G | BNHA | Words - 1.6K | Izuocha | for Gravity Between Us Volume 2
AO3
Summary: Princess Uraraka and her friend Midoriya, a knight in training, have known each other for many years. Somewhere along the way, they fall in love.
Uraraka breathed deeply as she stared into the full-length mirror before her. She straightened her jewel-encrusted tiara and smoothed her gown.
This was it. Midoriyaâs knighting ceremony.
âââââ
Many years ago, at the young age of ten, Uraraka met a boy named Midoriya.
It was funny to think how shy he had been back thenâa contrast to the confident man he had grown into today. That Midoriya had hidden behind his fatherâs legs, peering out nervously.
Urarakaâs head tilted. Was she really that scary?
âGo on,â his father said with a gentle nudge. Midoriya didnât budge, shaking his head vehemently.
Uraraka ran over and grabbed the boyâs hand. âCome with me,â she said, ignoring his protests as she dragged him to the castle gardens. Uraraka had been alone for many years, and this was her chance to finally connect with someone her age. She wouldnât let this opportunity escape her grasp.
When they reached the fountain, she let go and sat down on the edge. As Midoriya rubbed his hand, frowning at it, she patted the stone next to her. âPlease sit,â Uraraka said, giving him her best smile. Midoriya seemed to relax, visibly releasing a breath of air.
âIâm Ochako,â she said, holding out her hand.
Midoriyaâs eyebrows furrowed for a moment before he took her hand and pressed a kiss to it.
At her look of confusion, Midoriya dropped her hand and quickly scooted backwards. âIâm so sorry! Is that not what you wanted me to do?â
Uraraka laughed, hiding her mouth with her hand. âYouâre a bit odd, but I think itâs cute.â
For reasons unbeknownst to her ten-year-old mind, Midoriyaâs face flushed bright red as he ducked his head. Now he was hiding from her again.
Uraraka thought carefully, tapping a finger on her chin. What could she possibly say to get him to open up?
Oh! âDo you want to be a knight?â
It was as if a switch had flipped. Midoriya sat up ramrod straight, eyes bright with wonder as he grinned. âOf course I do! What they do is absolutely incredible! Can you imagine? Fighting off the kingdomâs enemies, keeping people safe, being a hero. Itâs everything I could dream of.â
Midoriya babbled on, his arms waving around as he did. Though hidden behind a shy exterior, he was full of life and hopes and dreams. The way he talked about wanting to be a hero for the people filled Urarakaâs heart with joy.
He slapped a hand over his mouth. âIâm soââ
âDonât apologise,â she said. Uraraka pulled Midoriyaâs hand away and beamed. âLike I said before: I think it's cute.â
They spent hours sitting at the fountain. After Midoriya opened up, they connected easily. By the end of the day, they promised to be friends forever.
âââââ
Over the next few years, Midoriya practically lived in the castle. As his thirteenth birthday approached, Uraraka watched fondly as Midoriya grew more excited. In a few daysâ time, knight training would commence.
âI probably wonât be able to spend as much time with you,â he said anxiously, twiddling his thumbs.
âI know,â Uraraka whispered, smiling sadly. It hadnât quite sunk in until Midoriya said it aloud. âBetween my lessons and your trainingâŠâ
Even when she became queen and he was officially knighted, there was no guarantee things would ever be the same again. Midoriya could be stationed anywhere in the kingdom, far away from her.
Sensing her melancholy, Midoriya wrapped his arms around her. Uraraka hugged him back, nuzzling her head into the crook of his neck. And thatâs when it hit her.
Hastily, Uraraka pulled away from the hug. For a moment, she wasnât able to speak, squealing and bouncing up and down.
âOchako? Are you okay?â
âYou can be my knight!â
Midoriyaâs eyes widened. Every member of the royal household had a personal knight. Uraraka was still a child, but once she turned eighteen, she could choose whichever knight she wanted.
Uraraka squealed once more, though this time in surprise as Midoriya picked her up and twirled her, the skirt of her gown swirling around.
âI would love to,â Midoriya said once he let her down. He took hold of Urarakaâs hand, softly pressing a kiss to it as he had on the day they first met. âI promise to become your knight, and to always be by your side.â
Urarakaâs face heated at his words, heart beating fast.
In hindsight, Urarakaâs feelings for her childhood friend should have been clear. Nearly a year passed before realisation struck.
âââââ
Midoriya was well into the start of his training and, as predicted, their time together had dwindled. Sheâd also started her own training in order to become a competent ruler of their small kingdom.
Sometimes, Uraraka was able to watch him from her balcony when she was supposed to be studying.
Those occasions were made even better when Midoriya spotted her watching him. Uraraka had the nagging feeling he always worked extra hard when she didâlike he wanted to show off for her sake. It always made butterflies swirl in her stomach, reminding her that part of the reason he was training so hard was to spend his life by her side.
(It was also quite hilarious to see him get bonked on the head with a wooden sword for spending too much time waving at her.)
On the day Uraraka finally gained clarity about her feelings for the young squire, it was on a rare occasion where they could spend the whole day together. Wanting a break from the castle, they decided to visit the marketplace.
Their little escapades usually worked out well, but not today.
âWatch out!â Midoriya shouted, pushing her behind him.
Uraraka stumbled backwards, clutching her hood to hide her identity. Metal on metal clashed as a blacksmith swung his newly forged axe down to determine the feel of it, Midoriya blocking it. The weapons hit at an awkward angle as the axe glanced off Midoriyaâs sword and sliced down his arm.
âWatch it!â the blacksmith yelled. As they moved away, Uraraka heard him mumble something about annoying kids.
Wincing, Midoriya leaned against the nearest wall and pressed a hand against the gash.
Urarakaâs breath caught in her throat as she realised she could have been injured if not for Midoriyaâs quick reflexes. Though she tried to speak, only sobs left her lips. Midoriya smiled warmly, reaching out to wipe her tears.
âItâs okay,â he said with a weak smile.
She shook her head, gesturing to his right arm. The wound wasnât bleeding too much, but Midoriya was clearly in a lot of pain. âItâs not that bad, really,â Midoriya reassured. âItâs not too deep, but it might leave a scar.â
Uraraka cried harder.
âAh! Iâm sorry! Hey, think of it this wayâI can look at it and know Iâve already protected you, and Iâd do it again a thousand times over.â
And that was the moment Uraraka realised she was head over heels in love.
From that day on, small gestures that once seemed so mundane such as holding Urarakaâs hand as she walked up the stairs set her heart on fire. Hidden glances as she watched Midoriya train from her balcony made Uraraka feel like she was about to melt.
Everything she loved about him before, she loved tenfold. His determination to become her knight, his bravery, his kindness, his laughter, his habit of rambling on and on, the cute freckles he got during the summer.
All of him.
But she kept it to herself out of fear he didnât feel the same. Sometimes, Uraraka got the sneaking suspicion that he did. She couldnât get her hopes up, though.
At least she knew heâd always be there for her as her knight. Even if he didnât love her the same way she loved him, Uraraka was content knowing they would spend their lives together.
Which brought her to the present, where she nervously stood before a gathering of nobility in the throne room on the day of Midoriyaâs knighting ceremony. No longer in his training gear, he kneeled before her in a long, deep green cape and a suit of armour embellished with the kingdomâs crest.
With a smile and a deep breath, Uraraka lifted the knighting sword. âDo you swear to protect this kingdom until your dying breath, and swear your allegiance to me?â
âI swear.â
Uraraka tapped the flat of the sword onto Midoriyaâs shoulders and cheers filled the room.
Without warning, Midoriya swept Uraraka into his arms and dashed out of the room. She giggled at the shocked faces they passed.
âWhere are we going?â she asked as he ran down the stairs, a hand on her tiara so it wouldnât fall off.
He grinned. âTo where it all began.â
When they reached the fountain, Midoriya set her down in the very spot where they had first become friends. It was peaceful, with only the sounds of trickling water and the soft breeze to accompany them.
âI made a vow to myself to not tell you this until I was knighted, and now that day is here,â Midoriya held her hands and pressed a kiss to the back of each. âOchako, I love you.â
Tears of joy pooled in Urarakaâs eyes as a feeling of utter euphoria washed over her. âI love you, too,â she whispered, watching his expression shift to pure joy. âAnd now weâre both crying.â
Instead of responding, she took his face in her hands and kissed him. Theyâd already spent enough time pining for each other, and she didnât want to waste another second.
Here is my preview for @staycationzine! My piece is about a class movie night turned disaster. Preorders close on September 30th, so make sure to order while you still can!
Anya trudged her feet along the floor as she and Damian exited the library, letting out a yawn.
