Archive of Our Own

“Ji-in.”

“Hi-mi-ko.”

Himiko sticks her tongue out at Jin’s imitation of her whine, and he chuckles. His eyes are on the salt shakers he’s refilling, but she knows he’s listening. Jin always listens to her; he’s a good friend like that.

“What’s the matter?”

She sighs, turning her face on the sticky melamine surface to give him a look full of woe. “I’m so bored that it feels like I might just fade out of existence.”

Jin leans over the counter and pats her head. It’s clumsy but nice, and Himiko immediately misses the affection when it ends. “Aw c’mon Himiko, you’re too cute to be so forlorn! You’re only bored ‘cause you’re hanging around here with old farts like me all day. Why don’t you get out while you can, get some sunshine on your face?”

It’s a good idea—Himiko isn’t against going out and doing something fun, after all. Much as she loves spending time with Jin and the others at the Rinkarade, she’d love to go get ice cream, or go shopping, or take a walk in the trees, or really anything like all the other people having fun out there. The problem isn’t that she doesn’t want to.

She heaves another sigh. “You know I can’t, Jin. I don’t have anyone to do fun things with!”

“Well, I dunno.” He wrinkles his nose, face scrunching adorably around the scar down his face. “I still think someone like you could do those things on your own, you’d be sure to make friends! I mean, you made friends with us here, didn’t you?”

Again, Jin is right. Himiko had only started coming here because she needed somewhere to go during the day, and the Rinkarade was both nearby and semi-acceptable to hang around for hours at a time. It was quiet during the day, especially the mornings, so it hadn’t taken long for Himiko to get to know the regular staff.

Jin, working the concessions counter with rolled up sleeves and a wonky hat, is her special friend, but there were others. Dabi, working in the small, greasy kitchen, is as likely to throw her food as insults, and she spends many hours trailing after Spinner and Tomura, picking up trivia about the various arcade machines. Even their resident entertainer, known to her only as Mr, is a dear friend, teaching her card tricks and magic flourishes between children’s parties.

She smiles at Jin, enjoying the way he blushes and bobs his head under her attention; he’s so cute. “Everyone here is the best!”

Cheered by her love of her oddball group of friends, Himiko loiters around the Rinkarade for the rest of the day. It fills up a little as the afternoon grows long and schools let out, the sound of voices filling in the gaps between the pings and bleeps of the arcade machines, and Himiko kicks her feet contentedly. There aren’t many people out on the skating rink yet, but it’s still fun to watch them glide around under the disco lights.

And then, they arrive.

Himiko sees it in slow motion; the doors swing open and a group of people walk in, heads held high as they jostle shoulders and laugh. They each have roller skates tied about their necks or dangling from casual fingers, and Himiko’s eyes are wide as she takes in the variety of shapes and muscled limbs clad in tiny shorts.

“Oh, those guys are back.” Jin sounds unenthused, and he pulls a face when she glances at him. “Local roller derby team,” he explains. “They come here sometimes to blow off steam, I guess, and sometimes they book the place out. I dunno, I think they’re kind of arrogant, myself. Plus Dabi’s kid brother hangs with them, and you know how shitty his family can be.”

“Roller derby,” Himiko breathes, not quite listening. It’s hard to focus with so many gorgeous people to look at. “Isn’t that, like, a women only sport?”

Jin grunts. “Mostly, yeah. But there are some mixed teams around—and apparently these guys are some kind of roller derby celebrities.”

They certainly look like celebrities; Himiko’s heart races as she watches them. They pay for their time on the rink politely enough, but there is a kind of confidence in the way they pull their skates on that appeals to her, not to mention the way they joke and flash smiles at each other.

“Himiko?”

She waves vaguely at Jin, and hops off her stool, feet light. “I’m just going to go and watch for a bit!”

Practically skipping to the edge of the rink, Himiko quickly brushes at her skirt, wishing she’d worn something more exciting. She gets to the edge of the rink just in time for the team to file past her, clattering out onto the smooth wooden floor in a rush of chatter and wheels.

If she hadn’t known they were a roller derby team, she probably would’ve figured it out from the way they skate, low to the ground and shockingly fast. They weave in between the few people already on the floor, chasing each other with shouts of laughter. Himiko smiles as she watches them, and outright giggles when a cute green-haired boy manages to faceplant halfway through a spin trick, earning himself a huge bruise on his elbow.

