I was waiting for Mina by the front entrance, sending links to my classmates for gear and exercises geared towards their specific quirks. Despite everything, I was still class president, and that meant preparing them for the awful things I knew were brewing, that line of thinking drawing me in as fear and anxiety rose up in me.
"-Uku. IZUKU!" Mina yelled, and my attention was all hers now, my fear fading until all that was left was a kernel I couldn't shake.
"You didn't have to yell." I complained, but I put my phone away and smiled anyway.
She fell dramatically against me, holding the back of her hand to her forehead.
"I tried to get your attention, but you were so focused on your phone." She told me, tilting her head back and kissing my jaw.
There was probably something I could have said, but I could think right now. Every rational thought in my mind was gone, and I wrapped my arms around her waist, apologizing for ignoring her, accidentally or not.
"I'm sorry, I'm just worried. All the League stuff, and then the other me showed up and mentioned his father was a villain. I-I don't know what I'd do if my father was responsible for hurting people." I admitted, and without finals to distract me, the thought had been eating at my mind.
She didn't skip a beat, turning so she could look me in the eyes. "You'll do the right thing."
Would I? I killed a nomu. Maybe it wasn't a person anymore, but it didn't ask to be a monster. No one did. Someone else always made them into one.
"What if I didn't? What if I mess up, and people get hurt?" I asked her, my voice cracking. For the first time since All Might told me about All-For-One, I was afraid. All the responsible on my shoulders, and only now did it feel like it would crush me.
She seemed to think about it for a moment, finally giving me an answer.
"If you mess up, then that's just proof you're trying. That's more than a lot of people do at all." She told me quietly, and the load seemed to shift just a bit. I could handle anything the world through at me, with the people I cared about backing me up.
Squishing her cheeks, I grinned and just forgot about it all. Right now, I had a cute girl in front of me, and it was time to take her on a date.
"Fair warning, we have a wait before our table opens up, and I may have ulterior motives to asking you out. The Hello Kitty Cafe is close enough that if we hurry, I can take you to meet my mother." I admitted to her, seeing something shift in her eyes before she hugged me.
"I'd love to." She told me, and I took her hand, lacing our fingers, the trip to the train station taking no time at all.
This was the best start to a summer vacation ever I decided as I put my arm around her shoulder and showed her a material that was durable enough to stand up to her acid and flexible enough she could still be acrobatic in it, the ride turning into a discussion of gear and exercises that would help the both of us, that then turned into a debate about whether or not Iida had a thing for Yaoyorozu.
"He definitely does. He's loves organization and making sure he dots his I's and crossed his T's. Yaoyorozu is the same way."
"Nah, I mean, he's had too much on his plate to even think about girls, right?" I asked, and she leaned into me.
"You have too much on your plate to think about girls, but here we are." She reminded me, and I had to rethink my debate. If Iida was into Yaoyorozu, then the question remained if she felt the same, but I didn't know Yaoyorozu enough to even get into it.
"See?! He could totally be into her." She announced, and I just gave up. I still wasn't sure how I'd gotten a girlfriend, let alone if my friend wanted one.
"Yeah, okay. And so what if he does? If we interfere, we could just make things worse for him." It was half a loss in my mind, but she just got comfy and leaned her head back against me.
"Who said anything about getting involved? I'm telling you so we can watch and see what happens." She told me, and as I ran my hands through her hair, I suddenly loved the idea. Drama I wasn't involved in? God, yes.
I wish the train ride could have lasted longer, but no one could stop time. At least, I hoped no one could. But the point was that eventually, we did get off the train, starting the short walk to my home.
"So my mom's boyfriend might be here, and fair warning... he's... huh, you'd think I could describe his appearance." I had to think, finally figuring out how to describe Toshinori.
"He's scary looking, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Even when I didn't know it, he saw the hero inside of me and encouraged me to be the best I could. I could almost call him dad, but don't tell him that. Otherwise, he'll tease me about it."
"Plenty of people are scary looking. But if you trust him? Then he must be a wonderful man." She replied, and I felt a feeling I wasn't sure how to describe, and grinned like a doofus.
"Watch out for the pole." She told me, guiding me around it and into an embrace, lifting a little on her toes to reach my height, and I melted in her touch.
"I missed the pole." I told her breathlessly, and she just chuckled and kissed my cheek.
"Come on, Casanova. Didn't you say we had to hurry?" She asked in a lovely voice, and while I didn't want this moment to stop, I tapped her shoulder.
"Tag. You're it." I told her, running as fast as I could without my quirk, jumping over a postbox, a laugh from behind me as she ran after, all the way to my apartment building, up the stairs, and right up to the door where I couldn't get in, my keys missing as she caught up, corning me on the balcony.
