Chapter 53: Amusement Parks Hand Holding and Crêpes
Izuku giggled happily as he dreamed. He was little again, smiling brightly while playing on a seesaw. The person on the other end, hidden behind a shadow, giggled as she kicked off the ground and rose upward while Izuku sank to the ground. "I wonder, would it be okay if I asked Uraraka if I could hold her hand on our date?"
The girl at the other end of the seesaw waved at him as she reached the top. Her little pink bean-tipped fingers looked so soft.
Some of the grownups, their figures seeming to blend in with the shadows cast over the playground, chuckled as they watched him play. Some seemed to not care, looking off in the other direction. One, a woman, kept her hands on the seesaw seat carefully as Izuku pushed off the ground for his turn to go up into the air. "Kid, if you don't hold her hand today, she'll have every right to kick you in the pants."
The auburn-haired cutie at the other end nodded definitively.
A man, soft spoken and frail, chuckled from a park bench. "Bold."
There was a murmur of agreement from the other adults, though a bald man put some distance between himself and them.
The woman rolled her eyes. "How about we let the only one of us that had an actual relationship speak here." She flashed her left hand, the glint of gold reflecting in the light. "And has proof she knows what she's talking about."
The bald man raised a hand but was shot down. "Youradvice can come later." Izuku giggled when the woman ruffled his hair. "Way way way later."
Izuku wasn't sure what the adults were talking about there. He was too distracted by how pretty the other girl's laughter was as they kept playing on the seesaw.
While Izuku was sound asleep, a smile on his face, the sunlight peeked through the suite's curtains, slowly brightened the room and caused one of the room's sleeping occupants to stir. The pillows that had been lined up down the middle of the bed were now scattered over or under the sheets. With the wall gone, both occupants were now wrapped up in each other's arms and Ochako had her face smooshed into Izuku's nape.
Groaning as the light hit her face, Ochako peeled her face off Izuku, eyes squinting at the light as she looked at the world through a soft haze. Disoriented from waking up in the unfamiliar room, Ochako wiped at her mouth with her gloved hands as she tried to roll over. Izuku's arms however made that a little difficult. The poor boy, even still asleep, was not ready to give up the soft squishiness he had been holding all night.
Ochako took a second to figure out where she was, and who was with her. She was in a honeymoon suite, waking up after an evening of passionate—
She was in the sleeping arms of her—
Ochako's mind started filling in the missing parts, painting a picture that got the young girl smiling, hungrily. With a deft flick, she discarded her gloves, and pushed herself up and swung a leg over Izuku's side, straddling him while the comforter pooled around her thighs. Licking her lips, Ochako let her fingers dance over Izuku's shirt, which had ridden up, giving her a tantalizing view of his stomach.
"Now why'd you go and do something silly like put your clothes back on, Deku?" she asked the snoozing young man under her. His face was like an innocent babe as he slept, unaware of the crouching predator above him. That adorable face was far from the gasping, mewling, and deliciously moaning one from last night. "But I guess that means I get to unwrap my honeymoon present again andwake you up."
Ochako's fingers started pulling at the bottom of Izuku's shirt, but paused, before she reached for her own top. "Bah, stupid thing. Why am I even wearing this?"
Her annoyance at her top did give her a moment to pause. It wasn't just her oversized shirt she was wearing, but the bralette too. Izuku had, for some reason, put his clothes back on after their honeymoon night, and apparently, had spent the time to put her clothes on too. Her gym shorts felt itchy and constraining. But how? She might have been exhausted afterwards, but she was pretty sure she'd have noticed if someone was dressing her. She also felt… strangely clean. Had Izuku wiped her down?
Inconsistencies started piling up, and Ochako's dreamy early morning haze started to clear up. Last night wasn't their honeymoon. Today was the morning of their first date. She and him were in their sleep clothes because it's what they had fallen asleep in last night. So, Ochako was straddling a boy she hadn't even kissed yet, while in the process of pulling off her own clothes, so she could give said boy a morning wake up call he'd never forget.
…
And suddenly, Ochako was wide awake.
Her eyes widened in horror and she yanked her hands away from her shirt like it had burned her. To her credit, she didn't scream in embarrassment, but her sudden jolting around had been enough to stir Izuku awake. As she watched his eyes start to flutter open, Ochako used her instincts to get herself out of the situation she was in. The thud she made as she threw herself off the side of the bed was enough to make sure Izuku didn't doze off and he sat up, rubbing his eyes as he looked around the room with a smile. "Hmmm that was a nice dream…" When he looked to his side, he titled his head, noticing he was alone. "...Uraraka?"
"Eep!"
Crawling to the side, Izuku looked over and found Ochako splayed out on the tan tiles. "Uraraka?"
"G-g-good morning Deku! Sleep well?"
"…Yeah… Why are you on the floor?"
"…"
"…"
"…Morning stretches."
There was a short pause before Izuku smiled brightly. "Oh, okay. Then is it alright if I get my shower first, then?"
Ochako nodded. "Yup. Totally fine." When she heard Izuku roll off the bed and start getting his stuff together for his morning shower, Ochako went back to rubbing her head, wincing and cursing at herself for landing head first onto the tile floor.
After taking his shower and getting changed for their date, Izuku had offered to go down to the hotel's cafe and see what the continental breakfast was like, offering to get them both a plate so they could eat before heading out. He then sheepishly added this way Ochako could have some privacy while she changed.