She watches him for a while, enjoying the way he sucks up his pain and carries on smiling; he looks even cuter with the bruise, somehow. He doesn’t seem as practiced as the others, and she wonders if he’s new; the thought gives her a flutter of excitement, because maybe anyone can join their team. It would be so fun to belong to something like that.

The next time he falls it’s directly in front of Himiko, like she’s got front row seats to a show. She’s on the verge of reaching out to help him when one of his friends pulls up suddenly, her face wreathed in concern and laughter as she bends to pull him to his feet.

“Deku! You okay?”

Brushing him down, she flashes a quick smile at Himiko over his shoulder in thanks.

Himiko barely holds back a squeak.

She’d thought the boy was cute, but he was nothing in comparison to the vision in front of her now. Around Himiko’s height, she has pretty brown hair bundled up off her neck, plump cheeks flushed with two bright spots of pink, and a smile that tingles right down to Himiko’s toes. And she’s strong—her thighs are thick with muscle, and there’s a sparkle in her eyes that’s as fierce as it is adorable.

“I love your shorts,” she blurts suddenly, clasping her hands together. “You look so cute!”

They both turn to look at her, eyebrows raised. Maybe it’s weird to just start talking to a stranger randomly, but the girl looks so pretty and strong in her little pink shorts that Himiko just had to say something.

“Ochako, Deku, hurry up!”

After a polite nod, Deku skates away quickly at a call from their friends, but the girl—Ochako—lingers just a moment more.

“Thanks!” She flashes Himiko another quick smile, and then she’s gone.

Himiko thinks she might be in love.

It’s hard to watch anyone other than Ochako after that. She skates with a kind of weightlessness that makes Himiko yearn for something she doesn’t quite understand, but she’s just as powerful as any of the others, urging them on playfully as they weave around each other.

She’s so busy watching that she doesn’t hear Dabi approach until the scent of smoke and oil suddenly fills her nose as he drops into a seat next to her.

“Hey crazy, get this down your gullet before you conk out and I have to shovel you off the floor.”

Himiko beams as Dabi shoves a warm, paper wrapped burger at her. “Aw, you’re so sweet, thank you!”

He pulls a face, leaning away from the hug she tries to give him. “Even a weirdo creeper’s gotta eat.”

“I’m not weird,” Himiko protests through a huge bite. The burger is delicious, juicy and savoury and smothered in melting cheese, just how she likes it.

Dabi glances down at her. The mix of his tattoos and scars in the low lighting throws half of his face into shadow. “Nah, you’re not. Or, shit, maybe you are, but that’s your right, or something.”

“I’m a normal amount of weird, I think,” she muses, licking burger juice as it runs down her hand.

He kicks his feet up against the edge of the rink, careless of his boots against the shiny wood. His posture looks lazily casual, but Himiko can see the way his eyes are sharp as they scan the skaters, his expression is more complicated than usual.

“Jin said your brother is in that team,” she offers. “Which one is he?”

Dabi flicks the lighter he has perpetually in one hand. “Ah yes, my sweet little baby brother. Shouto’s the one in the blue, with the stupid hair.”

“Oh, he’s pretty!”

“Pretty annoying.”

Himiko laughs, but it’s suddenly hard to keep chatting, for Ochako skates up next to Shouto, skating backwards and blasting him with a smile that Himiko wants to eat right up. She sinks her teeth into the meat of her burger, watching Ochako all the while.

“Oh, that’s nasty,” Dabi drawls, eyeing her with fascinated disgust. “Tell me you’re not fucking one of them.”

A flood of images race through Himiko’s mind, and her cheeks heat up. “No! I just met them, Dabi, how could I be doing that?” Despite her denial, she’s not entirely displeased at the idea.

He waves a hand. “Crazy is as crazy does.”

She lets his insults slide, since he did bring her food, after all, and they sit companionably enough, watching the skaters in their dizzying rounds and dances. Eventually the music begins to slow, signalling the end to the open session on the rink, and people start to drift away in ones and twos.

The roller derby team are the last on the rink, eventually clattering to the edge with flushed cheeks and smiles. Himiko sits up as they near, excitement cramming up her throat so she’s practically vibrating with it.

Most of the group file past her with no more than a polite smile, but she hops to her feet as Deku and Ochako are revealed at the back of the group, jumping forward so they can’t help but see her.

