Archive of Our Own

"Really," Keigo began in that careless tone he almost always adopted, as if trying to infuse even the most dry conversation with a touch of lightness, "you'd think coming up with a hero name would be the easiest thing in the world. But no, instead you have to write essays about it and take notes on symbolism and recognition. As if some villain would think about whether my name has enough depth before trying to attack me."

Tomura laughed softly, a toneless, almost raspy laugh that betrayed how little he himself identified with the idea. His hands were deep in his trouser pockets, his posture slightly hunched forward, as if he were still carrying the burden of the endless lessons.

"I always thought you just shout something cool into the crowd when you show up, and that's it." His red eyes flickered briefly to Rain, as if seeking confirmation of his naive notion. "But apparently a name is more important than I thought, and on top of that, it's a science in itself."

Rain grinned as she walked beside them with a slight bounce in her step. Her deep red eyes glowing briefly in the sunlight, almost as if they reflected the suppressed heat of her's Quirk.

"It's not just a name, Tomura," she replied, her voice calm but carried with a gentle seriousness, "it's a promise. An image of yourself that you project into the world. People should recognize something in your name – strength, courage, perhaps hope." She shrugged, as if not wanting to overwhelm her own words, and added, "Or something that intimidates them enough to keep them out of your way."

Keigo grinned broadly, his golden-brown eyes sparkling mischievously as he made animated gestures with his hands. "Sure, Miss Phoenix Flame, someone is speaking, who probably already has ten variations ready and just can't decide yet."

A small twitch appeared at the corner of Rain's mouth, half smile, half mocking. "Perhaps," she replied quietly, the wind stirring a few of her dark strands.

Tomura snorted and shook his head, as if it were all too much for him. "Then I hope I get some brilliant idea before the teachers torture us with more of this crap. I want to be a hero, yes, but not a walking advertising sign."

Keigo immediately put an arm over his forehead as if he were about to dramatically faint. "Imagine: 'The Great Hero Tomura: Savior of the Bored Masses!' Sounds like a blockbuster."

Rain laughed softly, her eyes sparkling a warm red, as she raised her hand slightly to her mouth as if trying to muffle her laughter. Tomura, however, his shoulders hunched forward in tension, growled angrily, his words coming out like a ragged bark.

"Shut up, Takami!"

Keigo, grinning even wider, shot him a mocking sideways glance, his wings twitching with delight. "Calm down, Shigaraki, or people might think you're practicing for a villain role."

Rain couldn't hold back, and a second, softer laugh escaped her, this time accompanied by a bright twinkle in her eyes. Hawks, clearly amused by the reaction, casually shoved his hands into his pockets, while Tomura let out an impatient snort and rolled his eyes.

So they finally stepped through the wide school gate, where the stream of students broke apart like water branching into smaller streams. Voices mingled with the rustling of leaves blown from the trees by the wind, and in the midst of this everyday hustle and bustle, Keigo froze abruptly as his gaze caught on something.

Below the canopy of an old, sprawling oak tree stood someone each of them recognized from countless news images and broadcasts: Todoroki Touya, the young Pro Hero Blue Blaze. His immaculate white coat, gently fluttering in the gentle breeze, caught the sun so that it almost glowed, complemented by a black compression shirt that emphasized his lean, powerful torso, punctuated by sharp blue accents that ran across the fabric like fine lines of embers. below, he wore white trousers that ended in black boots planted firmly in the grass, as if he were a sentinel who had been standing there for hours.

His posture was upright, stern, yet so serene that it almost seemed as if he were effortlessly playing with all the attention his presence aroused. The hero's gaze, tinged with a cool turquoise, rested unmoved on the gate, so sharp that it left Keigo speechless at first.

"What the?" Keigo's eyes widened, and he pointed an incredulous finger at the Hero. "Blue Blaze... What's he doing here? Has something happened? Was there an mission nearby?"

Tomura, who immediately stopped, frowned in irritation. The hum of the students around him receded into the distance, as if the world had suddenly decided to hold its breath.

