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Shouto POV:

Lilies and oranges.

I seem to smell that particular scent everywhere I go now. Or, maybe, it's not that I always smell it, but rather, I want to. I actively seek it out in everything I do.

It's the Woman's fault—like most things. Why does she have to wear that specific scent?—and why did she pick it to begin with? Does she wear it around me only? Or, everyone?

She's awful. So....so.....

Warm.

The memories of last night wouldn't stop playing in my head on a loop. I always feel like more of a viewer in my life, instead of an actual...doer? But, I still seem to remember that so vividly.

I'd fallen asleep. On the cold, unforgiving ground of her apartment, I fell asleep...

And I'd never been so comfortable in my entire life.

It was the first time someone ever slept so close to me. Actually, that was closer than close, right? Because...I could feel her.

Even my ex-girlfriend never did that. She always tried, but I told her I didn't like it. She ended up crying after I said that, and when I told Midoriya, he said it was rude of me.

But, I didn't mean it in a rude way. I just...wasn't comfortable. How else was I supposed to say it? I couldn't ever fall asleep with her, and I felt incredibly stiff with her body so close to mine.

It doesn't make sense—it doesn't make sense, because last night was the first time that I slept through the entire night, not waking up even a single time.

And the Woman's head was buried in my neck, her breath rolling onto my skin so steadily. My own pulse aligned with her rhythm, beating when she breathed.

And...my chest stirs right now, still able to feel the ghost touch of her arm draped across it, hugging me tightly to her like I was a pillow. Hooking her leg over both of mine, with one of her feet curling around my thigh.

She makes these little sounds in her sleep. These little sounds that I never heard before. Softer, and breathy, and weaker. Every time my hands ran along her spine, she'd make them again. So, I kept doing it, the curiosity in me—and something else, driving me to do so.

She's much less annoying when she's not awake, you know. Maybe she should go to sleep more often. Or take naps. Then I can hear her sounds again, and look at her without her knowing, and put my hand on her back—if she wanted me to, and feel her hands on my chest, and....

I'd never call myself an addict. If anything, I'd call myself the....opposite of an addict (what is that anyways?), because I have a hard time getting attached to anything.

So, it feels weird to say—or, to think....how...um.....addicting...(?)...that moment felt. I'm not even sure that's the right word. But...

I wanted more. I never wanted it to stop. It made my brain buzz, relaxing my entire body until the only thing I was capable of was sleeping with her presence.

It made my arms move on their own, wrapping one around her, tilting my head in towards hers and loosening all reservations. About myself. About her. About everything I always knew when it came to the idea of 'touch.'

Her body was soft, and it was the first time I really felt it. Her legs, and her stomach, and her...chest...

I never noticed things like that before. I mean, of course, I knew they were there. I'm not a teenager anymore. I've seen women naked—or, one woman...

But, I never paid so much attention to a woman—or anyone's body like that in my life. My brain was actively seeking out the feeling of her frame against mine. Her scent. Her warmth.

I'd forgotten where I was. Who I was. Who I was with...

What we were.

It was natural, and I think....that's part of the reason I can't stop thinking about it. Even now.

Because, for as long as I can remember, I've never liked being touched.

It wasn't something I ever used to notice. I always kept my distance from people, and if they did touch me, I'd just instinctively tense up until they backed away.

Like most things, I couldn't really give you a reason as to why. Although, Mina did try to counsel me one time during a 'mental health' exercise in class, and said I'm 'closed off' because of my 'attachment issues,' 'daddy issues,' 'mommy issues,' and my similarity to 'Zuko from Avatar The Last Airbender.'

I...didn't know what any of that meant. But...maybe it's related somehow?

Did you know there's something called 'trauma dumping?' Well, I didn't know about it until recently. And, I only know because Bakugo told me I do it all the time.

So, not to 'trauma dump' (?) or anything, but my father never held me, or loved me until a few years ago. The only touch I ever received was from my mother, until one day she reached a boiling point and...

