Work Text:
There were many things Kinoko Komori considered herself good at.
Mushrooms.
Obviously.
Hero training.
Getting better.
Making people underestimate her.
Extremely useful.
Horror movies?
"...Absolutely."
Pony stared at her.
"...Really?"
"Really, really."
Kinoko nodded enthusiastically.
"I love them."
Reiko slowly looked up from her book.
"...You screamed during the trailer."
Kinoko froze.
"...That was excitement."
"It was a door opening."
"It opened suddenly."
Reiko stared at her.
Kinoko stared back.
"...Very suddenly."
Friday evening had brought something surprisingly rare to U.A.
Nothing.
No training.
No homework due the following
morning.
No villains.
No exams.
Nothing.
So naturally...
Mina had decided this was unacceptable.
"JOINT MOVIE NIGHT!"
Her announcement had arrived in Class 1-B's group chat at exactly 4:17 that afternoon.
By seven...
Half of both classes had invaded Class 1-A's common room.
Blankets covered the sofas.
Snacks occupied nearly every available surface.
Sato had baked enough food to survive a minor apocalypse.
Kaminari and Tetsutetsu were arguing over which film to watch.
"We're watching horror."
"No!"
"We agreed!"
"We absolutely didn't!"
Mina appeared between them holding three cases.
"Already decided."
Kaminari looked at the cover.
His face immediately fell.
"...Oh."
Kirishima grinned.
"Scared?"
"No."
"That sounded scared."
"I'm being cautious."
"That's scared with extra steps."
Kinoko sat on one end of the sofa.
Perfectly relaxed.
Completely comfortable.
Absolutely not terrified.
Pony sat beside her.
"...You know we can choose something
else."
"Nope."
"You look pale."
"I'm always pale."
"...Paler."
"Lighting."
Pony glanced towards the brightly illuminated room.
"...Okay."
Kinoko folded her arms.
"I told you."
"I love horror movies."
A quiet voice came from her other side.
"Really?"
She turned.
And immediately discovered another problem.
Midoriya Izuku had taken the empty seat beside her.
"Oh."
"...Hi."
He smiled.
"Hi."
She stared at him for approximately half a second too long.
Then quickly looked towards the
television.
"...Yep."
"Love them."
"That's cool."
Izuku settled back into the sofa.
"I've never been particularly good with horror."
Kinoko slowly looked back.
"...You're not?"
He laughed sheepishly.
"No."
"I always start analysing what I'd do if I was actually in the situation."
"...Seriously?"
"Unfortunately."
He pointed towards the television.
"If there's a villain involved, I start thinking about Quirk counters."
Kinoko giggled.
"That sounds..."
She hesitated.
"...very you."
Izuku laughed.
"I've been told."
The lights went out.
Kinoko immediately regretted every decision she'd made since breakfast.
The opening scene was harmless.
A house.
Rain.
A woman walking through a hallway.
Nothing scary.
Kinoko relaxed.
See?
Easy.
A door creaked.
Her shoulders tightened.
Beside her...
Izuku reached into the popcorn.
"...Want some?"
"...Please."
She grabbed a handful.
Everything was fine.
Perfectly fine.
On screen...
The woman approached the basement.
Kinoko silently begged her not to.
She opened the door.
Don't go down there.
She stepped inside.
WHY ARE YOU GOING DOWN THERE?
The music stopped.
Kinoko's eyes widened.
"...No."
Izuku glanced over.
"Hm?"
"...Nothing."
The woman turned.
Nothing.
She turned back.
Nothing.
Kinoko relaxed.
Then-
A face appeared directly behind her.
"AAH!"
Kinoko jumped.
Pop.
Izuku blinked.
Something small had appeared on his sleeve.
He looked down.
A tiny mushroom.
"...Oh."
Kinoko stared.
"..."
Izuku carefully plucked it off.
"It's actually kind of cute."
Kinoko's face went bright red.
"...Sorry."
"Why?"
"My Quirk sometimes..."
She gestured helplessly.
"...does that."
"When you're frightened?"
"...No."
Another mushroom appeared on the sofa cushion.
Izuku looked at it.
Then at her.
"...Excited?"
"...Exactly."
A scream erupted from the television.
Pop.
Pop.
Pop.
Three mushrooms appeared along the back of the sofa.
Kinoko closed her eyes.
"...Fine."
"I'm scared."
Izuku smiled.
"I thought so."
From the floor...
Kaminari suddenly frowned.
"...Why is there a mushroom in my popcorn?"
Kinoko froze.
Everyone looked towards her.
Kaminari slowly lifted a tiny mushroom between two fingers.
"...Komori?"
"...Maybe."
Mina's eyes lit up.
"Oh my God."
Kinoko sank lower into the sofa.
"Please don't."
"You grow mushrooms when you're scared?!"
"...Sometimes."
"THAT'S ADORABLE."
"Mina!"
Another jump scare.
"EEP!"
Pop.
A mushroom appeared on Monoma's head.
Silence.
Everyone stared.
Monoma slowly reached upward.
