Chapter Text
As Aiko and Mei strolled down the streets of Musutafu, students in hero costumes rushed past them, each absorbed in their own world, while vendors shouted from their stalls, promoting the latest snacks, gadgets, and hero merchandise. The air was thick with the scent of street food, and a faint breeze of cherry blossom trees.
“I still think ‘The Socioeconomic Impact of Quirks on Employment Opportunities’ is the way to go,” Aiko insisted, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm as she adjusted her backpack.
Mei, glancing at a nearby shop displaying the latest hero gear, shook her head. “Come on, Aiko! Everyone knows that topic is already played out. It’s like the go-to for every sociology thesis. What about something moooore… innovative? Like, the influence of hero culture on… oh, I don’t know… youth or whatever.”
Aiko furrowed her brow, her long black hair swaying slightly as she turned to face Mei. “That’s interesting, but it feels a bit too broad. We need to narrow it down a little, like… hmmm.”
”Ah, what about focusing on… how certain heroes inspire community engagement? We could interview people in different neighborhoods and see how their favorite heroes affect their actions.”
Mei paused, considering the idea. “Hm, that’s not bad. But maybe we can take it a step further? Instead of just community engagement, we could look at the differences in hero worship across socioeconomic classes. Imagine how different groups perceive heroes based on their own experiences!”
Aiko nodded slowly, intrigued. “Okay, I can see where you’re going with that. But can we really gather enough data for that? I mean, some neighborhoods are really tight-knit and might not be open to outsiders.”
“True, but that’s where our charm comes in!” Mei flashed a confident grin, her eyes glimmering with mischief. “We can approach them as aspiring heroes ourselves! We could even wear our school uniforms, it’ll give us some credibility!”
“Right, because nothing says ‘trust us’ like a couple of students in uniforms,” Aiko scoffed, unable to suppress a chuckle. “But you might be onto something. If we frame it as a project that connects us all through heroism, people might be more inclined to share their thoughts.”
“Exactly!” Mei exclaimed, her excitement palpable. “And we can highlight the disparities in how different communities view their heroes. It’s not just about the quirks, it’s about how those quirks shape lives! Plus, it’ll keep our thesis unique.”
As they approached the convenience store, Aiko pushed the door open, and the familiar jingle of the bell chimed overhead.
The shelves were stocked with an array of snacks, drinks, magazines, and even hero-themed merchandise.
“Alright, so we’re settled on the topic?” Aiko asked, grabbing one basket for their snacks.
“Unless you have a better idea, I think we’ve got a winner!” Mei replied, her eyes scanning the aisles for her favorite snacks.
“Let’s just make sure we can back it up with solid research. I don’t want to end up writing a paper that feels like we’re just scratching the surface,” Aiko said, her tone growing serious.
“Don’t worry! We’ll dig deep,” Mei assured her, tossing a couple of chips and chocolate bars into their shared basket.
“And we can start by interviewing some of our classmates to see how they feel about their favorite heroes. It’ll be fun!”
As they moved through the aisles, their chatter faded into the background noise of the store. But soon, a pair of voices nearby caught their attention, making them stop choosing snacks out of curiosity.
"Seriously, Shouto, you have to stop drinking so much soda. It’s not good for you!"
A gruff voice chided, unmistakably loud and brash that sounds very familiar. The girls exchanged a glance, their curiosity piqued, and in unison, they crept closer to the next aisle, careful to remain unseen.
Peeking around the corner, the girls gasped silently, their hearts racing. They were met with an unexpected sight.
It was the Bombshell Hero, known to most as Dynamight, and Todoroki Shouto, the stoic A.C. hero. They were still in their hero costumes, but Dynamight’s wearing a jacket over his.
“I don’t know which beverages taste good, so I stick with soda.” came the softer, more measured reply of Todoroki Shouto, his voice a curious mix of warmth and uncertainty.
Aiko and Mei exchanged wide-eyed glances, excitement bubbling within them. They instinctively leaned closer to the shelf, trying to catch every word while suppressing the urge to squeal.
“Ugh, you’re hopeless,” Dynamight responded, they’re facing his back, but the girls could almost picture his exasperated expression, the way his brow furrowed in that signature Bakugou manner.
With a decisive motion, Dynamight reached for a drink and handed it to Shouto, who squinted at the can. “Try this,” Dynamight urged, and Aiko felt her heart race at the sound of their interaction.
Shouto read the label aloud, “Green tea with ginseng and honey.” His brows furrowed in concentration as he added, “That sounds… healthy.”
“Definitely healthier than whatever the hell you keep on drinking,” Bakugou replied, his tone light, yet an undercurrent of genuine concern threaded through his words.
Aiko watched as Shouto’s demeanor shifted, a soft smile gracing his lips. “Okay, I’ll try it,” he said, his voice carrying a warmth that melted Aiko’s heart.
The two heroes then turned to walk toward the next aisle, and it was at that moment that Mei’s eyes widened in realization.
“Wait, are they…?” she began, her voice barely a whisper.
Aiko leaned in closer, her heart pounding as she followed Mei’s gaze. “No way,” she breathed, her eyes darting to the intertwined hands of the two heroes.
Shouto and Dynamight were indeed holding hands, fingers interlocked as they moved with an ease that contradicts the nature of their personalities.
