My Hero Academia Symbol of Hope

No time for parties

Kai and Izuku entered the spacious, luxurious lobby of the I-Island Tower, where the party was being held. The gleaming floors reflected the elegant lighting, and the space was alive with the hum of conversation from other guests arriving for the event. Kai, towering slightly over Izuku, wore a calm but confident expression as they stepped inside, taking in the grand setting.

As they moved further into the lobby, they spotted a group of familiar faces. Lida stood with Todoroki, Kaminari, and Mineta, all waiting near the entrance. Lida, as always, looked slightly tense, his rigid posture suggesting that punctuality was at the forefront of his mind.

"Huh, where are the others?" Izuku asked, noticing that some of their classmates were missing.

Lida, with his arms crossed, let out an exasperated sigh. "They haven't arrived yet. Does punctuality not mean anything to them? We agreed to meet here at the same time."

Kai, ever laid-back, walked over to Lida and gave him a friendly pat on the back. "Relax, Lida. It's a party, after all, not a mission. No need to be so stiff," he said with a laugh, his easygoing nature already diffusing some of the tension. "Save that energy for the dance floor."

Lida blinked, slightly taken aback by Kai's words, but the corners of his mouth twitched into a small smile. "I suppose you're right, Kai. But still, it's important to—"

Before Lida could launch into a lecture about the virtues of punctuality, the large glass doors to the lobby slid open once more. A cool breeze swept in as Ochako, Kyoka, and Momo entered, all of them dressed elegantly in formal attire. Their outfits drew the attention of everyone, and the boys couldn't help but be impressed by how different they looked compared to their usual hero uniforms.

"Sorry for being late," Momo apologized, a soft blush coloring her cheeks as she stepped forward. "There were a few last-minute adjustments with my dress, and Kyoka got held up with her earphone jacks."

"Yeah, yeah," Kyoka added, smirking a little. "Can you believe it? My accessories were being difficult."

"Don't worry about it," Kai said with a welcoming grin. "We're just glad you made it."

Ochako beamed, glancing around at the gathered group. "Wow, this place is amazing! I've never seen anything so fancy before." She twirled slightly, her formal gown flowing around her as she took in the grandeur of the lobby.

Todoroki gave a small nod of acknowledgment to the girls, while Kaminari and Mineta were a little less subtle in their reactions, Kaminari offering a low whistle of appreciation. Mineta, of course, looked like he was barely holding himself together as he gawked at them.

The doors to the lobby slid open once again, and this time, Kai's attention was pulled in a new direction. Melissa Shield entered the room, her confident stride catching everyone's attention, but especially Kai's. She was dressed in a stunning, deep blue gown that flowed gracefully as she moved, her golden hair cascading in waves down her shoulders. The elegant simplicity of her outfit highlighted her natural beauty, and there was a calmness in her demeanor that always left Kai a little off balance.

For a moment, Kai froze, his heart skipping a beat. His usual confident expression faltered, and a light blush crept up his neck and into his cheeks. It wasn't often that something threw him off like this, but Melissa had a way of doing that effortlessly. He felt the heat rising in his face as she spotted him and smiled warmly.

"Kai!" Melissa's voice broke through the hum of the lobby as she approached, her eyes lighting up when she saw him. "You look amazing."

Before Kai could respond, a sudden blare echoed through the room, the shrill sound of an alarm cutting through the air.