Lani POV:

My brain had stalled.

I was a hazy mess of arousal, passion, and Shouto as Momo knocked on the door of the men's restroom, once again, calling out for her 'date' and inevitable beau...

"Shouto? You're not answering, and now I'm getting worried. Is Lani in there with you?" She asked, and rarely had the words had been taken out of my mouth like this.

I was too dazed to speak. My jaw could only drop in realization as Shouto and I remained tangled together on the floor of the bathroom. My dress was pulled up to my hips. My fingers were in his hair, and his hand was on my waist. If anyone were to catch us in this position, it would be hell.

Of course, the man in question didn't say anything, looking more shocked than me. He was frozen in place, glancing at me for direction that I didn't have. Because...because...

This wasn't supposed to happen.

"Fuck..." I whispered with a dreadful, heavy swallow.

I really messed up.

Shouto's sweet taste was still in my mouth and I tried to ignore it as I quickly pushed him away, pulling my dress down and jumping up to my feet as I tried to figure out a plan.

He watched me from the floor, blinking a few times to process as I quickly ran over to the 'freshen up' mirror, "W-What....what are you doing?"

"C'mon, stand up. Hurry." I whispered desperately, simultaneously trying to fix my lipstick and pull his limp body up from the ground.

His brain was dazed as he stumbled back up to his feet—and, god, his hair was an utter mess. His lips were swollen. And, most of all, he didn't seem to care about any of it.

Instead, he watched me fix my hair and makeup in a panic, not comprehending such urgency in the situation. "I—what's wrong?" He asked, before Momo knocked again.

I sighed tensely and turned to Shouto, placing my hands on his shoulders and giving him a firm shake to try and snap him out of it, "Shouto, please. Pull yourself together. That woman out there is your date-"

"Her and I aren't in a relationship anymore, and we're not dating." He was focusing on the wrong things at this moment. "It's okay-"

Knock. Knock. Knock.

I groaned and brushed past him towards the door, surprised when he reached out and grabbed my wrist.

His eyes filled with a little more clarity now, and it didn't make me feel better considering his next words.

"Lani. It's....it's okay." He said, almost as if he was trying to assure me this was fine. Almost as if he was pleading with me to make this fine—us.

But, this was the furthest thing from fine. Momo was standing right outside this door. My publicist career was ruined, and Shouto has just unknowingly kissed his biggest enemy. Nothing was fine, and in this moment, I was positive it would never be fine again.

I just had to go and fuck everything up...

With furrowed brows of guilt, I pulled my arm out of his grip and kept my eyes away from him, biting the inside of my cheek as I spoke the harsh truth, "No one can know about this, Shouto. Do you understand me? No one."

I didn't look at his face after I said it. Because I was worried I'd cave if I did. And I couldn't take it back. I couldn't. For his own good.

"But..." His voice came out quieter before Momo spoke again.

"Shouto, I'm going to fetch Midoriya so he can check on you in here and make sure you're-"

I stormed over and abruptly opened the door to the restroom, causing Momo to jump at the passive aggressive action. And, even if I was a mess on the inside, I composed myself and shot her a dry smile on the outside, trying to get through this last exchange in one piece.

"Momo, what a nice surprise. Shouto's fine. Just peachy, actually." My voice came out tired and annoyed, leaning against the open doorway of the restroom.

"O-Oh. Lani." Momo couldn't hide her deflation, instinctively smoothing out her dress as she looked me up and down. "So...so you were in here. How come neither of you answered when I called?"

And now it was time to do what I do best—lie. Well, and manipulate. But, that kinda comes with the 'lying' thing, you know.

"Hm? You called?" I cocked my head in question. "Weird. We didn't even hear you. These doors must be sound proofed."

I could see she wasn't convinced, looking between Shouto and I—and thankfully unable to decipher anything in such dim lighting.

"But-"

"Surely, Shouto would have answered you if he'd heard you. Don't you think?" I looked her right in the eyes, doing whatever I could to nip her growing questions in the bud.

The question was phrased in an intentional way—where if she were to respond with 'no' it would make her look foolish. And if there's one thing I've noticed about this girl, it's that she really cares about her image. More than anything.

It seemed to work as Momo blinked a few times, quickly responding this time as a way to overcorrect. 

"I-I suppose." She nodded hesitantly, turning her attention to her date now. "Are you okay, Shouto? I've been texting and calling you, but you haven't been answering."

My heart pounded in dread as I peered at Shouto in silence now. He's never been a good liar, and I'm terrified of whatever it is he's about to say...

He looked between Momo and I in silence, blinking a few extra times before exhaling softly, "Um...I'm fine. I guess...I was having an attack...of panic."

