𝑶𝒖𝒓 𝑺𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝑷𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒖𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 | {Completed}

Chapter 11 | Captain Iida and Mr Bakugo

Lyme was a delightful experience, not just for me but for Mina and Eijiro. I think having children puts unnoticed stress on one's mind.

The wind whipped at my dress as I walked along the pier of the beach, the salty sea spraying into the air.

"Miss Uraraka," a voice asked. Breaking out of my daydream, I looked up.

"Captain," I exclaimed, surprised. Deku nodded and gestured me up beside himself and Himiko.

"This is Captain Iida," he said, introducing the man next to him, with the dark blue hair. I smiled brightly and stepped forward to shake his hand.

"I'm Ochaco Uraraka," I said, "Where did you meet Captain Midoriya?"

"At sea of course," Captain Iida replied with a hint of a smile, "we were part of the same fleet towards the end of the war and our crews rather liked each other."

We had started walking again, Captain Iida and I just behind the others.

"Why did you go to sea for so long as time without returning? I know Captain Midoriya had special reasons," I said, noticing Deku stiffen. I hadn't meant for my words to be so harsh.

"Oh, well," Captain Iida stammered, his face falling so much I was worried he'd cry, "my wife died a year ago."

"Oh my."

We were silent for a time. I looked over at Captain Iida's forlorn face and felt my heart clench. I knew what it was like to lose someone you loved, but this must he double my heartache. I suddenly had an idea.

"Could you tell me about her?" I asked.

Captain Iida looked up, surprise in his expression. I suppose everyone else he'd told had simply comforted him and changed the subject. But I wasn't like that. 

I expected him to refuse, but instead, he smiled.

"She was an amazing woman," he said, "her name was Mei and a more interesting soul you couldn't find anywhere. We were married a year upon meeting - of course, her mother disapproved, my being a lowly sea Captain. But Mei-" He chuckled, "-Mei said that she did not care, that she loved me and that poverty would not stop her."

"Oh Captain," I laughed, "You had yourself, one strong-minded woman."

Captain Iida laughed as well.

"Indeed I did."

Just then, I felt a small spark of envy and self-disgust creep in. Here was this woman who had refused to have anyone stop her from marrying the one she loved just because of poverty. Why couldn't I had been that fierce, that strong-willed? I wasn't that type and knew it. I needed to take my mind off my regrets. This definitely was not a great time for self-pity.

"What did you and your wife like to do together?" I asked.

Captain Iida blushed.

"Poetry," he muttered.

"Pardon?"

"Poetry, Miss Uraraka. I like poetry, and I have a passion for writing it as well," he replied, still blushing.

"A respectable art," I observed, "I myself prefer the written word, but there many excellent poets. Do you hope to become one yourself?"

"Oh, no," Captain Iida laughed, "'tis simply a pass time. The sea is my calling."

"It is a beautiful place," I said, tilting my face up to inhale the salty smell.

"Captain Midoriya seems to think so as well," Captain Iida said, a little too innocently. A dry smile twisted my lips.

"Yes, well, we all have our similarities, do we not?"

"Your quite right, Miss Uraraka."

He gave me another innocent smile. I chuckled. Captain Iida was a pleasant man, I enjoyed his company.

"Miss Uraraka," Captain Iida started, "what do you think of Captain Midoriya?"

This question surprised me, and I blanched.

"W-what ever do you mean?" I stammered.

Captain Iida smiled knowingly.

"What do you think of Capitan Midoriya?" he repeated.

"Oh, well, I......" I mumbled, "he's very gentlemanly, very kind as well. I like him."

"He seems to like you too," Captain Iida replied, conversationally, "he talks of you often."

"Oh, does he?" I squeaked. Captain Iida laughed.

"But of course," he said, "he thinks you very beautiful, Miss Uraraka."

"Oh, well, he is very.....handsome," I replied.

Captain Iida laughed again.

I thought I could enjoy this man's company.

*****
I lifted my skirts to walk over the puddle just in front of me, feeling the cool air whip my face. Lucky my bonnet was on tight.

Suddenly, without warning, I felt a droplet of water splash onto my shoulder. Other followers closely behind and all too soon it was showering. I put my hands above my head and hurried toward the nearest shop. Inside, I bumped into someone.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" I gasped. Looking up, I was startled to see it was the man from the hotel I'd run into the other day. His eyes were still just as firey, but there was a certain fondness in them this time.

"Miss Uraraka," he said. My mouth fell open.

"I'm sorry, sir, but how do you know my name?" I stammered.

The man chuckled.

"I don't believe we've introduced ourselves. I'm Katsuki Bakugo, Miss Uraraka, and I was your father's lawyer for a time. Until things got....well. Until things changed," he said. A sudden viciousness flashed through his handsome eyes.

"Oh, I wasn't aware...." I smiled, "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mr Bakugo."

He bowed.

"The pleasure is all mine," He said, "Miss Uraraka - is there a possible time that I might call on you? Perhaps we could go on a walk?"

My face heated up.

"Of course. When would you like to make that, Sir?" I asked.

Mr Bakugo checked his pocket watch.

"How about tomorrow? Will 5 pm work?"

"Oh, yes."

"I look forward to it, Miss Uraraka. But for now, I must leave. Pity really, for I would like to get to know you better, a pretty lady such as yourself," He said, smoothly.

I blushed again.

"Thank you, sir. I look forward to it as well," I replied.

"I will see you soon," he murmured, taking my hand and giving it a kiss that he held a little longer than necessary before heading out the door.

"Goodbye!"