Saving Me [Monoma x Reader]

24. Saturday

"Well, you certainly clean up well."

My outfit consisted of a pair of jeans and a simple [F/C] hoodie with a modern design and some Japanese text on it. Given, I was wearing my nicest hoodie and my nicest pair of jeans and my nicest sneakers to top it all off. I wasn't trying to impress anyone, especially not the guy who stood in front of me, but I wanted to dress well whenever I went out. Still, I didn't really expect that kind of remark from him, but he could've easily been making fun of me, too.

I skeptically peered at Monoma, who was still curiously eyeing my outfit from head to toe. "...I don't know if I should be creeped out... or surprised," was how I slowly started as I crossed my arms over my chest. The two of us were standing in front of U.A.'s gates. It was where we agreed to meet for tonight, since there was no way in hell I would give him my address to pick me up. "And I doubt you're giving a sincere compliment anyway."

His mouth arched into a confident smile. "I can be nice."

I still squinted at him. "Says the guy who blackmailed me. I'm not buying it."

Monoma let out a single "ha!" before passing me with an amused glance and casually sauntering down the sidewalk. "Fine, you don't have to. But you are buying me dinner. So, where are you taking me?"

I wanted to superman-punch him in the fucking spine. The nerve of this asshole. Glaring daggers into his backside, I growled in resentment and begrudgingly stomped after him. He wore a white, button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up just below his elbows, and had a nice pair of fitted, khaki shorts for bottoms and dark brown loafers for shoes. Had this been in an alternate universe, I might have been staring at the back of a decent date, but NO. I was staring at the back of a stuck-up scumbag.

Exhaling a hot breath, I huffed to answer his question. "Somewhere not too far from here."

"Could you at least be a little more specific? Or is it that you want to surprise me?"

"Just... stop talking and you'll see it for yourself..!" I bristled, shoving my hands into the pouch pocket of my hoodie as I marched forward. I could've easily explained where we were going, but I was in no mood to entertain him any further. It wasn't as if he needed my help, though. He was perfectly capable of entertaining himself.

"You know, if you just wanted to pull me into a dark alley for some private time, you could've just asked."

Hardly five minutes had passed and I felt like I already had a stroke.

What did I do to deserve this suffering.

When we reached our destination, Monoma's eyes widened, but I didn't know if it was because he was impressed or unimpressed. Knowing him, it was probably the latter.

"I didn't know what kind of food you like," I admitted, "So I figured we could go here."

In front of us were a bunch of booths lined up down a small street with globe lights strung up across the area. It was a street food kind of set up, with all kinds of cuisine and colorful banners hanging from the stalls. Since there were plenty of options to choose from, I thought there had to be something Monoma would like, or so I was foolish enough to believe.

"Hmm... street food..." he hummed, his tone leaning towards disappointment.

Of course he has to complain..!

I shot a sharp scowl at him. "Look, if you don't like it, then-"

"No, it's fine," Monoma sighed. "Considering the thought you put into this, I suppose you're not completely hopeless."