His fingers touched the mushroom.
"...Tokage. Did you just throw this one at me?"
Setsuna immediately raised both hands.
"Wasn't me."
"...Komori."
Kinoko disappeared beneath her blanket.
"...Sorry."
Monoma stared at the mushroom.
Then sighed.
"...At least it's symmetrical."
The movie continued.
Unfortunately.
Halfway through...
The common room had begun developing its own ecosystem.
Tiny mushrooms decorated the sofa.
The carpet.
Several cushions.
One had somehow appeared on Iida's glasses.
He hadn't noticed yet.
Reiko quietly levitated it away before he did.
Kinoko remained buried beneath her blanket.
Only her eyes were visible.
Izuku glanced over.
"You okay?"
"...Yep."
A monster appeared on screen.
She grabbed the nearest thing.
Which happened to be Izuku's arm.
"..."
"..."
Kinoko slowly looked down.
Both hands were wrapped around his sleeve.
She looked up.
Izuku looked back at her.
"...Sorry."
She released him immediately.
"It's okay."
"I didn't mean to."
"I know."
"I just..."
Another noise came from the television.
She immediately grabbed his arm again.
"..."
Izuku smiled.
Kinoko's cheeks burned.
"...Don't say anything."
"I wasn't going to."
"...Good."
She remained attached to his arm.
Just in case.
For safety.
Obviously.
Twenty minutes later...
Izuku felt something gently settle against his shoulder.
He looked down.
Kinoko had somehow fallen asleep.
Still holding his arm.
Her head rested against him.
A blanket covered most of her face.
Izuku smiled.
Then noticed Mina staring at him from across the room.
Her grin was enormous.
Izuku frowned.
What?
Mina silently pointed at Kinoko.
Then made a heart with her hands.
Izuku's eyes widened.
His face immediately turned red.
He shook his head frantically.
Mina's grin somehow became even bigger.
The credits finally rolled.
Lights came back on.
Everyone looked around.
Silence.
The common room was covered in mushrooms.
Kaminari slowly surveyed the damage.
"...Honestly?"
He nodded appreciatively.
"...Kinda cosy."
Tetsutetsu agreed.
"It's got atmosphere."
Monoma pointed at the mushroom still growing from his hair.
"I disagree."
Students gradually began heading back to their dorms.
Kinoko woke up halfway through everyone leaving.
She blinked sleepily.
"...Is it over?"
Izuku smiled.
"It's over."
She realised where her head was.
"..."
Then realised she was still holding his arm.
"..."
Then noticed the mushrooms everywhere.
"..."
She covered her face.
"I need to transfer schools."
Izuku laughed.
"It wasn't that bad."
"I turned your common room into a forest."
"We've had worse."
"...Really?"
"Much worse."
That somehow made her feel better.
A few minutes later...
Kinoko began collecting the mushrooms.
Izuku crouched beside her.
She blinked.
"...What are you doing?"
"Helping."
"You don't have to."
"I know."
He picked another tiny mushroom from beneath the sofa.
"I want to."
Kinoko stared at him.
"...Oh."
They worked quietly for a while.
Eventually...
Izuku smiled.
"You know..."
"You don't have to pretend you like horror movies."
Kinoko stopped.
"...I wasn't pretending."
He raised an eyebrow.
She sighed.
"...Fine."
"I was pretending."
"Why?"
She shrugged.
"I don't know."
"Everyone likes exciting things."
"Heroes are supposed to be brave."
"And..."
She fiddled with the edge of her sleeve.
"...I thought saying I liked scary movies sounded cooler than saying what I actually like."
Izuku tilted his head.
"What do you actually like?"
Her voice became quieter.
"...Fantasy."
"Oh."
"And..."
She looked away.
"...Romance."
Izuku smiled.
"Me too."
Kinoko looked at him.
"...Really?"
"Yeah."
"I like stories where people get to explore somewhere completely different."
"And romance is..."
He immediately became slightly pink.
"...Nice."
Kinoko giggled.
"You blushed."
"I did not."
"You did."
"...Maybe a little."
She smiled.
Then looked down at the mushroom in her hands.
"...Midoriya?"
"Hm?"
"Would you..."
She hesitated.
"...Maybe want to watch one with me sometime?"
"A fantasy movie?"
She nodded.
"...Just us?"
Izuku blinked.
Kinoko's heart immediately tried to escape through her throat.
Then...
He smiled.
"I'd like that."
Her face lit up.
"...Really?"
"Really."
Pop.
A tiny mushroom appeared on Izuku's shoulder.
They both stared at it.
"..."
Izuku slowly looked at her.
Kinoko's face turned crimson.
"...That one wasn't because I was scared."
His own cheeks began turning pink.
"...Oh."
Kinoko buried her face in her hands.
"...Please don't make me explain it."
Izuku laughed softly.
"I don't think you have to."
She peeked at him through her fingers.
"...No?"
He carefully plucked the mushroom from his shoulder.
"No."
He smiled.
"I think I'm starting to understand."
And judging by the three more tiny mushrooms that immediately appeared around them...
