Chapter Twenty – Ramen and Farewells
Tsuyu was one of the first to finish the exam, sparing Clay a cursory glance before quietly leaving the room. Clay, meanwhile, took another fifteen minutes to wrap up. He felt pretty good about his chances—there were only a handful of questions where he'd had to outright guess.
As he stood to hand in his test, he noticed Skipper stirring from his spot at the front desk. At some point, someone had gotten paranoid that Clay might use Skipper to cheat, so the little rat had been relegated to the front of the room for the duration of the exam.
Clay returned to his desk to grab his backpack, carefully pulling out his ivory-colored cattleman hat. Tugging it into place, he moved forward to turn in his test.
"Saddle up, cowboy…" Mina murmured as he passed by.
"No talking," Aizawa grumbled, looking dangerously close to falling asleep in his chair behind the desk.
Clay dropped off his test booklet, crouching to scratch behind Skipper's ears. "Be good for Mina, okay?" he whispered.
Skipper let out a short squeak, nuzzling into Clay's palm before curling up again. The rat hadn't taken the news of another date night well, but his attitude shifted when Clay suggested he might spend the evening in the cage Momo had made. Clay was bluffing, of course, but Skipper hadn't caught on.
When Clay stepped out of the exam room, he spotted Tsuyu waiting just down the hall. Her gaze shifted subtly, taking in his face, his hat, and then back to his face. "Ribbit."
"How'd you do?" Clay asked, sticking his thumbs through his belt loops as he approached her side.
"Ninety to ninety-five," she replied evenly, turning to walk alongside him.
"Nice. I'd be happy with eighty," Clay said with a chuckle. "You think I'd get a higher score if I tried bribin' them?"
Tsuyu's lips twitched into the faintest smile. "Wouldn't be very ethical, ribbit."
"Guess not…" Clay mumbled, holding the door open for her as they exited the main building into the cool evening courtyard.
"Did you find out why Midnight wanted you as her intern?"
"Not even close," Clay admitted, shaking his head. "I'm kinda tired of all the bondage jokes I've been gettin'."
"I might have figured it out, ribbit."
"Oh?" Clay asked, his voice lifting with interest. "Care to share?"
"Midnight is Japan's best expert on hostage situations," Tsuyu said, her hands resting calmly in front of her as they walked.
"'Course she has an interest in tied-up people…"
"I thought you said you were tired of the jokes, ribbit."
"I am, but not when I'm the one makin' them," Clay said with a chuckle and a lopsided grin.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught what could almost be considered an eye-roll from Tsuyu. It was about as close to a laugh as he'd get from her, and he counted that as a win.
"Do you remember the elements of a good hostage rescue?" she asked.
"Uh… Good scoutin'... good communication… and…"
"Quick thinking," Tsuyu said with a soft nod. "You'd be the best at scouting. Hostage-takers would be looking for a hero, not a solitary rat, if they even noticed it."
"Fair enough," Clay said, glancing ahead at the streetlamps glowing against the deepening evening sky. "Where're we goin'?"
"There's a good place for ramen a few blocks from here."
"When do I need to get you back to the train station?"
Tsuyu pulled out her phone, the screen glowing faintly as she scrolled through a few texts. Clay caught a glimpse of at least one message from her father, but he didn't pry. "Two hours," she said. "But I need to stop by the dorms first to grab my things."
"No problem," Clay said with a soft smile. "I don't start till tomorrow morning. Looks like Thirteen has me for the first couple of days."
A few moments of companionable silence passed before Tsuyu spoke again. "My parents want to meet you, ribbit."
"I figured they'd want to eventually," Clay replied, his voice steady despite the faint nervousness flickering in his chest. "Haven't even gone on our second date."
"My father saw the video of us at the ice cream shop," Tsuyu said, her tone calm but tinged with something between apprehension and excitement. "I also told him about what you did at the U.S.J. and what you said to Mineta. He was impressed. He's wondering if you'd like to come over for dinner the Sunday I get back."
"Works for me," Clay said with a warm smile, running a hand through his beard. "Meet your mom and siblings too?"
"Yes," she said, her wide eyes gazing up at him. "You don't sound nervous."
"Because I'm not," Clay said with a shrug. "I'm more worried about my mom."
"Ribbit?"
