Flufftober 2021

Day 4: Sparklers and Fireworks

It was the last Friday of the summer and the Fireworks Festival was up and running well into the night. Cortez was wearing her pale purple Yukata with mint-green wrappings and Shouto was wearing a dark blue Yukata with white wrappings. They were currently waiting near the fountain for the rest of their schoolmates who were able to join to arrive so they can enjoy every last bit of the summer vacation together. While they were waiting, Cortez had a nervous thought as she realized that the rest of the gang never knew where she was living or that they were a couple.

"Should we tell them?" Cortez asked timidly and Shouto just slightly mumbled in thought.

"I am fine either way with whatever decision you decide." Shouto said point-blank. "I just want you to be comfortable."

Cortez flicked his forehead. "Liar, I can see your eyebrow twitch."

Shouto blushed when she called his bluff. "You know I don't show a lot of my emotions, even if I am nervous it's hard for me to reveal."

"True, but I can see right through the facade."

"Which is also why Bakugou is afraid of you."

Cortez feigned innocence. "Pommy? Afraid of me? Now why would he be?" She then giggled in one of her wrapped hands. Shouto then smiled and chuckled himself. Ever since she has regained some light, the Thermo teen was much more playful and loves to tease. Shouto and his siblings laughed a week ago when she took a jab at Endeavor and his reaction was priceless. It amused his father, surprisingly, as when he turned to leave the room they subtly heard a huff and a chuckle.

"Heeeeey!" The couple looked up and saw Uraraka, Midoriya, Bakugou, and Tsuyu walk toward them.

Cortez waved back. "Hola, minna! How was your summer!?"

"Shitty as usual." Bakugou said in his usual irritated tone. Midoriya looked sad at that statement and immediately put the minty-haired girl in protective mode.

"Oh? Was it because you lost to Bunny at the water shoot?" She said coyly and the blonde shuddered. Midoriya was snapping his fingers though.

"I thought I saw you at the Lavender Festival with Todoroki-Kun. You looked like you had a lot of fun."

Cortez nodded and smiled, which the group noticed was much more vibrant. "Yep, I had a lot of fun. Shouto-Kun was kind enough to take me."

Tsuyu then walked up to her best friend. "Is it just me or do you seem much happier? I haven't seen you this bright since your mom passed away."

Midoriya and Uraraka facepalmed at Tsuyu's bluntness while Bakugou and Todoroki just looked passive, except there was a tick mark on the blonde. Cortez just sighed, "You have always been blunt, Tsuyu-Chan." She said finally. "Yes, I have been feeling a lot lighter, I don't know if you heard but my father was arrested at the beginning of summer break and I felt like some kind of chain that was holding me was broken."

Midoriya lowered his head, "I-I did hear about a domestic assault involving 2 of the UA students, I wanted to call you when I heard it was at the Cortez residence but Aizawa Sensei told me the situation and asked me to give you time." He then started to tear up. "I wanted to know if you were ok but I also did not want to intrude."

"You baka," Cortez said and hugged the green-haired friend. "I am glad you were respecting some distance, but I didn't mean to make you feel bad. A lot of shit was going on and I had to figure out how to get rid of my past demons." She then looked at Todoroki, and he nodded. "I guess Aizawa Sensei also told you where I was staying for the summer?"

"Yes, and I only told Tsuyu-Chan as she was getting worried too. She had not heard from you all summer, really."

"Dammit, Bunny. Why do you guilt trip me like that? I deserved it though." Cortez said and looked at her Frog Quirk friend. "I'm sorry Tsuyu-Chan."

"Even though I am hurt you did not tell me anything, but maybe it was for the better." Tsuyu said and Cortez was looking at her in surprise. "You know my bluntness, I wouldn't think that would have a good way to heal your mind, don't you think?"

Everyone else nodded and eventually everyone laughed and chuckled, ending the conversation. Then Cortez grabbed Tsuyu and Midoriya's hands and gently pulled them forward followed by Uraraka, Todoroki, and Bakugou.

"Let's go find the perfect place near the beach. I'm starving! I hope they have some good food!"

"As long as it's not anything weird like that pumpkin lavender ice-cream." Todoroki said and Cortez stuck out her tongue at him.

"She likes weird stuff too?" He heard Bakugou say and the dual-haired teen nodded. "Deku's the same way, damn nerd."

"Hey Pommy, why don't you give us a little show before the big guns arrive!"

Bakugou developed a big tick mark. "Stop calling me Pommy, and I am the big guns!"

"Please, you don't hold a candle to the spectacle! Now hurry up or I will have to blackmail you!" Cortez said with a tick mark of her own. That scared the blonde teen.

"Damn Dragon Bitch," He muttered, then sighed in defeat. Whether she has blackmail material or not he's not taking it to chance. "All right, I'm coming!"

Todoroki smiled at the scene before them as Bakugou was emitting small sparks from his hands and Uraraka noticed it.

"You like Aura-chan, don't you." That blindsided the IcyHot Hero and he blushed hard. He then heard the brunette giggle and looked at the scene happily as well. "You know, to tell you the truth, I had noticed that other than Deku-kun and Tsuyu-Chan you were the only other person she was open to, and you were opening to her. I thought you two may be able to make each other happy, and it looks like I was right."

Todoroki nodded and looked back at the group in front where he eventually saw Cortez kick Bakugou upside the head and yell at him for making Midoriya cry. He was shaking in fury but could not retaliate. "Yes, and she seems more at peace ever since I saved her from her father. I am blessed that she and I were able to meet."

"Hey!" Cortez yelled, getting the other two's attention. "The fireworks are about to start! Hurry up or we will miss it!"

Minutes later, they had found the perfect location facing the ocean, and not one minute later the fireworks started to dance into the sky, revealing lots of beautiful colors and shapes. Everyone laughed at Midoriya when a firework of All Might appeared as well and he was ecstatic. Todoroki and Cortez were holding hands and subtly looking at each other before looking back up at the spectacle. This was a fantastic night, and the best part is, the Festival will still be around until the morning.