Anyways, I never really asked, because I never really thought about it, but...are people supposed to be touched and held a lot, or something? Is that why everyone's so touchy and invading of personal space? Is that why everyone's so comfortable when I'm so uncomfortable?

These are questions I never really thought about until now. I don't have any answers and nothing makes sense. The Woman continues to disrupt my way of living. My comfortable way of existing, and turn it into something unfamiliar.

Something unfamiliar....and intriguing, at the same time.

She's the first person in my entire life whose touch I was comfortable with. I didn't flinch, or tense—sometimes, she touches me and I don't even notice. I just feel warmer, and calmer, and then I look down and see her hand on me.

And I...

I can't stop thinking about it.

Her touch. Her scent. The way she breathes when she sleeps. The way she held me like that—and the way I fell asleep to it—and slept so well—and...and....

My brain never moves this fast. It always feels partially empty, or never able to hold too many thoughts at once. But, now, it feels like a jolt of energy brought it to life for the first time with questions, thoughts, and feelings I've never experienced.

I don't understand it. Is this how everyone thinks? How do people manage this many thoughts on a daily basis? Is this another heart attack symptom? Maybe it's something else. I bet The Woman is driving me legitimately crazy now. Have you met my dad? It runs in the family-

"Shouto, duck!!" That familiar voice pulled me out of my thoughts, cracking my daydreaming distractions.

Oh yeah. Once again, I'm in the middle of a battle. I should probably do something about that.

Forcing my focus back on the scene ahead, I ducked on instinct like Midoriya said, watching a spear made of branches fly past my head.

That was a little too close. It's The Woman's fault. She's always distracting me, even when she's not here. She's really a horrible person.

"Oi, you half and half shit head!" Bakugo nagged and wheezed, taking on the appearance of an angry donkey getting its tail pulled. "If ya wanna get killed, do it on your own time!"

"Okay." I agreed plainly, looking down at my hero suit to see it still unscathed.

I need to be careful. I didn't have time to grab a change of clothes for dinner tonight with my ex and her family. I'll be wearing this, so I shouldn't get it dirty.

Hearing the next weaponized tree branches coming at me from behind, I used my ice to propel me into the air, flipping backwards before shooting two more blocks at the spears.

Focus. Focus on what's actually important...

Three villains at my front. Two at my side. Midoriya's covering my back, and Bakugo is yelling so hard, he might need to see a throat doctor—again. And...

And...

I woke up alone in her apartment this morning. The Woman's apartment, I mean.

I'd still been on the floor. But, the blanket I put on her had now been on me instead, and there was a couch pillow underneath my head.

That means she lifted my head while I was sleeping—and I didn't even feel it. Can you believe that?

The remnants of our dinner from the night before had been cleared from the glass coffee table, replaced with a little handwritten note:

Sorry for keeping you here overnight. Had to get to work. There's a key under the mat. Please lock up and put it back when ur done.

There wasn't anything else to it. Nothing. Nothing about last night. None of the ridiculous little emoticons she always uses when we text—is it just because it was a handwritten note? Do people not do that stuff in handwritten notes?

My hair was a mess, and my back hurt from sleeping on the ground all night as I read the note. I remember sighing to myself, and while I'm not the best at analyzing feelings, the weird emptiness in my chest made me think something was wrong.

Was something wrong? I would have preferred to wake up without her anyways. I like waking up alone.

She's annoying, and I like being alone-

"Shit!! Icy hot, you fucking idiot! Did you suddenly go blind or something!?-" Bakugo's warning came too late, broken out of my thoughts when I felt a tree vine wrap around my ankle mid air.

....

So, this is The Woman's fault-

The villain controlled the vine around my ankle, yanking it down towards the floor and sending me crashing into the concrete.

Ow.

Aside from almost being killed, I really only wondered if my suit was dirty now. I can't get it dirty, remember?

