AOI
PRESENT

Shou-kun's lips against mine felt really soft and warm. It sent shivers down my spine. My whole body started feeling hot, really hot.

This is wrong.

My hand held both of his shoulders, trying to push him away. But it only made him push me down the ground. His hands pinned both of mine to both sides near my face.

Shou-kun started kissing me harder.

It was more aggressive that before. It felt like he's trying to devour me. It felt like he wants me so much.

I couldn't kiss back. This is wrong, definitely wrong.

But my body won't follow what my logic is saying.

He doesn't love me!

But here I was, slowly starting to kiss back.

I can't do this.

But my fingers intertwined and filled the gap between his fingers.

I should stop...

But I'm enjoying this.

His right hand let go as he kissed me more and more. I was losing my breath but my body didn't want him to stop. My left hand held the back of his head as I kissed back.

I was nibbling his lower lip when I heard him groan.

SHOUTO

Aoi started kissing back, and filled the gap between my fingers with hers. It felt so good. She's too delicious. My right hand let go of her left one.

I want more.

Then it clenched into a fist.

No, I must not take advantage of her.

Her free hand held the back of my head, pushing me more closer to her as she started nibbling my lower lip.

My hand punched the ground.

I can't lose control.

I pulled away from her. We were both gasping for air while staring into each other's eyes.

Damn. Those sunlight golden eyes were pleading for more. Her face were red. If I kiss those delicious lips one more time, the beast inside me would surely come out.

So I moved my face closer and kissed her cheek.

"I respect you, Aoi. I won't force myself unless you really want it. I'll wait until you ask for it yourself."

I got up on my feet and helped her up. I also patted the grass  sticking at the back of her body.

"..Okay.." Aoi responded softly while looking down. She must be embarrassed. She might even be angry, but I didn't care.

Aoi loves me. That's a fact.

~*~
AOI

Days passed by, and I could see Shou-kun's change. He become much more affectionate and gentle. To say that he was treating me like a princess would not be an exaggeration.

Does that mean he really want to choose me? Does he love me now?

What about Yaoyorozu?

"What are you thinking about?"

I snapped out of my thoughts. Shou-kun sat beside me on the sandy shore while facing the ocean. I stared again at the ocean. Talking to him felt much more comfortable.

"What about Yaoyorozu? Don't you love her?"

I kept staring at the ocean. It looked so blue because of the clear sky that it was hurting my eyes, but I'd rather stare at it than look at Shou-kun's face.

I felt like my heart would break if I saw his love for Yaoyorozu in those heterochromatic eyes.

"I think I'd still choose you."

You think. So you're not sure.

"What if I refuse to choose you? What if I want to choose myself over you?"

I felt Shou-kun's hand touched my left cheek. He turned my head gently so I could face him.

Those eyes were looking at me. Only me. I had once hoped for that. I had once prayed for those eyes to show me love.

But now, that hope turned into fear.

Yaoyorozu is much better than me. That's why you both chose her over me.

I don't want to feel that way again.

I do not wish to be abandoned again.

When this mission is over, I'll definitely have to walk on my own. I can't afford to risk it.

"If you choose yourself, that's fine for me?"

Huh?

"I'll wait for you, Aoi."

Shou-kun gently kissed my cheek.

"Now, let's go inside. I've prepared something for you."

We walked up the concrete stairs to the highway. Then we crossed the highway to the house's gate. We opened the gate, entered, then closed it back. Guilt surged through my body as I saw the porchless Japanese house.

"We should fix the porch." I told Shou-kun.

"It doesn't look so bad, though."

I glared at him. He held my hand in return and walked me to the front door.

After changing shoes, we went to the living area and I saw a group of pancakes stacked ontop of each other on the sofa. 

Ontop of the tall stack of pancakes was a little birthday candle. I couldn't believe it so I counted the number of stacked pancakes to make sure.

It was seventeen.

"What day is it?"

"August 2."

I heard Shou-kun's voice behind me.

"I'm sorry I'm not a good cook. That's the best cake I could think of."

I looked back at him. I felt so shocked. I didn't remember at all.

"Happy Birthday, Aoi. You're seventeen now." Shou-kun greeted me with a gentle smile.

"Thank you!"

Shou-kun's eyes widen. He looked away while covering the lower part of his face with his hand.

What's wrong with him?

SHOUTO

"Thank you!"

My heart malfunctioned when Aoi gave me a warm smile. My face immediately heated up that I covered it with my hand while looking away.

