Date Time, Second Period

It wasn't a date.

It was absolutely, 100%, positively, not a date.

And that hand holding there? Completely normal stuff there. Yep. Not an ounce of romantic feelings budding between two star-crossed teens, because that would be against school policy! So this was absolutely, positively, unquestionably not a date and just two friends holding hands and going shopping downtown together!

That's what Izuku and Kaede were trying to convince themselves of, that is. Their faces regarding the situation told a different story, both pointed away and flushed like they had just eaten a ghost pepper.

They strode along the sidewalk under the awnings of the shops lining the buildings, clouds building up above them & a small backpack that Izuku carried filled with adventure items because of course he'd prepare for their day out in the city, full with four water bottles, a map of the town in case their phones died and they got lost, three charged up portable chargers & three cords with the plug-in box (in case one broke / got lost, and in case they stopped by an eatery that had wall plug-ins!), and of course, pepper spray, an umbrella strapped to the side, two folded up and unopened ponchos in a bag, and a korosensei-branded pager as a last resort line. Completely prepared for any hazard that might even think about ruining their day!

Still, as prepared as he was, there was nothing that could prepare him for anything emotion-wise. He still didn't know what they were---it was, kind of sudden, but also not really? Looking back, it felt as though the Kiss of Death had been the climax of it all, and then everything started getting weird and bumpy, and then calm and casual---and finally Valentine's Day gave a final confirmation followed by White Day sealing the deal altogether. If he thought too hard about it, though, he'd get all blushy and embarrassed and gosh, was he truly ready for a relationship like this? With a girl he liked so, so much, he would die for her? Hmmmmm. 

Her hand twitched in his suddenly, drawing his attention to her & seeing her gawking at the window of a shop they were passing. It looked like a simple gift shop with a lot of anime & hero merch. Izuku squeezed her hand, getting her attention to shift to him curiously. The boy pointed his chin at the store, silently questioning. Today was a quiet day for him.

Kaede smiled excitedly and nodded. "I'll buy you something!"

Izuku flushed again, raising his empty hand and shaking it side to side as he did the same with his head. Then he pointed at Kaede and then himself with more emphasis.

Kaede wouldn't have it. She shook her head and started to pull him into the store. "Nope! If I see you so much as look at something, I'm buying it!" Then she turned around to him, peering deeply into his emerald eyes, her own honey hues wide and pleading. "Please let me?"

Her boyfriend gawked, a bit troubled and red-cheeked before finally he rolled his eyes and smiled at her endearingly. Ah, he relented. Victory! The green-haired girl bounced a bit, smile widening before they entered the shop. 

They'd never been to this city before---they decided to take the train to somewhere new, being shy about their new relationship and in their own town, it felt like Asano's lackeys were littering the streets everywhere. Eyes were on them almost twenty-four-seven, ready to snitch about almost anything they found class 3-E doing. Someone snitching on the school prince about two end classmen being in a genuine relationship was the last thing they wanted. 

Still, even with these plans, Izuku couldn't help but feel like they were being watched. He had a sixth sense with these sort of things. Eyes on him and he could feel his spine shaking in his body, stomach filling with a sense of dread---but there was no way anyone would know they were here; only some in their class did, but they wouldn't snitch. Oh, it was probably nothing anyway.

Izuku caught himself gawking at the store interior; it wasn't big by any means and Izuku's seen places better stocked with anime and hero merch, but there were a few unique items he spotted. Still, his attention was on Kaede. Studying where her eyes went, where they lingered, the small smile that grew on her face when she saw something she liked. 

They ended up leaving the store with a Gudetama pencil pouch and an All Might keychain. They then started roaming the town, their phones out with the Pokemon Go app opened, the search for Pokestops anywhere in the town. They even managed to hatch some two mile eggs, too! Sadly no shinies were found, but several gyms were taken down and taken over! Team Mystic reigns once more.

"Rain," Izuku suddenly spoke, making Kaede turn to him, a hum of questioning. He had his face pointed to the sky, the clouds hanging dark and ominous. 

