After a day like today, Takuma wanted nothing more than to stop existing for a while. Mei needed to research some designs, and after a quick shower, she was kind enough to help him do so by lounging on the couch with him on top of her, his arm wrapped around her midsection as his head rested on her abdomen. In exchange, she used the top of his head to rest the tablet on while her other hand played with his hair. There was only one word Takuma would have used to describe this short moment of respite:
Bliss.
He could entirely submerge himself in nothingness. The closeness and warmth were all he needed to breathe again. Mei playing with his hair made his tear ducts work overtime for some reason, but he held it back as usual. He moved his head from time to time, tickling her belly in the process, which succeeded in making her giggle. That sound was better than anything he had ever heard. They stayed like that for what felt like hours but was most likely barely one, as his girlfriend now needed to go to bed. Tomorrow, she had her last test of her high school life, and he wanted her well-rested, enough to show her genius—which she could certainly do with one hour of sleep and on an empty stomach, but there was no need for that.
They went to bed soon, and when he woke up next, he was alone. His eyes adjusted to the light coming from the windows, which, given the fact that he was used to waking up before the sun rose, was a strange discovery. Turning his head, he noticed his phone on the table next to his side of the bed. He grabbed it and pressed the button on the side. His smartphone came back to life, and the time displayed informed him it was two in the afternoon.
This meant Takuma had slept eighteen hours straight. He couldn't remember the last time he had slept that long, except when recovering from an injury. Without Mei by his side, the bed felt... wrong. Even with his sweatpants and socks on, he felt cold. The covers weren't helping much to keep it away. He had started sleeping without a shirt on for Mei and missed it dearly right now as he felt his bones freeze. The bed was too soft, too floaty, like he was on a cloud, scared to fall through at any moment. He couldn't take it anymore and got up, grabbing a shirt and a green hoodie with an apple design on the front. He put his shoes on right after. He had stopped sleeping in them since he began his relationship with Mei, but he was never comfortable having them too far away. Having to fight right after waking up without shoes always sucked massive amounts of balls.
He made his way to the kitchen quickly enough, not quite sure what he was supposed to do now that his entire day had been thrown on its head. He didn't feel like doing his stretches and muscle training—he didn't quite have the energy for it today. He caught a post-it note stuck to the fridge, so he picked it up.
Sound asleep. Didn't want to wake you up.
Done with school at five. Love you.
Microwave.
This was enough to make him smile. Even if he was now unable to remember what she looked like, he couldn't wait to see her again as soon as he could. He opened the microwave to see a cup of hot, now lukewarm, chocolate waiting for him. The tradition he had started to help Mei take her meds in the morning was alive and well, and as he took it, he had to take multiple breaths to stop himself from crying. He nearly didn't want to drink the cup since Mei had made it for him, which he knew she would actually hate him for—wasting good chocolate. He sipped the cold drink slowly as he took a seat and failed to see what he should do with his day.
He checked his phone, fumbling around for whatever app Mei had him use to chat with everyone. He had forgotten which one until he stumbled on his past conversation in the group chat:
SmallMight: Good luck!
BabyMaker: I make my own luck!
BabyMaker: And go crush the rat exam. Don't you dare do anything less than perfect, or I'll send Takuma to hunt you down!
SmallMight: He won't have much trouble catching me. That kick from yesterday made sleeping... complicated. Barely got five hours.
BabyMaker: Boo. That better not be an excuse to fail, or I'll have to get... creative.
SmallMight: Nope, not an excuse. I'll do great. Please don't invent anything—it's not necessary!
BabyMaker: Good. I'll wait.
BabyMaker: And Takuma, if you see this, I love you, baby!
The last sentence made him chuckle. Even if she wasn't here with him, it was like she wasn't so far away. He couldn't wait an hour or two to see her.
And so he did. Wait. At some point, he finished his cup. At some point, time started to fly by. He missed a call, and then another. Until finally, it was time to take the train so he could catch Mei right after school.