They were on their way to the front gate where her Papa would be picking her up after todayâs after-school tutoring session. This arrangement of theirs had been going for a few months now, though progress had been slow at first. Then sy-on boy finally figured out Anya found things easier to understand if you related them to Spy Wars.
And for some reason, he insisted on walking her to the gate each week. Anya was perfectly capable of walking all by herself, but he wouldnât budge. Sheâd attempted to read his thoughts to gain an understanding.
But all Anya had heard was âto spend more time with herâ and âto make sure sheâs safeâ immediately followed by âwhat the hell am I thinking?â and âwhy should I care?â
Needless to say, that had only served to further her confusion.
Eh, whatever. At least she was making progress on plan b.
They walked out of the building in companionable silence, but Anya could feel her body getting tireder by the second. Another yawn escaped her lips as she looked at the boy beside her and was struck with a brilliant idea.
âCarry me, sy-on boy!â
Damian blanched. âWhat? No way! Youâve got to be kidding me.â
âPlease?â Anya used her ultimate moveâpuppy eyes. Mama always told her Anyaâs cuteness was her greatest weapon, and she wasnât afraid to use it!
âSo cute,â Damian thought as he inhaled a sharp breath.
Heh. Anya resisted the strong urge to smirk.
âBut itâs too⊠coupley! Weâre not even dating!â Anya winced slightly at the loud volume of his thoughts which quickly turned to images of the two of them holding hands as they visited cafes, the movie theater and the amusement park. âNO! Now is not the time!â
Anya tilted her head and frowned. Sy-on boyâs thoughts were always so conkydinkary. She didnât have enough energy to try and dec-eye-per them today.
Damian cleared his throat. âThe front gate isnât even that far. Youâll be home soon, anyway.â
âBut Anya is tired now,â she responded, forcibly dragging her feet.
âWe were studying, not running a marathon!â
âBoth are things that make people tired,â she countered, smirking as he failed to give a rebuttal.
A few paces later, Anya stopped and slouched forward, her body feeling heavy.
It took Damian a few more steps to notice she wasnât walking alongside him anymore. He paused and turned to look at her, concern laced into his expression. Biting his lip, he glanced around. The other students had either gone back home or to the dorms, which left them completely alone.
âItâs still embarrassing,â she heard him think. âMe, a Desmond, carrying a commoner! What did she mean by carry, anyway? Bridal carry?â
Anya watched as Damianâs cheeks flushed bright red, feeling her own do the same when the image of herself in a wedding gown briefly flashed into his mind. He tried to shove the thought away, but it was firmly lodged in his mind.
âUh, sy-on boy?â
Shaking his head, Damian finally snapped out of the fantasy. A faint pink still dusted his cheeks as he softly spoke. âOkay. Iâll carry you.â
âYay!â Anyaâs eyes lit up with joy as she sprinted over and jumped on his back. The sudden weight almost made them topple to the ground, but Damian managed to hook his arms under Anyaâs legs and correct his balance in time.
âHey! Be careful, you idiot!â He exclaimed, his level of fluster rocketing into the stratosphere.
Her only response was to giggle mischievously.
Damian raised a brow. âI thought you said you were tired?â
Anyaâs jaw dropped dramatically as she quickly leaned her head against his shoulder and relaxed her body. She closed her eyes.
âTired again.â
Damian rolled his eyes, though at this point his thoughts were just unintelligible mush. Anya could feel the quickening rate of his heartbeat from where her hands were draped across his chest as he continued to walk again.
Hi guys! I can finally share my art piece for @kmjr-mini-bang
I join hand to create a beautiful steam punk fantasy illustration for @cece-ta story!
You can read her fic here
G | BNHA | 4.2K words | Kamijirou Mini Bang, in collaboration with @ktyillustrationandart
AO3
Summary: Upon arrival in the Kaminari Kingdom, travelling bard Kyouka meets a mysterious yet flirty stranger named Denki. For some reason, she canât help but feel like sheâs heard that name beforeâŠ
Jirou glanced around in awe as she walked through the front gates of the royal city of the Kaminari Kingdom.
Gears whirred around her, moving both lifts and sliding platforms. Steam puffed into the air to power the mechanical contraptions littered throughout the city. Methodically placed metal pipes whistled as the wind blew through them, creating a gentle melody that made Jirouâs music-loving heart sing with joy.
The royal city was mostly built upon a steep hill, with many layers connected by both the platforms and steps. At the very top, a grand, stone castle loomed over the city with a flag displaying the kingdom's insignia proudly waving high in the sky.
Jirou had heard about the mechanical city from people sheâd met on her travels across the lands, but none of what they said compared to seeing the real thing.
Smiling to herself, Jirou stepped onto a separate section of the pathway at the side of the road that moved on its own. She stumbled a little as it carried her. Having never experienced anything quite like it, it brought her a sense of childlike wonder.
A little further down the road, Jirou hopped off the ground⊠slide⊠thing (she didnât know its name and couldnât even begin to guess) as soon as she spotted a clothing store. Stumbling a little, she almost collided with a middle-aged woman carrying a basket full of fresh fruits and vegetables.
âSorry,â Jirou curtly apologised.
âDonât worry about it,â the lady responded with a warm smile, âthe escalators take a bit of getting used to.â
Escalators. Yeah, Jirou never would have guessed that correctly.
She clipped open one of the pockets on the bag resting on her hip, and pulled out a small coin pouch. After her long journey, she was running out of money. However, her current outfit was looking a little worse for wear. On top of the various mud stains, there was a rather obvious tear at the waist of her blouse. Sheâd already seen someone cast a judgemental look her way.
As she walked up to the shop, eying a gorgeous pair of black and purple gloves displayed in the window, Jirouâs eyes caught sight of a beautiful mural painted on the wall of the building next door.
She marvelled at the pure artistry of the piece which depicted what looked to be the royal family if the golden, jewel-encrusted crowns adorning their heads were anything to go by.
The beaming young boy (Prince Denki, according to the lettering beside him) looked to be a few years younger than her, Jirou mused. He had dazzling blond hair with a black streak that looked oddly like a bolt of lightning. Jirou had thought people were joking when they mentioned the peculiar colouration of the princeâs hair, but after seeing Prince Shouto of the Todoroki Kingdom she supposed nothing was too far fetched.
âHello, there! Are you interested in buying any of our garments? Theyâre all sewn in-house!â a bubbly voice called out. It pulled Jirou out of her thoughts as she looked back at the clothing store to see a young girl with bright, curly hair and an even brighter grin to match.
A short while later, after changing into an outfit put together with the help of a kind seamstress named Mina, Jirou stepped back into the street. Adjusting the shoulder strap of her dress, she made sure it lay comfortably underneath the outer layer on top.
Jirou wasnât usually one to wear such a garment, but she found the leather corset making up the top half mixed with the burlesque skirt to be a flattering look on her. It also paired nicely with the gloves sheâd spotted earlier.
(That and it was purple, which Jirou had claimed as her signature colour long ago.)
During Jirouâs time spent in the shop, the sunny sky had darkened to a deep orange and purple hue.
She cursed inwardly and bit her lip. So distracted by the architecture, she had forgotten to find a place to rest!
Much to Jirou's imminent relief, a bustling tavern a little further down the road had a sign out front stating it doubled as an inn for short stays.
âPerfect,â she thought.
âââââ
After sorting out her accommodation for the night, Jirou slumped down with a heavy sigh into a seat at the only empty table in the room. She placed her pint of beer down and unstrapped the lute slung over her back, nestling it between her aching feet.
She had been without rest all day, what with finishing her travel into the city via foot in order to ensure she had some money left over, and then walking around the city.
Stretching out her legs and arms, Jirou took a moment to relax and leant back against the cold wall behind her. Her eyes fluttered shut.
If it werenât for the noisiness of the tavern's guests, she might possibly have fallen into a deep slumber. But sheâd never slept well with high levels of noise.
(That, and Jirou felt she deserved a nice drink. As a treat.)
âHey, there! Itâs been a long time, hasnât it? About two years, right? Howâve you been?â
Her eyes snapped open. A young man shrouded by a large cloak sat in the seat beside her, his face scarcely visible due to the hood obscuring his head.
Jirouâs palms clammed up as she tried to recall meeting him, but her mind only came up blank.
The stranger nodded his head to the left.
Jirouâs eyes followed the movement, spotting a group of men whose smiles turned to snarls.
âThey were talking about you in ways Iâd rather not repeat,â the mysterious stranger explained with a wince and a shake of his head. âWomen are a rare sight in this place, but unfortunately creeps like them are not. And the only way to get them to back off is to make them think youâre âclaimedâ by someone elseâ
Jirouâs nose crinkled as she drank a large gulp of her beer. âDisgusting,â she spat.
