บท 44: [44] Unlocked Doors
It's bonus chapter time Everybody!
Yaoyorozu nodded, then glanced down at her workout clothes - black compression shorts and a fitted tank top. "Oh. I should probably change first."
"You look fine," I said, then caught myself. She did look fine. Really fine. The kind of fine that made my brain short-circuit for a second. "But yeah, maybe not restaurant appropriate."
She tugged at the hem of her tank top. "I'll run back to the dorms-"
"I got it." The words came out before I thought them through. "I mean, I can grab you something. Save time."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, just..." I gestured vaguely at her. "Stay right there. Five minutes."
I jogged toward Heights Alliance, definitely not thinking about how good Yaoyorozu looked in workout clothes. The dorm was quiet - everyone else already in their rooms. I took the stairs two at a time to my floor.
My room was at the end of the hall, decorated with a small lotus design Ashido had painted on the door.
The lock clicked open and I stepped inside.
"Well, well." Katsumi's voice stopped me before I entered. She leaned against the wall, still in her gym uniform. "Running errands for Ponytail?"
"Something like that."
She pushed off the wall, closing the distance between us. "You're getting soft, Lotus Boy."
"Says the girl who skipped training."
"Please." She rolled her eyes. "I don't need group therapy to kick your ass at the festival."
I started to respond, but her hands fisted in my shirt and she pulled me down into a searing kiss.
I responded instinctively, one hand tangling in her hair while the other found her waist. She made a satisfied sound against my mouth and pushed me back against the door.
"Been wanting to do that all day," she murmured between kisses. "Watching you run those extras through drills..."
Her teeth grazed my lower lip and rational thought became significantly harder. She pressed closer, all heat and aggression. "Show me what you've got, Lotus Boy."
My self-control snapped. I spun us around, pinning her against the door. She grinned fiercely, eyes blazing as I kissed down her neck.
"That's more like it," she breathed.
Small explosions crackled from her palms as I found a sensitive spot below her ear. The temperature between us rose several degrees.
"Katsumi," I pulled back just enough to meet her eyes. "We should-"
"Don't you dare stop," she growled, dragging me back down.
Minutes or hours passed. Time lost meaning as we got lost in each other. Her hands slipped under my shirt, leaving trails of fire across my skin.
Reality crashed back when my phone buzzed. Yaoyorozu was still waiting.
I broke the kiss, resting my forehead against hers. We were both breathing hard.
"We need to stop," I said quietly.
"Why?" Her fingers traced patterns on my chest. "Scared?"
"No." I caught her hands, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. "But you deserve better than a rushed first time against a door."
She scoffed, but I felt her pulse racing under my fingers. "Since when are you such a romantic?"
"Since always. You've just been too busy trying to blow me up to notice."
That earned me a small laugh. She pulled back slightly, studying my face. "This doesn't change anything, you know. I'm still aiming for the top."
"I'd be disappointed if you weren't." I brushed a strand of hair from her face. "That fire is part of why I like you."
"Like me, huh?" She smirked. "Better step up your game then. I don't settle for second best."
"Wouldn't dream of it." I kissed her once more, softer this time. "Rain check?"
"You better make it worth the wait." She straightened her uniform, somehow making the motion look threatening. "And if you tell anyone about this..."
"My lips are sealed."
She opened the door, then paused. "Your door will be unlocked tonight."
"Is that an invitation or a warning?"
Her only answer was a dangerous smile as she left.
I took a moment to collect myself, then remembered why I'd come up here in the first place. Right. Hoodie for Yaoyorozu.
After a moment's consideration, I grabbed a dark blue one. Simple, comfortable, wouldn't clash with her workout clothes.
Back outside, Yaoyorozu was exactly where I'd left her, scrolling through her phone. She looked up as I approached.
"Here." I handed her the hoodie. "Should work until we get back."
"Thanks." She pulled it on, the oversized fabric falling past her shorts. "How do I look?"
Like trouble. "It'll do. Ready?"
We walked toward the main gate, signing out with security. The evening air had cooled, and Yaoyorozu pulled the sleeves over her hands.
"So," she said, "where are we going?"
"You like ramen?"
