Daily Meme At the End of the Chapter.Drop Yours Though!
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After a long-ass study session, just as we were about to split, Hagakure shifted closer to me as the group started packing up. "Um, Ryuu, can you come to my house?"
The room went quiet. Everyone turned to her.
She waved her hands. "It's not like that! My mom is a really good painter, and when I told her you could see me, she offered to draw me based on your description. My parents… they want a portrait of me."
I nodded. Made sense. It must have been hard for them too.
"Wait, wait," Mina grinned. "Your parents never actually got to see you?"
"They had baby pictures," Hagakure muttered. "But once my Quirk kicked in, that was it. No idea what I actually look like."
Kirishima whistled. "Damn. That's rough."
Yaoyorozu nodded. "That sounds like a wonderful idea. It must be special for your family."
I stood up. "Alright, let's go."
Hagakure nodded quickly. "Thanks."
Her house was smaller than Yaoyorozu's but still nice. Big yard, modern design, lots of windows. Inside, the living room was filled with framed paintings, each one detailed as hell. Her mom had serious skill.
"Mom! Dad! I'm home!"
A voice from the next room answered, "Welcome home!"
Her mom stepped into the hall, wiping her hands on a towel. She smiled. "And you must be Ryuu. Thank you for coming."
I nodded. "Nice to meet you."
Her dad came in from the side, eyes scanning me. Giving me the kind of look that said 'I know where the shovel is.' "So, you're the one who can see her."
He folded his arms. "I still don't know how I feel about that."
Mrs. Hagakure rolled her eyes. "Dear, we talked about this."
He didn't budge. "A boy who can see what no one else can? Sounds like the setup to a lot of bad decisions."
Toru groaned. "Dad, please."
I held up my hands. "I'm just here for the sketch, sir."
He grunted. "We'll see."
Mrs. Hagakure looked excited, she clapped her hands. "Come in! Sit! We'll start right away!"
Her father let out a breath. "Unbelievable."
She led me to a chair and handed me a sketchpad. "Alright, describe her."
Hagakure shifted. "Be nice."
"Why would I be mean?"
"You always sound like you're about to insult someone."
Mrs. Hagakure laughed. "No worries! Just tell me the details."
I pointed. "Her hair's something between green and yellow, kinda like chartreuse. Pink highlights. It's wavy, a little messy. Her eyes are teal with a yellow ring inside. No freckles. Skin's on the fair side."
Mrs. Hagakure's pencil moved fast. "And her face shape?"
"Uh, normal?"
Hagakure groaned. "Not helpful!"
I squinted. "More oval than round. Sharp jawline but not too sharp."
Her mom nodded. "Nose?"
"Small."
"Lips?"
"Uh… normal?"
Hagakure groaned again. "What does that mean?!"
"Not too thin, not too full. They fit your face."
Mrs. Hagakure sketched quickly, glancing between the page and me. After a while, she turned the pad around. "Something like this?"
I looked at the painting and at Toru, then shook my head. "Nope."
Her mom frowned. "What's wrong?"
I pointed at the sketch. "Eyes are off. Shape's right, but the colors need to be brighter. And the nose—too small."
Toru leaned in, squinting. "Wait, my nose is bigger?"
"Yeah. Not in a bad way, just… more defined."
Her mom nodded, erasing and adjusting. "And her lips?"
I tilted my head. "A little fuller."
Toru gasped. "Are you saying I have big lips?"
"No. I am saying they are not as thin as they are in the sketch."
She crossed her arms. "That sounds like a nice way of saying I have big lips."
I ignored her, turning back to the painting. "Also, hair needs more volume."
Toru scoffed. "Oh, so now my hair is flat?"
"Do you want this to be accurate or not?"
She huffed. "Fine. Keep going."
Her mom kept tweaking the sketch as I pointed out small details. It took a few tries, but eventually, it looked right. When she turned it around again, I didn't even need to say anything. Toru stared at it, eyes wide—like she'd been hit with something she didn't expect. I nodded. "Yeah. That's you."
