#faulty writes: tensei iida: holiday series: 23

[faulty-writes]

[ Hello my dear followers and or fans. I present to you, a Tensei series. This was originally going to be a one-shot, but yeah, it ended up being 40+ pages long so I turned it into a series. A Christmas/Holiday series at that. Guess this makes up for the lack of Tensei content on my blog. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the first chapter! I’m tagging @ladycoleigh since I’m sure they’ll appreciate some Tensei content. ]

[ The two of you had been friends since your early days of Yuuei and since Tensei’s abrupt retirement, you have been learning how to be the new leader of Team Idaten and every good leader knows how to throw a holiday party. Unfortunately, shortly after Tensei’s arrival duty calls and he has to find something else to preoccupy his time until you return. ]

A sense of warmth lingered in the air, in addition to the soft festive glow from the twinkling fairy lights that adorned the ceiling, casting a golden radiance over the room and the people who stood in it. Strings of bright green ivory with touches of vibrant red and gold within their small branches decorated the doorways and windows.

The scent of freshly cut pine and cinnamon was strong, and several tables were lined with traditional holiday fare. The succulent aroma of roasted meats and sugar-coated cookies accompanied by the scent of spiced cider created a comforting blend that was usually associated with the festive season.

The gentle hum of holiday music echoed through the joyful chatter between the guests that were seated around the various tables provided, their faces illuminated with merriment. Overall, the room exceeded exactly what you were going for. Enchanting yuletide charm and holiday season magic.

Of course, you had your reasons for trying to impress. After your closest friend, Tensei, was injured by The Hero Killer: Stain, he insisted that you lead Team Idaten. It came as a shock, and thinking about it still filled you with an indescribable rage.

Tensei out of all people didn’t deserve to have such a fate and for his pro-hero career to be abruptly stolen from him. Yeah, maybe those were the risks of being a hero. However, some might argue that death is better than watching your life’s work shatter into nothingness overnight.

Although a bit rough at first, Tensei remained positive throughout the whole ordeal. In addition to trusting you to lead his agency, he entrusted Tenya, his little brother, to carry on his hero name. In that sense, you were almost certain that Tensei only chose you to be leader until you deemed Tenya ready to take over in your stead.

So, in retrospect, it was more of a temporary promotion if anything. Still, you couldn’t deny Tensei, and it wasn’t just because he was your closest friend. There was another reason, but it was one that you didn’t dare speak for fear of ruining what you had created with him over the years.

Yet it seemed that you were constantly faced with moments like these, where love and devotion were highest and begged you to just confess already. Valentine’s Day and Christmas seemed to be primary holidays where this overwhelming feeling was the strongest, yet every year you did nothing.

Apart from fearing that someone else would take him away from you, that is. What a life. Anyways, the reason you had rushed to put together this elegant little shindig, a day before Christmas Eve no less, was because Tensei had thrown a holiday party every year to celebrate his team and let them know he appreciated them.

Furthermore, it allowed the team members who couldn’t make it home for the holiday to at least feel like they had a family at Team Idaten. As such, you wanted to make sure everything was perfect and that your unofficial guest of honor, Tensei, would be amazed when he stepped, or uh, rolled through the doors of his former agency.

When that moment finally occurred, he glanced around the room, taking in every little detail while grinning ear to ear. “Wow, you guys went all out,” he turned to look over his shoulder at Enigma, one of his former sidekicks.

She had a rather unique appearance, with long black hair styled into two braids and straight-cut bangs that rested against her forehead. Her eyes, be them a tad creepy, were oval-shaped and completely blacked-out. No pupil or iris to be seen.

In contrast to her rather dark appearance, she wore a festive dress colored red with a string of lights encircling her body that flashed various hues of green, yellow, and blue. She looked at Tensei and nodded. “That’s awesome!” He declared, looking around the room again. “I can’t believe Y/n organized this,” he said, chuckling softly.

“Hm…” he turned his wheelchair, facing Enigma. “I was stoked when I got the invitation, and I thought-” Well, he thought you would be the first to greet him when he arrived. Then again, he bore the weight of his former agency on your shoulders when he was forced to retire, so it was understandable that you were too busy to greet him.

Still, that wouldn’t stop him from asking “Where is Y/n?” Enigma tilted her head before pointing across the room. Tensei knitted his eyebrows and turned his wheelchair to see you engaged in conversation with someone else. Maybe another hero or the newest addition to the agency that he hadn’t met yet.

Either way, his stomach churned, and the faintest frown spread across his face. The two of you had been friends since your Yuuei days, you shared countless memories and struggles. You helped him pick his hero alias and were the first person to support his idea of creating an agency solely out of sidekicks.

He was grateful to you but never knew how to show you that. But one thing was always true, nothing separated the two of you, at least so far. It was funny to think that he had been more worried about losing you than his own life or career when Stain rendered him...useless.

At least temporarily. But in the end, everything worked out. Well, almost everything. As he stared at you, a longing sigh escaped him. He knew the holiday season was usually filled with miracles, and boy could he use one to finally capture your heart.

“Mmhm, yes, and I-” you paused when you happened to glance across the room and noticed Tensei. Your body stiffened and your heart immediately skyrocketed, pounding against your ribcage erratically. Shivers ran through your body, leaving goosebumps in their wake and your hands feeling clammy.

You tried to steady your breathing which had become shallow and heavy. “E-excuse me,” you said and quickly walked across the room. It was unbefitting for a leader to appear nervous or uncertain, but as far as you were concerned, your feelings for Tensei were well hidden underneath the facade that you two were nothing more than friends.

Taking a deep breath, you flexed your fingers as if trying to get rid of the nerves and smiled at him. “Hey, I’m glad you could make it!” You exclaimed, leaning over to hug him. His embrace, as always, was loving and gentle despite feeling the curve of his muscles as he curled his arms around you.

His musky earthy scent filled your nostrils and reminded you of the crisp outdoors. You hoped that he couldn’t feel the fastened pace of your heart, but even if he did, you could always make up some excuse for it. Even if you detested lying to the person your heart yearned for.

“Sorry I haven’t kept in contact, it’s been a little crazy lately,” you explained as you leaned back and crouched down, laying your hand on one of his armrests. It was then that you examined his outfit more closely. He was wearing a sharp, tailored blue suit accompanied by a white shirt underneath it.

This created a striking contrast to his overall polished but casual appearance. A silk tie colored midnight blue hugged the collar of his shirt, and polished dress shoes adorned his feet that remained on the footrests of his wheelchair and completed his ensemble while instilling a touch of the famous Iida charm along with it.

He smiled at you, that same gentle smile you had fallen in love with over the years. “That’s alright,” he replied, his eyes beaming with happiness. “Actually…I know this is short notice but…” he paused and rubbed the side of his neck.

“Would you like to join my family for Christmas Eve dinner?” You tilted your head, surprised Tensei hadn’t asked you that sooner. “My mom’s been asking about you, and she’s also a little worried given how busy you’ve been lately.” You couldn’t help but smile. Yeah, that was Mrs.Iida for you.

Although you had gotten to know his family well over the years, it was a surprise that they hadn’t proposed that you marry Tensei. “Sure, it would be an honor,” you replied before the sound of the front doors and a loud “Yeeeeah!” drew your attention away.

The first one that caught your eye was a short boy with a messy crop of green hair, freckles colored his cheeks, and he was wearing the standard gray Yuuei uniform. Next to him was a familiar face, that of Tenya. He looked as he usually did, with his hair combed and neat and polished glasses on his face.

He, too, was wearing his Yuuei uniform. Between them was a face you hadn’t seen before, however. A young girl with long, white hair that was pulled back and separated into pigtails. Her eyes, colored bright red, were wide, and a small amount of fear or maybe social anxiety filled them.

You quickly assumed she wasn’t used to attending parties thus she was a bit shy when it came to crowds. In addition, you noticed that a small horn poked out of the right side of her forehead. She was wearing a fuzzy red Santa hat, which matched the red dress with the white trim she wore.

On her legs were black tights and white trim also lined the boots she was wearing. She glanced around the room once more cautiously stepping behind the boy with green hair. “Hey, it’s o-okay Eri,” he said, looking down at her.

She returned his gaze but said nothing. “I agree!” Chimed in Tenya, his hand chopping through the air at rapid speed. “There is very little to fear, for you are surrounded by the best-known heroes!” He announced, causing a few heads to turn his way and Tensei to chuckle.

“That’s my little brother for you,” he said in a soft tone, and a smile on his face. It was nice to see that he was proud of Tenya regardless. “I-it is?” Eri asked, looking at him but seconds later, she jolted involuntarily when Hizashi laid his hand on her head, affectionately ruffling her hair.

Despite being raised by several of the teachers, plus Mirio and Izuku for a few years she was still getting used to a kind touch. “There’s nothing to worry about!” He announced with a big wide grin, letting his hand fall to his side.

“It’s true, you’re surrounded by the coolest kats. Don’t worry now, Aizawa put me in charge, ya dig?! I wouldn’t let anything happen to ya!” he said, trying his best to encourage Eri. Although he hadn’t spent as much time with her as Mirio, Izuku, Shota, or Toshinori had.

He continued to try and make a connection with her. She needed as much comfort and love as she could get, and well, he couldn’t just sit aside and ignore her. Still, she seemed to have enough sense to believe his words.

“Mm, o-okay,” she replied but only grew more anxious when you walked over with Tensei rolling close behind you. “Hey Tenya,” you greeted happily, and he bowed in respect. “Good evening, Y/n!” He declared, once again chopping his hand through the air.

“Thank you for the invitation, we are very honored to attend such a festive celebration!” He stated. “Oh yeah?” you replied before glancing at the green-haired boy who looked just as nervous as the little one. His posture stiffened and he bowed.