"I haven't talked about her much. She's… protective. She wasn't crazy about me comin' to Japan, either."
"Protective how?" Tsuyu asked, tilting her head slightly as they strolled under the soft glow of the streetlamps.
Clay let out a low chuckle, his gaze dropping briefly to the sidewalk. "Let's just say she's got a knack for thinkin' no one's good enough for her 'baby boy'. And if she doesn't like the sound of something, she's not shy about lettin' you know."
Tsuyu's lips twitched into what might have been a smile. "She sounds like she has good instincts, ribbit."
Clay shot her a sidelong glance, his smirk softening. "She'd probably like you. You're grounded, level-headed, don't let people push you around…" He paused, adjusting his hat. "But she'll still find somethin' to worry about. It's what she does."
Tsuyu nodded thoughtfully, her steps slowing as they approached the ramen shop. "Meeting parents is a big step, ribbit."
"Sure is," Clay agreed, holding the door open for her. "But you gotta start somewhere. Your dad's impressed with me already? Guess I'll take that as a win."
Tsuyu stepped inside, the warmth and savory aroma of the ramen shop enveloping them. "You're good with people, Clay," she said simply. "My father noticed that. He says it's a good quality in a hero."
Clay smiled at the compliment, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before they moved toward the counter. "Good with people, huh? Hope that includes the waitstaff, 'cause I'm starvin'."
As they placed their orders and settled into a quiet corner booth, the weight of the day seemed to lift slightly. The shop's atmosphere was cozy, the kind of place that felt like it had been there forever—walls lined with faded photos, a soft hum of conversation filling the air, though Clay couldn't stop himself from jerking his gaze to the door whenever it opened.
"Think your mom's gonna watch the Sports Festival highlights?" Tsuyu asked, stirring her tea.
"I bet she already has. She'll probably rewatch it a few times," Clay said with a chuckle. "She's proud, even when she's worried… Wouldn't be surprised if she left a few voicemails demanding to speak with Shinso for beating me. I don't have the heart to tell her that I… you know."
Tsuyu studied him for a moment, her calm gaze steady. "Sounds like you've got a good family, ribbit."
Clay nodded, his smirk softening into something more sincere. "Yeah… they're good people. I'll tell you more about 'em over dinner with yours. Fair trade, right?"
Tsuyu tilted her head in agreement, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Fair trade."
The evening unfolded easily from there, their conversation weaving between lighthearted jokes and shared stories, the warmth of the ramen matching the quiet comfort of their growing connection.
"So, what is this again?" Clay asked, holding up the cup and inspecting it like it was some kind of alien artifact. The drink tasted like peaches, smooth and sweet, but the strange, chewy orbs at the bottom threw him off. He glanced at the unusually wide straw, feeling like he was missing an inside joke.
Tsuyu tilted her head slightly, her wide eyes gleaming with quiet amusement. "It's bubble tea," she explained, her tone calm but tinged with subtle humor. "The chewy orbs are tapioca pearls. They're supposed to be part of the fun, ribbit."
Clay poked the straw at one of the pearls, watching it bob in the liquid like it had a mind of its own. "Fun for who?" he muttered, taking another cautious sip. One of the pearls shot up the straw and into his mouth, catching him by surprise. He chewed it slowly, his expression shifting between curiosity and skepticism. "Huh… not bad. Weird, but not bad."
Tsuyu's lips curved into a faint smile as she sipped her own drink. "You get used to it. Most people like the texture."
Clay shrugged and set the cup down, wiping the condensation off his palm. "I guess I've had stranger things in my mouth…"
He paused, noticing the subtle flicker of surprise in Tsuyu's wide-eyed gaze as it shifted toward him. His face flushed as the realization hit. "Frog legs!" he blurted, raising a hand defensively. "I mean frog legs. Some guys a bit south from us like 'em. Only tried 'em once. Didn't mean anything by it."
"Frog legs?" Tsuyu repeated, her tone calm but laced with curiosity.
"Uhh… yeah…" Clay stammered, scratching the back of his neck as his face turned a deeper shade of red.
Tsuyu tilted her head slightly, studying him with her ever-calm gaze. "How were they, ribbit?"
Clay blinked, momentarily caught off guard by her nonchalant response. "Uh... kinda like chicken, I guess? Just a little... chewier." He shifted awkwardly in his seat, glancing at her to gauge her reaction.
