Chapter Text
He had seen her more than a dozen times by now, but the young hero in training couldn’t stop smiling every time he ran into her. Most of the time she was in her school uniform- Ketsubutsu Academy, it definitely explained why he hadn’t seen her before.
It was around lunchtime, and he knew she frequented this one ramen shop for her lunch- he hoped today was one of those days. He had snuck off patrol, hopefully Gran Torino wouldn’t notice if he was gone just... a little while.
Wetting his lips he walked up to the shop, pretending to still be on patrol when he beamed, “Oh hey! It’s you, miss. We keep bumping into one another don’t we?”
The girl turned and looked at the hulking blond she remembered seeing many times before- and who she’d watched win the UA sports festival three years in a row. She blushed and smiled a little, “Hi again.”
“Getting lunch?” He smiled, approaching her. He wondered what she was doing, what agency she was interning with. He knew nothing about her quirk- but she definitely had one. The pink triangle on her forehead was evidence enough, “Ah- I always forget to introduce myself- I’m Toshinori Yagi, I go to UA.”
She blushed harder and when he held out his hand she shook it with her own bashful smile, “I know who you are Toshinori, I always watch you in the sports festival.”
Now it was his turn to blush, she knew who he was- wow. Clearing his throat he smiled, still holding onto her hand, “And who do I have the pleasure to speak with?”
“Ah- sorry- Keri Chairo.”
He smiled, “That's a beautiful name, Miss.”
“Please, call me Keri.” She smiled sincerely, before finally pulling her hand back, “So... are you on patrol?”
“Uh- I was?” He lied, “But I get time for lunch- if... if I could buy you ramen?”
“Like... a date?” Her body was starting to glow.
He nodded a bit before he swallowed, “You’re glowing.” A strange feeling was settling into his chest, like a million butterflies exploded. His hands felt a little shaky too- but he wasn’t embarrassed, nervous but... why was he feeling like this?
Clapping s hand over her forehead she blushed harder, “I’m so so sorry! Sometimes I can’t control it—“
“it- oh! Your quirk? What is your quirk if I can ask?”
She took a deep breath, “It’s not very useful or impressive... I can manipulate the emotions of the people around me. And if I let my guard down sometimes people around me feel an echo of what I’m feeling.”
He blinked, “That’s an amazing quirk!”
“Huh?” She looked up at him.
“Just imagine all its uses! Crowd control, deescalating situations with villains, inspiring heroes who don’t feel like they could fight anymore- that’s really incredible Keri.” He was all pumped up.
“You- you don’t think it’s stupid?”
He laughed softly, “Of course not! Who would?”
She pushed her long hair behind her ear, “Everyone at school. I haven’t gotten any offers to be anyone’s intern or sidekick I... I’m pretty certain I know what I want to do but, it won’t be hero work.”
He blinked and then tilted his head, “And what do you want to do?”
“I- I want to go to college,” she began, “I know how hard training to be a hero is, and I know how cruel the world can be... I want to be a hero therapist.”
Toshinori beamed and took her hands in his, “Keri that is the most noble aspiration I have ever heard. You would be perfect for that. You’re always so kind, and you’re easy to talk to- plus with that quirk? God- you’re gonna be so successful.”
Her cheeks lit red, “Honestly, Toshi, I don’t deserve all that praise - you’re the one who is going to be number one someday... and I’ll just be happy to say I knew you.”
“You really think I could be number one? — knew? Why where are you going?”
She laughed a little, “Well... we don’t see that much of each other, and I’m sure with school and hero work we’ll go back to being strangers soon enough.”
“No way, I don’t want that.” He frowned, “I want us to be close! I mean I— I did just ask you on a date didn’t I?”
She blushed and smiled a little, “Yeah... you did.”
“So, it’s settled!” She laughed and he held out his phone, “Here, put your number in? So I’ll be able to contact you anytime.”
“Okay.” She smiled and typed the information in, handing it back to him, as it started buzzing in his hands.
“Oh shit-“ he gasped under his breath, looking back at her with a sigh, “I want to take you on that date properly- maybe tonight? I mean I— I kind of lied before... I skipped out on patrol to see you... and my mentor is pissed.”
She blushed and smiled, “Toshinori! That’s not very heroic of you!”
“What can I say? I needed to see a girl about a phone number.” He winked and she giggled, “I’ll text you once I’m out of work?”
“That sounds perfect, Mister Future number one.”
He grinned and was about to run off before he felt her small hand on his bicep, “Yeah?”
“Come here- I need to tell you something-“ he knitted his brows together and leaned down to her level, blushing when she pressed her lips gingerly to his cheek, “I’m sorry for getting you in trouble.”
He grinned dumbly, looking at her with awe, “I- uh- I’ll see you later, uh- Keri- okay?”
She laughed softly, “Be safe, Toshi.”
He nodded and ran off, grinning like an idiot. No matter what kind of a scolding he got from Gran Torino, it was worth it to finally ask for her number. He couldn’t wait to text her, to ask her out on that real date.