[Sora Nakoma]

Golden Week.

A glorious time of year for many of Japan's people, the successive holidays offered both well-earned time off for the country's busy workforce and students, while also offering the perfect opportunity for her people to experience and revel in their proud culture and history. And when the weather was as perfect as it was this year, it was hard not to get excited at the festivities across Tokyo.

Such activities were what brought Sora to Shibuya. While he had been able to return home for Golden Week for the first year he spent overseas in America, he unfortunately had missed the holidays last year due to a major investigation he had become involved in. And while he was happy to have helped and proud to have saved some lives in the process, the fact that he had missed a chance to return home for a time had admittedly left him rather blue at the time.

As such, Sora intended to make up for his absence last year; the first two days, he had spent with his parents and sister, who had managed to make it home this year too. Catching up, eating out, it had been a pleasant couple of days that brought many nostalgic feelings for the young man.

Today, on Greenery Day, Sora was on his own. Traditionally this was a day to spend out in nature; having picnics or communing with nature and the like. And while such things were certainly up Sora's alley, he decided that he would enjoy a more urban celebration of the holiday; after all, he was still reacquainting himself with Japan after two years away!

And so here he was in Shibuya, where a fair was being held in Yoyogi park. All around him were people buzzing about, visiting stalls of food, treats, and local knickknacks. It was certainly livelier than the tea houses he had sometimes visited on the holiday in the past, but sometimes a change of pace was good! And in the spirit of the holiday, many of the shops and stalls around him were selling tea and had seating available beneath the trees and by the ponds.

Yes, this was just what he needed.

Smiling as he took in the wonderful sights and smells that filled the scenery, he decided to start off with something a bit more traditional and then ease himself into the rest of the festivities; a cozy stall nearby was selling tea and sweets. A perfect start to what he felt would be an amazing day! He got in line, waiting patiently as people ordered and scanning the surroundings as he tried to decide where he would enjoy his treat; maybe find a spot under one of the trees? Or just bring it with him as he wandered the fairgrounds?

He was in no hurry to decide. Who knows what he might miss if he didn't bother to enjoy himself at his leisure?

May Twenty-First

[May Twenty-First]

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May Twenty-First//Artemis

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It had been a little while since May had decided to attend a local festival. Usually she stayed home and celebrated in her own way. Especially during Greenery Day when she usually spent the day in the garden tending to flowers she’d been growing since she was little. However, a bit of a drought this year had all but murdered her garden and so she’d decided to celebrate in a different way and go out.

[break][break]

Stepping away from her customary UAU uniform, she had embraced a refreshing change in her attire. The ensemble she chose exuded an air of lightness and ease. A pristine white blouse, harmoniously partnered with a pleated skirt in a shade of black, creating a balanced interplay of colors. The skirt gracefully descended, terminating just above her knees.

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Adding to the ensemble's charm, she adorned herself with a delicate jacket. The jacket, a canvas of soft hues accentuated with hints of pink and blue, was artfully left unbuttoned at the front. A single piece of jewelry adorned her neck, a choker resplendent with intricate blue and pink gems that harmonized with the color palette of her outfit.

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Her vibrant pink hair, an ever-present signature, cascaded down her back in a cascade of lustrous curls. A meticulously crafted jeweled flower was fastened at the side of her head, lending an elegant touch to her coiffure. The overall effect was a visually captivating ensemble that seamlessly blended a sense of freshness, charm, and individuality.

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Other than the feathery layer of mascara, her face was free of makeup, which only added to her apeparance. She hummed as she walked along the many stalls set up in Yoyogi park, considering which of them she might try and spend the day relaxing beneath the canopy of greenery above them. Eventually she’d tucked into a line, just behind a young man. Behind her a woman was consoling her daughter who was crying because of the little flower she’d just dropped on the ground and accidentally trampled.

[break][break]

May couldn’t help but smile and reach into her messenger bag slung over her shoulder, collecting something and then turning about. She crouched down in front of the little girl who was crying. The mother tilted her head curiously at May who spoke softly, “What happened little one?” May asked in a soft voice.

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“M…My flower…” The girl pointed to a pink flower on the ground, trampled to pieces, sniffling softly.

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May nodded, “Mm, it looked like it was a pretty flower. But you want to know secret about that pretty flower?”

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The young girl nodded, still sniffling.

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May raised a hand up, watching as the girls gaze followed it, “I’ve been told that it had…” She gave her hand a flick, a little bit of a flourish and with a trick of movement pulled a soft pink flower from her sleeve like magic, “…A sister. And I’m afraid it’s just so sad sitting in my bag with no sunlight. Would you like to take care of her for me?”

[break][break]

The girl watched in wonderment as May made the other flower appear like magic. She nodded, a smile lightning up her tear stained cheeks. May held the flower out to her. The little girl accepted it and smiled brightly. The mother mouth a soft thank you to her and May stood up, “Take good care of her.” The little girl gave a wave as the pair moved on. May couldn’t help but smile softly, remembering when she’d been that delicate.

[break][break]

She walked forwards, turning her gaze just in time to accidentally walk into the back of the person she’d queued behind, “O…Oh! I’m sorry.” She said hurriedly, stepping back, “Wasn’t looking where I was going.” She was a bit taller than her was, and his black hair was near the polar opposite of her bright pink hues, “Waiting for tea as well?” She asked with a smile.

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[attr="class","boxo-notes"]TIME REMAINING: 00:00:00:00:10:00 (YEARS:MONTHS:DAYS:HOURS:MINUTES:SECONDS)

KAY

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[Sora Nakoma]

The line was fortunately moving along at a decent pace, so it wouldn't be too long before he had his tea. But as he prepared to step forward as the next person got their order, he heard the sound of a little girl crying. Sora turned around, spotting the girl with her crushed flower on the ground being comforted by her mother and the girl who had been in line behind him. He watched with fascination as the young woman performed her little magic trick, presenting her with a new flower and cheering her up quickly. At this Sora smiled; it was a kind gesture. It would have been awful for the poor thing's day to be ruined so early into the festivities.

