Work Text:
Jirou worked part-time at a small cafe around the corner from UA. Most of the students came for the caffeine to fuel the tail end of their all-nighter, so she rarely had any long conversations. Plus, she was always caught between managing the register, brewing the coffee, setting out the pastries, and cleaning the cups. Sometimes she wishes they just used disposable cups like every other coffee place, but she always changes her mind whenever she actually uses one. It somehow made everything a little better, and she couldn't quite place how or why. Regardless, she was in the middle of drying one, when the bell on the door chimed.
"I'll be with you in a moment!" She called, without looking up. She set the cup down the others, looking back up and over the counter. Jirou's eyes met the entreant who sheepishly smiled back as she approached the counter. She had her hair tied back into a ponytail, and strikingly taller than her.
Jirou tried to will the oncoming blush down. It wasn't often someone so beautiful walked in, and Jirou was determined not to make a fool of herself. Not that her determination meant anything, Jirou realized, having been too busy staring at the girl to catch her order. "Sorry! Can you, uh, repeat that one more time?" God, she already fucked up.
"Sure!" The girl responded with a laugh. "I'd like a tall pumpkin spice latte." Jirou cringed, just a little bit. If this girl wasn't so cute Jirou would have audibly scoffed at that. Instead, Jirou laughs it off, leaning onto the counter.
"Yeah, we aren't Starbucks. Sorry. We do have our seasonal fall brew, though." Jirou motions to a small chalkboard on the counter, displaying the scrawlings that were meant to depict their seasonal flavour. She really needs to stop letting Kaminari do the board.
"Oh! My apologies." The girl started to blush adorably, and Jirou knew she was already in too deep at that point. Leaning forward to inspect the board, the girl nodded approvingly. "Yes, that sounds quite nice!"
Jirou reflexively nodded back, punching the order into the dated register. "Can I get a name?" She asked, eager to know the mystery girl's name for all the wrong reasons.
"Hmm... Momo, is fine." Momo's smile gleamed back at Jirou, and she felt her body heat up in response.
Jirou had it bad. Real bad.
She nervously worked on the order, sneaking glances at the retreating Yaomomo. She was idly tapping at her phone, elegantly perched on a stool. Jirou needed to make *some* kind of move soon, or she would disappear into the autumn wind. Fortunately, she had a brilliant idea as she finished the order. She called out "MooMoo?", pronouncing it the way a child would imitate a cow.
Yaomomo glanced around passively, not quite getting the butchered name was hers until their eyes met. Jirou smiled innocently.
Huffing slightly at the counter, Yaomomo accepted the drink. "Momo." She said, staring at Jirou.
"Oh, my bad, Momo." Jirou nervously laughed, rubbing the back of her neck. "It just happens sometimes, you hear a lot of names, you know?"
Yaomomo quirked a eyebrow and knowingly said, "You really thought my name was MooMoo? MooMoo. Like a cow."
"I mean, I don't know. People have some weird names..." Jirou gulped heavily to prevent herself from further rambling. Gripping the counter, she bundled her courage together, mumbling "Ok, it wasn't really a mistake. I kind of just wanted to talk to you again."
Momo's stern expression softened, bringing her hand up to cover her mouth. "So you mispronounced my name?" She asked, incredulous at the implication. "You could have just asked for my number." A blush subtly crept up Yaomomo's face, as she tucked imaginary hairs behind her ear.
Jirou worried her lip, hoping she was reading the situation correctly. "I could have..." She started, "But then I wouldn't have gotten your attention, would I?"
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Momo laughed beautifully, and when Jirou elected to write her number down on a napkin, she was still shocked to recieve a text from her half an hour later.
Yaoyorozu (3:23 pm)
I think it's only fair I know your name, so that I can make fun of it as well.
Wrapped up in her coat and a purple scarf, she gingerly reread the first message. Again. She was bad at flirting (evident in Operation: MooMoo), but she was especially bad at texting. Merging the two made her nervous; or maybe it was the thought of talking to Yaomomo. Probably both, if Jirou was being honest.
Jirou (3:32 pm)
fair is fair... Jirou Kyouka
Yaoyorozu (3:32 pm)
Hmm... Apologies, but I can't think of a way to ruin such a cute name. Whoever named you must have known how well it would suit you.
It had only been a minute and Jirou was already furiously blushing. Yaoyorozu thought she was cute! At this rate, she thought humorusly, I won't ever need a coat to stay warm, I'd just need a screenshot of this text.
Jirou (3:33 pm)
!!! you cant just seamlessly flirt like that!
Yaoyorozu (3:33 pm)
Did it work?
Jirou (3:33 pm)
... yes. If ur that smooth on a regular basis i WILL die. Just so u kno
Yaoyorozu (3:34 pm)
No worries. I had a friend help me out, anyways. I promise I won't kill you anytime soon.
Jirou was smiling widely, mindlessly texting Yaoyorozu as the bus arrived. Texting with one hand and fishing out a bus pass with the other, she stepped on the bus. She managed to show the bus driver her pass, and sat down on the cold seat. Not that she noticed how cold it was, she was far too focused on gleaning every detail she could.
Yaoyorozu went to a different high-school than Jirou, but was similarly applying to UA by the end of the month. Jirou got the impression that Yaoyorozu wasn't nearly as worried about tuition as Jirou was, but she didn't bring it up.
Instead, she shifted to her love of music, prompting Yaoyorozu for her hobbies. She loved origami. To an intensity that would scare Jirou if she wasn't just as passionate about music. Yaoyorozu ultimately liked to create things, which Jirou could understand.
When her stop came, Jirou nearly missed it, too wrapped up in Yaoyorozu's description of her latest project (a flower of some kind, Jirou wasn't entirely sure which one). She was still engrossed as she unlocked the front door, kicking off her shoes.
"Welcome home, honey!" Her mom called from down the hall. Jirou noncomitally grunted in response, headed for her room. "What's got you so distracted?" Her mom inquired, grinning from ear to ear.
Jirou finally looked up, still grinning. "I think I have a date this weekend!"