“Wow, that was so cool!” she says, clapping her hands. “Ochako-chan, you do the prettiest jumps, it’s like magic! And don’t worry,” she adds, dropping her voice conspiratorially and winking at Deku. “You carry the bruises off very cutely.”

“Um?”

Ochako glances at Deku, and then back at Himiko. “Sorry to be rude, but do we know each other?”

“I’m Toga Himiko! But you can call me Himiko, if you’d like.” Brimming with excitement, Himiko dares to reach out and pat Ochako’s arm affectionately. She’s so warm, full of the heat of skating and laughter. “All my friends are allowed to call me Himiko.”

“Oh,” Ochako says, looking down at her arm. “That’s… nice, thanks.”

“I think we should catch up to the others,” Deku says, hovering at Ochako’s shoulder. “They’re waiting for us.”

Himiko’s smile falters a little, despite his polite nod. He looks so protective; does he think she’s going to hurt Ochako? She forces herself to beam a bit brighter. “Oh, are you all going somewhere?” She bounces on her toes, suddenly desperate to keep them there just a little longer. “The rink’s closing, but the rest of the arcade is still open for a bit. I can show you the best games, if you like!”

“No, thank you.” Deku’s voice is still polite but firm, and he glances from Himiko to Dabi, still sitting behind her. “We have to leave, now.”

Himiko wilts. “Aw, okay. I’ll be here if you change your mind! I can probably get discounts for friends, too!”

She stands there as they leave, heart in her mouth and wishing she could think of some other reason to make Ochako stay. Her disappointment must be obvious, or perhaps Ochako is just a little less wary than her friend, because she pauses a few feet away, letting Deku draw ahead.

“Sorry, maybe some other time!” she says, giving Himiko a warm smile over her shoulder, and then she’s gone.

Himiko loves her. Tottering back to her seat, she flops down with a sigh, ignoring the way Dabi side-eyes her.

“She’s amazing,” she breathes. “Ochako-chan! Do you think she likes me too? Oh, we’re basically best friends now, did you see how cutely she smiled at me? She’s so cool and pretty.” Her feet tap the floor with excitement, hands clasped at her chest.

Dabi shudders. “And just like that, I’m out,” he announces, and shoves his hands in his pockets as he gets up. Then he pauses, kicking the floor with a twisted expression. “But just… watch yourself, yeah? Those kids, they’re not—we’re not like them.”

Himiko watches him slouch away, knocking Jin’s hat off as he passes on the way to his kitchen. She sort of gets it—Ochako, Deku, all of them, they are different from Himiko and her friends. But when she looks over at Ochako, who is currently laughing as she grips a red-headed boy in a good-natured headlock, she doesn’t feel any of the smouldering resentment Dabi showed. Himiko only feels a lightness in her heart, and a kind of magnetic pull that wants her to run over and throw her arms about Ochako.

She doesn’t want to stay away from Ochako and her friends because they’re different; she wants to be part of them.

~

Himiko orders a pair of skates the moment she gets home. Huddled under her bedcovers, knees drawn to her chest, she beams into the glow of her phone screen, imagining Ochako noticing the little pink hearts on her skates—they’d look so cute together, Himiko just knows it.

It takes a little wheedling, but Himiko eventually manages to convince Spinner to tip her off any time the roller derby team comes to the Rinkarade. To her delight, he goes above and beyond, and somehow manages to find out when they’re planning to visit next.

That morning, Himiko wakes early and puts on her prettiest pleated skirt—nothing says you can’t look cute while skating, after all! She ties her new pair of skates together and slings it around her neck, like she’d seen the derby team do, and barely restrains her excitement as she gets to the Rinkarade.

“Wow,” Jin says, wide eyes taking her in as she waltzes up to his counter.

Himiko gives a little spin. “It’s cute, right? Do you think Ochako-chan will like it?”

“That roller derby girl?” He frowns at the skates around her neck. “Did you do all of this for her?”

She beams at him. “Of course! I want to look as cute as she does, and I wanna join in with everything she’s doing!”

Jin looks like he’s going to argue, but she’s saved by the distraction of a couple of scraggly boys waiting to buy milkshakes. She slips away while Jin’s busy, and is delighted to see the familiar figures of the derby team over by the rink, pulling their skates on and chattering, just like last time.

Ochako is there, lacing her skates and stretching well-muscled legs; Himiko practically sparkles with excitement. She knows the Rinkarade so well that she crosses to them without even looking at the various obstacles in her way, weaving expertly through arcade machines and benches and groups of argumentative 12 year olds.