As the mother and daughter left the girl stood back up and turned to get back in line, only to bump into Sora's back since she was distracted. She quickly gave an apology, and he turned to look at her as they moved on in the line. "No harm done, don't worry about it." He assured her with an easy smile, now taking a moment to get a good look at the kind girl.

Her hair and eyes drew his attention the most; the brilliant pink of her head and how her eyes reminded him a bit of pearls or jewels with how they seemed to have multiple colors. Certainly she was more colorful than him. And taller too, he could see now that she was standing up again. Very pretty and cute.

For his own clothes, Sora had gone with something a bit outside his usual choices. A simple black v-neck worn beneath a loose, lightweight green jacket. He wore a comfortable pair of boot-cut jeans and a pair of well-worn white sneakers. He hadn't put any more effort into his hair than usual, the black locks as messy and wild as ever, though he at least had gotten it out of his eyes so their pale green wasn't just peeking through like they normally did. His silver charm necklace, as always, finished off his outfit, hanging loosely around his neck.

Sora realized after a moment that he had been staring at her eyes and lightly shook his head, refocusing. God, he wasn't that bad at socializing, was he? The young man glanced back at the retreating family, then back to the stranger before him as she asked if he was in line for tea as well. He nodded. "Ah, yeah. I was out of the country, over in America last year on Golden Week, so I figured I'd do something a little different this time around. Make up for lost time, you know?" He explained with a small chuckle. "Figured it'd be a nice way to start things off. Was trying to decide what to do next, actually. If I should find a spot to relax or just roam around."

He took a short breath in, the scent of the tea growing stronger as they neared the front of the line. "I saw what you did for that little girl, by the way. It was very sweet of you. Would you mind if I paid for your tea?" He asked, approval for her actions clearly evident in his voice; he was the sort who thought good deeds should be rewarded, even if it was in such a small way. He held his hand out, offering to shake as his smile grew a touch wider. "My name is Sora, by the way. Sora Nakoma. It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms...?" He trailed off, hoping she would fill in the blank for him.

May Twenty-First

[May Twenty-First]

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[attr="class","lyr2"]you out

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May Twenty-First//Artemis

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May stepped back a little from him to give the man space. She bowed her head politely in thanks, “I appreciate that. I was a little bit distracted when I walked into thee…” She tousled the curls in her hair gently, a bit of a nervous habit. But only because she’d spurned the slightly awkward moment. He however seemed to take it well. So that was at least a relief.

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Much like him, she took in his appearance, though his gaze seemed to linger a long time on her eyes. She flushed a bit, turning her gaze to the side. She wasn’t the greatest at consistently holding eye contact, despite the epic staring contests she used to have with her adopted mother years ago when she was little. Arguments ending with a staring contest, a clash of wills. Of course, she always lost. But she tried and that’s what counted…right?

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May took a moment to dig around in her bag as her phone buzzed. She flipped open the screen seeing a message from her Uncle. Likely just him gushing about his new crop of students at the university again. She swore he was more of a fangirl than most of the kids in the city were. She dropped the phone back in as Sora spoke. She looked up and nodded, “Always good to make up for lost time. I’m much the same, I haven’t been out for greenery day in ages. I usually spend it tending to mine garden at home.” She looked around the area slowly and smiled, “Plenty of nice places to curl up with a cup of tea. Too many people to roam around effectively.” She mused.

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She shuffled forwards as the line moved. She leaned over and peeked at the menu set out. Some of her favorite kinds of tea were listed. Looking in the direction the mother and child had walked off she smiled, “Couldn’t let the little one’s day be ruined by a single flower, especially when I happened to have a cutting in mine bag.” She looked up at him and clapped her hands together, “Hm, counter-offer. How about you let me pay for both our tea and you can sit and tell me about your time in America. I’ve been there briefly, but I’d love to know what the hero scene over there is like, if you know anything about it that is. Deal?”

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Extended her hand politely, she’d wrap her hand around his. Her right hand, her bow hand, was fairly calloused from consistent use of a bowstring, “May Twenty-First. It’s a pleasure to meet you Sir Nakoma.” She remembered a time when taking social queues had been incredibly awkward for her. But not anymore. She’d worked hard in those classes!

[break][break]

In front of them, the final person in line walked off with their tea and the young woman working the booth cleared her throat a little, “Tea for you two?” She asked in a sweet voice. May nodded quickly, “Yes! Whatever the messy-haired knight wants and uuuuhm…Surprise me with the most floral kind of tea you have. I like them all…so I’m indecisive.” She cast a soft wink at Sora to let him know she was only being silly about his hair. Her curls, while elegant were just as messy.

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KAY

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[Sora Nakoma]

Sora noticed the way May had averted her eyes after realizing he was staring, and he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. Sorry, that’s a bad habit of mine.” He admitted, giving her an apologetic bow of his own head after she did so for bumping into him. He also heard the odd way she spoke, but didn’t comment on it. She checked her phone as she got a message, before noting her own preferred way to spend the holiday. ”Gardening does sound like a nice way to spend the day.” He agreed, looking up at the clear sky as he imagined it.

He nodded when she noted how many people were walking around; finding a spot to sit definitely was seeming like the better plan. She surprised him with her offer to pay for his tea, in exchange for stories of his time spent in America. But after a moment he smiled, particularly when she gave her own name. How unique, he thought. “May, then. A lovely name; and quite appropriate for the occasion too, heh.” He nodded as she shook his hand, finding himself aware of her hands’ calloused feel, curious as to what she did to get her hands like that.

