Arata POV
Man, I can't believe I actually scored a date with Toga.
I glance in the cracked mirror by the door, ruffle my hair, and give myself a nod. Yeah, not bad. Not bad at all. Maybe a little nervous, but that's normal, right?
Stepping outside, the cool air hits me like a splash of reality. I'm heading to that little flower shop down the block. Gotta get something nice—flowers, maybe? Something that says "I care" but not "I'm trying too hard."
The bell above the shop jingles as I push the door open. The scent of fresh blooms and damp earth floods my senses. A lady behind the counter looks up and smiles. "Looking for something special?"
"Uh, yeah," I say, scratching the back of my neck. "Something, uh, not too flashy. Maybe some roses?" She nods knowingly and starts pulling together a small, colorful bouquet. roses. Perfect. Just like her.
I pay, clutching the flowers like they're the key to this whole thing working out. Stepping back outside, I take a deep breath and run a hand through my hair again. Alright, Arata, time to make this date one to remember.
I meet up with Toga, she looks absolutely stunning in casual clothes
"Hey," I say, trying to sound casual but feeling my heart pound like a drum. I hold out the bouquet.
Her eyes light up as she takes the flowers, twirling a stray strand of hair around her finger. "You didn't have to," she says softly, cheeks dusted pink with a crazed smile on her face"
We start walking, the evening sun casting long shadows and painting the sky in shades of orange and purple. The city hums around us, but it's like we're in our own bubble.
Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if she had a knife on her ready to carve my guts out after the date. I deliberately cut my finger before hand just to fuel her thirst for blood, I sound evil but just hear me out.
I glance over at her, still clutching the flowers. "So, Toga, what's your quirk?"
She pauses, twisting a strand of her hair around a finger, eyes darting away. For a moment, her smile flickers, just a crack in the crazed mask. "What's it to you?"
I shrug, trying to sound casual even though my finger's still stinging from the thorn. "Curious, I guess. Everyone's got something weird or cool these days."
"Don't worry about it, I'll show you after the date. By the way, where do you plan on going with this "date"?"
I smirk, eyes gleaming with mischief. "Somewhere fun. You'll see."
—
The neon lights hit us the moment we step inside the arcade—colors flashing, machines humming. The smell of popcorn and cheap pizza fills the air. Toga's grin stretches wider, almost feral.
She drags me to the claw machine first, fingers darting like lightning. I lose count of how many times she yells, "No! Again!" but she never lets up until she snags a stupid stuffed frog.
Next up, the racing game. I'm confident until she floors the pedal and zooms past me, laughing like she just won the lottery. The sound of engines and cheering crowds surrounds us, but it's just us in this chaotic bubble.
We move through a blur of air hockey tables, shooting hoops, and that one ridiculous dance game that makes me look like a newborn deer.
Between rounds, she keeps stealing quick glances at me, biting her lip like she's holding back something wild—like her quirk, or maybe just her true self
The cool night air hits my face as we step out of the arcade, the neon glow fading behind us. Toga's still buzzing from the games, bouncing on her heels like she's running on pure sugar and adrenaline.
"Alright," she says, grabbing my hand, "time to show you my quirk." I raise a brow. "Here? In the middle of the street?"
She grins. "Not here. Come on."
Before I can argue, she tugs me down a narrow alley. The sound of the city dulls, replaced by the soft drip of water somewhere in the dark. Her steps slow. My gut tells me something's off.
"Toga…?"
That's when she spins around, a glint of metal flashing in her hand.
"Atari…" she says sweetly, her voice almost affectionate. Then her smile twists into something hungrier. "You look really cute…"
The knife comes up, inches from my chest. "…but you'd look a lot better covered in blood."
Her arm shoots forward, the blade aimed for my gut.
I sidestep, my shoulder brushing the damp brick wall as the knife slices past my jacket. She's fast—faster than most—but she's sloppy in her excitement.
"Toga," I say, keeping my voice steady, "this isn't the way to impress a guy."
She lunges again, low this time, trying to catch me off-guard. I catch her wrist mid-swing, twisting sharply. The knife clatters against the pavement. She hisses in pain but immediately tries to bite me.
I shove her back, her heels skidding on the wet concrete. She recovers quickly, kicking at my knee. I absorb the hit and grab her by the collar, using her own momentum to slam her against the wall—not hard enough to knock her out, but enough to stun her.
