Mid-June and July in the Tokyo suburb of Musutafu were the months of subtropical heat waves, shockingly humid afternoons and soulful melodies of cicadas. The heat would bounce off the streets, and cause an illusion of wavering images. They were one of those days when a neckerchief wasn't such a bad idea – a day when the perspiration would surface on one's forehead, one's cheeks, the bridge of one's nose, and run in rivulets down one's face until one became sodden. They were one of those days when even the well-turned-out dandies could not conceal the massive sweat pits on their sophisticated dress shirts. Furthermore, they were one of those days where every single bird, leaf, cloud and town inhabitant would succumb to the dastardly talons of indolence.

It was one of those days that an emerald-haired teen would discover a hole in his pocket. The gasping of his breath, tackling the thirst with his dry tongue as he stood at the drink machine. It wasn't already an easy walk to Shouto's residence. Taking a few shortcuts through the park, underneath bridges, and crossing a brook. He chagrined as he cursed his himself for the constant advice his mother gave him on putting it in his wallet would have made sense. He couldn't get it from his thick skull, he lamented as he put his head on the vending machine. Such savory, tasting, quench-thirsting liquids, only to be separated by a machine.

Izuku scrambled into his pockets, to hope, better pray that there was some change in beneath the pocket lint and spare buttons. He felt relief as he pulled a few coins. They were nickels and dimes, but it was a start. A light bulb shined when he put his emergency stash in the linings of his sneakers. He leaned on the vending machine as he pulled his sneaker from his sock-free foot. The sweat provided temporary relief.

He reached into the folds of the lining. Empty.

He grunted as he knew that he didn't have enough to get his drink. As an insult to his thirst-deprived injury, there was a note attached in the lining.

Yo! Kacchan here!

I know since we are childhood friends and the best of amigos, I thought you wouldn't mind borrowing some money in your sock. It's for a good cause. A good cause for the arcade machine as I have Pac-Man fever! Anyway, love you, bro. Thanks! I will pay you back when I eventually become a Pro Hero or a fashion designer. Whichever comes first!

Your dear old friend,

Kacchan!

P.S.: I may or may not pay it back! ;)

He hit his head against the vending machine. "Damn it," he grunted at surprised, yet incomprehensible notion that Katsuki even knew of his secret stash. He made a personal note to confront Katsuki at a later time. However, it still wasn't going to solve the matter at hand.

A cool, soothing, refreshing drink. He licked his lips, tasting the salt and wishing that carbonated goodness was in his mouth.

The walk to Shouto's house was another fifteen minutes. This would be a good time in his mind where his grandmother would mentally enter his mind. Back in my day, Icchan, when we couldn't get water or we were thirsty, we would swallow our spit.

He shivered at that thought. He wished mercy on his grandmother's soul, but that wasn't going to be the plan. The only thing he could do was put up with it until he made it to Shouto's house.

"Hey, Izuku!"

Izuku turned beside him. He was familiar with that voice. A few feet away stood a young girl close to his age. She had large, upturned green eyes. Her teeth were sharp and her hair was long, dark green, and wavy. This was the first time Izuku had seen classmate Setsuna Tokage outside of school. A chatty one, she was one of the most opened teens out of UA High School. A bit too much for Izuku's taste. He tried not to judge as she made her way to his direction.

Upon close contact, she took off her straw hat. She was also wearing a white sundress. She looked very pretty, he thought. Also, she was wearing a strong fragrance that reminded him of lilies in the spring.

"Hey, Setsuna. What's going on?"

She displayed her trademark smile. "I don't know. The sky?" She giggled before slapping Izuku on his back. "I'm kidding, of course! So, what brings you here on this side of town."

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he managed to produce words without wanting to fall over. "Right now, I am heading over to Shouto's house, but I decided to get something to drink." He coughed, trying to relieve himself of the heat. It wasn't long for him to possibly follow his grandmother's advice. "But I am a little short on funds."

Setsuna looked at the change in his hands. She clicked her tongue. "Seems about right. You are a few sandwiches short of a panic basket."