Rain had also stopped, her step faltering, and for a heartbeat, her posture seemed to betray her: a barely perceptible twitch ran through her fingers as she tightened her grip on the strap of her schoolbag. But then she straightened and exhaled softly, her voice warm but serious as it broke the tense silence.

"He's waiting for me."

Keigo jerked his head around, his golden-brown eyes now wide with curiosity and disbelief.

"Wait, what?!" His voice was louder than he intended; a few students turned to look at them, but he paid them no attention. "On you? Blue Blaze, Endeavor's son himself?"

Tomura stared at Rain with the same stunned mixture of confusion and curiosity. "You know him?" he asked tersely, his words sharp as small shards of glass.

Rain felt the weight of both pairs of gazes on her, heavier than the sunbeams slanting over her shoulders. She was silent for a moment, then raised her hand slightly, almost placatingly, and her lips formed an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry. I'll explain it to you another time. I don't have time right now, He's waiting."

With these words, she started moving again, her steps deliberately steady, almost as if she wanted to nip the flood of questions burning inside Keigo and Tomura in the bud with her poise and composure. But she felt the stares on her back, the sharp tension emanating from her two classmates like the hot air over a blazing fire – curious, impatient, and full of unsaid words.

The closer she got to Touya, the longer the path felt to her, as if it were being stretched by a supernatural force. His eyes, almost glowing in the last light of the day, turned to her and betrayed the uncertainty that reigned within him. His hands hung loosely at his sides at first, then he raised one slightly, as if raising it in greeting, only to let it slip back into the fabric of his coat at the last moment.

Rain involuntarily slowed her pace and stopped when she stood facing him. For a moment, there was only the rustling of the leaves above them and the quiet voices in the distance that grew further away with every heartbeat. She raised her gaze to him, her deep red eyes meeting his turquoise blue, and both of them held the silence a little too long, as if words weighed more than steel. Finally, it was Touya who gave a short, uncertain clearing of the throat, as if reminding himself that one should say something in such a moment.

"Hi..." he managed quietly, and although he usually spoke with an unwavering voice in front of cameras, in interviews, or in fights, now he sounded reserved, almost shy.

"Hello," Rain replied just as quietly, and a barely perceptible smile flitted across her lips, immediately replaced by a touch of nervous seriousness.

A brief moment hung between them, then Touya lowered his gaze to the bag on her shoulder. "Should I... um... should I carry your bag? Or may I?" He added the last word almost too quickly, and the twist in the corner of his mouth betrayed that he knew how clumsy it sounded, and he didn't dare look directly at her.

Rain blinked in surprise; she hadn't expected such an everyday, almost old-fashioned gesture from someone like him. She held the bag a little tighter before giving in with a slight nod and handing it to him.

"If you want..." Her voice was soft, almost apologetic, as if it were a burden she didn't want to burden him with, and yet she felt a faint, unfamiliar tingling as his fingers took over the straps.

Touya shouldered it effortlessly, and for a heartbeat, it seemed as if with that simple gesture, he had placed something tangible between them, a small bridge in all the uncertainty.

"Then let's go," he said, his gaze gliding briefly to Keigo and Tomura, both still standing frozen at the gate, their eyes wide and full of questions. However, Touya immediately turned away, as if he wanted to escape this hole of prying eyes.

Rain started moving, but instead of taking the path he was taking, she instinctively turned left, her steps heading purposefully toward a side street. Touya hesitated, frowned, and called gently, "Uh... where are you going?"

She half-turned toward him, her hair fluttering in the wind. "Home. That's the way I always take."

Touya caught up with her with long strides, his coat fluttering gently behind him. "It's much longer. You always take this detour?" His voice sounded cautious, but also slightly irritated.

Rain shrugged, avoiding his gaze as if she didn't want to admit how insecure she was in a new environment. "I… only know this way. And somehow... it feels safe."

Touya paused for a moment, then he tilted his head slightly to the side and a slight twitch playing at the corners of his mouth. "Come. I'll show you the faster way. It's much shorter and not as bleak." His voice sounded a little firmer this time, as if he wanted to assert himself in this role, and he took a few steps forward before waiting for her without pushing.