âDisgusting, indeed,â he agreed. âThey should hopefully stop now, though.â
âThank you.â
The stranger blanched, his expression morphing to one of amusement.
âHey, no need to thank me. Any decent guy would have done it. Iâm Denki, by the way,â he introduced himself, holding out his hand.
The name felt familiar somehow, but she brushed it off. Jirou met so many people throughout her travels it wasnât odd to think some of them might have the same name.
As her hand clasped his, Jirou felt a jolt of electricity flow through her body. She flinched at the contact, not noticing Denki do the same. âIâm Kyouka Jirou.â
âA pretty name for a pretty face,â he said with an exaggerated wink.
Jirou barked out a laugh and rolled her eyes. âWhat, are you gonna press a kiss to my hand next? Drop a pick-up line thatâll sweep me off my feet?â
âAh, well, I canât deny how tempting that sounds,â he flirted, leaning closer to her. From this distance, Jirou could make out flecks of gold in his eyes that matched the strands of hair visible from underneath the hood of his cloak. âAfter all, you are the most gorgeous girl Iâve ever seen.â
A blush rose to Jirouâs cheeks as she quickly snatched her hand back. Her mouth opened to say a quick retort but Jirou found herself rendered speechless.
Seeing her state of fluster, Denki laughed. âMaybe I ought to hold back on that. I think youâre about to pass out.â
âI am not!â She denied.
With all her travels, sheâd never had time to think of relationships. Honestly, Jirou couldnât even recall a time when a man had flirted with her so casually, so forgive her brain for shutting down!
âOkay, okay,â he raised his arms in mock surrender, laughter trailing out. âBut seriously, are you not from these parts? Iâm pretty sure Iâd remember a face like yours.â
She raised a brow. âIn all seriousness, you say, and then proceed to flirt with me again,â Jirou smiled despite it and took another sip of her drink. âIâm from the Yaoyorozu Kingdom to the east.â
âOh, wow,â he said, eyebrows raising. âThatâs really far from here. Why come all this way?â
Jirou inhaled a deep breath and bit her lip. Sheâd always found it nerve-wracking to talk about her music with others despite it being her lifeâs greatest passionânot to mention her usual way of making a living. Reaching down, she picked up her lute and placed it on the wooden table.
âI wanted to play music and I wanted to travel the world, so I figured why not kill two birds with one stone? This kingdom is my last stop on the way home. Itâs taken me a few years, but Iâm proud to say that I have travelled all over the known world.â
Denki stared at her, smitten with amazement. His eyes lit up with wonder as he buzzed with so much energy he was practically vibrating in his seat.
âYou good?â She questioned amusedly.
âSorry, I just⊠thatâs so cool! I wish I could travel to other kingdoms,â he explained, staring up at the ceiling as he looked as if heâd gotten lost in his own little fantasy. âThereâs so many places I want to see, and youâve probably visited all of them! Iâm kinda jealous, honestly.â
âThen just do it,â Jirou said, trying to keep a straight face but ultimately failing. âIf it's the money youâre worried about, donât think about it too much. Iâm not exactly well-off myself but I managed to find work everywhere I went.â
âOh, no, youâve got it all wrong! The money isnât an issue for me,â he paused, wincing. He frantically shook his head and waved his hands. âThat came out wrong, but basically you could say my parents are a bit⊠strict. Same reason Iâm wearing this stupid cloak right now.â
âHey, itâs a cool getup.â
âAnd I trust your judgement wholeheartedly,â Denki said, making Jirouâs heart flutter once more. He flopped forward, head meeting the table as he stared up at her and whined, âbut I hate having to wear it just to get a drink.â
âThen donât?â Jirou said with a short laugh. âA little rebellion never hurt anyone. Your parents are just uptight. Itâs not like youâre a prince or something.â
Denki sputtered out a laugh, banging a fist on the table as he covered his mouth with his hand. He inhaled a shaky breath and held up a single finger in the air to signal he needed a moment to calm down. Just as he was about to compose himself, Denki broke out into another fit of giggles.
It was almost infectious, and Jirou found herself beginning to laugh too despite not understanding what was so funny. He was so loud, people were beginning to stare at them.
âWhat?â She asked.
As Kaminari let out one final wheeze, he wiped a tear from his eye. âItâs nothing. Donât worry about it.â
âNothing,â she repeated. Jirou looked at him in disbelief. âYou were laughing that hard over ânothingâ.â
âWhat, am I not allowed to laugh?â Denki asked, pressing a hand over his heart. He huffed dramatically, tilting his head up at the ceiling. âIâm hurt by your words, Kyouka.â
âYouâre insufferable.â
âThank you!â
âThat wasnât a compliment.â
The conversation continued on, with more flirting on his end and more teasing jabs from Jirou. All the aches and pains in her body were pushed to the back of her mind as Denki spoke, his mere presence soothing.
Jirou had never connected with anyone so fast, not even as a child. They clicked together perfectly, and Jirou found herself crossing her fingers and praying for the conversation to never end.
But unfortunately, midnight crept up on them. People had already started to trail out, the noisy atmosphere traded for a more intimate one of seclusion.
âHow long are you thinking of staying here?â
âIâm not sure,â she hummed. âIt depends on what kind of work I can get. Thereâs usually someone in need of entertainment, so Iâm never truly out of options. I need to save enough to make the journey home, though, and itâs quite a long one this time.â
If her estimations were correct, it would take Jirou roughly two months for the journey itself. Some of it would be by train or carriage, but those options were becoming increasingly expensive these days, so a lot of Jirouâs travelling was now on foot if possible. Hence all the aches and pains.
Denki tapped his chin repeatedly, his nose scrunching up.
âIs that you trying to think?â
He shot her an unamused look and then smirked. âAnd here I was about to help you.â
Jirou leant her elbows on the table and propped her head on her hands. She put on her best look of innocence. âI take back what I said. Youâre the most intelligent person Iâve ever met.â
âOkay, now youâre pushing it,â he said, smiling anyway. âYour arrival is in perfect time! I know of a little something you might be interested in. It comes with the perk of provided accommodation, tooâ
âGo on,â she said, intrigued.
Denki waved over the barkeep and asked the man for paper and some ink which he happily obliged.
Turning so his shoulder blocked Jirouâs view, Denki quickly scribbled something down. Jirou tried to take a peek but he only shifted to block her view even further. Once finished, he rolled it up and placed it in her hand.
âGo to the place written on here at this time. Iâll make sure someone is waiting there for you,â he took a step away before stopping, âOh, and donât forget the lute.â
Jirou blinked at the piece of paper, staring at it for a few seconds before looking up to see Denki almost out the door. She sputtered out a garbled, âwhat?â
As he reached the doorway, Denki looked back her way. âYou said you were looking for work, didnât you?â
His response only left Jirou more perplexed. She shrugged it off and unrolled the paper, eyes scanning through Denkiâs surprisingly neat and fancy handwritingânot at all what sheâd expect from someone that goofy.
The castle? How would some random guy be able to get her a job there of all places?
Jirouâs eyes narrowed. He had been wearing that cloak all night. His explanation was that his parents were strict, but she got the feeling there was a little more to it than that. His name was Denki.
Jirou knew it was familiar, but why? Where had she heard it before?
Her breath caught in her throat.
The mural! Prince Denki.
There was no way sheâd just spoken to a prince! Jirou had insulted him! Multiple times!
Besides, the boy in the mural looked to be about fifteen years of age and the Denki she had just met was at least twenty, just as she was. Though there was the possibility that the mural was outdated. Jirou bit her lip, foot tapping against the floor as she internally deliberated it. Maybe it was the prince, or maybe it was merely a coincidence.
Either way, she would get a concrete answer tomorrow. For now, what Jirou really needed was to sleep.
âââââ
Jirou glanced down at the piece of paper in her hand before assessing her surroundings. She was close enough to the castle by now that it should be the right place, but she found it hard to keep track when climbing up the hill via the lifts. There were many of them spread across the land and Jirou wouldnât be surprised if she had stepped on the wrong one at some point.
Her worry was for nought, though, as a man with black hair wearing garments with the kingdomâs insignia embroidered on them approached.
âAre you Kyouka Jirou?â
Jirou nodded slowly and tightly clutched her bag strap. âUh, yeah. I was told to come here. Something about a job?â
âYes, thatâs right. Iâve been waiting for your arrival,â he replied with a toothy grin. At Jirouâs panicked look he raised his arms and said, âDonât worry. Youâre not late. My name is Sero, and Iâm an aide to the royal family. Iâve been sent to escort you inside. Follow me.â
He led her further up the path to another platform, though this one had royal guards stationed by it. They moved aside as Sero waved at them, exchanging a quick hello. Jirou raised a brow. These guards were certainly much friendlier than some that sheâd seen during her travels to the other kingdoms.
