As we continued through the museum, our joined hands felt like the most natural thing in the world. We pointed out interesting exhibits to each other, our free hands gesturing animatedly as we talked.
"Oh, look at this!" Momo tugged me towards a display of early support items. "Some of these designs are so clever, even with the limited technology they had back then."
I leaned in, examining a crude-looking grappling hook. "Yeah, it's pretty impressive. Makes you wonder what kind of gear we'll have in another fifty years."
"Hopefully nothing too advanced," Momo said. "I'd hate for my creation quirk to become obsolete."
I squeezed her hand. "No chance of that. Your quirk is way too versatile."
We meandered through the rest of the exhibits, our hands rarely separating. It felt... nice. Comfortable. Like this was how things were always meant to be.
As we approached the museum exit, I was reluctant to leave. This bubble we'd created, just the two of us exploring and talking and holding hands, it felt precious. Special.
Momo seemed to sense my hesitation. "We could grab some dinner? There's a nice café just down the street."
I grinned. "Sounds perfect."
We stepped out of the museum into the fading daylight, our hands still intertwined. The streets buzzed with energy, people rushing home from work or heading out for the evening.
"So, where's this café you mentioned?" I asked, scanning the area.
Momo pointed down the street. "Just a couple blocks that way. It's called—"
"Oh my god, it's Deku!"
I turned to see a group of girls, probably high school age, staring at us with wide eyes. One of them fumbled with her phone, trying to get the camera open.
"Can we get a picture? Please?"
I glanced at Momo, who gave a small nod. "Sure, why not?"
As I posed for selfies and signed a couple of notebooks, I felt Momo's hand slip from mine. When I looked back, she had taken a step away, her arms crossed over her chest.
More people were noticing us now. A couple guys in business suits, a mother with two young kids, all approaching with excited grins.
"Hey, Deku! That last match was insane!"
"Can you show us your quirk?"
"My daughter wants to be just like you when she grows up!"
I smiled and waved, trying to keep my responses brief. "Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Sorry, no quirk demonstrations outside of school. That's great, I'm sure she'll make an amazing hero!"
But with each new fan, Momo seemed to withdraw further. Her smile looked forced, her posture tense.
I leaned close to her ear. "Hey, change of plans. Why don't we grab some takeout and head to the park instead?"
"That sounds wonderful."
We grabbed some takeout from a nearby ramen shop - I ordered the spicy miso while Momo went for the shoyu. With our steaming containers in hand, we made our way to a quiet corner of the local park. The sun had set, leaving behind a deep blue sky dotted with stars.
I spread out my jacket on the grass for us to sit on. Momo settled down gracefully, her legs tucked to the side. I plopped down next to her, careful not to spill our food.
"This is nice," Momo said, looking up at the sky. "Much better than that crowded street."
I nodded, slurping up some noodles. "Yeah, sorry about that. I should've known we'd get recognized."
Momo waved off my apology. "It's not your fault. You handled it well."
We ate in comfortable silence for a while, both of us stealing glances at the stars overhead. The park was mostly empty at this hour, just a few joggers and dog-walkers in the distance.
"You know," Momo said suddenly, "I've always loved stargazing. There's something so... vast about it all. Makes our problems seem small in comparison."
I set my empty container aside. "I get that. It's like, no matter how crazy things get with villains or school or whatever, the stars are always there, doing their thing."
Momo smiled, her eyes still fixed on the sky. "Exactly. It's comforting, in a way."
I leaned back on my elbows, taking in the view. A cool breeze rustled the leaves around us.
"Izuku," Momo said softly, turning to face me. "Can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
She took a deep breath. "How do you... how do you really feel about me?"
This was it - the moment I'd been both anticipating and dreading. I sat up straight, meeting her gaze.
"Momo, I care about you. A lot." I paused, choosing my words carefully. "You're smart, kind, and incredibly talented. Being around you makes me want to be better."
A smile bloomed on her face, but I wasn't done.
"But..." I swallowed hard. "I need to be honest with you. I have similar feelings for Nejire."
Momo's smile faltered. "Oh."
"I know it's not heroic," I rushed on. "It's selfish, and probably stupid. But that's just... how my heart is right now. I care about both of you."
Momo was quiet for a long moment, her brow furrowed in thought. I held my breath, waiting for her response.
Finally, she spoke. "I appreciate your honesty, Izuku. But... I don't know how to feel about this."
I nodded. "I understand. I just... I didn't want to hide anything from you."
"Does Nejire know?"
"No," I admitted. "I haven't talked to her about it yet."
Momo sighed, running a hand through her hair. "This is... a lot to process."
"I know. And I'm sorry for dumping this on you. If you need time or space, I completely understand."
She shook her head. "No, I'm glad you told me. It's just... unexpected."
We sat in silence for a while, the weight of my confession hanging between us. I watched Momo's face, trying to gauge her thoughts, but her expression was unreadable.
"Can I ask," she said eventually, "what is it about Nejire? I mean, what do you see in her?"
I thought about it. "She's... vibrant. Full of energy and curiosity. Being around her makes everything feel more exciting, more alive."
Momo nodded slowly. "And... with me?"
"With you, it's different. You ground me. You make me feel calm and centered. Like I can take on anything as long as you're by my side."
A small smile tugged at Momo's lips. "I see."
"Look, Momo," I said, leaning forward. "I know this isn't a normal situation. And if you're not comfortable with it, I understand. Your feelings matter to me, and I don't want to hurt you."