People, as always, were a pain to deal with. Salarymen walking off the job, schoolchildren coming home under the careful watch of a Hero directing traffic, and simple joggers sweating their way to a healthier lifestyle—Takuma saw it all, felt it all. It wasn't close to the strain of people tearing themselves apart for one reason or another, but somehow it became harder and harder to deal with. He knew he was struggling more than usual lately, but this was becoming difficult—to even handle the thousands of minds around him. He could manage up to seven thousand at any point; beyond that, he would spiral into a fit that left him overwhelmed and arguably insane. Too many emotions, too many sensations—too much of everything was painful as he found himself struggling to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
But still, he kept moving forward. Leaving the main artery of the city after arriving at his destination was harder, given it was the last day of school for many, and that was something to celebrate. When he arrived in front of Mei's school, he was greeted by the myriad feelings of seniors meeting their families at the main gate, either with bright smiles or simmering dread at the thought of failure. There was little in-between.
It was the same for a certain little someone who reached the range of his Quirk as she left the building. Hatsume Mei, the most beautiful girl in the world, was not having a great time. The source of her problem was three other girls walking alongside her, who, to her dismay, were taking their fear and frustration out on her. Takuma's first reaction—piledriving the little bitches into the ground—couldn't come to fruition. Instead, he moved a few steps away behind a corner and took his hoodie off.
Female bullying was, in general, less violent than the male version. Cutting words, power plays, reputations, and sickening rumors were their weapons of choice. Given that these girls hadn't been a problem until now, Takuma was inclined to play the game—just this once.
Women valued many things, but at that age, reputation and relationships were more important than most. Since he'd been hammered over the head countless times with comments about how he looked like a snack (by women and men alike since he was twelve), it was time to use it for something that mattered. He opened his shirt and ruffled his hair, making it look wilder and spikier than the brush he barely used could ever manage. Then he made a beeline for his cute girlfriend, whom he could only now put his eyes on.
"She's gorgeous," he realized for the hundredth time, feeling a familiar pinch in his heart as he noticed how she seethed and looked at the ground silently, waiting for the relief of reaching the main gate to escape her tormentors.
He caught the eyes of many around him. Without the protection of his hoodie, he was all too aware of the desire, interest, and lust directed his way by women and men alike—a rapid-fire of thoughts blooming and dying in a single heartbeat. There was a reason he didn't flaunt his looks, and this was it. In a breath, he could pinpoint who felt what about him. Images of hands dancing around his body, sweat and sex, played out in some thoughts. Others were less sweet—scenarios of him slapping, choking, and dominating in ways that made his skin crawl. Or the reverse, where he was the one on the receiving end of violence.
Innocuous thoughts for many, but to him, they were vomited into his head in a way he couldn't stop.
Takuma truly hated lust. Strangely, though, it didn't hurt as much as he remembered. With Mei around, he could use her love to juxtapose the emotions of those around him—like using a hammer to knock back another. It wasn't a catch-all; images, ideas, sensations, and thoughts still bombarded his mind. But it wasn't as bad as it could have been.
He focused back on his task. The three girls were barely a thought as he reached Mei right at the gate. "And where do you think you're going, cutie?" he asked in a tone meant to be dull but cheeky enough to sound like a stereotypical fuckboy.
Mei's eyes grew wide as she raised her head to look at him, shocked to see him. Before she could answer, he scooped her up and kissed her fully on the mouth in front of the three girls, who stood frozen in sheer shock at the brazen display.
"Now that's more like it," he said with a grin as he turned his head, as if just noticing the girls staring at him. "Hello, ladies, sorry to interrupt, but I have to take this one for a spin," he drawled in the douchiest tone he could muster. It worked well to build the scene, and the wink he sent landed somewhere between all three of them, making each think it was meant specifically for her.
He grabbed Mei's bag and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, gently pulling her toward the road that led back to the house. "So, how've my girls been doing?" he asked as he paraded down the road, leaving three envious girls behind, who were definitely checking out his ass as he walked away.
Many others felt the same way, but they didn't matter. The envy directed toward his girlfriend, the hope of stealing him away, and the overall disappointment of not having a snack like him on their arm were what interested him. The doubt, feelings of inadequacy, and internalized frustration tasted like wine to him.
Eat shit, girls.
"I... aaah," Mei stammered, still struggling to process what had just happened. The brightest blush spread across her cheeks. "Goo?"
"I would have preferred 'good,' but 'goo' works in a pinch," he chuckled, dropping the flirtatious tone he'd used earlier and raking his hair into his more natural, less attention-grabbing style.
"What was that?" Mei asked, looking up at him.
"Those girls were giving you shit, so I made sure they knew you were the one who caught this fine little piece of ass," he stated, making it clear he was talking about himself. "Now they'll have to confront their own lackluster relationships and inadequacies. That'll last them a good week."
