Maybe It's Meant to Be

"Keep your chin up, Yushuna-senpai! Our day off is going to be so much fun," Inasa slings his arm around EJ's shoulders, giving them a tight squeeze.

"You guys know I didn't even want to come," EJ says and shrugs him off. "Unlike you and Camie, I don't care about U.A. And I really don't care about their school festival."

At that, Camie pipes up from behind them on the sidewalk. "EJ-chan, don't be silly! I'm just here to see the super cute ikemen."

EJ rolls his eyes, refusing to look back at her. He already knows that she's pouting from the tone of her voice and he doesn't want to see it.

He spots U.A. High School up ahead. Its distinctively shaped buildings and sealed off-grounds are impossible to miss. Although it's still early in the morning, there's already a line up at the blue arch of the entrance.

"See? I knew it was a good idea to get here as soon as it opened," Inasa says proudly as they join the queue. "The day's just begun and look at how many people there are!"

Camie giggles. "Y'know what, maybe EJ-chan's soulmate is here. Do you guys see anyone who looks like they'd call him a dumbass?"

Much to EJ's chagrin, she and Inasa burst into a fit of laughter. He knows what the words on his forearm say already, but he glares at them anyway. Get out of my way, dumbass, it reads mockingly.

One of his earliest memories is of his mom explaining the soulmate tattoo to him. She simply said that there was someone special in the world who loved him very much and that first words they'd say to him are inked on his skin as a reminder. Once you find your person, she whispered, your mark will light up.

Then EJ grew up and entered the real world. All his classmates and friends had sweet, if not mundane, soulmate tattoos on their arms: hi, nice to meet you; what's your name; cool shirt. He couldn't help but resent the fact that he was destined to be with someone so unpleasant. It felt unfair, for whatever reason.

"Aren't you guys tired of making the same jokes?" EJ sighs. He's not really upset since he knows they're just teasing, but he definitely is cranky from waking up early.

Inasa composes himself before waving his hands in an apology. "Sorry, senpai! You know we don't mean it."

"But your reactions are, like, so funny," Camie butts in unhelpfully.

Before EJ can respond, they've reached the front of the line. Greeters bow to them and they're each given a map of all the classes' events scattered across campus. He thinks it's both impressive and careless that U.A. is holding such a large-scale festival after all the attacks they've been under.

"Wow, we even get maps," Camie gushes. "Class 1-A's doing a music thing in the gym, so we totally have to check that out."

"That sounds great! We can go to support Todoroki and Bakugo." Inasa aggressively nods.

EJ knows he's referring to the U.A. first-years who took the remedial course alongside him and Camie. His own quirk got him through the provisional licensing test just fine, but his friends had to make up for their performances with extra classes. Todoroki and Bakugo are largely why the three of them are at the festival to begin with.

Although EJ doesn't have a strong opinion about either, he's proud of Inasa for becoming friends with someone he used to hold a grudge against.

After checking his phone, EJ says, "If you guys want to go to that, it's starting in less than half an hour."

Inasa gasps and hurriedly scans the map for directions.

----

As they take in the sights of the festival, Camie is eager to point out everything she finds remotely interesting. "Guys! Did you see that maid cafe? It looks so cute!"