[46] The Most Dangerous Power

I watched in resignation as Camie and Momo's eyes lit up at the sight of the high-end boutique. The kind of place where prices weren't displayed because if you had to ask, you couldn't afford it.

"Ooh, they have the new collection!" Camie tugged me forward. "Come on, babe, you'd look amazing in their suits."

"I have suits," I protested weakly.

"You have a suit," Camie corrected. 

"A proper wardrobe requires variety." Momo added.

"The blue one would bring out his eyes," Hagakure chimed in. Her sweater brushed against my arm as she joined the consultation. "Or maybe that charcoal with the subtle pinstripes?"

"Both," Camie decided. "Plus that burgundy three-piece."

"Hold up-"

"And some casual pieces," Momo added. "His current style is good, but-"

"But he could use some elevation," Camie finished. "Exactly what I was thinking!"

They shared a look of perfect understanding. When did they get so in sync?

"I really don't need-"

"Nonsense!" Momo's tone brooked no argument. "Consider it a thank you for your leadership during the incident."

The 'incident.' Right. Like we hadn't all nearly died at USJ. Like I hadn't seen the shadows in their eyes whenever it came up.

"Fine." I softened my voice. "One outfit. But then we're hitting some normal stores."

"Define normal," Camie challenged.

"Places with visible price tags?"

Momo looked genuinely puzzled. "But how do you know if something's worth buying before speaking with the consultant?"

Am I becoming a gigolo?

Two hours later, I'd somehow acquired three suits, multiple "casual pieces," and what Camie insisted was a "perfectly reasonable" watch. I'd stopped looking at price tags after the first one nearly gave me a heart attack.

"Next!" Camie declared, already eyeing another boutique.

"My turn to pick," I cut in firmly. "And I know just the place."

The arcade's lights and sounds washed over us as we entered. Hagakure's excited bounce said I'd chosen well.

"An arcade?" Momo's expression held that polite confusion I'd seen whenever something fell outside her usual experience. "I've read about them, but..."

"Wait." I turned to face her fully. "You've never been to an arcade?"

She shook her head, looking almost embarrassed. "Mother always said they were..." She trailed off diplomatically.

"Beneath your station?" I guessed.

"Something like that."

"Well, that changes today." I grinned, gesturing at the colorful chaos around us. "Welcome to your first arcade experience, Yaoyorozu."

"What do you even do here?"

"Everything!" Hagakure bounced in place. "Racing games, shooting games, rhythm games, ticket games..."

"Tickets?"

"For prizes," Camie explained, pointing to the counter where various stuffed animals and trinkets sat on display. "You win tickets from games, trade them in for stuff."

Momo's eyes lit with understanding. "Ah, a reward-based incentive system for continued play. Quite clever from a business perspective."

"Let's make it interesting." Camie's grin turned competitive. "Teams. Me and Toru against you two. Most tickets in an hour wins."

"Stakes?" I asked, recognizing her expression.

She leaned close, whispering something that made my competitive spirit surge. Oh, it's on.

"Deal." I turned to Momo. "Partners?"

She hesitated. "I'm not sure I'd be much help..."

"Don't worry, I'll teach you."

Something in her expression softened at that. She nodded.

"Then let's show them how it's done." I offered my arm with exaggerated formality. "Shall we, madam?"

She laughed, taking it. "Lead on, good sir."

"First stop - skee ball." I guided her to the sloped lanes. "Classic arcade game, good ticket returns, and..." I picked up a ball, demonstrating the motion. "Pretty straightforward to learn."

She studied my form with the same intensity she brought to hero training. "The angle of release affects the trajectory..."

"Here." I handed her a ball. "Try it."

Her first throw went wide, missing the targets entirely. "Oh dear."

"No worries. It's all about muscle memory." I moved behind her, adjusting her grip. "Like this. Keep your wrist straight..."

She tensed slightly at the contact before relaxing. "Like in hero training?"

"Exactly." I guided her through the motion. "Now try."

The ball rolled true, hitting the 40-point ring. Her face lit up with genuine joy.

"I did it!"

"Knew you could." I stepped back, enjoying her enthusiasm. "Now let's see if you can beat my score."

Her eyes narrowed playfully. "Is that a challenge, Midoriya?"

"Depends. You up for it?"

"Always."

We fell into an easy rhythm, trading shots and friendly taunts. Momo's natural precision came into play once she got the feel for it. Soon she was matching my scores consistently. Although I wasn't really trying my hardest. 