"You wouldn't tag a guy with glasses, would you?" I asked, putting my hands up like bulky goggles, the same way a child might while playing.
"Of course I would." She told me as she crept closer until I tripped and landed on my back, and she knelt next to me before plopping down and squishing me underneath her.
There was nothing in the world better than this, was there? If there was, I didn't want to know. I loved the way she felt in my arms, holding her against me while I stared into her eyes, lost in the golden stars that and speckles, mini universes in her orbs.
There was a second of hesitation as I leaned in, kissing her softly. This wasn't a peck on the cheek or lips. This was the real deal, and by the time it was broken, all I could think about was how awesome that was.
"Woah." I managed to get out, her laugh like anangel singing. even her little snort sound was heaven on earth.
"Woah." She replied, and then I remembered that we were just laying in front of mine and my neighbors doors.
"Should we get up?" I asked as I held her a little tighter.
"We should." She replied, laying her head on my chest.
"Izuku Hito Midoriya!" I heard from the doorway and only had one concern.
"I have a middle name?" I asked before it occurred to me that my mother had probably seen me making out with my girlfriend. At the very least, I'd been caught in a compromising position, and we scrambled to get up and brush any dirt off of us.
"Hello, Miss Midoriya." Mina greeted awkwardly, and my mother smiled at her.
"Well, this must be the girl you've spoken so much about. Come on in." My mother told us, and with my face burning like fire, we followed.
"So, uh, is Toshinori here?" I asked my mother, who had us sit at the table before she answered.
"No, he's working late tonight. Apparently, there's been a change in policy, and he's stuck in a meeting." She told me, and I raised the ignored question again.
"So I have a middle name?"
"Your father insisted, and I didn't see any harm in it."
"So... uh, this is not how I wanted you to meet my mother, but Mina, this is my mothe Inko. Mom, this is my girlfriend, Mina Ashido."
They looked at each other, and understanding seemed to pass between them.
"Oh, you poor boy." I heard the seventh user from my right.
"What do you mean?" I questioned, and she laughed before disappearing. God, I hated my quirk ghost.
"Would you like to see baby pictures of Izuku?" My mother asked Mina, who nodded politely, but I could see her moving excitedly.
"Yes, please."
I wanted to argue, but what harm could it do? I'd seen my baby photos, and the most embarrassing thing was me in All Might pajamas.
There wasn't much to say, just watching my mother and girlfriend gush over pictures of me in little suits and costumes.
"Awww, you were so adorable." Mina cooed, and I feigned hurt, closing my eyes and looking away.
"Were? Oh, you're breaking my heart, Pinky."
Looking back at her with one eye open, she was focused again on the pictures, a small smile growing on my face as I watched her. She was having a good time and getting along with my mother, who glanced at me with a knowing look. I didn't know what she did, but I also wasn't the mother of a, hey, I was turning sixteen in like a week. Cool.
"Well, there's worse ways you two could interact, and I'm glad you both get along, but we should get going because if we're late, the cafe is going to give our reservations to someone else.
"Oh yeah. Guess I got distracted!" Mina spoke, looking up and glaring playfully at me as I stuck my tongue out at her.
"I'll be home later, but not too late. I know Toshinori has a surprise." I told my mom, who looked up at me, things I didn't understand in her eyes. All I knew was that my mom loved me, and I hoped she was proud.
"Have a good time. If you need anything, just call." She told us, and I nodded.
"Thanks, mom. Love you." I told her, giving her a wave and leaving, my body feeling like it was deflating as I sighed. I hadn't realized how tense I was.
"Did you like my mom? I mean, it seemed like it, but i just gotta know."
Mina turned to me, poking my forehead. "If I didn't, I'd have said something. You knew me, I'm not shy about my feelings."
Yeah. That seemed right.
"Okay, then. Are you ready to go?"
She nodded, taking my hand and letting me lead as we walked in silence. Nothing needed to be said, so why would we? That would ruin the moment.
Not too far from the cafe, I had her close her eyes, leading her to the front before having her open her eyes.
"Ta-da!" I waved my hands, the Pokémon Cafe in front of her, two statues, or maybe they were actual giant plushies, of Pikachu sitting out front, each adorned with a chef hat and signs in their hands.
The one on the left told us where to wait and where we could take photos, a few minutes before our table was ready.
"How did you know?" She asked, looking at me. Know what?
"Know what?" I asked back, and she crossed her arms, looking a little embarrassed, her cheeks puffed out.
"That I love Pokémon." She mumbled, and I realized I'd never seen her self-conscious about anything.
"I didn't. But I didn't think I could go wrong with Pokémon. Everyone loves Pokémon." I told her, giving her a big smile. "But since I know now, you wanna take some pictures? We got a couple of minutes before our reservation."
