Archive of Our Own

With the last paper graded Fuyumi finally begins cleaning up.

Today had been art day for her class which meant lots of paint stains and crayon marks.

As she wipes down another table coated in yellow and red, she notices the one next to it is perfectly clean.

Ah.

She smiles.

That had to be Yuji’s table.

Yuji was one of her brightest students. He wants to be a painter when he grows up and it shows. His work is very detailed, and all his colors stay in the lines. Very impressive for a four year old.

She stands from the now clean table and remembers the large sunflower he presented to her today. Brown center and yellow petals, he even drew an orange sun with no smiley face, instead a multitude of tones and colors to complement it.

He’ll go far. Hopefully he’ll be able to get his own spot in a gallery someday.

Her fist tightens on the rag she’s holding.

A harsh reality has reared its ugly head.

There had been an issue in the beginning of the school year. Yuji had been horribly bullied by his classmates at first.

Yuji was born with a mutant quirk.

He has the head of a fly. His eyes are bulbus and have a window like look to them. His mouth sprouts forward like the end of a trumpet. He has two little wings on his back that he can’t use to fly yet, and four sets of normal chubby arms and hands. Like any other child.

The class had giggled and laughed when he had introduced himself and Fuyumi had quickly quieted them and warned them not to be rude. But in the end, she really should have picked up on the bullying sooner.

The kids would never do it in front of her of course and Yuji was too quiet and shy to say anything, but the bullying had escalated to the point that one male student had ripped off one of Yuji’s thin little wings on the playground. The scream was the loudest Fuyumi had heard the little boy. It shook her to her core and to this day she feels awful about letting it get that far.

(Yet again she had failed to protect someone.)

His parents were surprisingly not angry with her for allowing something like that to happen under her care, but more sad and understanding.

A woman with thin fairy like wings on her back and a man with four arms explained that this was something they worried would happen with Yuji going to a regular kindergarten.

They even told her his wing would grow back, but they knew he would face discrimination on his appearance. It was why they wanted him to go to a mutant only kindergarten instead, but Yuji had begged them to let him go to a regular school so he could be like normal kids.

It had drawn Fuyumi to tears.

She was able to convince his parents to let him stay in her class with the promise of educating her students on bullying and quirk discrimination, as well as keeping a closer eye on Yuji.

Since then, the bullying has ceased with the students now including Yuji in games and lunches, though every once in a while, she has to step in to correct behavior or stop minor teasing.

She checks in with Yuji more to make sure he’s comfortable and feels welcome. He’s still very quiet but now he’ll at least tell her things. Like how the other kids like finger painting with him since he can use all four of his hands and they think it’s cool.

But...kids turn into adults and someday Yuji will have to get a job which will be harder for him.

She’s seen it for herself. People with “less pleasant to look at” quirks getting pushed to jobs that don’t involve interacting with people.

She remembers dad making passing comments on mutants he deemed ugly or creepy looking when she was little. She knows it’s the same reason Natsuo has yet to introduce his girlfriend to them.

As much as she’d love to see Yuji in his own art gallery, presenting his work to crowds of people, she knows it is unlikely.

With that somber thought she moves on to the last table but notices something out of the corner of her eye. A girl with red hair and a frilly pink dress is standing in the doorway.

“Anri? What are you still doing here?” She walks over and crouches down to the little girl's height.

Anri breaks into a big smile.

“Todoroki-sensei! My daddy wants to see the painting I did!”

“Oh?” Class had ended two hours ago, why did he wait so long?

Before Fuyumi can say anything, Anri runs past her to the paintings hanging on the wall.

As Fuyumi stands up to look at her, she sees a man in a black suit come in.

“Ah, hello Todoroki-sensei.”

Oh.

It’s not scientifically possible for Fuyumi to feel cold. Her body temperature on average is similar to that of a reptile. What a curious thing it was then, for her to feel a chill run up her spine at this man’s voice.

She had briefly forgotten who Anri’s father was.

