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Pushing the pull door, Shouto mentally face palms. Actually pulling the door this time, he walked in and was assaulted with the aroma of weathered books, dust and sweet fairy tales. Avoiding any interactions, he lightly stepped through the store looking for the books his sister asked him to collect. Being a typical wallflower, he knew how to run and avoid. People had a habit of pulling him over and asking him all sorts of questions about his hair, eyes and burn, though unsettling, he never had the heart to tell them to go away.
His finger ran on the rim of the shelves, collecting heavy doses of dust. He wasn’t having the best time; padding around in a store that is foreign and not something that piqued his general interest. Fuyumi needed to prepare for her classes and her youngest brother was the perfect errand runner.
Browsing through books that contained life stories, adventures and fantasies, Shouto was caught off-guard by how much of a childhood he missed: the classical and well descriptive books, the novels that could take someone to a different world, all those things, are things he missed.
Walking through the isles that smelled like sandalwood, watching the array of the colourful book spines that were neatly tucked and housed within long and dark oak shelves.
The bookshop itself was rather cute and something that you’d only think would exist in movies. Fairy lights lacing the isles, neat calligraphy and highlights, the polished flooring reflecting the lights, entrancing anyone. Shouto had never been happier to escape and retreat into a quaint, relaxing store.
Being someone who liked to help others, Shouto felt compelled to help his sister, Fuyumi. She was currently moving to high school and he could only get glimpses of how stressed she was. As a bonus, she promised him his favourite meal, Zaru soba.
Shouto stumbled across a girl sitting on the floor. Encyclopedias, flower anatomy and chemistry textbooks laid out before her, all neatly piled and ready for reading.
The hunched over ebony-haired girl muttering notes and numbers to herself, Shouto let her be and stepped over her. Scanning the shelves for any sign of book that would tell him how children would behave. He was lost in the maze of towering books and dust.
A voice thick and rich like honey broke through the atmosphere. The richness of her voice was startling and it made Shouto crave more.
“Do you need help? I noticed you’ve been hovering for a while.” looking down, Shouto found dark eyes as deep as the ocean shining back at him with stars in her eyes.
Keeping his eyes down cast, he maneuvered from his left foot to his right, awkwardly shifting in his place. Blinking a few times, his mind still blank, he promptly rubs the back of his head. “Uh. Yes, please. Thanks.”
She blinked back at him, eyes shining just as bright and Shouto thought she was going to explode with excitement.
“What type of book? Gardening, cooking, how to remove stains?” avoiding her gaze, he looks down again.
“How to teach.” he meekly replies, feeling foolish.
“If you feel embarrassed, I can show you.” her voice echoed through him. She got up and went behind a plethora of shelves, then soon returned, books piled in her hands. Patting the ground next to her, she invited him to sit down.
Sitting down next to her, he could feel her radiating with pure joy. Her small hands were bookmarking pages, her smile was bright and white, and her eyes shone with endearment. Neatly placing all her books into a bag, she dragged all the ones she found on teaching out.
Happiness and excitement bounced off of her. Clapping her hands together, she gives him a bright smile and she starts to tell him about the social standing of each person. The way on how to be mindful, yet stern in getting a point across.
“Say, for instance, you have a class, right? If it's small, take time and get to know the people you teach. Let them joke, they need to have some fun if they want to learn.” she speaks, pointing to the key words on the page in front of him.
“Wouldn't they twist words?”
“Well, yes.” she sighed, tucking a piece of stray hair being her ear. “There's always going to be someone who tries to make the teacher seem like the bad person.”
“How does respect work?” Shouto asks, forgetting that his sister was the teacher and not him.
“That's a tricky one.” she laughed, turning a few pages. “In this book, it’s said that there's always going to be someone, whether you teach them or not. Honestly, it's a challenge. You need to keep them focused and maintain an even level of tone. But if you don’t respect your students, they will show no remorse.”
~~
“You’re like a genetic mystery!” she grins, eyes bright.
“How so?” he queries, shifting his legs to a less uncomfortable position.
“You’ve got half red and half white hair! And your eyes, they’re captivating. It even carries through on your eyebrows and eyelashes! How mesmerising.” she studies his face, leaning closer.
“Um- thank you.” he shifts backwards, slightly uncomfortable.
~~
“I always thought that even though things keep changing, that there's always a constant.” she stretches, hiding a yawn behind her hand.
“A constant is something that will never change, but what if you change and the constant leaves? What then?” he asks, rather curious about the answer.
“Find a new constant. It doesn't have to breathe and it doesn't have emotions. For instance, it could be a tea cup. Even a bracelet you got when you were 4. Something that will remind you that no matter how bad or overwhelming things get, there's always something that won’t change.” she says, tucking that bang of hair behind her ear, a blush dusting her cheeks and a tight smile around her lips.
~~
Holding the store door open, waiting for Yaoyorozu to walk out. Shouto offered to walk her home and carry some of the many books she borrowed. The door swinging back into its frame, he walked along his ebony-haired company.
His hands in his pockets, he looks to where Yaoyorozu was falling into his stride with ease. Capturing charcoal orbs looking at him with joy, he stops at a cross road and waits in a crowd of people, not letting Yaoyorozu leave his side.
Continuing to their destination, Shouto wasn’t expecting this to happen, yet here he was; waiting in a crowd of people and holding books on chemical compounds, and enjoying the company of a new companion. The small pocket of time they got together made his gut churn with something he was unsure with, though this was something that he encouraged. Something that he wanted more of.
Yaoyorozu’s posture was something that threw him off, it was odd. When she thought no one was looking, it was as if she could really relax and be comfortable. Her posture as straight as an arrow, being instilled with her ever since she could possibly walk. All the more tempting to him, he supposed.
Raven hair smoothed out in a low bun, wisps of hair sticking her view and her one bang that just would not go away. ‘ One, four, six, eleven.. Eleven times she’s had to put it behind her ear, maybe if I did it, it would stay behind her ear… on second thought, maybe not.’ letting his inner voice win, he lets the stray piece of hair into her view.
The leather jacket Yaoyorozu was wearing was something that made her stand out. Badges littering the front of her cover up, Shouto thought she looked as if she was part of a gang. A gang that liked to wear lots of badges.
--
“What’s your name? I don’t believe I got it before.”
“Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you before. I’m Momo Yaoyorozu,” she bowed, her voice suddenly squeaky.
“Oh no, that’s okay. I’m Shouto Todoroki.” he said, wanting to make her revert back to her cool and calm demeanor. He hasn’t known Yaoyorozu for more than 4 hours and he already felt as if he had known her for a lifetime. The way her eyes sparkled when he asked a casual question and did more than hum.
Becoming increasingly aware of how much he started to notice her, Shouto was stuck; how she would pick at her fingers, leaving red marks. How she would bite her bottom lip, or when her cheeks would turn into a soft pink when he said something that she wouldn’t expect. How her language was delicate and she took pride in how she presented herself. How utterly amazing she was.
Momo Yaoyorozu. A name of wealth. Shouto, however, did like peaches, after all.
When Shouto looked into her eyes, all he ever saw was the bright lights and cityscapes reflecting. Deep within her eyes laid knowledge of the world and held many secrets, not daring to tell a soul; stygian eyes shaped in a cat-like manner, her eyelashes sweeping her cheeks whenever she blinked.
Turning towards him, Yaoyorozu asks, “Do you want to hear about a story?”
He hummed in acknowledgement.
Giving him a bright smile, she bounced a little and spoke.
“Last year, I went to a convention showcasing flowers, herbs and community living. There's one soon, but everyone I know is busy. There's children that come into my part-time work with their parents. So, I said that when I went this year, I’d get them some. I don’t want to go alone, but if those children will smile, I’d do it in a heartbeat.” her smile becoming one with meaning and sentiment.