At last it was their turn, and though he hadn’t yet agreed to her offer she went ahead and informed the woman to let him order what he wanted as she placed her own. He chuckled, both at her indecisiveness and at the dig at his messy hair (especially when she sent him the self-aware wink, which brought a faint dusting of red to his cheeks). He stepped up to the counter, looking at the menu in search of something he always enjoyed around this time of year. ”Well, what sort of knight would I be to deny a lady’s favor?” He noted, playing along a bit as he gave May a wink of his own, though the gesture felt a bit foreign to the young man. “Shincha tea, please. I love the sweetness, and the fact that it’s only ever really available during the Spring makes it that much more special.” He explained his reasoning to his new friend. Though he left off the reasoning that, since they were nearer to the end of Spring, the tea wasn’t quite as expensive as it would be early on in the season; he was appreciative for her offer, but he didn’t want to take advantage of it.

As the woman took the pair’s order with a smile and got to work, he looked around and spotted a large tree by the pond that didn’t have anybody sitting under it; seemed as though some scattered leaves and petals had surrounded the base of the tree. He guessed no one wanted to put in the time to clear out the spot; a shame, since it was such a picturesque location. But with his Quirk, such a thing was no issue at all. ”Once we get our tea, how about we sit over there?” He asked May, pointing to the tree in question with a smile.

May Twenty-First

[May Twenty-First]

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May Twenty-First//Artemis

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“No apology needed. I’ve never been good at eye contact anyways. But people always seem interested in my eyes.” She giggled softly. Such was the downside of having eyes like hers, even if it was the product of chemical damage from her time in stasis. The world had an ironic sense of humor sometimes. May reached back, tugging her jacket off gently, tying it about her waist. WHY she chose a jacket today was well beyond her, “It’d be nice if the darn drought we’ve had lately didn’t ruin it on me. Going to be a good year before I get it back to good health!” She huffed softly.

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“Not that I’m home too often anymore. I wonder if the university would get upset if I started a garden on my windowsill.” She pondered aloud.

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After their shared handshake she’d turn about, clasping her hands behind her back. Her multi-layered tattoo shuffling and moving along her right arm, “Thou art very kind. Do you treat all the girls you meet with such kindness, or just dorky ones like me?” Her smile showed that she was just teasing slightly. She appreciated his kindness. He reminded her a lot of her Uncle who’d go out of his way to make people smile.

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“If thou goes by the old stories. Many of them would demand that they pay instead of her. But this isn’t a storybook, so the knight can let the lady pay this time.” She chuckled at his wink and shuffled up to the tea booth, tugging a small wad of currency from her bag. She had a debit card, but it wasn’t something she used often. She was old school in that she liked to carry around her money instead of storing it digitally. She paid what was needed for their tea and while they waited she looked over at Sora.

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“Don’t think I’ve ever tried Shincha tea. How sweet is it? Not like some of those tea’s where it’s like drinking sugar is it? I hate that. If I wanted to drink a glass of sugar I’d just go buy soda.” She wrinkled her nose. May had no love for soda or overly sugary treats and drinks. Sour and tart were more her jam, plus…sugars weren’t the greatest when you were trying to keep at least a halfway trim waistline.

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She watched with curiosity as their tea was prepared, only looking up to follow Sora’s gaze to the lovely little clearing, “That looks cozy. A bit cluttered with foliage, but as good a spot as any!” She took both their tea when it was offered, holding out Sora’s to him, “So what does thou do for a living? If you don’t mind me asking.” She motioned for him to lead the way, thanking the tea lady for their drinks.

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KAY

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[Sora Nakoma]

So people showing interest in her eyes was a common thing, was it? Sora wondered if perhaps their unique appearance had to do with her Quirk, but figured it didn’t really matter. At the very least it seemed like she hadn’t been offended by his staring, which was a definite plus.

May went on to note the current state of her garden, wondering about the possibility of making one at her school. So she was a university student! Bits and pieces slowly fall into place. ”I recall some of my classmates doing that sort of thing when I attended University, so I’d say it’s at least worth asking. Worst they can say is no, right?” He noticed the way her tattoo seemed to move, and that almost certainly was related to her power. Still, he’d stared at her one time too many already so he didn’t focus too much on it as she teased him. Sora laughed quietly, though the red of his cheeks did deepen a bit at her question. ”I try to approach everyone in such a way, if I can help it. Though I will admit, your so-called dorkiness does make it a bit easier to do so.”

She commented about his remark of knightly behavior, and he shrugged. ”Eh, fair enough. Though I always feel there’s a thin line between chivalry and stubbornness, don’t you think? And thank you, by the way, for paying. I only hope my stories suffice as compensation.”

She asked about the tea he ordered, admitting her distaste for super sweet beverages. He chuckled at her expression. ”It’s a bit sweeter than most, yes. Shincha tea is just a name for sencha tea made with the first leaves of a harvest; the freshest and most flavorful. It’s also savory and tart, so I think it balances out well. And the scent is nice and soothing; I’m told it’s like a rainforest, but I’ve never been to one so I can only guess if that’s true, heh.”

Their tea was given to them, and Sora thanked both the lady at the counter, and May when she handed him his. She commented on the site he chose and he laughed. ”Oh, don’t worry about the foliage.” He assured her as they started on their way over. As they reached the tree Sora held up a hand, signaling her to stop. ”Actually, I’m a professional hero. Graduated from UAU about three years ago, but I spent my first couple of years after graduating in America working with my sister’s agency in New York.”

Sora then took a break from speaking, turning his attention to the mess covering their would-be spot. As he stared at the foliage a pair of small blue horns emerged from the rough black sea that was his hair, and in the moment they surfaced May would feel the wind stir as it fell under Sora’s control, only to still immediately after.