“H-hello!” His voice fluctuated and that stutter didn’t help. “M-my name is Izuku Midoriya! I’m in Y-Yuuei’s hero course, C-class 3-A!” he announced, and your eyes sparkled with recognition. “Oh yeah, I’ve heard of you.” Turning to Tenya you said, “Is this the Midoriya you talked about before?” He nodded.

“Yes! Midoriya has been a wonderful example of a hero student and has inspired me to become a hero I can be proud of!” He announced, causing Izuku to flush furiously. “I-Iida I d-don’t think I mean…I j-just try my b-best and…” you chuckled.

“Well, sounds like you two are good friends,” you commented, and Tenya turned to Izuku and Eri. “This is Y/n, my brother’s closest friend and leader of Team Idaten,” he explained and felt some amusement when Izuku’s eyes lit up.

“W-what? N-no way, y-you’re the leader of…I h-have so many q-questions!” He blurted out, causing you to snicker. “I’d be glad to answer your questions…another time, tonight I’d like you to enjoy yourselves as guests of Team Idaten,” you said before looking at Tenya.

“Also, you forgot to mention one thing,” he looked at you with knitted eyebrows, he was certain he had not forgotten anything when he introduced you. “I’m only the temporary leader of Team Idaten, when Tenya is ready, he’ll become the new leader. Until then I’m going to be pushing him,” you said, punching him in the shoulder.

“He’ll get there, don’t worry,” Tensei chimed in, rolling closer to his brother to lay his hand on his arm. Tenya stiffened, it was still a little hard for him to see his brother in this state, even years after the fact. He took a deep breath and laid his hand over Tensei’s.

“T-thank you, brother,” he replied and while they were having a family moment, you looked at Hizashi. “So, Aizawa couldn’t make it?” you asked, and he shrugged. “Nah,” he said, waving his leather-covered hand through the air.

It seemed that he didn’t want or didn’t take the time to dress up for the party considering he was wearing his usual hero attire, complete with directional speaker encircling his neck. “Said he was busy with something else, so I’m covering for him,” he explained.

“Hm, okay so…” you glanced down at Eri who shivered when she locked eyes with you briefly and shyly looked away. The corner of your lip curled into a smile. She reminded you of yourself, at least until you met Tensei who helped you come out of your shell.

You placed your hands on your knees and leaned toward her even though she remained hiding behind Izuku. “Hi,” you said in a soft and friendly voice, but she continued to look away. “What’s your name?” you asked. Yes, you heard it earlier, but might as well be polite.

“U-um…I…” She latched onto her lip, chewing it nervously. “This is E-Eri!” Izuku said as he placed his hand gently on her back. “It’s okay, Y-Y/n is a hero too!” he reminded her. “Eri is a wonderful name, a pretty name for a pretty girl,” you said, hoping your compliment would butter her up enough to at least speak a few words to you.

“Uh, mmhm,” she replied. Well…that was better than nothing. “Heh,” you continued to smile and slowly stood up before looking at Hizashi again. “Well, I hope you guys enjoy th-” You paused when you heard someone calling your name.

Sighing, you muttered, “What now?” under your breath. Turning around, you saw Onemu Shiny, another member of your team running up to you. She was a short woman with equally short hair that fell to her ears in gentle curls.

She also had two distinct horns on the sides of her head. Her usual cheongsam mini dress and domino mask were replaced with a tight-fitting, maroon-colored dress. The front of it was adorned with sparkles that reflected the light in the room.

The air around her seeped with thick tension and you heard her catch her breath before speaking. “Explosions are occurring in the city district of Naruhata, several are injured, and four separate villains are on the loose.” That thick tension increased, almost suffocating you and silence fell over the room.

Your heart raced and the weight of everyone’s eyes fell on you, the leader. The one that would now call the shots, and how the operation of this mission would go. You glanced at Tensei, who was wearing a stern expression, Tenya who stood next to him mirrored it.

There was no longer any merry chatter echoing, and several guests were looking at you with interest. There was a mixture of curiosity and judgment in their gazes, and it caused a small amount of anger to brew inside of you. Who were they to judge you anyway?

The corner of your lip turned up, and a disgruntled smirk followed. It was amusing to think that before you would have cowered to others like them, those who thought you couldn’t properly fulfill your duties as a leader. But just like back then, you were ready to show everyone you had what it took.

Your hands curled into fists, and a sense of determination washed over you like a violent wave attempting to sink a ship in the middle of a thunderstorm at sea. Then your voice pierced through the air, “Team Idaten!” Like a well-oiled machine, the members of your team formed three lines in front of you.

Each line represented their role on the team. The first line was those that would stay at the control center of the agency, monitoring everyone’s actions and relaying messages and instructions back and forth between Team Two.

Team Two, as you can imagine, were the members that made up the front line. They would be the ones facing, fighting, and apprehending the villains in question. On occasion, they’d help Team Three with support and damage control.

Team Three mainly specialized in evacuation and tending to the injured, however. A sense of pride filled you. In moments like these, you were reminded how much you loved being a leader, working together as a team, and most of all, saving people.

After receiving instructions, the teams hurried to their designated stations, and you were about to run off as well. But a strong hand pulled you back causing you to stumble in response. You turned, ready to yell at the one who dared hold you back.

Instead, you latched onto your lip forcing your momentary anger down when you realized it was Tensei. His eyes locked with yours before speaking. “Take care of yourself,” he said before looking at Hizashi. “Do you want to take your students on this mission?” he asked, and you glanced at the man in question.

“Why yes! I believe this would be a wonderful opportunity to display the heroic skills that our prestigious school has taught us! We are licensed heroes, and it would be an honor to work alongside Team Idaten!” Tenya announced much to your and Hizashi’s dislike.

So much for being guests and enjoying a relaxing festive evening. He placed his hand on his hips, sighing. “Yeah yeah, I guess that’d be alright,” he replied before looking at Tenya and Izuku. “But don’t ya guys mess up, ya dig!?” He shouted, his voice vibrating off the walls and causing the tables and chairs to tremble.

The guests immediately covered their ears, hissing in response to the hero’s quirk. However, Hizashi seemed to ignore this given he was far too used to people, mostly students, reacting to his quirk in such a manner. Instead, he pressed his hands against his chest. “I’ll supervise ya alongside Y/n,” he stated with a large grin.

Tenya nodded while Izuku looked uncertain. “Well,” he said, placing his hand on top of Eri’s head. She looked terrified, more than likely because she didn’t want to be left alone in a strange place. “What…a-about Eri? W-we can’t just leave her an-” Tensei slowly inched over to the two of them and looked at Eri with a smile.

However, that terrified look remained on her face, and he partly understood why. Tenya had shared a few details about her previously and he knew that while it was okay to be afraid of the world, you relied on heroes to make it just a little less scary.

Like many others, Tensei, despite being retired, had the heart of a hero and even now, it continues to shine fiercely. At that moment, he wanted to be Eri’s hero and if he made her feel welcome and safe, then he had done his job. “I’ll watch her,” he insisted, and Eri looked at him in disbelief.

“B-but…M-Mr. Deku…” she said looking up at him, but he smiled and crouched down beside her. “It’s okay, I-Iida-san used to be a h-hero. One of the g-greatest heroes, and y-you can trust him!” Tensei nodded and grinned as he extended his hand out to Eri.

“What do you say? We can have fun together until my little brother and Midoriya come back,” he suggested. Eri once again looked at Izuku before stepping toward the man in the wheelchair. She looked at it curiously. “W-why are you in a chair?” Tensei kept a smile on his face and rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling softly.

“That’s kind of a long story,” he said and one he didn’t feel like sharing, at least not to her. There’s a chance it would frighten her and well, he couldn’t have that. Not when he was trying to make her feel safe and gain her trust for the time being.

So instead, he grinned. “Hey, I have an idea!” He said, rolling his wheelchair back an inch or two. “Why don’t I give you a tour of the agency? You can sit on my lap while I wheel you around, it’s the best seat in the house!” He joked, smiling yet again.

She tensed up a bit, unsure of his request until she felt a gentle hand on her back. “Huh?” She turned, seeing Izuku smiling down at her. “Go a-ahead,” he encouraged her and though she bit her lip in response, she stepped forward and awkwardly sat on Tensei’s lap, her hands fisted into the front of his suit.

“Don’t worry, we’ll have an awesome time,” he assured her, and you couldn’t help but smile. Tensei was very kind, and he extended that kindness to strangers and children alike. “Ready?” He asked, keeping one arm draped over her shoulders while he turned his wheelchair around and began rolling toward the nearest hallway.

Eri looked at Izuku who waved her goodbye as she left the room with Tensei. In a way, it was probably best that she be separated from the party given her shy nature. “Alright, come on,” you said, clapping your hands. “There are people in danger, we cannot waste another moment,” you instructed and Izuku tensed up.

“R-right!” he exclaimed, and Tenya nodded. “Apologies! Let us proceed without delay!” he stated and Hizashi grinned as he walked past them. “Time to get to work, kiddos!” He announced. Crime stopped for no one, and villains didn’t care what day of the year it was, they would do what they pleased.

Fortunately, their rein was about to come to a screeching halt thanks to the efforts of you, your team, and of course, the extra help provided by Hizashi, Izuku, and Tenya. “Heh, sorry this must all be new to you, right?” Eri paused and looked at him, a small pout decorating her lips.

“Have you ever been to an agency before? Heh, they’re pretty cool. I remember when I first opened mine.” A smile came to his face when he thought about you. “I had doubts about it, I spent a lot of time worrying if I’d be a good leader, but Y/n always put those doubts to rest,” he commented, getting a dreamy look in his eye.

“I don’t know what I would have done withou-” he paused when he noticed the look Eri was giving him. “Oh right, sorry,” he chuckled. “This is about you,” he continued rolling down the hallway which, much like the main room where the party was occurring, was lit up with festive lights that flickered.