Pain shot up my body from the impact, feeling the vine lift me back into the air by my ankle—probably intending to repeat the same process.

I heard Midoriya speeding over, but this is a class C villain, and I should have detained all of them by now. If I had any capacity to feel embarrassment, now would be the time.

Wanting to prove I was reliable, I grit my teeth, reaching down and gripping the vine around my ankle before sending a fast crackle of ice up the roots.

This is what I should have done in the first place.

The branches froze solid in place, leaving the villain to panic as he was now unable to retract his vines.

Vines that shoot out from his body. He can't make multiple different pairs. It's just the same ones. If I cut off his usage of them, he has no way to fight.

The grip around my ankle shattered from the ice, allowing me to flip my feet onto the frozen vine and skate down it straight towards the villain it came from.

His friends on either side shot their quirks, forcing me to dodge and activate my left side to throw them off guard.

Both of them screamed when flames of fire slammed into their shoes, instantly forgoing their attacks and focusing on themselves.

"Fire!? He's got fire, too?! I thought it was just ice!!" One of them shrieked, falling back onto the floor in a desperate attempt to remove their shoes.

"Yeah, fire!" Bakugo grinned ferally, blasting himself straight towards the guy. "Icy hot loves to show off for anyone who watches. But, I'll be damned if I let him take my kill!"

"Kill!?" Midoriya exclaimed with concern, sending his fist straight into the lackey on the other side. "Kacchan, we aren't killing anyone here!"

"Midoriya, your pants are still see-through." I commented plainly, hearing the shrieks of the villain in front of me as I froze him in a block of ice.

Just to detain him. He's fine. Kaminari called it 'anime logic,' whatever that means.

But, now Midoriya was the one shrieking, holding his butt with one hand while sending another punch into the villain's face with the other.

"I-It was the best I could do on such short notice! My good ones are still stained with applesauce!" He cried.

"Why is my face on your underwear!!??" Bakugo yelled, throwing the detained villain in his arms at Midoriya in fury.

It looks like everything worked out. This is my last fight of the day, and my suit is still clean.

I wiped my hands and small specks of dirt from my clothes, hearing the villain stuck in my ice start yelling.

"You'll rue the day you ever crossed me." He spat, causing me to look at him in confusion. "In the forces of evil and plights of darkness, I will take your little skull and-"

BOOM!!

All civilians in the area screeched as the villain encased in my ice suddenly exploded, painting the entire street green with slime, leaves, and twigs.

Oh. Well, he was fine. Now, he's dead.

I didn't react as my entire body got....ejaculated on? That's not the right word, is it? But, if the definition of 'ejaculate' is ejecting fluid from one's body, then that must be the word.

So, I've been ejaculated on. I should tell Midoriya.

Oh. But, now I realize he's been ejaculated on, too. So has Bakugo. So has everyone. Lots of ejaculation going on today.

Everyone was a mess now, covered in slime from head to toe. Midoriya, Bakugo, and I turned our attentions to the dead villain's friends, seeing them pale and completely defeated on the ground.

"T-The homemade bombs!?? Didn't you tell him to leave those in the car!?? They weren't ready yet!!" One of them said, causing the other guy to cringe in dread.

"I....forgot."

*

Police, ambulance, and city street cleaners crowded the area within minutes, no longer requiring the aid of heroes.

I sighed tiredly as I tried to scrub the slime from my skin and clothes as best I could. But, I guess it's not the kind that comes off with just water. I look almost exactly the same as I did when the ejaculation first happened.

With a bag of takeout in one hand, Midoriya caught sight of me from the other side of the street, jogging over with a wave.

"I would have gotten you one, but you have your dinner tonight, right?" He said, huffing in light fatigue once he reached me.

It's been a long day, and his reminder only made it feel suddenly longer.

"Yeah..." I muttered, pointlessly trying to scrub the muck off my body with no success.