The grass beneath them began to rustle and sway as a targeted breeze swept under the leaves, sticks, dew, and petals on the ground. And after a moment, the objects were slowly lifted into the air, grouping together save for the petals.

Sora smiled at May and took a sip of his tea, and then the petals drifted towards the girl as the wind carried them, first towards her feet. They circled her several times in a line as they slowly rose further up her body, but despite their close proximity May wouldn’t be able to feel the breeze, nor would even her lightest clothes so much as flutter; clearly Sora’s control over the wind was quite precise.

After a moment of the petals circling in the air, he ended the little show by directing the sticks and leaves into a trash can over by the paved path, while the petals were scattered over the surface of the pond in front of them.

Satisfied with his work Sora nodded, the horns on his head ducking down beneath his hair once again. He stepped over to the now clear spot and turned to face May, offering her an upturned hand to help her sit down without spilling her tea. ”I hope that this is more to your liking.” He said with a smile and a slight bow.

May Twenty-First

[May Twenty-First]

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May Twenty-First//Artemis

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May hummed a little bit while listening, “Well, that’s promising at least. I mean what’s the harm a little mini garden can do anyways? It’s just some cute flowers.” She loved flowers. Probably because the first thing she’d seen when emerging from her stasis pod all those years ago, was a field of flowers, something about that had stuck it’s way into her brain and it was fairly uncommon for her to be without some sort of flower-inspired object on or around her person most days.



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“Dorks are endearing. What can I say?” She nodded as if confirming the words to herself.



[break][break]



May was leaning down to check out the menu again, noting a few different tea’s that sounded delightful, “Maybe a thin line, But at least it’s generally easy to tell if someone is being stubborn or chivalrous.” She waved a dismissive hand following his statement about paying, “Nonsense, Thou offered first and then presented something much more valuable than a few cups of tea. Information, stories. I’ll trade a cup of tea for that just about any day.”



[break][break]



She collected their tea, offering his over to him, enjoying the delightful aroma that played across her nose from it. It did smell sweet, “I’ll have to try it sometime. Anything with the word tart in it is my jam. I’m weird, I hate most things that are like…sugary sweet. I prefer sour stuff. Maybe even a hint of bitterness. My Uncle says mine taste buds are broken, but I say his are just boring.” She giggled.



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Spinning about after collecting her own tea she’s follow him towards the clearing. Stopping when he raised his hand, “Ohhh! A pro hero and a graduate of UAU. That’s where I’m attending, hoping to be a pro some day. Now thou has definitely got some stories I want to hear.” She beamed and then pursed her lips as he went to work in curious silence. She watched as the horns emerged from his head.



[break][break]



~I wonder if that hurts like…that comic book hero with the claws.~ She wrinkled her nose a little but watched in fascination as the soundless wind picked up. Sweeping aside the clutter on the ground and for a moment, wrapping her up in a breeze of petals. Her face lit up in awe, reaching up to poke one the petals as it drifted by, “Now wouldn’t that be a new way to wear perfume…” She mused as the rest was cleared up, petals scattering their way across the surface of the fond, the koi below coming up to poke at them curiously.



[break][break]



“Not to uh…fangirl or anything. But that was really neat! And very pretty.” She studied him curiously for a long moment, looking to the now cleared area, “I mean, it was lovely before. Now it’s just less cluttered. I’d have been happy either way. But then, I’d not have gotten to see thou’s quirk in action.”



[break][break]



Moving to settle down onto a comfortable spot, she’d set her tea on the ground in front of her, “Hm. So is it, air control? Or does thou have a quirk connection to nature’s clutter?” She mused idly, quirks could come in the strangest of packages sometimes and it wouldn’t surprise her at all if it was the latter. It was clear he’d piqued her interest, even if he had before by being kind and offering to buy her tea. Sometimes May really was still a kid at heart, finding fascination in the world around her.



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“Soooo, how long has thou been a pro? What was the UAU experience like for thou?”



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She paused suddenly and blinked, "Oh oh oh! Almost forgot! Hold that thought...." She tugged open her messenger bag, digging out a bright blue polaroid camera. She turned it on and flipped it around so it was facing towards them for a 'selfie', "Hold up your tea will you? Gotta save the moment for the memory book!" When it came to pictures, May tended to ask forgiveness than permission. Saving her memories was important to her and she'd long since gotten past trying to ask every single person. She put on a big smile and held up her teacup for the camera, waiting to see if he did the same...or not. Taking a picture had certainly gone negatively in the past.



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[attr="class","boxo-notes"]TIME REMAINING: 00:00:00:00:10:00 (YEARS:MONTHS:DAYS:HOURS:MINUTES:SECONDS)

KAY

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[Sora Nakoma]

Sora nodded to May’s assessment of her potential garden; while he was no gardener, he did enjoy flowers. If Spring were a bit cooler it might even be his favorite season just from how beautiful it could be when everything was in bloom. He chuckled in agreement as she noted dorks were endearing, and hummed quietly when she mentioned his “payment”. ”Well, I’m happy to share if you’re interested. Though I don’t know how good of a storyteller I am.” Sora told her as he glanced away, a bit embarrassed by the admission. He was tempted to ask her for some stories of her own, especially once she revealed that she was also attending UAU, but maybe that could wait until he done his part first.

The sight of her awe as the petals danced around her brought a joyful smile to the young hero’s face; Sora didn’t necessarily like to show off, but ever since he started to gain more confidence he enjoyed demonstrating his Quirk to people. And a reaction like hers was just icing on the cake. May even complimented the display as she sat down, Sora sitting down beside her and holding his own cup of tea in his lap. She asked about his Quirk, and he nodded. ”Air control is pretty on the mark; my Quirk is called Wind Dragon. And yeah, as the name implied I can manipulate the wind. And I can do a lot more than just make the petals dance, heh. And I’ve been a pro hero for about three years now, though I only just recently returned to Japan. As for school, it was… quite the experience. Never a dull moment, that’s for sure! Though I wasn’t much of a troublemaker, if you can believe it.” He chuckled a bit at that; it was probably pretty obvious.

