(this is what y'all have been waiting for!)
Quiet Nights and Loud Friends!
The night after the Provisional Hero Licensing Exam, exhaustion hung heavy over the group, but their spirits were high. They'd fought through every wave of challenges thrown at them, and even though the results were yet to be revealed, a victory like this—surviving, working together—needed to be celebrated.
Katsuki, for once, had made the suggestion.
"A restaurant?" Denki had blurted out, half expecting Bakugo to propose something more along the lines of 'training until they dropped.'
"Yeah, idiot," Bakugo growled, though his tone lacked its usual bite. "A place I know. It's not cheap, so don't embarrass yourselves."
"Wow, Bakugo recommending a place to eat. This must be special," Mina teased, giving a sly wink to Junko, who grinned back.
The restaurant he had chosen was an elegant Japanese-style establishment tucked away from the more bustling parts of town. It wasn't the kind of place anyone had expected from Katsuki, who usually came off more like a street food guy. The building had traditional sliding doors, and they were led to a cozy private cabin, complete with tatami mats and low wooden tables. The lanterns hanging above cast a soft, warm glow, and there was a calmness in the air, a sharp contrast to the chaos of the day.
"This is fancy," Kirishima said, his eyes wide as they entered the space. "I didn't expect Bakugo to know a place like this."
Bakugo clicked his tongue but didn't bother responding, simply leading the group to their seats as if he owned the place. Junko slid into her seat next to Katsuki, her eyes scanning the intricate menu in front of her. The soft murmur of their friends' conversations filled the room, and Junko could feel herself relaxing into the warmth of the atmosphere.
But the menu was overwhelming. Every dish sounded incredible, and she couldn't help but imagine trying everything. Her stomach growled, making her realize just how hungry she actually was.
"I think I want to eat the whole place," she muttered, half to herself, half to Katsuki, her eyes wide as she skimmed over the various options. She heard a chuckle beside her.
"Tch, calm down, Junko," Katsuki said, glancing over her menu. He pointed to an item with a slight nod. "Get the sashimi platter and the grilled mackerel. It's good here. They don't mess around with the fish."
Junko gave him a playful side-eye. "What, now you're picking my food too?"
Katsuki smirked. "You'll end up regretting it if you order five things and can't finish it. Just trust me on this one."
"I hate that you're probably right," she sighed, though she couldn't help but smile a little.
Meanwhile, the rest of their friends were already in full swing with the teasing.
"Look at those two, all cozy with their food recommendations," Mina teased from across the table, leaning into Kirishima who chuckled along with her.
"Yeah, Bakugo's giving love advice now too. What's next?" Kirishima added with a grin.
"Shut up," Bakugo barked, though his ears were burning red.
Denki dramatically clutched his chest, letting out a loud, exaggerated sigh. "It's too late for me. Bakugo and Junko, sitting next to each other like that... I've lost her forever!"
Before he could go any further, Kyoka smacked him on the back of the head with one of her earphone jacks. "You're not even in the running, idiot."
"Ow, Kyoka, what the hell!" Denki whined, rubbing his head but grinning all the same. "Can't a guy be dramatic?"