Momo met my gaze, her dark eyes searching mine. "I need some time to think about this, Izuku. It's... a lot to take in."
"Of course," I said. "Take all the time you need."
She stood up, brushing grass from her dress. "I think I'm going to head back to the dorms. Thank you for today, and... for being honest with me."
I got to my feet as well. "Do you want me to walk you back?"
Momo shook her head. "No, I think I'd like some time alone to process everything."
"Okay. Be safe, alright?"
She nodded, then hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and giving me a hug. "Goodnight, Izuku."
"Goodnight, Momo."
I watched her walk away, her figure growing smaller in the distance. As I gathered up our trash and my jacket, a small part of me wondered if I'd just made a huge mistake. I could have easily told her what she wanted to hear and be done with it. But deep down, I knew being honest was the right thing to do in the long run, even if it made things complicated for now.
I wandered deeper into the park, my mind replaying the conversation with Momo. The cool night air helped clear my head, and I decided to focus on something more concrete - my hero costume.
The museum exhibits had given me some ideas. I pulled out my phone and opened my notes app, jotting down thoughts as they came.
"Reinforced armor plates... maybe integrated into the bodysuit?" I muttered, tapping away. "Gotta talk to Mei about shock absorption materials."
I paused by a park bench, considering the symbolism of my current outfit. The rising sun emblem was good, but maybe too on-the-nose. I needed something more subtle, yet impactful.
An image flashed in my mind - a white cloak with green flames licking up from the bottom. It felt right - a mix of purity and power, hope and strength.
"The Evergreen Hero: Viridian," I said aloud, testing the sound of it. A grin spread across my face. Yeah, that worked.
I quickly sketched out the design, adding notes:
High collar for dramatic effect
Short sleeves for mobility
Open front to show the forest greem undersuit
"Viridian" in kanji on the back
My fingers flew across the screen as I typed out more ideas:
Upgrade gloves with better grip and impact resistance
Reinforce boots, maybe add hidden compartments
Integrate support gear for improved quirk control
I was so absorbed in my planning that I almost missed the notification pop-up. A message from Ai:
"Great job today. We need to discuss your next moves. Available to meet?"
Perfect timing. I fired back a quick response:
"Thanks. I'm at Musutafu Central Park. Meet me here in 20?"
Her reply came almost instantly: "On my way."
I pocketed my phone and started walking towards the park entrance. The Sports Festival win had opened up a world of opportunities, and I needed to capitalize on them.
Ai was already waiting when I arrived, looking as put-together as always despite the late hour.
"Izuku," she greeted me with a nod. "Congratulations again on your victory."
"Thanks, Ai. I appreciate all your hard work."
We fell into step, walking along the park's perimeter.
"So," Ai began, "your social media engagement is through the roof. We're looking at a 700% increase in followers since this morning. Sponsorship offers are pouring in, and several news agencies have expressed interest in interviews."
I nodded, taking it all in. "That's great. What do you think our next move should be?"
Ai pulled out a tablet, swiping through some charts. "We need to strike while the iron's hot. I suggest a carefully curated series of social media posts - nothing too flashy, but enough to keep the momentum going. "
"Agreed. I've also been thinking about my hero image. I want to update my costume."
I showed her my sketches and explained the Viridian concept. Ai's eyes lit up.
"This is good," she said, nodding approvingly. "Very marketable. The symbolism is strong without being heavy-handed. We can work with this."
"Great. I'll need to talk to Mei Hatsume about the technical aspects. Can you set that up?"
"Consider it done." Ai made a note on her tablet.
"Any news on the League's whereabouts?"
Ai shook her head. "Nothing concrete yet. They've gone to ground after the USJ incident."
I frowned. That was troubling, but not unexpected. "What about Stain?"
Ai's expression turned grim. "Stain's been busy. His last attack was in Hosu, where he severely injured Ingenium. That was just yesterday."
I nodded. "What's his typical pattern?"
"Based on his history, Stain usually stays in an area for three to four weeks after his first 'cleansing,' as he calls it. That gives a window between June 3rd and 11th for his next move."
"What do we know about his quirk?"
Ai consulted her tablet. "Not much, unfortunately. The heroes he's attacked report being paralyzed, with multiple cuts and stab wounds. But none of them could pinpoint exactly how the paralysis worked."
I mulled this over. Paralysis, plus blade wounds. The obvious conclusion was that his quirk activated through blood contact, but that seemed too simple. There had to be more to it.
"Any commonalities in the attack patterns? Specific wound locations, maybe?"
Ai raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed by the question. "I'll look into it. That's a good angle we haven't explored yet."
I nodded, my mind already piecing together a plan. "We need more information. Can you get me access to the police reports on Stain's attacks?"
"I'll see what I can do," Ai said, tapping away on her tablet. "But remember, you're still a student. There are limits to what we can access."
"I understand. Just... do what you can. This is important."
Ai studied me for a moment, her expression unreadable. "You're not planning on going after Stain yourself, are you?"
I met her gaze steadily. "Of course not. I'm just trying to be prepared. Knowledge is power, right?"
She didn't look entirely convinced, but nodded anyway. "Alright. I'll get you what I can. Anything else?"
I glanced at my watch. It was getting late. "No, that's all for now. Thanks, Ai. You're doing great work."
{A/N: For those asking for a Picture for reference.. I'm working on it. Fiverr prices have increased a lot for digital art.}