Capítulo 14: [14] Rainbow Road to Romance
The cafeteria smelled like heaven. Lunch Rush had outdone himself with a spread that made my stomach growl loud enough for Pinky to laugh.
"Someone's hungry," she teased, grabbing a tray.
"I missed lunch," I said, piling rice onto my plate. "Had an unplanned nap after-"
"BESTO FRIENDO!"
I barely had time to set my tray down before Todo wrapped me in a bear hug that lifted me off my feet.
"Can't... breathe..." I wheezed.
"Oh shit, my bad!" He set me down, grinning. "Where were you last night? We were gonna play Mario Kart!"
"Early training. Speaking of which-" I turned to the table where Pikachu and Spiky Red Hair sat. "Sorry about ditching game night."
"No worries, bro!" Spiky Red Hair flashed a sharp-toothed smile. "We'll destroy you tonight instead!"
"Kirishima!" Mina squealed, tackling him in a hug that nearly knocked him off the bench. "I didn't know you got into U.A. too!"
"Surprise?" He laughed, catching her. "Should've texted, but I wanted to see your face."
"Wait, you two know each other?" Midoriya asked, already scribbling in his notebook.
"High school besties!" Mina declared, squishing onto the bench between Kirishima and Pikachu. "He was way less manly back then. Had black hair and everything."
"Ashidooo," Kirishima groaned. "We don't talk about the dark times."
"I have pictures!"
"No!"
I loaded my plate with curry while they bickered. A familiar voice caught my attention.
"Is this seat taken?"
Punk girl stood there, earphone jacks swaying. Another girl towered behind her - tall, elegant, with a spiky ponytail.
"All yours," I said, scooting over. "We met at Hosu, right? You saved my ass from missing the train."
"You remember that but not my name, don't you?" She smirked, sitting down.
"...Maybe."
"Kyoka Jiro. And this is Momo Yaoyorozu."
"Pleasure to meet you," Yaoyorozu said, taking the seat across from us.
"Yo, Pikachu, pass the soy sauce?" I called down the table.
Pikachu blinked. "Did... did you just call me Pikachu?"
"Uh..."
"You forgot our names too, didn't you?" Spiky hair asked.
"Listen, I have a condition-"
"Bullshit," Todo coughed into his fist.
"Some best friend you are," I muttered. "Fine. I'm terrible with names. Sue me."
"Denki Kaminari," Pikachu - Kaminari - said, sliding the soy sauce over. "Try to remember it this time?"
"No promises." I turned to Spiky Red Hair. "And you're..."
"Eijiro Kirishima!" He struck a pose. "The manliest hero-in-training you'll ever meet!"
"That's debatable," Jiro deadpanned.
"Aw come on, look at these guns!" He flexed dramatically.
"I've seen bigger," Todo said, which somehow turned into a flex-off between them while Mina recorded it on her phone.
"Are they always like this?" Yaoyorozu asked, delicately cutting her tonkatsu.
"Worse, usually," I said. "Last night they rock paper scissor over the last piece of pizza."
"Who won?"
"No one. Kaminari ate it while they were distracted."
"Worth it," Kaminari said proudly.
"You're just lucky I didn't blow up your room," a familiar voice growled behind me.
I turned to find Katsumi holding a tray loaded with enough food for three people. "Finished unpacking already?"
"Yep." She dropped into the empty seat next to Yaoyorozu. "Mom wouldn't shut up about you after you left."
"Aw, were you talking about me?"
"Die."
"She means thank you," Midoriya translated, not looking up from his notebook.
"Shut it, Deku!"
"Deku?" I asked.
"It's, uh, kind of a long story," Midoriya said, rubbing his neck.
I watched Katsumi's hands start smoking and decided a subject change was in order. "So Todo, how's the room setup going?"
"Finished this morning! You gotta come see - I got these sick LED lights that sync to music."
"Please tell me you didn't bring the disco ball."
"...I brought three."
"Of course you did."
"Don't hate on the aesthetic, bro! Right, Kirishima?"
"Hell yeah!" Kirishima pumped his fist. "Nothing manlier than a good light show!"
"I don't think that's how manliness works," Jiro said.
"Everything can be manly with the right attitude!"
"Even pink?" Mina challenged.
"Especially pink! Pink is metal as hell!"
"You're all idiots," Katsumi declared.