He was pausing to take a sip of his tea when May suddenly said to hold on, and he watched curiously as she dug through her bag until she found… a camera? She pointed it towards them and held up her tea, urging him to join in. Sora was nervous at the prospect, not considering himself particularly photogenic. “A-a picture? I’m not so… sure…” he trailed off in in a worried tone. Still, it was just a picture, right? And her bright smile and excitement made it really hard for him to refuse.

Sora took a breath to calm himself down, then nodded and looked at the camera. He glanced to his side at May to see how she was holding her tea, and he scooted just a touch closer to her to make sure he was properly in the frame. He held up his tea in such a way that he mirrored May’s own pose, managing a smile through his nerves. ”Is this okay?” He asked through his teeth, not wanting to break the pose until she either took the picture or told him to stop, though his blush had returned a bit once he noticed their relative proximity.

May Twenty-First

[May Twenty-First]

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May Twenty-First//Artemis

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“One doth not have to be a good storyteller, to weave a tale. Sometimes, it’s the worst told stories that are the most fascinating.” She offered him a bright smile before he went through his amazing quirk, tidying up the area with barely a thought it seemed.

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May settled down comfortably on the soft grass, looking at ease but somehow also alert at the same time. Like her eyes were constantly taking in the details around her. Part of that was being vigilant, part of it was her ADHD getting the best of her. Everything was interesting so she had to loo….SQUIRREL!

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Turning her attention to Sora after watching the squirrel make it’s way up the nearby tree she’d offer a bright smile, “Wind dragon. That’s a really awesome name! And thou is a pro? The time in America makes more sense now.” What a day, not only did she manage to run into someone to chat with, but she ran into a pro hero. Part of her wanted to ask a thousand questions, but the rational part of her was simply happy to enjoy the day.

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“Not to judge a book by it’s cover. But I can believe you weren’t a troublemaker. You look like the dorky type..”

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She paused and then blinked, “N…Not that I mean that in a bad way! Dorks are awesome. I’m a dork.” She nodded confidently as if that would make the almost-accidental-insult ok. She took a quick sip of her tea to stem the flow of words temporarily before she remembered her camera.

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She proposed the idea, but he seemed hesitant. She didn’t want to push when she shouldn’t. Then again, how many photo’s of surprised or unwilling people had she taken in the past? Sometimes it was easier to beg forgiveness than permission. But then he nodded in agreement and her face lit up.

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“Woo! Picture tiiiime!” She flicked a few settings on the back of the polaroid camera and held it out in front of them, pointed backwards at them. She didn’t even look when he asked if it was ok, “Thou could be making the silliest of faces and it would be ok. Saaaaay deoxyribonucleic acid!” She snapped the picture which the camera spat out. May quickly flipped the ‘grey’ picture over so it could develop out of the sunlight.

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Scooching over so she was no longer in Sora’s personal space she’d scoop up a petal, rolling it around in her fingers and smiling, “So, how were things on your venture to America? I hear hero culture over there is VERY different than what we have here. Was thou able to operate the same as thou might here? Or was it completely different?” She fired off the questions rapid-fire style before taking a long sip of her tea.

[break][break]

“Not to be…let’s call it, rude. But what’s it like being a pro? My uncle says the media makes it difficult, it’s why he retired and became a teacher instead. What’s thou’s experience been like so far?” She asked this, accidentally inhaling tea rather than drinking it after and nearly choking herself out.

[break][break]

She held up a hand, “Aaaaaaand she’s ok. For the second time today, May nearly chokes herself out. That’s got to be a bloody record.” She giggled softly and shook her head, digging through her bag and tugging out a bag of sour apple candies, she opened the bag and offered the open end to him, “Sour apple. Help yourself.” Whether he took one or not she’d set the bag on the ground between them and pop one into her mouth as she stared across the pond, enjoying the way the petals floated on it’s surface. She really did love nature.

[attr="class","boxo-notes"]TIME REMAINING: 00:00:00:00:10:00 (YEARS:MONTHS:DAYS:HOURS:MINUTES:SECONDS)

KAY

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[Sora Nakoma]

Sora smiled as May complimented the name of his Quirk, feeling a bit proud, before nodding as she noted his time spent in America. When she admitted that he seemed more the dorky type than a troublemaker, he couldn’t help but chuckle as she confidently backpedaled in an effort to assure him that she wasn’t trying to insult him. “Well you said it yourself; dorks are endearing, right?”[/font] He asked, recalling her earlier statement. ”And I think that’s certainly accurate so far as you’re concerned, Ms. May.” He smiled as he teased her back a bit.

May didn’t even spare him a second glance when he asked if his pose for the picture was okay, before giving her little instructions and taking the picture. ”Deoxyribonucleic acid!” Sora recited without a hint of irony, laughing again once she took the picture with her old camera. He watched as she turned the photo away from the sun. “We’ve got a few cameras like that at my dad’s store.” He noted, a touch of nostalgia tinging his words. ”There’s a certain graininess to them that I like. Not sure if that’s actually the right term, though. Not much of a photographer myself, heh.” Sora rubbed the back of his head a bit sheepishly as May gave him a bit more space before starting to question him about his time in America.

He considered her first few questions. “Hm… well, for one thing, I think back in America heroes have a bit more free reign on how to deal with things at their own discretion. It’s also a bit less… not sure what a good way to put it is. Maybe… publicized? Obviously there’s still news stories and interviews and stuff like that. But generally speaking I didn’t see many heroes taking other jobs on top of their hero work there as I do here; me personally, I have no form of employment besides my hero work.”