Giggling to herself, she continued, “I give them small lessons when I can. Some are interested in the properties of lavender. Amazed by how the plant is known for calming and wellness. The smiles they wear are the biggest and it makes you realise that a few sentences can make someone's day. It’s truly beautiful.”
How she described everything made him realise how fortunate he was to stumble upon her, quite literally.
Stopping in the cluster of people who wanted to walk across the road, he turns to her and sees the memories of those happy kids talking to her. “I’ll go with you,” he offers, hoping she doesn't reject him.
Every smile that has bloomed on her face has been one of pure joy and happiness. Yaoyorozu was the only person he knew capable of making him want to smile. Of course there were his siblings, Fuyumi and Natsuo, but he didn’t spend a lot of time around them, and he hadn’t been attracted to any of his siblings.
Her face fell and when Shouto was about to ask the matter, the crowd around them moved. Tugging at her arm, he grabs her wrist in his hand, he pulls her along, hoping she doesn’t mind.
When she came through to her senses, she pulled away almost immediately. Her heart running a mile a minute, she laced her hands together, a deep pink coating her cheeks. “No way. I couldn’t burden you.” she softly spoke, tucking her bang behind her ear. Was it really as soft as it looked?
Her eyebrows were creased and she stood chewing her lip. Very alluring.
“Who are you going to talk about plants with?” Shouto smiled, letting his head loll to the side.
Stopping his pace, Shouto saw that Yaoyorozu hadn’t moved. Watching her regain herself, she caught up and there was a different emotion in her gorgeous eyes. One that he couldn’t name, one that appealed to him.
Absorbed in her kindness, heart and beauty, Shouto was struck with how easily she side-stepped strangers. The amount of elegance lacing around her was mind blowing. If he had to describe her in one word, it would be Momo. Momo Yaoyorozu. The only person who had him blink twice at the mention of chemistry, the only person not to fangirl about how pretty he was, she told him that she did take interest, but only for his genetics, of course.
Yaoyorozu was an interesting enigma, just like himself. She was highly intelligent, thought things through before they were said and never acted impulsively. Sure he had known her for only a few hours, but with the amount of pride she carried on her shoulders, it was obvious that she was a functionalist who liked things on a list.
Their hair whipping in the wind, noses red from the frost-bitten air and the only thing keeping Shouto warm was the fact that Yaoyorozu was leaning towards him; cheeks high from smiling, eyelashes battering her cheekbones and the darkest shade of pink Shouto had ever seen. He tells himself that it's the cold.
Speaking first, he took a breath and turned towards her, asking, “Soba?”
Lacing her elbow through his, she leans on her tippy toes and whispers, “That sounds amazing.”
Stiffening at the motion, he looks towards her, wide eyed and all. Crimson staining her cheeks and a bashful smile curling her lips. Tugging at the cord of his own blue hoodie, Shouto felt Yaoyorozu tug him towards a nearby restaurant.
More than 45 minutes away from the bookstore, Shouto had the realisation that he had left his motorbike at the store as well as those god forsaken books.
“Ah…” clenching his fist the was in his pocket, Yaoyorozu asked if anything was wrong. She must’ve felt him tense. Looking up at him, she asks him, “Did something bad happen?” her voice laced with worry and concern.
“I left my bike at the bookstore,” he sighs, dragging his free hand through his hair.
“That's okay! I can wait at the restaurant just up ahead.” Yaoyorozu reasoned, beaming at him.
Stopping in the busy street, he grabs her hand, letting people rush past them. “I might be a while.” he warns, not wanting to keep her out for longer than she needs.
“As I said, it’s okay. If anything, I can continue reading.” she assured, squeezing his hand. Then adding, “If it calms you, you can text me.”
“Thanks.” he says, squeezing her hand, just like she had before.
Handing her phone to him, their hands brushed and electricity shot through him like he got pierced with an arrow. Adding his contact number, he saw that her social life was down in the dumps. Only three contacts were in her phone and none seemed like a potential partner, if anything, Shouto had a chance with the goddess.
Handing her phone back to her, she beamed at him. Although he has seen that smile for what felt like a million times, he felt like he could look at it a billion more.
“Wonderful! I’ll see you soon, Todoroki-san!” and with that, she was off. The warmth that surrounded them in a bubble was gone and he felt as if he would freeze.
Yaoyorozu’s presence calmed him, made him feel as if he was tucked in a warm blanket. The reassurance that someone was there just to sit and talk to you or sip tea with was a strange thing for Todoroki to think of, yet he found himself thinking of it fondly when it came to her.
Walking back to the bookstore, Shouto had things to contemplate. Yaoyorozu was intriguing and he certainly wanted more, but to what extent? Where they could share stories by a campfire and look at stars? He didn’t know. All he knew is that he wanted her to be a big part of his small life.
Shouto had retained the images of Yaoyorozu in his head. How her smile would change when she would say something, or when he would ask a question and her eyes would light up her kindness was something that many people didn’t have and it was something that he treasured, even after just meeting her. Shouto knew she was important.
If they were to become something, (hopeful thinking got the better of Shouto’s mind) he would have to introduce her to his dysfunctional family. And that was something he didn’t want to do.
The name Momo Yaoyorozu was perfect, syllable by syllable. She was the epitome of perfection to him, and though she had her flaws, those flaws are something that he really liked about her. Her self-deprecation and doubt were something that made him want to squish her cheeks and tell her the harsh truth; that she might not be perfect, but to him, she was the definition of stunning.
Not having known her for more than 5 hours, Shouto was sure that he wanted her to be a big part of his life.
Reaching the bookstore, he found his bike where he parked it. The shiny accents of electric blue made him bite his lip, hiding his smile as he thought of the onyx eyed girl who was occupying most of his thoughts. Turning on the bike, Shouto felt the vibrations of the revs shift under him. Looking at his phone, he found Yaoyorozu had texted him a photo. Her book that he was carrying earlier.
~~
Hoping that he hadn’t got the address of the restaurant mistaken, he awkwardly shuffles in the small and not so busy food hub. Running his hand through his hair, he searches for Yaoyorozu. Shouto spots her while her head is down and her focus is on nothing but the book infront of her.
Sitting down opposite her, he gently tapped her hand that was running along the page's edge. “I’m here,” he says.
The sound of her company arriving shocked her so much that she jumped in her seat. “Ah.” she swallows, “Welcome, Todoroki-san.”
When she looked up, Shouto’s breath got caught in his throat. Why do her eyes sparkle like there's stars in them? Releasing his caught breath, he sighs in happiness.
The way she unknowingly relaxed and soothed Shouto was something that was a Yaoyorozu specialty.
Looking around the small store that had very few customers, Shouto looked at the menu. “What do you think you’ll get?”
“I was looking at the Yakisoba or the Miso soup. What about you?” she asks, putting her book back in that yellow bag.
“Soba.” he replies, drumming his fingers on the table.
“Is there something on my face?” She asks after a few moments of nothing.
“Wh-what? No.” Shouto stutters. Giggling behind her hand, she pushes her reluctant bang behind her ear. “You were looking at me.”
Oh. oh my god.
“Oh. Um, sorry. It’s just you looked really pretty.” Shouto blurts, embarrassment from getting caught, making blood pool in his cheeks.
Her eyes widen in shock and soon come down in a humble blink.
“Would you like to order?” Shouto asks.
Yaoyorozu raises a perfect eyebrow. “Food?”
“Yeah.”