Ochako peaked over the fogged glass door from the other side of the shower. "That… would be great actually. I wanted to… put a little effort into what I'm going to wear and that would be loads easier if I'm not changing in here."
Izuku blushed. "Extra effort." He then looked down at his own clothes. A black t-shirt with a thin light green hoodie on top and left open, and the sleeves rolled up. He had on some jeans and his red shoes. Had he underdressed? He had tried to pick out something that looked nice and he didn't have anything All Might branded. Which meant a surprising amount of his clothes weren't an option. He also didn't pick any of his shirts that had writing across the front.
"Deku, you look great," Ochako quickly stepped in, practically reading his mind. "You look really… really good. So don't worry."
"Oh!" Izuku was now blushing after the compliment. "Then I'll… see you downstairs…" He gulped and added, "I can't wait to see you."
Closing the door behind him, Izuku could feel his heart racing as he made his way to the hotel's cafe. Ochako was apparently putting in effort for today, which Izuku assumed meant she was going to be wearing something she wouldn't normally wear and, oh, did that make his poor heart go all aflutter.
His blissful mood took a bit of a downturn however, when he made it downstairs and found All Might sitting at one of the tables, waving at him. "Young Midoriya! Good morning."
…Oh right… our chaperone…
"Good morning All Might." Izuku waved as he walked over to the table. He glanced around, noticing that while the other patrons and staff were whispering and sneaking, there wasn't a huge chaotic crowd. They were keeping a respectful distance.
"Informed the staff I was coming to pick you and Young Uraraka up. And I might've let them know that if I was able to enjoy a nice breakfast with you and not be too overwhelmed by people I'd be willing to sign some autographs on site. Let the guests know too and promised that they'd be first in line. If the morning was nice and calm."
Izuku blinked then nodded. "Ah. I suppose that would be enough."
All Might gave Izuku a once-over. "I have a comb if you want to do anything to your hair."
Izuku's hand went up and he racked his fingers through his green curls. "What's wrong with my hair?"
All Might held up his hands. "Nothing, nothing." Deciding not to poke the bear he moved on, "So, where's Young Uraraka?"
"She's getting ready. I was going to get our breakfast while she finished up."
"Well that's nice of you. Well, let's go see what they have. We'll stack up some plates for you two before we head out." All Might stood up and started walking over to the first buffet section. "I'm sure you're excited to get your day started."
Izuku pulled at his collar nervously before he took a breath and straightened himself up. "All Might," so that he was looking upwards towards his hero while trying to make sure he could keep eye contact. "I don't think it's appropriate or fair that you come with Uraraka and I on our date."
Truthfully this had been something on his mind for a while. Granted, it had been pushed back given the huge bombshells he had been hit with from Melissa. But afterwards, especially after All Might was only just able to have dinner last night, it had worked its way back into the forefront of Izuku's mind.
All Might paused as he browsed through the hotel's impressive selection of muffins to look down at Izuku. "Young Midoriya, as I told you before we came here. As your chaperone I—"
"You're giving a speech at the I-Expo reception aren't you? Probably going to mingle with the other heroes and scientists?"
All Might paused and nodded slowly. "I… was planning on doing some public shows."
"Some competitions with Star and Stripe too, right?" Izuku continued on. "Even if it's a short speech, talking to all those people and making sure you're in good shape to do those little events the expo wants you and Star and Stripe to do, how much time would you need?"
All Might blinked then scratched at his neck. Ahhh I think I see where this is going… Right, so Young Midoriya has the brain cell this morning. Uh oh.
"All Might, I'm sorry but I'm not going to have my date with Uraraka cut down to under an hour." Izuku raised a finger up to point out what he guessed might be All Mights counter. "And I don't think it'd be safe for your identity if you came as Mr. Yagi, after you told my mom and everyone around us that you came to chaperone us."
"…Ahem, well… for the sake of making sure things stay… appropriate."
"All Might." Izuku actually sounded a little offended. "Ignoring the fact that Uraraka would literally throw me into the sun if I tried anything, it took me over a year and a half to work up the courage to ask her out. I'm not doing anything to jeopardize today or my friendship with her. I'm not going to do anything inappropriate."
…How do I tell him only twenty percent of my worry is about him…
"And, if your next point is about safety," Izuku stretched out his arms, encompassing the whole island, "you let me walk around by myself when I go to and from school. Where at any moment, the League of Villains could leap out of a van and jump me. I-Island is the safest place on the planet, and it's here you want to be a helicopter parent?"
"Okay!" All Might held up his hands in surrender. "You've clearly given this some thought."
"I have," Izuku said with confidence. "I could also just tell my mom that you—"
"I give. I give." First Izuku laid on the logic and now he was pulling out the dirty tactics. Even if All Might put his foot down to win the battle here, he would get eviscerated once he was back in Japan. "You and Young Uraraka may go on your date, unsupervised."
Izuku felt like an All Might sized weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Though this time it was only metaphorical, even though he was well aware of just how heavy All Might actually was thanks to all the piggyback training. While Izuku celebrated, doing a little cheer and hop, he landed just in time to see someone new enter the cafe, and his world came to a screeching halt. There were no thoughts in his head now. Just, "Uraraka."
Ochako tugged nervously at her dress as she gave herself another look over in the suite's vanity mirror. She adjusted the yoke waist of the pink boho skirt, trying to make sure the large ribbon hung down just right and that the hem of the skirt draped just past her knees. She then pulled at the ruffles that ran across the top of her white off the shoulder shirt, making sure they weren't rolled up over her arms. She stepped back, and turned, trying to keep her reflection in sight. Looking for any obvious imperfections.