May then asked what it was like to be a pro, and he thought. Sora took a few moments to sip at his tea while gathering his thoughts. ”It’s… not too unlike what your uncle says. Heroes have a lot of expectations and pressure on them; we’re expected to keep people safe and be inspiring while doing it. People want heroes to be the sorts of people they can see and go ‘Wow, that person’s so cool! I wanna be like that’, and such things. At times it feels kinda like everyone’s watching me, even when I’m off duty and even after I came back to Japan, despite not a lot of people here knowing me.”

Sora closed his eyes and leaned back a bit, feeling the gentle breeze as he rested against the tree. As he paused May began to hack as she choked on her tea. While she played it off with a cute giggle, he still reached over and gently rubbed her back. It was something that helped him when such things happen. The cheery girl dug through her bag and pulled out some candies, offering some to the young pro, who smiled and nodded, reaching into the bag to take one. ”Ah, thank you. Are you alright?” He said. Sora reached into hs own bag and pulled out a small tin, opening it to reveal a variety of cookies. He placed it next to May’s bag of candy, nodding towards it to tell her he was happy to share.

He ate the sour candy he had taken, and for a moment his mouth clenched at the taste. It wasn’t bad at all, but Sora didn’t eat many sour things so it caught him a little off guard. Still he laughed at his own reaction, shrugging it off and licking his lips a bit where some of the taste still lingered. What else to say? Oh, there was something!

“But the media is honestly a small part of hero work… at least, in my opinion. I don’t do much networking or the like, so my reputation mostly grew through word of mouth and what I did. All the attention in the world doesn’t measure up to how good it feels to help people in need.”

Sora reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone, taking a moment to dig through the pictures until he found one to show May. In the picture he was with three blonde girls, each of the trio dressed like witches. ”These girls were adopted by a villain I fought with named Don Blood when they were little, so they grew up around his criminal activities. As they got oldes he made them assist in his plans, or else he’d hurt the youngest sister. But thanks to the heroes of New York, they’re free now and making something of themselves. One’s a musician working on her first album. The middle child decided to continue helping heroes after she got us the info on how to track down Blood. And the youngest is attending school to try and make up for lost time.”

He closed the phone after giving May time to look at the picture, sighing contently. “Being a hero is hard, no doubt. But knowing I can help people like them, and stopping people like Don Blood… it’s the best feeling in the world.”

He looked out over the pond, following the girl’s gaze as she did the same. ”Although this feels pretty close.” He said quietly, half-joking; it truly was a beautiful day, and the company he was keeping only improved it further.

Sora glanced back at May, reaching down towards her bag for another piece of candy. ”What about you, May?” He asked, curious about her after talking so much about himself. ”How do you feel about your time spent at UAU so far?”

May Twenty-First

[May Twenty-First]

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May Twenty-First//Artemis

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She really could be a dork at the best of times. Get her talking about heroics or Archery and she was off like a lightning bolt. Or circus arts, although that was a less known aspect of hers, one that wasn’t public knowledge. She was quick to snap the picture and flip the polaroid over so the sun didn’t ruin it. She’d let Sora see before they went their separate ways later. After all, you didn’t snap a picture and NOT show someone the results!

[break][break]

She flicked her camera gently and smiled, “My mum keeps saying I should upgrade to a DSLR or some sort of modern camera. But I’m with you, there’s something about the film grain on these old Polaroids that I just love. It’s kinda muddy and brown sometimes, but I think it shows that the picture is a memory, captured in time and remembered much how we would in our head. That kind of grainy, fuzziness.” She giggled softly and flipped the lens on the camera shut, setting it in her lap and taking a long draw of her tea.

[break][break]

The fact that America was a bit more laid back in regards to heroes was not at all surprising to her. Their culture was entirely different in many ways. Freedom was kind of their thing after all. Why would heroes be restricted either?

[break][break]

“Does that mean heroes are better paid there? Or that those who do it just kind of take more of a focus on the job?” She considered what hero culture here was like. She could name few heroes who didn’t have some sort of side gig. An agency, modeling, a product line…

[break][break]

“It’s funny how you explain the expectations. Because it’s kind of what I love about heroes and the culture surrounding them. They charge in headfirst to save people, but many of them are always smiling. Offering that reassurance and inspiration to those around them. Like beacons of hope.” She said this wistfully, “Silly as it sounds.” She giggled softly and cast a sidelong glance at Sora.

[break][break]

“For what it’s worth, I think you’re totally cool. And I’ve barely even met you.”

[break][break]

And then she proceeded to choke herself out. Good job May, very ladylike. She coughed and hacked until she finally cleared her railway and spat out her line. When he asked if she was ok she was quick to wave a dismissive hand, “I’m fine. Me choking on something is a common occurrence when I get chatting and eating.” It really wasn’t, but she could joke about it. Couldn’t she?

[break][break]

Despite this, she sniped a cookie quickly. Taking a big bite out of it as she listened, nodding in understanding.

[break][break]

“You sound a lot like my uncle. What point is there in media attention if the cost is less focus on what actually matters.” She genuinely valued her uncle’s opinions on the matter. Although she was determined to forge her own path, media or not. If a couple interviews could help her, help more people. Then who was she to say no? Heck, she had an interview with ASTA later that week for that exact reason.

[break][break]

She couldn’t help but smile at the picture and story he told her about Don Blood and the three young girls who were now free to live their lives thanks to him. Sora was definitely the kind of Hero May had looked up to her whole life. She gave a bright smile, “Making up for lost time, that’s a sentiment I can certainly share. But seriously, That’s pretty incredible. I can only imagine what it feels like to know you made such a drastic difference in someone's life. In a way, you’re the reason they get to truly live. How can there be anything better than that? I wish the people in my life could understand that sentiment more sometimes.”