"Don't sound so excited." Bakugo smirked smugly, making me jump slightly before realizing he was behind me.

When did he get here? He always shows up in the most random places. But, he also gets mad when you call him a stalker. I only say that because I know from experience.

"Do you really think it'll be that bad?" Midoriya looked at me with pity, taking a seat on the city bench and cracking open his dinner container.

Giving up on trying to clean the slime from my body and clothes, I leaned back against the brick walls, watching the sun starting to set over the horizon.

I need to go soon.

"No. I just don't understand the reason I'm going." I sighed, shoving my hands in my pockets. "We broke up, so...what else is there to say?"

"Maybe more than you think." He smiled sheepishly, popping a bite of meat into his mouth. "Is this the first time you're seeing her since...you know......the breakup?"

"Yeah."

"Ha! And, you're going like that?" Bakugo cackled, pushing himself off the wall. "You look disgusting."

"You look the exact same way." I stated plainly, watching his jaw drop like a donkey.

"Huh!?? It's only 'cause you'reee the fucking idiot who couldn't stop that guy fast enough!!" He yelled in my face.

I stopped listening awhile ago. Whenever he starts yelling, I always tune him out. Actually, I always tune him out anyway. But, I really tune him out when he does that.

Yelling makes me shut down. Actually, most high energy situations make me shut down and zone out. If they aren't on the battlefield, I just can't handle them for some reason.

"Am I supposed to care about how I look? I just didn't have time to grab extra clothes." I shrugged, watching Bakugo blow a huff of amusement from his lips.

"Wow. You really are gonna be alone forever, you candy cane moron." He chuckled, knocking my shoulder harshly before swiping Midoriya's drink for himself. "But, I bet you like that, don't you."

Yeah, I do.

I always have.

*

I stood outside the front yard of my ex's house, sighing with a bit of dread. Work tired me out. My brain's been distracted all day. But, most of all...

The Woman:
No new text messages.

She didn't message me at all today. That's not like her.

She loves to annoy me. She loves to send those ridiculous, stupid messages about seeing me, and calling me handsome—or, letting me know whatever plan she has for us to do that day.

If she doesn't text me, how else am I supposed to know what comes next in our work plans? That's the only reason I'm wondering. She's so unprofessional...

It can't be helped right now.

Pocketing my phone, I walked up to the giant house, knocking on the door. The sound of talking, and then footsteps happened, hearing the door unlocking before it opened completely.

My ex smiled at me happily at a first glance, leaning against the doorframe.

"Momo." I greeted her with a small nod.

She pulled herself off the doorway with a chuckle, invading my personal space and wrapping her arms around me for a hug.

My entire body tensed up, and immediately I felt uncomfortable, standing there awkwardly as she hugged me.

"I know you don't like hugs." She murmured softly. "But, please....just a few more seconds. It's been a long time."

A long time? We only saw each other last month. That's not a long time at all, and I didn't even notice her absence.

I wanted to say that, but Midoriya's voice chirped in my head.

"Shouto! That's so rude!"

Is it? I don't think it is. But, Midoriya would think so, therefore I won't say it.

"Okay." I simply uttered, not knowing what else to say.

We stood there in silence as she hugged me for a few more seconds, pulling away with a soft sniffle when she felt the filth on my suit.

"Oh." She laughed weakly, wiping her eyes quickly and shooting me a smile. "You're a mess."

She wiped the remnants of slime from her dress, causing me to pointlessly take another try at cleaning my own clothes.

"I know. I didn't have time to change." I said, giving a small nod of apology. "I'll apologize to your parents."

"No need." She waved me off, smoothing out her hair. "You know they love you regardless."

I do know that. I've never been entirely sure why since we don't say much to each other. But....it doesn't matter anymore. How they feel about me really doesn't pique my interest. Is that bad?

Momo and I stood at the doorway in more silence. She kept looking at me, and I wasn't sure why. Was she waiting for me to say something? I don't have anything to say. I don't even know why I'm here...

She rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly, drawing out a few more moments of quiet before finally taking action.

"Well, come on in. Don't be a stranger. You've been here before a million times." She said cheerfully, grabbing me by my wrist.

"I don't think it's that many times." I commented plainly, being dragged past the threshold of the door.

Immediately, I removed my shoes and set them aside, taking in the familiar sight of the house.

Momo and I started dating when we were seventeen. I've been coming to this house almost daily for three years.

Her parents were extremely happy when my old man set the whole thing up. They called me 'the son of Endeavor' for the first few months of our relationship...

It didn't last long after that. Even if he's changed, I talk about how much my dad annoys me to anyone who listens. It's not a secret.

Momo and I didn't really do a lot when we were together—another reason I'm surprised she was upset when things ended. We were always in school, or working.

We never had anything to talk about. She didn't know how to talk to me, and I didn't know how to talk to her. Our relationship consisted of a lot of silence. It was the first and only relationship I ever had.

Between that, and what I witnessed with my parents growing up, I've come to the conclusion that all relationships must be dry, boring, and just overall awful—another reason why I want to be alone.

Many times when we planned (when she planned) a date, I ended up cancelling anyways because I was busy or tired.

The times we did go out, she stuck to me like glue. We became known as the 'sweetheart couple,' as Uraraka always called it. I didn't see what was so sweet about a quirk marriage though. There doesn't need to be anything romantic about those. It wasn't required, so I just left it alone.

I don't know how to be 'romantic' anyways.

Until that moment she cried during the breakup, I thought we had a mutual understanding about what our relationship was....

Required.

But, the more I process it, the more I realize that might not be true. I don't know what she sees in me. I don't mean that in a pity sort of way, but a genuine way. I really don't know what she sees in me.

I don't see anything in her. I don't mean that in a rude way. She's conventionally attractive and smart. Driven. Talented.

But, life was empty with her, the same way it was before her. She didn't add or subtract anything to my existence.

She was just....there.

Typical to our relationship, Momo and I didn't say a word the entire walk to the kitchen. It was only when we approached the table did life finally enter the room.

"Shouto! You're here." Momo's mother smiled, rising from her dining chair.

She instinctively opened her arms for a hug, before quickly closing them, remembering how I feel about too much physical contact.

Her parents are nice people—I guess. They aren't mean, so...

"How are you, son?" Her father said, giving me a small nod before sitting back in his seat.

He always calls me 'son,' and I'm always confused. He's not my father, and if he was, that would mean I dated my sister. Even I know that's bad.

Regardless, the first time he did it, I decided to go with it and call him 'dad.' The conversation that followed didn't go very well, and Momo cried for thirty minutes.

This time, I kept my mouth shut and nodded, sitting in the chair everyone directed me to sit in. I had no doubt the slime from my suit was staining their dining room cushions, causing me to sigh and grab one of the napkins from the table.

"Tough day at work, Shouto?" Momo's father chuckled, reaching over the table with a pitcher of water and filling my glass.

"Yes. I'm sorry about the mess. I didn't have time to grab another change of clothes. I can pay for damage to the chair." I said, trying to scrub the slime off my arms again.

More like I'll make dad pay for it. I enjoy making him use his credit card and emptying his retirement fund.

"Not a problem." He waved off with a smile, causing me to relax a bit.

Momo's mother rose from her spot at the table, placing three giant dishes of food in front of me.

"So, Shouto, I heard you finally signed with the hero commission." She said eagerly, using her chopsticks to drop an abundance of food onto my plate.

Momo must have told them. I didn't tell her though. Midoriya or Bakugo must have...

"Oh. Yes, I did." I agreed plainly, picking up my chopsticks and starting to eat.

Momo's mother's eyes lit up at the confirmation, looking at Momo with excitement. "That's as prestigious as you can get for publicity. Sounds like the world will be hearing a lot more about you soon, Shouto. Are they treating you well there?"