Ochako was nervous. She wanted to look good. Hell, she wanted to look god damned cute today. She had pulled her hair back into a ponytail, so she was missing her normal side bangs. She had even applied a little extra makeup. But there was an extra layer to her worry. The shirt and dress had been something she had picked up the day Izuku had asked her out. Her local thrift store had some cute selections, but everything had been a size or three too big. Fortunately she knew how to sew. An useful skill to have when mending clothes was so much cheaper than buying new ones. But even if she was confident in her skills, only having a few days to work, on top of just being super nervous, had her looking at every one of her stitches with an extremely critical eye.
She did not want to go downstairs and have Izuku see her and think she looked like Cinderella after her step-sisters got their hands on her.
"It's fine," Ochako muttered to herself. "No bad stitches. It's fine. You're fine. You're as cute as a fucking button." Ochako did another twirl around, checking for anything that she could have missed before she took a breath, and decided that if she actually took too much time, Izuku was going to come back up for her, and she did not want to make up excuses for becoming the embodiment of the 'girl that takes too long to get ready' stereotype.
So finally getting her act together, she slipped on some sandals, grabbed her small pink handbag, and left to join Izuku for breakfast.
Reaching the cafe, her mood was a little dampened when she saw that All Might was already there. Apparently he was completely ready to perform his chaperone duties.
…Hurray…
Though Ochako did find it strange that Izuku was hopping around looking happy. So something must be up. But she didn't have time to think about it, because when Izuku landed and he finally saw her, he came to a stop and just stared at her.
"Uraraka."
All Might noticed her too and smiled brightly. "My word, you look wonderful, Young Uraraka. Doesn't she, Young Midoriya?"
Ochako wasn't sure exactly what reaction she was going to get when Izuku saw her. She knew what she hoped would happen. But, a cobbled together top and skirt could easily be a huge turnoff for him. So she held her breath and waited for Izuku to say or do anything. After a few seconds of nothing, she started to get worried. Had her stitching been obvious? Had she ended up making something ugl—
Sniff.
Izuku sniffled, and his lips began to quiver. At the same time, huge tears began to well up and cascade down his cheeks. Izuku was bawling his eyes out, which was not a reaction Ochako had prepared for. "D-Deku?!"
She took a fretting step forward while All Might, who was equally perplexed, asked, "Young Midoriya? What's with the water works?"
Through sobs and hiccups, Izuku was able to work out his answer, "She's. So. Beautiful."
All Might covered his face in embarrassment while Ochako now had to deal with the fact that she had literally just brought her date to tears, but in a good way. Which made her flush to a shade of pink that rivaled even Mina.
"Ahem, well," All Might coughed into his hand. "Maybe you would like to dry those tears and tell Young Uraraka the good news?"
"Good news?" Ochako asked as she walked over and pulled some tissues out of her handbag to help dry up Izuku's face.
Izuku nodded while Ochako dabbed at his face. "Yeah, I talked with All Might."
"Talked with him?"
"I convinced him that it wasn't appropriate for him to chaperone us. So, we'll get to go on our date, by ourselves."
More than a few heads turned in surprise at the second sudden jubilant cheer to ring out in the cafe. They might have questioned it more if not for a third, sudden, surprise. Bursting through the doors to the cafe, a young blonde woman rushed in, head on a swivel and looking like she had a bone to pick with someone.
"Uncle Might! Where are you! You don't just get to say you've going to oversee Midoriya and Uraraka's date and rush off like that! If you think I'm letting you crash their date like it's the dark ages, you have another thing coming!" Melissa stopped her yelling when she saw Izuku and Ochako, looking at her and then bursting out laughing and then All Might, who looked absolutely dejected.
"Come on, you all are making it sound worse than it was."
With things settled, Izuku offered to go and fix Ochako a plate of waffles so that the two could have a nice breakfast together before heading out. Ochako said she'd browse some of the buffet lines for some fruit and drinks and meet him back at a table. As she walked off, All Might, after making sure Izuku was off on his own, followed after her. With Melissa close behind, ready to drag him away if need be.
"Gonna grab yourself something?" Ochako asked as she picked up a tray and plate.
"Well while I'm here."
"Which wont be for much longer," Melissa reassured. "I'll make sure he keeps his word."
"You make me sound so dishonest," All Might said with a good natured laugh. "But before I go… Young Uraraka, I'd like for us to have a quick talk."
All Might's change in tone, and the fact he was speaking a little softer meant he was trying to be serious and keep this private. So Ochako made sure to give him her full attention. "Okay. Is there something wrong?"
"No no, nothing like that. It's just… I know you've been looking forward to this, haven't you?"
Ochako nodded. "I mean, the past few days have felt long since he asked me out."
"I mean you've been waiting for this a little longer than that." Ochako blinked but didn't say anything. "I've made it a point not to stick my nose into the two of yours… budding romance. But it's been clear to me you've held some strong feelings for Young Midoriya. Even before they turned romantic." Ochako was rubbing her neck nervously. Not really able to argue against that. "And now that those feelings have turned romantic, combined with your more… direct way of dealing with things thanks to your time spent with Young Toga and Miruko…"
All Might shifted nervously. Clearly he wasn't super comfortable about whatever he was going to say, but as Ochako's teacher, and as the hero that had spent over a year training Ochako, and seeing her grow, he knew he had a responsibility to say this. "I just want to make sure you'll… be responsible today. Since I wont be there to keep an eye on you and Young Midoriya."
