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Amajiki Tamaki was a scaredy-cat.
He was scared of talking to people, and large crowds, and the monsters in movies that his peers seemed to think were cool, and sick.
So Halloween wasn’t exactly his… favourite holiday.
He had just wanted to curl up in his bed and read one of the national geographic books tucked away under his pillow. But apparently,
trick or treating was good for kids who didnt get out much, according to some internet article his mom had read.
So he ended up tailing the end of a group of kids that he didnt know, gripping an empty pillow case so hard his knuckles went white, and stumbling over the train of his ghost costume.
He felt someone touch his shoulder- and flinched, turning to back away, before he saw the face of a blonde boy in an All Might costume, with two glittering eyes like twin stars.
“Hey!” he chirped, not seeming put off by Tamaki’s nervousness. “Who are you? Why’re you walking alone? I love your ghost costume, I wish I was a ghost, then I could walk through walls. Also, I can walk through walls. Do you think I’m a ghost? Also can we be friends? I’m Mirio.”
Tamaki cowered.
Mirio beamed.
Tamaki slowly peered through his bangs, finally lifting his head to give a shaky nod. “Okay.”
“Which part?” Mirio asked, tilting his head. “About wanting to be a ghost? Or about the friends? Or about my quirk? Or about my-“
“Friends,” Tamaki managed, feeling a small smile ghost over his lips. “I’d like to be friends.”
Mirio stared, then squealed. “You’re cute! Like a cat, though, not like a dog. I have a dog. Her name is Risa. You should come meet her!”
“I like cats,” Tamaki offered. After a moment, he continued- “There’s a cat who lives near my house. Sometimes I feed her. My Momma says it’s not good, so,” he pressed a finger to his lips. Mirio lit up. “Of course! I’m so secret keeping. You can trust me,” he puffed out his chest. “Do you like Halloween?”
Tamaki blushed, then looked away. He considered lying, but apparently his response already gave away how he felt. “Why not?” Mirio gasped, seeming appalled. “You get free candy! And you can dress up and scare people!”
“It’s…. scary,” Tamaki finally said, then waited for Mirio to laugh.
Mirio stood still. Then scoffed. “That’s silly! I’ll make sure no one gets you! That way you don’t have to be scared, because I’m there and I’m a hero,” he gestured to his costume.
Tamaki considered this. “Really?” he eventually asked.
Mirio nodded eagerly, looking determined.
Tamaki smiled, and stepped slightly closer to him. “Okay, then. Thanks.”
Mirio offered him a chocolate bar. “To keep up your stamina,” he said seriously. “That way we can hit every house in the whole prefecture.” That seemed a little unreasonable, but Mirio’s confidence was so infectious that Tamaki nodded along. “Okay.”
Then stumbled to catch up as Mirio grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the next house.