I do not own these characters or the world, that belongs to our lovely author of MHA, Kohei Horikoshi. Also, cover art was a commission by me from the artist Krumbs. Follow them on if you'd like! They are extremely talented!

A/N: This chapter I think serves to mark the last chapter that I write that is under 4K words. All the ones after this bad boy are on the LONG side. And I also lied about this story being 52 chapters. I got into writing chapter 50 and when my word count exceeded 8K and I realized I had probably another 4-6K in me I had to add an additional chapter. So at the very least, this story will be 53 chapters plus an epilogue…but given the length of some of these chapters and the length I expect of my remaining chapters it might end up being more like 55 chapters…my husband is holding out hope I get to 69 chapters, cue eyeroll.

Forty

But Flowers Are For Pussies

Endeavor, Bakugo, Deku, and Todoroki all stood atop a tall building, providing an excellent vantage point to look out over the city. It was midday on Saturday and after pushing the boys hard throughout the morning, they were now having a little rest and quick lunch before heading back out into the field.

Initially they'd been out of breath and panting when they arrived at their current location, but they had recovered quickly and had all secretly been relieved that Endeavor was allowing them a lunch break. It seemed as if the number one hero had consumed jet fuel or something that morning since he seemed extra fast. Izuku felt like any progress they'd made on previous weekends was completely negated after today. Maybe the afternoon would be better…he hoped it would be.

Currently, Endeavor was tied up in a conversation with Hawks—the winged hero had apparently spotted them while flying above and had swung down to say hello. Endeavor hadn't exactly seemed pleased about Hawks' arrival and had entered into what appeared to be a relatively stiff banter. The stiffness however, was solely attributed to Endeavor; Hawks seemed perfectly at ease.

Izuku had finished his pork cutlets not long ago and was now casually munching on a rice ball as he observed the two pro heroes. While he watched them his mind flitted to running into Mineta the previous day and learning about the plum blossom festival the following week. He still needed to ask Endeavor if he could have the evening off next week so that he could go to it. Izuku had shared a few texts with Uraraka yesterday, having taken a picture of the flyer and sending it to her and suggesting that they might want to go together. Her responses had been very positive and she'd expressed interest in going as long as both of them could get clearance for an evening away from their work studies.

The thought of going to a festival with Uraraka was super exciting. He'd never been to a festival with a girl! Well, he'd been to festivals with his mom and with his class when he'd been in middle school, but never with a girl he liked. Thinking about being there with Uraraka was both exciting and anxiety inducing. Would they hold hands in public? Would they do couple things like get a crepe and share it? W-w-would they kiss? Would anyone else from their class be there? Would Uraraka wear a kimono? What would he wear?

"Does birdbrain swing by your place often, icy hot?" Bakugo's annoyed voice cut into Deku's thoughts. He turned his gaze toward Bakugo who was squatted down and angrily munching on what looked like a sweet potato bun. His eyes locked onto the two pro heroes.

"No. He's never stepped foot in our house as far as I know, but it's not like Endeavor spends that much time at home," Todoroki replied softly. He was the furthest away from Hawks and Endeavor, his arms folded over his chest, the beginnings of a frown on his face.

"Really? Isn't he like the head of the old man's fan club? Dude clearly has a bromance going with your old man," Bakugo mused as he took a particularly aggressive bite of his bun.

"A bromance with Endeavor?" Todoroki looked at Bakugo, shock and alarm clear on his face and then shot a furtive glance at the two pros. "I don't think anyone would willingly have a bromance with him."

"Guy's clearly got stars in his eyes anytime Endeavor opens his mouth or even breathes. Stinks like a bromance to me." Bakugo finished his bun and stood up. "Hey birdbrain, bromance on somebody else's time!" Both Hawks and Endeavor stopped talking to look back at the ashen blonde. Endeavor looked annoyed while Hawks just smiled and left the number one's side to approach Bakugo.

"Bromance? Guess I never thought of it that way," Hawks said with a chuckle and a smile, he paused and then shot back over his shoulder, "hey Endeavor, would you define us as having a bromance?"

"No," Endeavor instantly deadpanned back.

"Oh come on now big guy, I'd say we at least have a little bit of a bromance," Hawks suggested playfully.

"Why?" Todoroki murmured and pinched his nose in distaste as if the entire interaction was very displeasing to him.

"Ugh! Just take to the skies or jump off the building and fly away dude! Get lost!" Bakugo snapped in annoyance.