Rain watched him try to lead her into the evening, and in that moment, he seemed less like the celebrated hero from the media and more like a young man still learning to deal with his new role.Finally, she began to move, following him, her steps quieter, almost cautious, as if she were slipping into something she barely understood.

At the side of the road, Touya, without thinking, stretched his arm out slightly to the side. His movement was calm, but involuntarily protective, as if he wanted to keep her from simply running off.

Rain sighed in annoyance and rolled his eyes. "I'm not a little kid anymore."

Touya's gaze slid from the road to her briefly before returning his attention to the passing cars. "It's my job to protect."

Rain's gaze lingered on the cars, some of which were driving past them at walking pace because of the bus stop. "From threatening danger, yes, or if someone needs help." She frowned briefly and refrained from making any further comment.

When the few cars had passed, he started moving. "Come," he said crisply, and there was a firmness in that small, casual word that Rain couldn't ignore. They crossed the street together, and he made sure she stayed close to him until they reached the wide entrance of the park, where wrought-iron gates were overgrown with climbing roses.

Beyond them, a narrow sandy path led in, bright in the light of the setting sun filtering through the canopy of leaves. The world sounded more muted here, the distant murmur of the city mingling with the chirping of birds and the rustling of the wind in the branches. Touya walked just ahead, and every now and then his gaze slipped discreetly back to her, as if checking if she was keeping pace, if she felt comfortable in this new, unexpectedly intimate situation.

The path finally opened up, and before them lay a small lake, catching the light of the evening sky as if liquid gold had been poured over its surface. Gentle waves rippled in the breeze, made the reflection of the sky tremble, and ducks swam leisurely along the edge.

Rain stood rooted to the spot. Her breathing became deeper, slower, as this familiar beauty presented itself to her. For a moment, she closed her eyes, inhaled the moist air, and the memory of Lake Constance, a feeling of home, overcame her. A smile, barely visible, flitted across her lips, soft and full of longing.

Touya had also stopped, only half a step behind her, and as she gazed into the distance, his eyes were fixed on her. There was no trace in his face of the public mask he usually wore to the world – no coolness, no heroic pathos, but a quiet, uncertain expression, as if he were trying to understand what was going on inside her.

Then a child's laughter tore through the moment. Two boys, barely older than ten, suddenly ran across the path, their footsteps kicking up dust, their voices bright and free. Unafraid, they whirled around the two, using them like trees in their game, almost touching Touya's coat and Rain's arm, only to jump apart, giggling, and continue racing across the sandy path.

Touya turned his head, following them with his eyes, but Rain noticed the barely perceptible slump in his shoulders, the faint sagging in his posture. Something in his gaze lost its focus, giving way to an expression that squeezed her heart painfully: melancholy, almost disappointment, a silent memory of something he'd never possessed. A piece of childhood that had been taken from him before he could even grasp it.

Rain sucked in a sharp breath, and the warmth that the image of the golden lake had awakened in her a moment ago turned into a burning ache. She couldn't bear to see him like this – the man who stood before the world as a hero, and here, before her, for a moment, seemed like the boy he was never allowed to be.

"Touya." Her voice suddenly sounded more alive, more determined, yet there was a playful undertone to it, meant to diffuse the weight of the moment. He raised his eyebrows in surprise, looked at her, and there was a hint of questioning in that look.

Rain took half a step back, her lips curling into a small, challenging smile. "I bet I can run faster than you."

The words caught him off guard, and for a heartbeat, he didn't know how to react. But then something flashed in his eyes – not fire, but a rare, small spark of youthful surprise, almost like an echo of those children's voices that had just faded away.

"You're challenging me?" Touya asked, and this time his voice sounded firmer, more confident, as if he'd momentarily forgotten how difficult such moments usually were for him. His lips curved into a hint of a smile, half pride, half disbelief. "You do know I spend all day chasing villains?"

