This Time

Chapter 48

"Marry me."

Those words hung there and Toshinori almost couldn't believe he'd actually managed to say it. Wait - had he even said it out loud? Mei was just staring at him, mouth slightly agape and eyes wide in surprise, so he must have spoken. Her silence made him second guess it though, and he wasn't sure yet if he should start panicking or simply repeat himself.

He'd been considering it all afternoon. After contemplating it more and more seriously as the day went on, he'd decided that asking her to marry him under the glow of the fireworks would be pretty romantic, right? But truthfully he'd planned to be a little more... elegant with it. You know, say something sweet - go down on bended knee and all that. He certainly hadn't meant to just blurt it at her.

And shit! He hadn't even pulled the ring out! Toshinori fumbled with his coat pocket as Mei continued to stare at him with shocked eyes, and for every second she didn't answer, his anxiety grew.

"Dammit," he muttered, pulling the ring box from his pocket finally, and looked Mei in the eye again. "I think I fucked that up - I should have gotten down on my knee or something," he coughed as heat filled his sallow cheeks.

Very smooth, Toshinori, he bemoaned his oafishness internally.

After another breath of stunned silence though, Mei's expression finally broke and she lifted her chin to smile at him. "No, you did it perfectly," she said so softly, her voice was almost drowned out by the thunderous crack of another starburst overhead. The thin man dared to let hope bloom in his rib cage from the way she was looking at him now. She let go of his hand, only to lift it and point shakily at the small velvet box he was still holding awkwardly. "Can I see?" she asked.

Toshinori felt like if his heart beat any faster, at this rate it would probably explode in his chest. But he swallowed and nodded. "Let me try this again," he chuckled sheepishly. He was still very aware that she hadn't said yes yet... but she hadn't said no either. Clearing his throat he stepped back, and even after kneeling on the grass there was a place in the back of his mind that was highly amused by the fact that he was still basically on her eye level. Another spot at the back of his awareness was also conscious of the fact that there were others around, and they were probably starting to take notice. His eyes were only for the beautiful dark-haired woman before him though as he opened the box and held it out to her.

"Mei," he started, hoping he could at least do this next bit right. She had to know what this meant - what she truly meant to him. "I'm not a young man any more, and I can no longer be the world's number one hero. I can no longer save the day like I once could, or do so many of the things I was once able to. But when I'm with you, it feels like all that matters so much less. You make me feel like I'm still the man I used to be - you make me remember who Yagi Toshinori really is, and not just who All Might was. You've helped me learn how to be human again, and that being human is okay." He swallowed, mouth feeling far too dry as he worried he was still not getting the words just right. "You are a woman who knows just how to bring out the best in others, even when you don't realize you're doing so. Your drive to help and make the world a better place is explosive and beautiful too - just like a firework - and I can't wait to watch the show." He wasn't sure how, but he pulled on a gentle - albeit shaky - smile again, even as he saw her own start to tremble and a hint of moisture gathered at the corner of her eye.

"From the very first day I knew you, I would have followed you anywhere - you know that?" he admitted, face scalding from the blood rising over the sharp cheekbones. "And from today until the end of my life, I promise to do just that. If you asked for the moon, I'd find a way to Detroit Smash it down from the sky - quirk or no. If you asked for my last breath, I'd give it willingly. I'm completely and unequivocally yours, Hara Mei... My future might be uncertain, but one thing I am certain of, is that I want you to be in it for however long I have. So... Will you marry me?" Toshinori finished, honestly amazed and quite proud of himself for being able to get it all out. Cheesy and sappy as the words might have been, they were all one-hundred percent truth.