As if the realisation of that conversation dawned on her, her cheeks light up even more. The small squeak she makes, made Shouto’s heart squeeze and before he knew it they were both ordering. Yakisoba for Yaoyorozu accompanied with a Lemon and Ginger tea. As for himself, Shouto got Soba and Green tea.
Once seated, she claps her hands. “Isn’t this lovely? Wonderful food, amazing drinks and somebody to share it all with.”
“It’s great.”
Eating in a comfortable silence, Yaoyorozu’s sudden shift in behaviour was something the worried the red and white haired boy.
“What about you? What tea do you favour?” he queries, prompting to know her preferences, likes and dislikes. Hopefully asking about something she likes will make her less gloomy.
“All tea is nice.”
Yaoyorozu’s delicate features weren’t as glowy as they were before. There was something clouding her wonderful mind and Shouto was going to get to the bottom of it.
“Is something the matter?” he asks, wanting her to talk to him about something or anything. Anything to get that pretty smile and sparkly eyes back.
“You know,” she swallows, taking a sip of her lukewarm tea. “When I first saw you, you looked lost. And to be fair, you were.” a small smile paints its way onto her features. When I started to talk to you, there was a small voice in the back of my head. It was telling me to stop talking and let you be. Now look,” she gestures to all around her. “I managed to drag you to a restaurant, when you could be at your house, doing something better.” she finishes, her hands picking at her fingers.
Her bottom lip trembling and her eyes glossy, Shouto placed his hand on her shaky ones. “Hey,” he swallows, his throat suddenly dry. “Trust me when I say this. If I didn't want to be here, I wouldn’t. If I wasn’t interested in listening to you, you would know.” running his thumbs over her knuckles, they stayed like that for a while.
The silence of her contemplation and the action of Shouto running his thumbs over her knuckles.
Looking up with glossy eyes and a shaky smile, she whispers, “Thank you.”
~~
Flopping on her couch, Momo heaved a giant sigh and smiled. Tonight was perfect. The entire night, including where she almost cried and her ugly cry wasn’t a pretty sight. Wanting to vent about her more than splendid night, she rolled off her couch and went to fetch her phone.
Tapping her contacts icon, she was blissfully unaware of how short her contact list is. Landing on the only person she felt as if she could confide with, was, of course, her best friend. Kyouka Jirou.
Waiting a few rings, Momo paced up and down the halls, hoping that she would answer.
Counting the rings as they went by, the line answered, only to be muffled by static and screaming.
“Kyouka?” Momo asked, breathing a sigh in relief when she heard her response, “Did your apartment burn down?” giggling at her response, she went to make herself a cup of tea.
“I had a thrilling day,” she started, unsure if her friend wanted to hear her petty excuse for calling. “And? Are you going to tell me more?” A muffled sound ringing through her ears, Momo scrunched her nose and was relieved when she couldn't hear anymore yelling.
Momo’s eyes opened like saucers, did Kyouka really want to talk to her? “You really want to know?” she breathed, hoping that this wasn’t a dream. It wasn’t as if her best friend didn’t care, it’s just she was so busy and Momo didn’t want to get in her way. “Of course! If your day is important to you, then it’s important to me too,” she roared through the phone, causing the receiver's ear to become light in pain.
Here goes nothing, Momo.
“I met someone.” she whispered, afraid if she was to say it any louder that his eyes, hair and the way his jaw clicked would disappear from her memories. Whispering back, Kyouka played along, “And?” feeling the pent up tension hanging by threads Momo could cut it with a thin knife. If she kept going like this, she might just explode, too.
“He wasn’t demanding and though he didn’t speak much, his eyes told stories. Oh Kyouka! They were gorgeous!” Momo marvells, remembering how his eyes lit up and glazed with so many emotions, that alone had her spiralling.
“Do you wanna hear a funny story?” her best friend giggled, earning an immediate yes.
“I met someone too… his name was Spring Roll. I ate him, and the way he looked at me, it was like he was begging for me to chomp him down.” Kyouka laughed, lacing her voice with sarcasm.
Sighing to herself, Momo laughed at her friend's antics, “Very funny, Kyouka. But i'm serious!” she rebuttal, her point, trying to argue that she wasn’t making anything up.
“Then spit it out!” Kyouka chuckled, adoring how her best friend was trying to be serious. “I’m all ears,” she quietened down, and Momo had a chance to compose her rather wild thoughts.
“It’s like a fantasy novel! I met him at a bookstore,” she sighed, dreamily. “He was lost and I offered to help him, he seemed really shy, but he opened up to me. I feel as if there could be something there..” Momo had felt incredibly guilty for dragging him away from his errands.
Truth be told, Momo had never had a crush one anyone. Sure, celebrities came and went and Momo loved rom-coms just as much as the next person; but something unrealistic about them made her have a little crevice in her heart where she should be adoring someone, virtually non-existent. Though, today that changed. Emotions filled her as if she was a can of soft-drink that got shaken to infinite and was then opened; releasing all her emotions at once.
The line was silent for longer than it needed to be, but Kyouka was doing her bit by listening and letting Momo process her thoughts.
“Would you believe me if I said that I came off rude?” Not giving time for the person she was talking to, to respond, she continued, “We sat on the ground for more than 3 hours. Just talking,” Momo smiled into the phone, remembering telling Todoroki about how gold nanoparticles are used in the research of cancer.
“Sounds like he is already whipped if he sat like that, let alone listen.” Kyouka yawned, mumbling something under her breath.
“What does that mean?”
“Don’t worry, Yaomomo.”
Smiling to herself, Momo knew that Todoroki gave her something that wouldn’t go away. “We had a moment in the streets,” she whispered, walking back into the dining room and sitting on her couch.
“He said something so cryptic that it made perfect sense, crazy, right?” ever since Todoroki gave her that one-liner, she had been non-stop thinking about it. Maybe she was reading too into this and something wasn’t going to happen with them. Or, maybe, just maybe, she could be selfish once more.
“Perfect sense.” Kyouka hummed in her ear, earning Momo to release a pent up sigh like laugh.
“I stopped and my heart, that mind you, was already beating fast then, at that moment it was racing.. Just thinking about it makes my hands shake.” she admits, draping a blanket over her cold feet.
After a long pause, Kyouka is the first to speak up, “Momo, listen for a moment, okay?”
Wanting nothing more than her best friend to tell her how she really felt, Momo became nervous at the sudden cold shift in her voice.
“Okay,” she breathed into the phone, afraid that this moment of sweet serenity that she had gotten might crumble.
“I don’t want you to get hurt. You’re innocent and if something bad happened, who would repair you? I know how independent you are and that your will to pursue something is much stronger than anything I can imagine. I don’t want you to mope around something like this, even if it does work out, there's going to be times where one of you would want to end everything…” Kyouka paused, thinking over her next words. “Don’t regret something so mediocre.”
Was her best friend right? Was she being naive? Mulling over the constant questions, Momo’s brain short circuited.
Regaining her composure, she willed tears not to slip from her suddenly glassy eyes. Through silent sobs, Momo muttered, “I really really like him.” by this point, she had crossed her arm over her chest, and was heavily leaning into the couch.
“And I love you,” Kyouka’s voice soothed her aching head but nothing prepared her for what her friend had previously said.
Sniffling in response, Momo mumbled an ‘I love you too’.
If anything, Momo thought she deserved this. The amount of times she declined people who didn’t pique her interests or only used her for her body was nerve wracking. That alone sent her spiralling again.
Another long pause of silence and silent tears streamed down her cheeks, if she wasn’t sure she was crying, there was proof on the damp throw rug. With a wavering voice, Momo spoke again, “Don’t you think I should try new things? If I get hurt, we can eat ice cream and listen to pop songs. I’ll hear about how I was wrong and you were right. Just please,” she whispered.