As soon as he and Jirou were standing in the middle of the platform and the gate was shut behind them, Sero whistled a short tune. And then, they were moving.
âThe tune changes every day,â Sero informed her as the platform stopped on top of the castle wall. He held the small gate at the front open and stepped aside to let her through. âItâs a safety thing.â
Jirou simply nodded and followed along as Sero led her inside. They walked down a flight of twisting stairs before reaching a long corridor. Many gorgeous paintings covered the walls, most depicting different locations within the Kaminari Kingdom.
Glancing to her left, Jirou was met with the view of the city. She could vaguely make out the forms of people on the streets below.
âWe have arrived! Just step through here and give them your best performance.â Sero said with a flourish. He gestured to the doors in front.
Her best performance?
Taking in a deep breath, Jirou pushed the doors open. Her heart pounded in her chest as she was met with the sight of the royal family sitting on their thrones, including a person who was undoubtedly the Denki she had met the previous evening.
Unlike the dark cloak from before, he wore a long white overcoat embellished with gold. A glistening crown adorned his head, the same gold tone as his eyes.
Jirou found herself smiling dumbfoundedly as Denkiâor would it be more respectful to call him Kaminari?âwaved as discreetly as possible.
She may have figured out his identity the night before, but it was another thing to have it confirmed. It was almost surreal to think Jirou had called a crown prince insufferable to his face.
âWelcome. You are Kyouka Jirou, I presume,â Jirou briskly nodded at the Queenâs words. She gulped, sweat pooling in her palms.
In all her travels, Jirou had never actually met royalty face-to-face, not counting last nightâs encounter.
âYou see, our composer recently fell ill and has unfortunately had to take an early retirement. Music is very important to our kingdom, for it is the heart of our festivities,â she explained. âThe palace staff were going to start their search for someone new but my darling son here recommended you. He says he heard of you from one of the palace staff, but Iâm not sure thatâs entirely true.â
The Queen let out a small bout of laughter as Denki glanced out of the window, guilt written in his expression. It seemed he wasnât as sneaky as he thought.
âAnyhow, anyone who receives such a glowing recommendation from my Denki deserves to have their talent heard. This isnât how we would usually go about this, but are you willing to perform for us?â
âOf course, your majesty!â Jirou said, eyes widening as giddiness struck her heart.
Her gaze met Denkiâs as she held her lute and took in a deep breath. He nodded at her, a determined fire in his eyes. It was a small show of faithâone that instantly calmed Jirouâs nerves.
And in all the excitement, she forgot that Denki had never actually heard her play.
âââââ
Gnawing on her lip, Jirou paced up and down by the doors to the throne room. After watching her perform and asking a few questions, she had been sent to wait outside as the royal family deliberated.
Normally, Jirou would be able to keep her composure when it came to waiting to see if sheâd been hired. But these were unusual circumstances.
She froze as the door cracked open slightly. Denki slipped through the gap, beaming as their eyes met. He gave her a little wave as he had done earlier.
âSo,â he said, drawing out the âoâ sound.
âSo you really are the prince,â she responded.
Jirou stopped fiddling with the strap of her bag and took a step forward. From the closer proximity, she could see the black bolt of lighting in his hairâexactly the same as it was drawn in the mural. Fascinating.
âCutting straight to the point, huh, Jirou?â He said, adjusting the crown on his head. âSorry I hid it from you. It was for my own safety,â Denkiâs eyes widened as he quickly started waving his hands about. âNot that I thought you were dangerous or anything! Itâs just⊠yâknow?â
âYeah, I get it. I gotta say, everything you said last night makes so much more sense now.â
Denki snorted as a laugh bubbled from his throat.
Jirouâs heart fluttered at the sound, and she found herself wanting to hear his laugh over and over again.
Woah, woah, woah. Hold on a second there, brain. Where the hell did that thought come from?
âYou play beautifully,â he complimented, eyes softening. He reached forward, tucking a stray bit of hair behind Jirouâs ear. âAs I knew you would.â
Heat rose to her cheeks, and there was undoubtedly a blush dusting her face.
Regaining composure with a quick cough into her fist, Jirou leaned back. âFlirt.â
âCharming, arenât I?â
Jirou rolled her eyes endearingly. There was absolutely no doubt this was the same guy from the tavern. He was such an incorrigible flirt, though deep down Jirou truly didnât mind it.
âWill this make you stay here longer?â Denki asked, his expression hopeful.
Jirou raised a brow. She crossed her arms and leant into his space until their faces were mere centimetres apart. She smiled as his cheeks tinted to a shade that likely matched her own.
Giving in to the temptation to tease Denki as retaliation for last nightâs comment about her being likely to pass out from his flirting, Jirou questioned, âWhy are you so desperate to make me stay?â
He audibly gulped and then shrugged. âWhen we spoke last night, I felt like there was some sort of⊠connection between us. It was like nothing Iâve ever experienced before. I really want to know you better, Jirou, so when you mentioned work and music, it felt like fate.â
Denki took her hands in his own, his passionate gaze piercing her soul. Slowly, she intertwined their fingers and smiled.
âI think I felt that connection, too.â
âYeah?â He asked, eyes glowing with happiness.
âYeah,â she breathed.
Just as Kaminari opened his mouth to say something more, the doors to the throne room burst open once more. Sero walked through, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively as he realised heâd interrupted their moment.
They jumped apart which only made the royal aide chuckle, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he looked directly at the prince.
âSero, donât you dare.â Kaminari warned, pointing a finger. Jirou could tell by the smile Kaminari could hardly hold back that his words weren't truly meant as a threat.
Sero raised his arms and tilted his head. âDonât jump to conclusions, your highness. I was just going to say that I see youâre already acquainted.â
Jirouâs eyes narrowed at his wording, a sudden lightness in her chest. From Seroâs phrasing, it sounded like her audition had been well received. Could that meanâŠ?
âCongratulations, Jirou,â Sero said, winking as he pulled out a scroll which was definitely not in his hand a second ago along with a round piece of metal branded with the kingdomâs insignia identical to the one pinned to his shirt. âWelcome to the palace staff. Weâll be providing accommodation for you in the west wing, so please inform me as to when youâd like me to escort you to collect your belongings.â
Inhaling a shaky breath, she took the offered items and clutched them to her chest. It seemed she would be staying far longer than anticipated.
Her parents would likely miss her, but they had always expressed that they only wanted the best for their daughter. When she next wrote to them, Jirou knew they would understand.
Grinning, she looked over at Denki. âHow about you give me a tour first? It seems like weâll have plenty of time to get to know each other, just as you wanted.â
Denki wordlessly offered his arm which Jirou looped her own through.
âHave fun, lovebirds! Donât get too cosy, though. Royal marriage requires courtship first!â
Jirou laughed as Denki stuck his tongue out at Sero, the aide returning the childish gesture.
There was no denying the air of budding romance around them, but marriage was way off. Settling down wasnât something sheâd envisioned for her near future, but Jirou wouldnât be surprised if she found herself wanting it soon.
G | BNHA | Words - 1.5K | Todomomo | Bookstore/University AU
AO3
Summary: After the bookstore closes for the day, Yaoyorozu ends up stuck under the canopy outside while waiting out a storm. She finds herself in the company of a young man who happens to get stuck with her.
âExcuse me, miss. Weâre closing in five minutes.â
Yaoyorozu startled and bowed in apology. She carefully placed the book in her hand back onto the shelf, making sure to slot it in the same place she had taken it from.
After making sure the shelf looked tidy, Yaoyorozu went to the counter with the two books she had chosen.
Plus Ultra bookstore was a quaint little place filled with shelves upon shelves of literature of varying genres. Yaoyorozu often found something to her liking whenever she visited, though she wished that could be more often. University classes and studying ate up a lot of her time, so she was thankful it only took a few minutes to walk to the store from campus.
As she neatly tucked the two books into her backpack, making sure to say a quick thank you to the owner, Yaoyorozu noticed a young man who looked to be her age waiting behind her. His hair was parted evenly down the middle, one side a deep crimson and the other as white as snow. Heterochromatic eyes stared back as Yaoyorozu smiled out of politeness, the left one surrounded by an angry-looking burn scar. All in all, the young man was objectively very handsome.
Yaoyorozu shook her head. What would her mother say if she caught her ogling a boy so openly?
With that thought in mind, she hurried out of the store.
Only to find it was raining. Hard. Droplets came down in a heavy downpour, collecting into puddles that rapidly expanded in size and splashing off the ground. Yaoyorozu was only kept dry by the awning displaying the storeâs name above her head but the pavement below her feet was already getting damp. A clap of thunder sounded in the distance as thick, dark clouds rolled by above.
