So sorry for not uploading yesterday! I don't know how I keep forgetting... but anyways, have chapter 10!
#10- Hard Work Pays Off
(you remember when Ojiro was getting girls because of Mineta in Heroes Rising? Let's go somewhere with it. This implies Hagakure and Ojiro aren't together, but eh..? Screw it. OjiKami is better.)
The work studies on Nabu were going well. Class 1-A had the skills to be heroes. Already they were good. However, some felt they were lacking. A few days after they'd arrived, Ojiro had been venting to Kaminari as they were about to switch for night watch. Perhaps venting to Kaminari wasn't.. Too bright, but if Kaminari wanted to play with his tail, Ojiro thought it best if he listened. To his credit, Kaminari was a good listener, just a notorious gossiper.
"I just feel… lonely, y'know?" Ojiro had said. "Like, I know it's a hero thing, but… I just wish I could find someone, anyone, you dig?"
"The right one, you mean?" Kaminari had replied. This was surprising- Usually Kaminari could be found flirting with… every girl imaginable. So to hear such deep thoughts from him?
"Y-yeah. The perfect one… I wish.." Ojiro sighed. "Is it too late to quit?"
"Yeah," Kaminari laughed. "Besides, why would you?"
"I dunno.." Ojiro sighed. "I just hope I can find the right person before it's too late."
"I feel ya, man," Kaminari replied. "If it makes you feel better, I'll give my beach duty to you tomorrow."
"Beach duty?!" Ojiro stuttered. "Why beach duty?!"
"Lots of girls there, maybe you can try your luck."
"I don't wanna do.. That!"
"And who said you would?" Kaminari had replied.
And so, Ojiro was on beach duty. Iida had a few reservations as to Kaminari's given reasons, but Ojiro assured him, "It's not what Kaminari says."
And so he was now here, patrolling. His tail rested heavy on his shoulder, as if it were the embodiment of all his doubts.
"I know," He told himself. "We aren't here to be players. We're here to be heroes."
Suddenly, he saw Mineta nearby two girls, and decided it might be wise to check in.
As he found, it was nothing- two guys had been harassing the girls, and Mineta had just stopped them. As he arrived, Mineta finished immobilising the guys, and the girls assumed it was his doing.
"Thanks for helping with those guys," one said.
"Yeah, they were getting on our nerves."
"Uhm.."
Mineta, clearly jealous of the love Ojiro was getting, shouted, "I stopped them! He just arrived!"
Ojiro nodded, while the girls turned around to see Mineta.
"He's right. He stopped them; I just came to see what was up."
"Oh.." one said. "Well, it's quite nice of you, either way. Both of you. Can we get a photo?"
Even as several photos were taken with them, Ojiro still felt alone. He wearily resigned himself to this fact- that he'd be alone another month. As he went off to get back to work, one of the girls tugged on his sleeve.
"Uh… hey.. Sorry to interrupt, but, uh.. You're really cool.. And, uh.. I'd like to know when you get free from work.."
Ojiro, stunned, took a few seconds to come up with a response.
"I-i know, you're busy and all, but… I was-"
"6:00 PM. I'm free then."
"Oh.. okay! Here's my number, meet me here then, okay?"
Before he could even stammer out a reply, the girl rushed off, shoving a paper into his hands. He stood there for a few seconds, reading the details on the paper in a daze. He didn't notice Iida walking by, so it was even more startling for the poor boy when..
"Tailman? What is happening here?"
"N-nothing, sir!"
"Are you sure? That paper doesn't seem like nothing…"
Ojiro held it out, sagging a bit.
"A girl's phone number… Ojiro, if you're lonely, then you could-"
"It's not that, Iida. She gave the number to me and ran off."
"I see. Could I borrow your phone for a second?"
"Why?"
As Ojiro handed the phone to Iida, he took it… then proceeded to speed type something on it. Ojiro suddenly had a moment and moved to take it away, but Iiida avoided it, continuing to type. Finally, Iida grinned and said, "And.. send."
