I'M BACK!
Hello everyone, we're finally back!
(Looks at the last chapter update being in August)
I guess it's fair to say it's been a while, and… before everything else I want to say that we're sorry for having you wait so long.
But in either case, without further ado, here it is! The return!
In the fancily decorated great hall of Yaoyorozu mansion, a stale air hung atop Ben, Izuku, and Eijiro. They were all sitting down at the long, Italian maple dining table, all wearing casual clothes.
Midoriya was busy taking rapid notes in his notebook while glancing at a test book. Kirishima on the other hand seemed still rather overwhelmed, taking in all the sights of the hall and even the purple and golden colored patterns of the cups.
"I feel out of place…" He said to himself, as he then turned to Yaomomo who was wearing a collared red rayon long shirt and white shorts, pouring her own cup of tea and taking some treats from the two layered tray.
"How is the tea, everyone?" She asked with a beaming smile.
Ben, who had been boredly clicking through various missed calls or messages that were left for him on his phone, didn't break away his glance but took a sip– only to have his eyes actively widen.
"Oh wow…" He exclaimed as his gaze had switched so fast he almost dropped his phone. "Yaomomo, this tastes really good!"
Midoriya took a sip as well, and couldn't help but nod.
"Yeah…" He uttered before his mind started racing. "The bitterness leaves a lasting taste in the mouth all without feeling sharp, and the flavor keeps it soothing as well as energizing."
Kirishima nodded in agreement as he finished his cup, before passing it forward.
"What was this called again? Golden Imperial March?" He asked.
"Gold Tips Imperial." Yaomomo corrected. "It's a rare find that my mother likes to break out after every major success." She said as she poured him a new cup, before blushing as she seemed to relish even the aroma that flowed out from the teapot.
Kirishima took his cup, and started to blow on it carefully.
The room was once again on the cusp of being devoured by silence. So, Midoriya raised his head up from the notebook.
"Okay, so… Tennyson, Yaoyorozu, how was it in America?"
Both of their heads snapped towards the green-haired hero student, before they nervously averted their eyes.
"Oh… Umm, good. We did a lot."
Yaoyorozu nodded.
"In all honesty managing both the internship and our operations was quite tiring." She added off-handedly, resulting in Kirishima's eyes to light up.
"Oh yeah, you also had to undertake an internship there, Yaomomo! How was it–" He attempted to ask, only for her to turn her back to him, with a distinctly less than savory aura emanating from her.
"I'd rather not speak of it." She answered curtly, with her brows crossing.
Immediately the enthusiasm vaned from his face, so Kirishima turned to Tennyson who seemed to share the sentiment.
"It's definitely gonna be good for the final exams." He elaborated more in her place, before he turned his head away, sighing and resting his head on one hand. "But, yeah… fun stuff and not so fun stuff, when it comes to that." He said with a sigh.
The ends of Yaoyorozu's brows lowered as well upon his words, losing their furious edges in place of sympathy. All the while, Kirishima nodded in acknowledgement.
"Uh-huh." He said, before looking at his teacup, unsure of where else to turn his gaze.
Midoriya however, wasn't so satisfied.
"That's fair, Tennyson. But I asked since… it's honestly been quite a while we've spent apart." He said rather forwardly. "Definitely the longest time since we've been brought into your world so to say…"
"Or vice versa, depending on how you look at it." Yaomomo added suddenly, as she was able to confidently stare at Tennyson in his face.
Ben couldn't help but shrink in his place a little.
"Yeah, but… it's not like we haven't done a whole ton even when apart." He opened his hands, before gesturing to Midoriya. "Plus why are you so enthusiastic about getting back into things anyway?"
He raised a closed fist, before starting to count.
"Ever since we split up, not counting the Highbreed and Forever Knight stuff, you guys had to go up against a crazed killer, *we* had to deal with a crazed traitor, and what do you mean we've spent quite a while apart? You guys got another one of me!" He said, as the fireplace displaced the wood inside the wall before raising up, forming into some kind of door.
Lucy walked out first.
"Woah, now was that a match or what!" she exclaimed, pumping her fist up and down as Kevin and the girl with the blades on her knuckles walked out right after her, looking messy.
Kevin cracked a smile.
"It wasn't bad." The ex-con remarked confidently, as his eyes turned to the host upon entering. "Thanks for the training room, Yaomomo." He said, before Lucy extended her head up from behind him.
"Anytime." Yaomomo politely replied, giving a small bow from her head as a token of appreciation.
Kevin pointed back to the fireplace that was turning back to normal.
"Though I have to tell you, because of a certain someone, there might be scratches and craters on the training room walls..."
Lucy immediately beamed as she sat down.
"Oh, yeah, also the showers!" The Lenopan added with a snort.
Yaoyorozu's eyes widened, before her head tilted.
The girl averted her gaze, before he huffed and sheathed her blades back into her knuckles. Kevin laughed at her expense, before he put his hands in his pockets, walking closer to the table.