Was wanting to try something new so scandalous?
A deep sigh echoed through Momo’s ear, making the girl come to attention. “Okay.” her shaking fingers playing with the damp tassels of the throw came to a hurdling stop and she stopped breathing. “Continue talking about him,” Kyouka’s lighter tone made her feel at ease and was grateful and she wouldn’t have to choose between her best friend and potential lover.
Releasing small sobs of ‘thank yous’ Momo continued, though in small breaths.
After what seemed like an eternity, Kyouka eventually had to go. Leaving Momo and her thoughts of what her friend had said about her certain someone that she really liked. How those endearing eyes scouted her uniform and posture, when they landed on her face and instantly lit up in some emotion that she had yet to grasp.
Todorki’s scent lingering around her apartment causing her to go crazy. The after-effects of Todoroki were just as bad as the normal effects; addicting and a never-ending want.
~~
When Shouto asked Yaoyorozu on a date, he wasn’t expecting that racing would fill up more of his schedule than he originally intended. Easing the break on his racing, making time for her and himself, it was decided they would meet up a week before the festival.
His busy and energy taking lifestyle kept running him dry, the constant moving, travelling and yelling wasn’t something that was made easy for him. Ever so slowly, things were suffocating him and becoming more and more harder to handle. Until he met her. She calmed him for the first time in years, not many people could do that.
Between working and racing, Shouto hadn’t had time, and Yaoyorozu was just as bad as he was. Though they hadn’t spoken in person, they texted each other. Informing and sending photos of anything, as long as it meant they could talk to one another.
She would express interest about weird and wonderful topics, almost as if she was preparing for teaching the children by teaching him.
Reuniting 4 weeks after their bookstore escapade and dinner at Yaoyorozu’s house, Shouto was feeling as if he was a shaken soda can. They agreed to meet at a cafe just down the road from that fateful bookshop. Apparently being late was something that he had gotten good at, just 10 minutes ago was he supposed to meet the raven-haired beauty, alas here he is, sitting in traffic just metres away from a possible parking spot.
The traffic has been horrible and road works have gotten more disruptive, causing everyone to be generally late. Luckily for Shouto, if he was sneaky and willing to risk a fine, he could park on the sidewalk. His main priority though, is to see Yaoyorozu and bathe in her ramblings.
Willing to make the difference and see her just five seconds longer, he parked on the pavement, setting his Honda CBR500 on its stand and marvelling at how it was great for times like this.
Walking into the quaint and inviting cafe, Shouto could feel the warmth of her from where she was sitting in the corner. How her hair was up in a ponytail and curly strands sticking up to provide volume, her eyes that were drawn towards a book that was bigger than his vocabulary. The way she poised herself was so alluring to him. Just how he found her like a jigsaw puzzle. Easy to to look at hard to put together, thinking about it, he could be a puzzle too. If his imagination ran wild enough, they could be puzzles that needed to be next to each other to look complete.
Sighing to himself, Shouto walked over to where his date was patiently waiting for him, oblivious to the thundering in his ribcage. Pattering over to Yaoyorozu, he shuffled past tables and sat in front of her, shrinking into his chair.
“Sorry I’m late. Traffic was a nightmare,” he breathed, hanging his head low. Drumming his fingertips on the side of the table, he admires how she presented herself. A brown cardigan hanging off her shoulders and her hair pushed up in that voluminous ponytail.
Her features contorting with delight at his presence, she laughs at him for a reason Shouto doesn’t know of. “That's okay, I was finishing some light reading,” she bookmarked her page and bit her lip. “It doesn’t look light,” he gestures to the book that she’s currently putting in her rather small backpack.
Looking at him in thick and dark lashes, Shouto’s heart got caught in his throat. His fingers still drumming on the table, he swaps and instead goes for sugar packets. The calm feeling that the sugar packets provided a sense of control. The small grains move up and down, clumping together and then dispersing with the amount of friction and pressure.
“Compared to others, this is light,” she grins, successfully putting her book in her bag.
“Do you have a helmet?” she asks, pink donning her cheeks and her bottom lip bitten. Her dark eyes laced with concern and Shouto almost fell off his seat with how worried she looked.
“Nope. They mess with my senses,” he admits, still vigorously shaking the sugar packet.
Truth be told, when Shouto was on his bike, it felt as if the earth was made for just two wheels. The wind whipping his face, chilled noses and fingers, bugs in eyes, all of it was a sense that not everything came with a price. The breeze carried him away as he would speed down roads and all he would get out of it were watery eyes and a need to race. There were also reasons why he didn’t wear it too, it left a weird mark on his forehead, smelled of his sweat and it folded his ears weirdly. Though, not telling her that might save him some brownie points.
“That statistically proven to be dangerous. Riding without a helmet is 70% more danger than riding with one.” Yaoyorozu explained, knitting her hands together, picking at her nails and giving him a wary smile. Eyes glinting as if she was scolding a child. “I am aware,” he soothes her worry, by lifting his hand that wasn’t shaking a sugar packet and resting it on hers. In an instant her shoulders relaxed and Shouto was more than sure that she was just as pent up as he was.
Huffing her cheeks, she proceeded to say, “It’s not my place to tell you what protective equipment you should and shouldn’t use. If you know the precautions, I’m not going to hold anything against you.” Yaoyorozu finishes, latching her thumb over his. Keeping their hands not so interlaced, but so that they’re still touching. His over hers; the way it should be.
Still shaking the sugar packet that was now in sync with how rapid his heart was beating. Glancing through her lashes, he spots Yaoyorozu biting her bottom lip again. And he knows that he’s not the only one putting themselves up for a full knockdown. Praying that they don’t knock each other down, he imagines them; standing at the top of the world, hands interlaced and stronger than ever before.
“Todoroki-san,” she asks, releasing her bottom lip, damn. “What do you think about tea?” she says, prompting a conversation.
“As I said, I favour green tea.” he replied, shrugging. The sugar packet doubled in speed, still in tandem with his heart. Hadn’t she asked him about tea when they had dinner?
“I said what you thought about it, silly.” she giggled, her thumb giving his affectionate runs up and down.
Being caught off-guard, Shouto flushed a crimson red, matching with the left side of his head. “Th-they’re good,” he stuttered, curling his posture. Still, the sugar packet never stopped shaking.
“Personally, I favour all teas.” she giggled, wrapping her thumb around his. “Different aromas and taste can vary on how you feel. It can vary on how you make it, too. If you steep it for too long, it can become bitter, making the tannins inside become bitter-tasting, resulting in dry mouth. Every bit of preparation for tea is different, that's why I love it.” Yaoyorozu gives him one of her best smiles, while letting her thumb run over what it can, tracing his knuckles. Velvet red collecting in splotches on her cheeks, making it look like she had been a frost-bitten.
Giving her a lop-sided smile, she looks at him with eyes as wide as saucers. Twinkling with the atmosphere of the cafe, reflecting her star-struck expression off the glossy table. Yaoyorozu was someone who could wear a trashbag down a runway, and she’d still look like she was dressed to the nines.
Entranced by her beauty, glory, kindness and warmth, he blurted the first thing that came into his mind, “You look really pretty.”
Her face that just left a shade of velvet just went darker, forming a crimson mask on her. Mouth falling open to an ‘o’ shape, her hand that had been roaming along his knuckles and on his palm had come to a halting stop. “Uh- oh, t-thank you. You look pretty, too.” she stuttered, each syllable getting faster as she said the simple sentences.
Shouto’s shock wasn’t something that made him feel like there was impending doom, possibly impending happiness? The outlook of that made his lop-sided smile to return and start running his thumb over her encompassed hands. All this adding to how deliriously hopeless with Yaoyorozu he was.