That was apparently enough to make things much, much worse.
Kinoko had made a mistake.
A terrible mistake.
Possibly the worst mistake of her entire U.A. career.
She had asked Izuku Midoriya to watch a movie with her.
Alone.
And he'd said yes.
Which meant...
"...Is this a date?"
Pony looked up from her phone.
Kinoko was sitting cross-legged on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
"...I don't know."
"You asked him to watch a romance movie."
"Fantasy."
"Fantasy romance."
"...There are dragons."
"Still romance."
Kinoko groaned and collapsed backwards.
"I didn't say it was a date."
"Did he?"
"No."
"Then..."
Pony smiled.
"...Maybe?"
"That's not helpful!"
From the desk beside them, Reiko
slowly looked up from her book.
"...It is a date."
Kinoko sat upright.
"How do you know?"
"You want it to be."
"..."
Pop.
A tiny mushroom appeared on Kinoko's pillow.
Reiko returned to her book.
"...Evidence."
Saturday evening arrived far too quickly.
Kinoko stood outside Class 1-A's common room carrying:
One blanket.
Two drinks.
Three different bags of snacks.
And enough anxiety to power the entire school.
She raised her hand.
Paused.
Lowered it.
Raised it again.
"...Just knock."
She knocked.
The door opened almost immediately.
Izuku smiled.
"Hi, Komori."
"...Hi."
He looked at everything she was carrying.
"Need some help?"
"Nope."
One snack bag immediately slipped
from her arms.
Izuku caught it.
"...Maybe."
He laughed.
"Come in."
The common room was empty.
Suspiciously empty.
Kinoko looked around.
"...Where is everyone?"
Izuku scratched his cheek.
"I'm not sure."
"They all said they had plans."
Elsewhere...
Twenty students had suddenly
discovered urgent reasons to be anywhere except the dormitory.
Izuku had already prepared the
television.
Kinoko immediately recognised the movie menu.
Her eyes widened.
"You found it!"
He smiled.
"You said it was your favourite."
"You remembered?"
"Of course."
There it was again.
That annoying habit Midoriya had.
Remembering things.
Small things.
Things Kinoko didn't expect anyone to remember.
Pop.
A tiny mushroom appeared beside the television.
Izuku looked at it.
Kinoko immediately pointed.
"Humidity."
"...Humidity?"
"Very humid tonight."
Izuku glanced towards the closed windows.
"...Right."
"Extremely."
He smiled.
"...I'll take your word for it."
They settled onto opposite ends of the sofa.
Very opposite.
Almost comically opposite.
The movie began.
Kinoko relaxed almost immediately.
This...
She could handle.
No haunted houses.
No monsters hiding behind doors.
No sudden screaming.
Just sweeping landscapes.
Magic.
Dragons.
A ridiculously handsome prince who clearly didn't realise he was in love with the heroine.
Kinoko smiled.
"This is my favourite part."
Izuku glanced over.
"The village?"
"Mhm."
"Look at all the little details."
She pointed excitedly.
"The flowers change depending on which kingdom they're in."
"And everyone's clothes have different stitching patterns."
"And-"
She stopped.
"...Sorry."
Izuku blinked.
"For what?"
"I started rambling."
He smiled.
"I ramble all the time."
"...That's true."
"Hey."
She giggled.
"Sorry."
"Don't be."
He turned back towards the screen.
"I like hearing what people notice."
Something warm fluttered inside her chest.
Pop.
A mushroom appeared between the sofa cushions.
Kinoko immediately shoved a pillow over it.
Half an hour passed.
The enormous space between them became...
Slightly less enormous.
Neither noticed exactly when it happened.
Kinoko moved closer because Izuku couldn't reach the popcorn.
Izuku shifted because the blanket was falling onto the floor.
Then Kinoko moved again because she wanted to point something out.
Eventually...
Their shoulders touched.
Both froze.
Neither moved away.
On screen...
The heroine and prince stood beneath a moonlit tree.
They were obviously about to kiss.
Kinoko became intensely interested in her drink.
Izuku became intensely interested in the structural design of the fictional castle in the background.
"...That's an interesting tower."
Kinoko looked at him.
"...Midoriya."
"Hm?"
"They're kissing."
"I know."
"You're looking at a tower."
"It's..."
He swallowed.
"...very architecturally interesting."
Kinoko stared.
Then burst out laughing.
"You are terrible at romance movies."
"I'm trying!"
"You're analysing the scenery!"
"It's really detailed!"
She laughed harder.
Izuku eventually joined her.
The awkwardness disappeared.
Mostly.
The film continued.
Eventually...
Kinoko's hand landed in the popcorn bowl.
At exactly the same time as Izuku's.
Their fingers brushed.
Both immediately pulled away.
"...Sorry!"
They spoke simultaneously.
Silence.
Then-
Pop.
Pop.
Pop.
Three mushrooms appeared along the coffee table.
Izuku stared at them.
Kinoko stared straight ahead.
"...Humidity?"
"...Shut up."
He laughed.
When the movie ended...
Neither immediately stood.