"Who doesn't?"
"Fair point." I led us toward the shopping district. "There's this place a few blocks down. Best chashu in Musutafu."
"Bold claim."
"I'll stake my reputation on it."
She laughed. "What reputation?"
"Ouch. And here I thought we were friends."
The streets were busy with the dinner crowd, forcing us to walk closer together. Yaoyorozu's arm brushed mine occasionally, and I tried not to focus on how my hoodie looked better on her than it ever had on me.
The ramen shop's warmth hit as soon as we stepped inside. A bell chimed above the door, and the chef looked up from his work.
"Ah, Nakamura-san!" He grinned, recognition lighting his weathered face. "The USJ hero returns!"
I scratched the back of my head. "Just hungry, Tanaka-san."
"And with company this time." He nodded at Yaoyorozu. "Welcome, welcome. Your usual spot is open."
We slid into the corner booth, tucked away from the main counter. Yaoyorozu raised an eyebrow.
"Usual spot?"
"I come here to think sometimes." I picked up a menu I didn't need. "The noise helps."
"The USJ hero thing is new."
"Yeah, well." I shrugged. "People like a good story."
"You fought a Nomu."
Tanaka appeared with two glasses of water. "Ready to order?"
"Tonkotsu with extra chashu," I said. "And-"
"Miso ramen," Yaoyorozu cut in. "With corn, please."
Tanaka nodded approvingly. "Good choice. Ten minutes."
As he walked away, I noticed Yaoyorozu studying me. "What?"
"You didn't correct him. About being a hero."
"Would you?"
She considered this, absently playing with the sleeve of my hoodie. "No, I suppose not."
"Besides," I leaned back, "free upgrades aren't the worst thing in the world."
"Upgrades?"
"Extra chashu, better seats at movies. One cafe gives me free coffee."
She laughed. "You're terrible."
"I prefer opportunistic."
"Is that why you're helping with festival training? The glory?"
"Nah." I took a sip of water. "That's just fun."
"Fun?"
"Teaching people. Watching them improve." I gestured vaguely. "It's satisfying."
"Even when Bakugo tries to blow you up?"
"Especially then. Makes things interesting."
Her expression shifted slightly. "Speaking of Bakugo..."
"We don't have to talk about that."
"No, I..." She paused. "Are you two..."
"It's complicated."
"Isn't it always?"
The conversation paused as Tanaka brought our ramen. Steam rose from the bowls, carrying promises of warmth and comfort.
"Itadakimasu," we said in unison.
The first bite was perfect - rich broth, tender pork, noodles with just the right bite. Yaoyorozu made a small sound of appreciation.
"Okay," she admitted, "you were right about the chashu."
"Told you." I watched her tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "So, the festival. You ready?"
"Getting there." She stirred her ramen thoughtfully. "The preliminary rounds worry me."
"Why? Your quirk's perfect for that stuff."
"It's not about capability." She took another bite, chewing slowly. "It's about standing out."
"Ah."
"Everyone will be watching. Agencies, pros..." She gestured with her chopsticks. "One mistake and-"
"Stop."
She blinked. "What?"
"You're overthinking it." I leaned forward. "Know what your biggest advantage is?"
"My quirk's versatility?"
"Your brain." I tapped my temple. "You think faster than anyone in our year. Maybe the whole school."
"That's not-"
"It is. But you get stuck in here." Another tap. "Planning every possibility until you freeze up."
She frowned. "We can't all fight on instinct like you."
"No, but you can trust yourself more." I stole a piece of corn from her bowl. "Your first idea is usually the right one."
"Hey!" She tried to snag some of my chashu in retaliation, but I blocked with my chopsticks. "That's rich coming from Mr. 'I'll figure it out when I get there.'"
"Works, doesn't it?"
"Until it doesn't." But she was smiling now. "What if I face you in the tournament?"
"Then we'll have fun."
"Fun?"
"Yeah." I grinned. "I've always wanted to see what you can really do when you cut loose."
She ducked her head, but not before I caught her blush. "Careful what you wish for."
"I mean it." I waited until she looked up. "You're stronger than you think, Yaoyorozu."