"You're having a panic attack?" She said, immediately wedging herself between Shouto and I and touching his face.

The flinch I subtly made felt disgusting and so vulnerable as Momo glided her polished, pristine fingers all over his face. I had no place to tell her off or say anything, really. She was Shouto's date. She was in his league, and the person everyone wanted for him.

"Are you okay? Let me help you-" She murmured in concern before Shouto grimaced with discomfort.

Lightly and like a gentlemen, he grabbed Momo's wrists and carefully peeled them from his face, placing them away from him and back at her sides.

"I'm fine now." He nodded stoically, and that would have been a great place to stop talking. "There's no need to worry, Lani fixed it."

Agh, Shouto...

I closed my eyes with a grimace of my own as the space went awkwardly and tensely silent, feeling Momo's gaze on me now. Dreadfully peering one eye open, and then the other, I saw I was correct in my assumption, seeing the disdain for me growing in her grey irises. More by the second, at that.

"So I see." She said dryly, trying to be polite as possible. "I...I guess I should thank you then."

"No need." I held up a hand and smiled stiffly. "I really didn't do anything."

"That's not true." Shouto continued to unintentionally stir the pot, causing my eyes to close in dreadful fatigue. Again.

I need to leave before things get worse...

I coughed awkwardly and quickly scooted myself out of the bathroom doorway now, leaving the two lovebirds next to each other, "Anyways, the speeches are over and that's my cue to head out. You two enjoy your night, okay?"

With that, I turned on my heel, intending to leave before-

"Lani." Shouto and Momo said simultaneously, causing my eyes to widen at the irony.

I sighed stressfully and turned back around to face the doting couple. Too afraid of what Shouto would say, I ignored him and looked at his date instead, trying to salvage whatever I could from this fuckshow of a night.

"Yes, Miss Yaoyorozu?" I asked, giving her a formal nod.

She looked at me with more concern that had nothing to do with my well being, smoothing out her dress one more time when she caught a look at mine.

"Your boyfriend left a little while ago. He told me to tell you he'd text you." She intentionally accentuated the word, and I couldn't help but chuckle emptily.

"He's not my boyfriend. But, thanks for the heads up." My polite tone held passive hints of sarcasm, giving her a condescending thumbs up before turning back on my heel.

And, once the two could no longer see my face, it fell immediately, holding a toxic concoction of fatigue, guilt, and emotional turmoil as I headed for the exit of the banquet venue.

The damage has been done. I don't know how the hell I'm going to get myself outta this one.

Shouto POV:

My perception of time was off, and that was no understatement.

I couldn't tell you how long I'd been in this car with Momo. The silence between her and I was endless, and for that, I was grateful. Because it gave me more time to think. More time for my thoughts to run wild—and actually welcome the way they unraveled in my head like ribbons.

My elbow was propped on the ledge of the limo window, and I stared out of it in a daze, watching the raindrops dot the glass absentmindedly. At the same time, my hand trailed along my face, more focused on brushing my own lips with my thumb.

Over, and over, and over again. No matter how much time had passed, I could still feel Lani's mouth on mine. It made my brain unable to think about anything else. I was actually starting to wonder if she somehow caused a traumatic brain injury within my head from kissing me. Perhaps the lack of oxygen to my head made something happen in there.

But, even if that were true, I would be okay with it.

Because it was Lani, and she could do no wrong. I could have kissed her until I ran out of oxygen completely, and I would have been okay with that, too.

Because, suddenly I understood what everyone was talking about. With the kissing thing. It wasn't a chore, and it wasn't an obligation. It was something I wanted—something my body wanted and responded to. And...well....

I liked it.

I really liked it. I'd never experienced those types of responses from my body before. Yes, I'd experienced arousal and all the typical physical bodily functions, but I never realized these responses could only become more intensified when you feel them within your emotions, too. It was like...my brain was becoming aroused, too. Not just my body. I didn't know how that made sense. It overwhelmed me, but I didn't mind it.

Her lips. Her touch. Her taste. My mind was desperately trying to remember every single second as it happened. If I could have taken notes on everything I felt at the time, I would have, all so I could go back to it over and over, to remember how I felt in that moment.

But, at the same time, I don't think I could ever forget anyways.

Lani's kiss was ingrained into me. It felt so good. She made me breathless, and the feeling of her bare skin still lingered on my fingers. It's part of the reason I keep putting them to my lips. Because maybe I could imagine how her bare skin would feel there if I tried hard enough. Maybe if I close my eyes, I could picture the moment again, and again. And if I focus my brain, I could still hear her soft breaths and moans into my ear, reveling in the pleasurable shiver that continued to trickle down my spine each time...

