It was a beautiful Summer afternoon as Izuku was walking alongside Shouto as they were heading down to the riverfront to hang out with Katsuki and the others. On the surface, they were supposed to be fishing from brine shrimp or crawfish. However, the afternoon was going to be spent lollygagging, eating junk food, Katsuki picking on Izuku followed by Shouto defending her best friend. Just a normal summer break with friends.
Shouto loved it when her best friend always kept a happy-go-lucky disposition about himself. It was like care have completely forgotten about him. An awesome wonder to the white-redheaded teen.
"Roll dope, pop xans, hit licks," responded Izuku melodically as his smile was beaming in the sun.
"So sad I finessed that kid," replied Shouto happily.
"Myself, my own privilege," said Izuku.
"That boy, that pure spirit," replied the friends as they pointed at each other. 909Memphis has been the latest craze on the radio. As they can hear his friends playing it at the riverfront, they knew they were getting closer.
"Dude, what are we going to do once we catch some shrimp," asked Shouto as she dug in her ear.
"Aoyama said that he wants to do a little cookout at his place," replied Izuku as he was carrying the fishing rods.
"Why not by the fish since he claims he is loaded," said Shouto as she held onto her buckets to collect the shrimp.
"Don't know. Why not have a little fun to feast on what we catch," asked Izuku gingerly as he bumped his shoulder. "Makes it an interesting story on what we should write on our summer report for Aizawa-sensei."
Shouto nearly cringed as she reluctantly has to write her summer report on the things that they have done. Just want to collect intel so they can make their future summers harder for the next kids. Why not let them live, she thought to herself.
"Chill out, Sho," said Izuku. Immediately, the teen blushed whenever the emerald-haired teen abbreviated her name. It was something special as if it belonged to her and only her. "You know I am going to help you with the report, especially if we are going to be last minute."
Shouto blushed then she giggled as she used the bucket to tap Izuku's back. "You're right, Izzy. There is nothing to worry about."
Shouto has spoken too soon. As much she was enjoying this opportunity to spend her first summer vacation with Izuku, there was another person lurking in the shadows as she, too, wanted to spend time with Izuku.
The waitress at the diner offered the white-haired woman a drink. The woman acquired a cold coffee and a beignet. The waitress bowed in accordance with the woman's request. As she went away, the woman, who happens to be a mother, was smoking a cigarette. A bad habit but who was to complain. As a mother of four and a stepmother of one, it wasn't easy to juggle raising a family. Especially since she has been released from the psychiatric ward less than a few weeks ago. It was because of good behavior. It didn't reflect upon returning home to the family.
"Rei." The woman was interrupted when the waitress returned with her iced coffee. The white-haired woman nodded pleasingly, alerting that she was good for now. As the waitress returned to get her beignet, her eyes returned to the riverside.
This spot, this restaurant, this location - all for the purpose of seeing one person.
Izuku.
The coffee was nothing more to barter time. She couldn't care less of the dry powered French pastry. In fact, she thought it was drier than the biscuits from a certain New Orleans-esque restaurant she visited when she went overseas.
This restaurant gave her a great vantage point of the riverside. It's shiny, pristine waters as it overlooked the Musutafu skyline. Seeing the people running to their destination. Seeing the kids playing in the water or going fishing.
She knew Izuku would be there after listening to her daughter on the phone discussing the plans of today. Her precious daughter. Her loving daughter that can be so forgivable after scorching her with hot water. If only it was another boy and not Izuku that she was going to steal. It was nothing personal but Izuku holds a special place in her heart.
In the earlier weeks upon her return, she felt like a destitute despot. Defected, misbegotten, born as it were on the wrong side of the tracks. Her youngest didn't know how to handle his mother's return. Fuyumi played it Cool Hand Luke and kept things at a surface level. Natsuo was barely home and if it visited, he barely said a few words with the exception of hi and bye.
She didn't want to think about the man that abused her and placed her there. Matter of factly, he barely said a few words either. Mostly because she was the reason Enji knew that there was an existence of God.
And the devil for it was only Satan that was capable of giving Rei Todoroki an early release for good behavior.
Izuku.