The sound of the holiday music was faded but still audible. “Hm…” he came to a stop in the hallway. “What can we do…” he needed something to distract Eri and tapped his lips a few times before inspiration struck him. “I got it!” He announced, pointing his finger toward the ceiling.

He grinned at Eri who had gotten startled by his sudden outburst. “Why don’t you write a letter to Santa?” he chuckled. “I’m sure that’ll pass the time until everyone returns,” he suggested. Eri’s reaction wasn’t what he expected, however.

She frowned and looked away from him. “I…I don’t know what I want…” she said, even years after being free from Kai’s clutches she remained with emotional scars and those emotional scars often made her reluctant to receive gifts or to ask for anything.

Tensei furrowed his brow, but after a moment, he smiled. “Yeah, that’s hard to decide sometimes, especially when you feel like you don’t want or need anything,” he commented, placing his hand on top of her head. She trembled and looked at him even as he continued to smile at her.

“But sometimes you have to remind yourself that you deserve a gift too,” he said before lowering his hand. “Santa is the one person who won’t judge you no matter what you ask for,” Eri knitted her eyebrows. “…Santa?” She repeated. “Yup! I’m sure he visited you last year,” or so he assumed.

“He visits everyone and leaves them gifts, and I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you wrote him a letter telling him what you wanted,” he said as he resumed rolling to the end of the hallway where your office was. After carefully opening the door and rolling inside, the room was illuminated with light and a sense of nostalgia washed over him.

He couldn’t help but look around, and though it may sound selfish, he was happy you hadn’t changed anything. You could have done anything with it, painted the walls an entirely different color, or replaced all the furniture. Instead, you left it alone.

He wondered if that was because this used to be his office and you didn’t have the heart to change anything. All the walls were white, except the furthest left one which was adorned with framed calligraphy of the Team Idaten logo which resembled what Tensei looked like in his hero suit encased in a circle.

Underneath it, the words ‘Representative: Turbo Hero Ingenium’ were displayed. “You can sit at the desk, I’ll go find some paper and pens,” he replied, Eri hesitantly slid off his lap and cautiously approached the large wooden desk that appeared polished and had a stack of arranged documents on the far-right corner.

It rested in front of a large window that overlooked the bustling city below which was illuminated against the dark evening sky, causing various colored hues to peer in through the window. The smell of freshly cut pine and cinnamon was now replaced with a faint aroma of green tea.

The source of this was the small hot water dispenser, with delicate teacups, that sat on a low table in the right corner of the room. Zabuton cushions surrounded said table and its main purpose was for last-second meetings, usually informal.

Most of the time you found yourself using it to get a moment of peace when you felt overwhelmed by your workload and needed some freshly brewed tea to keep going. Eri carefully pushed the chair back and climbed onto it, laying her hands on the cool surface.

The sound of several drawers opening and closing echoed through the room as Tensei searched through them. He managed to find a few blank pieces of paper, and while he had found some pens, upon second thought, crayons would be more appropriate for Eri to use.

“Ah!” He exclaimed when he finally found some buried at the bottom of one of the drawers. Although they were broken in half, they were still usable, and he smiled before placing the items on his lap and rolling over to the desk.

He placed the papers down before sliding one in front of her and placing the crayons on top of it. He offered her a smile in response to her confused expression. “Mm…” she looked down and grabbed a red crayon, tapping it absentmindedly against the paper.

“Heh,” Tensei continued to smile, and waited a few minutes for her to begin writing but alas, she only wrote ‘Mr. Santa,’ and nothing else. He assumed she still didn’t know what she wanted to ask for this year. “How about I write a letter too?” he suggested, maybe if she saw him writing one it would inspire her.

He smiled and took another piece of paper before grabbing a blue crayon. “Hm,” he tapped it against his lips a few times, he knew what he wanted but how could he write that when Eri was watching him so intensely? Then again, honesty was best.

If he didn’t wish from the bottom of his heart, how could he be a good example for her? The only problem was how to convey what he wanted on paper…to Santa. Well, the only way to find out was to do it. So, without delay, he began writing his letter.

[ Chapter II ]

[faulty-writes]

[ Hello fans and or followers. I present Chapter Four of my Tensei Holidays series. Yes, this was meant to be a holiday post, but couldn’t get it out in time. But regardless, I hope all of you enjoy it! You can find the other chapters by searching this tag on Tumblr or you can find Chapter One by clicking this link. ]

[ Despite your wishes, after dinner Mr. Iida manages to pull you into a conversation regarding the wedding. But you can’t go through with it, and end up running out of the Iida Estate in a panic. After a short conversation with Tenya, you finally have a moment alone with Tensei, but things don’t exactly go as planned. ]

There was a short relief when dinner finally ended, and despite your desire to excuse yourself, Mr. Iida insisted on discussing wedding plans in one of the many tatami rooms the Iida Estate had. You grumbled, curling your hands against your thighs as you sat on the zabuton cushion that was situated in front of the table. 

Mr. Iida sat across from you and Tensei was sitting next to you, his wheelchair folded and tucked away in the corner of the room. However, Mr. Iida’s words rang deaf to your ears as your mind became overwhelmed with more questions than answers.

Particularly how you could possibly get a moment alone with Tensei before this situation escalated to the point where neither of you could prevent it. “Y/n?” Tensei asked, but you failed to respond until he nudged you with his elbow or rather the engine attached to his elbow. Regardless, it caught your attention.

“Hm?” You looked at him, eyebrows knitted, and face contorted with curiosity and confusion. “Heh,” he smiled, even though the news his father shared at dinner came as a surprise he was happy. His mother always talked about the two of you being together and he felt so honored that he was going to be your future husband.

He glanced at you, noting that the expression on your face wasn’t what an ideal spouse should look like. Then again, he knew it was a lot to take in at once. He reached over, laying his hand over yours. His sudden touch caused you to jump and snap your head in his direction.

He couldn’t help but chuckle at your reaction. “I know it’s a lot to take in at once, but what do you think?” Frankly, you had no idea what he was referring to and to make matters worse, you could feel Mr. Iida’s stare burning a hole through you. 

Maybe you could just say you thought everything was fine, but you had already lied to Tensei enough. “Uh, I…think…” you tried to reply. “I think that…” you latched onto your lip and stood up frantically. “I…I need some air! Excuse me!” You said, bowing quickly before rushing out the room, leaving Tensei confused, and his father mildly irritated. 

As you barreled down the hallway, you surprised Mrs. Iida who was sitting with Tenya in the parlor drinking some after-dinner tea. She gasped when you ran by her and nearly dropped her cup, but Tenya grabbed it before it could spill. You didn’t bother stopping to apologize and continued toward the foyer and out the front door. 

Once he had ensured his mother was okay, he informed her he was going to inquire what had caused your rather unusual behavior. The cold chill of the December air was a welcomed consequence as you paced back and forth on the veranda.

Eventually, you needed to go back inside and discuss…what were you even discussing, wedding plans? Well, there wouldn’t be a wedding once you had a word with Tensei. But how would you even explain that you found out that he liked someone because you happened to fish his letter out of your trashcan?

Why would he even throw something like that away in your trashcan? It made little sense, and he could have at least made the effort to rip it up before throwing it away. You sighed in frustration and slammed your hands against the railing of the veranda before leaning over to rub your forehead, a headache was coming on for sure.

You took a deep breath, watching it evaporate before looking up at the sky. It was painted white and with the temperature continuing to drop, you could only assume it would snow. You lowered your head, another sigh passing your lips.

“What am I even doing?” It was a question that normally would remain unanswered, but your head snapped back up when you heard someone say, “That’s a valid inquiry.” You twirled on your feet, and out of instinct presumed a defensive posture.

Tenya stood with his arms crossed and a serious expression enveloped his features, and while he wasn’t nearly as intimidating as his father, a sense of authority still seeped from his person. “Oh...” your shoulders slumped. “Tenya,” you said, now pressing your back against the railing.

“You surprised me,” he didn’t find your words amusing and stepped toward you. “As did your rather unusual behavior when you crossed through the parlor, Mother nearly spilled her hot beverage,” he informed you. “Uh,” you rubbed the side of your neck, “sorry about that I just…” your eyes danced back and forth.

“I just needed some air,” might as well use the same excuse twice. He cocked an eyebrow at you. “Is there something troubling you?” he asked, continuing to glance at you suspiciously. “Are you perhaps anxious regarding the wedding?” Before you could stop yourself, another long and dramatic sigh came.

“I…really don’t want to talk about the wedding Tenya,” you sternly said before turning your back to him and looking at the driveway. He knitted his eyebrows and boldly closed the distance between the two of you. Although your back remained facing him, you tensed up knowing he was now towering over you.

“I am afraid I do not understand. Do you not harbor feelings of affection for Tensei?” His words made you tremble and for a moment, your heart fluttered with fear. Did Tenya pick up that you had feelings for Tensei through the years? Maybe you were being more obvious than you thought. 

But if that were true, then Tensei must have noticed as well. Then again, while he was intellectual in tactical strategies and heroics, you weren’t sure just how much of that intelligence extended to things such as being able to read a person’s body language and actions.

You latched onto your lip and pinched the bridge of your nose, debating if you should confess that you knew that Tensei had feelings for someone else. But it wouldn’t be right, this was your problem and you needed to be the one to figure out the solution.

Then again, maybe you could try being vague, and give him a little information but not everything. “Why would I when Tensei-” You paused when you heard a creak and looked to see the devil himself rolling past the front door. “Oh, there you are!” He said with a bright and happy grin.