Tsuyu's expression remained unreadable for a moment before her lips curved into a faint smile. "I see. It's common in some places. Doesn't bother me, ribbit."
Clay exhaled a soft laugh, his shoulders relaxing. "Glad to hear it. Thought I might've put my foot in my mouth there."
"Not as much as you put frog legs in your mouth, ribbit," Tsuyu replied, her tone so deadpan that it took a second for the humor to register.
Clay burst out laughing, the tension melting away. "Alright, Tsu, I'll give you that one," he said, shaking his head. "Guess I walked right into it."
Tsuyu sipped her bubble tea, her faint smile lingering as she watched him. "You're easy to tease, ribbit."
"You'd like my friend Mina," Clay said with a smirk, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he took another sip of the bubble tea. This time, the strange orbs at the bottom weren't as surprising, their chewy texture oddly satisfying now that he knew what to expect.
Meanwhile…
Mina sat cross-legged on the common room couch, her pink hair tied up in a messy bun, her hair barely long enough for it, and a mischievous grin plastered across her face. In front of her on the coffee table, Skipper perched on a small plate she'd set out, his tiny nose twitching as he inspected the sliced fruit she'd laid before him. Grapes, apple chunks, and even a strawberry cut into bite-sized pieces were arranged like some sort of gourmet rat buffet.
"Oh, come on, little guy," Mina cooed, poking one of the grapes toward him with her finger. "You've gotta admit, this is way better than whatever leftovers Clay usually digs up for you."
Skipper twitched his whiskers, his beady eyes narrowing at her as if to say, You think I'm that easy to impress? With an air of indignant disdain, he turned his back on the fruit, lifting his nose as though the entire offering had insulted his dignity.
"Seriously?" Mina huffed, placing her hands on her hips. "I sliced those up just for you! Do you have any idea how hard it is to get grape juice out of a hero uniform?"
Skipper squeaked sharply, bounding off the plate and onto the armrest of the couch. He sat upright, folding his tiny paws in a pose that somehow managed to look both regal and dismissive.
"Okay, I see how it is," Mina said, narrowing her eyes in mock offense. "You're one of those rats—high standards, zero gratitude."
She reached over and picked up a tiny hat she'd crafted out of scrap fabric earlier that day—a ridiculous, miniature version of Clay's own cattleman hat, complete with a little chin strap. With the precision of a predator, she leaned forward and gently placed it on Skipper's head before he could dart away.
"There!" she declared triumphantly. "Now you're officially Clay Jr."
Skipper froze, the hat slightly askew on his head. He reached up with his tiny paws and tried to tug it off, but Mina caught him mid-motion, snatching him up and holding him at eye level.
"Oh no, mister," she teased, her grin widening. "You're keeping it on. You look too adorable. Clay's gonna lose it when he sees you."
The little rat let out an exaggerated squeak of protest, wriggling in her hands as if to make it clear that he was not on board with her shenanigans.
"Relax, Skippy," Mina said, laughing as she set him back down on the couch. "You're just lucky you don't have a pink hat—yet."
Skipper finally managed to yank the hat off, tossing it to the side with as much defiance as a six-inch rodent could muster. He chittered furiously, his tiny body trembling with indignation as he climbed up onto the back of the couch and glared down at her, his stance screaming You will pay for this insult.
"Oh, come on," Mina said, leaning back with her arms crossed, her grin unshaken. "I'm just trying to bond with you, little guy. It's not like I locked you in Momo's cage or anything."
Skipper squeaked sharply, his tail flicking behind him in what could only be described as a dramatic gesture of annoyance. Then, with a final glare, he darted away, disappearing into the cushions as Mina burst into laughter.
"Fine, fine, be that way," she called after him. "But don't act like you're not coming back when you get hungry!"
A few moments later, a tiny, indignant face peeked out from the cushions, Skipper's whiskers twitching as he stared at her. Mina wiggled another piece of fruit in his direction, her grin as wide as ever.
"Yeah, that's what I thought," she said with a wink.
Clay winced.
"Ribbit?"
"Mina's babysittin' isn't goin' that well… I can feel it… I'm gonna run out of folk that would be willin' to babysit."
He set the cup down and glanced at Tsuyu, hesitating for a moment before speaking again. "So, uh… I feel kinda foolish not askin' this sooner, but why'd you decide to be a hero? I mean, yeah, you've got the Quirk for it, but… what's your end game?"