"Speaking of idiots," Todo said, "you missed the best thing last night. Kaminari tried to charge his phone-"
"We don't talk about that!" Kaminari interrupted.
"He short-circuited," Todo continued gleefully. "Should've seen his face - just standing there with thumbs up while Kirishima panicked about his hair straightener."
"It takes time to achieve this level of spikiness!" Kirishima protested.
"Wait," Ashido said, "isn't your quirk hardening? Can't you just... spike it that way?"
The table went quiet.
"Holy shit," Kirishima whispered. "How did I never think of that?"
"Because you're an idiot," Katsumi supplied helpfully.
"You're all idiots," Jiro sighed, but she was smiling too.
I finished my curry while chaos erupted around hair care techniques. Jiro's earphone jack poked my arm.
"Hey," she said quietly. "Thanks for the save during the exam. I never got to properly thank you."
I did? "Don't mention it. Though I seem to be collecting a lot of people I've saved and forgotten the names of."
"At least you're consistent." She tilted her head. "You really don't remember anyone's names?"
"I remember the important ones."
"Name three people at this table."
"Todo, Katsumi, and... uh..." I looked around desperately. "Pikachu?"
"I hate you," Kaminari said.
"See? I remembered his name!"
"That's not my- you know what? Never mind. Pikachu works."
"Don't encourage him," Jiro groaned. "He'll never learn our names at this rate."
"Bold of you to assume I'll learn them anyway."
A flash of red and white by the entrance caught my eye. Hitomi stood there, scanning the cafeteria with a tray in her hands.
"Hitomi!" I called, waving. "Over here!"
She hesitated, then walked over.
"Plenty of room," I said, scooting closer to Jiro to make space.
Hitomi sat carefully, maintaining that invisible barrier around herself. "Thank you."
"Yo, you're Endeavor's kid!" Kaminari blurted.
The temperature dropped. Ice crystals formed on Hitomi's chopsticks.
"I mean-" Kaminari backpedaled. "That's cool! Not that you're defined by your dad or anything! I just- I'm gonna stop talking."
"Wise choice," Jiro said, jabbing him with her jack.
"So!" Mina clapped her hands. "Who's excited for classes on monday?"
The conversation shifted to speculation about teachers and courses. I noticed Hitomi slowly relaxing as attention moved away from her, the ice melting from her utensils.
"You good?" I asked quietly.
She nodded once, precise as everything else about her.
"Cool. Or, uh, warm? Whatever temperature you prefer."
That got me another almost-smile.
"Hey, lovebirds!" Ashido called. "Pay attention! We're planning game night!"
"We're not-" I started.
"Mario Kart tournament," Todo declared. "Tonight. Common room. No excuses!"
"I don't play games," Hitomi said.
"Perfect! Yoichi will teach you!" Todo beamed. "Everyone needs to experience the joy of blue-shelling your friends!"
I turned to Hitomi. "He's unstoppable when he gets like this."
She considered for a moment. "What time?"
Todo's face lit up. "Eight o'clock!"
We cleared our trays, Todo arguing the merits of quirk-enhanced cooking while Kirishima and Kaminari egged him on.
"Eight o'clock!" Todo called as we split up. "Don't be late!"
I caught Hitomi's eye as she turned to leave. "You don't have to come if you don't want to."
"I know." She paused. "But I will."
I watched her walk away, wondering what changed her mind.
"Careful there, Romeo," Jiro said, appearing beside me. "You're staring."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Sure you don't, Pikachu."
"That's not- wait, I'm not Pikachu!"
Her laugh echoed down the hall as she left me standing there, wondering how I'd ended up with such weird friends.
Friends. The word felt right.
Even if I couldn't remember half their names.
I checked my phone - 7:55 PM. Just enough time to call Mom before heading down. I flopped onto my bed, thumb hovering over the dial button when it started ringing. Mom's contact photo filled the screen.
"Hey Mom-"
"Yoichi! I was just about to call you!" Her voice carried that familiar mix of joy and worry. "How's the dorm? Are you eating enough? Did you remember to unpack your winter clothes?"
"The dorm's fine, food's great, and..." I glanced at the still-packed box labeled 'Winter'. "Yes, definitely unpacked those."
"Liar." I could hear her smile. "But I'll let it slide. How are your classmates? Making friends?"
"Yeah, actually. We're having game night in a few minutes."
"Oh? Boys and girls?"
Here we go. "Mom..."