“I was a little worried when you ran off like that,” his glance shifted to Tenya. “I’m glad you caught up to them,” he said, and Tenya nodded. “Their behavior was quite strange, and I sought to inquire why they were acting as such,” he explained, and he was talking as if you weren’t there. 

“Yes well…” you stepped in between the brothers. “If you don’t mind Tenya…I’d like to have a word with Tensei about the wedding alone,” you said, glaring at him. While a bit perturbed, he nodded. “Very well, I do hope it’s a…pleasant conversation,” you raised your eyebrow at the way he spoke. 

While it was understandable that he didn’t want his brother’s feelings hurt, personal matters were to be settled between the respective parties without third-party assistance. Still, you thought it best to remain quiet and once Tenya had left, you turned to Tensei. Your heart pounding, and your stomach twisting. 

Nerves aside, you managed to speak. “I…I can’t go through with it,” Tensei’s eyes widened, and his chest swelled with a painful ache. “W-what do you mean? Of course, you can!” he said, trying to be as positive as he usually was. You curled your hands into fists, shaking your head. 

“Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do!” you hissed in reply. He did that when he asked you to take over as the leader of Team Idaten. You insisted that you couldn’t, that you didn’t know the first thing about running a team. But there was that positive nature of his, lifting you up and encouraging you. 

Sure, it worked back then, but it wouldn’t work now. “...I…” you slapped your thighs in frustration and Tensei continued to frown. “I was just trying to-” his words were muffled by your growling. “Trying to what? How can you even accept this?!”

Not only did his parents spring it on both of you by surprise, but he just went along with it as if his feelings for the mysterious other person didn’t matter. He knitted his eyebrows, not entirely understanding your question.

He tilted his head and inched closer to you, the wooden floor squeaking underneath the weight of his wheelchair. “What do you mean?” He asked before chuckling. “What the hell is so funny?!” You demanded, almost hating when he treated serious situations with humor.

He remained quiet and turned his head to look at the white-blanketed sky. He could feel goosebumps forming across his arms because of the chill in the air, but it almost seemed insignificant in comparison to the warmth of his smile.

“My dad asked me about marriage the other day,” you knitted your eyebrows. Wait...Mr. Iida brought up marriage to him? You felt a small tinge of guilt course through your heart. Did that mean his father saw you as worthy marriage material?

You swallowed thickly, waiting for him to continue his story but after a few seconds, decided to urge him on. “And?” You asked. “And…” he paused and rolled closer, taking your hand. “He mentioned you,” your eyes widened, and any words eluded you at the moment.

“I didn’t think that he’d…ask you on my behalf, but you don’t seem that excited,” he noted, the smile fading from his face. You glanced away and pulled your hand from his, taking a step back. “I-I’m not,” you confessed, feeling your heart break all over again.

It was like an enormous weight on your chest, ceasing your ability to breathe and tension to build in the air. Judging by the look on Tensei’s face, his heart had also broken when those words left your lips. But why, he loved someone else, didn’t he? 

He shook his head slightly, and you looked away when you saw the faintest bit of tears welling up in the corner of his eyes reflecting the glow from the lanterns that hung along the ceiling of the veranda. “Why?” He asked, his voice slightly cracked, and it only added to the guilt that made your knees ready to buckle. 

Your throat tightened, and you tried to fight back your tears. Wiping your eyes with the back of your hand, you opened your mouth to speak but again your words were lost now. You cleared your throat, and reached inside your blazer, pulling out the folded letter. Tensei looked at it with a furrowed brow. 

“What is…that?” He asked, pointing a lazy finger at it before a few stray tears fell down his cheeks. You sighed and opened it before presenting it to him again. He leaned forward, trying to read it in the dim light and his eyes widened when he realized what it was.

“Oh wow, heh…” he nervously chuckled and rubbed the back of his head. “I…didn’t know you’d find that,” you narrowed your eyes. “You threw it in the trashcan of my office,” you replied before sniffling and wiping your eyes again.

“Why would I marry you when you have feelings for someone else!?” You exclaimed, stomping your foot against the floor while simultaneously shoving the letter into his face. “Huh?” Before he could say anything, you turned to walk down the ramp and toward the driveway.

“Y/n wait!” he replied, the letter falling from his hand, but you were intent on climbing into your car and going home. That is until you heard a powerful and distinctive roar. Subconsciously you knew what it was but turned around only to see Tensei barreling down the ramp at turbo speed.

His arms stretched out to his sides and the engines that protruded out of his elbows aided in his speed. You always thought Tensei’s propulsion jets were useful and that controlling them required skill. You recalled how he would easily fly into the air, scale buildings, and perform with precise precision when it came to his quirk.

After years of retirement, one would think he’d be rusty, and this was confirmed the moment he smacked into you. A loud cry left your lips at the force of him hitting you, and unlike Tensei, you couldn’t fathom how to react to the sudden moment. 

Your hands didn’t make any attempt to grab anything that may have helped cushion your fall, but it was just as well considering his arms wrapped around you. His wheelchair hit the driveway and bounced a few times before scraping across the pavement and finally coming to a stop.

Tensei cushioned your fall to the ground, and the sleeves of his shirt got torn as a result. But that meant very little to him, all he knew at this moment was that the fear of you leaving meant that everything the two of you had created would be gone. 

“Ah! Tensei!” you snapped, pushing against his chest. “Are you insane, what kind of stunt was that?! You could have hurt yourself!” you yelled, not caring about the volume of your voice. “Are you looking to get more paralyzed!? Is that what you want?!” you clenched your jaw. 

“Sometimes you are just so…” What was even the right word to use? “So irresponsible!” Digging your nails into his chest, you continued to yell. “What is the person you love going to think?!” You ignored the way he knit his eyebrows; he couldn’t play dumb now.

“I can’t marry someone who’s already in love with-” he leaned down, his face inches from yours. Once he saw that he had your attention, his features softened although he was still angry. How could you think that he was in love with someone else when it was clear that you were the only person for him? 

He ignored the snowflakes that began to fall from the sky. If he didn’t say this now, then he’d never get another chance. “The only person I’ve ever been in love with is you.” As expected, you froze, processing the information he had just spoken with the information you had assumed to be true. 

You shook your head, that couldn’t be. He had to be lying, pulling some kind of prank on you but that stern expression shining in his eyes said otherwise. Not to mention that still burning sense of leadership that surrounded him like a vice and shone like a beacon calling you home.

“I wrote that letter to help Eri, but the person I was talking about was you, Y/n,” he explained with a smile. “We’ve been through everything together. Do you think I could fall in love with anyone else?” He replied, and your eyes widened, yet at the same time, your irises shrunk as if they had just been exposed to a burst of light.

Uncontrollable chuckles escaped while your eyes glistened with a silent reservoir of tears that threatened to spill over. Tensei frowned when he saw this and although most of his body weight was on top of you, he slowly removed his arms from around you and used one arm to support himself.

Then he reached up to cup the side of your face. “Please don’t cry,” he said, “smiles are the only way to express happiness.” His pearly whites shined as the snow continued to gather against the ground around you. Somehow that was the stick that broke the dam and hot tears flooded down your cheeks like a rapid river.

“T-Tensei I…” you sniffled, and the cold air stung your wet cheeks. Words were useless and you found yourself wrapping your arms around him, longing for his warmth. The hand that was cupping your face now lay pressed against the ground beneath you.

Despite the tears that continued to flow, you smiled as you pressed your forehead against his. “I’m so relieved,” you admitted, your voice soft and slightly broken, but you were happy. Yes, you would probably look back and reflect on your assumptions that he was in love with someone else as a moment of…stupidity. 

Being honest and direct was always best, which is why a silent agreement lingered in the air when you pulled away. You reached up, tracing the outline of his face with your fingers and a sense of purpose. Your eyes meet his gaze with a mutual understanding, and you lean in.

The world went silent around you, and the heat of your drawing breath danced with Tensei’s creating a space of warmth as your lips met. Like a whirlwind, the kiss started with a calm front before a spark ignited, signaling a shared desire and the lustful caress of tongues.

Like the most succulent mouth-watering candy, his flavor-filled you, driving you to dive further into this moment of passion and love. Finally crossing the threshold of friendship and into a new and exciting territory. The sound of rushed footsteps caused the two of you to part and your desperate pants filled the air.

“What happened here?” Mr. Iida’s voice came, obviously alarmed by why the two of you were on the ground. He also happened to spot Tensei’s wheelchair a few feet away, folded and collapsed. Mrs. Iida laid her hand on her husband’s shoulder and stood beside him.

“We heard a commotion and-” her words halted when she looked at the unusual position Tensei and yourself were in. “Oh my…” She replied, trying to hide her pink-hued cheeks, although you weren’t sure if that was from the cold surroundings or the fact that she was flushing.

Tenya was the last one to speak after properly analyzing the situation. “I see!” he suddenly exclaimed, making you cringe as you waited in anticipation for his answer. “Your unusual behavior was driven by the desire to have a scheduled secluded moment of affection!” he concluded.

“That is rather…interesting,” he commented, ceasing his rapid hand-chopping. You could barely believe what you were hearing, but it was as good of an excuse as any to follow. “However, it seemed to have resulted in a rather inconvenient position. Do you require assistance standing, brother?” You looked at Tensei who laughed in response.

“Guess we did get a little carried away, sorry about that,” he said, and you pondered if any of his family members would notice or ask what happened to the sleeves of his shirt. Luckily, they didn’t or they were polite enough not to ask about it as Tenya assisted Tensei back into his wheelchair with the help of his father.

Without Tensei’s body against yours, the chill of the snowy air hit you like a brick. “Why don’t we go inside and brew some tea for you?” Mrs. Iida suggested when she noticed you trembling. You nodded and allowed her to escort you inside while Tenya followed suit with Tensei.

