My Hero Academia Symbol of Hope

A date

As Kai and Grand Torino emerged from the abandoned lab, the cool evening air hit them, a stark contrast to the dusty, suffocating atmosphere inside. The weight of what they had discovered still hung heavily over Kai, but there was a new sense of purpose within him. He had uncovered more about his past, and more importantly, about his sister, Kara. Now, his goal was clear: he had to find her and bring her back.

Grand Torino stood beside him, watching the young hero with a knowing gaze. "We'll find her, Kai," he said, his voice steady and full of confidence. "We'll get her back, and we'll stop All For One."

Kai nodded; determination etched into his features. "I know," he replied. "I won't stop until she's safe." He clenched his fists for a moment, his thoughts on Kara, but then something else flickered in his mind, something that caused his tense expression to soften slightly.

Without warning, Kai's body lifted off the ground as he prepared to take flight.

"Where are you going now?" Grand Torino asked, raising an eyebrow as Kai floated a few feet in the air.

Kai smirked, his usual calm demeanor giving way to a playful grin. "I've got a date."

"A date?" Grand Torino said, his eyebrows shooting up in mild surprise. "With the Shield girl, I assume?"

Kai blinked, slightly taken aback. "How... how did you know?"

Grand Torino chuckled, crossing his arms as he looked up at his grandson. "You forget, Kai. I'm your grandfather. I know more than you think about what you're up to."

Kai chuckled softly, shaking his head in mild disbelief. "Did Dad tell you?"

Grand Torino nodded, the amused grin never leaving his face. "He might have mentioned it. Your father was never good at keeping secrets from me."

Kai smiled, feeling both embarrassed and reassured by his family's nosiness. As he prepared to take off, he gave his grandfather a final glance. "I'll see you later, Grand Torino. Thanks for everything today."

Before Grand Torino could respond, Kai shot into the sky, disappearing into the clouds with a soft whoosh of wind.

Grand Torino, watching him vanish into the distance, shook his head with a smirk. "Toshinori owes me money," he muttered to himself. "I'm definitely winning that bet."

Kai flew through the city, the wind rushing past him as the bright lights of Musutafu glittered below. The events of the day weighed heavily on his mind, but his heart felt lighter knowing that he had a date waiting for him back at his apartment. As he soared over the city skyline, he couldn't help but think about Melissa. The thought of her had a way of grounding him, giving him a moment of peace amidst all the chaos in his life.

Within minutes, he reached the familiar sight of his apartment building. He descended gently, landing softly on the balcony outside his living room. As his feet touched the ground, he heard the door slide open and a soft voice call out.

"Kai?"

He turned, and the moment his eyes landed on Melissa, his breath caught in his throat. She stood in the doorway, dressed in a stunning outfit—a simple yet elegant evening dress that hugged her frame perfectly, her blonde hair cascading down her shoulders in soft waves. The way the light from the apartment cast a soft glow around her only made her look more radiant.

Kai's usual calm composure immediately faltered, and he could feel the heat rising to his cheeks. He tried to speak, but all that came out was a stammered, "Uh..."

Melissa blushed, clearly noticing his reaction, but she smiled warmly. "Is... is this okay? I wasn't sure what to wear for our dinner."

Kai's mind raced as he took her in. She looked absolutely beautiful, and he realized that his own outfit which was far from suitable for a date like this. He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "You... you look amazing. I just—give me a second! I'm not exactly dressed for the occasion."