Thanks, Eagle Eye. Izuku thought to himself without wanting to report the obvious.

"Hey, if you are thirsty, my apartment is nearby here." She pointed over to the small, old-Showa era townhomes. "I just made a fresh batch of tea if you are interested."

Izuku nodded to her but declined her offer. "Nah! I don't want to intrude. Plus, I don't want to disturb your parents." And the fact that I don't really know you like that. Not to sound harsh.

She patted him on his back again. "Nonsense! I insist," she said with a Cheshire Cat grin. "Also, it's just me today so I don't mind having company." She slapped his back this time. "And besides, the way you are hanging your tongue out like a dog, it looks like you are going to keel over." Instinctively, the green-haired teen grabbed Izuku by the hand. "C'mon, don't need you to die on me. Then, I won't have anyone to challenge at school on Monday." Izuku felt her forcefulness as they walked across the street to enter her apartment.

"Seriously, Setsuna. I think I will be fine," he was trying to say to her.

"Uh-uh, I insist and I won't be taking no for answer." She was persistent, smiling and displaying peace signs to Izuku as they enter inside of her apartment.

Setsuna held the door for Izuku to enter her apartment. She turned on the light for him so that he could see where he was going. Her studio apartment was small, yet cozy. The highlight of her apartment was that she can view the skyline of the town. Her apartment was somewhat messy. There was a stack of comic books lying beside her bed. Her desk was toppled by school books. Surprisingly, her kitchen area was clean and so was her bed. She took off her shoes at the entranceway and walked with her socks. Izuku proceeded by doing the same thing.

"Excuse the mess," she said as turned on the ceiling lights. "Make yourself at home on the bed." She pointed at the bed. His widened on how girly it was. It was covered in frills and had pony-and-unicorn-shaped pillows. He tried his hardest not to grin at the sixteen-year-old, but who was he to judge? He still slept with his Gunpla toy sometimes. "Don't be shy. I won't bite! Unless you want me to." She growled while extending her fingers like a monster.

"Wow with the growl," he surprisingly interjected as he took a seat. "Sounding like an enemy or a fiend."

She giggled at his retort. "I am just fiending for a little friendship." She clapped her hands. "Now, I know you are pressed for time to see Shouto. Give him a text while I fix your drink."

Izuku reached for his cell phone to inform Shouto of his late arrival. He felt the vibration on his cell phone, meaning that a message was left. It was the devil himself.

Hey, Icchan. Sorry to do this, but Fuyumi and I have to go visit our grandparents in the country. The 'rents' orders. I hope that you didn't leave so soon. Text you when I am back in town.

Shouto.

Izuku bit the linings of his cheeks when realizing the wasted trip. You could have called a brother before making that long and dry trek, damn it. He retreated his cell phone into his pocket.

"Izuku, I am sorry to mention this. Do you want barley or lemon tea," she asked from the kitchen.

"Lemon tea, if you please," said Izuku.

"Coming right up," she hummed. "Ice or no ice?"

"Ice Ice, baby," replied Izuku.

She raised her eyebrow, displaying a frown.

Izuku shrugged his shoulders. "Sorry, you walked yourself into it." Izuku giggled at his own comment. Since he didn't have anything better to do until the arcade open in the late evening, he might as well get himself comfortable for the time being. Plus, with the hot day and a classmate offering free drinks in a cool air-conditioned apartment, that was a win-win situation.

It beat swallowing spit. That was for sure.

"Izuku, I have some leftover teacakes if you are hungry," she told him as she was going into the pantry.

"Sure, I can eat," he said.

"Coming right up," she hummed once more.

"Say, Setsuna, you mentioned earlier that you live with your family here," said Izuku as he took a gander of her comic books. American comics like Spider-Man and The Tick and the typical josei and shoujo mangas like Change Girl, My Love Story, and Sweet Blue Flowers. He wasn't surprised to see ero-mangas like Boku no Pico, Boku no Sexual Harassment, Aki Sora, and Swingout Sisters. He wasn't ready to tread that path on her reading material. He returned to the matter at hand.