Finally ordering their drinks, Shouto got a green tea and Yaoyorozu ordered a herbal concoction of peppermint and spearmint tea. Sitting down in their seats, they had casual conversation, discussions and just bathed in each other's company.
After talking for the better half of his day, Shouto was brought to attention when his company's phone rang, excusing herself, she answered. “Yes, yes. Kyouka! I’ve got to go, I’m busy. Yes it’s now! I’ll tell you afterwards. Everything, yes. I’ll collect it from the front desk later. Bye!” Looking at him through her dark lashes and an apologetic smile tightly holding her lips together.
“Don't worry, it happens to the best of us,” Shouto shrugs, fishing another sugar packet out of the caddy. At this point, he’d shaken over half of them until they had been ripped, spilling sugar across the table.
“Do you know that your hair has been messed up since you arrived, right?” Yaoyorozu asked, her eyes plastered to his head, scanning the mixture of his unique hair.
“It’s normal. It doesn't bother me, but if it does you, you can fix it,” Shouto shrugs, leaning closer to her. Their hands had parted a while ago, and he was missing their warmth. Her warmth. At that moment he wanted nothing more than just to be with her, and since he was doing that, he wanted more than anything to hold her hand again. Coming to terms that he was allowed to be selfish at times, Shouto took the plunge into the deep end.
“I shall,” leaning over the table, Yaoyorozu started sorting his hair into respective sides of his body. White on the right, red on the left.
Observing her careful movements and consistent breathing, he noticed how her eyes shone like stars had been dropped in them. The small smile she always wore morphed into one of pure bliss and specks of pearly white teeth were shown. Feeling like he was cheating in the biggest game of monopoly he had ever played, Shouto took advantage of how she seemed to wear her heart on her sleeve. No, he wasn’t going to take advantage of her, if anything, he would be the one she was going to take advantage on.
Shouto was simply enjoying the personal show of her raw emotions and her contorting face, showing each feeling as she saw it. Happiness, bliss, joy, surprise.
Closing his eyes, Shouto basked in the relaxation of having thin digits running through his hair, nails scraping his scalp and a very pointy nail draw a line down his centre, sending shivers to his core. Humming in a sense of relaxation, Shouto thought this was what it was like when he placed his hand over Yaoyorozu’s.
“Just like a cat,” she mumurmers, her breath fanning over his head, sending his mind into overdrive.
“Did you just compare me to a cat?” he chuckled, watching her eyes widen. Quickly retracting her hands, she sits back down and picks at her thumbs. Stumbling through a quick apology, “S-sorry! I hope I didn’t offend you, it wasn’t my intention.” She lowers her head, and Shouto’s heart is left aching at the thought of her apologising for no reason. Her plump bottom lip is a victim to her anxious habits.
Shrinking back into her chair, lowering her head any further, Shouto tries his action from earlier. Reaching for her hands that are haphazardly hanging off the table, he takes them both and carefully drags them into the middle of the table. Running his thumb over her knuckles, he leans towards her and whispers, “Non taken, however, that was unreasonably cute.”
Sugar packet discarded, both hands on hers and running over her delicate knuckles.
“You dropped the sugar packet,” she says, smiling fondly at him.
Realisation dawned on him, looking around as if there was a reason on why he dropped the comfort bringing grains. He looks towards her, seeing if the answer lies within her mysterious eyes and her god damn gorgeous smile; then he realises, he dropped the sugar packet so he could comfort her. She was looking as if she had been caught with her hand in a cookie jar and Shouto just wanted to bring peace to her more than deserving features.
“I suppose I did,” he quips, already missing how her fingers threaded through his hair.
“If you don't mind me asking, but why do you shake them?” she queries, pointing towards the stack of degrading packets. When she was questioning his odd habits, he grew self-aware on how stupid it looked. A 23 year-old man who was shaking a sugar packet because he had a worrisome amount of anxiety. Utterly ridiculous.
Rubbing the back of his head, embarrassment seeped through his veins like his green tea. “Actually,” the heat on his cheeks that hadn’t made an appearance was now making a rather dazzling sight. “I don’t have a good reason, it’s more or less a habit that stuck.” Shouto shrugged.
Yaoyorozu leaned in, her elbows pressed on the table, slowly moving towards him. Going in to meet her in the middle, she leaned towards his ear and whispered, “If it makes you feel better, I find it unreasonably cute.” pulling away, she winked and lit up a cherry red.
~~
When it was time to wave goodbye, Yaoyorozu walked him towards his Kawasaki and waited for him to start the rumbling engine. He watched her as he revved and waited for the traffic to clear. She walked up to him and stood next to him, looking at the accessories, running her hand along the sports bike, she gasped in awe.
Stepping towards him, even closer this time, she tilted his face and made contact with his cheek.
Warm lips coated his right cheek, and sparks and blood ran rogue and coloured his face. The soft lips left his face, and he was left shivering. The culprit grabbed his face with her snow cold hands and focused on him. Her lips curling and moving, “Be careful. Be safe.” she whispered, hugging him to her. Muttering, “Will do.” they broke apart.
~~
Shuffling through his front door, Shouto outwardly sighs and goes to shower. After his date with Yaoyorozu, he went towards the place where he would race his opponents. Choosing to participate in a race with Bakugou, the heterochromatic boy was left grotty. The mud and grass-stained pants he had worn were saturated and Shouto was just feeling disgusting.
In the midst of his hot and welcoming shower, Shouto had an epiphany. The water pressure makes his knotted muscles relax.
Stepping back into his kitchen, he makes some soba and sits himself on his cold couch. Getting to work, Shouto google's different flower meanings, something that would suit her. And her alone.
Captured by the pretty flowers and the words they silently conveyed. Thinking of flowers would make Yaoyorozu smile and have a meaning that would tell her how he felt but not in an obnoxious manner.
The Agrimony flower had caught his eye and reminded him of the shade of Yaoyorozu’s backpack from earlier. Thankfulness and gratitude, however, seemed odd to give her. What is he thanking her for? Having a nice cup of tea and making him dinner? Pitiful. She was so much more, and he wanted to tell her that via the flowers. He wanted something that told her she was more than a pretty face and enhanced intelligence.
Glancing through the list, Kenneida’s had caught Shouto’s attention. The petals of the small flower looked as if they were the same colour of Yaoyorozu’s bitten lips. Excusing his disturbing nature, he read into the meaning: intellectual beauty and mental beauty, thought didn’t sit right with him. He knew how she was capable of so much, but that's not all; her everlasting patience and kindness wasn’t something that you could buy. She was raised and born to be a, well, a decent person.
Peach blossoms drew his eye and Shouto was struck with how similar they looked to cherry blossoms. The full pink colour of the mesmerizing flower, its short stems and the two very symmetric flowers blossom together. Re-reading the description of the flower's terms, Shouto’s eyebrows went into his hairline. The words ‘I am yours. You hold me captive’ printed on the website, made him immediately scroll away.
Picking two flowers that he thought matched Yaoyorozu, he hoped that she knew what they meant. Maybe they could tell her something that Shouto was too afraid to. Tell her that she meant more to him than she thinks. Mignonette, worth and loveliness, both of those bounced off of her. Secondly, Laurel Mountain, to have the ambition of a hero. Yayorozu’s personality shone throughout both of these flowers.
Shouto looked towards the clock on his grey wall and sighed. It was already 8. He had just spent more than an hour trying to find flowers that suited Yaoyorozu. And still, he felt as if he didn’t have it right.
~~~
In the midst of his day, Shouto had a startling revelation. Was Sunday a date? His previous outing with her at the cafe was confirmed by her ringing him, telling him that she was excited of their date. Thoughts clouding his mind if Yaoyorozu felt in the least bit the same way as he did, distracted him in the process of fixing a gearbox.