Ochako frowned. "Be responsible?"
All Might put a hand on Ochako's shoulder. "I'm just asking you to… show some restraint today. He might be more… confident, given the circumstances, but it's still Young Midoriya we're talking about here."
Ochako wasn't entirely sure she liked the implications here. Arching an eyebrow as she asked back, "All Might, just what are you implying?"
"I'm not implying anything, Young Uraraka. I'm just letting you know…" All Might glanced over to make sure Izuku was still out of earshot as he finished getting the pair their breakfast waffles. "You're not as subtle as you think you are."
"I'm… not?"
"In many ways of speaking."
Ochako's jaw dropped. "Wait? Many?"
All Might coughed into his hand. "That Young Midoriya hasn't heard some of your more colorful language is something of a miracle at this point."
Ochako just stood there before her palm met her face and she groaned, "Fuck me."
"So… best behavior and all that… No… hanky panky."
"All Might, it's an amusement park. What kind of mischief do you think I could…" This time it was All Might that arched an eyebrow at her, stopping her from finishing that sentence. Obviously he knew very well the kind of 'mischief' a pair of lovebirds could get into. And knew that she knew that as well. "…No hanky panky."
Ochako hated the sigh of relief All Might had as he thanked her. "You don't think I'd actually do anything like that? It's our first date for crying out loud. Plus that's… just a whole different thing altogether. I have responsibilities."
"I don't think you would. And I'm well aware of your dedication to your dream. But, you're young and you're in love. Those two things can make for a volatile combination. Especially when both parties' feelings have been held back for so long."
"Uncle Might, I think you've made your point," Melissa said, patting him on his back. "I think things will be fine."
"Right. Right." The awkward air around teacher and student lifted as All Might sighed. "Well I suppose there's nothing left to say."
"Aside from you promising not to tell Deku I swear."
"Eh?"
Ochako crossed her arms. "I want to make sure you're not going to do something like warn Deku that I'm secretly a handful or something."
"I'm pretty sure Young Midoriya knows that you're a hand… a firecracker already. So I don't think he'd be offended or upset learning you have a construction worker's mouth,"
"Deku's not going to hear my potty mouth, because I don't swear around him. As far as he's ever going to know, I don't swear."
All Might just shrugged. "I'm just saying. It might be better to just let him know you inherited your parents' blue collar tendencies."
Ochako glowered. "I'm sweet and innocent whenever Deku's around."
"Ehhhhh." All Might's hand tilted back and forth. "That's not entir—"
"Oi!"
Melissa snickered as she snatched a muffin from the basket.
"All I'm saying is that maybe honesty is the best policy now that you're taking a new step forward with Young Midoriya."
Boy was it interesting the twin looks All Might got from Ochako and Melissa, who were behind him so he couldn't see how bullshit they thought that line was.
Ochako finished filling her plate with fruit for her and Izuku to share for breakfast. "I'll tell you what. I'll tell Deku I swear, as soon as you tell him you got a huge crush on his mom."
Gobsmacked would be the appropriate word to describe All Might at that moment. "Thought so." Ochako took her plate and left the pair while she went to have a nice privatebreakfast with Izuku. Leaving All Might to try to sputter out a rejection of Ochako's accusation. But she was long gone from the buffet section by then.
Scratching his neck and muttering more denials All Might turned, only to freeze when he saw Melissa looking at him. "I… she was just joking. I don't… I do not have a crush on Inko."
"Uncle Might, you tell me everything about this woman you're on a first name basis with," All Might winced at that slip up, "right now."
"Hey, so what were you and All Might talking about back at the cafe?"
After the pair had finished their breakfast, they were now almost to the pavilion where the attractions and rides were being held. Most of the time between breakfast and now had been commenting on the island itself or pauses of nervous silence as they would sneak glances at one another. It was during one of these last silences that Izuku decided to try and break the ice.
"Eh?" Ochako scratched her chin. "Oh… nothing important. Just All Might being… All Might."
No chance in hell I'm telling him All Might was asking me not to—
"Oh no, he gave you the talk too, didn't he?"
Ochako's mouth moved but no words came out. She had to take a moment and just look at Izuku, pointing at him in shock.
"Yeah, he talked to me this morning when I convinced him to let us get to be alone."
"Pfft!" Ochako stifled a laugh. "Seriously, what is up with that?"
"It's like he thinks we don't know how to behave."
"I know. It's insulting. Like I have anything to worry about from you." Ochako nudged Izuku with her elbow. "My G-Rated date."
"Oi, I'm totally capable of being PG. Maybe even PG-13," Izuku said with mock offense.
"Nah. You're too much of a goodie goodie. Now me, I'm the dangerous one here."
"Maybe to a bowl of rice." Izuku ducked as Ochako swatted at him with her handbag.
"Hey! Don't get cheeky!" Ochako warned. "You know what'll happen if we throw down."
"…I'll toss you into the ocean?"
Ochako's cheeks puffed out. "Deku!"
"I'm just saying, you shouldn't underestimate me," Izuku said with all the coyness of a goblin.
"Riiight, like I got anything to be afraid of here." Ochako walked a few steps ahead of Izuku and turned to face him, making a funny face at him. "Your Mom did too good a job with you. I've got nothing to worry about."