She was dropping ice into the glass when she answered his question. "Yeah, my parents are migrant workers, working on rice paddies."

"Interesting," answered Izuku. "How often?"

"Quite almost every day," she told him as she blew into her hair. She was putting the teacakes out of the microwave when hearing it going off. "They work early in the mornings and late in the evening." She was sliding the teacakes on a plate. She made two slices for the both of them. She had color-coded glasses as they have different drinks. "My parents were called in to do a run out in Kobe and that is why they won't be back until Sunday, Monday tops." She had the tray in her hands.

Izuku could tell that she might have her hands full. So, he got from the bed in helping her moving some items out of the kotatsu. "Hey, let me help you o-" Izuku stepped on a manga book, causing him to lose his balance and slip forward. His foot hit Setsuna's tray, causing it to move forward and crashing onto Izuku.

Izuku landed backward against the bed, covering himself as the iced tea-teacake wave hit him. Immediately, he was soaked in tea and covered in baked goods. He felt the liquid travel from his head to his shirt and onto his pants.

Setsuna covered her mouth in shock. "Oh my, gosh, are you okay?"

Izuku was wiping the barley tea or lemon tea from his eye. He licked his lips, having a taste. He looked at the stunned Setsuna. "At least I can't say I wasn't satisfied," he said in a high pitch voice. Not bad. Could have used a bit more sugar.

Setsuna went into the closet to retrieve a towel. She handed it to the soaked Izuku. "I am so, so sorry, Izuku!"

"Don't be," he interjected. "It's my fault that I slipped."

"It's my fault for leaving a messy apartment," she interjected. "Let me make it up to you, Izuku."

"It's fine, Setsuna. I've been through worse," said Izuku as he thought of his childhood antics with Katsuki. He was still fuming of Kacchan's "borrowing" of his shoe money.

"Listen, why not take a shower. I have a washer here so you won't stain your clothes," she said.

He wavered his hands. "No, it's fine. A towel will do. I don't want to be a burden."

She interjected. "I insist. I got you wet. I invited you. Let me be the host of this and serve you."

He saw the intent in her eyes. Her sharp teeth grinding and how she was holding on to her dress. In a way, it was kind of cute. Upon observation, he could guess that she doesn't get much company over. He decided to give her the benefit of the doubt.

"Alright, Setsuna. I will take a shower here," he told her.

She clapped her hands in excitement. "Great...I mean good. I go get the bath ready. So, just wait here until I call you, okay?" She rushed into the bathroom and closed the door. He heard the sound of the water rushing immediately without even a second in there.

The air-conditioner made Izuku shiver as his being soaked didn't help. He wanted to take off his clothes, but he didn't want to do it in front of Setsuna. At first, he kept his composure, but now the emerald-haired teen was nervous.

This was definitely not in the plans on how he saw his day heading.

To be continued….

"Hey, Shouto. It's Setsuna."

"Hey, what's up?"

"Thank you for listening to my request."

"Is he there?"

"He sure is. I am drawing a bath for him."

"So, leaving the books on the floor technique worked?"

"Sure did."

"My God, Icchan is such a klutz. So, are you nervous?"

"Wanting to profess my love to him? Of course, I am."

"You did well with me and with Fuyumi the other day. It should work out."

"What if he doesn't like me? I am scared."

"A wise man once said the only thing you have to fear is fear itself. Carpe diem, Setsuna!"

"Alright, okay. I am going to do this."

"Use the time wisely and sparingly. Fuyumi and I are on standby if you need us."

"Thanks, Shouto. Enjoy your trip with your grandparents."

"Thanks! And enjoy your trip with Izuku."

"Wish me lots of luck!"

To be continued...for real this time.

Izuku felt the strong urge to sneeze. He used his shirt to cover his mouth. He sniffled. "For some reason, I feel like somebody is talking about me."

Seriously, to be continued. Until next time!