Once you were sitting in the foyer, Mrs. Iida wrapped a blanket around your shoulders. You sighed in contentment as you held a cup of warm matcha tea in your palms. Tensei was sitting next to you, and Mr. Iida was across the table, eager to resume the conversation you were having prior. 

It was still overwhelming, but it’s not like the Iida’s were strangers to you. Plus, you were marrying the man you had known for years and who held mutual feelings for you. Although you had no plans to retire from being a Pro Hero nor step down as the leader of the Idaten Agency.

Your promise to Tensei was to only pass on leadership to Tenya when he was good and ready. Until then, you’d keep doing what you were doing. Although Mr. Iida didn’t favor this, he ultimately abided by your wishes, if anything, to prevent the Idaten Agency and the Iida family legacy from dying along with it.

Your stomach was overwhelmed with butterflies by the time everything was discussed, or almost everything. While guests, food, music, and the like were agreed upon. The location and date for the wedding remained up in the air, but that could be addressed later.

A yawn escaped you, and you lazily rubbed your eyes. What a long and emotionally exhausting day it was. “Hm?” Tensei looked at you and laid his hand on your shoulder. “Getting tired?” He asked, and you responded with a nod.

“I guess planning does take a lot out of you,” he chuckled and looked at his father. “I’d like Y/n to stay the night,” while his request was out of his selfish desires, it was also evident that the roads were covered in a blanket of snow and he didn’t want to risk you driving in such dangerous weather, especially at this hour of the night. 

Mr. Iida narrowed his eyes; he was strongly against allowing an unmarried couple to sleep under the same roof because of his traditional ways. However, his wife spoke up, “Perhaps you can make an exception for tonight,” she suggested.

“Y/n can sleep in the guest room down the hall from our bedroom,” you raised your eyebrow, finding her words unusual. But more than likely she just wanted to ensure that you wouldn’t try and sneak to Tensei’s room in the middle of the night and vice versa.

Silence fell over the room as Mr. Iida contemplated. “Very well,” he said standing. “We will decide the date and location of the wedding later,” you swallowed hard, once again feeling a burst of butterflies erupt in your stomach. You turned to Tensei, who while surprised as well, shrugged.

“Maybe we could get married on the last day of the year?” he suggested, chuckling. You took a deep breath, trying to calm the uneasiness continuing in your stomach. “Right,” you replied before Mrs. Iida smiled and motioned you to stand up. 

“Isn’t this exciting?” She asked, cupping your hands. “Heh,” you offered her a smile and looked at Tensei while his father crossed his arms. “I guess, I’ll see you tomorrow?” He said, and your heart raced in anticipation when he smiled. You nodded. “Goodnight,” you said before Mrs. Iida escorted you out of the room. 

“I’m sure we have a spare set of sleeping attire for you,” she said as she turned down a hallway lined with several rooms. Despite knowing the vast majority of the Iida Estate’s layout, you only previously imagined what it would be like to live there.

After the marriage was official, you assumed Tensei’s parents would insist you move in, which would be the proper thing to do. But still, even if that happened you couldn’t imagine yourself getting used to the large amount of space and endless rooms.

“Here we are,” Mrs. Iida announced as she slid open the door to reveal the guest room. The flooring was hidden by tatami mats and a futon laid directly on them. In the center of the room was a chabudai, which sat low and had zabuton cushions surrounding it. 

Along the outside of the room was a narrow veranda that overlooked the garden. Overall, the room conveyed a sense of tradition and simplicity. You stepped inside it, looking around before turning back to Mrs. Iida. “It’s lovely, thank you,” she nodded and reached for the door.

“I’ll be back shortly with the sleeping attire,” she informed you before sliding said door closed. You smiled and took a deep breath. To think that by the end of the year, you’d be married. It was a strange feeling, and you pondered how many of the guests you suggested for the wedding would show up.

If anything, your team members would likely drop everything on the day of the wedding to help set it up. Of course, the wedding would also require a lot of last-minute planning. Not that you minded considering you were marrying your best friend. After Mrs. Iida returned with the sleeping wear you nestled yourself in for the night.

Like before, you lay staring at the ceiling with thoughts dancing in your mind, particularly of your Yuuei days. To think you’d go from being such a shy individual to the leader of Team Idaten and the soon-to-be spouse of the greatest hero you have ever known.

[faulty-writes]

[ Alright, hello followers/fans. Sorry for the delay of Chapter 5 of my Tensei Holiday Series. Life has been...well life. Will make an update post about that later. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy this chapter. ]

[ Before the wedding takes place, your mind seems to drift back to the memories you and Tensei share. From the first time you met to the troubles, the two of you faced together. ]

Class 1-B was alive with hectic energy and chatter. You latched onto your lip and sank in your seat, trying to calm the uneasiness in your stomach. Luckily, your seat was in the corner of the classroom, away from everyone else. Still, you glanced at the other students.

Each one of them was beaming as they exchanged words and made friends with one another. Well except for you, although part of that was credited to your shy personality. Thinking back, you weren’t sure how you managed to pass the entrance exams.

Not that you weren’t grateful, you had always wanted to be a hero and who knows, maybe this would help you conquer your shy nature. Of course, thinking about what lay ahead of you caused you further distress and you began to feel a little nauseous.

You sighed and closed your eyes. That’s when you heard his voice for the first time, and it was that voice you’d end up following years after. “Hey,” you jumped, snapping your eyes open to see a young boy with dark blue spikey hair and unusual arrow-shaped eyebrows. 

The next thing you noticed was his deep-burgundy-colored eyes behind the lenses of the thick square glasses he wore. He had a slender figure, and prominent arms that you assumed were from him working out.

He was wearing Yuuei’s standard school uniform, but you noticed the peculiar metal structures poking out from his elbows. While this piqued your curiosity, you assumed it was part of his quirk. “My name is Tensei Iida! Nice to meet you!” He said extending his hand out to you. 

After staring suspiciously at said hand that you refused to shake, you scooted to one side of your chair, creating as much distance from him as you could. Yeah, maybe this was the reason you wouldn’t be making friends.

Then again, who suddenly walks up and introduces themselves like he did? Is that how people make friends? He blinked a few times, tilting his head to the side. “Oh, sorry. Not much for talking, that’s okay,” he said, helping himself to plop into the seat next to you. 

“I’m sure I’ll find out your name sooner or later,” he noted, and the confident tone in his voice made you glare at him. How could he be this cheerful and optimistic? You watched as he scanned the classroom before turning back to you. “I think we’ll do great things this year,” he said, adjusting his glasses.

“Even if we’re not heroes yet, I know I’m going to do my best. After all, I have to set a good example for my baby brother,” you raised your eyebrow, why was he telling you all of this? “You wanna see a picture of him?” He asked with a large grin.

Before you could reply he was already reaching into his pocket for his phone. After unlocking it, he presented you with a picture of a baby wrapped in a blue blanket. Like him, there was a tuft of dark blue hair protruding from the top of the baby’s head.

Tensei chuckled. “I’m still getting used to being a big brother,” he commented, rubbing the back of his head. “But like I said, I’ll set the best example I can for him. That’s why I’m waiting until after I become a Pro Hero to have my eyes fixed,” you knitted your eyebrows.

“W-what?” you asked, feeling heat rush over your face. Damn it, you hated talking to others. He smiled when he noticed the red-tinted hue of your cheeks and leaned forward, fiddling with his glasses. “When I become a Pro Hero, I’ll get surgery to fix my eyes,” he repeated confidently.

His glasses? Is that the most important thing to him after he becomes a Pro Hero? “Since my quirk gives me turbo speed, I wouldn’t want my glasses to fly off and impair my vision, especially when people need saving!” He announced, a little too loudly for your liking. 

You glanced away, partly wondering what was wrong with him. Still, you could think of worse ways to start the first day of school, and while you assumed that as the year went on, Tensei would stop his pursuit of being your friend. This did not happen, and you were almost grateful that he continued to chase you.

His open-minded nature and courageous attitude rubbed off on you, and by your second year, the two of you were close, or as close as you felt comfortable with. Much to your surprise, you found that Tensei had a unique idea regarding how he wanted to run his future agency and who he wished to employ under it. 

However, you didn’t outwardly show your support until he began to get ridiculed by others. It started the day a student named Shota Aizawa from the General Studies Department transferred into Class 2-A. There were severe doubts regarding his capability as a hero student, and other students made fun of him.

This didn’t sit right with Tensei, Nemuri, or yourself. ‘Come on! You know Aizawa doesn’t have a chance in hell of becoming a hero!’ Those words caused you to grumble and curl your hands around the edge of the roof that overlooked the front of the school.

It was amazing that they allowed students permission to spend time on the roof, but it became a frequent hang-out location for Tensei, Nemuri, and yourself. You also heard that Shota, Hizashi, and Oboro spent a fair time here.

Unfortunately, there were also lesser hero students who enjoyed spending their time there. “Uh, can you believe them?” You said, looking at Nemuri. Despite her being your upperclassman, she had a wonderful slightly over-sexualized personality. But even so, she was honest and wasn’t afraid to jump into action when it was called for.

“Yes, I suppose that’s rather hasty. They’re certainly being bad boys talking about Aizawa like that,” she purred, making you sigh in response. “What?” She replied, placing her hands on her hips. Unlike her usual hero attire, she was not showing much skin today.

That was partly due to the standard Yuuei uniform that students were required to wear during school hours, although she had a good majority of buttons undone which exposed her chest. Tensei laid his hand on your shoulder. “Hm?” You looked at him and that smile he offered.

“I don’t like it any more than you, and people who put down others aren’t cool in my book. But I have the confidence that Aizawa will become a great hero!” He exclaimed, trying to lift your spirits. Instead, his words were greeted with a bellow of laughter. 