Izuku raised an eyebrow, then surprised Ochako when he closed the gap and got surprisingly close to her. Leaning down, he asked, "Hey, how about we go find a secluded area in the park and just make out?" It was the nonchalant way Izuku said it that tripped Ochako up. "We can just spend the rest of the day kissing and maybe give each other hickies."
Ochako stared, wide eyed. But while her brain was frozen, her mouth started moving on its own. "Ye—" Ochako quickly shut that answer down as fast as she could, and responded to Izuku with a playful shove. "Deku! I don't need to hear that coming from you! It's weird!"
Izuku laughed as he backed off and returned to Ochako's side. "But that's what it seems like All Might was expecting."
"He's just making sure we have our heads on straight. It's no big deal."
Izuku shrugged. "I guess. Still weird he said the same thing to you though."
Ochako gave Izuku a small sly grin. "Girls aren't all sugar, spice and everything nice, Deku."
Izuku flushed and rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "O-oh…. So when you started to say yes before. Was that part of that?"
Ochako straightened in alarm. "I never said that!"
"You said 'ye.'"
"I was going to say 'you're a jerk,' but decided not to since we're on a nice date!"
"…So hickies are a thing that could happen?"
Ochako covered her face. "Oh my god, please don't say hickies. You shouldn't know what those a…" Ochako's horrified rant trailed off when she heard Izuku start to chuckle at her side, before it devolved into a full on belly laugh. Lowering her hands and seeing Izuku just laughing at her flustered self, was surprisingly contagious, with Ochako soon joining him.
However, while the mood was comical, Ochako's competitiveness was not going to let Izuku have this win. So, as sultry as she could, Ochako plucked at the spaghetti strap that went over her shoulders. "Well, if you're feeling brave, my neck is totally defenseless."
Ochako smiled in triumph when she watched Izuku's eyes travel over her exposed shoulders and neck, before he whipped his head around, with a blush that made the tips of his ears turn pink, and little puffs of smoke wafted from his nose.
All Might was right. He may be more confident but he's still my Deku.
A short walk later and the two had reached the front gate to the amusement park pavilion, which was more a towering arch that ran from one side of the massive road to the other. Izuku and Ochako were taken aback just from the scale of the place. They had gotten a peek at the park when they arrived yesterday, looking down at it from I-Island airport arrival station, but they had still been far away. Being down at the same level, really put into perspective just how large this place was, and just how much there was to do.
Izuku might have had some idea, as he had spent time trying to plan everything out for today. But there was a huge difference between reading about the park's attractions and actually seeing them for yourself.
Ochako, who hadn't had any preparation for it, was just stunned. Not just from the sight of the place, but the sounds of all the rides and happy people walking around. And the smells from all the food and drink stands that lined the park's Main Street. Vendors and stores with foods from all around the world filled the air with an aroma of exotic spices and mouth watering sweetness.
Izuku turned, about to ask Ochako if she was ready to go, but paused as he looked at her. Her wide-eyed wonder was intoxicating. She wasn't doing anything other than taking the place in, and she was just beautiful doing it. Izuku's eyes then drifted lower, lingering on her hand. He vaguely recalled his dream the night before, the memory like a fair whisp in the wind. But while most was faded and gone, he did remember a question.
And an answer.
"Um… Uraraka?"
Izuku's voice, strangely timid but inquisitive, pulled Ochako's attention away from the giant amusement park, with all its awe and wonder, and directed it back to something that Ochako found equally awe inspiring and honestly just too damned cute. Izuku was shifting his balance from one foot to another while tapping his forefingers together like a little boy about to ask for a treat.
Oh, did that flip a switch in the poor young woman. Izuku, being cutely shy, was adorable and a sight Ochako wanted to see more of. But first things first, said pretty boy was asking for her attention. "Deku?"
Shyly, Izuku stopped tapping his fingers together and held out his hand, palm up, towards her. "Could I… hold your hand… as we walk around?"
Ochako had to almost physically restrain herself from snatching Izuku's hand out of the air and holding onto it for dear life. Instead, she gave him the gentlest smile she could and reached out her own hand, hovering it just over his. "Of course you can, Deku."
Ochako didn't take Izuku's hand, but waited for him to make the move.
Izuku, face flushed, closed the inch or so separating them and nearly cooed at how soft and cool Ochako's palm was. And when most of her fingers curled and she held his hand, her pads made the skin they touched tingle. It finally, truly dawned on Izuku that this was real, and that he was holding a girl's hand, Ochakos hand. His excitement bubbled over and he bounced in place like an excited little bunny. His exuberance was contagious as Ochako giggled, then, feeling bold, leaned over so that she brushed up against his side. "Ready to go?"
Joyfully, Izuku nodded and the two entered the park, ready to have some fun.
"I already told you, Young Uraraka was just making things up." All Might and Melissa had left the hotel, with him planning on returning to the Shields residence to rest up until the big night. With Melissa in his arms, he carried her towards the large amusement pavilion at her request, covering the distance in huge leaps and bounds.
Melissa side-eyed All Might. Her pokes and prods had produced nothing to really go off of, other than Inko was a good woman and Izuku's mother. "Do you have any pictures of her?"
All Might pulled his phone from his belt and scrolled through it quickly. Melissa noted he was going out of his way to make sure she couldn't see the screen. She wondered if perhaps he had pictures of himself in there while he was shrunken down. She really hoped that her uncle wasn't that dumb. "Ah, here we go. It's a photo of the family I was sent showing Young Eri settling in."