Hawks only laughed and said in an unnecessarily fond tone, "You do remind me a bit of Mirko." Bakugo visibly bristled at such a remark and suddenly got right up into the number two hero's face.

"What?! I do not remind you of a rabbit! She's a rabbit!" He snapped angrily.

"Can we just go back to patrolling? This seems like a waste of time," Todoroki muttered in exasperation.

Deku watched Bakugo continue to bicker away at Hawks with the winged hero laughing off whatever the younger boy could throw at him. He looked back to Endeavor who seemed to be observing the entire situation with a combination of mild amusement and annoyance on his face…but he was currently unoccupied and Bakugo was distracted by yelling at Hawks, now might be a good time to ask if he could have an evening off.

Seizing the opportunity, Izuku strode over to Endeavor to broach the subject. "Um, Endeavor? Can I ask you something?"

Endeavor's gaze shifted from the continuing spectacle of Bakugo snapping at Hawks, not unlike a small angry dog barking at a larger and more experienced dog, to Deku. "What is it Deku?"

"Um, well, I was wondering if I could possibly have next Saturday evening—just the evening—off to go to a plum blossom festival that's nearby. I'd still be able to do the whole day of work studies with you, just the evening I'd like to have available so that I can go," Deku explained nervously, fearful to make prolonged eye contact with those eerily icy blue eyes.

"You'd like to take the evening off to view the plum blossoms?" Endeavor clarified; a fiery eyebrow raised in question.

"Well, yes."

"Did I hear you mention the upcoming Ume Matsuri?" Interjected Hawks' suddenly overly cheerful voice.

"Hey! I wasn't done talking to you!" Snapped an irritable Bakugo who apparently had more insults to sling at the wing hero.

"Uh…yes?" Deku squeaked, now regretting having chosen this time to ask Endeavor if he could go to the festival. He had a feeling that a simple request was about to become an ordeal.

"Endeavor my man, you can't say no to this poor kid! Surely you can let him and his friends off their leash for a night!" Hawks was practically batting his eyes at Endeavor. Izuku thought he saw Endeavor physically withdraw in disgust at Hawks' words.

"I wasn't going to say n—"

"You know, we could go," Hawks pointed to himself and then to Endeavor. "Patrol the scene while also enjoying the festival and the flowers!"

Without missing a beat, Endeavor quipped, "Absolutely not."

Hawks let out a dramatic sigh and made a show of clenching his heart as if he'd been physically wounded by Endeavor's words. "Come on number one! You're breaking my heart!"

"You'll live," Endeavor said flatly, completely ignoring Hawks' dramatic display. He turned his gaze back toward Izuku. "Yes Deku you can have the evening off to attend the festival. Shoto and Bakugo: I assume you'd also like to attend this festival?"

Bakugo's face twisted into a look of pure disgust at Endeavor's simple question. "Are you kidding? No! Why do you even want to waste your time looking at flowers, Deku? I thought you wanted to be number one one day? You sure aren't getting there by looking at some stupid flowers!"

"Viewing flowers and nature can actually be a very soothing and calming activity, Bakugo. Perhaps it's something you should try in the future," came the icy voice of Todoroki in response to Bakugo's statement.

"Can it icy hot or do you want to waste time looking at flowers too?" Bakugo snapped with a nasty smirk.

"While I can see the value in attending a festival and viewing the plum blossoms, no, I am not requesting leave to attend," admitted Todoroki.

"Fine then. Deku you can attend the festival, just make sure you return refreshed and ready to work hard on Sunday," Endeavor said in a huff, clearly done with the entire conversation, or possibly just done with being around Hawks.

"Wow thank you sir! I really appreciate it!" Deku said with a smile. He was going to be able to go to the festival with Uraraka! Well, hopefully. She still had to get the go ahead that she could have the night off too.

"You sure you don't want to hit up a festival together number one? It could be fun," Hawks said with a coercive smile.

"No. If you want to go take someone else!" Endeavor snapped, his irritation now evident. "Take Jeanist or Mirko. Come on students, we're heading out!" Before Hawks or anyone could say anything in protest, Endeavor burst into flame and took to the air and shot away from the group with blinding speed. "Try to keep up!" He shouted over his shoulder as the three adolescent boys scrambled to catch up to him.

Before joining him in the skies, Bakugo shouted over his shoulder, "great going pissing off grandpa—now we get to pay for it, dumbass birdbrain." With that said, he leapt off into the sky, an explosion propelling him into the wake of the number one hero.