Tensei, as you had come to know, didn’t exactly have the quietest voice, and what he had just exclaimed to the world was heard loud and clear by every student occupying the rooftop. “Pff, you really think that, huh?” Sensoji, also known as Mister Blaster, asked as he approached Tensei.

He was a large, bulky student with defined muscles and wide shoulders. His face wasn’t much to look at, but he had sharp eyes to match his pointy nose and lack of eyebrows. He sported a short haircut with visible sideburns and like Hizashi, kept the front of his hair swooped up.

He smirked at Tensei, and his gaze slowly drifted to you. When Tensei noticed this, he cautiously put his arm in front of you as if he were afraid that Sensoji would try something to harm you. Then again, Sensoji had a reputation for being a bully to the other students.

You heard rumors he mainly picked fights with Hizashi, Oboro, and Shota whom Nemuri frequently hung out with. “Aizawa has as much of a chance of becoming a hero as you do with that stupid agency idea of yours!” Sensoji declared, rapidly poking Tensei in the forehead.

You growled when you heard those words while Tensei crossed his arms. Nemuri kept her hands on her hips, deciding it was better to watch the spectacle and only intervene if the situation called for it. “His idea isn’t stupid!” You said, surprising everyone when you stepped around Tensei and glared at Sensoji.

“His idea shows that he’ll be a Pro Hero who looks at everyone equally instead of a self-centered one like you!” Each word was accompanied by your finger jabbing into his chest and he looked bewildered at your actions. “Why you!” He growled and curled his biceps.

His teeth ground together, and his palms heated up in anticipation of using his quirk. However, he was momentarily distracted when Tensei activated his quirk, the engines that promptly stuck out of his elbows bursting to life with a loud mechanical whirling and Nemuri took this opportunity to rip off her blazer.

Luckily, she was wearing a white, short-sleeved shirt underneath. Before you had the chance to comprehend what she was doing, she quickly moved behind Sensoji and grabbed his head. She leaned over and purred, “Don’t be a bad little boy,” into his ear before activating her quirk.

A pink, somewhat glittery substance filled the air, and you immediately covered your nose and mouth. You knew that Nemuri’s quirk induced sleep and you weren’t about to pass out on the roof. But that’s when you were swept off your feet, literally, by none other than Tensei.

He looked at you, a determined shine glistening in his eyes and a smirk across his face. “Come on, let’s get you out of here. Kayama can handle this,” he stated and with you securely cradled in his arms, he stepped over the edge of the roof. 

You screamed out when the two of you plummeted and Tensei’s glasses flew off his face. He clenched his jaw, and a hint of fear enveloped his face. ‘Dang it, guess I’ll have to judge the landing myself.’ His grip on you tightened. ‘There’s no way I’m letting Y/n get hurt by anyone.’

A rush of adrenaline coursed through him the nearer he got to the ground and the wind rapidly swirled around you as he, yet again, used his quirk. ‘Hopefully, this will slow us down.’ While it cushioned the impact the two of you had on the ground, you also rolled a few times before finally coming to a stop.

Your vision was spinning, and a small wave of nausea overwhelmed you resulting in you pressing your head against his chest. After a few moments of silence, you opened your eyes again and looked at Tensei. “Why...why did you do that?” You asked flatly only to hear him chuckle in response.

“Well, I thought you were in danger so,” his words were greeted with a sigh. “You’re reckless…” you said, only imagining the stupid situations he’d put himself into when he became a Pro Hero. He seemed to ignore your insult and sat on his knees, looking at you, or at least the blurry image of you since his glasses flew off his face.

Guess he’d have to look for them later. “Do you really think my idea is amazing? An agency run by sidekicks?” He asked, catching you off-guard. “Uh…well I…” you paused and rubbed the back of your head. ‘Damn…I did say that didn’t I?’ Great, how would you explain your way out of this?

“Well, it’s…” you paused, glancing away. “Unique and certainly…you,” he grinned. “I’m glad you think so! Maybe you can be part of my agency, who knows? Maybe you’ll be the leader of it someday!” His words made you laugh. As if you’d want to be the leader of an agency. You’d rather play the role of a sidekick.

Little did you know what fate had in store years later, but this memory was far from your mind as you raced down the hallway of the hospital. Your heart beating erratically, and your face is covered in sweat. Not to mention the frantic thoughts flowing through your head like a rapid river.

Your feet scraped across the floor when you saw his mother pacing back and forth just outside a hospital room, the same room Tensei was in. Your pants filled the air when you stopped in front of her, leaning over with your hands grasping your knees.

She looked at you with concern and slowly reached out but flinched when you leaned back up, startling her. Your face contorted with anger and worry. “Where is he!? Is he alright!?” Your words came out fast and panicked.

“Oh, Y/n...he’s…” she hesitated, unsure of what to tell you and considering you were Tensei’s closest…well, friend, although she wished your relationship with him was more...romantic, she was terrified that she might lose her son.

Furthermore, she was concerned that seeing him in his current state may be more than you could handle now. You grabbed her shoulders without thinking. “I need to see him!” She frowned, but like Tenya she knew that you wouldn’t be satisfied until you got what you wanted.

“He’s through that door but-” Without another word, you rushed past her ignoring the way she shouted, “You forgot your mask!” You frantically slide open the door only to have your breath stolen from you when your eyes lay upon Tensei. 

He was in the hospital bed. His head was shaved and wrapped tightly in bandages. A plastic tube surrounded the sides of his face, and two points were inserted into his nostrils. His upper torso was exposed, and a large bandage was placed across his abdomen, and the corners of it were secured with medical tape. 

There were several small adhesive pads along his exposed skin which you quickly assumed were connected to the heart monitor which filled the room with a steady beep every second. A single white sheet covered the rest of his body.

Your hands clamped over your mouth, you felt your hair stand on end, and your body stiffened as your eyes watered over with hot tears. A wave of nausea soon came when the weight of the severity of the situation came crashing down on you.

You knew you had to do something, but what the hell could you even do? You were frozen in place, unable to bring yourself to move until you heard his raspy, slightly disgruntled voice. “Y/n?” the sound of it made you sob, and you dropped your hands, running to the side of his bed and grasping onto the bedside railing.

“Tensei!” You exclaimed, tears still falling down your face and onto his exposed torso. He groaned and looked at you. His eyes were dull, and his face contorted in such a way that you knew he was in pain. Despite this, he tried to smile.

“I’m…glad to see you…” he said, and you swallowed hard, wiping your nose before latching onto your lip to prevent yourself from sobbing again. You wished you could say the same, but unfortunately, you couldn’t. Your grip tightened so much around the railing that your knuckles turned white. 

He noticed this and just like his brother Tenya, knew that you were in a distressed state of being…and it was his fault. He also knew that just like what he had asked his brother, you wouldn’t react all that pleasantly to his request.

He took a deep breath, despite the agony that coursed through his body from his abdomen muscles straining to make his chest rise. “I…need to tell you…something,” his voice was gentle as if he were trying to calm you down.

It didn’t work. The tears streaming down your face only continued as did the way your heart pounded in your chest. Regardless, you gave him your full attention. “I…can’t feel my…legs,” he stated, and it felt as though a bolt of lightning struck you. 

“W-what?” you managed to squeak out, your heart sinking in your chest. Guilt weighing it down. Damn it, you knew you should have helped Tensei patrol. You insisted even! ‘The Hero Killer is too dangerous to track down on your own!’ you told him.

But he just gave you that damned reassuring smile and said ‘Don’t worry, I have faith in my team members. If anything goes wrong, they’ll come in and help apprehend the Hero Killer.’ You shouldn’t have let those words convince you to leave his side.

Looking at the result of your decision, you’d gladly take Tensei’s place if you could. In fact, maybe you should have been the one...you paused and shook your head. Now wasn’t the time to blame yourself. He took a deep breath, coughing slightly.

“Tensei!” You cried out, but his coughing subsided a few seconds later. “I’m...fine,” he said before you leaned away, wiping your already irritated eyes. “I told…Tenya to take…my hero name,” if reality wasn’t bearing down on you hard enough before, it certainly was now.

“W-what?” you repeated, shaking your head. “No…no, I’m sure your legs…you’ll be…you have to be okay!” You frantically shouted, your voice echoing through the empty room over the sound of the repetitive beating from the heart monitor. “Y/n,” he said, placing his shaky hand on one side of your face.

Your cheek felt warm and wet underneath his palm and his heart sank when you looked at him with those still watery eyes full of pain and confusion. “I…want you…to be the new leader…” he paused taking another breath, “of the…Team I...Idaten.” You let out a weak sob and shook your head. 

“No…no I c-can’t do that I…” You latched onto your lip, letting out another sob. Once again tears began to flow down your cheeks and over his hand that he refused to pull away. Instead, he stroked his thumb against your skin, collecting those hot teardrops.

“Yes…you can…” he replied, and although you wouldn’t normally argue with an injured person. You couldn’t help yourself, there were too many emotions flowing through you now. “No…” you repeated, hitching your breath, and making a pathetic squeak sound. You reached up, grasping his hand.

“D-don’t make me…” You clenched your jaw. “Damn it Tensei!” you shouted, “I don’t want this!” You couldn’t replace him; nobody could replace him. You didn’t want this burden on your shoulders, you weren’t meant to be a leader!

You were meant to be a follower, a sidekick! Nothing more than that! Why did Tensei…why did he believe in your abilities when there were none? You sobbed again, looking down at him with pleading eyes and when he noticed this, he smiled. 

“You will be…a great leader…” he encouraged, and at the end of the day, despite your constant insistence that you couldn’t be the leader of Team Idaten, you knew you didn’t have a choice. It was rough at first, your team members questioned your choices and the strength of your character.

Some even volunteered to take over as leader, but you remained strong because while you didn’t want to be the leader, this was Tensei’s dream, and you couldn’t let it die. And you never did. Your breath hitched, and your eyes widened when you realized hot tears were streaming down your face.