Melissa thought about asking who Eri was, but she had a feeling there was a story there, and she didn't really have the time. So she took the phone and looked it over. It was a selfie, with the phone held by Izuku. There was a little girl, Eri Melissa guessed, and then a woman. Short, round and obviously the person Izuku got most of his genetics from, Melissa was sure. There was a kindness in both their eyes that was unmistakable. "She's cute."
"Yes, Young Eri is an adorable child."
Melissa smirked up at All Might. "Wasn't talking about her."
The way All Might turned his head so he couldn't make eye contact with Melissa was telling. Her jaw dropped as the absolute schoolyard crushing she was seeing. Oh my god, this is gold.
Wanting to try and change the subject, All Might asked, "So… you'll keep an eye on them?"
"Smooth."
"Melissa."
Melissa rolled her eyes. "I got a few different booths I'm helping run today for school. I'll keep my eyes open for them, etcétera etcétera."
I'm going to let them do what they want of course, but maybe I'll have a little fun if they come to my attractions. For their benefit, of course.
"Thank you."
"So I know we just had breakfast but, hmmm," Ochako made a point to smell the air, thick with all the mixed aromas of the food, "I kinda want to start off today by browsing all the food stalls."
"There certainly are a lot of options… are those turkey legs wrapped in bacon?" Izuku turned to get a better look at one of the food stalls they passed.
Ochako giggled. "I can feel my arteries clogging just thinking about that."
While they kept walking down the park's Main Street, Izuku kept his head on a swivel, trying to see if he could find a particular food stall. As they got further in, the foods began to shift towards snacks and desserts and he finally laid eyes on the prize.
"You know, I haven't had one since I was a little girl," Ochako said offhandedly, following Izuku's line of sight, "So I'd totally be up for grabbing a crêpe later."
Initially excited that Ochako was onboard, Izuku then scratched his head. "Wait… How'd you…?"
"Toga might have given me some late night advice before we flew out over some of the things you might want to do. Apparently sharing a crêpe is a big deal for you."
Izuku flushed. "I mean… Don't you think it's romantic?"
Ochako gave Izuku's hand a squeeze. "Absolutely."
Ochako had to check to make sure she hadn't accidentally touched Izuku with all her fingers, the way he floated beside her after that. Then, his curiosity getting the better of him, Izuku asked, "What other advice did she give you?"
The smile on Ochako's lips and the faint blush on her cheeks made Izuku swoon. Ochako giggled before her eyes lit up. "Oh look, isn't that the same game the expo is going to have All Might play?"
Izuku looked over where Ochako was pointing, and it was as she said. A test of strength game, though Izuku could tell from the raid that the mallet was much more sensible. Standing around the game were several large men pushing and shoving each other as they riled themselves up as someone took their swing of the hammer.
Ochako smirked. "Want to give it a go?"
"Sure!"
Walking up to the game, Izuku could feel a few sets of eyes on him, sizing him up with scoffs. Izuku got flashbacks from over a year ago when he and Ochako had visited a gym. And all the muscle heads had been looking down on him then as well. The biggest of the group was up at the tower, hammer raised high above his head. Izuku noticed that the man's arms had what looked like train smoke stacks coming out of his shoulders, pumping out smoke and whistling, indicating he had some kind of locomotive Quirk. The man slammed the hammer down and sent the weight rocketing up the tower, only to peter out and stop about half way up, still well in the yellow.
"Gah! Damn it!"
The man running the attraction shook his head with fake sympathy. "Aw, too bad. Looks like you're still a ways off from the top."
"This is rigged!" The crowd of muscle men yelled.
"Gentlemen gentlemen, if you all want another go, I'm more than happy to take your money."
That got some groans and not a lot of takers. Apparently they had all had a go at the game. Izuku stepped up. "Are there any special rules? That man was using his Quirk right?"
There were a few chuckles from the crowd, but the attendant, seeing a new victim / contestant, immediately turned his attention towards Izuku. "Quirks are allowed, but you still have to swing the hammer yourself."
"So, no using your Psychokinesis to lift the hammer, Deku," Ochako spelled out.
"And what's the prize for winning?"
The attendant pointed to some tickets on the prize wall. "Hit the bell and you get fast passes for the attractions and rides here."
Ochako shoved Izuku up. "No lines Deku. Get us those tickets."
The men around the game laughed, claiming it'd take a real man to win, and if she wanted one, they'd be happy to take her out for a fun time.
Izuku's brow twitched, along with Ochako's. But instead of saying anything, he just walked up to the tower, paid the attendant the fee, and grabbed the hammer the other contestant had put down. Or at least tried to. While nowhere near as bad as the one that All Might and Star and Stripe were going to use, the thing still had to weigh a hundred pounds easily. The men all around were laughing, seeing the little man trying his hand at something none of them could do would at least provide some entertainment to soothe their own wounded pride.
Izuku huffed out a breath, gripped the giant mallet's long handle, and activated One for All and filled his body with five percent of its power. The men's laughter slowed when they saw the green lighting crackle and spark over Izuku's skin. They stopped all together when Izuku hefted the mallet over his head. Putting his arms and upper body into his swing, Izuku brought the hammer down and slammed it onto the tower's plate. The weight shot up and hit the bell loud enough that when it rang, more than a few heads turned from people walking by to see what had made the commotion. The men's jaws dropped while Ochako clapped and cheered Izuku on.
Smugly, Izuku walked over to the attendant and held up his hand. "I'll take those fast passes now."
