Melting his Icy Heart [Todoroki Shouto x Soulmate!OC]

Ch 32: Aquarium Date

The pair walked to the nearby aquarium, Akari knew the path by heart as she had visited the aquarium multiple times throughout the years.

Various types of fish swam in the giant aquarium. Each fish had various colors as they swam on their giant playground. Shouto's heterochromatic eyes flitted between the different fishes.

"It feels relaxing being here." Shouto commented, his gaze still on the fishes. "I've never been to an aquarium before."

"Really?" Akari asks, not expecting that. Then looks back to the aquarium, as she adds, "I love coming to the aquarium, I've always felt an affinity to water, probably because of my quirk."

Akari taps the glass and using her quirk, makes a flurry of bubbles appear within the fish tank.

Shouto's lips slightly curve upwards at the small display of her quirk.

The pair keep on walking and looking at different fishes of various sizes and colors. Before long, they see a sign that has a picture of penguins and advertizes the times for the daily penguin shows. Akari's blue eyes brighten at the sight before she quickly skims down the times. "Look Shouto! They'll have a penguin show in 15 minutes! Let's go!"

Shouto barely has the time to nod before Akari grabs his hand and rushes in the direction of the penguin show. Before long, they arrive at the show and begin looking for empty seats near the front.

"Great! We even managed to get great seats!" Akari grins.

Shouto gives her one of his rare gentle smiles as he nods at her. The sight warmed her heart. From what she gathered from Shouto's comments of never going to an aquarium or to the mall, it seemed Shouto had lived a very reclusive life. She wanted to show him many new wonderful places.

Before long, the penguin show started. The trainer began introducing the penguins before doing many tricks with them such as having them jump in between a circle the trainer held. They were able to see the penguins underwater as the tank was a see through one. The penguins swam with ease in a group. Overall it was an entertaining show, Akari noticed just how attentive Shouto had been with the show and she could tell he liked it.

Afterwards, they walked to the aquariums merch store. Akari mostly wanted to window shop unless she happened to really like an item. What she didn't expect was to see Shouto grab a penguin plushie and hand it to her.

"For you." was all he muttered as he sported a soft blush on his cheeks.

"Are you sure? It's really cute but you really don't have to get me anything." Akari replied as her own cheeks flushed.

"I insist. It's small and cute, just like you." He said as his eyes flickered between the plushie and her.

Akari's blush only deepened from his directness and before she could say anything, he ripped the tag off the plushie and went to purchase it. Akari stood still, not moving as she simply let out a happy sigh and hugged the penguin plush close to her chest.

The pair continued looking at the rest of the aquatic animals the aquarium was showing such as an octopus, some starfish, a tiny shark, seahorses and many others.

As they walked, Akari couldn't help but notice the aquarium was filled with couples. A fact she had purposely ignored in her previous visits but didn't decide to ignore it this time as she actually came with a date for the first time.

Wait, is this a date?

She decided to believe it was as just earlier they had confessed their feelings which would mean they were a couple.

The thought of officially becoming a couple made her heart giddy as she become uncharistically bold and decided to hold his hand.

They had previously held hands before, but it was the first time it had been in this context. Especially when it was her who initiated the contact.

Even so, her heart was beating hard as she was still nervous to see how he would react. Shouto was looking at the turtles when he felt the warmth of her hand on his, his heterochromatic eyes widened slightly and he looked at her with surprise in his features. Akari's cheeks reddened even more but now from embarrassment as she began to let go of his hand, but before she could completely let go of his hand, he took his hand on hers and squeezed it. She looked back at him and he was lightly blushing but still gave her a rare smile.

"Don't let go." He muttered to her.

She could only nod as her heart beat rapidly inside her chest.

We really are a couple!

They kept walking hand in hand and saw more animals, as they continued to chat, the embarrassment from earlier seemed to have disappeared. After awhile they decided to eat in the cafeteria of the aquarium.

"Oh... they don't have soba." Shouto muttered in a dejected tone after looking at the menu.

"Yeah I guess they are kind of limited with their food options." Akari replied.

"I guess I'll have a donburi bowl." Shouto decided after browsing at the menu

"I'll have takoyaki balls and strawberry milk shaved ice as dessert." Akari smiled.

—-----------

"I love their strawberry milk shaved ice! Definitely the best I've ever had!" Akari grinned as she walked with Shouto. They had finished seeing the whole aquarium and were now heading out.

"I enjoyed my time. Thank you for showing me the aquarium, Akari." Shouto said to her with a soft expression.

"Of course!" Akari smiled. "And I'll be happy to show you plenty more places for our next date!"

"Date..." Shouto muttered, pensively.

Oh gosh, was this not a date?! I thought we were a couple already, was I wrong?

"I know we're soulmates, but I feel I should still ask you officially." Shouto told her, with an earnest expression. "Akari, will you be my girlfriend?"

A bright smile appeared on Akari's face and her worries evaporated.

"Of course!"

A smile spread on Shouto's lips. Not a soft, small smile, or his warm rare smile but an actually big smile.

Her heart only beat harder from seeing yet another one of her soulmate's rare smiles that seemed to be reserved for her only.

Ooooff! So much fluff! Well they are finally official! Again, I know it's short but I want it to make it short so I could focus on the Stain arc asap.

Hope you enjoyed the fluff, cause angst is coming!