“Hello Mr. Asano, your here rather late.” Her words are hollow, lacking any emotion besides professional politeness. She doubts he’ll notice.

“My apologies, I just came from work and was going to head home but Anri insisted on me seeing her painting.”

She wonders how much of that is true. Him arriving at a time when no one else was present didn’t feel coincidental.

“Daddy! Look over here! This one is mine!” Anri shouts. Both she and Mr. Asano walk over.

Anri’s painting is of herself dressed as a princess. She has a yellow crown on her head and she’s wearing a big red dress. In one hand she’s holding what Fuyumi thinks is a scepter and in the other tucked under her arm is her pet cat Dongo.

“Wow Anri! This is beautiful!” Mr. Asano exclaims.

“Todoroki-sensei helped show me how to mix the colors for my dress to be just right!”

“Ah, how wonderful. What a great teacher Todoroki-sensei is.” He says this while wrapping an arm around her and rubbing his hand up and down her arm.

A feeling similar to spiders crawling up her skin use to take over when things like this happened. Now though, all she feels is numbness. She’s found this is for the best.

In the beginning, the touches would make her go home and shower. It was like they followed her , underneath her clothes, under her skin, making her feel dirty and wrong. She tried desperately to wash them away. Mr. Asano wasn’t the first.

The gazes were one thing. The lingering eyes on certain parts of her body. She could tolerate the looks even though they made her feel like a caged rabbit among wolves. But the touches…they made her feel used in a way none of her ex boyfriends even achieved.

She brought it up to a superior once and they commented that it only made sense with her being a young beautiful teacher and all.

So, she learned to tolerate it. Put her mind somewhere else. Somewhere good, like her room or the smell of hot coffee. Feel nothing, go numb. It was the only way she could go home afterwards without tears prickling in her eyes.

That’s all she thinks as she tries to focus on Anri still excitedly showing her painting to her dad.

“Ah, you’re so cold Todoroki-sensei. Are you sure you don’t need to warm up? You might catch a cold.” Mr. Asano says. Rubbing has hand even firmer up and down her arm.

He’s fully aware of her quirk. She had informed all the parents at the beginning of the school year as part of policy. It’s impossible for her to catch anything from the cold.

She gives a brief hum of response as she keeps her eyes forward, not feeling like speaking.

“Daddy can we go for ice cream now?” Anri asks, seemingly done explaining her painting.

Mr. Asano doesn’t remove his hand.

“Of course, sweetheart. I just want to thank Fuyumi-sensei for all she’s done for you this year.”

That makes bile rise in her throat.

She doesn’t want to be alone with him.

She can feel her body getting colder, not enough to freeze, but enough to stave off Mr. Asano’s warm touch. Like other men, he feels the need to warm her even though she’s perfectly comfortable in her cold skin.

In her entire life, she’s only met one man who seemed perfectly fine with her touch.

The blankness in her mind drifts clear like a moving fog. She remembers red feathers, a sharp toothed smile and yellow eyes.

Butterflies dance in her stomach.

All of a sudden, she’s present and aware again. Mr. Asano’s hand feels like an annoying weight rather than a disgusting chill.

“Actually, it’s after hours so I’m afraid everyone must leave for the day.” She says this while lifting Mr. Asano’s hand off her arm and moving away from him entirely.

She turns to face him with a polite smile that doesn’t reach her eyes.

“Thank you for stopping by Mr. Asano.” She looks down at Anri. “You as well Anri. See you on Monday.”

Mr. Asano frowns. “Oh, but I could help you clean-”

“That’s quite alright I’ve already finished. Besides, I think someone wants her ice cream, right Anri?”

Anri gives her a big smile with two missing baby teeth.

“Yeah Daddy! Ice cream! Ice cream!” Anri exclaims, jumping up and down while tugging her father’s hand.

Mr. Asano’s eyes are still trained on Fuyumi’s and his brows are still fixed together in a frown. However, Fuyumi can’t bring herself to care.

“Well if your sure-”

“I am.”