“Ochako!” she calls. “I’m so glad you’re here again. Look, I got these, so we can skate together!”

Several faces turn to look at Himiko, but she’s only concerned with one; Ochako raises her head, smiling a little bemusedly.

“Oh! It’s Himiko, right?”

Himiko nods, coming to a stop so close in front of Ochako that she can see the flecks of amber in her dark eyes. “You remembered.” She feels warm to her toes.

“Of course,” Ochako laughs. “You’re not an easy person to forget.”

Himiko blushes hard, barely managing to restrain herself to a quiet squeak of pleasure, rather than the jumping up and down and screaming that she wants to do.

“Who’s this, Ochako?”

It takes a moment to even realise anyone else is speaking, but eventually Himiko drags her eyes away from Ochako. The new girl has long green hair fastened with a little frog clip, and a sweet smile—Himiko thinks she’s cute enough, but not a patch on Ochako.

“I’m Himiko,” she says, still bursting with excitement. “Ochako and I met here before—we’re basically besties!”

The girl tilts her head and glances at Ochako, who looks a little pink. “I see.” Her smile is more reserved than Ochako’s, but it crinkles her eyes sweetly. “I’m Tsuyu, by the way, but any friend of Ochako’s can call me Tsu.”

Himiko claps her hands. “Tsu! Oh, we’re going to have so much fun together.”

She really does want to have fun with Tsu—she wants to have fun with all of them, but it’s Ochako that she looks to as she says it, and it’s Ochako’s responding smile that lights her up inside.

“You’re skating today?” Ochako asks. “I don’t think you had those skates last time. They’re very cute!”

Himiko strokes her skates fondly. “Aren’t they? I bought them literally the second I got home after we spoke last time, I can’t wait to use them!”

There’s a general clattering around them, and she realises that the rest of Ochako’s friends are already headed out onto the rink. They all roll along so easily, as if skating is as natural to them as breathing. Ochako looks pressed, glancing between her team and Himiko.

“Oh, I guess we should catch up,” she says hurriedly. “See you out there, maybe!”

Himiko watches her go, then hurriedly blinks the stars out of her eyes; if she wants to skate with Ochako, she needs to hurry.

Her skates pinch her little toes, and there's a suspicious rubbing on the back of her heel, but Himiko ignores it—they look super cute, especially with her skirt, and it feels good to be one of the skaters for once, instead of watching.

Getting to the rink is harder than she'd thought. Unused to the feeling of wheels under her, Himiko staggers a little as she makes her way over, clutching at chairs, tables, and the occasional preteen, but she makes it to the edge in one piece, minus a few near misses.

The rink is fairly empty, the smooth wooden floor mainly filled with the confident roller derby team and the swirling disco lights. Himiko watches Ochako skate fast and low in a long swoop around the rink, her heart thumping; she wants that in a way she doesn't quite understand, wants to always be around Ochako’s strength and sweetness, wants to be like her—wants to be with her.

“I'm coming,” she whispers to herself, determined not to let herself or Ochako down. “Here I go!”

The first few rolls forward make her stomach swoop and her legs want to seize, but Himiko grins as she makes it out onto the rink. She straightens up, fluffing her skirt and waving to Ochako as she passes by, then leans into the skating.

It shouldn't be a surprise that Himiko is much slower and clumsier than Ochako and her friends, given that it's literally her first time roller skating, but she still finds herself pouting as they lap her and roll tricks at the other end of the rink, filling the space with their laughter. Himiko stumbles through her first couple of turns about the ring, pushing herself to go faster and faster.

“Gonna catch up to you, Chako-chan,” she mutters. “Just you wait!”

She's so focused on impressing Ochako that her feet carry her faster than her legs are used to, and she squeaks as her balance shifts, skates slipping out from under her.

“Whoops!” A firm pair of hands steady her, holding on until Himiko gets her footing back. Deku smiles awkwardly as he lets go, hands hovering as if to catch her again if needed. “That was a close one. You might want to slow down a bit!”

Himiko wrinkles her nose. “Ochako's skating much faster.”

“Oh, right.” He glances from her to Ochako across the ring, skating low to the ground, her hair swept back from her face. “She’s one of our quickest players, actually.”

“Of course she is!” Himiko glows inside. “Ochako's the best!”

Deku smiles. “She really is - she said that this is your first time skating?”

