Trigger Warning:

- mention of rape

- mention of PTSD

It had been a week since that horrific night.

As Izuku waited near the entrance of the botanical garden, the events returned to him as clear as day.

It was so easy to.

Furukawa had asked him to accompany her in the ambulance. He even chose to wait for her outside the operation room. After all, their date had been ruined so horribly. The least he could do for her was wait for her as her wounds were treated. Izuku spent the time answering police questions and filling out forms. He even completed the hospital paperwork, insisting that he would pay all the expenses required for her treatment. Healthcare in Japan provided universal coverage, and the hospitals were mostly private, non-profits. But there were costs such as medicine, for which he requested the list and purchased.

Furukawa's parents had been called to the hospital. But Izuku had excused himself to the restroom and avoided meeting them. He had felt that he would be intruding on a personal matter. Deeper down, though, a part of him blamed himself for what happened, and he was afraid that her parents would, too. Heroes tried to save everyone they could. But sometimes, they arrived too late, or they never came at all. It was a dark truth of heroism that Izuku had paid a heavy price to learn.

He liked their daughter. If he was going to meet them, he would prefer their first introduction not be in the setting of harsh, white lights and disease and death. In fact, when the team of doctors came out of the room and announced that Furukawa was awake, he had decided to wait until her parents left to speak to her.

Katsuki had noticed his eccentric behavior. Pulling him deeper into the restroom, he asked, "What's going on? Do you need help?"

Izuku had replied, "If her parents ask for me, tell them that I am at the police station."

"You think they're going to hold you responsible, don't you?" His silence was enough of an answer. Katsuki frowned, seemingly ready to launch into another angry scolding. Instead, he took a deep breath and stared at Izuku sternly. "I know that you hold guilt for what happened to Shigaraki and the rest of the Paranormal Liberation Army. I learned the same lesson you did. So listen to me, Izuku: you did the best you could. You guaranteed that gang of assholes lifetime imprisonment, and you protected the girl you care for. You saved from her from getting raped. Do you hear me?" Katsuki placed a hand on Izuku's shoulder and squeezed it. "She needs you, right now. Just this time, I'll cover for you. But you should know that you can't keep hiding forever."

Katsuki was right: Izuku was holding himself back. But he was nowhere near ready to let himself a little loose.

Kamiko had been looking forward to seeing Izuku.

She had been worried that what happened that night might have caused a strain in their relationship. So when he had entered the ward that night, and asked her for permission to make it up to her, she immediately responded with a yes.

From a distance, she had spotted him. Basking under the June sunlight, he was purchasing a pair of tickets at the entrance booth. Light green and dark brown looked good on him. He had a very earth-like, grounded presence that Kamiko appreciated. A counterpart to her more whimsical, sunny energy.

Before stepping out so that he could see her, she adjusted the hem of her skirt and jacket. Despite the hot summer month, a cool breeze was passing by today, she chose to wear a full-sleeve cobalt blue jacket. Matched with a white, pleated long skirt, she hoped that the serene colors would tame her fancifulness for today. Her brooch had come loose. She affixed that to the jacket collar. It was a gift from her grandmother, who believed that emeralds symbolized harmony and bliss. After tightening the laces of her brown heeled boots and smoothing out the wrinkles in her gloves, she began moving again.

"Hello, Midoriya!" she called out and waved once she had covered enough distance for him to notice her.

He looked in her direction and smiled warmly. "Good morning, Furukawa! Did you get here safely?"

"Yes! The directions on navigation were straightforward. Were you waiting long?"

He shook his head. "I only got here ten minutes." He lifted the set of tickets. "Want to go in? I heard this place opened an exhibition for tulips, and I want to check it out."

She smiled. "Lead the way, then."

Izuku was confused.

Perhaps it was wrong of him to think so, but he was amazed at how chipper and lively Furukawa was in spite of the attempted rape.

She sniffed various plants, pointed out their interesting characteristics, and asked for her picture to be taken with any flora that sparked her interest. She was having fun, so why did Izuku feel something was off?

