Mute

16 | Crush? Absolutely

I faced Midoriya quickly, ducking my head, though I knew he'd already seen my bright red face. I never blushed, but damn, her laugh had just been so captivating and adorable.

Midoriya chuckled nervously. "It was her laugh right?"

I nodded, humiliated. He clasped my shoulder. "At least now we know for sure you like her!"

Yeah, with that reaction just now it was impossible I didn't. I'd suspected it for quite a while now, especially when I saw her in her school uniform. But I'd never had a reaction quite like this. I don't think I'd ever reacted to anything this way.

"How do I make this go away?" I asked, gesturing at my red face. Even my ears felt hot.

Midoriya laughed. "Anything cold helps."

I lifted my hand. "Like this?" I let the air around it cold until my hand was frosted in ice.

"Yeah! Just press it against your face!" I obliged, relieved a moment later when I felt the heat recede. Minutes later I was back to normal, just rattled slightly.

"Ah! Are you two the fine young gentlemen this boy was cheering about?"

I turned quickly, my eyes widened as they drifted up to meet Glaciers grinning eyes. He was at least Aizawa's height, but he radiated a much more friendly and confident aura, more like All Might, but far more approachable.

"Yes! Midoriya and Todoroki are amazing! They came to meet you cuz they live here and hadn't heard of you!"

I glanced at Emiko hurredly, but her gaze was fixed on the hero, her eyes shining. If Glacier didn't like me, would her opinion of me drop? I tried for a tiny smile. "I don't know if we're as amazing as he says, but we are trying to become great heroes like you."

Glacier sat cross legged in front of us, grinning widely. "Well son! I can already tell you're going to be amazing! Tell me, was that an ice quirk I saw you using?"

"Yes sir."

Midoriya freaked out behind all of us. We ignored it. I was afraid he might faint if I so much as said his name.

"Cool! I'll be looking forward to seeing you on the news! May I impart some wisdom on you young men?"

My chest felt lighter, I'd never been talked to like this by a hero, as though I was their equal. Aizawa treated us like students, All Might treated us like we were his loved subjects, but this man? He acted as though we were on the same level, as though we were coworkers who'd happened to bump into one another.

"Please!" Midoriya exclaimed, sitting eagerly.

"Just have fun and love your job, the people look up to you, but if you don't think you can do it, they don't think so either. But above all, you can't be fake." He flashed a smile at us. "Seriously, no one likes a fake person."

Akito saved us by clapping. "Do you think I could be as great as you one day Glacier?"

"Absolutely! What's your quirk son? I might be able to recommend some heroes to look at." He grinned at the child, and I stared in astonishment. He was like a dad, an honest to goodness father. Not like mine, but one you'd want.

"Rain! I'm not very good at controlling it yet, but I can make rain using the clouds!" He beamed.

"Rain eh? Have you looked at Fall? She's pretty good with liquids. Maybe try Luna, she's good at teaching people how to control their quirks, she has a youtube channel."

"Cool! Can we look her up when we get home Emi? Pretty please?"

Glacier grinned, waving at someone who was insistently waving him over. "Sorry, I've got to go, but it was great meeting you kiddos." He rubbed Emiko's hair as he stood, and she beamed. "Here, my personal number, I like to give it to aspiring heroes such as yourselves." He handed us each a card, and I stared at him.

"Thanks so much!" Midoriya and Akito exclaimed, holding their cards to their chests.

Emiko nodded vigorously, and I glanced at her. Glacier grinned. "Bye kiddos, I'll see you on the news, or maybe I'll meet you out on the field." He turned and walked away, his thick cloak swaying behind him. Akito and Midoriya started cheering and fanboying together. I stepped away from them and towards Emiko.

"That was incredible of him." I commented.

She smiled up at me and I realized just how blue her eyes were. Yeah, they were blue, it was obvious. But I was so close I could see where the shades differed, and where the dark outer edge melded into the much lighter inside. Her eyes disappeared and I realized a second too late she had turned her head to watch the hero leave.

How many times today had she caught me so off guard? How many more times would she do it? Would she ever realize she was doing it? I shook my head quickly. "Why don't we all go home?" I suggested.

Midoriya got my hint. "Yeah! I'll take Akito home with the stuff, can you guys fold up the blanket and bring that?"

Emiko nodded and I smiled gratefully at the green haired male. The pair grabbed a bunch of stuff and set off while we began folding all the blankets. I noticed Emiko looked cold, and pointed it out.

"Are you cold?"

She glanced up at me, pulling out her phone and typing up a quick response. I nodded. "Your jacket is in the basket then." While she continued folding I slipped off my jacket. I remembered Kirishima said it was mainly to lend a girl your coat. I wasn't sure if it was actually manly, but I knew everyone had agreed and that this would keep her warm.

"I can regulate my own body temperature." I explained as she abruptly looked up at me. She hesitated, and I smiled softly before picking up some of the folded blankets. She slipped her arms through my sleeves before picking up the few extras. I noticed it was too big on her, and that she looked adorable in it.

"Glacier is your favorite hero?"

She nodded, a smile visible on her face.

"Why?"

She adjusted for a minute, and pulled out her phone, carrying the blankets awkwardly. I casually took them and added them to my own pile, pointedly ignoring her frustrated glare. After a few seconds she showed me the phone, and I scanned the words.

"He used to be afraid of his quirk, He's a hero that actually overcame his fears, besides, he's really sweet to everyone."

I nodded. "He seems to be. He talked to us like we were equals. Like old friends." I smiled slightly at her. "If that makes sense."

She shook her head with a smile, and I recognised she understood. She honestly was adorable. I wanted to take her back to the aquarium, if only to watch her smile more. She opened the front door, and we heard Midoriya and Akito cheerfully chatting in the living room. She set the blankets on a chair while i got Midoriya. He waited at the end of her driveway for me, and I waited for her to finish with Akito, coming to the door and smiling while showing me her phone.

"Thank you for coming today, you and Midoriya both. Akito and I really enjoyed hanging with you guys."

I smiled and she lowered her phone. "Tomorrow's sunday, and neither of us have school, would you like to go to an aquarium with me?"

Her eyes lit up and I knew I'd found the best place for us. She'd probably never say no to the aquarium.

"I'll pick you up at noon?"

She nodded eagerly and bounced up on her toes to hug me. I gratefully hugged her back. If it meant she'd hug me, I'd take her to the aquarium everyday. I flashed one more smile before making my way to Midoriya. He didn't start teasing me until we were three streets away.

"You don't even need help Todoroki! You're doing great on your own!"

I glanced at the sky. "Do you think so?"

"Yeah!"

"How do I know when its working?"