With that, he gave the phone back to Ojiro, and smiled wider.
"Let it never be said that Tenya Iida is not gracious. Good luck with Akiyama, Ojiro, and make sure you don't fail at this. Or else I will kick your rear."
"T-thanks, Iida.."
IIda merely nodded, then sped off, leaving a stunned Ojiro reading the sent messages and wondering what he'd gotten into. Right as she replied.
Ojiro: Tailman here. Meet me at 6 at the Island's hero agency. I'll meet you outside.
Akiyama (the girl): Okay! Can't wait :)
"Thank God for Tenya Iida," he muttered. Then, he radioed the agency after checking the time- 4:45.
"Could one of you guys send someone in to take over? Something's come up."
"A date?" Hagakure replied mischievously.
"Yeah.." Ojiro replied.
"Take your time. But remember who you're ditching for this girl."
And so it was that Mashirao Ojiro waited outside Class 1-A's hero agency at 6:00 PM, jittery as hell.
"Relax, Ojiro. You got this."
"If by 'got this', you mean, 'completely on the verge of a breakdown', then yeah."
"Dude, you actually got a date. What's so wrong?"
"I don't know how to feel. Happy? Anxious?"
"Excited?"
"Yeah. Nervous, too. It's like, all so…"
"Unexpected? You'll get over it."
Suddenly, a voice rang out- "Tailman, nervous? Better call All Might."
There, standing before them, was Tomoko Akiyama, the girl who had given Ojiro her number.
"Oh, you caught a good one!" Kaminari laughed. "Understandable! Now, go out and have some fun!"
Before Ojiro could make a reply, Kaminari shoved him toward Tomoko. Ojiro, of course, tripped, to be caught by Tomoko.
"S-sorry.." he muttered, embarrassed beyond belief.
"You should be," Tomoko replied in a joking tone. "A hero like you, tripping? You should be ashamed." she had a wide smile as she said it, though, so Ojiro returned it.
"Hey, can you blame me? I haven't ever gone on a date."
"It shows. Come on, then. We'll have a night we'll remember."
Ojiro just followed, not wanting to disappoint but also apprehensive.
"Loosen up. This isn't a villain attack. You're supposed to have fun."
And so the pair went to many places that night. First they visited a restaurant, where they had a meal. Then, they went bowling, which Ojiro was decent at. Finally, they went for a walk, ending up at the beach again, where they'd met. Tomoko laid down, and Ojiro laid beside her as they gazed at the stars. For a few minutes, neither spoke. Then, Tomoko broke the silence.
"You're a really cool guy, Mashirao-kun."
Ojiro turned his head to look at her.
"You aren't afraid to admit you're nervous. That's true strength."
Ojiro replied, "And you aren't afraid to make potentially dark jokes."
"You never struck me as a snowflake. What gives?"
"It's not that. It's just that… you're pretty cool too."
"Am I? That's high praise for me."
"It's a basic compliment, but all I'm willing to give."
"Why, afraid to throw yourself in headfirst?"
"Yeah. Because if I do, I could lose you."
Tomoko let out a small snort. "But you know you want to."
Ojiro grinned ruefully. "Can't always have what we want."
"Man, and here I thought I was the witty one."
This got a laugh out of him, as they both looked at each other.
"Same time tomorrow?" Ojiro asked first.
"Sounds awesome, Tailman."
"Please," Ojiro told her as they stood up to go their separate ways, "Call me Mashirao."
With that, he walked off, leaving Tomoko to think. After a bit, she muttered to herself, "Log that one under very badass."
As Ojiro entered the agency building, he found Kaminari waiting.
"How'd it go?" the electric blonde asked the tailed blonde.
"Y'know, Kaminari," Ojiro said, "I think I may have found that someone."
Mineta, listening in, cried himself to sleep that night, while Ojiro, Kaminari and Sero couldn't sleep and so played video games to entertain themselves. Ojiro knew in his heart that night; Tomoko was the right one.
Thanks for reading! Come back next Sunday for more!