It took him a while to realize it.

Warm colors were more of Furkawa's aesthetic. So why the subdued tones now? Blue for calmness, green for peace, white for purity … And the gloves. Did she wear the gloves to hide the scars of the knife wounds? Was Furukawa unaware of that her brain was subconsciously suppressing the trauma? Izuku recalled what his therapist had told him. Manifestation of mental illness varied from person to person. In terms of PTSD and traumatic flashbacks, this variation was most profound. Sometimes, flashbacks occurred almost immediately after the traumatic event, but in some cases, it could take weeks, months, or years for the bad memories to resurge. While Izuku's had appeared quickly after the last war was over, he could not expect for her to experience the same.

Actually, Izuku would have loved it if she never relapsed into that dark past.

So he swallowed his doubt and chose to enjoy the day. He had brought her here for a specific purpose: to accomplish what he did not do the night he invited to her to the restaurant.

He was going to confess to her.

They lost track of time.

Kamiko could attest for herself: she had so much fun that she did not notice when morning had crept into evening.

Beginning with the desert exhibit and ending with the rose exhibit, Kamiko and Midoriya had spent a good hour in each sector. Though she was embarrassed to ask him numerous times, she loved having her picture taken. Every time she became shy, he brushed off her worries with a smile and told him that he did not mind at all.

He had brought a camera with him, and she was sure at this point, the memory card must have been full with photos of them together.

It was then that Midoriya exclaimed, "We forgot the tulip fields!"

He was right. He had been looking forward to seeing them all day. Kamiko pointed toward the left. "If my memory serves me correctly, the tulips are that way! We still have some time. Let's hurry!"

They jogged down the swaying paths, consulting the map at every intersection. Though it took longer than they had expected because they returned to the same spot more than once, Midoriya finally spotted the vivid blooms.

They entered into what looked like a meadow of colors. Kamiko could believe that tulips existed in every color of the rainbow. Bursts of reds, oranges, and yellows met her eyes in one area. Just a little past was a collection of purple, pink, and white. She was captivated by the multicolor ones. With combinations of more than one color, they looked like candy.

Midoriya walked over to where she was standing and bent down. He had a watering can in hand. "They have an option where you can water the flowers. I found it by the bench over there," he explains. "You seem tired. Take a break. I'll join you as soon as I'm done." She looked where he beckoned. It faced directly toward the blooms. Carefully, he poured the water over the tulips. Meanwhile, Kamiko decided to rest her feet for a little while. Taking a seat on the bench, she observed Midoriya work.

As green was his hair, so was his personality. A walking, talking green flag. She felt lucky that she developed feelings for someone who respected her despite her appearance and other labels that society imposed on her.

For the past week, she had been trying her hardest not to think about the rape attempt. Her parents were scared enough. Abe-sensei had caught wind of the incident, too, and suggested on escorting Kamiko to the bus stop herself. She appreciated their concern, but to keep seeing it, hearing it, feeling it … it became too much.

So she turned to Midoriya. Though she knew that he was worried for her as well, he did not overtly express it. For that, she was thankful. Kamiko had just began forging her future in a world that hated her. She refused to let one terrible night seize that from her. And Midoriya was enabling her will.

As Kamiko continued to admire him, the stronger the mate bond tugged at her. Her heart began to race. Her tail swished back and forth at an increasing pace. Her ears straightened and twitched.

Suddenly, it pulled so strong, she shrieked.

Midoriya turned around. "Is everything okay? What happened?" He dashed toward her as she fumbled to come up with a response. "Are you hurt? Are you in pain?"

"Squeak! Squeak! It's not- Squeak! I'm fine! Just now- Squeak!"

All her squeaking and squealing was making it impossible for Midoriya to understand. Even Kamiko was confused by her words. This was not what she wanted to say.

But Midoriya was patient with her. He smiled and cradled her face. "It's okay. Take your time."

That was easier said than done. With him standing so close, his hands touching her, his features appearing in high definition, Kamiko felt her internal blush meter skyrocketing. Finally, it exploded.