"I'm just asking! As your mother, I need to know these things. Are any of the girls... interested in you?"
"Goodbye, Mom."
"Wait! I need details! Are they pretty? Smart? What are their quirks? Family background? Criminal record?"
"Love you, hanging up now!"
"At least tell me their names-"
I ended the call, shaking my head. My phone immediately buzzed with texts demanding photos and background checks. I turned it on silent and headed for the door.
The common room was already packed when I arrived. Todo had somehow rigged three disco balls to spin in sync with the LED strips lining the walls. Rainbow lights bounced off every surface while music thumped through hidden speakers.
"You're late!" Todo shouted, waving from the couch. "We already picked teams!"
"It's literally 8:01."
"Like I said - late!"
I surveyed the room. Kaminari and Kirishima were setting up the Switch while Ashido filmed their argument about controller colors. Jiro sat cross-legged on the floor, showing Yaoyorozu how to hold her controller. Midoriya mumbled strategy into his notebook while a floating controller - must be the invisible girl - bobbed next to him. Uraraka tried peeking at his notes until Katsumi snatched them away, sparks popping from her hands.
And there, perched on the arm of the couch, was Hitomi. She held her controller like it might bite her.
"Mind if I sit?"
She shook her head, scooting over slightly.
"Alright losers!" Todo announced. "Four teams of three! Winners advance to face each other while losers face losers! Overall rankings determine tomorrow's breakfast duties!"
"We never agreed to that!" Kaminari protested.
"Too late! Teams are: Bakugo, Kirishima and Ashido versus Kaminari, Jiro and Sero versus Midoriya, Uraraka and Hagakure versus Yoichi, Hitomi and-"
"Me."
I turned. Kaori stood in the doorway.
"When did you-" I started.
"Just now." She glided over, somehow making sweatpants look elegant. "I hope you don't mind me joining."
"The more the merrier!" Todo declared. "First match: Team Bakugo versus Team Pikachu!"
"That's not my-" Kaminari sighed. "You know what? Fine. Bring it on!"
"Either of you played before?" I asked my teammates.
"No," Hitomi said, still studying her controller like it was a bomb.
"Never had the chance," Kaori added.
"Great." I rubbed my face. "Just great."
"Is that a problem?" Kaori asked, a hint of challenge in her voice.
"I hate cooking breakfast."
"Then we won't lose," she said simply.
On screen, Katsumi's team was decimating Kaminari's. Her Bowser knocked Jiro's Yoshi off Rainbow Road for the third time.
"Stop pushing me off!" Jiro yelled.
"Die faster!" Katsumi cackled.
"Is this... normal?" Hitomi asked quietly.
"For Mario Kart? Yeah." I pointed at her controller. "Here, hold it like this. A to accelerate, B to brake, though you probably won't use that much."
She adjusted her grip. "What's the mushroom button?"
"That's- wait, you know what items are?"
"I've watched videos."
A thunderous explosion drew our attention back to the screen. Katsumi had just blue-shelled Sero inches from the finish line.
"Eat shit, tape arms!"
"That's not even my name!"
"First blood to Team Explosion!" Todo announced as Katsumi's team took the top three spots. "Next up: Team Deku versus Team Yoichi!"
"We need a better team name," I muttered.
More students filtered in, drawn by the commotion. I recognized Yaoyorozu from earlier, but the others were new - a guy with a bird head, someone with multiple arms, and a girl who looked surprisingly frog-like.
"The darkness beckons me to observe this contest," Bird Head said, settling into a corner.
"He means it looks fun," Multi-Arms translated.
I leaned closer to Hitomi. "Quick tutorial - pick a light character for your first race. They're easier to control."
She nodded, selecting Baby Peach while Kaori chose Rosalina.
"Interesting choice," I said.
Kaori smiled. "Sucker for princesses."
The countdown started. I gripped my controller, Baby Mario ready at the line.
"Remember," I said, "just stay on the track. I'll handle-"
Kaori shot off the line with a perfect start.
"Fast learner," she repeated, taking the first turn like she'd done it a thousand times.
I scrambled to catch up while Hitomi wobbled behind us. Up ahead, Midoriya and Uraraka battled for third while the floating controller (Hagakure?) spun in circles.
"Drift through the turns," I called to Hitomi. "Hold R and- not that much!"
She careened into a wall.
"Sorry!"
"You're doing great!" Kaori encouraged, still somehow in first. "Just keep- oh, blue shell."