The moment stretched, heavy with things unsaid. Then someone at the counter dropped a bowl, shattering the silence.
We finished eating, trading lighter conversation about classes and training. When the bill came, I grabbed it before she could reach.
"I can pay for myself," she protested.
"I know. But I dragged you here, so..."
"Fine." She stood, straightening my hoodie. "But I'm getting the next one."
"Next one?"
"Well," she smiled, "I still need to prove you wrong about my first ideas."
Outside, the night had settled in properly. Street lights cast pools of yellow on the sidewalk, and the air held a hint of summer.
I reached for Yaoyorozu's hand before my brain caught up with my body. Her fingers were cool against my palm, and she glanced at our joined hands before meeting my eyes.
"We've got time before curfew," I said. "Want to walk around?"
She squeezed my hand lightly. "Lead the way."
The shopping district hummed with evening life. Couples window shopped, groups of friends spilled out of karaoke bars, and the smell of grilled meat mixed with the crisp night air.
"You know," Yaoyorozu said as we passed a brightly lit arcade, "I've never actually been to one of those."
I stopped walking. "What, an arcade?"
She shrugged. "Mother said they were a waste of time."
"That's it. We're fixing this." I tugged her toward the entrance. "Everyone needs to experience the joy of badly rigged claw machines at least once."
"I thought you said they were badly rigged?"
"That's half the fun."
Inside, the arcade assaulted us with neon lights and electronic beeps. A group of middle schoolers crowded around a fighting game, shouting encouragement at the players. Two elementary kids raced each other on plastic motorcycles. The air smelled like cheap carpet and spilled soda.
"This is..." Yaoyorozu trailed off.
"Incredible? Amazing? Life-changing?"
"Loud."
I laughed and pulled her toward the token machine. "Trust me. You'll love it."
We fed bills into the machine and collected a handful of tokens. Yaoyorozu held them like they might bite.
"Okay, first lesson in arcade etiquette." I held up a token. "Never spend more than three tries on the claw machine. It's a trap."
"Noted. What else?"
"Racing games are sacred. If you challenge someone, you have to follow through." I pointed to the motorcycle games. "And always claim the blue bike. Red ones are cursed."
She raised an eyebrow. "That seems statistically unlikely."
"You want to test it?"
"...No."
"Smart." I scanned the room. "Let's start with something easy. Skee-ball?"
We found an open lane near the back. I demonstrated proper form, sending the ball up the ramp. It dropped into the 40-point ring with a satisfying clunk.
"See? Just aim for the middle rings. The corners are-"
Yaoyorozu's first throw landed perfectly in the 100-point pocket.
"Lucky shot," I said.
Her second throw did the same. Then her third.
"Are you using physics calculations right now?"
"Maybe." She smiled innocently. "Is that against arcade etiquette?"
"You're a menace."
We made our way through the arcade, trying out different games. Yaoyorozu proved to be a natural at most of them, her quick mind adapting to each new challenge. I kept finding excuses to touch her - guiding her hands on controls, bumping shoulders as we walked, steadying her during a particularly intense racing game.
At the shooting gallery, I stood behind her, adjusting her stance. "You want to keep your arms steady," I said, my hands on her shoulders. "And breathe out as you pull the trigger."
She nodded, her back pressing against my chest as she took aim. The toy gun fired with a soft pop, and the target fell with a satisfying clang.
"Nice shot," I murmured, not moving away.
Yaoyorozu turned her head slightly, our faces inches apart. "Thanks to your guidance."
We stayed like that for a moment, neither willing to break the contact. Then she cleared her throat and stepped forward, raising the gun again. "Let's see if I can do it on my own this time."
As the evening wore on, we fell into a comfortable rhythm. We'd try a new game, playfully compete, then move on to the next one. Yaoyorozu's competitive streak emerged, driving her to master each challenge we encountered.
"This is actually fun," she admitted as we watched the tickets spill out of a machine. "Although I don't understand why they make it so complicated to win prizes."
"It's psychological warfare." I gathered the tickets. "Makes the victory sweeter."
"What can we get with these?"
"Probably enough for..." I did a quick count. "Three erasers and a stale piece of candy."
