The Proximation of Hello and Goodbye

6

Izuku is buzzing with excitement as he makes his way up to Ena's apartment. One good thing that comes from Masashi being out of town is his chance to spend some quality time with Ena and Akasuki. It's not something that happens often due to Masashi's boundaries and Izuku's preference to be around him most times anyway. But, when Masashi is out of town, almost anything goes. Ena was the first to realize it and she's been taking advantage of it ever since. As soon as Izuku knew Masashi would be gone for a while, he knew it would only be a matter of time before Ena approached him with plans for a hangout. She approached him yesterday, two weeks after Masashi had been gone, wanting to have a hang out at her place. Izuku hasn't been able to stop thinking about it since, and now that the time has finally come he can't wait. It's been so long since the last time they've been able to do something like this that the idea of having some alone time with his friends feels almost more like a miracle than something normal people do.

The door swings open. She nods toward the living room of her apartment, her hands occupied with tying her hair into a ponytail and she finds herself unable to speak due to the lit cigarette between her teeth. Izuku smiles and walks into the living room to find Akasuki already laying on the couch. Ena plops down on the end of the couch, pulling Akasuki's feet into her lap. She finishes with her ponytail and pulls the cigarette from her lips and exhales, "Glad to see you finally made it."

Izuku chuckles, "Glad to see I waited long enough."

"For what?" Akasuki asks.

Ena laughs, "You know what I always say, Su. Vapes for brass tacks and cigs for big racks. Looks like little Izu remembers more than I expect him to."

Akasuki kicks Ena playfully, "I told you that slogan was awful. Just say you have cigarettes after sex and get it over with."

"They also come in handy when I'm stressed though. Can't let you go around thinking that my prized Seven Stars are reserved only for you. What if I finally decide to take someone seriously?" she teases.

"Oh, and who are you going to take seriously? Katsu? You two seem to be friendly," Akasuki taunts.

"Friendly sums it up. People aren't on my mind. Shit is, though," Ena explains, taking another drag from her cigarette. "You're just about as precious to me as my mother's constant nagging to get a job in my studied field."

Akasuki's hand flies to her chest, "Aw, baby, you're making me blush."

She winks, "Anything for the girl who relieves my stress as much as she causes it. Speaking of which, I would really like Fridays off more often."

"No," Akasuki quips.

"You wound me," Ena sighs. She snuffs her cigarette out in the ashtray and rests her arms behind her head. "Enough of this shit, we have a sexually frustrated man in our presence. What are we going to do first?"

Izuku begins to speak as the door to the apartment opens unbeknownst to him. "I'm not sexually frustrated."

" Yet ," Akasuki adds.

"Right. Your hand can help you see stars, but some thrusters will take you there," Ena nods. "And your thrusters took a field trip. Useless, that one."

Izuku groans, "Why do you have to make everything sound so--"

"Funny?" Ena asks. "It's natural."

"I was going to say crude . Besides, I don't like when you talk bad about Masa."

"I'm sorry, but he just makes it so easy," she pouts. She leans back in her seat and smirks back at him, replacing the fake sympathy she'd just displayed. "Besides, being crude is what makes me funny," she sighs. "I am such an unappreciated talent."