind has been running a marathon about tonight and wondering if this is a…a…well, you know."

Izuku suddenly felt a chill that went down his spine. Was she feeling the same way about this night?

"W-w-well…" Izuku stammered. "I-I-I try not to think it was a…well, whatever you want to call it."

She lowered her ice cream and gazed her eyes onto his. "I want to apologize for the boys that gave you a hard time about this."

He wavered his hands. "Don't be sorry…."

"No," she interjected. "I have to say this." She took a deep breath. "I know it isn't easy being you, considering your constitution when it comes to girls. And please, please don't take offense. I guarantee you that this isn't a prank or a penalty game. There won't be any girls running to the booth to film this."

He nervously chuckled. "I wasn't particularly planning on it. Should I be alarmed?" He propped an eyebrow.

"Nope! Just you and I," she replied. "It was no accident that I came to ask you if you wanted to go with me on this, well…you know. I thought it would be cool to hang out with a cool person like you."

"You think I am cool."

"Like yeah. You're funny, charming, amazing, and the way you handle things, despite it being awkward and goofy, makes you unique." She then reached over and took his hand, rubbing it affectionately. "That's why I wanted to ask you to go with me on this, well…you know."

"So I wasn't the only one." It gave him perspective considering the actions prior to this meeting with Shouto. Dealing with the embarrassing quips from Eijiro and Katsuki, the 'advice' given by Yui, and the plans to make this date successful from Tenya and Ochako. Maybe his mother was right, the only thing he just needed to do to make this night successful was to just be himself.

Izuku let out this sigh, a relief ran through his body. He drew a smile and grasped her hand. "Hey, I hear that there is a carnival in town. Let's go."

Shouto let out a smile and nodded in agreement. "Lets!"

"It may not be Lion King but I can guarantee we can feel the love tonight…by having fun with the carnival and such!"

She tilted her head, slightly tapping Izuku's shoulder as they took their ice cream to go.

The train ride to the carnival was spent with them getting to know each other — their likes, their dislikes, their families, their dreams and their futures as prospective Pro Heroes. What amazed him was that she clung onto every word she said, even when he knew he was too talkative. He could be talking about dripping paint and she would engage in every word. He nodded to himself, realizing that he was worried for nothing.

About an hour later….

Izuku knew that taking Shouto to the carnival was a great choice, especially since the theme of the carnival was literally based on the Lion King.

They stuffed their faces with fish dogs and cotton candy. True to her word, it was Shouto's treat.

As the night progressed, Shouto was in all smiles as she held the stuffed Simba toy that he won for her while playing skeeball. It was interesting seeing this shy girl shedding her layers. In return, she, too, was helping him shed his layers.

"Ah, my goddess!" Shouto said as she held the large Simba toy. "I didn't think you had the hands for skeeball."

"Well, these pythons aren't just for looks and show," responded Izuku as he playfully flexed his muscles.

"Seems like my hero is trying to get something bigger than just a win, right?"

Seeing Shouto turning beet red made Izuku revert back into his shyness.

Shouto flicked his forehead. "I'm kidding, sweetness. Kinda." She reached over and pecked him on the cheek.

The teen felt his cowlick twitch. He could ride on the Nimbus cloud from here to Namek and back again just to receive his first kiss from the Iwa no Hana.

"Oh, look at this!" Shouto pointed at the ferris wheel ahead of them. She turned to him. "Wanna get on? Can we, can we?"

It was a bit close to curfew. Remembering those words her family told him at their residence, he was kind of getting apprehensive. "I'm not sure, Shouto. How would your parents feel?"

"C'mon, it's the weekend. I know my parents are tough as nails but deep in their hearts, it's like pudding." She smiled. "They're just protective of their baby girl." She reached his hand and pulled him to the ferris wheel. "C'mon, let's have some fun and then we can split."

Feeling that sixteen years on this Earth was enough for him, at least this final moment of life would be spent with the most beautiful girl in the world.

They rushed to the attendant and handed them their tickets. Izuku allowed her to step in first. Situating her toy in the middle, Izuku sat beside the plush toy and closed the door. Safely fastened, they prepared to enjoy the lovely view of the city.

As the carriage went up, Izuku took this moment to ingest the scene. "This was a great night. Granted, it didn't go to plan but it wasn't bad either. Ate ice cream together, got my first official kiss, and it was much simpler than I thought it would be. Why in the hell did I treat this like it was calculus? It was just that simple."

