Chapter Text
Mission: Invite Mari to prom.
Hero took a deep breath and made a futile attempt at adjusting his eternally-messy hair, before knocking on the Suzuki household's door. Once, twice, thrice...
"Hey, Hero!" he was met a high-pitched voice as the door swung open, and a pink bow bouncing right below his line of sight.
"Oh, hello, Aubrey! Is Mari home, or...?" he crouched down to be face-to-face with the girl, patting the top of her head.
"Yeh, she's home! She's playing Scrabble with me and Sunny! Do you wanna join?"
"Uh... sure, if I have the time!" Hero did not, in fact, have the time for it, but he couldn't bring himself to outright say 'no' to the girl, especially when she was so eager to play with him.
Aubrey grinned, swinging the door wide open for Hero to enter. He walked in, managing to conceal a bouquet of chrysanthemums behind his back. He made an attempt to softly shut the door behind him, but the wind made it slam shut, causing Hero to yelp.
"Goodness!"
That's when a laugh, a beautiful laugh, like carol bells and windchimes and xylophones, rang out from the couch. The boy's startled expression gave way to an utterly smitten one as he made his way over to the living room. Sat on the couch was a giggling Mari, and on the floor was a furiously concentrated Sunny.
"Oh, you scare so easily, Hero! It's... adorable, hehe~" she teased. Sunny made a slight face, but then shrugged it off, rolling his dice and moving his yellow piece forward five places, taking out Aubrey's red one, to the younger girl's immense dismay.
"Oh, hush, Mari... anyway, uh, I was wondering if we could have a little chat? Away from here, I mean." he sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.
"Of course! You know that I'm always interested to hear what you have to say!" she beamed, pushing back her purple hairband- the one that he gave her for her birthday. She took his wrist, guiding him away from the living room and to her bedroom.
Upon ascending the staircase and entering the Suzuki siblings' bedroom, Mari let go of Hero's wrist, turning to face him. He cleared his throat, trying to force the words out.
"Sopromishappeningsoonanduhdoyouwanttogowithme?" he sputtered out.
Mari cocked her head, grinning. "Sorry?"
"Um. P-prom is going to happen soon, and, uh, I was wondering if... you'd be interested in going with me?" Hero slowed his speaking pace, this time, now presenting his sweetheart with the bouquet of purple and white flowers, his cheeks going a shade of crimson.
"Ah, that's what you meant. Well, of course, silly! Who else would I go with?" Mari's smile widened as she took the flowers. Then, almost as an afterthought, she kissed Hero's cheek.
Then, two gasps sounded. Alerted, the young couple swung around. Peeking out from the doorway was two heads of jet-black hair, accompanied by two shocked faces. Hero felt his soul (and dignity) packing up and leaving. Mari pointed a finger, as embarrassed as Hero, but much more verbose about it.
"Sunny, Aubrey, scram!" she growled. The two youths squealed, running down the stairs. Mari huffed, turning back to a positively fluorescent Hero. "So, how about we meet at seven, the head to school together, alright?"
"Yeah... alright. Alright."
Mari's face returned to a smile as she hugged Hero.
"Great! Well, see you then!" she waved him off as he descended the stairs and exited the house.
Hero invited Mari to prom, and she accepted. Mission accomplished.
Next mission: Don't fuck up the dancing.