Expect the Unexpected: Mei Hatsume x reader (BOOK 2)

Chapter 13: reading recommendation

It wasn't long before you got a case, with Endeavour running in the front as he told the rest of you to keep up and stay out the way.

Midoriya easily got out of breath, even as he used One for All, Bakugo was complaining about the lack of activity and Todoroki stayed quiet.

"Flashfire, right?" You asked Todoroki, to which he nodded. "Which means I can use my quirk now."

You grabbed Midoriya by his collar, pulling him in to what seemed like a kiss.

"Cloud Nine, this isn't the time to make out, please," Todoroki scoffed, covering his eyes.

"It's a form of CPR you absolute moron!" You yelled in response, dropping the blushing boy.

"Oh."

The greenette quickly regained his breath as Todoroki watched over him, with you and Bakugo quickly flying past them.

"Yo Kacchan, send some firepower my way!" You yelled over, the deafening noise of the explosions blocking out most of your voice.

Surprisingly, he did as you asked, though nearly killed you in the process.

You simply drew out all the convection currents from the explosion and propelled yourself forward until you reached Endeavour. From then on, you stayed at his heel, using his fire for your benefit.

Suddenly, Endeavour charged ahead, ready to catch the villain in front of him. However, the villain escaped, coming towards you.

"Cloud Nine!" Endeavour yelled, watching as you narrowly missed an attack, which Bakugo defended you from.

You fell back onto his firm build, covering both of you in an air bubble to soften the fall.

Suddenly, Hawks swooped in, capturing the villain successfully.

"You know, you really shouldn't let your guard down," Hawks smirked, cuffing the villain. "You could've gotten hurt if it weren't for your boyfriend here."

"We aren't-" you began, though your friend had other concerns.

"I was faster than you!" He yelled.

"Sure you were," Hawks scoffed. "You not gonna tell him to respect a Senpai?"

The question directed at you was enough for you to almost slap him, had Bakugo not caught your hand before you landed the hit.

"You don't deserve respect if you don't show it to others. First learn that," you snarled, wrangling your hand from your friend's grip.

You jumped out of his arms and turned around to see Midoriya and Todoroki both watching, shocked and fearing for their lives.

You scoffed, turning around to face Hawks.

"Well, I've got work to take care of, but before I go I want to recommend a book," Hawks began, draping an arm around your shoulder.

Bakugo watched the interaction, glaring. He was well aware that you were hiding something from him, especially with the way you interacted with the revered hero. You had no reason to despise him unless he did something to you, which only made him more sceptical of the hero.

"Surprised you can read," you remarked, shoving him off as you observed the book. "Destro's book?"

"So you've heard of it, smart girl," the hero teased.

By now, you noticed Bakugo was ready to punch Hawks. You sent him a warning look, which he accepted, scoffing. You were well aware that both Hatsume and Kaminari had requested him to keep you alive as soon as you found out he was coming along to Endeavour's agency as well. While he didn't like taking orders from others, he didn't want physical proof that he was too weak to be there for you.

"Holiday reading, I suppose," you agreed, focusing back at the hero. "I'll make sure to look over the highlighted parts, I'm sure you'd have left some words of wisdom."

"Yes of course," he nodded, sending a quick glance towards Endeavour to which you shook your head. "Well, I've got extra copies. I'm sure you students would like some signed by the number two hero, and you as well Endeavour-San. Do you read?"

The older hero grew visibly annoyed at the last remark, though accepted the book, flipping through the first few pages. He was well aware that if you, someone who despised Hawks, was willing to do something for him, it was probably something important.

"I've recommended this to my friends, colleagues and other heroes as well and told them all to at least look over the marked sections," Hawks remarked, ruffling his feathers to catch your attention. "At least consider the recommendation of the number two hero and look over them."

Your eyes widened at the subtle message as you opened the book, flipping through it to try and decipher the code. Whilst your friends were admiring Hawks' seemingly different view on the world, you were solving a puzzle and Bakugo was keeping himself from committing a murder.

"Well, I'll be off!" Hawks grinned, subtly signing you a message with his feathers in Morse code.

You nodded, greeting the hero a short goodbye as well as you closed the book.

In four months-

The five of you walked back to the Endeavour agency, you listening to Todoroki and Midoriya talk excitedly about Hawks' new book recommendation. Naturally, as all conversations do, this one shifted topic until they got to this afternoon's case.

"Cloud Nine, what was that move you pulled when we were running?" Todoroki asked, knowing that Midoriya would get too flustered at the idea of being that blunt.

"We're at the agency, you don't need hero names anymore," Endeavour announced, going to his study.

- the paranormal liberation front-

"Izuku-kun was out of breath so I gave a little assistance," you shrugged. "It's CPR, I increased his lung capacity for a while."

- will launch a mass attack-

"Thank you, I'll work on it," the greenette mumbled, only to receive a swift slap to the back of the head from you.

"We're friends, friends help each other out," you scoffed. "Though making out mid battle is still not my cup of tea."

-their leader has a plan-

"Really stole the nerd's first kiss to save him," Katsuki snickered, grabbing a snack.

"And how would you know?" You asked, smirking at the boy.

- many will die -

"Shut up!" Bakugo yelled in response, still unwilling to admit that they were friends.

Midoriya smiled at you, for what you hoped wasn't the last time.

Many would loose their smiles to trauma, you could only hope that the same didn't happen to your friends.

Shigaraki had a plan, and if Hawks was ready to go far enough to break your deal and potentially lose an ally in the process, you knew it was serious.

- this is the paranormal liberation war.

A/N: next chapter's the war 🤩

Who's excited? I am! I can cause pain 😍

All jokes aside, I will probably cry afterward though 😗✌✨

QOTD: did you decipher the code that wasn't subtle at all?