"I LIKE YOU!" she screamed.

Immediately, she clapped her hand over her mouth. If his wide eyes and slightly agape mouth were anything to go by, he was appalled, too. Her mouth slipped. The secret was out. There was no reversing this now. Kamiko struggled to take in some breaths and retain composure. Though she felt more nervous now, she removed her hand and tried to speak more calmly.

"I-I-I l-like you, Midoriya Izuku. More than a friend. Squeak!" Well, that was a failure at speaking confidently, but Kamiko supposed it was better than shouting it out. "For a while now. Y-You're kind and sweet and respectful. You don't treat me as mutant scum, and I enjoy your company." Maybe she had been unnecessarily panicking. With each word, it became easier to profess. Kamiko decided that discussing the mate bond may be too soon, but she revealed that his actions had left an impact on her.

When she finished, Midoriya was still holding her face. He rubbed his thumb across her snout lovingly. For a long time, that was all he did. Kamiko was puzzled. Was she about to be rejected? She hoped not.

"I am glad that you told me how you feel for me," he said some time later. "But there is one problem." Oh. Here it came. The rejection. Kamiko felt crestfallen. She was about to tell him that it was all right that he did not reciprocate her feelings, when he spoke again. "I wanted to confess to you first."

It was her turn for her eyes to widen.

Awe did not even begin to cover the breadth of what he felt.

All this time Izuku was so careful around her. After being turned down by Uraraka, he had been afraid of severing his new friendship, and it took him a lot of courage to admit he liked her after that. But if he had known sooner, maybe things would have been different.

No. There was no point in contemplating what could have been now. This was a brilliant opportunity for Izuku to express himself, and he was not going to let it go.

"I like you, too, Furukawa. You understand me in a way that no one can." To prove his feelings, he detailed how he admired her tenacity. She was strong, he told her. Pulling through each day and striving to make a name for herself. As a hero, he was proud of that. "I am not ashamed of caring for a mutant. I am not ashamed that you are part vixen. Your squeaking is cute, and your vivacity is wonderful. Most of all, you don't judge; you listen."

When he finished, he noticed that Furukawa was crying. She was weeping from joy. He could only imagine how much it meant to her that someone had romantic feelings for her in a world that loathed her. For her, he was willing to change this society's treatments toward her and her kind. But for now, he contented himself by hurrying to wipe her tears away.

It was then that he asked her, "Is it okay if I call you by your first name?"

She nodded.

"Then may I kiss you, Kamiko?"

Her russet fur turned ten shades darker from the rush of blood through her cheeks. But she choked out, "Squeak! You may."

"You can say no. I won't be offended."

To his surprise, Kamiko grabbed his shirt collar. Her gaze dropped to his lips. A boldness that he would not have expected from her but was delighted to hear coated her voice. "You may kiss me."

Relieved, Izuku run his thumb over her mouth. Slowly, he began to cover the gap between their lips. When there was only a centimeter of space, he paused and looked into Kamiko's eyes once more. Silently reminding her that she had the right to pull away. When she did not, he covered that centimeter, too.

This was his first kiss.

He liked it.

Her lips were soft. Brushing his own against hers again and again, he marvelled at the sensation. It felt right. It was the affection he wished to shower upon her. He met no resistance, as he tugged her lower lip. Suddenly, she mumbled something, breaking the kiss.

Momentarily stunned, he opened his mouth to apologize if he should not have done that. But Kamiko initiated the second kiss. Grabbing him closer by the collar, she deepened the kiss. Before closing his eyes, he caught a glimpse of her tail moving in rapid waves and her ears standing erectly. With a stroke of her mouth, Kamiko asked for permission to part his lips. He acceded. Izuku angled his head so she would have better access. It worked. Because she did the same. Ever so often, their tongues would meet. He pulled her lip. She pulled his.

When they broke apart, both of them were panting.

"I'm glad I chose you, Izuku," she breathed out.

He pressed a quick, chaste kiss and murmured, "I'm happy I met you, Kamiko."