I've never been a person who gets addicted to things, but I could get addicted to that—to Lani, and her sounds, and her body, and her presence. I wanted to kiss her again, and touch her again, and feel her again if she would let me.

But....after how things ended, I...I don't know if she would.

Her last words to me in the restroom continued to play in my head, interrupting my daydreams every time my mind started to travel too deeply into them...

"No one can know about this, Shouto."

I find it frustrating and odd that, after Lani and I shared that moment in the bathroom, I could still be so confused by her behavior. She's the one who kissed me first. She's the one who deepened the kiss, and put my hand on her bare thigh, and said those things...those things that have my heart racing and my stomach tightening just at the idea of what she wanted me to do to her...

And then, she left. Suddenly, and...I don't know why she was so....so...

Guilty? Afraid?

Is it because she's someone I work with? I didn't think Lani would be the type to care about things like that. Or—maybe it's because I messed up the speech. I...I didn't really have time to think about that until now. What if....what if she's actually mad at me for that?

Now my indulging thoughts had turned into worry as I imagined all the possible scenarios of why Lani walked out of the bathroom. I removed my hand from the window and pulled my phone out of my suit pocket, tapping the home screen a bit desperately. But...

No new notifications

She hasn't messaged me either. It's been an hour since she left the venue. An hour since she left me with Momo, and by default, an hour since any word had been spoken—from me, or to me.

And I don't know what Lani's intending to do about all of this—I'm....I'm starting to realize that she confuses me more than I originally thought. But, this isn't something I can just forget or not talk about ever again. Not after the way it made me feel—not....not after the way I think it made her feel, too.

The way her brows furrowed and her eyes looked at me. The way she pulled me closer by my tie, and kissed me so deeply...surely she enjoyed it, right? I'm not good at reading people's responses, and while I thought I understood hers better than others, what if I'm wrong?

I need to be sure.

My fingers tapped along my phone screen quickly...

Text Message To: The Woman
Can I talk to you? I think we have things to talk about. Right?
11:17pm.

I remained staring at the screen for a long time after that, waiting to see the little grey bubble appear to show she was typing. But, it never showed up.

"Did Miss Hidaka get home safely?" Momo's voice interrupted my thoughts, making me jump slightly as that was the first thing either one of us said to each other in an hour.

She asked the question, but...from the way her face remained so blank, it didn't seem like she actually cared. Regardless, questions deserve answers.

"Oh. I'm not sure." I uttered honestly, glancing back down at my phone with concern.

Momo kept her gaze ahead, and it was hard to see her clearly in the dark interior of the limo. "That's who you were texting, right?" Her voice sounded....I don't know....dry? Almost...bitter, maybe?

"Yes." I stated matter of factly.

Silence filled the space once more, leaving the patter of rain against the car to be the only thing we heard. I don't know why, but I get the sense I'd done something wrong in Momo's eyes. Because she's wearing that familiar look of disappointment again.

But, I didn't do anything tonight that had her in mind. So...I don't understand the problem.

"I thought you didn't like texting." Her voice came out dry again, and still, her face wore the same blank look. "Now I see you doing it all the time."

Hesitantly, I took one last glance at my phone before letting the screen go black on its own. Now, the car was completely dark.

"I don't mind it sometimes." I said, continuing to look out the dark limo window once again.

I counted two streetlights we passed as neither Momo or I said anything else. And, during that entire time, I was really thinking about Lani, and whether she did make it home safely. The rain was coming down really hard tonight. It's not safe to be out at this time-

My thoughts stalled as Momo shifted next to me, having something to say, "I'm going to speak to my parents this weekend. About getting you a new publicist." She said.

For the first time all night, I looked at her—really looked at her, actively trying to see her face in the dark. I was confused by her words, and I didn't follow them.

"Huh?"

She looked at me immediately now, and...it almost seemed like she knew that was how she could gather my attention. It worked.

"My father has a business connection with the hero commission publishing division." Her voice came out raspy and empty. "He can speak with them about a good fit for you. I'm sure they'll be giving you a new one anyways after tonight's fiasco with the speeches. You've probably set yourself back quite a bit with your blunder onstage."

I blinked a few times in disbelief, feeling the thoughts in my head coming out easier now that I was getting a little annoyed.

"You...you can't do that." I stated factually, watching her shrug my words away in dismissal.

"It's what's best for you, Shouto-"

"You don't know what's best for me." My voice grew more certain, yet still composed. Regardless, it made Momo's face grimace. "And you can't tell me what to do. You don't have a say in my life anymore."