Rain met his gaze with an open, unflinching smile that made her red eyes shine brightly. "Yes, but I'm not a villain," she replied mischievously, "and besides, you're carrying my heavy schoolbag. That means you're at a disadvantage."

"Disadvantage?" Touya straightened up, stuck out his chest and his whole posture tensed into a proud, almost exaggerated pose. The white coat rustled in the evening breeze, as if to emphasize his words, and he placed his hand on the bag on his shoulder. "This is nothing compared to the weights I lift in training."

Rain couldn't help it; she giggled softly, a warm, bright sound that subconsciously pushed him even further out of his reserved facade. Her eyes sparkled mischievously, challengingly, as she tilted her head slightly to the side. "Then prove it, Touya. Catch me before I reach the end of the park."

Before he could form a reply, she turned on her heels with a slight turn, her wings tucked close to her back so they wouldn't hinder her, and the next moment she ran away. The sand beneath her shoes splashed, her black hair blew behind her in a wild mess, and her slender figure almost merged with the warm gold of the sunset.

Touya stayed behind, his grin widening and his eyes sparkling with a gloss normally seen only in combat. He began to count leisurely, almost playfully, as if to give her another chance.

"Three... two... one..." His voice was deep, vibrating, almost theatrical, and as he breathed the last word, his body tensed like a coiled spring.

Then he took off running.

The coat slapped against his legs, and the bag, which almost seems like a burden, was nothing but a swinging feather on his shoulder. His breathing was calm, even, and yet there was a glint in his gaze that had nothing to do with heroism.

Rain soon felt his shadow approaching, the rhythmic pounding of his footsteps, the crunch of the sand behind her. She didn't dare turn around, but her heart beat faster, not just from the run, but from the knowledge that he would be there in a moment, that he not as a hero and not as a forced fiancé, but as Touya, was after her, as if he had forgotten the world for a moment.

Just as she covered the last few meters to the end of the sandy path, Rain suddenly felt two strong arms wrap around her body from behind. His movements were quick, precise, but at the same time gentle enough to bring her to a gentle halt mid-run.

A bright laugh erupted from her as she made playful attempt to free herself from his grasp. But Touya didn't let go. His grip was firm, his chest almost pressed against her back, and the few centimeters of air between them almost disappeared.

"Got you," he breathed, his voice deep, a quiet triumph, so close to her ear that it shot through her like an electric shock. The warm breath on her neck made her shiver involuntarily, her movements freezing as if her body had decided to abandon all resistance. She felt her heartbeat pounding in her throat, and only now did she realize how close he truly was.

But the moment shattered as quickly as it had come. A shrill whistle pierced the air, followed by suppressed giggles. Rain blinked, jerked his gaze in that direction, and spotted a small group of teenagers standing a few meters away by the side of the road. They held up their cell phones, their faces painted with the silly glow of sensationalist excitement.

"That's really Blue Blaze!" one said with nervous fan enthusiasm. Another elbowed his friend, laughing, before adding sneeringly, "And apparently, he has a little girlfriend."

Rain's smile froze, and a suspicion rose within her that this harmless fun had probably already been captured and shared. She wanted to say something, perhaps a sharp remark, but before she could form the words, Touya released her.

His hands moved away from her, almost too hastily, as if he wanted to erase the closeness before more eyes saw her. A faint hint of color glowed across his cheekbones, barely visible, but she saw it – a telltale red that came not from exertion, but from embarrassment. His expression tightened, the familiar mask of that untouchable calm he wore in public. His gaze hardened, as if the playfulness that had just been open had never been there.

"Let's go," he said briefly, the words cool, matter-of-fact, almost too sober. Without looking at her again, he turned away and started toward the exit. His gait was upright, proud, and yet there was a telltale urgency in his haste that made Rain chuckle.

She followed him, her steps a little lighter, almost prancing, and a small, triumphant smile spreading across her lips. He may have put his mask back on, but she knew she'd just coaxed him out of his shell for a moment. That she had seen that spark in him that no one else saw – the spark that wasn't Blue Blaze, but Touya.