Unaware of the tension in the room, Anri gives another mighty tug on her father’s arm in an attempt to guide him to the door.

“Ice cream Daddy! Nooow!”

Mr. Asano clears his throat. “Well, it was nice seeing you as always Fuyumi-sensei.” With that he finally allows his daughter to lead him out.

“Oh, and Mr. Asano.” He turns to look at her right as Anri runs out.

Fuyumi gives her best polite smile and keeps her voice overly cheery.

“It’s Todoroki-sensei, not Fuyumi. I think it’s best for teachers and parents to stay professional. Wouldn’t you agree?” Her eyes drift to the gold band around the man’s finger.

Mr. Asano clutches his hand into a fist. She’s not being subtle, but again strangely enough she can’t bring herself to care.

He says nothing as he leaves and Fuyumi breaths out a visible puff of cold air.

---

Normally, a driver would be waiting outside to take her home but today she felt like walking. It was nice out. There weren’t many clouds, and the fall chill was slowly setting in. A time for coats and scarves. Fuyumi’s favorite.

As she walked, she began thinking about what she’d do for the weekend. Normally, her mind would drift to Miko but they still weren’t talking. In fact, Fuyumi has her number blocked at the moment.

There was a new coffee shop opening up soon, then again she could always just stay home and relax too. This week was very busy after all and she has some cleaning she needs to catch up on. Maybe reorganize her bookshelf?

With the thought of a nice long bath in mind, Fuyumi suddenly hears a high pitch screech and notices the crowd of people huddled in the middle of the sidewalk ahead of her.

She frowns as they’re literally blocking her path but is equally curious what the commotion is all about.

She gets closer and the huddle only seems to grow in size. She tries to look above everyone’s head but still can’t see a path away from the crowd.

Then her eyes catch a glimpse of red and her heart skips.

“Over here Hawks! I want a picture!”

Hawks is here.

Hawks is…here.

Her hand tightens on the leather strap of her book bag. The swarming crowd now makes a lot of sense.

She can’t see him, and she also can’t get past the crowd.

She’d be lying if she said she hadn’t wanted to see him again, but she wasn’t sure how to handle this. Her heart feels like it’s pounding in her ears.

Sucking up her racing emotions, with her head down and out of sight, she tries to push past the crowd of excited bodies. Everyone is squirming and pushing towards the source of all the excitement, Fuyumi’s just trying to get past unseen.

Even though…he’s there. Even though he’s right there.

He remembered her name. She remembers the feeling of his hand holding hers as they walked towards the dance floor and how good he smelled despite the sweaty bodies surrounding them. She remembers how he didn’t even flinch when she placed her hand on his warm face. She really needs to get out of here.

This was the one time she wished she wasn’t wearing layers, that way her skin would cause people to jump away or at least move.

She thinks she’s making a bit of progress on getting to the other side when she sees him.

He’s wearing his hero attire and looks to be signing a book. A little boy comes up behind him and grabs a fist full of his feathers, effectively pulling some of them off. Fuyumi cringes and wonders if that hurts. But Hawks shows no signs of pain as he turns towards the boy.

“Hawks can you sign my hat?” The boy asks, shaking the feathers clutched in his hand.

Hawks gives him his best hero smile.

It’s…different then the sharp smiles he gave at the jewelry store.

With that thought she glances at his gloved hands and wonders if his claws are under there.

“Sure, little man! But I’m afraid that’ll be my last signature for today.”

A loud disappointed “Aww” leaves the mouths of the crowd. But shockingly enough people are already disbursing. Much to Fuyumi’s relief and horror.

As people move in every direction only a handful stay. Possibly to beg Hawks for one last picture. But Hawks gently shoos them away with a goodbye wave as he bends down to sign the boy’s baseball hat.

Fuyumi, finally free, subtly tries to walk away with the crowd.

“Not you Sensei.”

Fuyumi stops. Her heart rises to her throat.

The words are casual, quiet enough that she doubts anyone really heard or understood.

But she did.

She slowly turns her head and he’s not even looking at her as he finishes signing the boy’s hat.