Then, without any warning, she tackled him onto the ground. The grass cushioned the impact. He was about to ask what happened, when she wrapped her arms around him and hugged him hard. He understood. Grinning, he returned the embrace fiercely.

She was his, just as he was hers. He promised himself to continue making himself worthy of her so that she could live freely and without fear.

Between intermittent kisses and embraces, the two of them fell asleep in the tulip garden. It was a short nap, though, because one of the staff members on patrol caught them, and shook them awake. Muttering something about how extra fees should be demanded to celebrate a late Valentine's day in the botanical garden, the worker kicked them out of the premises.

Neither of them paid any mind.

Giddy in romance, Izuku decided to carry on the date a little longer.

He spotted a grocery store with takeout options and suggested that they go there.

Once inside, Kamiko and Izuku decided to split. Kamiko wanted to buy some snacks, so Izuku decided to select the takeout meal. She perused the aisles, snagging packets of daifuku, cream pan, pocky sticks, and rice crackers. Sure, her parents owned a supermarket, but there were restrictions on what she could bring home. So, this was her chance to be a little sneaky.

Suddenly, the aroma of something delicious tickled her nose.

She turned toward the source. Tofu. One of her favorite foods. Already, her mind was spinning with recipes. Agedashi tofu, teriyaki tofu, mapo tofu, miso soup tofu … Her mouth was salivating. She grabbed two packets of the ingredient and headed toward the counter.

Izuku had already finished purchasing two containers of dinner for them. Kamiko set her basket on the shelf and waited for the cashier to scan the transaction. But he did not. Rather, he looked at her, then the the basket, and pushed it aside. "Everything costs ten times the listed price. Do you have enough money?"

Kamiko was shocked. "Why would the price be inflated? Shouldn't you charge based on the labels stuck above each product?"

"That's for regular customers. Not mutant freaks like you."

Oh. She understood now. Inadvertently, she and Izuku had entered a non-mutant-friendly store.

Izuku realized it, too. He argued, "It is illegal to discriminate. She is a citizen, and she has every right to pay the same cost that everyone else gets to pay."

"Got a problem?" the cashier rudely snarked back. "Then pay for it yourself."

Izuku clenched his fist. "I am a Pro-Hero."

"And I don't give a damn! Pay up or leave."

Kamiko sighed. She whispered to Izuku that they should leave. There was no point in creating a scene here. However, Izuku muttered, "Go on without me. I'll see you outside." She began to protest, but he smiled and patted her arm.

Hesitantly, she did as she said. Waiting across the street of the shop, she worried about what was happening inside. Anxiety physically manifested as the ends of her hair and tail stood up. An crash echoed from inside the shop. She began wondering if she should call the police when Izuku returned. Arms full of bags of snacks and foods, he crossed the street quickly. As she began helping him set the bags down, he said, "I got you your tofu."

That was all the prompting she needed to pick up Izuku and shake him vigorously. She grabbed him by the shins and turned him upside down more than a meter into the air. Gluttonous frenzy for tofu overtook her mind completely. She hardly noticed Izuku laughing.

"It's in one of the bags I'm holding!" he gasped between chuckles.

But there was only one word reverberating in Kamiko's head. Tofu. Tofu. Tofu. "Where is it? It's been so long since I ate some. Oh, I can taste the miso soup on my tongue."

Finally, the two packets she had selected fell out of one of the bags. It was then that Kamiko realized what she was doing. Apologizing profusely, she set Izuku down on his feet. "I should be thanking you, but I manhandled you. Squeak ! I'm so sorry!"

"It's okay," he laughed.

"How did you convince the vendor to sell them?" she asked as began lifting half of the bags.

He took the remaining. "I just scared him a little. His business is fine. But he will have a broken coin machine and counter for a while. He'll learn that his actions have consequences."

Kamiko's jaw dropped in amazement.

"Thank you," she breathed.

"Think nothing of it. You're my girlfriend now. And I won't stand by if someone disrespects you."