Mikumo punched the bag in UA’s gym. It was routine. Spend one hour building gadgets with Mei, then train here. It was nice. The gym was always empty at this time, barring one other person.
Mina Ashido, his classmate. She’d come here to breakdance after school. She’d usually finish a few minutes after Mikumo came, they’d chat a bit, then she’d go home while he trained for another hour.
Mikumo attacked the bag. He switched between jabs and hooks, shots to the face and shots to the torso. Punches and palm strikes. He fell into a flow, letting his mind relax.
“Hey, Yamikumo,” said Ashido, having finished her breakdancing practice (which Mikumo had absolutely not watched out of the corner of his eye).
“Hey,” he said, not letting up on the bag.
“I’m curious, what do you do after leaving here?”
“What do you mean?” said Mikumo.
“I mean what do you do after you leave every day? I know you hang out with Hatsume before coming here, but I have no idea what you do after. Do you hang out with friends? Do a hobby? Homework?”
“Hobbies or homework,” said Mikumo. “Though the second’s a little harder since someone cleaned the trash beach.”
Ashido’s eyes bugged out. “You liked the trash beach?”
“Of course, where do you think I got half the gear for my old gadgets?” said Mikumo. “It’s fine as a normal beach I suppose, but I miss the trash. Good to find stuff in, kept others from bothering me”
“Wow, you must be the only person who prefers a garbage dump to a gorgeous beach. Hmmmmm…Maybe you’re not emo, maybe you’re a raccoon!”
Mikumo stopped punching and stared at her. “How does that begin to make sense?”
“Grumpy, and like to steal trash. Ergo a raccoon!”
“That’s dumb…” muttered Mikumo, stuffing his hands in his pockets.
“Awww, don’t be too upset Mikumo,” Ashido said. “It was only a joke.” She raised her arms over her head and stretched, which, given that she’d diteched the UA gym uniform’s shirt in favor of a tank top, did a good job of showing off her curves.
Mikumo blushed and looked down. In the corner of his vision, he saw a twinkle in Ashido’s eye. She’d totally done that on purpose.
“Awww, what’s wrong Yamikumo? Nervous around a cute girl?”
“Oh please,” said Mikumo. “I think I’d be over that after a few weeks of putting up with you.” He turned back to the bag and offhandedly muttered, “Anyway you’re more hot than cute.”
He punched the bag then froze. Wait. Had he just…
He turned to see Ashido giving him an ecstatic grin. He had said that out loud. And she’d heard him.
Mikumo’s face burned with a flame hotter than any fire on the planet, the fire of pure unmitigated embarrassment. Kill me now. Please.
“Why Yamikumo,” Ashido said with a mischievous smile, “I never knew you could be so forward.” She held her hands behind her back and looked at him with a painfully fake innocent expression. It was like she was expecting something, but what he couldn’t fathom.
“Aren’t you going to ask me out?”
Mikumo hadn’t realized his face could heat up more. “Wait what?!”
“Well, I figure if you’re gonna call a girl hot to her face, it must be because you want to date her,” said Ashido, her grin downright flirty. “Are you saying you don’t want to?”
Ashido put a finger to her mouth. “Well, I guess if not, I can get someone else to take me out instead. I’m sure there are plenty of boys willing to go out with a hot girl like me…”
“Alright fine!” said Mikumo. Embarrassment saturated him, making every movement a chore. However, Mikumo pushed through. Closing his eyes, he said, “Mina Ashido, do you want to go on a date with me?”
“Kidding! Kidding!” she said laughing. Her laughter subsided and her smile became gentler. “I’d love to.”
Mikumo let out a big breath.
“What?” she said. “You think I’d say no after all that build up? You must not know much about flirting.”
“Please,” said Mikumo walking onto the exercise mat. “I barely know how to do basic social interaction, let alone flirting.”
Ashido skipped over. “That so? Well, I guess you’ll have to work extra hard to sweep me off my feet on the date.”
Ashido moved her head until she was right next to his cheek. All higher brain functions in Mikumo’s brain shut down, his mind grasping at the last words it understood.
On reflex Mikumo performed a leg sweep. At the last second, he realized what he’d done and caught Ashido’s wrist, stopping her before she could hit the ground. Mina stared at him with a dazed expression, which became a mischievous smile.
“Not bad, points for effort,” she said. She hopped up, leaned in, then whispered into his ear. “Do it the other way during our date, and I might have something for you~”
“What do you mean by that?”
She put a finger to his lips, shushing him.
“It’s a surprise!” And with that, Mina strolled away, swaying her hips as she went (probably on purpose knowing her)
Mikumo watched her leave. Then he fell back on the mat with a dumb smile.
He’d just asked out a girl! And she said yes!
He only asked when she forced him.
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Today’s prompt is Civilian life for Protos Week. This isn’t a perfect fit, but it does involve Mikumo’s life outside of school so I guess it counts.