The credits rolled.
Soft music filled the common room.
Kinoko hugged the blanket around herself.
"...So?"
Izuku smiled.
"I really liked it."
"Really?"
"Really."
"The final battle was clever."
"I knew you'd like that."
"And..."
He became slightly pink.
"...the romance was nice."
Kinoko smiled.
"...You watched it?"
"I stopped looking at the tower eventually."
She giggled.
"Progress."
A comfortable silence settled.
Then Izuku looked at her.
"Can I ask something?"
Kinoko's heart immediately panicked.
"...Sure."
"Was this..."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"...supposed to be a date?"
Her entire brain shut down.
"..."
Pop.
A mushroom appeared on her head.
Izuku stared.
Kinoko slowly reached up.
Touched it.
Closed her eyes.
"...Maybe."
His cheeks immediately turned red.
"Oh."
"...Is that bad?"
"No!"
The answer came so quickly she jumped.
Izuku laughed awkwardly.
"No."
"I just..."
He looked down at his hands.
"I wasn't sure."
Kinoko peeked at him.
"...Would you have said yes..."
"...if I'd called it a date?"
He thought about it.
Then smiled.
"Yeah."
Her eyes widened.
"...Really?"
"Really."
Pop.
Another mushroom.
This one appeared on Izuku's knee.
He looked down.
Then back at her.
Kinoko covered her face.
"...I hate my Quirk."
"I think it's cute."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Kinoko slowly lowered her hands.
"...You think..."
"...my Quirk is cute?"
Izuku immediately realised what he'd said.
"I meant-"
His face went bright red.
"I mean the mushrooms!"
"Not that you're not-"
"I mean you are-"
"But I wasn't-"
Kinoko stared at him.
Then...
Started laughing.
Not because she was making fun of him.
Because Midoriya Izuku...
Hero-analysis genius.
Brilliant strategist.
One of the strongest students at U.A.
Had been completely defeated by the word cute.
Eventually he buried his face in his hands.
"...I'm making this worse."
"A little."
"...Sorry."
She smiled.
"But..."
"...I think you're cute too."
Izuku froze.
Pop.
Pop.
Pop.
Mushrooms appeared everywhere.
The table.
The floor.
The sofa.
One landed directly on top of Izuku's
head.
Neither spoke.
Then Kinoko pointed at it.
"...Humidity."
Izuku looked up at the mushroom.
Then at her.
And laughed.
Five minutes later...
They were cleaning again.
Apparently this was becoming tradition.
Kinoko picked mushrooms from beneath the coffee table.
"So..."
"...if this was a date..."
Izuku looked over.
"Hm?"
She swallowed.
"...Would you want another one?"
He smiled.
"I would."
Her heart skipped.
"...Okay."
"Okay."
She picked up another mushroom.
"...Maybe something outside next time."
"Probably safer."
"For the furniture."
Izuku laughed.
"Definitely for the furniture."
Kinoko smiled to herself.
Their first date hadn't been perfect.
Neither of them had known it was definitely a date until after it was practically over.
They'd barely touched.
They'd both spent half the romantic scenes staring anywhere except the television.
And the common room had once again become a small woodland.
But...
As Kinoko glanced over at Izuku and found him already smiling at her...
Pop.
Another tiny mushroom appeared between them.
This time...
She didn't bother hiding it.
The second date was definitely a date.
That was somehow worse.
The first time...
Kinoko could pretend.
Maybe Midoriya thought they were just watching a movie.
Maybe she thought they were just watching a movie.
Maybe the mushrooms were caused by humidity.
They weren't.
But plausible deniability was a beautiful thing.
This time...
There was none.
Izuku: Would you like to go to the fantasy exhibition in Musutafu with me Saturday?
Followed approximately thirty seconds later by:
Izuku: As a date, I mean.
Kinoko had stared at the message for five straight minutes.
Then—
Pop.
Her bedroom became a forest.
"...How?"
Pony stood in the doorway.
Mushrooms covered Kinoko's desk.
Her chair.
Her bed.
One was growing from the lampshade.
Kinoko sat completely still in the middle of them.
"...He asked me on a date."
Pony gasped.
"He did?!"
"...Specifically."
"What do you mean specifically?"
Kinoko held up her phone.
Pony read the message.
Her smile became enormous.
"Oh!"
"He clarified!"
"I know!"
"That's adorable!"
"I KNOW!"
Pop.
Another mushroom appeared.
Reiko floated silently past the doorway.
Paused.
Looked inside.
"...Congratulations."
Then continued walking.
Kinoko stared after her.
"...How does she always know?"
Pony shrugged.
"Ghost powers?"
"...That's not how her Quirk works."
"Probably."
Saturday morning...
Kinoko changed outfits six times.
The first was too casual.
The second was too formal.
The third made her look like she was trying too hard.
The fourth...
Actually looked fine.
Which somehow made it suspicious.
The fifth was basically the first outfit again.
Eventually Yui walked into the room.
Looked at Kinoko.
Looked at the pile of discarded clothes.
Picked up outfit number four.
