My Hero Academia: Romanticise Like A Raven

TOWN - Part 3

The group was easily identifiable because of Iida, who was yelling like we were in school, and everyone else ignoring his nagging... like we were in school. What else should I have expected from school friends who met up?

"Ho ho! You two are last again!" Iida guffawed upon our arrival, "And now we're all here!"

"Quick, let's go before it shuts!" Ashido flailed.

We then all speed-walked over in a huddle, Ashido keeping an eye on a disgruntled Kaminari and Kirishima this time. Momo walked next to me, and she rested her hand on my shoulder affectionately.

"I can't delay any longer," I whispered to her, "I have to tell him how I feel."

Momo hadn't expected me to say anything, let alone this, "Are you really ready?"

I hugged myself, "I hope so. It doesn't seem like there could be a better time."

Her eyes sparkled, and then she gave me a thumbs up. I looked around briefly before I found him, and then I disappeared into the crowd, trying to get there. He was at the back of the group and now I found that I was too.

Shoto looked tired. But then he was always tired - this was no different. If anything, this was better.

"Todoroki?" I tried to get his attention, but I had to ask again, "...Todoroki?"

Shoto looked up sleepily before smiling faintly, "Tokoyami. Is everything ok?"

I took a deep breath. Here we go...

"There was- um, there was something I wanted to ask you." I stuttered, sliding my hands into my pockets.

Shoto noticed my nerves and asked, concerned, "What is it? Are you ok?"

I almost said it immediately, but I couldn't. I had to build up first. But even before that, I held him back so that we were further behind the group. I couldn't handle anyone questioning me if they overheard.

I swallowed dryly, "Would you e- ever consider... um, dating a man?"

Shoto seemed confused, "Why do you ask?"

I didn't respond, and instead looked awkwardly at the ground. What was I doing? Of course I wasn't ready.

Shoto shrugged after I didn't respond, and finished me, "Well, no. Probably not. But why did you ask?"

That was it, then. It was... over. I'd wasted my time. I stopped being able to hear the words he was saying, but he kept talking. I started to sink into myself. I was drowning. No. No. No. It was what he'd said. In the end, I was just embarrassing... and also wrong. There was nothing else to it.

Shoto waved a hand in front of my face. I turned to him hazily and then I started to feel sick. The unyielding, uninterested face of Shoto entered my vision as the sadness squeezed my stomach until there was nothing left. I'd failed.

Dark Shadow whimpered softly beneath my shirt. I hugged them and I managed to croak out, "I- I- I... I need the, uh, yeah. I'll catch up in a minute."

I started to run away. Shoto was nonplussed and called my name. Then I heard Momo yelling for me too. I heard her footsteps pummel the ground, and her fingers gripped hard.

Tears spilled down my face angrily, "He doesn't want me! This was all for nothing!"

I watched her tear up to, but she couldn't form any words to help me.

"I was right. I'm not good enough." I sobbed, "I'm sorry I wasted your time."

"No... no... that's not true!" Momo cried.

"It is true." I sniffed, "I'm going. I'll see you tonight."

I pulled away from her and hugged myself. I'd be the only one who'd ever be doing that. Momo called my name again but I didn't respond.

I was such an idiot. Why did I ever think that he'd ever say yes to me? I'm inherently unattractive! I'm irrelevant! I hang around at the back of the class and say nothing! Mezo was right to hate me. I'd messed up our friendship and it was all my fault.

Even being alive was an insult to Mother. What would she say? She'd be so disappointed in me, for everything. I needed to focus on my studies. Now, I'd just made a fool of myself.

Dark Shadow materialised next to me, maybe wanting to comfort me. People bumped into them, and I glared at those people but they didn't care about us. We were on our own. As I'd said, happiness was temporary. Brooding was forever.

"Excuse me, mister?"

I turned around and the little girl had returned from earlier, the one who seemed afraid. She looked incredibly guilty, so I turned to see what she had to say.

"I'm really sorry I made you cry, mister." she sobbed, her round little face trembling with melancholia.

I looked solemnly down at her before crouching to be on her level, "It's not your fault."

The little girl continued to look at me. She then reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a little red lollipop. She looked at it longingly before holding it out to me.

"I couldn't take it, it's yours." I whispered softly. Little kids really had no filter.

"It makes me happy! It'll make you happy too." the little girl surmised.

"I'd be much happier if you enjoyed it for me, little one." I assured her. She beamed, nodded, and then took it back.

"That was very mature of you, Mimi. I'm very proud." the mother said to her daughter lovingly, patting her little head. The mother then hefted her into her arms.

I stood up too.

"I feel like I know you from somewhere..." the mother thought out loud, before snapping her fingers, "Oh! You're one of the UA kids who did that Sports Festival on TV! It was really impressive that you got third. There were so many participants, at your age I wouldn't have even passed the first round!"

I bowed gratefully, "Thank you very much."

"You hear that, Mimi?" the mother smiled to her daughter, "This boy's a superhero!"

The girl licked her lollipop and grinned, "Wow, mister! That's so cool!"

"Why, thank you." I chuckled warmly.

The mother smiled again before adding, "We need to get going, but it was cool to meet you."

The mother nodded pleasantly at me, and the little girl waved over her shoulder. I waved back and once they were out of sight I let me hand fall again.

My stomach still churned. My heart still drilled into my head. My fingers were still clamped. But I no longer felt hopeless, nor useless. After all, I hadn't actually told him I loved him. Maybe I still had a shot?

After all, Jin was right - people my age were more accepting.