You looked at your reflection, ignoring the floral white flowers and delicate banners that streamed along the wall behind you. You watched the gentle rise and fall of your chest before the door opened. The hinges squeaked and echoed through the room, creating a short-lived tension.

You blinked, allowing the last of your tears to fall down your cheeks before you turned, seeing Mrs. Iida standing in the doorway. As expected, she was wearing a tasteful and elegant outfit that consisted of a floor-length navy blue gown with long sleeves adorned with lace. 

It hugged her figure tightly and shimmered in the light of the room. The fabric that pooled around her feet flowed gracefully when she walked, giving a regal touch to her appearance. On her feet were navy-colored peep-toe shoes with small heels.

The pearl earrings she wore hung delicately from her ears and kissed the sides of her cheeks. She wore rosy lipstick that made her smile stand out and a small amount of eyeshadow that made her eyes pop. She quickly crossed the room and placed her hand on the back of the chair you were sitting in.

The smile that was on her face immediately faded when she noted the irritated look of your eyes and the moist layer your tears had left behind on your face. “Is something troubling you?” She asked, pulling out a handkerchief and handing it to you.

Today was supposed to be the happiest day of your life, but it looked like you were crying. Your eyes widened. “O-oh no, it's alright!” you assured her, taking the handkerchief and wiping your face dry. “I just…” you looked down, rubbing the side of your neck. 

“I was thinking about the past,” you chuckled, and Mrs. Iida looked at you suspiciously. She was determined that this wedding would go as planned, heaven knows she had been waiting long enough for it to happen. So, she attempted to de-escalate the situation and gently laid her hands on your shoulders.

“Now isn’t the time for that,” she said gently before leaning down and looking at the reflection of you and her in the mirror. “Tensei is waiting,” she whispered into your ear, causing your stomach to explode with butterflies. A few seconds of silence passed, and a dreamy, almost void look filled your eyes.

“Yeah,” you replied, feeling a smile come to your face. “He’s always been waiting for me, hasn’t he?” You chuckled and placed your hands on the table in front of you, using it to help you stand up. You then made your way to the door, knowing that in a few minutes, your life will be changed forever. 

It was nerve-wracking but amazing to think about. Taking a deep breath, you turned to look at Mrs. Iida who was absolutely beaming, smiling as if you were the answer she had been looking for her whole life. You took a deep breath and turned back to face the door. “I’m ready.”

[faulty-writes]

[ Hello followers and or fans, I present to you, Chapter Three of my Tensei holiday series. You can find the first few chapters by searching this tag on Tumblr or you can find Chapter One by clicking this link. This series will probably go on into early next year, but we could all use a little more Tensei in our lives. ]

[ Nothing could get worse between discovering his letter and the broken heart you felt...or so you thought. After arriving at the Iida Estate for the scheduled dinner, Tensei’s parents finally tell you what they want to talk about. Unfortunately, it’s not what you expected and despite declining their offer, they aren’t willing to listen to reason. On the bright side, at least Tensei didn’t see it coming either. ]

On your way to the Iida Estate, you stopped by the agency, which was filled with eerie silence except for your hurried footsteps. It seemed every rational thought in your mind was absent because you couldn’t explain why you wanted the crumbled-up letter.

Despite your lack of sleep, you hoped that when you woke up, it wouldn’t be there. Maybe you just wanted to confirm if it was real or not. Unfortunately, that ache in your chest returned immediately when you spotted the torn and crinkled piece of paper.

It was tempting to tear it apart, but instead, you folded it up and tucked it inside your burgundy blazer. Although you were certain that the Iida family members would all be wearing formal attire that you could only hope to afford, you tried your best to coordinate an outfit that would at least please them.

In addition to your blazer, you also wore an ivory-colored, button-up shirt. The collar of it was adorned with a silky black bow tie which matched the black-hued trousers you wore. The finishing touch to your outfit was a pair of semi-polished black dress shoes.

Overall, you hoped that you gave the aura of a sophisticated individual while also representing the festive season. You took a deep breath, willing the ache in your chest to go away. You needed to be mindful and alert during your visit with the Iida family, which meant you couldn’t let this distract you.

It was like being on a mission or apprehending a villain. You needed to be coordinated, calculated, and ready for the unexpected, which in this case, might be the conversation Mr. and Mrs. Iida wished to have with you. Yeah, you were still dreading that. But there was little to be done about it now.

Taking another deep breath, you locked the door to your office and made your way down to the main floor of the agency before locking the entrance doors and climbing into your car. “Well here goes nothing…” you muttered before starting the engine.

The drive to the Iida Estate was short, and the only thing that made it somewhat bearable was the holiday music blasting from the radio. In a way, it was comforting. But you frowned knowing that this festive time of the year would be over soon.

At least you could take pride in knowing that it was a productive year. This was evident because the Idaten Agency had made the Top 50 list of the Best Agencies in Japan, and you knew that was partly thanks to the new team members who certainly pulled their weight and made the agency just a little better.

The thought made you smile, and you knew that Tensei was also proud of the way you were taking care of his former agency. Nobody knows what tomorrow, let alone next year will bring. All you had to do was your best. This is what you reminded yourself as you drove past the gates of the Iida Estate.

After parking and getting out of your car, you heard someone shout, “Hey!” and turned to see Tensei rolling down the ramp toward you. Before you realized it, a smile came to your face. Guess that was the power he had over you, and his handsome appearance might have had something to do with it.

Like you, he sported a blazer but colored a deep evergreen with golden trim along the cuffs of it in addition to golden cufflinks. A crisp white dress shirt lay beneath his blazer, although the collar of it was open, and a silky red tie encircled it and you noticed there were small snowflakes across its fabric.

His tie complimented the bright red pocket square located on the left side of his blazer. His trousers were a deep shade of charcoal and black oxfords were on his feet. “You look nice,” you complimented, and he smiled. “Thanks, Tenya helped pick this out for me,” he replied, and you chuckled.

Yeah, that sounded like something Tenya would do. “That figures,” you said before opening the side door of your car to take the gifts you had gotten for the Iida family out. A moment of silence filled the air before Tensei said, “You look amazing.” You cried out when your head hit the ceiling of the car and stumbled to turn around.

The gifts you had piled in your arms fell partly on Tensei’s lap and on the ground. He looked startled but immediately addressed your well-being. “Did you hit your head?” He asked, reaching out to you. “No, uh, I mean yeah but…” you rubbed the top of your head and like a ripened tomato, your cheeks turned crimson.

As you knelt to pick up the gifts, you hoped Tensei wouldn’t comment on the color of your face. “Y-you uh, just surprised me with your compliment, and uh…” You shook your head; this wasn’t how you normally act around Tensei.

Jeez, finding that letter really messed you up, but you couldn’t let him find out. ‘Right. He’s…my friend and I must be supportive. No matter how much it hurts,’ and boy did it ever. “Um, sorry for spilling those on you. I can take them,” you said, attempting to organize the gifts in your arms before reaching out to him but he rolled back.

“I can help you carry them!” He insisted with a smile. “Besides you seem a little out of it today, guess the busy holiday season caught up to you, huh?” Tensei had a way of being blunt when he wanted to be, and while that bluntness may come off as rude, most of the time he didn’t mean anything by it.

“Right…busy holiday season…” you replied before walking past him. “Thanks,” you nonchalantly said before respectfully removing your shoes and walking into the Iida Estate. The interior was bathed in a soft beige color, with white trim molding across the top.

The polished marble flooring reflected the light from the chandelier suspended from the ceiling. The center of the foyer was adorned with a grand staircase, its balusters carved with precision and created slender forms that enhanced the allure of elegance that lingered through the room.

At the bottom of the staircase stood a magnificent tree. A string of evergreen encircled it, and flickering lights of red, blue, and yellow provided it with an enchanting glow. Delicate handcrafted ornaments hung from its branches, and a sparkling star adorned the top of the tree.

Beneath the boughs was a delightful array of presents, each one wrapped in festive paper that created a vibrant hue against the marble flooring. Somehow the Iida’s always outdid themselves when it came to decorating and you looked at Tensei who too seemed hypnotized by the tree’s majestic appearance.

The sound of his mother’s voice, however, broke the hold the tree held over your mind. “Oh, I’m so glad you’re here,” both of you turned to look at her. A sumptuous crimson kimono hugged her figure, its fabric embroidered with intricate snowflakes.

A green obi with golden swirls encircled her waist and layers of silk bellowed from beneath the kimono, leaving the impression of modesty and poise. The sleeves were long and flowing, with golden trim. On her feet, she wore plain white tabi socks with zori sandals.

Overall, she represented a traditional elegance of beauty and charm. Things that made you feel somewhat subconscious about your outfit, but hey, you tried. She approached the two of you, a smile playing across her features.

“Oh, you brought gifts. Please place them under the tree,” she said, gesturing to it. “Oh right,” you replied, kneeling, and carefully placing each present underneath said tree, making sure the labels were facing the correct way.

Tensei rolled over and handed you the presents that were currently sitting on his lap. “Thank you,” once you were sure all the presents were organized, you stood up. “Dinner is still cooking, why don’t we have tea in the parlor while we wait?” She suggested motioning to the archway located to the left of the foyer.

“Oh, uh,” you glanced at Tensei who nodded. “That…sounds lovely,” you replied before bowing. “Thank you very much,” you leaned back up and made your way to the parlor. Much like the foyer, its walls were painted beige, and plush armchairs were scattered around to enhance the purpose of conversation.

The scent of fresh flowers with subtle citrus undertones mingled with the musky aroma of aged books. The large bookcase surrounding the room and the vase of fresh flowers on the ornate table that took center stage in the room were the sources of the smells.