"Look at you." I grinned as she nailed another 50-pointer. "Ready to take on something more advanced?"

She practically glowed at the praise. "What did you have in mind?"

I led her to the basketball games, noting how Camie and Hagakure were racking up impressive scores on the dance machines.

"Now this," I said, "is where we make our comeback."

"I've studied basketball theory," Momo offered. "Though I've never actually played..."

"Theory's good. Gives you the framework." I demonstrated the shot. "But sometimes you just have to feel it."

She watched intently, absorbing every detail. When she tried, her form was textbook perfect - but the ball clanged off the rim.

"Close." I moved to adjust her stance. "But basketball isn't just physics. Sometimes you have to..." I searched for words she'd relate to. "Let the data inform your instincts rather than control them."

"That seems contradictory."

"Welcome to sports." I grinned. "Try again. This time, don't think about the angle calculations. Just... feel it."

She took a breath, released. The ball arced perfectly through the hoop.

"Yes!" She actually jumped in excitement, a far cry from her usual composed demeanor. "Did you see that?"

"Knew you had it in you." I started the machine. "Now let's see how many we can sink in thirty seconds."

We moved from game to game, our ticket count growing steadily. Momo proved to be a natural at anything requiring precision or timing. The racing games took more coaching - she kept trying to follow traffic laws - but eventually she got into the spirit of it.

"That's it!" I cheered as she drifted perfectly through a turn. "Forget road rules, just go for it!"

"This is highly illegal," she laughed, but her eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Having fun?"

"I..." She seemed almost surprised by the realization. "Yes. Very much so."

"Good." I spotted Camie and Hagakure heading for the coin pushers. "Because we've got fifteen minutes left and we're still behind."

Her competitive spirit flared. "What's our best strategic option?"

I grinned, pointing to the "Monster Drop" machine. "That. But it takes perfect timing..."

"Then it's fortunate you have a partner who excels at precision, isn't it?"

We approached the machine like heroes planning an operation. I explained the timing, the patterns, the best moments to release for maximum tickets. Momo absorbed it all, then proceeded to demonstrate why she was considered a genius.

Drop after drop, she hit the jackpot circles with surgical precision. Our ticket counter spun wildly.

"How?" I watched in amazement as she nailed another perfect drop.

"Simple physics combined with pattern recognition." She smiled, not taking her eyes off the spinning platform. "Though I must admit, the 'feel' aspect you mentioned does come into play."

"You're amazing, you know that?"

A slight blush colored her cheeks, but her timing never wavered. "You're a good teacher."

"Nah, this is all you." I gestured at the growing ticket pile. "I just pointed you in the right direction. You did the hard part."

Her next drop was slightly off, perhaps due to the compliment. But she recovered quickly, falling back into the rhythm.

"Time!" Camie called from across the arcade. "Let's count 'em up!"

We gathered at the ticket counter, feeding our spoils into the counting machine. The numbers climbed higher and higher.

"Two thousand, three hundred and forty-two," Camie announced proudly.

I couldn't help grinning as our final total appeared. "Two thousand, five hundred and seventeen."

"No way!" Hagakure's sweater shifted in disbelief. "How?"

"Monster Drop," I explained. "Momo's a natural."

"Beginner's luck," Momo demurred, but she couldn't hide her pleased expression.

"Luck nothing." I bumped her shoulder gently. "That was pure skill."

"Well played," Camie conceded. Her eyes held a promise that made my pulse quicken. "Guess you earned your prize."

"Speaking of prizes..." I turned to Momo. "First arcade visit means you get to pick something from the counter. Anything you want."

She studied the display with the same intensity she brought to hero analysis. Finally, she pointed to a small plush cat wearing All Mights silver age costume.

"That one."

The bored-looking counter attendant handed it over. Momo cradled it carefully, a soft smile on her lips.

"To commemorate my first arcade experience," she explained, seeing my expression. "And... thank you. For showing me how to have fun with it."

"Anytime." I meant it, too. Watching her discover simple joys like this... it felt right. "Though fair warning - now that you've proven yourself at Monster Drop, I'm definitely dragging you back here for free prizes."

Her eyes lit up. "Is that a promise, Midoriya?"

"Of course."

Camie slipped her arm through mine as we headed for the exit. "Successful mission?" she murmured.

I watched Momo chatting animatedly with Hagakure, still holding her prize cat. The usual weight of expectations seemed lifted from her shoulders, replaced by genuine joy.

