Solo

A rise in ranks. Maybe?

The café was warm and inviting, its soft yellow lights casting a cozy glow over the wooden tables and plush chairs.

The scent of freshly brewed coffee and decadent desserts filled the air, making the space feel like a little slice of heaven.

Despite the late hour, the café was buzzing with energy—no doubt because word had spread about the bands from the competition being nearby.

Luckily, with a quick word to the manager, I'd managed to secure a private area for us at the back of the café, away from the main hustle and bustle.

We were shielded from the crowd by a heavy velvet curtain, and as soon as we stepped inside, the noise from outside faded into a comforting murmur.

Kami immediately flopped onto one of the large, cushioned chairs, sighing dramatically. "Man, I thought I was gonna pass out from all that adrenaline. This place is perfect."

Mina plopped down beside him, her eyes already scanning the menu. "Totally. And it's even better that we don't have to worry about getting mobbed by fans. We can just relax and pig out."

Kiri took the seat across from them, grinning as he stretched out his legs. "I'm all for that. Let's order everything on the menu and see how much we can eat before they kick us out."

I laughed as I slid into a chair next to Kiri, the exhaustion from the day's events starting to catch up with me. "Just remember we have practice tomorrow, guys. Don't want to be too sluggish."

Kami waved a hand dismissively. "Pfft, we'll be fine. A little sugar never hurt anyone. Plus, I think we deserve to indulge a bit after today."

"Can't argue with that," Mina agreed, leaning back with a contented sigh. "But seriously, Deku, thanks for treating us. You really didn't have to."

I shrugged, giving her a smile. "It's no big deal. I'm just glad we all get to hang out like this. It's been a while since we've had time to just relax."

Kacchan, who had been uncharacteristically quiet since we arrived, finally spoke up.

He'd taken a seat at the far end of the table, his arms crossed as he leaned back in his chair, watching the rest of us with a neutral expression.

"Yeah, well, don't get used to it. We still have a long way to go if we're gonna win this thing."

His words were blunt, but I could hear the underlying determination in his voice. He wasn't wrong—we did have a lot of work ahead of us. But for now, I wanted to focus on celebrating how far we'd come.

"I know, Kacchan," I said softly, meeting his gaze. "But that's why it's important to take a breather every now and then. We'll be ready when the time comes. Trust me on that" I smiled.

He held my gaze for a moment longer, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he was trying to gauge something.

Then he let out a small huff and looked away, but not before I caught the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"Whatever, nerd."

Mina, oblivious to the brief exchange, clapped her hands together as the waitress arrived with our menus.

"Okay, guys, let's do this! I'm thinking we start with the chocolate cake—oh, and maybe the strawberry shortcake too. And definitely some of those fancy drinks they have."

Kami leaned over to look at the menu, his eyes widening. "Ooh, they have that triple-layer caramel cheesecake! We have to get that."

Kiri chuckled, shaking his head. "Man, you guys are gonna be bouncing off the walls with all that sugar."

Mina stuck out her tongue playfully. "Worth it."

As the others debated what to order, I found my attention drifting back to Kacchan.

He was still watching the group with that familiar look of disinterest, but I knew him well enough to see that he wasn't really annoyed.

If anything, he seemed content to just sit back and let the rest of us take the lead.

I couldn't help but smile to myself.

For all his bluster and rough edges, Kacchan had always been there for me, pushing me to be better, even if it wasn't always in the most gentle way. And now, here we were, closer than ever—both as bandmates and as something more.

The waitress returned to take our order, and before long, the table was filled with an assortment of desserts and drinks, each one more decadent than the last.

Kami wasted no time digging into the chocolate cake, while Mina and Kiri started on the cheesecake and shortcake respectively.

I took a sip of my coffee, savoring the rich, slightly bitter flavor. The warmth of the cup in my hands was comforting, and I felt a sense of peace settle over me.

This was nice—just being here with my friends, enjoying a quiet moment together.

As I set my cup down, I noticed Kacchan was still nursing his own drink, a simple black coffee. His expression was pensive, as if he was lost in thought.

I hesitated for a moment, then decided to break the silence.

"Hey, Kacchan," I said softly, just loud enough for him to hear over the chatter of the others. "You okay?"

He glanced up at me, his eyes narrowing slightly. "What, you worried about me or something?"

I shrugged, giving him a small smile. "Maybe. You've been pretty quiet tonight."

Kacchan stared at me for a moment, then let out a sigh, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "Just thinking, that's all. About the competition, about what comes next. You know how it is."

I nodded, understanding all too well. "Yeah, I get it. There's a lot riding on this. But I know we can do it. We've come this far, right?"

He scoffed, though there was no real heat behind it. "Damn right we have. And we're not stopping here."

There was a pause, then Kacchan's expression softened just a little. "You were good out there today, Deku. Better than usual."

I felt a flush of warmth at his words, even though they were delivered in his typical gruff manner. "Whats that meant to mean." I huffed before pauseing "Thanks though."

He looked away, a slight frown tugging at his lips. "Don't get used to it, nerd."

I couldn't help but chuckle at that, feeling a rush of affection for him. "Wouldn't dream of it."

The others were still busy with their desserts, oblivious to our quiet conversation. I took another sip of my coffee, feeling the comforting warmth spread through me.

Despite the challenges ahead, I knew we'd be okay—as long as we stuck together.

Kacchan seemed to sense my thoughts, because he suddenly reached out and gave my hand a quick, firm squeeze under the table. It was a brief, almost hesitant gesture, but it spoke volumes. I glanced at him, surprised, but he just looked away, his cheeks faintly pink.

"Don't read into it, idiot," he muttered, his voice barely audible. "Just... don't overwork yourself, okay?"

My heart swelled at the concern hidden beneath his gruff words, and I squeezed his hand back before letting go. "Read into what" I smirked "and I won't, Kacchan. Promise."

He didn't respond, but I could see the tension in his shoulders easing just a bit.

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As we finally left the café, bellies full and spirits high, the night air was cool against my skin.

Kami, Mina, and Kiri were still chattering excitedly about the desserts, their energy seemingly endless despite the late hour. Kacchan walked beside me, his usual scowl softened by the night.

"Hey, Kacchan," I said quietly, falling into step with him as the others walked ahead. "Thanks for tonight."

He glanced at me, his expression unreadable. "For what? You paid the rediculous bill"

"For being here, and everything," I replied, feeling a little embarrassed by how sincere I sounded. "Also I said I would pay."

He didn't say anything for a moment, then he sighed and shoved his hands into his pockets.

"Tch. You're an idiot, Deku. But... yeah. You too."

I smiled at that, the warmth in my chest growing stronger. "Guess we'll just keep being idiots together, then."

"Yeah," he muttered, his voice a little softer. "Guess we will."