“Alright, there you go. From your favorite hero.” Hawks stands and puts the hat back on the boy’s head. “Oh and I’m gonna need those back.” He smiles pointing to the boy’s clutched fist where his loose feathers reside.

Said feathers slip from the boy’s hand and float back to their place near the bottom of Hawks’ right wing.

“Thank you, Hawks!” The boy runs away, possibly back to his mother.

Fuyumi stands there awkwardly as Hawks waves at the boy until he’s out of sight.

“Sorry about that, they kinda ambushed me there. Didn’t mean to cause that much of a ruckus. Were you in a hurry to get somewhere?” Hawks asks, turning to face her.

His gaze always feels overwhelming, like it’s too much and not enough at the same time. But in the day light it’s even worse than a dark house party or a dimly lit jewelry store.

She swallows before speaking. “N…no, I was just on my way home from work.”

Hawks’ eyes widen. “Ah, good. I thought I was inconveniencing you. Let’s walk together.”

What? Was he serious?

“B…but don’t you…aren’t you busy?”

“Nope. Just finished my last patrol. It was pretty slow today surprisingly. So, I can walk you home.”

Not waiting for her response, he begins walking forward, Fuyumi stares in bewilderment.

“Wait, I mean, won’t people see, and you know, make assumptions or something.” Fuyumi stumbles out as she tries to catch up to him.

He tilts his head in her direction. “Assumptions? You read gossip news Sensei?”

“No, but-” She thinks of Miko’s job. “I know the news does that with heroes sometimes.”

“Mm you’re right, but I’m not worried. I sometimes walk with civilians in my down time to conversate. Helps me relax after hours of hero work. Last week I took a stroll with a granny who told me all about her garden of prize winning tomatoes.”

Fuyumi lets out a light chuckle at that. They continue walking in silence for a bit.

“Thank you again by the way.”

“Hm?”

“With the crowd. You knew I was trying to get through.”

Hawks chuckles. “No problem.”

Fuyumi looks down at the pavement. “It seems you’re always saving me lately.”

“Yeah, it’s been a crazy month huh? We keep running into each other.”

It’s true and who could possibly have seen that coming? Meeting him at a party, then him coming to her rescue at the jewelry store, now this.

Fuyumi’s not one to believe in things like fate or girlish dreams about heroes, but in the moment she feels playful. Wistful even.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were stalking me.” She says this with an obvious fake suspicious tone.

Hawks’ eyes widen like saucers, and he stops walking. “Sensei! You’re calling me a stalker? Me? The number two hero? In front of all these good people.”

Fuyumi laughs. “Okay! I’m sorry.”

“Hmpf, that’s more like it.” Hawks huffs with a smile as they continue their stroll.

“Besides” Hawks looks at her and there’s a change in his eyes she can’t read. “If I were stalking you, you wouldn’t know.”

 “Ah, yes, yes you’re a very sneaky hero Hawks.” Fuyumi rolls her own eyes. With how much he stands out, wings and all she doubts he could be sneaky even if he tried.

Speaking of said wings, Fuyumi can’t help but look at them.

Throughout their sudden meet ups, she honestly paid them little mind. It’s almost like she simply regarded them the same way one would with arms and legs, they were just limps. Constantly attached to Hawks’ back. They were basically his staple. It was how anyone and everyone recognized him.

But looking at them now in broad daylight they were very eye catching. In the dark shadows and low lights of the house party they looked a lot darker, and in the jewelry store she was too scared and panicked to pay attention. But now she can see just how red they are. A vibrant red like that of an apple. And feathers that looked very soft. She knew they were; she had felt them pressed against her back on the stairwell.

“You know my latest case was pretty interesting.”

“Oh?” She felt bad that she was only half listening, but she was finally able to look at the famous “fierce wings.”

She’s also taking in just how large they are. Even folded on his back they stand proud and high. Almost demanding attention really.

She knows Hawks is still talking as they walk and maybe it’s subconscious because she’s staring at his back so intensely, muscle memory that makes her do what she does next.