As Izuku passed by the number two her, he smiled apologetically and said, "sorry for him," and then utilizing black whip and an OFA powered jump followed after Endeavor and the others.

Hawks watched them go and smiled to himself. "Ask Mirko huh? Maybe…"

That evening Izuku sat at the dinner table with Todoroki and Bakugo. They had beef stew as an available dish that night which was one of his favorites! Even though it had been a day of struggling to even keep pace with Endeavor, Deku felt like it had been a great day. Anytime he was able to work on expanding and enhancing his abilities was fantastic but adding in a favorite dinner and that he got the go ahead to go to a festival next week made it wonderful!

As he'd wolfed down his dinner he'd kept a close watch on his phone, waiting for a response from Uraraka. Earlier in the day when he'd had a free moment, he'd sent Uraraka a text message that Endeavor had approved him having the evening off. Uraraka had responded with multiple smiley faces and had said that she still had to get the okay from Ryukyu. That message had been from a few hours ago though, and he'd not heard anything since, so he watched his phone both with anticipation and apprehension.

What if Ryukyu said no? What if something bad had happened at her work studies and she'd gotten hurt like Kacchan had a while back? What if she was so upset by not being allowed to go to the festival that she felt too sad to text him back? What if she just forgot? Wait, if she just forgot did that like mean that she didn't actually want to go with him? Was she just humoring him? Was going to the festival together actually a really bad idea? Was it lame?!

"Midoriya, is everything okay? You seem preoccupied." The cool tones of Todoroki's voice distracted Izuku from his rapidly evolving thoughts.

Blinking, Izuku replied, "What? No, I'm okay, I was just waiting for my…mom…to text me back. I had texter her earlier about the festival and hadn't heard back. That's all." It wasn't entirely a lie. He had in fact texted his mother earlier in the day telling her about how he was going to a plum blossom festival…but he'd already heard back from her.

"Pfft. That was a lie," snorted Bakugo who sat across from Todoroki and Deku. He was leaned back in his chair, head turned to the side, apparently observing what Burnin' and Endeavor's other minions were doing.

"What? No it wasn't!" Izuku protested, though a blush started to color his cheeks which begged to differ.

"Right," Bakugo muttered under his breath, his gaze still in the direction of Burnin and company. "Why the fuck does she insist on wearing those stupid tights? Not to mention her short ass skirt…probably wants somebody like Endeavor to check her out, pfft."

"Are you planning on going to the festival with anyone? I'm sure Mineta shared the news of the festival with others in our class," Todoroki asked innocently.

"Uh well—" Izuku started but stopped when the loud sound of Bakugo's chair loudly thudding down interrupted him.

"You mean the whole stupid flower festival thing was the small fries idea? Pfft, typical," Bakugo interrupted with narrowed eyes, no longer watching Burnin and critiquing her suggestive costume.

"Mineta is the one who gave Midoriya the flyer. I thought it was surprisingly altruistic of him," Todoroki mused.

"I was a little surprised too, honestly, but I'm glad he suggested it! I think going to a festival will be fun and I hope more of our class goes too!" Izuku beamed.

Bakugo looked at the two boys with narrowed, disgusted eyes. "I doubt he suggested it out of the goodness of his heart." He let out a loud and irritated sigh and added, "As much as it'll be a huge waste of my time, I think I might ask Endeavor for leave too."

Both Todoroki and Deku stared in surprise at Bakugo. Where had that come from? What had compelled his fiery friend to suddenly change his tune? What changed?

"But you said that a festival about flowers was a waste of time," Deku said, his voice hesitant and confused.

"Did you reconsider the calming experience that viewing flowers and natur—"

"Fuck no! Dumbass for even suggesting that shit. Think for a second before you open your yap. Flowers, all flowers are for pussies! Putting a festival together that revolves around them is a colossal waste of time," Bakugo snapped, interrupting Todoroki.

"I disagree with you and I don't care for your usage of such a derogatory term for a vagina. The fact that pussy is considered an insult has never failed to baffle me. The vagina is actually quite an impressive organ in its ability to self-clean let alone its ability to birth a human infant. Your opinion on flowers is also flawed and your usage of that word is uncalled for," Todoroki quipped back, his voice even but also carrying a hint of ice with it.

"Oh give it a rest icy hot. You gonna tag along or not? You know for the 'calming experience of viewing flowers' or whatever horse shit you spouted off earlier?" Bakugo asked, completely ignoring Todoroki's earlier statement.