"Perfect." She grinned. "I know exactly what to get."
Ten minutes later, we left the arcade with matching cartoon All Might keychains. Yaoyorozu immediately attached hers to her phone.
"These are horrible," she said happily. "I love it."
"Worth the cultural experience?"
"Definitely." She took my hand again. "Where to next?"
We wandered without direction, pointing out interesting shops and making up stories about the people we passed. Yaoyorozu's hand fit perfectly in mine, and I tried not to read too much into that.
"Oh!" She stopped suddenly, pulling me toward a small storefront. "Ice cream?"
The shop was barely bigger than a closet, with a handwritten menu and exactly three stools at a tiny counter. The old woman behind the register smiled as we entered.
"Welcome, welcome! What can I get you?"
Yaoyorozu studied the menu intently. "What's good here?"
"The green tea is amazing," the woman said. "And the black sesame."
"I'll take both then."
"Double scoop of each?" The woman asked.
"No, just..." Yaoyorozu glanced at me. "We can share?"
"Yeah." I cleared my throat. "Yeah, that works."
We got our ice cream and found a bench nearby. The street was quieter here, tucked away from the main shopping areas. Music drifted from an open window above us.
"Here." Yaoyorozu offered me a spoonful of green tea. "Tell me if it's as good as promised."
I leaned forward to taste it. The ice cream was perfect - subtle and not too sweet.
"Well?"
"Even better than I thought it could be."
She tried it herself, then nodded. "You have good taste."
"High praise from someone who probably has a professional ice cream taster at home."
"Don't be ridiculous." She bumped her shoulder against mine. "We only have a sommelier."
We traded spoonfuls of ice cream, talking about nothing important. The music above changed to something slower, and Yaoyorozu hummed along.
"You know this song?"
"Mm. My mother plays piano. This was one of her favorites."
"Do you play?"
"A little. Not as well as her." She scraped the last bit of ice cream from the cup. "What about you? Any hidden talents?"
"Does being chronically late count?"
"That's not a talent, that's a character flaw."
"Harsh." I checked the time. "Speaking of which..."
"We should head back?"
"Probably."
Neither of us moved. The song ended, replaced by the distant sounds of traffic and conversation. A cat wandered past, pausing to study us before continuing its evening patrol.
"Can I ask you something?" Yaoyorozu's voice was quiet.
"Always."
"About Katsumi..." Yaoyorozu paused, her empty ice cream cup forgotten on the bench between us. "And Kaori."
"Ah." I leaned back, looking up at the stars peeking through the city's light pollution. "You noticed."
"The hickeys were hard to miss." She turned to face me fully. "Plus, Katsumi's not exactly subtle when she wants something."
"No, she's not."
"So..." She picked at the sleeve of my hoodie. "It's complicated?"
"Not really." I met her gaze. "I'm seeing both of them."
Her eyebrows rose slightly. "Both?"
"Both. They know about each other." I ran a hand through my hair. "Kaori's been away dealing with family stuff, but she was first. Katsumi knows that."
"And they're... okay with this arrangement?"
"More than okay. Katsumi turned it into a competition."
Yaoyorozu laughed. "Of course she did."
"Yeah." I smiled despite myself. "She declared she'd be 'number one' about ten seconds after I told her about Kaori."
"That tracks." She studied my face. "Can I ask why?"
"Why what?"
"Why both? Why not choose?"
I considered my words carefully. "Because I don't want to. And because forcing myself to pick one person when I care about multiple people feels dishonest."
"So you just... tell them upfront?"
"Better than lying." I shrugged. "They deserve to know what they're getting into."
"And what are they getting into, exactly?"
"Me. All of me." I turned to face her fully. "But they also get my honesty about who else I'm seeing. My time, split between them. My attention, divided but genuine."
"That sounds..."
"Selfish?"
"I was going to say brave." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Most people wouldn't admit to wanting multiple relationships."
"Most people lie to themselves about it."
"True." She picked up the ice cream cup, rolling it between her palms. "So they can only be with you?"
"That's the deal."
"Greedy hero," she murmured, almost to herself.
"Something like that." I watched her fidget with the cup. "Does it bother you?"