She brings a hand out and gently pushes him forward at the base of his upper back between his wings.

“Don’t slouch. Your wings will get dirty.” She comments bringing her hand back and satisfied that the lowest feathers are no longer dragging on the ground.

Midway after Hawks has stopped walking, she realizes what she just did.

“Oh my goodness.”

Hawks looks genuinely surprised as he looks at her.

Fuyumi panics.

“I…I’m so sorry, I don’t know why I just did that! I…my students slouch in their chairs sometimes so I’ll gently correct them, and your wings were dragging on the ground so I..”

As she kept going there was a glint in Hawks’ yellow eyes and a slow smile worked it’s way back onto his face.

Ugh this was so embarrassing.

“It’s ok Sensei, I understand. I should have better posture.” He said with a chuckle.

“No, it’s just…I shouldn’t have touched you like that. All of a sudden.”

Hawks shook his head. “S,okay Sensei. I’m use to it.”

That made Fuyumi uneasy. She wonders how often people suddenly touch Hawks without his permission. If he tolerates it to keep up his hero persona.

She thinks of Mr. Asano.

Of the teacher that told her it only makes sense that he would paw at her.

She thinks of the boy with a clump of Hawks’ torn off feathers bunched in his hand, and she grimaces.

“Does that hurt?” She asks looking him in the eye.

Hawks blinks. “Does what hurt?”

“When people do that. Grab at you. At your feathers.”

Hawks tilts his head and looks at her as if he’s analyzing her question. Then smiles.

“Not at all.”

Hawks begins walking towards her until he’s close enough for her to need to tilt her head up a little to look at him.

“You wanna know a secret Sensei?” He asks her in a whisper, voice low, rumbling like a live charge up her spine.

She nods, not looking away.

From the corner of her eye, she sees one of his wings expand on her right. Covering her side, blocking the natural light.

“I can control each feather on my wings. I can make them sensitive enough to feel someone breathing.”

There’s a sharpness that takes over his face. Slits his pupils and makes his mere presence overwhelming.

“And I can harden them, sharpen them enough to break through stone.”

Fuyumi knows this. She’s seen him on TV enough too. He’s just telling her something everyone knows so it’s not really a secret.

And yet, the words still cause her heart to race and her eyes to dart in between his predatory gaze.

The smile on his face isn’t the nice one he shows on TV. It’s the one he wore while speaking to the jewelry.

“So, it’s fine, people can rip them off, because I can always decide to get them back. No need to worry Sensei.”

He finishes his sentence with a hero smile. His wing falls away and Fuyumi blinks at the glare from the sun returns.

Hawks leans back and take several steps away from her and Fuyumi in a fit of what has to be insanity almost lets out a whimper at the loss.

“Sorry Sensei, gotta cut our walk short. It’s time for me to head back.”

He salutes her with two fingers and his knees slightly bend like he’s gonna take off.

“Wait!”

Hawks pauses his stance.

“Can you…are you free anytime tomorrow?"

Hawks blinks, in the owlish way he does when he wants you to continue talking. She’s learned a thing or two from their last interactions.

Fuyumi wets her lips.

“Can you meet me by Yoshida’s coffee shop sometime tomorrow? If you’re free of course."

“You wanna grab a coffee?” He answers with a light laugh but Fuyumi steals herself, doesn’t let go of his eyes.

“No, I want to give you something.”

That earns her another head tilt of interest and a slightly lifted eyebrow.

“What is it?”

Fuyumi keeps her smile polite. “It’s a surprise.”

Hawks stares at her. The same unblinking stare. Like he’s trying to look through her skin into her bones.

“I have a ten minute break at three.”

“I’ll be quick.”

Hawks nods and smirks. Tilting his head back. “See you then, Sensei.” And with that he takes off.

And Fuyumi finally release the breath she was hold throughout the conversation.

-

Of course something had to go wrong. Because despite how sunny it was yesterday, stormy clouds had decided to roll in and bring an ominously light rain around 2:30. It was going to get heavier soon so Fuyumi began jogging her way to the coffee shop, umbrella in hand.