Yaoyorozu bit her lip. If she were to walk back to campus in this weather, she would get thoroughly soaked. There was also the possibility of hypothermia to consider, not to mention the written draft of her research paper would be in ruins. It was a risk Yaoyorozu found herself unwilling to take. But what was she to do to solve this dilemma?
The store owner rushed past her and got into a car parked a few metres down the road, slamming the door behind him.
There!
Yaoyorozu opened her mouth, but just as she was about to call out and ask for a ride (sheâs been a regular customer for a few months now. A small favour shouldnât be too much to ask for) he drove away. She sighed, body slumping forward ever so slightly.
Maybe she should risk it. The research paper wasnât due for a few weeks. But her backpack wasnât waterproof, so everything in it would end up damaged if not destroyed.
She would just have to wait it out! She could be patient.
âAre you okay?â
Yaoyorozu jumped, letting out a rather unladylike squeak as her hand shot up to cover her mouth. The boy from inside the store stood to her right, his head tilted inquisitively.
âPardon me,â she said, clearing her throat. âI hadnât realised you were there.â
His brows furrowed. âSorry I startled you.â
âNo, itâs okay. I get lost in my thoughts sometimes.â Yaoyorozu said reassuringly. All the boy did in return was nod.
Not much of a talker, was he?
Yaoyorozu fiddled with her thumbs, watching the rain splatter from the ground and onto her knee-length boots. It showed no signs of easing up any time soon. She glanced to her right. The young man hadnât moved. He flicked his hand up, checking the watch on his wrist.
âIf you donât mind me asking, why were you at the bookstore?â She asked in an attempt to pass the time. He blinked back at her as if not expecting the conversation to continue. His brows furrowed, eyes narrowing.
âTo buy a book,â he said, glancing down at the one in his hand.
Yaoyorozu giggled but that only seemed to further his confusion. âNo, no. Thatâs not what I meant,â she said with a smile and a shake of her head. âI meant to ask why youâre buying a book.â
The boy whispered a very quiet âoh,â before holding the book up closer to his chest with the front facing toward her. The cover showed an illustration of a young couple, their foreheads resting together and their eyes closed. The coupleâs hands were held together against their chests. The title was printed at the bottom, the words in a beautiful, swirling cursive.
Yaoyorozu raised a brow. A romance novel? A peculiar choice for a young man, but some people like things you wouldnât expect, she supposed.
(Her roommate Jirou, for example, also enjoyed the romance genre, though Yaoyorozu was sworn to secrecy.)
âItâs for my older sister,â he explained. âItâs her birthday soon, and this is the newest novel from her favourite author.â
âHow sweet of you,â she whispered, smiling softly. She didnât have any siblings of her own but the idea of one buying a book for her birthday made her heart sing with joy. This boy clearly cared for his sister, going as far as to pay attention to her favourites.
âWhat about you? I saw you bought two,â he said.
âOne is for a research paper Iâm working on and the other is from a book series Iâve been enjoying lately,â she replied, excitement laced into her voice.
âWhat series is it?â
When she relayed the name to him, his eyebrows darted up ever so slightly. Yaoyorozu supposed it was equivalent to the average, more expressional person gasping.
âIâm also a fan,â he said, lips curling into a barely-noticeable smile. Her eyes widened. âWhich book are you up to?â
âThe seventh.â
âMe too.â
âWhat a funny coincidence! You can borrow it from me when Iâve completed it,â she kindly offered. It was the storeâs only copy, so she knew he would have to go out of his way to order one from somewhere else otherwise. The local library likely wouldnât have it in stock yet since it was a small place and the book only released the previous week.
He nodded. âIâd like that. Thank you.â
Yaoyorozu involuntarily clapped her hands togetherâa habitual way of showing her excitement. As she began to gush about her love for the series, he listened intently, chiming in occasionally. Yaoyorozu couldnât be any more delighted to have finally found someone to talk about it with.
As their conversation continued, she learnt also they both had the same taste in literature. Yaoyorozu herself had always loved to read. It was a great passion of hers, one of lifeâs many joys. In fact, it was the very reason she chose to pursue literature and education degrees. It was her goal to pass down that great love for reading to the next generation. In turn, he informed her he was studying at the same university, though a medical degree, not literature or education. To save peopleâs lives, he said, and to follow in his older brothersâ footsteps. Yaoyorozu thought it was very admirable.
A key difference between them, though, was that he didnât live on campus. His siblingsâ shared apartment wasnât too far away, so he lived with them instead of at the dorms like most other first years.
Noticing the sound of the rain had gotten quieter, Yaoyorozu held out a hand. It was thinner now, almost a drizzle. Much more preferable for walking in.
âI should be able to get back to campus without getting drenched now,â she said, readjusting the straps of her backpack and making sure it was shut properly. âIt was a pleasure to meet you.â
Just as Yaoyorozu took a step forward, he called out to her.
âWait,â he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, the simple white case slightly battered at the corners. âWe should exchange numbers.â
âOh, youâre absolutely right,â she said, smacking her forehead. How could she be so careless?
Yaoyorozu stepped back under the cover of the awning and took off her backpack, tucking some loose strands of hair behind her ears as she reached into the back pocket. Pressing a finger to her phone, she unlocked it with her fingerprint and opened it to the contacts page.
As Yaoyorozu exchanged it for his and quickly typed her name and number, she realised something. Theyâd been so caught up in their conversation, they skipped the introduction step entirely. She didnât even know the boyâs name, yet it already felt like theyâd known each other for a long time.
She took her phone back, quickly glancing down at the screen.
Shouto Todoroki.
Yaoyorozu hummed happily. Looking up, she saw an identical expression adorning his face. She hadnât noticed it before, but when Todoroki smiled there were cute dimples on his cheeks.
âIâll be sure to contact you when Iâve finished reading the book,â she promised, a blush rising to her cheeks.
As Yaoyorozu waved to him and set off back to the dorms, Todoroki smiled softly and nodded. âI look forward to it.â
Without warning, Uraraka dropped down from the ceiling. She yelled out a battle cry as Kirishima screamed a manly scream. Landing on top of him, Uraraka pinned him to the ground using a martial arts technique she had learnt back during her internship with Gunhead. With his arms restrained behind his back, Kirishima could do nothing but squirm as Uraraka uncapped her pastel pink marker using her teeth.
âIsnât this a bit much?â He asked, his voice rising a few octaves.
âââââ
This is from a WIP titled âthe elimination gameâ. Iâve written most of it but thereâs a few small changes I want to make, so Iâm not sure when itâll be done
âSo?â Kirishima asked with a slight laugh and a shake of his head. âI donât get that cold. I just gotta get my blood pumping first and then Iâll be all toasty! Very manly, donât you think?â
âI hope you get frostbite,â Bakugou said, causing Kirishima to sputter.
âââââ
This is from a drabble titled âthe height of fashionâ. Not sure when Iâll post it but hereâs a little sneak peek
Uraraka was broken out of the immersion from the movie she had been watching by Asuiâs voice. She picked up the TV remote and paused it. As she did so, Asui sat down beside her.
âYeah?â
âAre you sure thatâs yours?â Asui asked, pointing to Urarakaâs torso area.
Uraraka glanced down to inspect the hoodie she was wearing. She lifted up a sleeve and flapped her arm a little bit, noticing that it was a tad too long on her. That wasnât particularly unusual, though. Uraraka loved the comfort of oversized hoodies and sweaters. There was just something inexplicably nice about being swaddled in the fabric.
âYeah, Iâm pretty sure it is,â she said with a frown.
âAnd where did you find it?â
Urarakaâs eyes narrowed. âOn the floor of my room⊠Tsu, what are you trying to say?â
Asui croaked out a laugh and pointed at Urarakaâs chest. âTake a closer look.â
She looked down at her green hoodie again. âI donât see whatââ
Wait.
Since when did Uraraka own a green hoodie? Pink, blue and white, sure. But green? Not to mention the writing on the front that literally spelled out the word hoodie in hiragana.
Oh, gosh.
This was Dekuâs hoodie! She was wearing Dekuâs hoodie!
Gasping loudly, Uraraka felt blood rush to her cheeks. That was a thing couples did! They werenât a couple!
Her head whipped around as she looked around the common room. A few other classmates were gathered in the kitchen area, but thankfully none of them were Midoriya himself.
âThis is so embarrassing,â she squeaked.
Uraraka covered her eyes with her hands (while also making sure to hold up her pinkies so she wouldnât float away) and shook her head as Asui comfortingly patted her best friendâs back.