"Yeah." I squeezed Camie's hand. "I'd say so."

"Good." Her voice held that tone that promised interesting times ahead. "Because I believe you earned a prize of your own..."

"Careful," I murmured, catching Camie's wandering hand. "We're still in public."

"Should we go home then?" Her fingertips traced patterns on my arm.

"What's next?" Momo adjusted her grip on the plush cat, eyes darting between storefronts. "There must be more to explore."

"Second food court's upstairs," Hagakure suggested. Her sweater shifted as she pointed toward the escalators. "They have a really good crepe place."

"Crepes sound perfect." Camie's smile held promise, but her tone stayed light. "What do you think, Yaomomo?"

"I've never had a food court crepe before." Momo straightened her shoulders, that familiar determination to master new experiences settling over her. "Are they very different from the ones Claude makes?"

"Claude?" Hagakure asked.

"Our pastry chef."

I caught Camie's eye, sharing a silent moment of amusement at Momo's casual reference to household staff. She'd been making real progress stepping outside her privileged bubble, but moments like this still slipped through.

"Trust me," I said, "these will be a whole different experience. But that's half the fun."

"Like the arcade games?" A hint of excitement crept into her voice.

"Exactly like that."

The food court sprawled across the mall's top floor, a maze of competing aromas and colorful signage. Momo's eyes widened at the controlled chaos - families with children, teenagers sprawled across multiple tables, salarymen grabbing quick meals between meetings.

"It's so... energetic."

"That's one word for it." I steered our group toward a relatively quiet corner. "Grab seats. I'll handle the crepes."

"I'll help carry," Hagakure volunteered quickly.

"What would everyone like?"

Camie rattled off a complex order involving Nutella and multiple fruit toppings. Momo studied the menu board with intense concentration.

"What would you recommend?"

"First time?" I considered her usual tastes. "Classic strawberry and cream. Simple but done right. Then next time you can branch out."

Her smile brightened at 'next time.' "That sounds perfect."

Orders placed, Hagakure and I joined the line while Camie and Momo claimed a table.

"So..." Hagakure's sleeve brushed my arm. "Thanks for including me today."

"Course. Why wouldn't I?"

"Well, you and Camie, and Yaomomo..." She fidgeted with her sweater cuffs. "Sometimes three's a crowd, you know?"

"Hey." I caught her shoulder gently. "You're never a crowd. You're my friend."

The sweater bunched in what I recognized as her embarrassed gesture. "Yeah?"

"Yeah. Besides, who else appreciates my terrible puns?"

She laughed. "They're not all terrible."

"High praise."

We shuffled forward as the line moved. Through the crowd, I spotted Camie demonstrating something to Momo, hands moving animatedly. Momo leaned forward, absorbing every detail with her usual intensity.

"They've gotten close," Hagakure observed.

"Good thing, too. Momo needs more friends who'll drag her out of her comfort zone."

"Like you do?"

"I just point her in interesting directions. She does the hard part herself."

The line inched forward again. Hagakure's sleeve twitched in what I'd learned was her thoughtful gesture.

"You're good at that, you know. Seeing what people need."

"Nah, I just..." I paused, considering. "I remember what it was like, feeling stuck. Sometimes people just need permission to try something new."

"Is that what you're doing with me?"

"You don't need permission to be yourself, Toru. You just need reminders sometimes that yourself is pretty great."

Her sweater bunched again. "You can't just say things like that."

"Why not? It's true."

Before she could respond, we reached the counter. The crepe maker worked with practiced efficiency, transforming basic ingredients into edible art. Hagakure watched, fascinated.

"The way he flips the batter... it's like a dance."

"Years of practice." I studied the fluid movements. "Bet he could teach some interesting things about flow and momentum."

"Always analyzing?"

"Professional hazard." I grinned. "But sometimes it's fun just to appreciate the skill."

Crepes acquired, we navigated back through the crowd. Camie spotted us first, her face lighting up.

"Finally! I'm starving."

"It's been ten minutes," I pointed out, sliding into the seat beside her.

"Ten very long minutes." She snagged her crepe, taking an enthusiastic bite. "Mm! Worth the wait though."

Momo approached her crepe with more restraint, studying the construction before taking a careful bite. Her eyes widened.

"Oh! It's... different than I expected. But good!"

"Different how?" Hagakure asked between bites of her chocolate-banana creation.

"Less refined, perhaps? But more..." Momo searched for words. "Immediate? The flavors are bolder."