The explosion knocked her into second as Midoriya zipped past.
"He's analyzing racing lines," Yaoyorozu observed. "Look at his muttering."
Sure enough, Midoriya's lips moved rapidly as he took each turn with mathematical precision.
"Nerd," Katsumi scoffed.
"Says the one who takes this too seriously," Kirishima teased.
"Shut up, shitty hair!"
I focused on catching Midoriya, but he'd clearly been practicing. Behind me, Hitomi had found her rhythm, slowly working up from last place.
"Final lap!" Todo shouted unnecessarily.
Kaori drafted behind me through the S-curves, building speed. "Sorry about this."
She red-shelled me right before the jump.
"Betrayal!" I yelled as she boost-paddled past.
"All's fair in Mario Kart," she said sweetly, crossing the finish line right behind Midoriya.
I took third, while Hitomi managed to pass Hagakure for fifth.
"Not bad for beginners," Jiro said.
"Ribbit," the frog girl agreed. "Though Midoriya-chan seems to have an unfair advantage."
Midoriya jumped. "Ah, no, I just... study a lot?"
The next two races were chaos. Hitomi discovered the joys of bullet bills ("So that's what revenge feels like"), while Kaori proved to be some kind of racing savant. I barely held onto third overall, enough to advance us to the finals against Katsumi's team.
"Choose your track!" Todo demanded.
"Rainbow Road," Katsumi said immediately.
"Of course you'd pick that," I groaned.
"Scared?"
"You wish."
Hitomi tugged my sleeve. "What's Rainbow Road?"
"Pain," Jiro, Sero, and Kaminari said in unison.
"It's where friendships go to die," Shoji added solemnly.
"It's just really hard to stay on the track," I explained. "No walls, lots of sharp turns."
"Good." Hitomi's eyes gleamed. "I like a challenge."
The race started. Katsumi immediately tried to ram me off the edge, but I'd played enough Mario Kart with her to see it coming. I drifted wide, letting her shoot past.
"Running away?" she taunted.
"Strategic retreat!"
Ashido and Kirishima battled with Kaori for third while Hitomi... where was Hitomi?
"She's in second," Tokoyami said, as if reading my thoughts. "The darkness guides her well."
I checked the minimap. Sure enough, Hitomi had snuck past the chaos, steadily gaining on Katsumi.
"When did she-"
"While you were dodging Bakugo," Yaoyorozu explained.
On screen, Hitomi's Baby Peach pulled alongside Katsumi's Bowser.
"Get lost, half-and-half!"
"No."
They traded paint through the crystal tunnel, neither giving an inch. I hung back, watching in awe as Hitomi matched Katsumi turn for turn.
Midoriya muttered. "Look at how smooth her transitions are. Perfect control for optimal drift angles..."
"Deku I swear to god-"
"Focus on driving," I called. "She's about to pass you."
"Like hell she- NO!"
Hitomi had dropped a banana right before the jump. Katsumi hit it perfectly, spinning off into space while Hitomi calmly took the lead.
The room erupted.
"Holy shit!"
"Did you see that?"
"The student becomes the master!"
"That's my teammate!" I cheered.
Hitomi's lips curved slightly. "I read that bananas are effective on Rainbow Road."
"Where?" Midoriya asked, pen ready.
"Reddit."
Katsumi respawned with murder in her eyes. "You're dead!"
But Hitomi had found her groove. She weaved through the course like she'd been racing all her life, building a solid lead while the rest of us battled for second.
"Final lap!" Todo screamed. "The tension! The drama! The- ow!"
Jiro retracted her jack. "Inside voice."
I was locked in a three-way fight with Katsumi and Kaori when I heard Hitomi's sharp intake of breath. Blue shell incoming.
"Hold your item!" I yelled.
She had a mushroom - if she timed it right...
The blue shell circled. Hitomi waited, waited...
Perfect dodge.
"Let's go!" I pumped my fist while Katsumi swore creatively.
"Language!" Yaoyorozu scolded.
"Eat my entire-"
"And Hitomi takes the win!" Todo announced. "Team Yoichi wins the finals!"
"We still need a better name," I said, but I was grinning too hard to care.
Katsumi threw her controller (gently) at the couch. "Rematch!"
"Sorry," Kaori smiled. "But I'll take my win and dip."
"This is bullshit! She's secretly a pro gamer or something!"