Held it out.
"...This."
Kinoko stared.
"...Are you sure?"
Yui nodded.
"...Cute."
Kinoko immediately smiled.
"Thank you."
Yui headed towards the door.
Then stopped.
"...He'll like it."
Pop.
A mushroom appeared on Kinoko's dresser.
Yui looked at it.
Then left.
"...Traitor."
Izuku was already waiting when she arrived.
Of course he was.
He stood outside the exhibition centre wearing jeans, trainers and a green jacket.
When he spotted her...
His entire face brightened.
"Komori!"
Her stomach performed something
deeply inconvenient.
"Hi."
He walked over.
"You look..."
He stopped.
Kinoko waited.
Izuku's cheeks turned slightly pink.
"...Really nice."
Pop.
A mushroom appeared beside a nearby planter.
Kinoko stared at it.
Then at him.
"...We're outside."
Izuku looked towards the mushroom.
"...Apparently humidity follows you."
She narrowed her eyes.
"You've been waiting all week to say that."
His smile gave him away.
"...Maybe."
She laughed.
And just like that...
Half her nerves disappeared.
The exhibition was enormous.
Fantasy artwork.
Original costumes from movies.
Replica weapons.
Miniature castles.
Interactive displays.
Kinoko practically dragged Izuku
towards the first gallery.
"Look!"
She pointed excitedly.
"That's the original staff!"
Izuku smiled.
"You really like this stuff."
"I love it."
She immediately paused.
"...Sorry."
"There I go again."
"Komori."
"Hm?"
"You apologised for this last time."
"...I did."
"And I told you I liked listening."
"...You did."
"So..."
He gestured towards the display.
"Tell me about the staff."
Kinoko stared at him.
Then smiled.
"...Okay."
Twenty minutes later...
Izuku knew everything about the staff.
Everything.
Its fictional history.
The materials used to make the prop.
The actress who wielded it.
The symbolism behind the gemstones.
Kinoko finally stopped.
"...That was a lot."
Izuku nodded.
"It was."
She winced.
"...Sorry."
"I didn't say it was bad."
She looked at him.
He smiled.
"I like seeing you excited."
Pop.
A mushroom appeared behind the display barrier.
Kinoko's eyes widened.
"...Oh no."
Izuku immediately covered his mouth.
"...Should we..."
"...Yep."
She quickly recalled it before security noticed.
"That could've been embarrassing."
"...Could've?"
She elbowed him.
"Behave."
They wandered through another gallery.
This one displayed fantasy creatures.
Dragons.
Griffins.
Giants.
Izuku stopped in front of an enormous
dragon model.
"...Okay."
Kinoko grinned.
"You like it."
"It's incredible."
"You really like it."
"Look at the wings!"
And suddenly...
It was Izuku's turn.
He started analysing.
Wing structure.
Muscle placement.
How a creature that size might realistically fly.
Whether a Quirk could produce something similar.
Kinoko simply watched him.
He spoke with his hands when he got excited.
His eyes lit up.
He forgot to be nervous.
Forgot they were on a date.
Forgot everything except the thing he found fascinating.
Kinoko smiled.
Oh.
That's why he likes listening.
Because he knew exactly what it felt like to get excited about something and worry you were talking too much.
"...Midoriya?"
He stopped immediately.
"...Sorry."
She grinned.
"Keep going."
He blinked.
"...Really?"
"Really."
His smile returned.
Kinoko's heart fluttered.
Pop.
She sighed.
"...Of course."
Lunch was considerably less eventful.
Mostly.
They found a small café overlooking the exhibition courtyard.
Kinoko ordered mushroom risotto.
Izuku stared at the plate.
She noticed.
"...What?"
"Nothing."
"Say it."
He tried not to smile.
"...Isn't that a little..."
"...What?"
"...Cannibalistic?"
Kinoko stared at him.
Izuku immediately looked horrified.
"I'm sorry."
"I don't know why I said that."
"I-"
She burst out laughing.
.Loudly.
Enough that several people looked over.
Izuku slowly relaxed.
"...You're not offended?"
"No!"
She wiped her eyes.
"That was terrible."
"I know."
"Absolutely awful."
"I know."
She grinned.
"Do it again."
"...No."
"Please."
"Absolutely not."
After lunch...
They walked through the final section.
It was quieter there.
Fewer people.
Soft lighting.
Concept artwork covered the walls.
Kinoko noticed something.
She hadn't produced a mushroom in almost an hour.
Not because she was controlling herself.
She'd simply...
Relaxed.
She wasn't worrying about whether Izuku liked her.
She wasn't trying to seem cool.
She wasn't wondering if she was talking too much.
She was just...
Having fun.
Beside someone who seemed equally happy to be there.
"...Midoriya?"
"Hm?"
"I'm glad you asked me."
He smiled.
"So am I."
"I was really nervous."
"I was too."
She looked surprised.
"You were?"
"Of course."
"...You didn't look nervous."
"I practised asking you."
She stopped walking.
"...What?"
His face immediately coloured.
"I wrote the message three times."