She didn't say anything for a few seconds, just gripping the edge of the table. Her dad leaned over her shoulder, staring at the drawing like it was something unreal. "So that's… our daughter."
Her mom smiled, running a hand over the page. "Toru, you're beautiful."
Toru swallowed hard. "I—yeah. Thanks." She glanced at me. "You sure this is me?"
I raised a brow. "Why would I lie?"
Her parents looked at the portrait again, taking in every detail. Her mom gently touched Toru's hair, even though she couldn't see it. "This is the first time I've seen your face since you were a baby."
Her dad nodded. "We need to frame this."
She ran her fingers along the edge of the paper, staring like she was afraid to blink.
Then, quietly, she whispered, "Oh my god. I have a face."
"No shit."
She smacked my arm. "Shut up, let me have my moment."
Her mom laughed. "Do you want a full painting? I can make a bigger version."
Toru looked at the sketch again, then nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, I do."
Her mom picked up another canvas. "Alright, I'll start tomorrow. Thank you, Ryuu, for helping with this."
I shrugged. "Not like I did much."
Toru's dad shook his head. "No. You did a lot."
Toru rolled her eyes. "Okay, enough emotions. Who's hungry?"
Her mom stood up. "I'll cook something. Ryuu, do you have any allergies?"
"Nope."
"Great. Stay for dinner."
I glanced at Toru. She shrugged. "Might as well."
Her dad smiled. "Good. We owe you at least that much."
Her mom disappeared into the kitchen, and Toru grabbed my wrist, pulling me toward the living room. "Alright, while we wait, we're watching something stupid."
Her dad sighed. "Nothing inappropriate."
Toru huffed. "Define inappropriate."
He gave her a look.
"Ugh, fine."
She plopped onto the couch, scrolling through the TV. I sat down, glancing at the sketch still on the table. Toru caught me looking and nudged me. "Kinda weird, huh?"
I shook my head. "No, I was just thinking if I should be jealous now that others will see you too."
Toru tilted her head. "Why would you feel jealous?"
I stared at her. "Girl, you are drop-dead gorgeous. Not in a possessive way, but like a beautiful scenery or a pretty flower. You would not want others to taint it with their eyes."
Her father choked from the side.
Her mother smirked. "Oh my, that was quite the compliment."
She blushed, hiding her face behind her hands. "You can't just say things like that."
Her mom laughed. "Oh, but he can. And he did."
Her dad rubbed his temples. "That was too smooth for a teenager."
I leaned back. "It's the truth."
He muttered, "This is why boys shouldn't have poetry in their arsenal."
Her mom laughed. "Maybe you should've tried it once in a while."
Toru snorted, still hiding behind her hands. She peeked between her fingers. "You really think I'm that pretty?"
"Yes."
She groaned. "I was not prepared for this today."
Her mom smiled. "It must be nice to finally have someone describe you."
Toru nodded slowly. "Yeah."
Her dad sighed. "Guess I should have expected some nonsense when you brought a boy home."
He stared at the sketch again, then at me. "Don't think a well-timed compliment makes me trust you."
I blinked. "Didn't think it would."
He grunted, looking oddly satisfied. "Good."
She turned to him. "Dad. Please."
He gestured vaguely. "I'm just saying."
"Sir, if it helps, your daughter threatened to poison me five minutes ago."
"It helps."
Her mom shook her head. "Let's eat before this gets worse."
We moved to the dining table. The food smelled great. Whatever her mom made, it was miles better than the street trash.
Toru handed me a plate. "Here. Eat."
I grabbed it. "You sure you're not trying to poison me?"
She scoffed. "If I was, you would never see it coming."
Her dad side-eyed her. "That's not funny."
I took a bite. "You'll know if she tries something. I'll scream."