[break][break]

She kept her gaze on the water, just enjoying the serenity of the place. Of the moment. She’d expected relax today, alone. But being with someone else made it all the better.

[break][break]

She took another nibble of the cookie she’d taken and shrugged a little bit, “My time at the school has had it’s ups and downs. I guess it really depends on the day. I’m having a pretty hard time keeping up with all my classmates in our hero classes. And my family is pretty strong-armed trying to convince me to drop out and take a different path. So It can be a bit hard at times.” She looked almost sad for a moment, but quickly replaced it with that vibrant smile of hers.

[break][break]

“But I’m determined to make something of myself. Nothing in life is easy after all. Even if I can only save one person, it’ll be worth it in the end.”

[break][break]

She paused for a long moment to eat the last of her cookie and stretch a little bit, “Gosh, who thought I’d get to sit down and have tea with a real-life pro today. That’s kind of awesome. I really appreciate you giving me the time today.”

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KAY

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[Sora Nakoma]

Sora smiled and nodded in agreement as May noted her own fondness for the older style of camera and its product, her analogy of it being like a memory making a lot of sense to him. She placed the camera on her lap as she took another sip of her tea, listening to him talk about his time spent in America.

At the question of payment, and considered what she had wondered. "I never really thought about the difference in pay too much, but I do think heroes in America tend to focus entirely on their heroism. At least, they usually did while I was living there."

May admitted her own feelings about the way heroes were looked at, and about how impressive she thought it was that so many heroes went about their life-threatening work with smiles to keep people at ease. He nodded again, looking up at the sun through the gaps in the leaves above. "Yeah, definitely. I spoke with an agent in America who thought I could get really popular if I went for a serious, no-nonsense attitude. But I think being more relaxed and letting my own weirdness through works better for me; like you said, heroes should offer reassurance and hope to the people around them; I think being a bit less "grand" helps me be more approachable for civilians. I want people who see me out on patrol to know they can just ask me if they need help, you know?"

Sora paused to take a drink of his tea, only for May's sudden compliment to catch him off guard. Now it was his turn to choke for a second, coughing after he managed to put his tea down without spilling it. Between May's compliment, her giggle, and his near-death experience, Sora's face burned red in embarrassment. "Ack... y-you sure about that?" He asked once he finally stopped coughing, feeling like any possibility of him being "cool" had just flown out the window.

The hero student noted that he reminded her a bit of her uncle, regarding his opinion on the media. Sora rubbed the back of his neck. "Ah, yeah. I've never been good at the whole image aspect of being a hero. My sister's a real pro at that sort of stuff; she loves to make public appearances and use her reputation to get support for different causes. Tried to teach me, but I think that's one area of heroism I'm pretty doomed in."

May smiled her brilliant, infectious smile as he recounted the story of the three girls he had helped save, pointing out how much of a difference he had made in their lives and what it must feel like. He couldn't help but return the smile; she was basically right on all counts. "Yeah... it's nice. Strange, but nice." He admitted. "And I'm sure you'll impact plenty of people just like that."

She went on to share a bit about her experience at school thus far, admitting to falling behind her classmates and confessing that her family was trying to convince her to take up a different path. But Sora could see the determination in her eyes as she gave that smile, and he quietly chuckled. "You've certainly got the perfect attitude for heroism," He assured her. "So long as you keep up that dedication, things'll work out. Maybe not immediately, but I'm sure you'll get there."

May stretched as she finished off the cookie she had taken from his tin, musing about the fact that she was talking to an actual pro hero and thanking him for his time. Sora smiled a bit, but then laid down on the grass beside May with his hands behind his head. "My time's no more valuable than yours. Today I'm just Sora Nakoma, bringer of cookies and choker of tea. I'm enjoying myself as well, May! So thank you, too." He said, looking up at her from his place on the ground.

Sora closed his eyes for a minute, just enjoying the easy day and his wonderful company. And when he opened them, he hummed contently. "So you said your uncle was a hero, right? And now he's a teacher? Does he teach at a hero school or a normal one?" He asked curiously. It felt odd that he had hardly asked anything of May when she was asking him so many things. It was apparently how he was paying her back for buying his tea, but he liked to keep things even. "Ah, what is your hero name, if you don't mind me asking? Have you picked one out yet? Dericho is what I go by."

May Twenty-First

[May Twenty-First]

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May Twenty-First//Artemis

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American heroes focused on heroism. Plain and simple. Which was entertaining coming from the country that was all about freedom and capitalism. But then, culture had changed so much since quirks and heroes had emerged. May should know, she was born the year quirks came into existence, of course she was like three years old at that point so she remembered little of what those times were actually like. For all intents and purposes she’d grown up in this modern society.

[break][break]

“Well, I can certainly respect them for it. Focus is good after all. I’ll have to do some reading on heroes in America some time. Hero culture in general has always been fascinating to me.”

[break][break]

May leaned herself back against the bench behind them. Why they weren’t sitting on it, she didn’t know. Maybe it was because the grass was nice and soft. They were celebrating the greener things in the world today after all. May reached down, stealing yet another cookie while listening to Sora explain how he went ‘against the grain’ in terms of weirdness. It made her smile. The weird ones were always the most interesting, “I think I can understand your reasoning, as much as someone who hasn’t had that experience can anyways.” She muses.

[break][break]

A bit of a grin crossed her lips as he seemed to choke and sputter at the compliment she so casually tossed out at him.

[break][break]

“One thing thou will learn about me is that I always say what I mean. So of course I’m sure about that. There aren’t many pro’s thou can just sit and have a nice cup of tea with, that’s pretty darn cool. And y’know…thou’s awesome quirk.” She tossed him a confident wink and shoved the rest of the cookie in her mouth, chewing happily. She didn’t even know what flavor they were but they were delightful.