He stood over Kirishima.
"What's the brew?"
Kirishima leaned back on his chair as he balanced it on its back legs.
"Gold Tips Imperial." He raised the cup. "Want some?"
Kevin shrugged.
"No way I'll say no to free stuff." He said and sat down. Lucy raised her hand to the top of the room.
"I can't handle too much liquid, but a cup of tea is definitely a-okay!" She said, as her hand wrapped around, before forming back in front of Momo into a thumbs up!
"Glad to hear it." Kirishima said, before his gaze raised to the only other person beside Yaomomo who was left standing up. "And you, Laura?"
The girl with the blades, who had been silent this entire time, spoke with knitted brows.
"I have never tried it, though I had a guess based on its smell…" She said in a melancholic tone. "It was a popular drink of my mother's coworkers…"
The eyebrows of everyone in the room raised, as the upbeat attitude inside the hall suddenly dropped like a heavy rock. Yaomomo looked at the teapot, and then Laura before goosebumps appeared all over her skin.
"Oh I… I apologize–" Yaomomo said only for Laura to raise her gaze.
"However, none from that group will be accompanying me today." She stated sharply. Her head turned to the rich host of the house. "I would like a cup as well."
Yaomomo smiled, and… seeing her so hopeful, Ben did so too.
"Looks like you're gonna need three more cups…" He said, pushing his chair back and getting up. "I'll go get them."
"Oh no, I can't allow you, at least not without accompanying." Yaomomo quickly said. She set the teapot down, and then walked alongside Tennyson with one of the small cakes in hand.
"By the way, help yourself to some snacks everyone!" She said, gesturing to the variety of cakes.
"Thank you, Yaomomo/Thanks Yaoyorozu!" A simultaneous cheer rang from the hall in response.
However, Midoriya hadn't partaken in that. He just looked back at them with a glum tone, making eye contact with Yaoyorozu as the door closed behind them.
Ben 10: Hero Force
Chapter 40
It's Tea Time
The pair walked to the kitchen which… Ben was glad to have Yaomomo with her as he was sure he would've needed to use Echo Echo to find his way otherwise.
As they opened the door, Ben focused his attention on the cabinets, trying to see if he could spot the cups from behind the translucent glass of some of the cupboards and a tray, while Yaomomo let her smile fall, as she shut the door behind her.
"Tennyson…" She said.
Ben's brows went up from her tone, before he sighed melancholically as well. He could hear just from her tone that the earlier conversation… wasn't going to be over that easily.
"I understand that you've needed time before moving forward, and for good reason. I'm really glad that we're on the same page about that now…" She said, as she stood across him from the other side of the counter.
Ben looked down, and saw the outreached hand of Momo.
He glanced up, letting out a humorous breath.
"...Even though we made some mistakes along the way, huh."
Momo fashioned a smile as well. She nodded her head before her gaze mirrored his, being downcast onto the counter between them.
"However, every day that passes brings us closer to the invasion from the Highbreed, or to the advances of one of the other groups. League of Villains, Forever Knights, or whoever else we've gone up against." She continued. "We have new allies, you have new transformations, but the world simply needs us, it is our responsibility to answer and– And… what seems so funny to you now?"
As she was talking, Ben had started to look away, laughing ever more.
"Oh, it's just… you know. I like how your face gets when you're up-to-the-minute on everything." He said.
Yaomomo started to blush– before shaking her head.
"You're attempting to dodge the question." She pointed to him with discipline.
"Ah! And I was thinking that was gonna work." Ben opened his arms, faking a disappointed reaction.
She smirked back at him, as Ben gave a sheepish reaction while her hands assembled. When he looked back at her, she averted her gaze and shrugged her shoulders knowingly.
"My question still stands." She said playfully. "And a specific date, instead of a timeframe, would be nice."
"Okay, fine." Ben opened his hands. "We still have our final exams to go through, but our force of heroes will be back out there in…"
He counted his fingers, as Momo raised an eyebrow at him.
"In… Ehh, *on* the day of the anniversary." Ben answered.
Momo clapped her hands.
"Delightful!" She answered, as with a pink glow, a small piece of paper and pen manifested in her hands.
"On the day of the anniversary." She noted down, as Ben gave a heavy sigh, shaking his head, though keeping the smile.
"Now, you still kinda have guests waiting, so… in which cabinet can I find the trays?" He asked.
Yaomomo's eyebrows went up.
"Oh, it's on the second cabinet to the left…" She said while pointing.
"Okay, got it." He answered before reaching for it.
Momo gave a nod and turned around, reaching to another cabinet and taking out four cups… before her delighted smile fell in place of confusion.
"Wait, Tennyson…" She said confusedly. "The anniversary of what?"
Anniversary of Ben 10: Hero Force
19th April 2025, Release Date of the REAL Chapter 40
April Fools
:)