Damn, I really think I'm falling for her.

"Shou-kun? Is there something wrong?" She asked.

"A-ah, nothing." I moved closer to her.

Then I pull up my index finger. A small flame appeared from it and I lit the candle up.

"Make a wish."

Aoi closed her eyes. Then she blew the candle.

I wonder what her wish is? But it's not good to ask about it or it may not come true.

"Time for your present." I held her hand.

"There's a present too?"

I gave her a smile and led her to the front door once again.

My right foot stepped outside and the ground turned to ice. Aoi gasped. Then I froze the soles of my shoes, as well as Aoi's.

"Do you still know how to ice skate?"

Aoi flashed another heartwarming smile.

"Yes..!" She said happily.

Seriously, if her smile could kill, I would gladly welcome death.

I took my phone out of the pocket and played a waltz song that I downloaded few days ago.

I pulled her out and we started dancing on ice together. It was just a simple slide and step, but it made Aoi laugh.

"Hahahaha, I couldn't believe that you could dance."

Her laugh resonated through my ears down to my chest. I hope this won't end.

"It was because of my first Licensure Exam." I chuckled, recalling the events.

She asked about it and I told her how Bakugo and I had a hard time getting our Hero License. Aoi laughed once again as I put our hands up and she twirled around with her white-collared black dress. Then I held her waist with both of my hands and she held both of my shoulders.

"What about you? How come you still know how to skate?"

"I love ice skating because it reminded me of when we were young. So I always find time to ice skate before."

I was surprised. I didn't know how much she cherished me.

"I wish I loved you before."

Aoi's eyes widen. Then I'd realized what I just said.

"..huh?" A confused voice escaped from her lips.

Why did I just say that? What should I do?

Her golden eyes looked at me with confusion. She looked so cute. Every aspect of her was so cute.

Why didn't I notice?

Ahh I don't care anymore.

"Remember the time when we were young? We were watching an interview about All Might."

"Yes, I do... You were so fascinated. You wanted to be like him." She closed her eyes and recalled. Then she smiled. "'I wanted to be like him!' You said."

"Then Mom told me that I could be like him. I could be whatever I want." I stated. "Do you remember what you said, Aoi?"

"Yes, I said I..." She trailed off then looked away.

I twirled her body and I wrapped my arms around her waist from behind. My body leaned against her. She was so close that I could feel her suck her breath in surprise.

"What did you say back then?"

"I..." She spoke in a soft voice. "I said that I would protect you. I would stay beside you forever."

"Then I said, 'How can you do that? I'm a hero. I have to protect you.'"

"I replied, 'We'll protect each other'"

"Yes, and what did Mom said about that?"

"She said...'Do you know what one girl and one guy do to protect each other forever?'"

Our voices spoke at the same time.

""They get married.""

The song in my phone ended. We both stopped moving.

We both just stood there, as I embraced her. The wind blew gently against us. With my left foot, I gently tapped the ground and the ice started to melt.

Both of us stayed silent as the ice started melting.

It was a long silence.

When the ice melted completely, Aoi gently pulled my arms away from her waist. She turned around while looking down.

"The engagement plan before... It was because I..." Aoi spoke. I could feel her fear. "I wanted to protect you."

"You should've told me that sooner."

"Nothing would change if I told you that."

"No, if you told me that, a lot would change."

Aoi snapped her head up.

"It's my fault, okay?!"

There were tears in her eyes.

"I would've told you that but you got angry when you found out that I was training with Endeavor."

I couldn't move. My heart was breaking.

"So I kept it a secret and decided that the engagement plan was a good idea. But then it only made you angrier."

My hands wiped the tears on her cheeks but she didn't stop crying.

"Because of that plan, you fell for Yaoyorozu, and she got hurt instead of me..!"

"Stop it..." I kissed her left cheek. "Please don't blame yourself."

"It's m-my fault..." She sobbed.

Then I kissed her right cheek.

"No, it's not your fault."

"It is... It's my--"

Her words stopped as I pressed my lips against hers, nibbling her lower lip gently before pulling away.

"It's not your fault, Aoi. If it is. Then, I forgive you."

Aoi sighed in defeat. What she did next was unexpected.

She pecked my lips.

"Don't regret forgiving me."

A smile escaped my lips.

"I won't."

Then Aoi started kissing me, wrapping her arms around my neck and caressing my hair.

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A/N:

What the hell... Just what the hell is this chapter?? The two of you, stop kissing already!