She said nothing, so I figured the conversation was finished. It wasn't until I opened my phone again to check for Lani's messages that Momo spoke.

"As your girlfriend, I absolutely do have a say."

I felt myself getting more annoyed now, scoffing the way I usually do whenever dad tries to speak with me. "You're not my girlfriend anymore." I muttered just as dismissively as she did before, hoping the car ride with her would be over soon.

"Yes." Momo said exasperatedly, turning to me with disappointed eyes. "You made sure that couldn't happen tonight. Right?"

I furrowed my brows in confusion to her vague words, "What?"

She let out a shaky sigh and reached into her bag, rustling the contents around rather aggressively before pulling something out. It was a crumpled piece of paper, and she tossed it at my chest.

Closing my phone once more, I grabbed the paper and lazily unraveled it, directing it into the moonlight so I could see. I realized I recognized the item well. It was my speaking card. The one from the banquet. I didn't know what happened to it, or how Momo got it.

"You dropped this on the way to the bathroom." She explained, letting out a tearful breath. "You only had one more line. Was it really that hard to just say it?"

I furrowed my brows in growing confusion to her mood—and, also annoyance to how vague she continued to be with how she was feeling. I already had a difficult time understanding her. Now I really don't know what she wants.

"I...I don't know why it would have mattered to you." I explained truthfully. "It was only for publicity. Um...a 'stunt', I believe it was called."

I thought Momo was aware of this already—or, at least aware that her and I going to the banquet together tonight was also just a 'stunt' since we never agreed to officially get back together. But, judging from her reaction, perhaps I was wrong?

"The 'stunt' is a good idea, considering I've arranged for you to be on the cover of Vogue next week." She eyed me.

It kind of felt like....a threat? Or...a hint, maybe, that I would only be on the magazine if we'd continued the 'stunt.'

"I never asked you to do that." I shrugged, letting out another scoff as I directed my attention out towards the window. "I don't care about the magazine anyways."

Now Momo's jaw dropped and she let out a sound like she couldn't believe I'd said something like that, "How rude—I don't remember you ever being so snippy. You never used to say this much when we were dating."

She's right, I never said that much—because I didn't realize I had a say. I didn't realize I had my own opinions and thoughts, and that they were just as logical as hers, even if they didn't align. I spent so much time trying to conform to Momo and what everyone else told me, instead of thinking about how I felt.

So...I guess for that reason...yes, I didn't say a lot.

And...for once...maybe I should tell her that. Maybe I should explain so she can understand.

"Momo-" I uttered, rolling my eyes closed tiredly when she continued to talk over me.

"This is also why you need a new publicist." She waved her hand around in my face, shaking her head in the same disappointment she's had all night. "Miss Hidaka is a bad influence on you, Shouto. She's ruining your life—and your manners-"

"She's not-" I felt myself getting upset, because now Momo was talking bad of Lani, and she had no right to.

"She is-"

Any chance at legitimately trying to have a conversation with her had passed now. She began to anger me and I was no longer interested in talking.

"Please pull the car over." I said to the driver, removing my seatbelt. "I'll find another way home."

Momo's jaw dropped even further as the car pulled over to the side and began to slow, removing her own seatbelt as well. I opened the door and walked out into the pouring rain, and Momo opened her door as well, probably intending to follow me.

But, the moment she stuck one leg out, she gasped at the puddle of mud that would await her clean, silver high heels if she got out of the car. With a groan, she quickly put her leg back and closed the door, rolling down her window to yell at me instead.

"Now you'd rather walk home in the freezing rain than be seated next to me?! What has gotten into you, Shouto?! This is ridiculous!" She exclaimed before I opened the car door one last time to speak to the driver.

"Please get her home safely." I instructed him, not giving her another look. "Goodbye, Momo."

"Shouto!-"

She didn't get to finish as I closed the door, and I immediately began walking away from the car. I was thankful when I heard the tires crunch over the gravel and return to the road, and it only took a few seconds before it passed me and sped off into the night.

I stopped walking once the limo was gone, letting out a tired sigh. I was in the middle of nowhere close to midnight, and my hair and suit were already doused with cold rain. But, most importantly...

Lani hadn't responded to my message.

Forced to let it go for the time being, I resumed my aimless walking as I called Midoriya and dropped him a pin to my location, having no choice but to wait in the storm for thirty more minutes until he could arrive.

What a way to end the night.

***

A/N: just posted a free nsfw preview on Patreon of Harajuku (bad habits bonus smut series) chapter 3. It's already posted, along with chap 4 on tiers 4 and above. If any of you are curious about Shouto getting pegged, it's chapter 3 😂