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“Hey Hey” - Who’s your favorite hero
The U.A. courtyard was unusually quiet after classes, warmed by the low afternoon sun that painted everything in soft orange. Tamaki Amajiki sat beneath one of the tall shade trees, knees slightly drawn up, half-eaten snack in hand. A few feathers from lunch lingered on his fingers.
He hoped no one would come by and notice.
Which, of course, meant one person absolutely would.
A blur of blue hair swooped into his peripheral vision, followed by a bright, melodic voice.
“Hey, hey, Tamaki!” Nejire Hado landed beside him with her usual gravity-defying energy, her eyes sparkling like she knew a secret. “I’ve been looking for you!”
Tamaki tensed. “O-oh. H-Hado… you didn’t have to.”
“But I wanted to!” She plopped down beside him, legs swinging. “You disappeared after class again. You’ve gotta stop vanishing like a shy ghost. You know I’ll always come find you!” She leaned in, smiling even wider.
Tamaki pulled his hood up a little, cheeks pink. “I…um… it’s not intentional.”
Nejire hummed, resting her chin in her hands as she studied him far too intently for his heart to survive.
She’s too close… too close…
Then, without warning, she asked:
“Hey, hey—who’s your favorite hero?”
Tamaki blinked.
Of all the questions she could have asked — that was not one he was prepared for. His thoughts scattered like startled birds.
“My… favorite hero?” he echoed.
“Yeah!” She nodded eagerly. “I just realized I never asked you before! I mean, we’re in the Big Three together, but I don’t know everything about you yet.” Her smile softened. “So tell me, Tama—who inspires you?”
He swallowed hard. His heart felt too big for his chest, thudding unreasonably.
He could have said Mirio.
He could have said any pro hero.
He could have dodged the question entirely.
But his mouth moved before he could stop it.
“…You,” he whispered.
Silence.
Real silence.
Nejire blinked once. Then twice. Her eyes widened, shimmering even more brightly than usual.
“Me?” she repeated, her voice unusually soft.
Tamaki froze. “I—I mean— not like— I just think you’re… incredible. You never give up, even when things are scary. You’re kind. You’re strong. You look at people like they matter.” He twisted his fingers, feathers flickering at their tips. “I just think you’re… inspiring.”
Nejire stared at him as if he’d handed her the sun.
Her cheeks turned a faint, rosy pink — a color Tamaki had never seen on her before.
“Tama…” she breathed. “That’s the sweetest thing anyone’s told me.”
He squeaked. “S-sorry—!”
“Don’t be!” She leaned closer, her shoulder touching his, and his entire soul nearly left his body. “You know… you’re my favorite hero too.”
Tamaki’s heart stopped. Restarted. Then soared.
“W-why me?” he whispered.
“Because you’re brave,” she said simply. “Even when you don’t see it. Even when you’re scared, you keep moving forward. You care about people so deeply. And…” She hesitated before smiling in that soft, rare way she saved only for him. “And you make me want to be better.”
Warmth bloomed in his chest, spreading like sunlight through cracks he didn’t know were there.
Nejire nudged his arm. “So does that mean we’re each other’s favorites? Like… super favorites?”
Tamaki’s face went redder than Kirishima’s hair. “I… guess so.”
“Well then…” She scooted even closer, their hands brushing. Her voice dipped, sweet and hopeful.
“Maybe we could be more than that.”
He looked up, meeting her bright, honest eyes — and for once, didn’t look away.
“Yes,” he said softly.
And he meant it.
Nejire beamed, taking his hand fully this time, fingers intertwining with his.
“Good! Because I’ve wanted that for a while.”
Tamaki’s breath caught, but he didn’t pull away. He squeezed her hand back, the quiet, steady kind of affection that came naturally to him.
The sun dipped lower, painting them both in gold.
Two heroes, shy and bold in their own ways, finding courage not in battles —
but in each other.
And in that courtyard, hearts racing and hands intertwined, Tamaki Amajiki and Nejire Hado finally began to fall in love.
Golden Hour
Tamaki and Nejire walked side by side through the quiet halls of U.A., their hands still loosely intertwined. Every few seconds, Tamaki’s heart jumped as if to remind him this wasn’t a dream.
Nejire looked over at him with that gentle, excited smile she only used when she wasn’t trying to overwhelm someone. “Tama… you’re being awfully quiet.”
He flushed. “I—I’m thinking.”
“Ooh? Thinking what?” She leaned forward curiously.
“That you… um… didn’t have to choose me,” he admitted.
Nejire stopped walking. She tugged his hand so he’d turn toward her. Her eyes glowed in the hallway light.