Her mom laughed. "I like this one."
Her dad muttered under his breath.
Toru sat down next to me. "So, what's next? You gonna wake up tomorrow with another weird ability?"
I shrugged. "Depends on what bullshit life throws at me."
Her mom perked up. "Oh, Toru mentioned you can develop new skills based on challenges, right?"
Toru's dad raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't sound scientifically sound."
"Neither does half the stuff heroes do," I said. "I just roll with it."
Toru crossed her arms. "You better not unlock X-ray vision next."
I grinned. "That a challenge?"
She threw a piece of rice at me.
Her mom laughed again. "I like him a lot."
Her dad sighed. "Of course you do."
We kept eating. The conversation moved to normal things—school, training camp, how Toru's parents thought U.A. was too reckless but also the best school for her.
I stepped outside, hands in my pockets. "Alright, see you."
She nodded. "Yeah. Thanks again."
I turned to leave.
"Wait."
I stopped.
She took a breath, hesitated, then before I could ask, she stepped forward and pressed a quick kiss to my cheek.
It was barely a second. A blink, a whisper of warmth, and then it was gone.
I turned my head, raising a brow. "Oh?"
Toru was already half-turned away, covering her face with her hands. "Shut up."
I grinned. "You know, I can see you now. So if you're blushing—"
"I said shut up."
I laughed and waved. "See you."
She huffed but didn't turn back. I could hear her muttering as I walked off, and damn, if that wasn't the most adorable thing ever.
I heard her dad behind her mutter, "He's lucky that was just the cheek."
Nigerundayo!
When I got home, Mom was waiting at the door, smiling like she just won the lottery.
I glared at Izuku, who was half-buried behind a pillow on the couch.
Mom clasped her hands together. "So, you went to a girl's house?"
I groaned. "Mom, it was to help her family."
She nodded, but the smile didn't fade. "Mhm."
Izuku peeked over the pillow. "Did you eat there?"
"Yeah."
Mom hummed. "Did you thank them properly?"
"Yes, Mom."
She nudged me toward the table. "Then sit down. Have some tea."
I sighed but sat. Izuku put the pillow down and watched me like he was waiting for something.
Mom poured the tea. "What's she like?"
"Toru?" I shrugged. "Loud. Annoying. Pushy."
Mom smiled. "Oh, so you like her."
Izuku choked.
I rolled my eyes. "That's not what I said."
Mom just kept smiling.
Izuku coughed into his hand. "She, uh… she sounded really excited when she called earlier."
I frowned. "She called?"
Mom nodded. "Wanted to make sure I knew you were safe. Very polite girl."
Izuku muttered, "First time I've seen someone worry about Ryuu's safety instead of the other way around."
I sipped my tea. "She just wanted the sketch to be accurate. That's all."
Mom watched me. "You're helping her a lot."
I shrugged. "Didn't take much."
She shook her head. "It's not about effort. It's about what it means."
Izuku tilted his head. "She must've been really happy."
I leaned back. "Yeah. She was."
Mom smiled and sipped her tea. Izuku fidgeted with his cup, then hesitated before saying, "So… you're going to see her again, right?"
I raised a brow. "Why?"
He looked away. "Just asking."
Mom beamed. "You should! A friend like that is important."
I scoffed. "Since when are you both so invested?"
Izuku shrugged. "Since you actually spent time with someone outside of training or fighting crime."
I frowned. "I spend time with people."
He and Mom exchanged a look.
I sighed. "Whatever. I'm going to bed."
Mom laughed. "Alright, alright. Sleep well, dear."
Izuku called after me. "Try keeping your pants on tonight!"
I flipped him off as I walked upstairs.
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Daily Meme!
You read…
He watches.
You scroll…
He gets closer.
You didn't vote.
Now you hear footsteps.
The room goes cold.
You blink—
It's Ryuu. In your house. With a slideshow of your search history and every unread notification.
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