“Oi! Half ‘n’ Half, don’t get distracted. This is the second time the damned customer wants a refund on that shitty gearbox.” Bakugou growls at him.
Taking matters into his own hands, Shouto texts Yaoyorozu, not wanting to disturb her from her daily tasks.
Todoroki: 1:06pm
Sunday is a date, correct?
Yaoyorozu: 1:23pm
Do you want it to be a date?
Todoroki: 2:02pm
Yes.
Yaoyorozu: 2:44pm
Then it's a date.
~~~~
Setting the stand of his motorbike down, the muscles in his shoulders relaxed as a few worries of the day to come came off. However, when he started to activate the security system of his bike, he felt many more worries land on his shoulders, the relaxed posture Shouto once had, had been removed.
Walking up to where Yaoyorozu had texted him the location of where she would be waiting for him, Shouto breathed a sigh of relief. The gorgeous and generous woman who had plagued his mind for over a week was finally able to spend an entire day with him.
Walking towards the bright blue arch where she had told him to meet her, he was amazed. Vines hung along the arch, small buds of blooming flowers marking the healthy green tangles. The stretch of concrete in which it hung above made it look like a fair. Spotting his date he stuffs his free hand into his pocket and looks at her.
Heart high and smiling, he drank in her appearance. Yayorozus small thumbs twiddling and catching on her cardigan, while her hair danced in the light breeze. Mouth going dry at her appearance, he took an audible gulp and started his walk towards her once more.
Though his walk was short, he couldn't get the image of Yaoyorozu layered with flowers out of his head.
Looking at her, Shouto ran his hand through his hair. Legs accentuated in black tights, plum overalls covering her torso and hanging by her shoulders. Her cardigan covers a good portion of her body, coaxing anyone into thinking like she would be a celebrity.
Her yellow backpack that she had stuffed a chemistry textbook into was slung over her shoulder and her red and blue shoes scuffing against the pavement.
Feeling underdressed, Shouto wants to turn around and go change before his gorgeous date spots him.
Unfortunately, Yaoyorozu spotted him and beamed. Looking down, Shouto holds the bouquet of flowers behind him even tighter.
Rushing up to him, she has that bounce in her step that she has when she is overly excited. “Todoroki-san, Hello!” she waved, smiling at him.
Gushing about the event, she looks towards him and Shouto is enchanted by her inky black irises. “Doesn’t it feel refreshing? Oxygen flowing through your veins, if you feel at ease and let your worries go. It's relaxing. Seeing through different colours, shades and tones, you can see the world. But, if you breathe in the scent of those around you, it might make you see from a different perspective.” grinning at him, Yaoyorozu’s cheeks puffed and small tints of pink shaded her blown cheeks.
Shouto liked the air rushing past him more, but breathing in new flowers and what they represent, meant a lot to his stunning companion. Breathing in the scent of her hypnotic perfume, flowers and the smell of his own cologne, Shouto couldn’t decide if he liked it or not. All of it seemed overwhelming. However, one thing he was certain, he liked her perfume. Hints of lavender and vanilla perfume cling to her.
“The scent doesn’t make a difference, it's how you remember it.”
Her charcoal irises glancing back and forth from her hands to his own mismatched eyes, she spoke, “Can I ask a question?”
“Shoot.”
“Can I hug you?” Blushing crimson red, Yaoyorozu stepped backwards and looked towards the ground, seemingly more interested.
“Can I give you a present before that?” he asks, tightening the bouquet behind his back. Yaoyoroxu’s eyes shot up from where she was looking towards the pavement, looking at him in shock.
“You didn’t have to get me anything,” Yaoyorozu worried, lacing her hands in front of her and tugging at them.
Pulling the small and rather disappointing bouquet of flowers from behind his back, Shouto has a front row seat of Yaoyorozu’s reaction. Her eyebrows raised, going into her bangs. Mouth opening and closing, her pink cheeks now a raspberry colour and her eyes softening.
The shockwave coursing through her body, blood rushing to her cheeks and the glistening over her eyes intensified. “No one has ever done this for me.”
Watching her in that moment, Shouto thought that it was stupid. Why wouldn’t someone get Yaoyorozu flowers? Sure, on the surface she was one of the most gorgeous people he has ever seen, even her attitude was far beyond those who were nice. She was genuinely kind-hearted, because that's her nature. Others would be damned if they didn’t think that.
“You deserve it.” he shrugged, still holding the disappointing batch of flowers.
She glanced up, meeting his gaze, asking, “Do you know what these mean? The flowers.. I mean, I’m guessing why you got them, though that might not be..” She trailed off, pinching her eyes shut and picking at the bouquet that he was still holding.
Grasping her hand that was picking at the dried out petals, and wrapping it around the base of the bouquet, he held her hand against his. Looking down to meet her flustered gaze. “They resemble you perfectly. Ambition that cannot be trumped. Qualities that go far beyond what meets the eye. You opened my eyes up, the way I view that world has changed,” He mumbled, growing embarrassed.
A tight and warm embrace smothering him. Her fingers clutching his jacket and bouquet, he heard her whisper, “Thank you. They’re gorgeous.” Tucking her head under his chin, he enclosed his arms around her. A peaceful moment for two adults who wanted nothing more than just to have a little bit of an adventure.
Speaking on her head, he runs a hand through her hair as his other hand closes over her shoulders. “You calm me,” he smooths her hair and begins to play with the ends of her ponytail. Nodding her head in his chest, Shouto knew she understood
Pulling away from the hug, Shouto immediately misses her warmth. Smoothing her cardigan down, Yaoyorozu speaks up, “Since it’s 11 now, why don’t we look around for a bit, then have lunch? From there we can figure the rest of the day?” she offers, looking towards him with adventure and warmth glistening in her eyes.
“Can I do something first?” Shouto wished he could stop spouting the words from his lips, but his internal battle was soon over. The inner mantra repeating itself; Now or never.
“Before that, there's something I want to do.” he says, carefully. Not sure what had gotten into him, but ever since that though from earlier, Shouto was hell bent on layering Yaoyorozu in flower petals.
“Of course.”
Reaching for where she was holding the bouquet and picking at the string that was circled around the dark blue tissue paper, Shouto quickly picked out a Mignonette and placed it on her overall buckle. Admiring how it complimented her, he was more determined to playfully place flowers onto his date.
Her mouth fell open and her raspberry cheeks lit up. A smile emerged on her once shocked face, now morphing into a playful smirk. Watching her reach into the small bundle of flowers, Shouto assumes Yaoyorozu is placing them around her. A small tugging at his leather jacket woke him from his day-dreaming and his breast pocket was being attacked by nimble fingers threading the mountain flowers in his button seam.
His realisation was slow and Yaoyorozu had a front row seat seeing how his cheeks morphed into the same shade of crimson as his hair. Recovering from his previous shock, he reached back into the flowers and placed more along her hair and overalls.
Flower petals and stems taking refuge in his hood and pockets, while Yaoyorozu had the brunt of it; the small purple flowers hanging in her hair, while the white and red mountain florets were dangling by her cardigan. The bunch of blossoms he had gotten were no longer intact and guilt ran in his veins.
Hiding a hand behind her wide smile, Yaoyorozu asked, “Are we going in now?”
“Yeah.”
Silence lingering between them soon morphed into casual conversation.
“Did your sister get any help with the teaching books?”
“Uh- yeah. She found the way you explained everything to be a lot easier. She says thank you.” he says, swiping a petal off his neck.