Ochako had been talking about her! Himiko barely contains a wriggle of happiness, restraining herself to an enthusiastic wave as Ochako speeds past, and tries to focus back on Deku’s question. “It is! I can’t wait to be able to skate like Ochako and all of you.”

“Well, good luck,” he says, scratching the back of his head as he smiles again. “Remember to take your time, okay?”

“Okay!” Himiko sings.

She waits until he’s back with his friends, skating alongside a blonde guy with a scowl and talking fast with his hands, then completely ignores his advice in favour of trying to gain speed again. It’s not that she doesn’t appreciate the concern—it actually makes her really happy to think that Ochako’s friends might be warming to her—but Himiko’s so excited to impress Ochako with her skating prowess that she can’t spare time to be cautious.

It backfires, of course.

Himiko builds up her speed, whipping around the rink, her heart beating along with the music being piped overhead.

“Ochako!” she calls, waving as the other girl turns to look. “Look, I’m gonna catch you up!”

Ochako smiles brightly, but the next moment her expression freezes as Himiko’s knees wobble, and then she’s tumbling down, skates over head until she’s heaped in a pile on the floor.

She blinks the stars out of her eyes, breathes carefully. “Ow.”

“Himiko! Are you okay?” Ochako’s face appears in her line of vision, frowning worriedly. “Here, let me help you up.” Her hands are gentle, and Himiko gives herself over to them willingly as she’s guided to sit up. “That was a nasty fall, and you’re not even wearing any protective gear!”

Himiko kind of wants to pout, but it’s hard to stay mad at herself when Ochako’s brushing the hair out of her face with delicate fingers. “But you don’t wear any.”

“Of course I do, silly!” Ochako peels back her thigh socks, revealing the slim knee pads underneath. “See? Even when we’re just playing we usually have some of our gear on, if not all of it.”

“Oh.” Himiko does pout, then. She got it wrong, and now Ochako will think she’s stupid. She’s sore all over from falling, and now she’s sore inside, too.

Ochako rubs her arm. “It’s okay, it’s your first time! C’mon, let’s get you up.”

It’s horrible limping off the rink with all of Ochako’s cool friends watching them go. Most, if not all, of them just look sympathetic, but Himiko still prickles all over with hot embarrassment. But Ochako’s supportive arm around her waist is comforting, and she leans into her, glad to soak up whatever sweet moments she can before it all falls apart.

“You’re really strong,” she mutters, unable to stop appreciating Ochako, even this deep into a sulk.

Ochako laughs, but it sounds kind. “Thanks! I work out a lot—it helps my skating, and I like feeling capable, you know? Some of the guys on the team showed me the ropes at the gym, and now I like to try and beat them at their own game.”

Himiko is fascinated by this and wants to ask more, but when she opens her mouth only a little squeak of pain comes out. “I think I grazed my knee.”

Ochako stops walking, ducks down to check, and comes back up looking sympathetic. “You grazed both knees, but your left one is actively bleeding. Poor Himiko—do they have a first aid kit here, d’you know?”

“I think so? Probably in the—”

“Himiko!” Jin’s worried shout cuts between them, and they look up to see him hurrying over, eyes wide and hat askew. “I saw you fall—shit, you good?”

Her friend’s earnest concern mingles with the lingering embarrassment, and Himiko has to bite her lip hard to stop her chin from wobbling.

“I’m fine,” she manages, high-pitched and shaky.

Ochako squeezes her waist. “Do you have a first aid kit?” she asks Jin. “Or even just some antiseptic wipes or something, I think I might have some bandaids in my bag.”

“Yeah, yeah, of course,” he babbles. “Hang on, wait a minute, I’ll be right back, okay?”

He hurries off again, shouting for Dabi so loudly that his pierced face pops through the kitchen hatch, scowling something fierce. Himiko spares a moment to appreciate how cute her friends are, and enjoys Ochako giggling along with her.

“Here, come and sit down.” Ochako leads Himiko to a booth tucked in the corner, away from other customers and prying eyes, and sits her on the end of the bench. “Your poor knees,” she murmurs, kneeling in front of her. “Is it very sore?”

She’s so kind, and Himiko’s crashing down so hard from her earlier exhilaration; her chin wobbles harder, and tears sting her eyes. She sniffs manfully, determined to hold her own, but Ochako lays a gentle hand on hers, and suddenly the tears are flooding down her cheeks.

“Sorry,” she says, more sob than word. “This is s-so embarrassing!”