By the time she makes it it’s already 3:04 and she squirms with anxiety that she may have missed him. Dozy customers enter the new coffee shop and Fuyumi stands in front under the cover of tapestry above.

She’s shaking her umbrella when someone taps her on the shoulder.

“Bit of a down pour ey Sensei?”

Fuyumi heart skips, something she’s getting use too, and she turns to see a slightly wet Hawks.

“Oh, did you fly here?” Of course he flew here, why did she even ask that?

“The best way to travel.”

“Right, did you wanna grab a coffee? It is pretty cold out.”

“Don’t have time.” He’s smiling as usual but his eyes zero in on what she’s holding in her left hand.

“Right, of course, let’s go over here?” She says it like a question but she points to the side of the building in the alleyway. At least that way they won’t stand out with prying eyes.

Hawks nods and follows her.

Once there in the alley Fuyumi turns to face him. She takes a deep breath and shoves her hands out to present her gift to him.

“This is for you!” She politely keeps her head down and her eyes closed tight. After a stressful couple of seconds Hawks takes the parcel from her hands. She waits a couple more seconds for him to unwrap it before she opens her eyes and stands up straight.

“You made me lunch?”

Fuyumi picks at her nails and looks down as she talks.

“It’s…it’s a thank you. For all the help you’ve given me this past month, I’ve been thinking of a way to repay you.”

Hawks loosens the cloth ribbon at the top and slowly opens the bento as he speaks. “Aw, you didn’t need to make me anything. It’s what hero’s do-” He suddenly stops speaking and Fuyumi can guess why. His answer sounded rehearsed like it’s something he’s used to saying from the many fans who have given him bento’s over the years.

“This is-”

“It’s snake.”

Fuyumi looks up from her bangs. Her glasses fogging up from the moisture in the air.

“I…I did research on predatory birds. To meet your dietary needs so I wouldn’t give you anything you might be allergic to or might not like. Birds of prey require a lot of protein in their diet and mostly eat meat ranging from snakes to other birds. But there’s veggies in there too because that’s important in any diet, and a dessert as well made of bean paste. Oh! And chicken! I read that it’s your favorite, you can just eat the chicken if you don’t like the snake. I didn’t catch it or anything by the way! I went to an exotic meat market for mutant quirks so it’s nice and clean, I just deboned it and seasoned it.”

She’s rambling. She’s rambling because Hawks isn’t saying anything as he looks at her.

Fuyumi deflates. “Do you…do you not like it?”

The way Hawks is looking at her is unsettling. It’s a look she’s never seen on him before and she doesn’t know how to navigate it.

He’s signature smile is gone and his eyes are large, unblinking and so yellow they almost look like their glowing, his pupils are slightly blown from their usual slits despite the low lighting. Rain water is lightly sprinkling on his form but his face doesn’t even twitch.

He’s so disturbingly still she doesn't even think he’s breathing.

Fuyumi is in between fear and something hot that expands in her stomach, traveling up her spin into her blood stream.

“Hawks?” She curses in her mind at her trembling voice.

Hawks doesn’t stop staring at her and Fuyumi takes a slight step back-

“Don’t do that.”

“H…huh?”

His eyes don’t move as he speaks.

“Don’t move suddenly like that. Not when you’re like this.” His head tilts in the animal way, where it almost touches his shoulder. “Gets my wires crossed.”

“W..what?”

His head ticks back up and a slow smile slides on his face but it’s with teeth, sharp teeth.

“Sorry Sensei I was just surprised. Come’ere.”

Part of her thinks she should be bothered by how easily he commands her. Like he expects her to do so.

But at the same time, it’s Hawks.

He’s not going to hurt her. He’s not the dads that touch her, he’s not Mr. Asano.

Fuyumi walks over until she’s in his space, looking up at his beautiful yellow eyes and waits patiently for him to speak. Eager to know if he likes his gift.