[break][break]

“I think a hero trying NOT to make an image for themselves, are the ones who stand out the most. I can respect thee for that. It’s hardly doom. It means you focus on the things that truly matter. At least, in my opinion. Doesn’t mean I’m right, just how I’ve always looked at it. I know so much more about the heroes that haven’t been on the news, than the ones who have been.” She shrugged a little bit.

[break][break]

“Strange, but nice. Do thou still keep contact with them? To see how they’re doing?” She asked curiously. She knew heroes couldn’t keep up with every person they saved. But it felt like these three had been particularly important to Sora, “And maybe I will. I could turn out to be the worst her ever, one never knows until you’re there!” She chuckled softly.

[break][break]

“Isn’t it though? THou’s time is generally spent saving people from the worst days of their lives. My days are spent…in a classroom currently. I’d argue thou’s time is significantly more valuable at the current moment. So the fact that I get to steal an hour of it, is really nice.” She stifled a bit of a giggle at his expense, “Well we certainly share the choking ourselves out trait.” She mused, scooping up one of her sour candies and tossing it in the air, deftly catching it in her mouth.

[break][break]

She looked over at him with those multi-hued eyes of hers, “He was a pro for a while, yes. He actually teaches at UAU! Which can be totally weird at times when he’s scolding me as a teacher, but then helping me calm down as my uncle. Such a weird duality to have him as a teacher and a family member at the same time.” She wrinkled her nose a little bit, it was unclear if she liked or hated that fact.

[break][break]

“Dericho. I’ll have to look that up first chance I get.” She mused, choosing to comment on his name first.

[break][break]

“I don’t mind thee asking. It’s something I’ve thought about since I was little. It’s Artemis. Simple, and to the point. I’m no goddess of the hunt, but I do love nighttime and use a bow as part of mine quirk. So it felt like an apt choice for mine hero name. I mean I could have gone with something crazy like queen death arrow or something dark, but I think hero names should have meaning.” She stretched her arms over her head and pushed herself to her feet, needing to get off the hard ground for a moment.

[break][break]

“What’s the meaning behind thine name? Nickname or…?”

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KAY

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[Sora Nakoma]

Sora nodded when May noted her desire to look into heroism in the USA, respecting her curiosity. ”Well when you do check it out, see if you can find anything on a modern hero named Zip Hop; that’s my sister. And my dad used to work as a hero support specialist back before he moved to Japan to be with my mom.” He explained, proud of his family’s legacy. His mother was also a former top hero before she retired once she went partially deaf, but they were talking about America for the moment.

He blushed a bit as she insisted on her compliment, taking a moment to grab another one of her sour snacks for himself. May asked if he kept in contact with the sisters, and he nodded. ”Ah, yeah. I do! Well, two of them. I haven’t had a chance to talk to the oldest since everything happened, but her sisters tell me she’s doing well. I’ve actually worked with one of them a few times since then; she’s decided to work with heroes to make up for the times she had to help her dad. The youngest I believe just started college. She’s actually expressed an interest in working with me once her schooling’s done since she thinks her Quirk could be super helpful, but her sisters are reluctant to let her get too involved in hero stuff. Not that I can blame them, though. Hope they find a way that makes everyone happy.”

She joked about how she could wind up being really bad, and though he chuckled he just shook his head. No, he had a good feeling about her chances. At the comment about his time, Sora shrugged. ”True, I do spend a lot of my time on duty. But at the moment, I’m not a hero. Just a guy enjoying a beautiful day with an equally lovely lady. And it’s the fact that my work helps make moments like this… little moments of just peace and tranquility… that’s the time I value; the time my hero work allows to be so nice. If that makes any sense, heh.” He hadn’t batted an eye at making his compliment to her; on some level it was because he was caught up in answering her question, but it was also that he saw such a thing as more a statement of fact than anything.

As she tossed one in the air for herself and mentioned both of them choking he laughed. ”Not exactly the sort of common ground most connections are made of, is it?” He joked back as he shook his head in amusement.

May’s face as she explained her uncle’s position amused him, though he had trouble imagining what it would be like to have a family member as a teacher at school. Attending UAU with his sister for a time was odd enough. ”I can’t picture seeing anyone of my family at the head of a classroom I’m in.”

The student resolved to search up his name when she got the chance, which made him a bit embarrassed. He was only really involved in two major cases thus far in his career, both back in America. He doubted she’d be able to find much. But May explained her own hero name, Artemis, and the reasoning behind it before asking him his own. He blinked. “Artemis! I like it! And archery is an interesting skill! Can’t say I know much about it, though. I’ve done some target practice with a blow gun but that’s it. And as for my name… well, a “derecho” is a line of intense and fast-moving wind. Like a directional storm; honestly it doesn’t match my powers anymore. But back before I moved to America, I actually thought my Quirk just gave me super strong breath. It wasn’t until a case in America pushed me to my limits that I discovered the full capacity of my Quirk; actually it was the case involving the sisters we were talking about a minute ago. And well… I like the way the name “Jericho” sounds, so I just altered the spelling a little bit. Hehe. But even though it doesn’t really fit my power anymore, I guess I’m just kind of attached to it.”

Sora glanced over at May as he saw her move out the corner of his eye and saw how she was standing up, and immediately he sat up so that he wasn’t so far below her; he didn’t want to seem like he was trying to catch a glimpse of anything, after all.

As she asked her question, however, something she said caught his attention. He looked up at the girl. “Actually, now that you mentioned it, I never asked you what your Quirk is! You said that it involves your bow?” He asked, curiosity clear in his tone.

May Twenty-First