Shouto wasn’t good at conversing and was glad that Yaoyorozu was making it easier for him; always mentioning something that would make him chirp, the batner she could elate from him and importantly, the way in which he could feel free. Not pressured and not like there was something on the line. Well, there was something on the line, but it wasn’t a constant pressure and nagging; more like a relaxing reminder. A reminder that he can be himself.
People who had been working at the fair had been handing out pamphlets, each one filling the receiver on where to find their specific flower and navigating them to get there. Yaoyorozu had taken one. Fumbling to open the brochure, Shouto peered over her shoulder. “What florets do you want to see?” she asks, turning to her right.
Those same lips coated his cheek the same way at the cafe, and Shouto couldn’t help but stand still.
Stuttering a response, they both left off to their destination. The field of rainbow tulips.
Unsure if what just happened was real. The feather soft touch of her lips on his cheek seemed almost unreal. Watching her dazzled state, however, he assumed that Yaoyrozu did in fact kiss his cheek and she was just as embarrassed as it seemed.
“Sorry. What did you want to look at?” she asks, still looking at the brochure.
His hands that were stuffed in his pockets itched to hold her hand, to stop the picking and calm her with his touch. Instead, he replies, “The Corpse flower, Snap dragon and Tiger face.”
Giggling behind her hand, Shouto was caught off-guard. Did he say something wrong? “Do you know why the Corpse flower was named that?” stopping in her tracks she waits for an answer. “Because it has characteristics of a corpse?” he muttered, feeling silly. Backing away from the once happy conversation, Shouto became unsure. Is she laughing at him, or is he supposed to be laughing with her?
Sobering up from her giggles, stretching her hands towards him and grabbing onto his tightly. Through the light hue on her cheeks, she says, “I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t offend you. The Corpse flower is known for its overpowering smell.”
Lacing his fingers through hers, they held their hands at their sides, gently swinging. Her eyes had softened and become acutely aware that his demeanor was changing and morphing into the tough shell that she had chipped away. “No, no… I should’ve googled it,” Shouto admits, looking down and tugging on her hands.
Feeling small fingers tap and stretch against his palms and knuckles, caught off-guard, Shouto lifts his gaze. There she was, standing in all her beauty and smiling softly at him. “No, it’s okay. I should’ve been more aware that not everyone has been to something like this before.”
Leaning forward to touch their heads together, he softly shakes his head and they stand there like that for a moment. Pulling away, they start to walk towards their first destination.
Untangling their hands, Shouto stuffs his hands into his pockets while Yaoyorozu links her elbow with his.
Upon them laid a field of colours. A rose red that would soon transition into a pretty shade of violet. The morphed colours of each tulip popping and drawing attention to itself. The pale pink fence kept people off the pristine flowers wrapped around the entire oval of them. Running towards the fence, Yaoyorozu leans against it and simply closes her eyes and smiles.
“Aren’t they gorgeous?”
Looking towards the circle of rainbow flowers and where Yaoyorozu was leaning against the paling, Shouto looked out towards the field again. “Beautiful.”
Sifting through more fields and colourful blooms, they soon started to get hungry. “How about lunch and then the novelty flowers?” Yaoyorozu suggested. A low hum emanating from him.
Both walking up to a takoyaki stand, they both ordered and ate in a peaceful and more than welcoming silence. Causal talks about work, racing and the festival accompanied the doughy food and Shouto was more than happy to do it again.
After their snack, they went to look at the speciality flowers, walking through green houses and seeing the blooming and wilting flowers.
Finishing their meal they go to look at the specialty flowers. Small greenhouses that were littered with the arrangement of flowers that had grasped their attention in the pamphlet. The light green tint reflected the high sun, making the inside appear like an ethereal garden.
“Did you know that some flowers don’t have a gender?” the green light reflectant from the sun, beamed down on her hair casting a crown on her hair. Looking at her through the lighting, he sighed in amazement. Shaking his head, she went on. “They’re both male and female. It’s the way they spread and bloom. In simplistic terms, it’s their way of having children.” Yaoyorozu said, tugging on his arm.
Walking through the greenhouse Shouto took a moment just to breathe in the scent. The tiger lillies mix with the scent of the Tiger face flower. The strong smell invading his nose. Following her through the greenhouses, being content with Yaoyorozu’s grip tightening every time she got excited, telling him more facts and becoming more comfortable.
--
Running out of the greenhouse, using his jacket as a vent, Shouto pulled Yaoyorozu, leading her towards the exit. Once outside, he started to cough. “You were right, it smells terrible.”
“I warned you,” she giggled.
Running a hand through his daulcoloured hair, he shrugs. Smiling at her he admits, “I should’ve listened, I admit. Though, it was rather fun.”
Looking at flowers for more time than necessary, the couple decided to finally head for the exhibition centre. Tugging on his arm, Yaoyorozu started to drag him towards the colourful and informing standing stalls. Buying badges for children and some small informative stories and books.
Glancing at him with sparkling eyes, she smiles. “Did you know all flowers have a purpose? Scent, for instance. The smell of the Amorphophallus titanum, or the Corpse flower. It attracts Carrion beetles and flesh flies to pollinate it. It relies on those insects to get pollinated and feed out of the anthel and then put the pollen from that to the stigma.”
“Wow.” he breathed, amazed at her knowledge.
The exhibition centre was full to the brim, a maze of tables, and people scattered all over the arena. Not wanting to lose Yaoyorozu, he wanted to hold her hand. For the poor excuse of not getting lost, Shouto thought it was as good as having an ace up his sleeve. He just didn’t think he had this much inner turmoil about it. Though she had held onto his arm for the most part of the day, he wanted to feel her small hand against his calloused hand.
What if he got clammy? How would she react, maybe she didn’t like him after all. What would she say, would she slap him? Thoughts going through his head, a mile a minute. Following moderately behind her, he starts to lose the ebony haired girl. Now, all he can see is Yaoyorozu’s cardigan and yellow backpack.
When she turned around to see where he was, Shouto saw her frown and worry crease her eyebrows. Sifting through the crowd of people, he finally reached her and a relieved smile replaced her worried features.
With brochures and pamphlets being handed towards them, Yaoyorozu was curling and uncurling her hands, leaving crescent moon shapes in her palms. Going towards the pin booths and merchandise, Shouto made his big move. Walking beside her and lifting his pinkie in an effort to join limbs. Unsteady and nervous fingers moved at his date's hand, three fingers tapping her palm.
Looking at him with wide and wild eyes, Yaoyorozu raised a brow. Rotating her palm with his fingers until her hand was pressed firmly against his; a small squeeze from the little hand in his grasp, made Shouto’s already full heart overflow with tenderness. The small smile forming on his lips left a sweet feeling.
Looking at three particular buttons that caught his interest, Yaoyorozu commented about them. When she wasn’t looking, he brought them all, no hesitation.
When he went to pin the badges to himself, Yaoyorozu was persistent in letting her add them to his jacket.
“I can put these on,” Yaoyorozu chirps, already taking the badges out of his hands.
“Ah, there's no need too.” he tries to assure her.
“I want too.” she says, carefully threading the black cat through his jacket.
As she's threading the last pin through she asks, “Aren’t these the badges I was talking to you about?”
“Ah, yes..” he says, shyly.
Yaoyorozu added some pins to her overalls and collected dozens of floral pins for the children, as well as some light reading and fact papers. Seeing that it was getting late and the sun had already set, Yaoyorozu walked with him to his bike. Bidding goodbye, but not leaving, Shouto asked,“Is something the matter?” watching her stand in front of his bike, the sunset framing her and something inside him churned.