The attendant looked at the game, like he was trying to figure something out, then back at Izuku. Grumbling, he walked over to the prize wall, and pulled off one ticket, handing it to Izuku. "Here you go. Your fast pass. Good for one person."
Izuku blinked. "Eh? Can't I use this for me and—"
"One person per ticket. And only one attempt per person."
…Wait, didn't he just say that he was willing to take that other guy's money?
Before Izuku could accuse the attendant of being a sore loser, Ochako walked up, dropped a few coins into the suddenly confused attendant's hand and marched over to the game.
"Wait miss, what are you—?"
Ochako grabbed the mallet, pressing her fingers into the handle tightly. She then surprised everyone, except Izuku, when she swung the thing high above her head with no effort what-so-ever. While even Izuku, with five percent of One for All, had to heft the thing, Ochako whipped the weightless, but not massless, hammer down and crushed the tower plate, rocketing the weight up and sounding like she damn near broke the bell with it. Dropping the hammer, and ignoring the gawking men, Ochako marched right up and held out her hand. "Ticket."
The attendant quickly fished out a second fast pass ticket and gave it to Ochako. Ochako snatched it, then turned to Izuku. "Here Deku." Handing him the ticket with the biggest, shit eating grin the boy had ever seen. "Look what I won for you."
Izuku quickly held out the ticket he had won. "I won this for you." Offering it to Ochako with a less smug, but still joyful smile.
The two exchanged tickets and hand in hand, walked off to find more games to play.
"Oh look! Kart racing!" Ochako pointed out a winding track that had karts darting and weaving around, some crashing into walls and more often, drivers crashing into each other.
Izuku gulped at the violence. "Is this racing or bumper cars?"
Ochako looked around before finding the kart racing entrance with a description of the race. "The karts are designed by the students of I-Island Academy, built with state of the art crash safety mechanisms. Drivers are encouraged to whip around the track as fast as they can, and should feel free to crash into anything or anyone without fear. It's just like your favorite name brand redacted kart game, just without the throwing projectiles." Ochako nodded and grabbed Izuku's wrist. "Yeah, let's do this."
"Wha!" Izuku was dragged inside, glancing back towards the track just in time to see a kart flip on its top and grind upside down the road, only to be righted when another kart slammed into it and flipped it back into its wheels. "Ummmm, wait. Really? This kinda looks intense… and you'd need to know how to drive."
"Pfft," Ochako blew a raspberry. "You don't think this is more intense than Hosu City do you?"
Izuku scratched his head. "I mean, that's not exactly a fair comparison."
"And I know how to drive. Daddy let me drive the work trucks on job sites when I was younger." Ochako left out that this was done when her mother was not around. Ochako then grinned. "Why? You afraid, Deku?"
Ochako knew she was stepping on a landmine, well, more like jumping on it with both feet, but she didn't care, because she knew what she was doing. Izuku's demeanor changed. His eyebrows lowered and his eyes got that little crazed sheen whenever he decided to do something reckless. Which when not in a life threatening situation, was kinda really hot, Ochako thought.
"I just didn't want to spoil the date by beating you in a game from the get go."
Aaaand the reckless hotness had passed. Now Ochako wanted to wipe that look off of Izuku's face.
After scanning their tickets and walking through the short fast pass line, Izuku and Ochako were getting led around by the kart racing attendants as they got the next batch of racers into their karts. Izuku, now getting a closer look, could see what the 'state of the art crash safety mechanisms' bragged about in the info signs were all about.
The tops of the karts weren't just made of roll bars, but also a clear dome. Transparent aluminum the student attendants called it. Strong, light and able to take any hit the drivers could throw at it. The seats too, looked more like they belonged on a fighter jet than a street kart. Overall, there was enough safety equipment installed to protect a driver even if they drove off the edge of the Grand Canyon. At least according to the attendant.
"So!" The attendant asked. "What karts would the happy couple like to drive?"
Izuku flushed. "H-how do you know we're a couple?!" While he was happy to be on his date, Izuku didn't want to think he was going overboard with public displays of affection and end up embarrass—
"Deku, we're still holding hands," Ochako said with an eye roll.
"Oh…"
There was a cute, but awkward silence from Izuku. During which he didn't let Ochako go.
The attendant coughed, realizing this happy couple must also be fairly new to the whole dating thing. "So, auto or manual?"
Izuku tilted his head, looking a little shocked and confused. "Wait, these karts have autopilot? Doesn't that make the racing unfair?"
"...Oh my god," Ochako facepalmed hard, "automatic or manual transmission, Deku."
"…What's that?"
Ochako turned to the attendant. "Give him an automatic please." Ochako loved Izuku very much. Buuut at this exact moment, she thought it best to get him into a kart as fast as possible before she died on the spot.
The attendant quickly got Izuku situated into a kart, strapped in and settled. He let him know a safety member would be by shortly to make sure he knew how to operate the kart. Then the attendant looked at Ochako.
"Stick," Ochako answered without being asked.
Soon after everyone was in their seat, and a quick health and safety speech was given, which was basically "don't get out of the kart on the track, as it's the safest place you can be," they were walked through the track itself, with a little display popping up in the karts screen, that was part of the overly fancy seats.
At least I won't get lost.
The track was relatively simple. It started out with a small left turn that went into a long straightaway, perfect for drivers with lead feet to really get going. The straight would then curve into a slightly brutal left that would require drivers to slow down, unless they were crazy enough to try and slide around. There was a second, shorter straight followed by another left turn that was quickly followed by a right, making something close to a S-bend. This came to the last straight of the track, before the last turn of the lap was another left, close to a one hundred and eighty degree turn before the racers would be back at the finish line. Easy.