The sight sent a jolt through Aiko, and she turned to Mei, both of them slack-jawed in disbelief. “Are we— are we seeing things? They’re actually holding hands!”
Mei’s eyes sparkled with excitement, and the two girls squealed softly, jumping up and down in quiet exhilaration. “Wait, wait, wait, hold up. This is insane! Are they together? Are they a couple? Wait, they’re gay?! No freaking way, right?!”
Aiko’s mind raced with possibilities as they exchanged theories. “SSSHHH! I don’t know, Mei, but oh my god, this is crazy.”
“I’m freaking out, Aiko, where are they? Come on, come on, I wanna see!” Mei took Aiko’s arm and pulled her to take a peek again as they crouched.
They see Dynamight and Shouto talking in front of the candy section. Aiko and Mei’s eyes instantly looked at their hands to confirm. With mouths agape, the girls shared a look of sheer astonishment.
“There’s no mistaking it! They… are… holding hands!! This is fucking crazy!” Mei whispered aggressively.
Aiko, also holding Mei’s arms, has a huge smile on her face. “I can’t believe it. But it makes sense in a way, right? Sort of? Fuck, I don’t know! Holy shit, I didn’t know they swing that way.”
“Right?! But I mean, they’ve never shown interest in anybody… haven’t they?” Mei asked and suddenly realized that they dropped all their snacks on the floor. “Oh shit” she mumbled and picked it all up.
“Can you believe it? They’re so different, but it totally makes sense if you think about it.” Aiko exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with the thrill of the revelation.
“I mean, they complement each other so well in battle, sure. Not like this though! This is unreal! Like… like… they’re total opposites, how does that work?!“
“This is insane. I even shipped Dynamight with Pinky at one point, that’s crazy. But never mind that. This is infinitely hotter! Come on, let’s follow them.” Mei added, unable to contain her enthusiasm.
“I really can’t believe this!” Aiko squeaked, her eyes gleaming with a mix of shock and excitement.
“Maybe they’re on a secret date!” Mei suggested, her voice barely above a whisper as they peered around the corner of the shelf. “This is like, major news!”
Aiko nodded, her heart racing. “I can’t believe it. Who knew they were this close?”
“Shh! We don’t want them to notice us!” Mei hissed, trying to contain her excitement.
They watched as Dynamight grabbed a granola bar that has Shouto’s face on it, holding it up to Shouto with a playful grin and said something they couldn’t hear. Shouto rolled his eyes, a slight smirk playing on his lips as he reached for a pack of marshmallow instead.
“Look at them! They’re so cute!” Aiko whispered, her hands clasped to her cheeks. “I mean, I always thought they had chemistry, but this—this is next level!”
“I know! And look at how relaxed they are,” Mei said, her voice filled with awe as she observed the way Shouto leaned in closer to Dynamight, their shoulders brushing against each other. “It’s like they’re in their own little world.”
“Do you think we should say something?” Aiko suggested, her excitement bubbling over.
“Are you crazy? We can’t just interrupt them like that!” Mei replied, her eyes darting around as if the other shoppers might overhear their conversation. “What if we ruin the moment?”
As if on cue, Dynamight playfully nudged Shouto’s shoulder, causing the other hero to laugh lightly. The sound was soft, yet it sent a thrill through both girls, making them giggle in quiet disbelief.
“Okay, okay, we just need to calm down,” Aiko said, taking a deep breath. “Let’s just watch for a bit longer and then we leave.”
“Agreed! I mean, I’ll never get this chance again!” Mei added, her voice trembling with excitement. “Can you imagine if this gets out? The headlines would be insane!”
“Dynamight and Shouto, the Power Couple we didn’t know we needed!” Aiko quietly squealed, causing both of them to snicker quietly.
Just then, Shouto leaned down to pick up a pack of chips, and without thinking, Shouto leaned in closer, his head almost resting against Dynamight’s shoulder. “This looks appetizing. Look, it has a chibi version of you at the back. I wanna try it.”
“You really think you can eat all of these by yourself? It says right there it’s extra spicy.” Dynamight teased, a playful smirk on his face.
Shouto blinked and contemplated as he looked at Dynamight, “But it has you on it, it must be good.” He exclaimed as he put the bag of chips in their basket that Dynamight’s holding.
”Your funeral.” Dynamight smirked. “Can’t wait to see your face once you eat it.” He chuckled as they made their way to the next aisle.
“Oh my god, are they flirting? I think they’re flirting.” Aiko whispered, eyes wide with disbelief.
“Okay, we definitely can’t let them see us,” Mei said, her heart racing as she felt a rush of exhilaration. “What if they notice us and think we’re weirdos?”
“Better weirdos than missing out on this moment!” Aiko countered, gripping Mei’s arm tightly as she leaned in to catch every word.
“Fine, but if they come this way, we’re making a run for it!” Mei declared, her heart pounding as she tried to focus on the scene unfolding before them.
As they composed themselves, they couldn’t shake the elation bubbling within them, and without a second thought, they decided to watch the heroes until they’re gone, determined to uncover the truth about this unexpected pairing.
Aiko and Mei felt like they were discovering a very scandalous secret, one that will definitely change everything they thought they knew about the two icons of heroism.
They continued to talk and fangirl about it the whole day. Even later that night, they keep on chatting with each other on their phones, talking about Dynamight and Shouto nonstop.
Their thesis completely forgotten.