Hawks gives a closed mouth smile this time, calmer. Looking less stimulated. But the glint is still there. His pupils are still blown.

With one hand he touches her waist. But unlike the other men Fuyumi doesn’t jump away. She never does with Hawks.

He gently guides her backwards until she bumps into the wall behind her. The entire time she doesn’t look away from his gaze.

She can see that his wings are slowly expanding behind him. Creating a wall around them.

“This was a very thoughtful gift Sensei, thank you.” His voice sounds different. There’s some kind of rumbling, chittering noise under it. Maybe she’s hearing things.

But more than anything she’s happy he likes it. She didn’t want it to show, but she would have been crushed if he hadn’t.

But all she could manage was a breathy “Your welcome.” When she suddenly feels his palm fully press down on her stomach. Right where her sweater meets the belt around her pants.

Her arms simply lay limp at her sides as he begins bringing his hand up and down her waist slowly.

She tries to concentrate on his eyes but his hand is so hot on her body despite her clothes and his glove.

To her surprise she realizes he’s not trying to warm her. He’s trying to sooth her because he scared her earlier.

And Fuyumi feels tears prick at her eyes.

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” He says it the same way he did at the party. Smile so kind and eyes captivating.

Something sharp rubs up her back and it causes her to gasp. She realizes it’s his claws under his glove. In a need to hold onto something she grabs the front of his jacket while his clawed hand lightly scratches up and down her back.

She shuts her eyes to try and control her beathing, resting her forehead on his shoulder.

“Sensei?” His tone is idle, almost casual.

“Y…yes?”

“Can I have your number?”

Something white and hot flashes through her, butterflies swarming in her stomach, and she’s almost dizzy with it as she musters up the courage to look at him.

“W…what?”

“Can I have your number?”

Fuyumi blinks before coming back to reality.

“Ah! Yeah…yes of course.” She pulls her phone out from her pocket.

They exchange numbers like it’s just a thing to do.

“Thank you Sensei. I have to go now, my breaks over. But I’ll text soon.” He slowly backs away and raises the bento high in the air. “Thanks again for the bento. I’m sure it’ll be delicious!” He yells as he takes off into the rain clouds above.

Fuyumi’s left looking up flushed and very warm despite the rain.

-

It’s the next day in the middle of her classes recess when she fully comes to terms with the fact that she just exchanged phone numbers with the number two hero in the country. And he said he would text her.

Her hands are in her hair as she stares down at her desk, mind is still reeling from yesterday’s events.

She has Hawks’ number.

She has Hawks’ number.

SHE HAS HAWK’S NUMBER!

How did this even happen?

It’s ridiculous. It’s all ridiculous.

And yet at the same time she’s so unbelievable happy she can’t think straight.

“Todoroki-sensei?”

She almost jumps when she hears the little voice. It’s Yuji.

“Oh, sorry Yuji, were you asking me something?”

Fuyumi sees her own reflection as she looks at Yuji’s window like eyes. “Yes Fuyumi-sensei, I made you this!” One of Yuji’s upper hands flaps a piece of paper at her. Fuyumi takes it and flips it only to see a very well painted version of herself with “Best Teacher Ever” written at the top with a sun and flowers in the background.

Fuyumi fights the tears that threaten to spill as a smile breaks out on her face.

Maybe she is making a difference after all.

“Yuji this is beautiful! Thank you so much!”

Yuji looks down and kicks his foot back and forth, shy as always.

Hawk’s voice suddenly rings in her head.

It’s a big responsibility. Teaching and prepping the next generation.

Fuyumi smiles fondly at the memory. “Yuji I think your piece is missing something.”

Yuji’s head shoots up. “It is?”

“Yup, you see Yuji, all artists sign their works. That way when it gets famous everyone knows it was you who made it.”

“Oh! Can you help me sign it Todoroki-sensei?”

“Of course.” Fuyumi picks the little boy up and sits him on her lap.

Later that day Fuyumi tapes the painting with four little hands at the bottom of the page above her bookshelf.