“Tama. I didn’t choose you by accident.”
He swallowed.
She stepped closer, her voice soft. “You’re the one who makes me feel grounded. You’re the one I look for when I’m unsure. You’re the one who listens when I ramble. You matter to me.” She gave a small, warm laugh. “Way more than you think.”
Tamaki’s eyes widened slightly. No one had ever said something like that to him — not with such certainty, such warmth.
He looked down at their joined hands.
“…I care about you too.”
Nejire’s smile brightened like sunrise. “Then… let’s go on a date.”
Her voice was steady, hopeful, with that familiar bubbly undertone.
“A—a date?” he echoed.
“Yep! Something simple. Something that feels like us.” She tilted her head, blue hair swaying. “Tomorrow after classes?”
Tamaki hesitated for only a moment… then nodded.
“Yes.”
Her grin could’ve powered the entire school.
“Yay! It’s a date then!”
She squeezed his hand and leaned her head lightly against his shoulder as they resumed walking.
And for the first time in a long time, Tamaki felt brave.
⸻
Waves & Warmth
The next afternoon, Tamaki stood by the small beach behind U.A., fidgeting with the sleeve of his hoodie. Mirio had helped him style his hair a bit — nothing dramatic, just enough to look like he tried.
Tamaki had tried very hard.
He looked up when he heard soft footsteps.
Nejire approached wearing a simple sundress the color of the ocean, her blue hair brushing her shoulders and swaying with her steps. She gave him a gentle wave.
“Tama! You’re early!”
“I… didn’t want to be late,” he said shyly.
Nejire’s bright smile softened into something tender. “Me neither.”
They walked down the warm sand together, letting the sound of the waves fill the comfortable silence.
After a few moments, Nejire asked, “So… just to be clear—this is our first real date, right?”
Tamaki nodded. “Y-yes.”
“Good!” She clasped her hands behind her back and grinned at him. “I want to remember everything.”
They found a quiet patch of sand near the water’s edge. Tamaki sat, pulling his knees close, but he wasn’t as closed-off as usual. Maybe because Nejire sat close enough that their shoulders brushed.
She dipped her fingers into the sand and drew little spirals. “So… what do you like most about me?” she asked suddenly.
Tamaki nearly choked on his own breath.
“W—what kind of question is that…?”
“A normal one!” she said cheerfully. “I’m curious!”
Tamaki stared at the waves for a long moment before answering.
“You… make the world feel lighter. And when you talk to me, it feels like… like I can breathe easier.”
Nejire went very still.
Then slowly, a soft blush bloomed across her cheeks.
“Tama… that might be the most romantic thing anyone’s ever said to me.”
He sputtered. “I—I wasn’t trying to—”
“Well, it worked!” She nudged him playfully — then rested her head on his shoulder. “Your turn. Ask me something.”
Tamaki swallowed. Then quietly:
“Why… do you like me?”
Nejire closed her eyes, smiling against his shoulder.
“Because you’re gentle,” she said. “Because you notice little things. Because you care about people even when you’re scared. And because… being around you makes my heart feel calm.”
Tamaki’s breath caught.
Nejire turned her face up toward him. “Tama? Can I… hold your hand again?”
He didn’t hesitate.
He laced their fingers together, this time with confidence.
They watched the sun sink lower, the sky blooming pink and orange — and Nejire leaned into him, warm and close.
And Tamaki, for once, didn’t look away.
It was simple. It was quiet.
But for both of them—
It was perfect.
⸻
A Starry Night Confession
That night, after the beach, they ended up lying on the dorm rooftop, staring at the stars. A blanket was draped over both of them — Nejire had insisted.
Tamaki felt her hand slip into his again, warm and sure.
“Tama,” she whispered, “I had so much fun today.”
He nodded. “Me too.”
She turned her head toward him, her hair brushing his cheek. “Do you… want to go on more dates with me?”
Tamaki’s heart fluttered. He met her eyes — really met them — and felt something steady and warm grow inside him.
“Yes,” he said, softly but surely. “I… want to be with you.”
Nejire’s whole face lit up like a star. “Then… we’re officially dating.”
She scooted closer under the blanket, resting her head on his chest as if it were the most natural place in the world. Tamaki tensed for a moment — then relaxed, letting his arm wrap around her.
Below them, U.A. was quiet.
Above them, the stars shimmered.
Nejire hummed sleepily. “We’re gonna be such a good team, you know.”
Tamaki smiled softly — a small, honest smile he only ever showed her.
“…Yeah. We already are.”
And under the calm night sky, with their hearts pressed close, their new love settled into something warm, gentle, and everlasting.