It was his candid, sincere smile that welcomed her upon their first meeting. He looked quite childlike, shy as he extended his hand to introduce himself as her daughter's best friend. His emerald-colored eyes reminded her of the colored rocks of the ocean, or at least that was what she remembered after the hospital took them on an outing. Upon their first touch, a spark ignited in her brain. As if he was the kinetic energy to her potential, his gentle, loving eyes set aflame to anything that she thought she could never have again.
Love.
Meanwhile….
DeathbyRomy was the soundtrack on Yuga's cell phone as he was strutting his fishing pole as Shouto and Izuku caught up with the others. Yuga's warm smile welcomed the friends upon their arrival. "About time you lovebirds show up." He winked, which the crowd moved away. Those stars were quite painful when one gets hit by one.
"Damn, you baka! Give your group some warning." Katsuki's smug grin displayed his face to Izuku as he probably already has something up his sleeve. "About time you came, you two! Thought you guys had enough of playing with each other."
Shouto intervened. "Bakugo! Don't start! Just because you were denied a titty when you were an infant doesn't mean you take it out on us."
The crowd was met with an astounding roar. The frog girl Tsuyu appeared out of nowhere as she congratulated her classmate. "That is right. Ribbit! End this in the bud before it gets further." She took Shouto's bucket. "We are getting started anyway."
"You guys haven't started yet," asked Izuku concerningly.
Tenya cracked his knuckles as he approached the group. "Bakugo here forgot the bait. According to Momo, he was spending too much gawking at the girls at the treadmills at the gym that he forgot while she was getting the sunscreen and drinks."
"I've said I was sorry," replied Katsuki.
"Sorry doesn't make me and Momo go back ten minutes to get bait because you can't control your worm," replied Tenya. "And speaking of worms, you owe your share."
Katsuki didn't respond as he shuffled his pockets to find money.
Meanwhile, Izuku and Shouto met with Ochako, Kyoka, Momo, and Toru as they were lounging on the grass. Each had their rods out as they were waiting to find fish. But by looking at them gazing at the lazy river or gazing at their cell phone, it seems as those the rods were casting them than they are casting it.
"Oi! Tododeku!" Ochako slapped her legs as she thought her nickname for the two was hilarious. She laughed as she was Izuku blushed from that. Of course, it was met with flusters from Shouto. "Ha! Ha! Ha! Uraraka thinks she has jokes. Think she does."
Ochako blew a raspberry. "Oh, relax Shouto. Just poking fun. Come and sit with us." She narrowed her eyes, giving Shouto another sly look. "Or unless you and Deku need a little privacy."
"Hey," she exclaimed. "Izuku and I aren't like that. We are friends. Just friends. Right, Izuku?"
"Yes!" He response was quickly delivered as he took a seat. "Just like that."
"Didn't think friends can dress like each time we meet," responded Kyoka slyly as she rested on Toru's 'shoulder.' "This is like the what fifth or sixth time you guys dress alike since vacation began?"
The duo shifted their eyes at their attire. Izuku was sporting his red t-shirt and blue shorts. Shouto was wearing her red blouse and blue thigh shorts. The duo turned red as they averted their eyes.
"Gotcha," said both Kyoka and Ochako. Ochako patted the seat. "Now, relax and sit with your dear friends." She was still wearing a Cheshire Cat grin. "I am serious...unless you need someplace else."
"Like a tree!" Toru whistled loudly like a bird and she began serenading the group with the kissing song.
"Stop, you baka! We are not like that," barked Shouto.
Meanwhile….
Rei was in mid-sip of her iced coffee as she watched the trio teasing her daughter. She kept her composure, although if one were to notice, stars and cracks were appearing onto the glass. These bitches have the nerve to mock my daughter and my Izuku. I should fucking end them. No, I should cut the brake line of their mother's car. No, I should put sugar in their tank. Pour bleach and nail filer on the car. Fuck it, I should them. She planted her feet onto the table. She talked herself down from wanting to go postal onto the teasing girls. She knew that her daughter and Izuku were only friends.
And friends was what they were going to remain.
Rei had an entire day ahead of her as she continued to pursue her daughter. She knew that they were supposed to the alleged French boy's house for a party. If not, then they were going to the karaoke/drink bar. Rei decided that it was there where she was going to make her move on Izuku.
Rather if he wanted it or not.
Don't worry, darling. Rei is going to drown you with lots and lots and lots of love. You make me feel things I thought I will never feel again. Please, Izuku. Make me feel things again, my ray of sunshine.
To be continued….