"Ribbit," Tsuyu murmured, her lips pressing together in thought as she placed her own cup down gently. Her wide eyes gazed at Clay for a moment before shifting to the table, her fingers idly tracing the rim of her drink. "It's not just about my Quirk," she said softly. "I want to protect people. My family, my friends... anyone who needs it."
"When I was little, I saw a hero save someone on the news. They were about to get caught in a flood, but the hero didn't hesitate—not even for a second. Ribbit." Her gaze grew distant for a moment, as though she were reliving the memory. "I remember thinking… I want to be like that. Someone people can count on."
Clay leaned back, his lips curving into a small, thoughtful smile. "Yeah, I can see that. You've got that steady kind of bravery—like you'd step into a storm and not blink."
Tsuyu's eyes met his again, and for a moment, there was a flicker of something deeper in her usually unreadable expression. "What about you, Clay? Your parole officer sent you here?"
"Yep," Clay said, surprising himself with how easy it was to talk about this with her. Tsuyu had been open with him, so it only felt fair to be just as open in return.
"Got into too many fights," he continued, his tone casual but tinged with honesty. "My brother had to keep draggin' me out of bars by my hair. One day, the judge decided he'd had enough and sent me to the meanest P.O. in the state. They told me I either go to hero school or I go to jail." He shrugged, like it was just another turn in the road.
"Funny part is," he added with a chuckle, "I never really drank when I went to the bars. I just really liked fightin' drunk people. Can't say my reason's any good."
Tsuyu tilted her head slightly, her wide eyes narrowing just a fraction as she studied him. "You don't look like someone who starts fights for no reason, ribbit," she said, her tone calm but probing. "Why were you really doing it?"
Clay's smirk faltered for a moment, his gaze drifting to the condensation on his cup as he ran his thumb over its surface. "Guess I've always had a thing about protectin' people," he admitted, his voice softer now. "Grew up seein' my brother takin' care of everyone—me, Ma, even folks who weren't family. When I'd see some guy messin' with someone who couldn't fight back, it'd just… set me off."
Tsuyu's gaze remained steady, her expression thoughtful. "So you were protecting people, ribbit. Even if it didn't look like it."
Clay shrugged, a faint chuckle escaping him. "Maybe. But I wasn't smart about it. Certainly didn't always fight to protect someone. Didn't think about what'd happen after. Just saw red and swung." He leaned back in his seat, his smirk returning, though it lacked some of its usual sharpness. "Guess the judge thought hero school could teach me a better way to swing. The Commonwealth of Kentucky Hero Association said my Quirk was too good, and at some point Thirteen found out about it."
Tsuyu tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing in that thoughtful way she had. "You protect people here too, ribbit," she said, her tone quieter now. "Me from Mineta, Shinso… me again at the ice cream shop. It's who you are."
Clay blinked, caught off guard by the simplicity and certainty of her words. For a moment, he wasn't sure how to respond. "Maybe," he muttered, scratching the back of his neck. "Feels a lot easier to protect people who deserve it."
Tsuyu's lips curved into the faintest smile, her gaze unwavering. "Then maybe you're where you're supposed to be, ribbit."
Clay chuckled softly, tipping his hat back slightly. "Guess I've got you to thank for remindin' me of that, huh? God has a funny way of makin' things happen."
"Maybe," Tsuyu said, her voice as calm and even as ever, though her faint smile lingered. "But you figured it out yourself, ribbit."
As the warmth of the ramen shop settled around them, Clay couldn't help but feel a rare sense of peace. For once, he wasn't just wandering—he was heading somewhere, even if he didn't know where yet. And Tsuyu's quiet confidence in him felt like the kind of anchor he didn't know he needed. It seemed to him that Tsuyu had been with him for much longer than the schoolyear.
The sun had long since dipped below the horizon, leaving the streets bathed in the soft glow of streetlights. The air was cool but pleasant, carrying the faint scent of the ocean from the distant shoreline. Clay and Tsuyu walked side by side, their footsteps unhurried as they made their way toward the train station.
Clay carried her bag slung over his shoulder, a courtesy she hadn't asked for but didn't object to. Skipper peeked out of his pocket, sniffing at the crisp night air, his small body twitching with curiosity, clearly happy to be with Clay again as opposed to being babysat by Mina.