Kinoko stared.
"You practised a text?"
"...Yes."
"Midoriya."
"I wanted to make sure you knew it was a date!"
Her smile became enormous.
"That's..."
She tried.
Really tried.
"...so cute."
Izuku went red.
Pop.
A mushroom appeared on his shoulder.
Kinoko laughed.
"Still blaming humidity?"
"...Definitely."
They eventually reached the exit.
Neither seemed particularly eager to leave.
Izuku glanced towards the station.
"I can walk you back."
Kinoko smiled.
"I'd like that."
They started down the street together.
Their shoulders occasionally brushed.
Neither moved away.
After several minutes...
Kinoko looked down.
His hand swung gently beside hers.
Close.
Very close.
She could do it.
Just reach over.
Take his hand.
Easy.
Except...
Her hand refused to cooperate.
Come on.
You've fought villains.
You've been thrown through buildings.
You've covered people's lungs in mushrooms.
You can hold a boy's hand.
She moved her fingers slightly.
Stopped.
Tried again.
Stopped.
Izuku glanced down.
Then at her.
Kinoko immediately looked straight ahead.
"...Nice weather."
"It is."
Silence.
Then...
She felt something gently brush against her fingers.
Izuku's hand.
He didn't grab hers.
Didn't assume.
He simply held his hand slightly closer.
An invitation.
Kinoko looked at him.
His cheeks were pink.
"...Would that be okay?"
Her heart melted.
She nodded.
"...Yeah."
Their fingers intertwined.
Pop.
A tiny mushroom appeared on the pavement.
Then another.
Then another.
A small trail of mushrooms followed behind them.
Izuku looked back.
Kinoko groaned.
"...I'm trying."
He laughed.
"I think they're cute."
"You saying that makes more appear."
"Oh."
Pop.
"...Sorry."
She looked at him.
He looked at her.
They both started laughing.
Kinoko squeezed his hand.
She'd spent so much time worrying about whether she'd seem interesting enough.
Brave enough.
Cool enough.
But walking back towards U.A., hand in hand with Izuku Midoriya...
She realised something.
He'd never once asked her to be any of those things.
He'd only ever asked her to be herself.
And judging by the ridiculous trail of mushrooms following them home...
Apparently...
Herself was pretty happy.
By Monday morning...
Everyone knew.
Not because Kinoko had told them.
She hadn't.
Not because Izuku had told them.
He hadn't.
The problem was...
They had returned to U.A. holding hands.
While leaving a trail of mushrooms behind them.
Subtlety had never stood a chance.
Pony was waiting.
Kinoko knew something was wrong the moment she entered Class 1-B's common room and saw her sitting on the sofa.
Smiling.
"...No."
"I haven't said anything."
"You don't need to."
Reiko sat nearby reading.
Yui drank her tea.
Kendou looked suspiciously amused.
Kinoko slowly backed towards the door.
"...I'm going to bed."
Pony immediately jumped up.
"YOU HELD HANDS!"
"...Goodnight!"
"It's four in the afternoon!"
"EARLY NIGHT!"
Pony caught her around the waist.
"Tell us everything!"
"There is nothing to tell!"
Yui looked towards the mushrooms that had begun appearing around Kinoko's feet.
"...Liar."
Kinoko looked down.
"...I hate all of you."
Reiko turned another page.
"...No, you don't."
"...No."
Kinoko sighed.
"...I really don't."
Across campus...
Izuku wasn't having an easier time.
Mina cornered him approximately fourteen seconds after breakfast.
"So."
Izuku looked up from his cereal.
"...So?"
"How was your date?"
His spoon stopped halfway to his mouth.
"...How do you know?"
Mina stared at him.
"Midoriya."
"You came home holding hands."
"Oh."
"And there were mushrooms following
you."
"...Right."
"And Komori looked like she'd won the lottery."
Izuku's face warmed.
"...She did?"
Mina's grin became dangerous.
"Oh my God."
"What?"
"You like her."
Izuku nearly dropped his spoon.
"I-"
"YOU DO!"
"Ashido!"
Kirishima looked over.
"Wait, Midoriya likes Komori?"
"I didn't say-"
Kaminari appeared from nowhere.
"THE MUSHROOM GIRL?"
Izuku covered his face.
"...Can we please not call her that?"
Mina froze.
Then slowly smiled.
"...Oh."
Izuku peeked through his fingers.
"...What?"
"Nothing."
Her smile softened.
"That was just really cute."
His face became even redder.
The next few days settled into something strange.
Not quite friendship.
Not officially a relationship.
Just...
Something.
Kinoko started sitting beside Izuku during joint lessons.
Izuku started saving her a seat.
She brought him snacks.
He brought her tea.
Sometimes they studied together.
Sometimes they talked about movies.
Sometimes...
They didn't talk at all.
They simply enjoyed being near each other.
And wherever Kinoko went...
The mushrooms followed.
Tuesday.
Izuku handed her a drink.
"I remembered you don't like coffee."
Pop.
Wednesday.
He saved her favourite seat during lunch.
