Musume

Chapter 37

The next day, things had mostly returned to normal for class 1-A, and a new routine began.

Their teacher explained to them that they’d be focusing on getting their provisional licenses and Yumi and her friends were excited. With provisional licenses, they could act as heroes under certain circumstances, but they weren’t supposed to get theirs until at least second year, so this development was surprising.

Or maybe not so surprising, taking into account the numerous times class 1-A had already had to defend itself from villains.

And then he explained what they’d be doing that day: creating at least two special moves with the help of Cementoss, Ectoplasm and Midnight.

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“What’s with the new look?” asked one of her classmates when she came out of the changing room.

Yumi looked down at her outfit. It was pretty much the same as it used to be, but the skirt was now shorter and she wore a foreign-looking gauntlet that protected her right hand. Her boots were higher than they used to be and from the left one you could see a small tube poking out.

Yumi smiled. Melissa had done the changes in design herself before sending it back to her.

“Oh, this! It’s just something to help with my powers.” She said dismissively.

Then they listened to their teacher’s explanation as to why they needed special moves for their license exam.

They were all excited and pumped full of energy thanks to their teachers words and encouragement.

At the end of the day, she still didn’t have a definite especial move, but she had many ideas and a new fighting style she was perfecting with Midnight and Ectoplasm.

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“Can we speak?” asked Shoto appearing at her side as she finished gathering her things.

“Hum, uh, is it important? I’m already late…”

“No, it’s okay, we can speak tomorrow.” He said repeating his words from last night.

“If you’re sure…”

Yumi walked towards the entrance of UA with a bounce in her steps, but upon reaching it she saw a crowd gathered there.

For a moment she was worried that something had happened, as she could see some of her classmates staring as well, but then she saw what they were all looking at and she smiled.

“Keigo-kun!” she greeted as she approached, trying to ignore the way every pair of eyes present turned towards her.

He was leaning back against his motorbike, arms crossed over his chest and a lazy grin on his face.

“Hello, little bird. Running late, are we?”

“Aizawa-sensei held us all back a moment.” She said as an apology.

“It’s fine, are you ready?”

Yumi smiled again, forgetting her shyness as she thought that, yes, she was totally ready to fly again.

The young man smiled back at her and handed her a red helmet that she fumbled with for a second before managing to get it right. Or, well, mostly right, as Keigo reached out to clasp it completely right.

“Come on, I’ll take us there.” He said taking a seat on the motorbike.

Yumi slid in behind him and held on tight to his waist. Her eyes scanned the crowd as he revved the engine and her eyes found Shoto’s amongst them, but before she could decipher the emotions in them, they were already speeding away.

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Flying with Hawks was as amazing as it always was. He was a very daring flyer and he pulled off stunts that she’d never believed possible.

After flying, the young man took her out for dinner and they had fun discussing her theories for her special move. Hawks’ insight was something she was very appreciative of after having worked with him.

Then the topic slowly changed to other topics and she ended up sharing something she’d only ever told her dad.

“Is it for real?” snickered Keigo.

“Don’t laugh, it’s true!”

“You just told me you’re mightily scared of roosters! Roosters!” he remarked.

“It’s not funny, they’re scary things and their cackling…”

“What about it?” asked Hawks trying to hold in his laughter as he saw her shiver.

“It hurts.” She admitted. “When a rooster cackles I feel pain all over my body. That’s why I’ve never told that to anyone; it’s a weakness.”

Immediately, Hawks sobered up and looked at her seriously. He reached out a hand and touched hers softly.

“I won’t tell anyone.” He promised.

“Thank you. Now, you better take me back or I’ll get in trouble on my second night back at school.”

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When she heard a knock on her door in the middle of the night, Yumi rubbed her eyes to rid them of sleepiness and got up to open the door.

Only to find an insecure looking Shoto on the other side.

“Shoto-kun, is something wrong?”

“No.” replied the boy. “Were you sleeping? Sorry, I did not want to disturb you. I’ll talk to you tomorrow…”

But she was too curious now and awake, so she shook her head and invited him in. The boy took a step back, blushing.

“Not here.” He said.

Even more curious, she put on her shoes and followed after a silent Todoroki, who took them out a good ways away from the Heights Alliance building and into the surrounding forest.

“What is it?” she asked, shivering a bit at the cold air and cursing herself for not thinking of grabbing a jacket, the soft cloth of her thin pajama being the only thing protecting her from the chilly night air.

Shoto seemed to notice, but he didn’t say anything. As the time went on and he didn’t answer, she began to worry.

“I’m not good with these things.” He said suddenly. “But my sister Fuyumi says I have a poker face, whatever that means, and that I should tell people what I feel or they won’t understand.”

Yumi tilted her head to the side, wondering where he was going with this.

The boy took a deep breath and continued.

“So I’m sorry if it bothers you, but… I like you.”

Yumi blushed a deep red, grateful for the cover of darkness.

‘You look fetching when you blush, little bird.’

Hawks’ words came to her mind and she shook her head to rid it of the memory.

“L-Like?” she stammered.

“Yes, I like you.”

Yumi stared at Shoto. He was cute, handsome even, though in a boyish way. His mismatched eyes and double-colored hair were startlingly suited to him. And he was sweet, considerate and fun, in his own I’m-bad-with-social-cues ways.

She liked him too, she realized. And so she said it aloud.

“Really?” asked the boy, eyes widening a bit.

Yumi nodded shyly.

“What now?” she asked when they both just stared at the other for a couple seconds.

“I don’t know… I guess… will you go out with me, Yumi?”

Yumi’s smile widened.

“Yes, Shoto.”

The boy smiled that sweet smile she liked so much, the one that made his face look all warm and soft.

The boy then hesitated before carefully bending down and pressing his lips to hers in an innocent kiss.

It felt like flying.

When they separated a bit, their breaths mingling, she looked into his gray-and-blue eyes and smiled brightly at him, making him blush a little.

Until…

“My, my, young love, so cute!” squealed a voice behind them.

They separated as fast as possible, eyes wide as they looked at their teacher.

“However, as cute as this all is, I still have to give you both detention. But don’t worry,” Midnight said winking at her. “I won’t tell your father what you were doing… yet.”