"You don't have to carry that, ribbit," Tsuyu said, her voice as calm as ever, though her expression displayed just a hint of appreciation.
"Sure I do," Clay replied, adjusting the strap slightly. "Ma taught me better than to let a lady haul her own luggage."
Tsuyu blinked up at him, her wide eyes reflecting the glow of the streetlights. "You'd probably be a good big brother, ribbit."
"Nah," Clay said with a chuckle. "I'd get the littles into trouble," he said with a light chuckle. "It's just Sheriff Boy Scout and I."
The train station came into view, its platform illuminated by warm yellow lights that cut through the night. The rhythmic clatter of an approaching train echoed in the distance, blending with the soft murmur of travelers waiting for their journeys to begin.
As they reached the platform, Clay set Tsuyu's bag down carefully, the leather strap sliding off his shoulder with a soft thud. He straightened, adjusting his hat as he looked at her.
The train's headlights pierced through the cool night, growing brighter as it approached the platform. The air filled with the low hum of its engine, mingling with the soft murmur of voices and the occasional metallic clink of nearby vending machines. Clay adjusted his hat again, the motion deliberate, as if buying himself an extra moment.
"Here we are," he said, his voice steady despite the flicker of hesitation in his eyes. "Guess this is your ride, huh?"
Tsuyu nodded, her expression calm as always, though her wide eyes lingered on him a moment longer than usual. "It is, ribbit."
Clay crouched slightly to retrieve her bag, holding it out for her with an easy smile. "Got everything you need?"
Tsuyu took the bag from him, her fingers brushing his briefly. "I do. Thank you, Clay."
"Anytime," he said softly, straightening to his full height. Skipper squeaked from his pocket, breaking the brief silence, his tiny head darting out to glance between them. Clay gave the little rat a light scratch, smirking faintly. "Guess he's sayin' goodbye too."
Tsuyu tilted her head slightly, her lips curving into the faintest smile. "Goodbye, Skipper," she said, her tone light but genuine.
The train pulled into the station with a rush of wind, its brakes hissing softly as it came to a stop. Doors slid open, and a few passengers stepped off, the flow of people creating a fleeting bubble of anonymity around them.
Tsuyu stepped closer, her bag held firmly in one hand. She glanced up at Clay, her calm demeanor steady but her gaze uncharacteristically direct. "Clay," she said, her voice quieter now, as though the moment required a softer touch.
"Yeah?" he asked, tipping his hat back slightly as he looked down at her.
For a brief second, she hesitated, the tiniest flicker of uncertainty crossing her face before she leaned up and pressed a light, deliberate kiss to his cheek. It was quick—barely more than a brush of her lips—but it carried a weight that made Clay freeze for half a heartbeat, his brain scrambling to process what had just happened.
When she pulled back, her expression was as calm as ever, though a faint blush dusted her cheeks. "Thank you for tonight, ribbit," she said simply, her tone measured but warm.
Clay blinked, his mouth opening as if to say something, but the words didn't come right away. He raised a hand, touching the spot on his cheek where her lips had been, a crooked grin slowly spreading across his face. "Anytime," he finally managed, his voice soft and a little rough around the edges.
The train doors chimed, signaling their impending closure. Tsuyu adjusted her bag and gave him one last, steady look. "See you soon, Clay."
"Safe travels, Tsu," he replied, his grin softening into something more genuine. "Text me when you get there, please."
She stepped onto the train, the doors sliding shut behind her. Clay stayed where he was, watching as she found her seat and glanced out the window. Their eyes met one last time, her calm, steady gaze anchoring him as the train began to pull away. The faint warmth was still on Clay's cheek, and he almost wanted to touch it.
"Come on, Skip," Clay muttered, his voice low as he watched the train pull away. He stood there a moment longer than necessary, his feet reluctant to move. "Let's get to bed. Thirteen's probably bustin' at the seams to get started tomorrow mornin'. We should be well rested…"
Skipper scurried up to his shoulder, letting out a soft squeak as if urging him along.
Clay sighed, finally turning away from the station. "Yeah… and we can talk about why Mina looked like she wanted to cry when we came to pick up Tsu's things," he added, his voice tinged with curiosity, minor frustration, and just a hint of worry.