"Street food versus fine dining," I explained. "Both have their place."

"Indeed." She took another bite, more confident now. "I'm learning there are many things that have their place, aren't there?"

"That's what exploring's all about."

Conversation flowed easily as we ate, jumping between topics. Momo's questions about 'common' experiences led to stories, which led to tangents, which led to more questions. Her genuine curiosity drew out sides of everyone I hadn't seen before.

I learned Hagakure collected novelty socks. Camie revealed a secret passion for vintage movies. Momo admitted to reading romance novels hidden behind physics textbook covers.

"Mother would never approve," she confessed. "But they're fascinating studies of human interaction."

"Sure, the interaction is what you're studying," Camie teased.

Momo's cheeks pinked. "The emotional dynamics are quite complex!"

"Speaking of dynamics..." Hagakure's sweater indicated she was leaning forward conspiratorially. "Did you hear about Kaminari and Jiro?"

"No way." Camie's eyes lit up. "Details!"

I sat back, content to watch them gossip. The afternoon light slanted through the food court's skylights, painting everything in warm tones. Momo's hair caught the glow as she leaned in to hear Hagakure's whispered revelations. Camie's hand found mine under the table, thumb tracing idle patterns.

This is nice, I thought. Simple moments like this had been rare lately, between training and school and the constant pressure to improve. We needed more of them.

"Oh!" Momo's exclamation drew my attention. "Is that the time? I should call the car..."

"Already?" Hagakure's disappointment was clear in her voice.

"I have a dinner engagement with Mother's business associates." She sighed. "Image maintenance, you understand."

"Adulting sucks," Camie declared. "But hey, we should do this again soon."

"I'd like that." Momo gathered her shopping bags, careful not to wrinkle the designer purchases. The arcade cat she handled with particular gentleness. "Thank you all for today. It was... educational."

"Educational?" I raised an eyebrow.

"In the best way." Her smile held genuine warmth. "I learned more about having fun than in any formal lesson."

"The student surpasses the master." I stood, offering a theatrical bow. "Your arcade skills are already legendary."

She laughed, the sound free and unrestrained. "Next time I'll master racing games."

"Word?"

"Not sure what that means but yes."

Camie and Hagakure said their goodbyes, extracting promises for future shopping trips. I walked Momo to the exit, carrying the heavier bags despite her protests.

"Sure you don't want company waiting for your ride?"

"I'll be fine." She took the bags, then hesitated. "Midoriya..."

"Mm?"

"Thank you. Not just for today, but for..." She gestured vaguely. "Seeing me. Not just the name or the grades or the expectations. Just... me."

"That's the best part to see."

Her smile turned softer, almost shy. "You're dangerous, you know that?"

"Me? I'm harmless."

"No." She shook her head. "You make people want to be better versions of themselves. That's the most dangerous power of all."

Before I could respond, a sleek black car pulled up. The driver emerged, efficient and discrete as he loaded Momo's purchases.

"Until next time?" she asked, one foot in the car.

"Count on it. Can't let those Monster Drop skills get rusty."

Her laugh followed her into the car. I watched until it disappeared into traffic, then headed back inside. Camie and Hagakure waited by the escalators, heads bent in conversation.

"Everything okay?" Camie asked as I approached.

"Yeah." I smiled, remembering Momo's parting words. "Just thinking."

"Dangerous habit." She threaded her arm through mine. "Ready to head home?"

I grinned. "Yeah. Hey Toru, want some company heading home?"

"Thanks, but Mina and I have a movie date in an hour." Her sweater shifted in what I recognized as her excited bounce. "She found this old horror film from America she's dying to show me."

"Let me guess - something with an invisible character?"

"How'd you know?" The amusement in her voice was clear.

"Just a hunch. Had fun today?"

"The best!" Her sleeve brushed my arm. "We should do this more often. You know, when you two aren't being disgustingly cute."

"We're never disgusting," Camie protested, pressing closer to my side.

"Uh huh." Hagakure's tone dripped skepticism. "Tell that to anyone who heard you at the arcade."

"No idea what you mean." Camie's innocent expression fooled no one.

"Right. Well, I'm off before you get any cuter." The sound of Hagakure's footsteps paused. "Thanks again, Izuku."

"Anytime, Toru. You know that."

We watched her sweater disappear into the crowd. Camie's fingers interlaced with mine, squeezing gently.

"Time to collect on that bet?" she murmured.

"Lead the way."