"Wow," cried Shouto in awe as she was able to see the entire view of Musutafu. "It is like a neon wonderland of glamor and lights!"

Izuku nodded in agreement. He tried relaxing as much as he could. He was alone with the Iwa no Hana. Their distance was quite close. Trying to keep his composure, he tried keeping his eyes straightforward.

"Hey, Izuku?"

"Yeah?"

"I am glad that we were able to go to this carnival." She held onto the handle of the carriage. "I am actually having a great time."

Izuku smiled. "Think nothing of it! I just wanted to be sure that you are having fun." He turned to her. "You are having fun, are you?"

"I just said so, silly!" She grinned. "Why? Doubting me?"

"No," he said. "I just wasn't sure how you were."

"I am…and your being here makes it all the sweeter."

Izuku nodded in agreement. "Glad to have helped."

"Thanks for the stuffed Simba toy."

The boy's face remained blushed. He glanced at the floor as he smiled shyly, he rubbed his cheek.

"This squishy, squishy stuffed toy is so adorable," she said gleefully as she held the toy tightly.

She planted her nose on top of the stuffed doll's head. "I am thinking of naming it…" She stopped, putting her finger to her lip as she pondered on christening the gift from her lovely well, whatever-you-want-to-call it.

"I am thinking of naming it Squishy!" She tightly squeezed the stuffed lion. "And I would love it and keep it forever!"

"It's your toy. Name it whatever you would like."

"You did get it for me. Should you name it?"

"No, no," he retorted. "I just did the work. The least you can do is give it a name."

She flicked his forehead. "Typical man to say such a thing. Tee-hee!"

"Ok, ok! Fine~!" Izuku put his finger to his lip. "How about Hana?"

"Hmm?! You know what? I like that!" She hugged the doll tightly. "I will keep it and love it until the end of days." She kissed the doll. "You're my new bestie, Hana!"

The girl glanced back at him. "This has been a great night, Izuku. Thank you. Best first date ever." She smiled at him lovingly.

"So it is a date!" Izuku blushed. "You're welcome, Shouto, I'm happy that I could make you smile like that. It was great for me as well." He smiled contentedly at her.

Stepping closer, Shouto grabbed his hand and held it tight before looking up at him. "Come here."

She put her hand on the back of his neck and pulled him down into a deep kiss. As their lips mashed together, she pushed her tongue into his mouth and invited him to do the same.

The duo broke the kiss, leaving a trail of saliva between the pair.

"Wow, Izuku! Your lips were amazing," she said in bewilderment. "Now these lips belong to you."

Before Izuku could answer, the Ferris wheel proceeded to move.

A few minutes later….

Izuku knew curfew was approaching. His Uber driver wasn't too far from picking them up and taking them back home.

"I had the greatest time, Izuku," responded Shouto as she held her stuffed toy. "This is one of the best nights I've ever had."

"Ditto! This was a great night. Glad to share it with you."

Shouto was hopping like a rabbit as she was definitely on cloud 9. Tonight was fun and pleasant. Izuku wished that it wouldn't end.

"Hey, Izuku?"

"Yeah?"

"What if tonight doesn't end here? What if we continue it elsewhere?"

"What do you mean?"

She approached him and narrowed the gap between them. "C'mon, Izuku. You know what I mean."

'Sixteen is a critical age for any Japanese teenager if he plans to score.'

'Plan to score?'

]If Midoriya scores, then we are no longer the lame kids. Plus, this is Shouto, one of the most popular girls in school! And the fact we are Izuku's friends gets us a step up in the food chain. So, yes, I am hoping that this will be good. For all of us. It isn't just Izuku getting his cherry popped, but the fact we are part of this group is like we all got our cherry popped.'

'Knowing for Deku, he will probably blow it.'

'Are you talking about the date or his pants?'

'What's the difference?'

'I still see the shadows in my room. Can't take back the love that I gave you.'

'This is Don Lemon and you're watching CNN.'

'I did not have any sexual relations with Ms. Lewinsky. But I am wearing her underwear.'

"Izuku!" Izuku stared blankly into the concerned eyes of the Iwa no Hana.

He cleared his throat. "Is this what you want?"

"Like yeah. And trust me, I want it as badly as you do." She kissed him on the cheek. "And I want it to be with the coolest kid in 1-A."

When the Uber arrived, he was still in shock about what was going on, considering when telling the amber-eyed driver to take them to the nearest love motel.

To be continued….