Ochako’s expression is warm and comforting. “Don’t be sorry! Seriously, you have nothing to be embarrassed about, anyone would be upset if they hurt themselves.” She leans in close, patting Himiko’s hand. “You should’ve seen my first few tries with the team, I’m surprised they even let me back in after the first few splats.” Her eyes gleam mischievously, and she leans in closer with a conspiratorial grin. “And hey, you saw Deku-kun go down last time, didn’t you? It’s a miracle he didn’t flood the place out, he normally cries like a river!”

“R-really?”

“Oh yeah! Iida—he’s the tall one with glasses—is the most old-fashioned guy I’ve ever met, but even he stopped bringing handkerchiefs, said it wasn’t worth having to wring them out afterwards.”

Himiko can’t help the giggle that bubbles up, even if it is a bit damp with tears. She swipes at her face with the sleeve of her cardigan. It feels good to laugh, and even better to feel Ochako’s warm hand on hers, and to share a smile with her.

“Your friends seem like a lot of fun,” she offers.

Ochako nods smartly. “They’re the best. We spend a lot of time together, on the rink and off, so we’re pretty close.” She smiles again, and it’s warm and tinged pink around the edges. “But it’s nice to have friends who aren’t on the team, too.”

There’s the hint of a question in her tone, and Himiko flips her hand over to squeeze Ochako’s, practically speechless at the suggestion that they could be friends.

Jin eventually blusters back over with a first aid box that’s bursting at the seams. He hovers over them, fretting and worrying his hat between his hands until Himiko eventually sends him away with the insistence that she’ll be alright.

The grazes aren’t too bad, now that the shock’s faded. Ochako gently cleans her up, blowing on her raw skin to alleviate the sting of the antiseptic, and distracting her with skating stories all the while. Himiko’s cheeks are warm as she watches Ochako’s ministrations, admiring the golden-brown glow of her hair and they way she moves with confidence; she’s done this before, clearly.

“Right,” Ochako says eventually. “You’re all cleaned up—now, do you want the cat or digger bandaids?” She holds up a fistful of brightly coloured bandaids, and Himiko laughs.

“Cat, please!”

Ochako beams. “Good choice.”

It barely takes a couple of seconds for her to stick the bandaids on, her touch so light that it registers no pain in Himiko, only a soft delight at Ochako’s care.

“There,” Ochako says, satisfied. “All better!”

And then she leans in and presses a kiss to each of Himiko’s knees, quick and butterfly-light.

Himiko catches her breath, and Ochako looks up at her with rosey cheeks. She’s smiling, but it’s fuzzy around the edges, shy and brave in a way that makes Himiko want to just eat her all up with a spoon.

“Thank you, Chako-chan,” she says quietly. “Thank you for looking after me.”

Ochako wrinkles her nose. “You don’t need to thank me, I wanted to!”

“You’re so kind to me.”

“You deserve it,” Ochako says simply. “I haven’t known you very long, but I already know that you’re one of the bravest people I’ve ever met, and one of the sweetest.”

Himiko really wants to cry again, but she channels the feeling into a big smile instead. Ochako returns it, eyes crinkling, glowing pink from her hairline to her shirt collar. It would take all of Himiko’s strength to restrain the joy bubbling up inside her right now, but she doesn’t bother trying.

“I really like you, Ochako,” she says instead. “I really, really like you. I think you’re so cute and strong, and I want to spend more time with you, as much as you’ll let me!”

It couldn’t be possible for Ochako to flush any more pink than she already is, but she seems to give it a good attempt anyway.

“I think I’d like that.”

Himiko wants to squeal, wants to kick her feet and ball her hands into happy fists and jump up and down in celebration. She can’t believe she’s got so lucky, can’t believe she’s here having this conversation with Ochako, bathed in the blues and purples of the Rinkarade lights—she feels out of this world, like they’re floating in some pretty, star-spangled outer space.

“Let me take you out,” she blurts. “Like, on a real date! We can dress up all pretty, and I’ll treat you so nicely and maybe hold your hand if you’d like that?”

Ochako stares up at her, biting back a smile. “How about tomorrow night? If that isn’t too sudden, I mean.”

“It’s not too sudden!” Himiko seizes Ochako’s hands, eager to reassure her. “Please, let me take you out tomorrow night?”

“Okay then,” Ochako says, and her smile blooms across her face. “It’s a date!”