"Why would I want to attend an Ume Matsuri with you when you quite literally just said that such festivals of nature are a waste of time?"

"Because they'll have soba," Bakugo countered and then added, "and you can view the nature and crap and whatever soothing relief you get from that I guess. Wait…are you even allowed to eat food that isn't prepared by like your man servant or whatever?"

Izuku remained silent. Was it a good idea to have Todoroki and Bakugo there? In some ways he would've been delighted to have more of his peers go to the festival but another part of him wanted it to be just he and Uraraka. Having more than just the two of them present might make the outing less than romantic…wait. Did he want it to be romantic? Mineta had suggested that going to a festival together could be romantic and deep in his heart of hearts, Izuku knew that yes, that was exactly what he wanted.

"Do, do…you guys want to all go together?" The question left Deku's mouth before he could stop it. Extending a hand to others would always win out over whatever his personal and private desires were.

"Haha! You thought I wanted to go just because you're going? Or that I wanted to go with you? Nah, nah! We might cross paths but I am not going to play third wheel to whoever you're dragging along with you," Bakugo said with a laugh. The way he'd said the word whoever was said with greater emphasis than was needed which made Deku's cheeks flush red.

"What?! Who said I was taking anyone along? I didn't say that!" Deku's voice had raised an octave and was high with anxiety.

"I think he is referring to whoever else is coming from our class, Midoriya," supplied the ever-rational Todoroki.

"Yeah…that's definitely what I meant," Bakugo agreed though the smirk on his face and the fact that he was barely containing a snort made Deku think that that was not what he'd actually meant.

"I will think about going, Bakugo. It might be nice to go as a group and then split off to do other things. Not unlike how we all went shopping together before the summer camp. I've not actually had soba at a festival before," Todoroki said thoughtfully.

"I forgot about that time we all went shopping together…I guess that yeah, it could be a little like that," agreed Deku with a smile. If it's like that time then that could still be okay. Everyone kind of went their own way and it was just Uraraka and I together except this time we're together.

"Minus the part with Deku getting groped by bitch boy Shigaraki," growled Bakugo, eyes narrowed.

"I, I don't think Shigaraki would make a surprise appearance there, or at least, I hope not," Deku admitted nervously. If that repellent villain showed his hideous face at any social event, well, suffice to say that the entirety of any event would be ruined.

"I imagine that a festival that takes place within the same prefecture as UA would be well patrolled and monitored. It'd be foolish for even someone as dangerous as Shigaraki to try an attack there. Before agreeing to attend though, I'd like to see who else will be there," said Todoroki after a brief pause.

"Whatever. Tag along or don't, I don't care," Bakugo huffed and then loudly backed up his chair and stood. "Later losers, I'm going to bed." He paused briefly in his movements to shout in Burnin's direction, "hey Burnin! Better go easy on the taiyaki; your ass is already practically falling out of your skirt!"

"Kacchan!" Deku exclaimed in alarm at Bakugo's rude comment.

"That was uncalled for Bakugo," Todoroki agreed, his brows just barely knitting together.

Across the room, Burnin who did in fact have a taiyaki cake in hand, turned to glare at the boy. "Isn't it your bedtime kiddo? Or do you need me to come up and kiss you goodnight before you can go night night?" She shouted back at him with narrowed eyes as she made a show of taking a bite of the cake.

"Kiss me goodnight, yeah right, ass hanging out, probably menopausal bitch," Bakugo muttered under his breath and then began trudging off.

Deku and Todoroki watched the fiery blonde leave before sharing perplexed expressions with each other.

"Regardless of what Bakugo or I do, Midoriya, I think you should go to the plum blossom festival with whoever you want and have a good time," Todoroki said softly as he too stood up and prepared to leave.

Izuku stood up to join him but paused briefly as he felt his phone buzz. He pulled it out of his pocket to look at it. Todoroki stood waiting for the shorter boy, curiously watching him.

2005 Yay! Ryukyu said I could have the night off! It's a date!

Deku reread the message at least two more times and couldn't help but break out into a wide smile. Uraraka was able to go! And she'd said that it was a date!

"Did your mom finally get back to you?" Todoroki's soft but cool voice interrupted Izuku's internal celebration.

Trying to sober his expression just a bit and failing, he gave a nervous nod. "Y-yeah, she did. All good!"

"If you say so," the taller boy said doubtfully. "Come on." The two began heading up toward their respective rooms.