Kaede nodded with a disappointed hum. "Oh, you're right…. Huh, well, we could end the trip early and head back to your place? I mean, we've been out for half the day anyway, and my feet are kind of hurting…" 

Izuku glanced back to her with a nod before he started to take out the umbrella he packed, readying it for when it did start raining. He looked up to her again, head tilted. "Poncho?"

Kaede shook her head. "Nah, just the umbrella would be fine. Thank you though!"

And with that, they made it back to the train station. It was right as they began to board it that it started to rain, and as the train passed through two different towns, the downpour only fell harder. At first, the two were playing I Spy through the window, but all the colors grew to be somewhat monochromatic with the rain. Then they turned to playing Janken Pon before that got boring and they settled with just sitting in each others' silence. Both had earpods in, playing their own music. They leaned on each other, Kaede's head on Izuku's shoulder while Izuku's head leaned against hers. Hand in hand as the train's shaking on the tracks lulled them to a muted state, calm and serene. Just soaking in each others' presence. 

Then once again, that feeling from before crawled on the boy's back, giving him a vice grip on the back of his neck. He tried to push it down again. 

An hour later, the train came to a stop finally, waking the teens fully with the jostle of the train car. 

"Well, that was a nice five hours of egg hatching, butt kicking, and then prompt sleeping," Kaede commented with a laugh as she stretched and Izuku reached down for his backpack at his feet. He hummed his own chuckle in response, smiling at her. They stood up and left the train, pausing when they noticed a rather… familiar individual waiting outside.

Oh no.

"Play along," Kaede whispered sneakily. A grumpy expression fell on her face then, making Izuku flinch with a new wave of anxiety falling over him. What? Oh- Oh.

He made to look sheepish, which wasn't that hard. 

"Well, well," Asano sauntered up to them, smug as hell. Double Oh. "A little birdy told me they spotted a familiar couple on a date downtown. Now, the last I remember, isn't it against school policy to be dating?"

"It wasn't a date," Kaede answered sharply. She then crossed her arms over her chest, standing proudly and turning away from Izuku. "In fact, there'll never be another one!"

Izuku took this as his turn in the act, clenching his fists at his side. "Tha-at means- mm-makes two of us!"

Asano shut up, watching the two go from bickering to full on arguing---quite the spectacle, for sure, but he was smarter than that. He smirked, a huff of amusement before he drew closer, hand on his hip. "Do you two really think you can pull one over m--"

Slap!

Both Asano and Izuku gawked at Kaede, her hand having left… an actual print on the boy's face, her own glowing beat-red with emotion and tears glistened her eyes. "If you must know," her voice came out like a quiver. "He broke up with me!"

Izuku shuddered mentally at that, but kept a straight face. "You- you're too clin- clingy!"

Kaede whipped around on him, hand raising and giving him an audible slap as well. He gave a surprised squeak, hand on his cheek. "And that's for dumping me!" she took a pause, body language fuming while her back was turned away from Asano, the student still somewhat stunned & watching with fury and confusion in his eyes. Kaede subtly signed something to him in that moment.

'home.'

Then she gestured with her eyes toward him before turning tail and leaving the scene. Izuku swallowed thickly before shooting Asano a glare and leaving the opposite direction. Asano seemed…. very miffed. 

---

An hour later, Izuku finally climbed the stairs leading to his apartment door, delighted to find Kaede already there and waiting for him, leaned against the wall by his door playing with her phone. She perked up at the approaching footsteps before realizing it was Izuku and her expression lit up, instantly throwing herself on the taller boy. 

"Holy crap, I am so sorry!" she cried before straightening and examining his cheek. Thankfully it didn't leave that big of a mark. "I didn't hit you hard, did I? I was trying to be soft, but I knew it had to be loud, oh god, please don't tell your mom about this!"

Izuku gave a nervous chuckle, patting her hands down and shaking his head. "'S'okay!" he hummed then placed his finger over his mouth---a sworn secret. "D'you th-think he- he bought it?"

Kaede giggled, holding his hand again. "I hope so! At least the slap gave him some sort of distraction. But then again, I think he's too proud to admit a girl slapped him over a 'broken heart.'" 

They both gave into laughter before heading inside Izuku's apartment, where they walked into Izuku's mom and Yagi-san sitting together having dinner.

"MAAAAAAAAAAMAAAAAAAAAAAA!!"