I chewed and reflected on my last two weeks at HPSC Publishing. I've really only had contact with a single person. The Woman. And in the time I've known her, I've had about six heart attacks, and now I'm actually turning into dad and going senile.

My shirt began to feel tighter around my neck at the thoughts of her. The memories of last night, and the day before—and the day before that entered my brain. Her face. Her scent of lilies and oranges. The soft sounds she makes in her sleep that are currently making my stomach feel heavy-

"I guess so." I finally answered, loosening the collar of my hero suit. "The Woma—my....my...publicist...gives me chest pain though."

The room looked at me in confusion for my way of phrasing things, before Momo's dad stepped in.

"So, she's not a right fit for you?" He asked with growing concern. "Well, that just won't do. You know, I have a friend over at the hero commission headquarters. It wouldn't be hard to pull a few strings and request a different publicist for you-"

"No." My voice blurted out, instantly recognizing the overeagerness in my tone.

Once again, the room went silent, and this time, Momo looked at me in question.

Weird. I don't usually notice things like 'eagerness' when it comes to myself or others. But, my heart jumped and I felt a little panicked from Mr. Yaoyorozu's words, so I...just blurted that out.

I took my time chewing and swallowing my food as my head came up blank for any other immediate words. I was hoping someone else would speak up and change the subject, but the silence continued even after I drank my entire glass of water for a minute straight.

This must be what people mean by 'awkward silence,' right?

Placing my chopsticks down and wiping my hands, I was forced to try again. 

"I mean....she's...not that bad." I said plainly, rubbing the back of my neck. "She's already too far into the process. She's taken over my social media now, so things have become serious between us."

"Really?" Momo's eyes lit up, pulling out her phone. "Has anything new been posted?"

"I'm not sure. I haven't checke-"

"Oh my!" She gasped at her phone, placing a hand over her mouth in awe. "The pictures are right here, and they're beautiful. When did you take them?"

Momo turned her phone around towards her parents, showing them whatever pictures The Woman took.

Seeing my curious eyes, she directed her phone towards me so I could see. I saw some of these last night, but I was too distracted to really pay attention. It was hard to focus with The Woman calling me 'handsome' after every one.

I saw myself in the picture. I wasn't looking at the camera. But, I looked...

.....happy?

I don't know when she took that picture. But, I remember the jacket she wore. And the taro boba with her strawberry lipstick stained straw. And the way her hair fluttered in the wind, and her smile at 'golden hour,' as she called it. And the way she kept saying how good I was, and how good of a job I was doing. And...and....

"She took them yesterday." I explained, trying to shake my head out of its daydreams. "We spent the day at the park together."

Momo continued looking at her phone and scrolling through the pictures. She was smiling, but there was also something else in her smile. Something I didn't have the social capacity to understand.

"Wow, Shouto. I've never seen you look like that before." She said a little empty, keeping the smile hanging on her face. "I....I wasn't ever able to get a smile like this out of you."

No, she wasn't. But, it's only because there wasn't anything to smile about.

Not that there was anything to smile about with The Woman yesterday....

"'Missing you?' Oh, that's an interesting caption. I...wonder who it is you're referring to." Momo mused, finally closing her phone once she'd seen all the pictures.

Her smile perked up a bit with some sort of assumption now, looking hopeful and proud. I didn't know why.

Conversation about the caption instantly brought me back to last night. In The Woman's apartment. Eating, and talking, and...sleeping.

Time went by so fast. That never happens to me. I always either feel checked out, or feel every single minute of the day as slow as possible. There's no in between.

But, the park was.....enjoyable. I haven't felt that comfortable with someone since Midoriya came into my life. It's weird.

"It was her idea." I explained a little distractedly. "I told her I wanted a caption that included her, but she said no."

Momo stopped her chewing now, looking at me with surprise. "Wait. You...wanted to include her in your instagram post?"