âHow did Midoriyaâs hoodie end up on your floor?â
Uraraka peered out through the gaps between her fingers and sighed. She lowered her hands, resting them on her lap as she twiddled her fingers.
âI told Deku I was having trouble with the chemistry homework at lunch the other day, so he offered to help,â she said. âWe were in my room and it was in the middle of that heatwave last week, so he took off his hoodie. He must have accidentally left it there.â
âWhy didnât you turn on the AC?â
âI⊠forgot,â she smiled awkwardly.
âOchaco,â Asui sighed. She shook her head in amusement.
âHey, Uraraka!â
At the sound of the familiar voice she did not want to hear right now, Urarakaâs muscles tensed and her eyes widened. Slowly, she turned to see Midoriya standing behind her.
âHi,â she said, her teeth clenched.
She watched in trepidation as Midoriyaâs eyes trailed down from her face to the hoodie she was wearing. His round eyes narrowed slightly before lighting up in recognition.
âIs that myââ
âGotta go! Love you, bye!â Uraraka yelled, catching the attention of everyone else in the room.
âLoâwhat?â
She sprinted away, repeatedly pressing the elevator button before stumbling inside and hitting the button for the third floor. As the doors slid closed, Uraraka caught sight of a very confused-looking Midoriya. Breathing a sign of relief, she leaned back against the wall as her eyes drifted shut.
She could worry about how to return the hoodie to him later.
Lucy hummed as she looked through the binoculars the client had let her borrow, not spying any suspicious activity. She placed them back down on the boulder she was partially hidden behind and sighed.
The team had taken a job that required them to keep a lookout for a group of bandits that had been terrorising the local town recently. They were suspected to have a base camp not too far into the forest.
Today was a day of celebration in the townâsome sort of annual event similar to Magnoliaâs harvest festivalâso the mayor requested for them to locate the group and then hold them off if they attempt to attack during the festivities.
It hadnât taken too long to locate them. Happy and Carla were keeping watch from above while Erza, Wendy and Gray took the south. That left Lucy and Natsu to the north of the banditsâ base camp with the town about half a kilometre behind them.
âAnything happen yet?â Natsu asked, nudging Lucyâs shoulder with his own.
She shook her head and tapped a finger to her chin. âIâm honestly not sure if anything will, at this rate. The mayor told us these bandits have been attacking in the dead of the night when there arenât many people around, so it would be against their MO to rush in when the whole town is gathered in one place.â
âSo basically what youâre saying is I donât get to beat these guys up?â
âSorry,â she said with a shrug. âNot this time.â
Natsu pouted, leaning up on the boulder, his knees on the ground practically touching hers. From her position beside him, Lucy got a good look at him. Her eyes roamed from the bulging muscles of his biceps, down to his perfectly chiselled chest, and up to his sharp jawline. The longer Lucy stared, the more her mind began to wander.
It was dangerous territory, something she preferred to leave unexplored.
As she finally reached his eyes, Lucy saw Natsu staring straight back at her. Lips shifting into a smirk, he raised a questioning brow. As he leaned closer, her muscles tensed up and she felt like her face was about to set ablaze.
âSomething got you⊠distracted?â He teased, chuckling as he gave her his usual bright grin.
Lucy scowled, keeping her mouth sealed shut. He could be worse than that damn cat sometimes.
As Natsu leaned even closer, to the point where Lucy could feel his breath fanning her face, she lurched back and yelled what was quite possibly the most embarrassing thing sheâd said in her life.
âStop being too attractive!â
Lucyâs eyes widened as she registered what sheâd just said. Her brain to mouth filter had completely flown out the window! And knowing what Natsu was like, he would never let her forget about this.
Oh, gosh, what if Happy found out? Sheâd be doomed for eternity!
In the distance, there was a muffled shout. Lucy yelped as Natsu suddenly pushed her down so they were both fully hidden behind the boulder.
Unfortunately for her, that also meant her head ended up against Natsuâs chest with his arms tightly wrapped around her midsection. Lucyâs tank top had ridden up slightly, meaning it was skin pressed against skin, which only served to worsen her state of fluster.
Slowly, Natsu peered up over the boulder. Lucy bit her lip, trying not to let her mind wander off as it had before. The last thing she needed right now was to be caught ogling him again.
Stupid Natsu and his stupid, handsome face!
âLooks like they didnât spot us.â Natsu said, leaning up a bit further.
Lucy heaved a sigh of relief as Natsu let go of her. She hastily pulled her tank top down so her midriff was no longer exposed.
âCan⊠can we pretend that didnât happen?â She asked, pointedly looking away.
âWhat? You calling me attractive? No way!â
âI didnât say that,â she tried to deny, closing her eyes and crossing her arms over her chest. After a few seconds of silence, she opened them again to see Natsu giving her an amused look as he obviously tried to hold back a laugh.
âIâm pretty sure you did.â
âSomething must be wrong with your hearing then.â
He snorted and rolled his eyes. âLucy, you and I both know my hearing is far better than yours.â
She winced. Yeah, that wasnât her best work. Lucy bit her lip as she tried to think of another excuseâa more plausible one this time. For a writer, she sure was short on ideas.
Come on, Lucy! Think!
âHey, Lucy,â Natsu said as he repeatedly poked her arm. She batted his hand, but he continued to do it anyway. Lucyâs cheeks puffed up adorably and her lips pursed into a pout. âI know what I heard. You think Iâm attractive!â
As he continued to tease her, Lucyâs eye twitched in irritation. He was lucky she thought he was cute.
âFine! Yes, I think youâre really attractive! Is that really such a big deal?â
Lucy heaved in a few deep breaths, chest visibly rising and falling as she felt his gaze pierce her very soul. She gulped.
That dangerous territory had certainly been breached now, and there was no turning back.
âWell, I donât know if Iâd call it a big deal,â Natsu responded with a chuckle. He crossed his arms and placed them behind his head. âI think youâre attractive, too, but you donât see me getting all embarrassed about it.â
Lucy sputtered as her eyes almost rolled into the back of her head. In her sudden state of breathlessness, she struggled to form her words. âIâyou canât,â she tried to say. âYou canât just say that so casually!â
âIâm weird?â Lucy jeered. She pointed a finger at him and jabbed his chest. âYouâre the one calling me attractive when weâre not a couple!â
It was truly some sort of miracle that the bandits hadnât heard them this time.
Natsu quirked a brow. âIâm pretty sure youâre the one who said it first.â
As her mouth opened and closed with only a few strangled noises escaping her throat, Natsu laughed. He slapped a hand on her shoulder as Lucyâs cheeks puffed up once more. If they werenât trying to stay hidden, she would have Lucy kicked him into the stratosphere by now.
She sighed, picking up the binoculars and leaning up on the boulder again. They were here to do a job. She needed to focus.
And then, so quietly Lucy almost missed it, Natsu mumbled, âBut what if I want us to be a couple?â
Her head whipped to the side as her jaw dropped open. Natsu? Asking if they could be a couple? The same guy who never seemed to show any interest in romance?
But he only got that look on his face when he was serious about something. Besides, he did just admit he was attracted to her.
âI⊠wouldnât be opposed to that.â
Natsu stared deeply into her eyes. âYou mean that?â
She shyly nodded, inhaling a shaky breath.
Without saying another word, Natsu reached over and clasped Lucyâs hand with his own. Their fingers intertwined, slotting together perfectly. Natsu gave Lucyâs hand a small squeeze and smiled gently. It was a simple gesture, but an intimate one all the same.
She squeezed his hand in return and gave him a smile of her own.
That dangerous territory had been breached, and Lucy couldnât be any happier about it.
Summary: Jirou arrives home one day to find out her boyfriend has impulsively adopted five cats
If there was one thing Jirou had always appreciated about Kaminari, it was the amount of love he had to give. He was practically bursting at the seams with it, whether that love be directed at her, his friends or his family.
But sometimes, Jirou thought Kaminari loved a little too much.
Such was the case today.
The day had started off perfectly normal with each of them heading out to their respective hero agencies for a long day of hard work. They parted with a kiss as always, telling each other to stay safe.
Her day had remained relatively uneventful with no major incidents to speak of.
So when Jirou opened their apartment door to see Kaminari standing in the middle of the living room surrounded by animals that had most certainly not been there that morning she was rather confused.
âWhat is going on here?â Jirou questioned, slipping off her boots in a hurry. She hung her bag up on the hook on the back of the door, gaping at the sight before her.
âI may have accidentally adopted like five cats,â Kaminari said with a sheepish grin. He scooped one up into his arms, holding it like a baby and waving its paw. âLook how cute they are!â
The cats weaved around his legs, jumping on and off the coffee table and sofa. There was already a (thankfully empty) glass knocked onto the rug. It was only a matter of time until one of them clawed the curtains, and they werenât exactly cheap to replace.
