The smell of sizzling takoyaki mixed with sweet candied apples and caramelized sugar, drifting through the air as rows of lanterns bathed the streets in a warm, golden glow. Music and laughter blended together, creating that unmistakable festival buzz that made everything feel lighter, freer.
The group spread out in a loose, chaotic pack, and Izuku barely had time to react before he was tugged in two different directions.
"Midoriya-chan, let's try this one!" Mina Ashido shouted, already dragging him toward a brightly painted target-shooting stall.
"Wait—no! Food first!" Ochaco Uraraka protested, grabbing his other arm with surprising strength.
"Ribbit… games first, then food," Tsuyu Asui suggested calmly, trying—and failing—to act as the voice of reason.
"You're all impossible," Kyoka Jiro sighed, though the faint curve of her lips betrayed her amusement as she followed anyway.
Meanwhile, Toru Hagakure had already sprinted ahead, her voice echoing from somewhere near the cotton candy stall.
"One rainbow swirl please! Oh—and one for my totally-not-my-boyfriend-yet Midoriya!"
Izuku let out a long sigh, rubbing the back of his neck, though he couldn't hide his smile.
"You're going to make me broke before I even become a pro hero."
"Don't worry," Momo Yaoyorozu said casually, reaching into her bag and producing a neat little pouch of cash like it was nothing. "I'll cover anything we all want."
Every head turned toward her at once.
"…Billionaires," Jirou muttered, shaking her head.
The night unfolded in bursts of laughter and motion.
Izuku won Ochaco a plush toy at the ring toss after only two tries, earning a small gasp and an excited thank-you that made her hug the stuffed prize to her chest. Mina dared him to try the spiciest takoyaki on the menu—only to immediately regret daring him when she tried one herself and nearly combusted.
Tsuyu calmly held up a skewer of grilled squid and fed it to him without ceremony, commenting, "It's good for protein, ribbit," as if that explained everything.
Toru smudged pink cotton candy across his cheek with mischievous delight, laughing when he didn't notice at first. Jirou lingered near a small live band, pretending not to care, but Izuku caught the way she relaxed when he stayed beside her for a few songs, listening quietly together.
Later, as the crowd thinned slightly, Momo and Izuku found themselves boarding a small Ferris wheel tucked near the edge of the festival. As it rose slowly, lanterns and stalls shrinking beneath them, the city lights stretched out in every direction. They spoke softly, enjoying the view, the breeze, and the rare stillness away from the noise.
When they regrouped near the lantern-lit river, their arms were weighed down with prizes, snacks, and little trinkets they'd impulsively bought.
"This was way better than studying," Mina declared, hugging her plushie proudly.
"I second that, ribbit," Tsuyu nodded.
"We… should probably still review again later," Momo said gently, though her own bag was stuffed full of festival souvenirs.
"Later, later," Toru sang, bumping her invisible shoulder into Izuku's. "Right now, let's enjoy this!"
Right on cue, fireworks exploded overhead.
The sky bloomed with streaks of red, gold, and white, reflections dancing across the river below. The chatter around them softened as everyone tilted their heads upward, faces illuminated by bursts of light and color.
Izuku stood there with his hands in his pockets, watching the fireworks—and then watching them. Their smiles, their laughter, the way the light caught in their eyes.
For just a moment, everything felt normal. Just friends at a festival.
'…Today was a good day,' he thought, a small, genuine smile settling on his lips as the final firework faded into the night sky.
As the final echoes of the fireworks faded into the night, the group slowly began drifting back toward the station. The streets were calmer now, lanterns still glowing softly as festival staff started packing up stalls in the distance.
The girls chatted animatedly as they walked.
"That takoyaki stall was definitely the best," Mina Ashido declared, counting on her fingers.
"No way, the candied apples were better," Ochaco Uraraka argued.
"And let's talk about who spent the most money," Kyoka Jiro added dryly.
All eyes turned at once to Momo Yaoyorozu.
"…What?" Momo asked innocently.
"Culprit," Mina and Toru said in unison.
Izuku walked with them, arms weighed down with bags, plushies, and random prizes—somehow ending up as the designated carrier without ever agreeing to it.
"Midoriya's basically our pack mule," Mina teased, poking one of the bags.
"Ribbit. More like our bodyguard," Tsuyu Asui corrected calmly.
Izuku laughed. "Wow. At least say that behind my back."
As they continued, a gentle tug at his sleeve pulled his attention away.
"Hey," Kyoka said quietly. "Walk with me for a sec."
Izuku blinked, surprised, then nodded. He slowed his pace, letting the others drift ahead as the night air cooled around them.
'Huh…' he thought.
'I kinda forgot about Jirou.'
'She's not the most talkative, but she's fun to be around. Guess I should pay more attention.'
They veered away from the main path and wandered toward the edge of the riverbank. Lanterns floated across the water, their reflections shimmering like scattered stars. The soft lapping of the river filled the silence between them.
"You looked like you enjoyed yourself tonight," Kyoka said at last, crossing her arms. Her tone was casual, but her eyes flicked toward him, then away—like she didn't want to linger too long.
"Yeah," Izuku admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. "It was nice. Kinda makes you forget about… everything that happened a few days ago."
She nodded faintly, her earjacks twitching just a little, betraying her nerves.
"Same. Guess I should thank you, actually. If you weren't around, I probably wouldn't even bother with this kind of stuff."
Izuku tilted his head, a small smile forming.
"That sounds like a compliment."
"…Guess it is," Kyoka muttered, cheeks warming as her gaze dropped to the ground.
They stood there for a while, neither rushing to fill the silence. The lanterns drifted lazily downstream, colors rippling and blending. The quiet felt natural—comfortable, like listening to a song without lyrics.
Eventually, Kyoka nudged him lightly with her elbow, a faint smirk appearing.
"Just… don't burn yourself out trying to carry everyone, alright? You've got that whole 'All Might' vibe going on, but you're still human. Don't forget that."
Izuku almost laughed.
'Well… she's not wrong,' he thought.
He nodded, his smile softening.
"Thanks, Kyoka. I'll remember that."
She shrugged, looking away as if brushing off her own concern.
"Good. Now c'mon—before Mina accuses us of sneaking off to make out or something."
Izuku chuckled. "…Would that be bad?" he asked lightly.
Kyoka froze.
For half a second, she didn't move at all—then her face turned bright red.
"T–Tch!" she snapped, spinning on her heel and storming ahead. "Idiot."
Izuku watched her go, scratching his cheek with an awkward grin.
'She's fun to tease,' he thought.
'But I should probably hurry home before Mom gets pissed.'
He jogged to catch up with the group, falling back into step as laughter and chatter resumed. Still, even as he played it cool, the warmth from Kyoka's reaction lingered in his chest—quiet, unexpected, and impossible to ignore.
TO BE CONTINUED