“No, not at all…” Yaoyorozu trailed off into a hush. Glancing down at her phone, she let out a small wince. Eyeing his motorbike where Shouto was leaning, he could see the gears in her head beginning to wind and turn. Seeing her eyes widen for a minuscule second, he could see an idea, before she clouded it over with an analysis.
“No. Nothing at all…” swallowing her words, Yaoyorozu plucked at her cardigan. Glancing at her phone, checking the time and letting the screen go in standby, as she aimlessly looked at the smart rectangle in her hand.
“If you’re stressed about going home, I can give you a ride.” Offering Yaoyorozu a ride seemed like a gentlemanly thing to do. If kirishima saw him, he’d give him a fist bump.
“But the chances of getting inju-”
“Just hop on. I promise I won’t go over 50 kilometres.” shushing her mid-sentence, Shouto felt an unbearable amount of guilt. He didn’t want her to catch the train at this hour. And while it wasn’t uncommon for people to be catching trains at this time of day, and the fact that Shouto waas more than sure that Yaoyorozu was able to hold her ground; it was the fact that he didn’t want her to leave yet. The grimace that was etched on her face soon melted into concern and faded into reluctant movements.
Helping Yaoyorozu onto his blue Kawasaki, Shouto sat down in front of her, turning the key in the ignition, the familiar rumble and vibrations ran through his body like an elixir. Small hands and long arms join together and lace around each other at his midriff.
Standing his bike up, and kicking the stand up, the arms that were relaxed around him tightened a lot. Placing his left hand over her knuckles and rubbing them in a comforting manner, he heard a muffled ‘thank you’ between his shoulder blades. Smiling, he set off to where her apartment was.
Lights and billboards lighting the streets and the air chilling their bones. Air rustling their hair, and lights reflecting off Yaoyorozu’s head caught Shouto’s attention from his side mirror. The sunset reflecting off of them, painting a shadow of a perfect girl and a hopeful boy.
Filling his senses with pure bliss, Shouto let himself enjoy this moment of peacefulness. Arms that were wrapped around him tightened, and the head that was tucked between his shoulder blades moved.
Feeling a head rest on his shoulder and small ‘woah’ and ‘wow’ escape her lips, brushing against his ear and jaw.
~~~
“I don’t want to leave you,” her breath fanned over his jaw and her arms tightened. “We’ve been together all day,” Shouto said, turning around to face her.
Digging her head into his chest, Shouto placed a small kiss to her head. “I know a place.” Slowly turning around, Shouto went to his destination.
Feeling Yaoyorozu’s head rest between his shoulder blades again, happiness rushed through his veins and he was about to burst from happiness. Feeling calm and the most free he had felt in his short 23 years, he was content. The wind blew his hair and the grip on his midriff was tightening and loosening. Euphoria was exactly what Shouto was feeling.
~~~~
Arriving where he wanted to take her, and the place that took him away from her, Shouto sagged his shoulders and turned the engine off, feeling the grip on his midriff loosen and the face between his shoulder blades remove itself, and take in a deep breath.
Getting off the bike himself, he helped Yaoyorozu off the bike, placing his hands on hers and steadying her; letting go one of her hands, he kept his left hand intertwined with her right one, leading her towards the small house Midoriya and his other friends invested in.
“Where are we?” Her soft voice rang in his ears, nervous and excitement lacing her tone and her eyes shimmering in darkness.
“You said you didn’t want to go home, and this was the only thing I had in mind.” he responded, pulling a small dangly string and instantly moved backwards.
Watching the ladder unfurl and come to its full size, Shouto knew that this was the handiwork of Kaminari; shoving something in until it would close. Climbing up the ladder and holding his hand out for Yaoyorozu.
Once up and onto the tin metal roof, he opened the small hatch and pulled out some blankets, coating the cold metal in a rug of warmth. Beckoning her to sit down next to him, Yaoyorozu hastily does so, sitting where he had asked her.
“Wow.” her soft whisper was mixed with amazement. The bright lights and blooming night sky had taken her breath away, but at that moment, Shouto’s breath got taken away.
~~~~~
Situated on a metal roof, underneath a thick fluffy red picnic blanket, Shouto could not think of a better way to end this night. Screw a goodbye hug and hopeful peck on the cheek, this was better; the night grew deeper, bringing forward the muted buzz of the city, lights of the skyscrapers dancing and twirling in the dark.
Stargazing with the most beautiful girl on the planet, Shouto sighed and leaned his head on her shoulder. She stiffened against him, upon feeling her shoulders tense, he went to move back. Suddenly she brought her hand up and started to card her fingers through his dual coloured locks.
“Your hair’s been messed up all day,” she mused, tucking each coloured strand back to their designated side.
“Thanks for telling me,” he quipped, lolling his head back to look at her.
Speaking again, he looks upwards, staring at the spotted glowing orb in the sky. “I like the moon. It’s calming.”
Watching her and seeing the stars and moon reflect in her dark and mesmerizing eyes.
Speaking over the steady breeze, Yaoyorozu whispered, “Did you know that the average distance from the Moon to the Earth is 384,403 kilometres?”
“You know everything,” he whispered into her shoulder. Smiling at how she can list random facts and how naturally they came to her.
“No, I don't.” shaking her head, she pulled her hand away and started to tug at her hands. Sitting up and watching her movements, Shouto was confused.
“I don’t know the answer to how you make me feel. The way my heart beats so fast makes me want to run laps, but being away from you, well, it makes it sad. It makes me sad.” Searching her eyes for what she was meaning, Shouto found dark glitter sparkling in her eyes. His heartbeat quickening at her sentence.
“Give me your hand,” reaching his hand out, Yaoyorozu hesitantly did as he said, leading her hand to his chest, Shouto can feel her hand on his hammering heart. How much he was secretly reacting to her forbidden words.
“You’re not the only one.”
“I’m glad.”
Falling into a comfortable silence, both lean against each other and watch the stars.
Seeing Yaoyorozu shuffle around in his view, he looked at her, confused with what she was doing. “About today, I’m sorry if I acted too out there and overbearing.” Yaoyorozu was still playing and yanking at her fingers and Shouto’s heart went silent.
Did the kiss to the cheek mean nothing? Did she really mean to laugh at him? How was she so easily pretending?
After a moment, she speaks again.“Truth be told, I really, really like you.” Red cheeks became more apparent in the moonlight, the glossy look in her eyes and how her brows were creased the slightest bit upwards.
His heart skipped a beat. The words that just left her mouth shocked him. She liked him, like he liked her.
“If it makes you feel better, I really, really like you too.” Smiling at her in the moonlight, Shouto felt the world begin to move again. The silence of his heart, now becomes a thundering beat inside his ribs.
“ I was extremely excited about today. It took me forever to pick out an outfit and how to wear my hair. I was hoping to impress you.” Her reddened cheeks became a bright vermillion and Shoutos heart became increasingly louder.
“You did more than that.” Running his hand over her cheek, down her jaw and back up to her cheek bone.
Staring at her features, Shouto could feel and see the light makeup she wore. Mascara coating her lashes, making them more volumass, giving her a glow that only she could pull off. Peach lip balm, he knew and he wanted a taste. The shine of her lips and eyes, made him feel like he was on cloud nine.
“Can I do something?”
Seeing her nod, Shouto leaned in.
Seeing her lean to meet him halfway, Shouto gently pressed his lips against the pair of reciprocating ones, closing his eyes. Wrapping his free hand around her waist, feeling small and cold hands working their way through his hair, Shouto was in pure bliss. He was almost positively sure that Yaoyorozu was as happy as he was, too. Seeing how she kept kissing him and didn’t move away, instead pushing them closer.
Lips moving together, the feeling of muscles moving under his hand, he could see a soft and sweet smile playing on her lips. Shouto smiled and had never been more content.