Jirou let out a loud sigh and shook her head. She crossed her arms, her leather jacket straining.
âHow the hell did you âaccidentallyâ adopt five cats?â
âYou know how that new animal shelter opened up a few streets away?â Kaminari said, already waving his arms around as he had a habit of doing whenever he spoke. Jirou nodded. It was on her route to work. âSo I was on my way back home, right? And I thought âhey, why not check it outâ, so I did.â
âAnd now we have five cats.â
âAnd now we have five cats,â he repeated with an awkward laugh.
Kaminari reached down the pet one on the head, giggling when the cat kicked his finger. âThat tickles!â
Carefully making sure not to step on any of the felines wandering around the room, she made her way over the couch. Jirou sat down, flinching when one of the cats unexpectedly jumped up to sit beside her. It stared at her with its big green eyes and tilted its head to the side.
Tentatively, she held out a hand. The cat sniffed and then butted its head against it, letting out a soothing purr. Jirou felt herself smile softly.
âSee, theyâre not so bad, right?â
Jirou nodded. She could probably get used to this. They had been thinking of adopting a pet at some pointâthough the plan was for one, not five.
Noticing the pinched expression adorning his girlfriendâs face, Kaminari put the cat he had been holding down.
âSorry I didnât ask you first,â he said, sitting down next to her. Kaminari took Jirouâs hand in his and rubbed his thumb across her palm. His eyes softened as his voice lowered to almost a whisper. âMy impulsivity got the better of me again.â
âI get it,â she reassured him. âThis wouldnât be the first time youâve made a stupid decision. Not that most of the things you do arenât stupid.â
Kaminari choked out a laugh, poking her in the ribs as he pouted. âHey, Iâm getting better at controlling my impulses.â
âIf you call randomly adopting five cats controlling your impulses, then yeah.â Jirou teased.
She didnât mind it, really. It was just part of what made Kaminari who he was.
Jirou leaned her head on his shoulder. Kaminari wrapped his arm around her, leaning into her warmth. She smiled contentedly, watching the five cats continue to explore the room.
âAs much as I like cats, weâre not keeping five of them. One will do.â
Today was one of the rare occasions when Touya took a break from his trainingânot that the rest of his family knew about that, of course.
To them, he had stopped it years ago. To them, he wasnât good enough to continue his fatherâs legacy and surpass All Might. To them, he was fragileânothing but a failure. But Touya was way too stubborn to let that dream go! His father had told him he would be the one to do it, so that was what Touya would do! If he had to endure a few burns along the way, then so be it. It was never going to be an easy journey.
Thunk!
He blinked in surprise, forcibly knocked out of his thoughts as he crashed down to the ground. Landing on his back, Touya let out a groan as the snow beneath him began to soak his winter coat. As he sat up, a small clump of snow slid off his head.
âI got you!â Natsuo, who had thrown the snowball, shouted gleefully.
Touya glared at his younger brother as Natsuo pointed and laughed at him, and their sister worriedly bit her nails. Fuyumi had taken a step forward, torn between running over to help and staying next to their pregnant mother who was watching over the three kids from the veranda.
âHey, look! Now all your hair is white.â Natsuo pointed out.
As he glanced up, more snow fell off Touya's head and into his lap. It quickly melted, leaving a wet patch on his leg.
Over the years, Touyaâs hair had been changing from red to white. Nobody understood the reason behind the change. It hadnât happened to anyone on either side of the family before. Natsuo was right, though. Touyaâs hair was closer to being one colour than it had been for years.
He rolled his eyes and quickly batted the rest of it out. âUgh! I donât want that! It makes me look like an old man!â
âAre you saying I look old?â Natsuo asked.
âWell, yeah! Only old people have white hair,â he responded, sticking out his tongue, which was the totally mature thing to do, of course. Touya was the eldest, he would know.
Tears began to well up in Natsuoâs eyes.
Oh, great.
âHow rude!â Fuyumi yelled. She clutched at her own white hair, giving him an angry little pout. Touya thought Fuyumi couldnât look seriously angry, even if she tried. âWeâre younger than you.â
As Touya sneered, he caught his mother giving him a look. She shook her head. Even without words, Touya got the message. She only gave him that look when reprimanding him for whatever apparently wrong or bad thing heâd done at the time (it usually had something to do with upsetting one of his siblings, as was the case right now, or annoying his father). He rolled his eyes. Whatever. He wasnât entirely wrong, anyway.
âIâll get you back for that, Natsu!â
After running around the garden and chucking a few more snowballs at each other, Rei called them inside. Touya trudged after his mother and younger siblings as they headed to the living room, glancing at the clock hanging up in the hallway on the way. Only three more hours, and then he could sneak off for more training.
As he dropped down onto the sofa, Fuyumi and Natsuo quickly huddled either side of him.
âHey!â Touya yelped as they tightly clung onto his arms. âWhat do you think youâre doing? Stop clinging to me!â
In response, they only giggled and shuffled up even closer. Touya groaned, mumbling something about them both being annoying.
âBut youâre warm!â
He sighed, but ultimately relented and shifted to sit more comfortably so they could all watch TV together.
Partway through the movie, Touya glanced over at Rei. His gaze shifted down to the big baby bump her hands rested upon. Though his mother looked happy, Touya felt wary. He couldnât help but have the nagging feeling that something was about to go very wrong for him very soon, all because of that baby.
âSomething got you⊠distracted?â He teased, chuckling as he gave her his usual bright grin. Lucy scowled, keeping her mouth sealed shut. He could be worse than that damn cat sometimes.
As Natsu leaned even closer, to the point that Lucy could feel his breath on her face, she lurched back and yelled, âStop being too attractive!â
âââââ
This is from a mostly-finished WIP titled âdistracted, and itâs all your faultâ. I had fun writing this lol
Summary: While doing some extra training in gym gamma, Kirishima accidentally calls Bakugou hot instead of manly which makes him react in a way he wasnât expecting.
âAP Machine Gun!â
Bakugouâs muscles flexed as he rapidly fired off a series of large explosions, one foot placed behind him to brace himself from the impact. As the noise died down and the smoke cleared, he heaved in a deep breath and placed one hand on his knee. He wiped away the sweat building on his forehead with the back of his other hand before checking to make sure his new hearing aids were still in place. Heâd already broken one pair by accidentally standing on them and did not want that to become a regular occurrence.
âGreat job, dude!â
âYeah!â
Bakugou grinned and turned to face the part of the gym where his friends were sitting and watching, their praise fueling his ego. Kirishima, Kaminari and Sero clapped and cheered for him as they always did during their training sessions.
Bakugou had dragged Kirishima alongâsomething heâd been doing more often as of lateâso they could help each other create a new move with the other two tagging along uninvited as always. He had found it rather annoying at first (not that he still didnât) but their presence was to be expected at this point.
âWell?â Bakugou asked. He dropped down into a crouch before sitting on the cold, hard floor, exhausted. âYou supporting cast better have been impressed!â
It was the first time Bakugou had managed to pull off that move in the exact way he wanted. He could practically feel pride rippling through his very core.
âWeâve been promoted!â Kaminari said with a grin, turning to Sero and frantically batting the other boyâs arm with the back of his hand. âYou hear that? Blasty really cares about us.â
Sero nodded, his expression completely serious. He pretended to wipe a tear from his eye and sniffled. âTruly a day for the history books.â
Bakugou glared in their direction, threateningly letting off a small cluster of explosions in his left hand.
They were slowly becoming immune to his furious looks much to Bakugouâs dismay. Whatever. Just because they tagged along, it definitely doesnât mean he wants their actual opinions or anything. If he wanted actual feedback, heâd train with Deku instead. The damn nerd never stopped analysing everything, so he may as well be put to good use sometimes.
Kirishima laughed but shook his head. âIgnore these idiots.â
âHey!â
âYou know I love you, man,â Kirishima continued, patting a pouting Kaminari on the shoulder as Bakugou resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Sero snorted.
Kirishima turned his head to face Bakugou again, slammed his fists together in his signature pose and grinned. âAmazing as usual, Bakugou! You looked super hot!â
Bakugou choked on his saliva as sweat rapidly pooled on his palms. He shrunk into himself, hiding his face in the collar of his sports jacket as blood rushed to his cheeks. He opened his mouth to yell but found himself unable to speak. The lack of control over his brain made his teeth grit as his jaw clenched tight.
What the fuck did Kirishima just say? And since when did Bakugouâs mind shut down over a simple compliment?
The laughter from the joke about being upgraded faded out as Kaminari and Sero looked back and forth between Kirishima and each other. Kaminari pointed, mouthing something to Sero that Bakugou didnât catch due to the angle of his head.