"No." She said it quickly, then paused. "Maybe. I don't know."
"Fair enough."
We sat in silence for a moment, letting the night sounds fill the space between us.
"Earlier," she said finally, "at the arcade. Was that..."
"Just hanging out?" I finished. "No. It wasn't."
"Oh." She set the cup down carefully. "And this whole evening?"
"I wanted to spend time with you. Get to know you better." I touched her hand lightly. "See if there might be something here."
She didn't pull away. "Even though you're already with Kaori and Katsumi?"
"Even though."
"That's..." She intertwined our fingers. "A lot to process."
"Take your time." I squeezed her hand gently. "No pressure."
"What if I need more than time?"
"Then you need more than time." I shrugged. "I'm not trying to rush anything."
She turned our joined hands over, studying them. "What if I have questions?"
"Ask them."
"How does it work? Day to day, I mean."
"Honestly? We're still figuring it out. Kaori's been gone, and Katsumi's new to this." I traced circles on her palm. "But communication helps. Setting boundaries. Being clear about expectations."
"And jealousy?"
"Happens sometimes. We deal with it when it comes up."
She nodded slowly. "And if... hypothetically... someone else was interested?"
"Hypothetically?" I caught her eye. "I'd tell them the same things I told you. That I'm already seeing people. That I'm open to more, but only if everyone's honest about it."
"And if they needed time?"
"Then they'd get time." I lifted her hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. "As much as they needed."
She inhaled sharply. "You're making it very hard to think clearly."
"Sorry." I wasn't.
"No, you're not." She pulled her hand back, but she was smiling. "This is a lot to take in."
"I know."
"And we should probably head back soon."
"Probably."
Neither of us moved.
"One more question?" she asked.
"Shoot."
"Why me?"
I looked at her - really looked at her. The way my hoodie swallowed her frame. The slight mess in her usually perfect hair. The genuine curiosity in her eyes.
"Because you're brilliant," I said. "Because you overthink everything but still trust your instincts when it matters. Because you'd never been to an arcade but jumped in headfirst anyway."
"Those are terrible reasons."
"Because you're beautiful," I continued. "Because you calculate physics for skee-ball. Because you got excited about a cheap All Might keychain."
"Stop." But she was blushing now.
"Because you make me want to be better." I reached for her hand again. "Because you see through my bullshit but stick around anyway."
She let me take her hand. "Is this how you convinced the others?"
"Nah. Kaori pinned me to my bed and kissed me. Katsumi tried to blow me up, then kissed me."
She laughed. "Of course they did."
A bell tower somewhere struck the hour, reminding us of curfew.
"We should go," she said, not moving.
"Yeah."
She stood, pulling me up with her. We walked back toward campus, hands still linked.
"So," I said as we neared Heights Alliance. "Thoughts?"
"Many." She bumped her shoulder against mine. "But mainly..."
"Yeah?"
"I think I need that time you offered."
"Take all you need."
We reached the dorm entrance. She started to pull off my hoodie, but I stopped her.
"Keep it."
"Won't you need it?"
"I've got others." I opened the door for her. "Besides, it looks better on you."
She rolled her eyes but pulled the hoodie back on. "Smooth talker."
"I try."
We entered in comfortable silence, stopping at the hallway.
"Thank you," she said. "For being honest. About everything."
"Thank you for listening."
She hesitated, then rose on her tiptoes to kiss my cheek. "Goodnight, Yoichi."
"Goodnight, Momo."
I waited until she disappeared down her hallway before heading up to my room. My phone buzzed as I reached my door.
A message from Katsumi: "Make sure your door stays unlocked."
Another buzz. This time from Yaoyorozu: "The hoodie smells like you."
I smiled, typing quick replies to both before entering my room. The night air drifted through my open window, carrying the last traces of summer.
My phone buzzed one more time. Kaori, finally responding to my message from earlier:
"Miss you too, hero. Family stuff's a nightmare. We need to talk when I'm back. About us. About everything. But mainly about us."
I fell onto my bed, staring at the ceiling. Three very different women, three very different relationships. All complicated in their own ways.
But then, nothing worth having ever came easy.
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