Chapter Text
If we had met before… maybe things would’ve turned out different…
The first time they met was at a little strawberry themed cafe, decked out with every strawberry themed item imaginable. Glossy table tops shaped like strawberries, chairs much the same with squishy cushions and fancy wire backs. Everything was in shades of pink, red, and green, every little detail and pattern in the shop. And every little thing was strawberry themed in some way, from the little strawberry shaped bell above the door with its little blossom hat, to the geometric strawberry shapes in the tiles of the floor and the stained glass window at the front.
Ochako only came here because the waitress was a family friend, sneaking her leftover foods and rejects from the back. Mayu was very kind to offer even the smallest of things, but what Ochako really loved about her was how she delivered it all, making excuses (even if not very convincing) that made her feel worlds better about accepting the food. As far as Ochako knew, Mayu was an old school friend of her mother’s, having taken an art class that had been a requirement to graduate more than something her mother truly chose to do. Given where Mayu works now, it had never been a question how intentional her presence in that class had been, she has a wonderful artistic eye and even used her quirk, something glass based, to make the stained glass window after a particularly daring villain attack one evening.
Point being that, yes, Ochako loved the food, but the people were way better. She always loved watching them go about their days, looking for what made them smile and laugh. What made them sad and the treats they liked to order. How many of them came for their friends or partners and only for them because they hated strawberries.
Today though, the girl sitting at the table next to hers is different, eyes cast down and hiding the bottom half of her face in her scarf. A strawberry patterned scarf, funny enough. Soft brown coils of hair fall to her chin, framing glowy hazel eyes and pretty red cheeks. The red almost makes it look like she’s wearing blush, but upon further inspection it's so very clear that her face is naturally that red, a permanent but natural blush that makes her look so lovely.
It feels wrong to acknowledge the girl in such a way, to admire her with intentions further than just simple baseless compliments. It felt wrong, evil even, to admit she thought a girl was… attractive in any way. But she did also promise the other girls in her class that she wouldn’t let that get to her. At least just once she promised she would give it a chance and see how it goes.
She eyes the girl’s frown again, only daring to second guess herself for a moment before moving toward one of the empty chairs at her table. The girl glances up as she approaches, eyes widening and— Ochako swears they flash gold.
“Do you mind if I sit with you?” Ochako asks as calmly as she can manage, even if her heart is trying to beat out of her chest.
The girl stares back, the expression on her face unreadable. She tucks her mouth back into her scarf, glancing back toward someone in the line for the register before nodding.
Ochako smooths her skirt over her legs and takes a seat, smiling in a way she hopes comes off as friendly.
“I’m Ochako Uraraka. What’s your name?” she asks, head tilting with the question.
The girl allows the smallest smile to quirk the edges of her mouth. “Aiko.” Her cheeks flush a darker red, exaggerating her blush.
“That’s a very pretty name,” Ochako breathes, cheeks pinkening more.
Aiko giggles, sharp fangs poking out of her mouth as her grin widens, and Ochako can’t help but look. Aiko has the prettiest smile, she can’t help but think, shaking her head as if to physically rid herself of the thought immediately after.
“I like your eyes,” Aiko compliments in turn, “They’re such a pretty color, and I especially like the shape of them. They’re very cute.”
“Oh, wow, well—”
“Aiko,” a man interrupts as kindly as he can, setting a bloody red drink on the table in front of her. He slides into the remaining chair across from Ochako, placing a small plate of pastries between them. “I have some errands to run,” he says to Aiko, eyes flicking to Ochako for a moment, “I suppose you and your… friend would prefer to finish your date in peace?”
Ochako chokes on her tongue, but Aiko just smiles brightly up at him.
“Yes please, Mister! I’ll come find you when we’re done.”
He nods, waving to them with a prosthetic hand as her leaves, strawberry shaped bell ringing as the door opens and closes again.
Turning back to Aiko, Ochako struggles to pull a sentence together for a moment, silenced quickly when offered a strawberry jelly filled pastry, but only for a short few minutes.
“Did you say we were on a… date?” Ochako stutters, feeling more of her face heat enough she’s sure it looks as red as the table top.
Aiko sips her drink, looking smug, “Yes I did.”
“I— what?”
“Dates are so people can get to know each other more, right?”
“…yeah?”
“Then it’s a date,” she says decisively, “And you should have fun with me!” She takes another bite of one of the pastries, swallowing before adding, “If you want to.”
Checking her watch, she really doesn’t have to be back to campus for a few more hours, Ochako reasoned, and they weren’t going too far…
She looks back at Aiko, at the gold in her hazel eyes that threatens to swallow her whole. It certainly couldn’t hurt to stay.
She pulls her phone out, shooting a quick text to Aizawa to let him know she’ll be back to campus later than expected, pocketing it again without waiting for a response.
“Okay,” Ochako says, “What exactly did you want to do?”
Aiko just smiles again. “You’ll love it.”
“Who was that, anyway?”
“Oh!” Aiko jumps up, clearly excited. “That’s my— my mom!”
Ochako stares at her, brow creasing. “You’re… mom?”
She pauses for a moment. “Well, yeah. They can’t both be dad, and mom was more a title earned than one assigned to him, but that’s for different reasons. And it’s also my brother’s fault.”
“You have a brother?”
“He’s a jerk,” she nods, sitting back down. “See, Ochako! We’re learning so much about each other. I told you this date would be a good idea!”
Ochako breathes a laugh, picking up one of the strawberry filled croissants. “I never doubted it for a minute.”