I glanced at her blankly, because didn't I just say that?

"Yes..." I reiterated a little slower so she understood, watching her set her chopsticks down.

"Oh. Why?"

"Well, she was at the park with me." I stated even slower than before, unsure what wasn't clear about the previous explanation.

Momo's usually a sharp girl. I'm surprised I have to keep repeating myself so much tonight. She must have had a tiring day.

She blinked a few times, wiping her mouth with her napkin and still looking confused.

"But, I.....I thought you didn't like social media?" She said, having a deflated tone to her voice. "Every time I asked to take pictures together, you always said no."

I shrugged and continued eating, "I still don't care about social media. I'm letting her run the account for me. She said that's what famous people do."

I felt Momo's eyes on me as I continued to eat, not sure what else she wanted me to say. There isn't anything else to say. I don't know why she can't understand that.

"I see." She said after a few moments, slowly turning back towards her plate.

The dinner table went silent after Momo and I's conversation. Those few sentences we spoke just now were the longest we've ever talked since knowing each other honestly.

After the silence had gone on for too long, her father cleared his throat and looked at her mother, causing Mrs. Yaoyorozu to speak quickly.

"A-Anyways, Shouto. I was just talking to my husband earlier about how excited we are for your long awaited proposal to Momo." She smiled happily, holding her husband's hand across the table. "Your father said last month you'd be getting a ring soon. Have you done so already?"

Oh. They don't know we broke up? I suppose now is the perfect time to tell them.

I set my chopsticks down and wiped my mouth, not missing a beat as I said, "Well, actually, Momo and I-"

"H-He's still working on it." Momo interrupted me quickly, waving her hands around.

I looked at her in full confusion now, unable to pick up on whatever silent cue she was giving me with her eyes.

"Huh? I was just telling them that we br-" I tried again before Momo instantly shot up from her chair.

She did it so quick, the legs of it fell backwards, creating a loud crash that made her grimace.

What's gotten into her? I don't understand what's going on tonight.

Seeing my mouth attempting to move again, Momo groaned, quickly bowing to her parents and grabbing my wrist.

"Please excuse us for a moment." She murmured, dragging me out of the kitchen.

*

"Have you still not told your parents we broke up?" I asked once we were back in the front yard of Momo's home.

She sighed stressfully and paced the lawn, running a hand through her hair. "It's a lot harder to break that news than you think."

"I don't think it's that hard. You just...tell them." I said slowly, quirking a brow of question. "My whole family already knows I called off the engagement."

"I know." Momo cringed, dancing around the topic with excuses. "But....my parents will be devastated. They love you, Shouto. A-And you know the Fresh Heroes Banquet is coming up—and they already reserved your seat at our table-"

"I don't see how any of that relates." I said honestly, leaning back against the fence.

The banquet. The reserved seat. Why does any of that matter if we aren't still together? I assume those are things people do as couples...

"Please, Shouto." Momo gripped my wrist, quickly retracting her touch when I tensed up. "I promise I'll tell them. Just....please give me until after the banquet is over. When things calm down a little more."

That banquet's over a month away. Momo seems well aware that we broke up, yet she wants us to continue being a couple in front of her parents?

"Are you saying....you want me to lie?" I asked in surprise, feeling the gears finally turning in my head.

Momo loves rules. She loves following them more than anyone I know. I guess not when it comes to everything.

She grimaced at the word, looking guilty before peering up at me anxiously. "I know you're not the best at that. I'll try to take care of that part. All you have to do is sit there and stay quiet. That...that's not hard for you, right?"

While I don't understand a lot of social things, I can't see how something like this would be successful. Or why it matters so much to her when she has so many other impressive things happening in her life. She's a famous hero and a model. I don't think her parents would care that much if she split with her boyfriend...

Become a 'heartthrob' while pretending to be engaged to my ex-girlfriend? That seems counter intuitive, doesn't it?

I wonder what The Woman will say about this.