Pop.
Pop.
Thursday.
She caught him reading an article about fungal biology.
"...Midoriya."
He looked up.
"Oh."
"Hi."
She stared at the screen.
"...Why are you reading about mushrooms?"
He smiled sheepishly.
"I wanted to understand your Quirk better."
Pop.
Pop.
Pop.
Pop.
"...Stop being nice."
He blinked.
"...What?"
"You're creating a health hazard."
By Friday...
Kinoko had accepted her fate.
They sat together outside after training.
Spring sunlight warmed the grass.
Izuku lay back against the trunk of a tree, notebook balanced on one knee.
Kinoko sat beside him.
"...Can I ask you something?"
He smiled.
"Sure."
"Why me?"
His pencil stopped.
"...What?"
She immediately regretted asking.
"Never mind."
"No."
Izuku closed the notebook.
"What do you mean?"
Kinoko pulled her knees against her chest.
"I don't know."
She shrugged.
"You're..."
She gestured vaguely at him.
"...You."
"That's generally how it works."
She laughed.
"You know what I mean."
"Everyone knows you."
"You're strong."
"You're smart."
"You're going to be an incredible hero."
"And I'm..."
She hesitated.
"...The mushroom girl."
Izuku frowned.
"You're Kinoko."
She looked at him.
He said it so simply.
Not offended.
Not dramatic.
Just...
Certain.
"You're funny."
"You're creative."
"You notice little things."
"You get really excited about stories."
"You laugh at my terrible jokes."
"They're really terrible."
"I know."
She smiled.
He continued.
"And..."
"You never make me feel like I'm talking too much."
Kinoko's smile faded.
Not because she was upset.
Because she understood.
At the exhibition...
She'd told him to keep going.
Exactly what he'd done for her.
Izuku smiled.
"I like being around you."
"That's why."
Kinoko stared down at the grass.
"...Oh."
Pop.
A tiny mushroom appeared beside her shoe.
Izuku laughed.
"Just one?"
She nudged him.
"I'm improving."
They sat quietly for another few minutes.
Eventually...
Kinoko spoke.
"...I like being around you too."
Izuku looked at her.
She smiled.
"And..."
"...I think I like you."
His cheeks turned pink.
"...I think I like you too."
Kinoko giggled.
"You think?"
Izuku laughed.
"Okay."
He corrected himself.
"I like you."
Her heart skipped.
Pop.
Pop.
Pop.
A little semicircle of mushrooms appeared around them.
Neither cared.
Kinoko looked down at his hand resting against the grass.
She'd already held it once.
This shouldn't be difficult.
She slowly placed her hand beside his.
Their little fingers touched.
Izuku looked down.
Then at her.
"...Can I?"
Kinoko nodded.
He slipped his fingers between hers.
She smiled.
No panic.
No embarrassment.
No attempt to hide.
Just… Warmth.
"...Midoriya?"
"Hm?"
"Are we dating?"
Izuku froze.
"..."
Kinoko waited.
"...I..."
He frowned.
"...I don't know."
She burst out laughing.
"You don't know?"
"We went on two dates."
"Yes."
"We're holding hands."
"Yes."
"We just admitted we like each other."
"Yes."
He thought very carefully.
"...Probably?"
Kinoko laughed so hard she fell
sideways against him.
"Midoriya!"
"I'm sorry!"
"You're supposed to know!"
"I've never done this before!"
"Neither have I!"
They both dissolved into laughter.
Eventually...
Kinoko rested her head against his shoulder.
Izuku smiled.
"...Would you like to be?"
Her laughter quietened.
She looked up.
"...Be what?"
"My girlfriend."
No elaborate speech.
No dramatic confession.
Just Izuku.
Nervous.
Hopeful.
Sincere.
Kinoko felt her cheeks warm.
"...Yeah."
She squeezed his hand.
"I'd really like that."
Izuku smiled.
"...Me too."
For several seconds...
Nothing happened.
Then-
Pop.
A single tiny mushroom appeared between their joined hands.
Kinoko stared at it.
Izuku stared too.
"...That's new."
She laughed.
"...Very."
Neither moved it.
They simply sat together beneath the tree.
Hand in hand.
Shoulder against shoulder.
One tiny mushroom growing between
them.
Something small.
Something unexpected.
Something that had started almost without either of them noticing.
And...
Just like everything else between
them...
Something still growing.
Three months later...
Class 1-A's common room was packed.
Again.
Blankets.
Popcorn.
Snacks.
Two classes arguing over seating arrangements.
And...
A horror movie.
Kinoko stood in the doorway.
"...No."
Mina grinned.
"Come on!"
"No."
"It's supposed to be really good!"
"No."
Kaminari pointed towards the sofa.
"We've prepared for you this time."
Kinoko looked.
Several plastic sheets had been placed over the furniture.
"...I hate this school."
Pony giggled.
"You said you wanted to overcome your fear."
"I lied."
Izuku appeared beside her.
"I thought we agreed on fantasy."
"We did!"
Mina pointed accusingly.
"You two always choose fantasy!"
