chapter two
After getting Yaomomo’s number, they planned to meet at the local coffee shop to discuss Octagon/Lillie. Kyoka couldn’t help but feel a bit excited-it was almost, not quite, but almost like a date. Although she didn’t know if this Yaomomo was into girls.
She arrived at the café a few minutes later and got a coffee, even though her parents didn’t like her drinking caffeine, and sat down at a two-person table. The coffee shop was quiet, only a few other people inside, laughing and chatting with each other.
She recognized the barista who’d given her her drink, although she didn’t know his name. He was in her science class... Mindor? Midoriya? Midoriya, that was it. She probably should’ve said hello.
She saw Yaomomo walk through the door a few minutes later, wearing a light pink sweater and blue jeans, a purse on her shoulder. She waved to Midoriya, smiling. “Hey, Momo,” he called to her.
Kyoka waved her over, remembering that she didn’t know what she looked like. Momo caught her eye and walked over.
“You must be Jirou,” she said, her voice light and polite.
“That’s me. Yaomomo?”
She laughed. “Oh, you can just call me Momo. Yaomomo is just a nickname my friend Mina calls me.”
“Oh, alright.”
Yaomo-Momo sat across from Kyoka, who suddenly felt rather shy. There was a girl. Sitting across from her, in a coffee shop.
“So,” Momo said, pulling out a pad of paper and a pen from her bag. “Shall we make the arrangements with the cat?”
“Arrangements?”
“Well,” Momo said, tucking stray strands of hair behind her ear, “I was thinking that you could have her one day, I could have her the next, and we’d just switch off?”
“Oh,” Kyoka said, sipping her coffee. “That could work. Wouldn’t it be easier to just do it weekly though?”
“Yes, I suppose it would,” Momo replied. “That was easy.”
“I was also thinking we could change the cat’s name?” Jirou continued. “I mean. If you want.”
Momo agreed, and they spent the next five minutes coming up with name ideas, eventually settling on Missy.
“Can I ask why you call her Octagon?” Momo said, smiling slightly.
Kyoka blushed. “It’s just my favorite shape.”
“That’s funny,” Momo said. “I mean, I love it, but most people would name their cat after their favorite color, or even favorite food, or flower, like I did.”
“I guess I’m not most people, then,” Kyoka said before she could stop herself.
“I think I like that about you,” Momo said quietly before laughing. “You’re very interesting. In a very good way.”
Interesting, huh?
“So, how do you know Mina’s boyfriend?” Momo asked, changing the subject.
Kyoka almost chocked on her coffee. “Sorry,” she said, giggling. “Mina’s boyfriend, jeez.”
“Did I say something wrong?” Momo sounded concerned. Was Kyoka allowed to think that was kinda really cute?
“You didn’t say anything,” Kyoka responded, still smiling. “It’s just weird to think people think of Kaminari as someone’s boyfriend. Anyways, we went to this summer camp before going into high school and became friends. We go to the same high school now, and we started a band.”
“You’re in a band?” Momo said, eyes shining with excitement. “That is so awesome.”
“Yeah,” Kyoka replied, her face heating up. “I guess it is pretty cool.”
Midoriya has approached their table, holding do by a lot of coffee. “Would either of you like any more?”
“No, thank you,” Momo said politely.
“Hit me,” Kyoka said, sliding her mug over. “I’m ready to get extra caffeinated.”
Midoriya laughed. “Jirou, right? You’re in that band. With Kacchan and Asui.”
“Kacchan?”
“Well, Bakugo,” Midoriya laughed. “It’s a childhood name, I guess. We used to be friends. He hates me now,” he said, almost as an afterthought.
“I-Oh.” Kyoka wasn’t sure what to say to that. “Well, how do you know Asui?”
“I dated her girlfriend for a few months,” Midoiya replied, finishing pouring the coffee. “We broke up, but we’re still really good friends.”
“I had no idea. Uraraka, right?”
“Oh I know her!” Momo exclaimed. “We’re friends!”
“Is that how you know each other?” Kyoka asked, looking between Midlriya and Momo. “Through Uraraka?”
“Actually, no,” Midoriya said. “She’s good friends with my boyfriend and we just met through him, I guess.”
“Wait, so you and your ex are both gay?” Kyoka asked. She was beginning to get a little lost.
Midoriya laughed loudly. “We’re both dating someone of the same gender, I guess! I never really thought about that! Well, I’m bi and she’s pan, so not gay exactly.”
“Oh, that’s neat. It’s cool how you two are still friends,” Kyoka said, a bit embarrassed.
“Yeah,” Midoriya said, beaming. “I should get back to work before I get fired again! Nice talking to you,” he added, waving goodbye.
“Nice talking,” Momo and Kyoka said in synch.
They chatted a bit longer, Kyoka talking about her band and Momo talking about school and friends. The whole time, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from Momo’s face. It was like if she did, she would miss something important.
Momo was beautiful. In her movements, in her voice, in her eyes, in her personality. Kyoka could feel herself catching feelings, and she honestly didn’t mind.