"Cute trick," I mutter, kicking the knife further away.
She glares at me, chest heaving. That grin creeps back in like nothing happened.
I narrow my eyes. "Why? Why the hell do you want to cut me up?"
Her tongue darts over her lips, eyes glassy with that unsettling hunger. "Because…" she says softly, almost like it's a secret, "…when I see someone I like, I just have to make them a part of me."
Her words hang in the air for half a heartbeat before she dives for the knife again.
I'm faster. My boot pins the blade just as her fingers graze the hilt. She looks up—eyes sharp, wild—and swings for my face. I slip the punch, hook her arm, and twist it behind her back. She yelps, more from shock than pain, as I push her forward until her cheek meets the cold brick wall.
"Enough." My voice is low, final.
She thrashes once, twice, then stills. Her pulse hammers against my grip. The fight in her muscles doesn't match the small crack in her voice. "Y-you're gonna hand me over, aren't you? Straight to the heroes. Straight to prison."
For a moment, she's not the manic predator from a minute ago—just a cornered girl. I don't answer right away. Her breathing echoes in the alley, quick and uneven.
Then I loosen my hold just enough for her to glance back at me. "No," I say finally. "Not tonight."
"I put my finger to her lips." Her eyes widen. She knows exactly what I'm offering. "You wanted a taste?" I hold out my hand. "Take it."
She hesitates—suspicion and hunger clashing in her gaze—then leans in, tongue brushing my skin before her lips close around the wound. A shiver runs through her body.
I don't move. When she pulls back, she's breathing hard, blood painting her lips. Confusion lingers in her eyes. "…Why?" she asks softly.
"Because I want to be a hero," I say, stepping back and letting her go, "and that means saving people from themselves. You feel calmer now… less bloodthirsty."
She stares at me, silent, as I wipe my hand clean
"Well… other than the fact you tried to stab me to death, I'd say this date went pretty well." Her eyes widen, then shimmer with unshed tears. "Hey," I murmur, taking a step closer, "don't cry now. You look better when you smile…" My lips twitch into a half-smirk. "…Show me those fangs."
For a moment, she bites her lip, fighting it—then the corner of her mouth curls upward, revealing the sharp points I was waiting for. "Atta girl,"
I hold her gaze a moment longer, my tone shifting. "Now promise me this—you're going to stop stabbing people. And if you ever need blood…" I let the words hang, a faint grin tugging at my mouth. "…just call me."
Now lets go this date isn't over yet, I have something I want to show you
We walk in silence for a while, the sounds of the city creeping back in. At the edge of the block, we pass a weathered bench under a flickering streetlamp. Without a word, we both slow and sit.
The night air is cool, the chaos of the alley already feeling a world away. Above us, the stars scatter across the dark like shards of glass.
For a long moment, we just sit there—two people who should probably hate each other—tilting our heads back to take in the sky.
"They look different from here," she murmurs. "Yeah," I say, my voice softer than I expected. "Guess it's easier to see them when you're not trying to kill me."
"So, Toga," I said, breaking the quiet, "what do you plan on doing after high school?"
She glanced up, eyes narrowing slightly as if I'd just asked her to solve a math problem. "I don't really know," she admitted with a shrug. "Never really thought that far ahead." I smirked. "What about going to the U.A.? You'd probably make it in."
Toga's gaze dropped to the table, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't really like heroes that much."
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the edge. "How about the general education course? Or maybe the support course?" She let out a soft, humorless laugh. "I don't think I'm smart enough for something like that anyway."
"Then I'll help you study," I said without hesitation. "I'm pretty smart. Me, my brother, and even Deku could help you out." For a moment, she didn't answer—just stared at me like she was trying to figure out if I was serious. Then, the corners of her mouth tugged upward, the faintest smile breaking through.
She lets out a quiet laugh, and for the first time tonight, it's free of that dangerous edge. "Welp, it's about time I start going home, my mom's going to be worried sick, lets talk later more ok?" I say as I begin to walk away.
Before she can even stand, I spin on my heel and jog back. She blinks up at me, caught off guard, just as I lean down and plant a quick peck on her cheek. Her eyes go wide. "Wha—?" "See ya, Mommy," I say with a grin, already backing away before she can grab me. By the time I glance over my shoulder, she's touching her cheek, that grin of hers creeping back—only this time, it's mixed with something I can't quite place.