Kirishima smiled awkwardly, sitting up straight instead of slouching like he had been before. Tilting his head, a look of puzzlement struck his face.
It was only when Kaminari stuck two fingers into his mouth and wolf whistled that the silence broke.
Through his red-tinted vision, Bakugou saw Sero burst into another fit of laughter as the whistle echoed through the large, open room. Kaminari joined in his friendâs joy, clutching at his side as he attempted to whistle again but only managed to make what sounded like a fart noise instead.
His flummoxed question only made their laughter ring out even harder to the point Sero was rolling on the floor. And unlike earlier, the tears in his eyes were real. His amusement only seemed to be feeding Kaminariâs and vice versa as the two became increasingly louder.
Bakugou was tempted to turn off his hearing aids, but his mind wasnât exactly functioning right now. At all. Instead, it was just an endless scream of âfuckâ. Not even over and over again. Just one endless, drawn-out scream.
Eye twitching, Bakugou finally broke out of whatever mental hold being called âhotâ had put over him and stood up. As he paced towards the other three, his heart thrashed in his chest. It wasnât an entirely unfamiliar feeling, but it was one Bakugou had no idea how to control.
Though heâd been denying it for monthsâif he had to pinpoint a specific time, it would certainly be Kaminoâ, his reaction here had only confirmed to himself the thought that had been on his mind for months now.
He was falling for Kirishima.
It was a dilemma most high school kids went through at some point, but Bakugou and Kirishima were hero course kids. And he had his goal of being number one to focus on. It was unachievable without putting in any work, hence all the late night training sessions.
Which he had been inviting Kirishima to more often.
To spend time alone with him for hours on end.
Bakugou stopped walking, his muscles tensing.
Oh, fuck. Heâd really screwed himself over, hadnât he?
âWhat?â Kirishima asked once again, starting to laugh despite seemingly being unaware as to why. âWas it something I said?â
Kaminari inhaled a huge breath of air, holding up a single finger as he tried to compose himself. A few seconds later, he cleared his throat.
âDude, you totally just called Bakugou hot.â
âNo, I didnât,â he said with a dazed look of bewilderment. He looked at Sero as if waiting for him to refute Kaminariâs statement. But when silence was the only response, Kirishimaâs frown deepened.
Had this fucker seriously just put Bakugou through a minor crisis and not even realised what heâd done? The nerve of him.
âThat is some deep denial.â Sero commented, throwing his arms up in a surrender position when Kirishima looked his way, nostrils flaring.
âI called him manly like I always do!â
âThe hell you did!â Bakugou finally yelled, his voice coming out slightly strained. He crossed his arms defensively.
âUh oh,â Kaminari whispered, clutching Seroâs arm as Bakugou walked closer until he stood right in front of them.
Giving them all a clear view of how flustered he was.
âOh, shit,â Kirishima whispered slowly, eyes shining with realisation. And then, louder, âWait, are you blushing?â
An odd mixture of rage and embarrassment pulsed through his veins as Bakugou briskly turned his entire body away and gritted out the word, âNo!â
âHey, hey,â he heard Sero whisper, probably nudging Kaminari with one of those weird elbows of his. âWe know his weakness now.â
Bakugou let out a grunt of irritation, whirling around and setting off a few small explosions.
âOh, Bakugou, my saviour,â Kaminari said in a ridiculously high-pitched voice, completely undeterred. He placed a hand on his forehead and swooned, dropping into Seroâs lap as his eyes fluttered shut. âYouâre so unbelievably hot!â
Bakugou promptly stuck up his middle finger at Kaminari. Despite still feeling angry, the rate at which he was sweating slowed to the point he was no longer at risk of destroying the entire gym. Something about Kaminari being the one to call him hot had the opposite effect of Kirishima saying it.
Kaminari cracked open one eye, still dramatically flopped all over Sero. He raised a brow and grinned as his eyes lit up in a way that meant he had a bad idea. Oh, what now?
âHey, Kirishima? I think it's just when you do it,â he said with a wiggle of his eyebrows before sitting up and inhaling a deep breath.
âNoââ
âBakugou and Kirishima sitting in a tree,â he sang, Sero joining in partway through. Bakugouâs palms sparked as Kirishimaâs face turned as red as his shitty hair. âK-I-S-S-I-N-G!â
Letting out a guttural yell, Bakugou pounced. His hand lit up as a gargantuan explosion blasted out. It narrowly missed the other two boys as they scrambled to dodge it. Given that they still had at least a little bit of self preservation, they then high-tailed it out of the room.
âWasnât that a bit much?â Kirishima asked. He hadnât moved at all, his entire left side hardened and his sleeve singed.
âAsshole,â Bakugou murmured.
âYou know he means well. Itâs just really funny to see you get angry.â
âIâve built up enough sweat to let off an explosion that big again, you bastard!â
Kirishima held his arms up as he slowly stood up, laughing breathily. He brushed off some dust from his trouser leg as he opened his mouth to say something but immediately closed it, looking apprehensive. He bit his lip as he struggled to verbalise whatever thought was bouncing around his brain.
Bakugou frowned in concern. âSpit it out.â
âI said it by accident, but I do actually think you looked really hot doing that new move!â
Bakugouâs eyes widened as his body froze and he took a step back. Blood rushed back to his face. âThe hell? Youâyou canât just say stuff like that!â
âWhat? That I think youâre really hot?â Kirishima threw his head back and cackled. âDude, I am so calling you hot all the time now!â
âDonât you fucking dare!â
Kirishima took a few steps closer to him, getting right up in his personal space. From this close, Bakugou could probably count the number of freckles faintly painted across his nose and cheeks. He mentally slapped himself. Now was not the time!
âOr maybe I should call you handsome?â Kirishima smugly teased, obviously enjoying the reaction he was receiving. â Or cute? Nah, youâre too hot to be called cute.â
Bakugou was about to blow up the entire school at this rate, and UA wasnât exactly small by any means. His entire body felt like it was on fire.
If this is what having a crush felt like, then he wanted out. Right now. Especially if it meant getting your feelings played with.
âDonât say shit like that unless you mean it!â He roared, struggling to catch his breath.
A look of confusion flickered across Kirishimaâs face. âWhat makes you think I donât?â
Bakugou stuttered out a few unintelligible syllables, unable to form a coherent response. His heart was thumping so rapidly it felt like it was about to burst. The feeling was similar to the rush of adrenaline pulling off an ultimate move gave him but was all too different at the same time, and Bakugou hated that he didnât know how to handle it.
Kirishima sheepishly rubbed his cheek and smiled, averting his gaze. He blushed. âI know Kaminari just joked about it, but⊠in all seriousness, seeing you giving it your all out there and being super manly even if it's just training really makes me want to kiss you.â
âYouâ what?â
âNever thought youâd be the type to react like this,â Kirishima said, laughing heartily. He smiled, his eyes softening as he looked at Bakugou in a way that made the breath in his lungs escape him all at once. âI like you, Bakugou,â he confessed. âThis isnât exactly how I thought it would happen, though. I was actually thinking of more of a life or death villain fight situation, not me having no brain to mouth filter. Though I guess it was bound to happen one dayâŠâ
Kirishima trailed off until his voice was barely a mumble, placing a hand to his chin as he got distracted by his own thoughts.
âThatâs so fucking stupid,â Bakugou said, barking out a laugh.
(Though he would never admit it aloud, a confession mid-battle actually sounded weirdly appealing.)
âYeah, I know,â he snickered. They fell into silence, Kirishima giving him that same soft look again, somehow conveying all of his love into a single glance.
Unsure of what to say, Bakugou stayed silent.
At Bakugouâs lack of a response, Kirishimaâs eyes went wide as he quickly waved his hands in the air and said, âItâs okay if you donât feel the same way, dude. I totally get it! Youâre really focused on your goal of becoming number one and dating me would probably get in the way or somethingâŠâ
Kirishima had really been paying attention, hadnât he?
âOh, fuck it.â Bakugou declared. As Bakugou grabbed Kirishima by the collar of his shirt and smashed their lips together, Kirishima pumped his fist into the air in a show of victory before kissing him back. Bakugou could feel Kirishimaâs smile through the kiss as he grinned back. Their teeth clacked together awkwardly but Bakugou couldnât bring himself to care as Kirishima gently ran his calloused hands through his hair.
Kirishima said he wanted a kiss, so he was getting one. And it will be the best damn kiss he will ever have in his life. Who gives a shit if this means Bakugou will be distracted from his lifelong goal? Thereâs plenty of time left until graduation. Nothing is stopping him from having both.
Who knew a slip of the tongue would be all it took for their feelings to be admitted?