Izuku really wished the safety instructor would stop saying 'easy'. As someone that had never driven before, easy was relative. Izuku looked up a few cars ahead of him, where he could see the top of Ochako's hair. He had gotten a look at her when she was led to her starting position. They had made eye contact, and Izuku knew then and there, that if she lapped him, she was going to ram him off the road.
Uraraka is going to kill me. She's going to turn me into roadkill. Maybe I should have invited Toga instead. At least the worst she'd ever do to me is stab me. And even then, she'd do it all kinky like… I'm a dead man. I don't want to die before getting a chance to kis—
"Racers! On your marks!" The sound system kicked on, alerting Izuku that he better get ready. One foot pressed firmly on the break, the other hovering over the gas pedal, Izuku got ready to switch and slam his foot down. In this race, he had one single trump card. When Ochako was in her own kart, Izuku had asked one of the safety members a single question.
Were they allowed to use their Quirks in the race?
The man had flashed him a thumbs up.
So while Quirk use hadn't been discussed at all by the other attendants, it wasn't against the rules. So, It's not cheating.
…
Izuku swore there was someone in the back of his head warning him that Ochako would kick his ass if he did this. But his counter was simple. Ochako would not accept a win if Izuku didn't do everything he could to win. So really, this was all for Ochako's peace of mind.
…
Just for a second, Izuku swore he could hear someone laughing, while a woman bashed her head against a wall.
"Get set!"
Izuku held his breath.
"GO!"
The light turned green and Izuku reached out with his Psychokinesis and picked all the karts around him off the track by an inch or two. With only seven other racers, it wasn't like Izuku had to lift up a lot of weight, but there was no way he was keeping everyone up in the air the whole time. Not if he didn't want to crash. So he slammed his foot onto the gas and rocketed off. When he passed Ochako's kart, he briefly got a look at her.
…Ooooh I might have over done it.
It's fortunate Izuku can't read lips, or he might have died from shock at the very choice four letter words Ochako was hurling at him. But once he was out ahead of everyone, he let his Quirk go, and the other drivers fell back to the road.
"— ND THEN I'LL TURN IT SIDEWAYS!" Ochako roared as she watched Izuku disappear around the first corner and her kart fell back to the road. Fortunately those safety features meant she barely felt a jolt from the impact. Not that she would have noticed anyway. No, Ochako was too focused on a single thing; catching up and turning Izuku into an asphalt stain.
Keeping a foot on the clutch pedal, Ochako slammed her other foot down on the gas, revving the engine so that the RPM's were going mad. Foot off the clutch, the kart rocketed off, wheels screaming and rubber smoking, with Ochako seething as she reworked the pedals and yanked the gear lever from first to second, working the kart as fast as she could to catch up with Izuku and also beat the other racers around the first turn.
She was vaguely aware of the announcers laughing and shouting at the 'brilliant move' the green driver had just pulled. While they never tell people they can use their Quirks, as there are very few that could help in a kart race, they never tell people they can't use them.
"Dead, dead dead dead dead dead dead!"
Izuku was halfway down the long straight when he made the mistake of looking behind him. Just in time to see Ochako screaming around the turn and gunning it after him. She was quickly joined by the other racers. "Uh oh."
Izuku gulped and kept his foot pressed down hard. Even with the turn coming up, breaking was the last thing on his mind right now. A rookie mistake. Going as fast as he was, even when Izuku turned the wheel to make the left hand bend, his car understeers hard. It kept going straight instead of turning, and it slammed into the sidewall and made Izuku come to a deadstop.
The cars he had left behind gunned past him. He swore he briefly saw Ochako wave at him, which must mean she wasn't as mad as she could have been. So Izuku, desperate not to be left behind, got his kart going again. Fortunately, Izuku wasn't the only driver to make a mess of the sharp turn and he was able to get back into the thick of things.
Ochako hissed as she grabbed her steering wheel with both hands and jerked to the side, slamming into a kart that had hit her while she had been distracted. Caught up in the raw emotional tsunami of the race, Ochako, when passing Izuku, had taken the opportunity to flash a hand gesture that she immediately hoped he hadn't seen. Her worry was cut off when a driver rammed into her, either by accident or on purpose, Ochako wasn't sure. Though her response was completely justified either way. "OH NO YOU DON'T!"
Yes, ramming the kart into the wall at high speed was completely, totally, justifiable. Unfortunately, the act ended up slowing Ochako's kart down, and more karts started pulling up besides her, all with the same idea of trying to ram the other drivers. It made turning the corner into the S bend a chaotic mess. Some karts spun out. Some over-corrected and went face first into a wall, only to get t-boned by a driver behind them. Ochako, realizing she was about to get swallowed up in the chaos, slammed her feet into the clutch and brake-pedal while swerving the wheel to avoid drivers that went around her, only to then slam into each other.
This gave Ochako an opening to quickly put her foot back on the gas as she came around the right bend of the S curve. The sudden speed made the backend of her kart swing out, oversteering and slingshotting around the corner, the front wheels screaming as they gripped and clawed at the road. With all the karts now crashed, Ochako was entering the final straight as the only running racer. By the time the other drivers got their karts going, they would be fighting for second place.
"HA HA HA! THIS IS IN THE BAG—!"
Out of the corner of her eye, Ochako saw a flash of green.