"I just read the guide," Hitomi said.
"There's a guide?" Hagakure asked.
"I'll send you the link."
I turned to my teammates. "Not bad for beginners."
"Adequate performance," Kaori agreed.
"It was... fun." Hitomi's almost-smile returned. "Though I think Bakugo might kill me tomorrow."
"Damn right I will!"
"No murder before breakfast!" Todo declared. "Now, who's ready for the loser round?"
I checked the time - almost midnight. "Some of us need sleep."
"Coward!"
"Early morning training," I said, standing. "But good games everyone."
Various goodnights followed me out. In the hallway, I found myself between Kaori and Hitomi.
"Thanks for playing," I said. "Even if one of you is secretly a racing genius and the other's apparently a Reddit strategist."
"Thank you for teaching us," Kaori said.
Hitomi nodded. "It was... nice. To be included."
We stood there in that awkward triangle of not-quite-ready-to-leave that always happens after a good time. The LED lights from the common room painted shifting colors across the hallway walls, Todo's music still thumping faintly behind us.
"So..." I scratched the back of my head. "Same time tomorrow? I mean, if you want to. No pressure."
"Perhaps," Kaori said, that mysterious smile playing at her lips. "Though I should warn you - I plan to study more racing techniques tonight."
"Of course you do." I turned to Hitomi. "And you'll probably memorize the entire Reddit strategy guide, won't you?"
She shrugged one shoulder. "Knowledge is power."
"You two are terrifying, you know that?"
"Good," they said in unison, then shared a look that made me very nervous about future gaming sessions.
"Right, well, I'm gonna..." I pointed vaguely toward the guys' side. "Goodnight then."
The guys' side was quieter, most people either still gaming or already asleep. I passed Todo's room, music and colored lights spilling from under his door. Kirishima's door was covered in "MANLY" posters, while Kaminari had somehow rigged his nameplate to glow like a neon sign.
I finally reached my room, falling face-first onto my bed. My phone buzzed - probably Mom with more questions about my love life.
But no, it was Todo:
Besto Friendo: you got game night hitomi AND kaori to smile???
Besto Friendo: teach me your ways sensei
I typed back:
[Me]: Go to sleep Todo
Besto Friendo: seriously tho
Besto Friendo: how'd you do it?
Besto Friendo: asking for science
[Me]: Step 1: Be terrible at remembering names
Step 2: ???
Step 3: Profit
Besto Friendo: worst guide ever
Besto Friendo: also kaminari wants his rematch
Besto Friendo: says you cant hide behind your gamer girls forever
[Me]: They're not my anything
And I'm going to sleep
Because I'm sane
Besto Friendo: but tomorrow we're having a PROPER gaming session
Besto Friendo: with SNACKS
Besto Friendo: and ENERGY DRINKS
Besto Friendo: and VICTORY
[Me]: Goodnight Todo
Besto Friendo: YOU CANT ESCAPE THE FRIENDSHIP
===========
[Next time on "My Hero Academia: Limitless"]
"It's time for the Quirk Assessment Test! Where we'll see everyone's quirks in action and-"
"BESTO FRIENDO!" Todo burst through the studio wall, sending cardboard bricks flying everywhere. "We need to talk about something important!"
I sighed. "Todo, I'm trying to do the preview-"
"But have you noticed?" He pulled out a whiteboard with 'Katsumi, Hitomi, Kaori' written in sparkly marker. "They all end in 'i'! It's a sign!"
"It's really not."
"And they're all incredibly talented and scary in different ways!" He started drawing hearts around the names. "You need to choose!"
"I need to finish this preview-"
"The tsundere explosion queen!" He drew little bombs around Katsumi's name. "The mysterious ice princess!" Snowflakes around Hitomi's. "Or the elegant and mysterious student!" Roses around Kaori's.
"Can we not do this right now?"
"The people need to know!"
I turned back to the camera. "Anyway, next time we'll see-"
"Choose! Choose! Choose!"
"That's it." I grabbed his collar. "Security!"
"Wait! The shippers need closure!"
"Get out!"
After tossing him through the (fake) window, I straightened my jacket. "Sorry about that. As I was saying - next time we'll witness the Quirk Assessment Test, where-"
Todo's head popped up from below the window frame. "Don't forget to drop those power stones and add us to your library!"
"Todo I swear-"
"Also next chapter is actually about Kaori because I stole the script and-"
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