She still seemed to be embarrassed, but she led me to the photo area, and I decided to just get into it, striking stupid poses and looking over after every picture, seeing her slowly lose her embarrassment until she was hitting poses with me.
"Oh, hey, it's time." I told her, turning the alarm on my phone off.
"Yippie!" She called, confusing me. What the heck was that abouf?
"Yippie?" I asked, and she pushed me playfully.
"You should use social media more. It's a meme."
"Send me more memes then. I've never seen the "yippie." I replied, our table covered in cute decorations with in the shape of different Pokémon or with their faces plastered on it.
"You're a dork." She told me with a funny smile that made me feel like this luckiest dork in the world.
"Yeah, but you said you like dorks, so I'm winning at life." I told her while putting my order in on a little tablet screen.
I ordered the curry that came with a Pikachu made of rice and toppings and a Charmander head chicken cutlet, as well as a Sprigatito melon soda float.
Mina got the Snorlax lunch, which came with a bowl in the shape of the Pokémon, with rice for his stomach, and a Pikachu ice cream float with lemons in it.
Obviously, we had to share, and I liked her drink more, but I preferred my curry. It wasn't too spicy and was well seasoned.
"Oh man, who knew mulit-billion corporations and their mascots could make such good food?" I joked, a thought coming over me. I wasn't this confident and comedic in front of anyone else. She was just someone I'd been able to be comfortable with on a level none of my friends got to see.
"It would have to be, or it would bring down the entire experience." She pointed out, a very good observation.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Good thing there's still more. Once we finish our drinks we can visit the gift shop." I told her, and what was left of her drink was gone as quickly as I could blink.
"Come on." She told me, pulling me out of my seat and into the shopping area.
"Okay, okay, slow down. And don't worry about prices, I've got this." I told her, and it was kind of a good thing our date had gotten pushed back. More money to spoil her with.
I had never seen anyone so happy to be holding glassware, especially ones with Pikachu and Eevee, but then again, if I ever had the opportunity to go to the All Might cafe, I would be just as excited.
"Anything else?" I questioned, and she shook her head, and I took some of the plates so there was less risk of them breaking.
"Alright then, I suppose we should check out."
I felt her head on my shoulder, and she had to lean awkwardly to do it, making me laugh. Gosh, she was silly.
As we got closer to the front of the line, I smiled at the cashier and showed him my phone.
"Good thing you ordered these when you did. They were the last ones in stock." He told us, and I set my stack of plates on the counter.
"Last of what?" Mina asked, but I shook my head with a smile and put the took the plates she had and set them on them down as well, a bag coming out from behind the counter with my name on it.
"And these plates, sir." I told him, taking the bag and opening it, handing her a Pikachu plush wearing a green hat and apron with a bow little shirt underneath.
"I've got the pink one, and there's keychains of both inside as well." I told her, handing her the pink keychain.
"Wait, why would I have the green plush but the pink keychain?" She asked as I paid, and I put her plates in the bag so she didn't have to carry so many bags home.
"Because that way they can still see each other, even if they're just mini versions." I explained with a grin, proudly showing her the pink plush.
"You're a corny nerd." She told me, but I felt fingers in my hair, so I didn't think it was too much of an insult.
Taking our bags in my hand, I hummed a song as we walked, my free arm over her shoulder as we made our way to the train station.
"Okay, be honest. How could I make today better? I mean, honestly, it wasn't the worst, but honestly, I think I could do better." I asked her, entirely serious with my question.
"You can't. It was perfect. It was a surprise date at a place I loved, with cute food and drinks. You bought me food and gifts, and then surprise gifts. This was amazing." She told me, and a weird pride filled me before I had a sudden urge to start planning a better date. There was no way I could let our third date be our best.
"I really like you." I told her suddenly without an idea of where it came from, and as we approached the station, I just felt awkward.
"You know, I really like you, too. If I didn't, we wouldn't be dating." She told me with a laugh, reminding me that she was more than just the cute girl I went on dates on.
As we stood there, I realized how much I liked this peace. This was worth fighting for, no matter the cost.
"You know, some things are better left unsaid." I decided, her train coming into sight.
"Yeah. Oh, I'll be gone for the next couple of days, by the way. Yaomomo invited the girls with her to I-Island with her family."
"I hope you enjoy the trip. You deserve a break after all your hard work. Personally, I'm looking forward to playing the new All Might DLC storyline for my anime fighting game." I told her, the two of us making more small talk until her train stopped, and she got one.
"See ya later, Zuku." She told me, and before the train door could close, she kissed my cheek. A perfect end to a perfect day.
"See ya later, Alien Queen." I waved, taking a moment to reflect as the doors closed, and my favorite person rode.
"Dang, I still have the bag." I mumbled, looking at the Pokémon merch in my hand and laughing, going home happier than I'd been in ages.