Her mouth moved aimlessly for a second. "You didn't have to do that!" she protested, one hand reaching out to rebutton his shirt. "Don't put yourself in those kinds of situations because of me. Those girls barely even talked to me."
She led him to a quieter area with fewer prying eyes and motioned for him to put his hoodie back on, which he did with glee.
"But I wanted to. And just because I can't punch doesn't mean a few words and a wink won't have the same effect," he countered with a grin, which earned an eye roll from her. "Fair warning, though—next time, I'm punching them."
"There won't be a next time. I asked them to mail me my diploma. The less I see of that stupid school, the better I'll feel," Mei groused with enough frustration to fill a swimming pool. "You okay?"
"Of course," he... lied? He wasn't entirely sure. He was used to worse when all eyes were on him. "Nothing a kiss can't fix."
She grabbed him by the collar and kissed him fully on the mouth. He wrapped his arms around her. "I love you."
"I love you too," he replied, kissing her temple for good measure. "Wanna go home?"
"Yeah, those three kind of soured things. Let's go home," Mei said, wrapping her arm around his.
Then Takuma had an idea. "Or we could go somewhere else," he said with a mischievous smile.
Mei looked up at him with interest. "Where?"
"Not telling. You'll have to trust me," he teased, earning another eye roll and a smile.
"Alright, mister mysterious, lead the way," she invited, as he led her to the train station. They didn't head home but instead took the train to Mustafu.
A while later, they arrived at their destination: the beach. Once a smelly, hideous trove of scrap, it was now clean and cared for. "I thought you might want to see what Izuku and I accomplished," he said as she took in the sight.
"This is better, even if I can't get parts out of it anymore," she said, leading them to a promontory overlooking the sea and beach. Built on rock and secured with guardrails to prevent accidents, it was a nice spot—thankfully devoid of people. "I can't even see a screw or nail in the sand," she added, using her Quirk to scan the area. "Good job."
"If anything, the smell is a definitive improvement," he recalled, standing behind her and hugging her. "We can leave if you're bored. It was just something I wanted to show you."
"Nah," she replied, leaning into him. "It was a good idea to come here. I can't remember the last time I took a good look at the ocean."
"You liked going to the beach before?" he asked, carefully tiptoeing around the subject of her parents.
"Yeah, it was our thing," she revealed, her voice tinged with sadness. "Dad loved going, Mom not so much. But she always ended up coming anyway. It was fun—the waves, Dad nearly having a heart attack every time I dived into the water. Mom even built a remote-controlled boat out of plastic so she could lounge next to us without getting in the water. It was great."
"We could start doing it too. I've never been to the beach before—besides, you know... cleaning it," he offered, feeling Mei's heart race at the idea.
"You would?" she asked, turning her head toward him, barely able to hide how much the idea tempted her. "I didn't think you'd want to come here for fun, because you... like being covered?" She hesitated, unsure if she was pushing too far into his many issues.
"I do like being covered," he admitted with a shrug. "But it doesn't stop me from grabbing a pair of shorts and wearing a shirt in the water." A thought hit him, and he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "Though, uh, that might not be the biggest hurdle."
"What do you mean?" she asked, confused.
"I don't know how to swim," he revealed, looking away as a faint blush crept across his cheeks.
"H-How?" she stammered in disbelief before slapping both hands over her mouth. "Sorry!"
"Yeah, I very much never went to school, so those swimming classes just... floated right past me," he said with a shrug. "And I've never had a reason or opportunity to go to the beach before, so there's that."
"They swam right by you, more like," she teased, grinning as she hugged his arms tighter around her abdomen. "Alright, I'll teach you."
"As soon as you're done with Lockluster and whatever scheme you've dragged Power Loader into," he said, chuckling as his girlfriend nodded enthusiastically.
"Obviously. What that girl was wearing is criminal," she growled with a scowl. "I want to kick the guy who designed her costume in the dick."
"I can arrange that," he offered, earning a giggle from Mei.
"Maybe after I finish her costume," she replied, still laughing. "Then I might just take you up on that." She turned to face him and hugged him, a look of raw emotion crossing her face. Takuma noticed it and instinctively raised the walls around his mind, careful not to peek into her thoughts.
"Thank you," she said softly, catching him off guard.
"For what?" he asked, genuinely confused. "I haven't done anything worth thanking me for."