"Because fantasy is good!"
"So is horror!"
"No!"
Ten minutes later...
Kinoko was sitting on the sofa.
She wasn't entirely sure how that had happened.
Izuku sat beside her.
Their hands were already intertwined beneath the blanket.
"...You don't have to watch."
Kinoko narrowed her eyes.
"I am a hero."
"You are."
"I've fought villains."
"You have."
"I've been attacked by robots."
"Several times."
"I can handle a movie."
Izuku smiled.
"Okay."
Kinoko pointed at him.
"...But I'm holding your hand."
"That's fine."
"And if I hide behind you..."
"Also fine."
"And if mushrooms appear..."
"We clean them afterwards."
She relaxed slightly.
"...Good boyfriend."
Izuku immediately turned pink.
Pop.
A tiny mushroom appeared on his shoulder.
Kinoko stared at it.
Then slowly looked at him.
"...Interesting."
Izuku blinked.
"What?"
Kinoko's smile became mischievous.
For the first time...
She realised something.
The mushrooms didn't only appear when she was flustered.
Her spores were already in the air.
Strong emotions simply made her lose control of them.
Which meant...
"...Midoriya?"
"Hm?"
She leaned closer.
"Have I told you how cute you look when you're embarrassed?"
His face went red.
Pop.
Pop.
Two mushrooms appeared beside him.
Kinoko's eyes widened.
"...Oh my God."
Izuku looked horrified.
"What?"
"It's you!"
"What is?"
"The mushrooms!"
She pointed excitedly.
"They're reacting when you're embarrassed!"
Izuku stared.
"...They can do that?"
"Apparently!"
Her grin became enormous.
Izuku immediately realised the catastrophic implications.
"...Komori."
"Yes?"
"...Please don't abuse this information."
She leaned closer.
"I would never."
He narrowed his eyes.
"...You're smiling."
"I'm happy."
"That's not your happy smile."
"...I have different smiles?"
"You absolutely do."
She giggled.
The movie started.
For approximately twenty minutes...
Everything went surprisingly well.
Then the first jump scare arrived.
"EEP!"
Kinoko immediately buried her face against Izuku's shoulder.
Pop.
Pop.
Pop.
Mushrooms appeared across the coffee table.
Kaminari sighed.
"There it is."
"...Shut up."
Izuku squeezed her hand.
"You okay?"
"...No."
"Want me to tell you when it's safe?"
"...Yes."
He watched carefully.
The monster disappeared.
"Okay."
Kinoko slowly peeked out.
"...Safe?"
"Safe."
She settled against him again.
"...Thank you."
"Anytime."
Another half hour passed.
Kinoko gradually stopped watching.
Not because she was scared.
Well...
Not entirely.
She was comfortable.
Warm.
Her head rested against Izuku's shoulder.
His thumb occasionally brushed across the back of her hand.
Eventually...
She smiled.
"...Midoriya?"
"Hm?"
"I love you."
Izuku froze.
Kinoko froze.
Neither had said that before.
She hadn't planned it.
It had simply...
Come out.
Her eyes widened.
"...Oh."
Izuku slowly looked at her.
Kinoko's entire face turned crimson.
"I..."
"I didn't mean-"
She stopped.
No.
That wasn't true.
She swallowed.
"...Actually."
She squeezed his hand.
"I did mean it."
The horror movie continued forgotten in front of them.
Izuku stared at her.
Then...
His expression softened.
"I love you too."
Kinoko's eyes widened.
Silence.
Then-
Pop.
Pop.
Pop.
Pop.
Pop.
Mushrooms erupted everywhere.
The sofa.
The carpet.
The table.
Izuku's shoulders.
Kinoko's hair.
Kaminari's popcorn.
Again.
"COME ON!"
Everyone burst out laughing.
Kinoko buried her burning face against Izuku's chest.
"...I'm never watching horror again."
Izuku wrapped an arm around her.
Laughing softly.
"I think these ones were my fault."
She peeked up at him.
"...Probably fifty-fifty."
"Fair."
From across the room...
Mina looked at the mushrooms covering practically everything.
Then at the couple cuddled together on the sofa.
She smiled.
"...Aww."
Kinoko immediately pointed without looking.
"Don't."
"I didn't say anything!"
"You were going to!"
"I absolutely was."
Later that night...
After the movie ended...
After everyone had gone to bed...
After Kinoko and Izuku had once again cleaned mushrooms from every available surface...
They stood together outside the dorms.
Izuku smiled.
"I had fun."
Kinoko stared at him.
"You spent half the movie telling me when I could open my eyes."
"Still counts."
She laughed.
"...Okay."
She leaned forward and hugged him.
Izuku hugged her back.
Warm.
Safe.
Comfortable.
No pretending.
No worrying about being cool.
Just… Kinoko.
When they finally pulled apart, Izuku noticed one last tiny mushroom growing from the sleeve of his jacket.
He smiled.
"...Humidity?"
Kinoko looked at it.
Then at him.
She grinned.
"...Definitely."
And this time...
They both knew better.