"For saving me. For taking care of me. For giving me a chance to not be alone anymore," she began, her voice trembling as she listed off her thoughts. "For everything you've done and refuse to take credit for. I had given up—on making friends, on meeting people who wouldn't run the second I acted weird or got too excited.
"When I met you, I thought you'd be gone as soon as you could, but you stayed. And you cared—more than anyone ever has, except Tinker. Being in the hangar, always alone... it was fine. At least, I thought it was, until you showed up, looking at the shock mall. That's when I realized it wasn't fine at all.
"Then everything happened. I fell in love. We got closer. And because of you, I met Izu... the second person who cared enough not to leave." Her voice cracked, mist forming in her eyes. Takuma clenched his fists to stop himself from looking away.
"And I like that," she continued, her voice thick with emotion. "Not being alone. I don't think I could go back to that again—the silence. Even when the machines were running, it was always so heavy."
Tears streamed down her face, and she didn't bother hiding them. "So thank you—for everything. You make me happy. I love you."
She kissed him shyly on the lips before resting her head against his chest, letting her tears fall freely where he couldn't see them. Takuma exhaled shakily, trying to gather his thoughts and figure out what to say.
"It wasn't until I woke up in your house that I finally had time to breathe," he began, his voice soft as his hand made slow, soothing circles on her back, helping her process her tears. "Everything was always so hectic. Even when I wasn't fighting for my life, it was just... too much. I couldn't get my head above water—couldn't think, couldn't breathe, couldn't find a way to stop the same day from playing out over and over again."
He paused, his gaze distant. "So, one day, after a job well done, I saw that mutant lose it. When he threw that car toward the shop, I just... walked away. Then I came back. I fought him—to save the kid, to save you. But the truth is..." His voice faltered, and his arms tightened around her as he continued, "I thought he could be the one to do it. To make it stop."
Mei's hug grew stronger, as if she could hold him together. "I didn't want to die. I still don't," he admitted, his voice trembling. "But it was just... too much. And he seemed like as good an escape as any."
He exhaled shakily, his grip on her steady as he revealed a truth he was still struggling to fully grasp. "I fought. I ran. I passed out, fully expecting to get dragged off by one of the monsters waiting in the dark to make me regret ever being born. But when I woke up, it wasn't them. It was you." His voice softened, a faint wonder coloring his words. "The strange girl who fed me, gave me a roof over my head, and a blanket to keep out the cold. That was more than anyone else had done for me in so long. I kept expecting you to come asking for payment."
He felt her tense slightly, the horror in her thoughts unmistakable. He squeezed her gently, reassuring her before continuing. "And when I couldn't take the waiting anymore, when I begged you to just say what you wanted from me... you asked me to be your friend. Not something I ever would have expected, as you can imagine," he added with a chuckle, the memory of that moment bittersweet.
"Again and again, you gave me more than I ever dared hope for. Until you loved me." His voice dipped, low and raw. "That's still something I can't fully comprehend—how, or why. But feeling loved, for the first time in my life... it's worth everything. Any pain, any horror, any monster still lurking in the shadows." He kissed her forehead, his lips lingering as if to seal the words in place. "You made everything I've gone through worth it. You make me happy. You make my life worth living. I love you."
He held her tightly, as if letting go would make her disappear. Mei clung to him just as fiercely, their embrace steadying them both. Takuma took a long, shuddering breath, needing the time to gather himself. By the end of his confession, his hands were trembling slightly, the raw emotion taking its toll.
Mei, ever patient, rested her head in the crook of his neck, drawing comfort from his warmth. The air around them felt softer, the sun on his skin gentle and reassuring. For the first time in his life, Takuma grazed the edges of something he'd never known before: peace.
"You're not going anywhere," Mei finally said, her voice steady, filled with quiet determination. "Not now, not ever."
"I'll do my best," he promised, though his voice carried the weight of uncertainty. "But there are still people after me," he admitted with a sigh, pressing a kiss to her brow. "They might not give me a choice."
Her hand tightened into a fist around his hoodie, her resolve hardening. "Then let me help," she said, her gaze fierce as she looked up at him.
For a moment, Takuma hesitated. Telling her anything would only put her in more danger. But then, he remembered—he trusted her. He trusted her more than anyone else.
"Okay," he finally said, surprising her. "But let's go home first."
Mei nodded, her hand slipping down to link her arm through his as they started the walk back.