Overall, the room conveyed a sense of comfort. However, this was short-lived because when you saw Mr. Iida seated in the furthest chair, you tensed up. The conversation he was having with Tenya, who sat next to him, halted when he noticed your presence.

A shiver ran down your spine when he locked eyes with you, and you were about to blurt out a greeting when Mrs. Iida brushed past you. “I’m so happy everyone is here,” she commented before walking over to her husband. “I’ll go make some tea, Tenya will you help me?” She asked and he immediately sprung to his feet.

“Why of course, I would be delighted to help!” He replied, chopping his hand rapidly through the air. You noticed his outfit was a little different from Tensei’s as it was slightly more casual. Instead of a suit, he was wearing a forest green vest that fit snuggly against his chest.

A white button-up shirt complimented the vest, allowing its stark color to stand out. He appeared to be wearing dark, well-fitting jeans that still somehow conveyed a hint of sophistication as did his black dress shoes. “It is wonderful to have you here, Y/n,” he said, his hand moving through the air again.

“I do hope that the festivities occurring today will not be interrupted as they were previously,” you knew he was referring to the incident that happened yesterday. “I guess we’ll see,” you replied, shrugging and Tenya offered you a smile before he left the room with his mother.

“Do you wanna sit here?” Tensei asked, gesturing to one of the open chairs. You were about to respond only to have Mr. Iida speak first. “No,” he said, his voice slightly raspy and authority coated it. You tensed up and looked at him. Like his wife, he too was sporting a kimono although a tad less colorful and more traditional.

It was a deep emerald and you noticed it was partially hidden by the haori he wore. A simple red obi complimented his kimono and was tied behind his back in an artful knot. He too was wearing white tabi socks and zori sandals. Tensei laughed.

“Do you want them to sit closer?” he joked, and Mr. Iida nodded before gesturing to the seat that Tenya was previously sitting in. ‘Oh boy…’ You grimaced and looked at Tensei for reassurance. He offered you a smile and lifted his hand to the side of his mouth.

“I’ll sit next to you,” he whispered, knowing you were still a little uneasy when in his father’s company. “Oh um,” you nodded and reluctantly sat in the requested seat. As promised, Tensei rolled over to take his spot next to you and locked his wheelchair.

“So, Dad,” he began engaging in casual conversation with his father while you sat there with your hands in your lap. It was strange to think you were a Pro Hero, and leader of Team Idaten and could talk to fans, crowds, and villains with little to no problem.

But Tensei’s father…that was an entirely different challenge. His intimidating nature constantly got to you, and it made your mind go blank, making it nearly impossible to speak to him. The minutes that ticked by felt like years, and the tension in the air grew thicker by the second.

Like a fish out of water, you felt like you were unable to get oxygen. Even as the chatter between Tensei and his father continued, you felt awkward. But like an angel descending from the heavens, Mrs. Iida broke the tension when she walked back in with Tenya who was carrying a silver tray that housed a black tea kettle.

Its glazed surface was adorned with a subtle depiction of cherry blossoms. Surrounding the kettle were five cups, each one painted with a unique pattern. You assumed this was so everyone knew for sure which cup was theirs.

As she got closer, the earthy richness and sweet undertones, somewhat reminiscent of roasted seaweed permeated the air and managed to put you at ease for the time being. “You can place it on the table Tenya,” she instructed and once that was done, she carefully poured everyone a cup.

You held yours snugly between your palms, enjoying the subtle heat that seeped through its porcelain body. The weight of the cup in addition to the overwhelming aroma acted like an anchor, grounding your troubles for the moment.

The heat intensified when you brought the cup to your lips and gently blew on it before taking a sip, enjoying the feeling of the warmth of it rushing over your tongue. “Ah,” you said, licking your lips. “This tea is delicious Mrs. Iida,” she smiled at your compliment and took a sip from her cup before looking at Tensei.

“Do you and Y/n have any special plans after dinner?” She asked, making your eyebrow raise. There was a good chance you and Tensei would be doing something after dinner, permitted work didn’t require your attention. But you couldn’t help but feel she was asking that as if she wanted to make sure there were no plans set in motion.

“Not sure,” Tensei replied, smiling when you looked at him. “I’m sure we’ll figure something out,” he said, giving you a playful wink before drinking his tea. You knit your eyebrows before Mr. Iida said, “Don’t make any solid plans.” You looked at him, watching as he drank from his cup before returning your stare.

His gaze was cold and authoritative but that could be because he didn’t want you or Tensei to argue with him. Luckily Tensei found his response just as concerning. “Oh, did you want us after dinner for something?” He asked. His parents were known for last-minute surprises.

Mr. Iida’s gaze lingered on you, making that awkward tension surround you again. ‘Why the hell is he looking at me?’ You glanced to the side and resumed drinking your tea, hoping he would get the hint that his stare was making you uncomfortable.

“Hmp,” he grumbled and rose from his seat to place his cup onto the tray. Mrs. Iida turned to Tensei, “Your father and I were hoping to celebrate something else today as well,” she explained, being as vague as possible. “Something else?” Tensei repeated before looking at his brother.

As if reading his mind, Tenya said, “I am afraid I am unaware of any premeditated plans mother and father may have contrived.” With that, he finished his tea, and placed it on the tray as his father had done. You blinked, trying to process the lack of information and make sense of it.

“Pardon,” all your heads turned to see a man wearing a toque blanche and a white double-breasted jacket. The sleeves of which were rolled up, revealing his rather dry-looking skin. In addition, he was wearing a pristine apron that cinched around his waist, a few stains were visible on the surface of it.

Underneath the apron, he was wearing dark pants. It was safe to assume that he was one of the many chefs the Iida family employed. He bowed respectfully and gestured toward the kitchen. “Dinner is served,” he said, and Mrs. Iida smiled.

“Oh wonderful,” she stood and placed her cup on the tray before instructing Tenya and Tensei to wash up for dinner, then she looked at you and your stomach twisted. Oh no, this was the part where you were going to find out just what they wanted to discuss with you.

That uneasy ache returned, spreading through your chest like wildfire and a feeling of nausea washed over you making your face appear pale. “Huh?” Tensei noticed your odd change in complexion. “Are you okay? Heh, you look like you’ve seen a ghost,” he said, placing his hand on your thigh.

You paused, ignoring the tremble that coursed through your body like a bolt of lightning. Then your lip quivered, his touch was so gentle and loving. “Y-yeah,” you replied, swallowing heavily. “I-I’m-” The sound of throat clearing interrupted you. The two of you turned your heads to see Mr. Iida.

His arms were crossed, and his facial expression was stern. “Tenya, please assist your brother to the restroom,” he stated. “Yes, father!” He immediately and enthusiastically replied. Before Tensei could say anymore, Tenya unlocked his wheelchair and quickly escorted him out of the room.

You curled your fingers so tightly in your lap that your bones began to ache, you had never been so nervous to talk to Tensei’s parents before and maybe you wouldn’t be this nervous if you hadn’t read that damn letter. ‘Whatever happens…happens,’ you reminded yourself after taking a deep breath.

“Y/n,” you looked up at Mrs. Iida who was standing proudly next to her husband. “Y-yes?” you replied, bracing for the worst. “You’ve been a part of our family for quite some time now,” she said, walking over to grab your hand, giving it a gentle tug to signal you to stand up.

Despite the frown on your face, you did as she wanted and placed your now empty cup of tea on the tray. “I still remember when Tensei introduced us to you during your first year at Yuuei, he was so happy to find a classmate who supported the idea of his future agency,” she smiled as she replayed the moment in her head.

Yes, she knew something had changed in her son shortly after he enrolled in Yuuei’s hero course. That certain spark in his eyes was nothing short of admiration and she had her suspicions that maybe, just maybe, her son had found someone to fancy.

The day Tensei brought you home confirmed her suspicions and from that moment on, she hoped that the two of you would end up together. But as the years passed, this hope dwindled. She thought for certain you’d fall in love with her son after the Hero Killer incident that rendered him paraplegic, but again, she was proven wrong.

She knew that the only person her son had eyes for was you. And as far as she knew, you didn’t have any romantic interest in anyone. Yet, Tensei and you remained inseparable. She was very grateful for all that you had done for him and likewise, she assumed that you were grateful for everything Tensei had done for you.

So, there was no reason to delay the exciting decision that she and her husband came to. “We’d like to share the plans we have for you and Tensei,” you knit your eyebrows. “I-I’m sorry?” you replied, what the hell did she mean by plans for you and Tensei?

Didn’t they know that Tensei had feelings for someone else? Or so you assumed he did. The letter was evidence enough! He wrapped an arm around his wife, pulling her closer as if sensing your conflicting aura, and firmly said, “We’d like you to marry our son.”

Your world shattered when you heard those words, and your breath was stolen away. You had joked several times that it was a surprise that they hadn’t proposed that you marry Tensei, and now that joke turned into reality, and it made your heart both race and sink like an anchor.

The war of conflict between selfishness and selflessness and your heart’s lovesick needs versus your brain’s logical reasoning hit you like a brick. “I…um,” words weren’t coming easy now, and you squeezed your hands together, making your fingers turn red.

You swallowed thickly. “I…appreciate your proposal but um…” you latched onto your lip, trying to ignore the saddened look that fell across Mrs. Iida’s face. “I need some time to think about this,” you bowed before scurrying out of the room, guilt flooding your heart like a deadly plague.

This was just too much to process at once, who knew that your greatest enemy would be love? A frown decorated her lips as she turned to look at her husband, hurt and confusion shining in her eyes. It was not an expression he favored seeing on her and he vowed to fix it.

“I believe we’ll be late for dinner,” he said and ignored her perplexed reaction as he guided the two of them out of the room. The long rectangular dining table was covered in an ivory tablecloth that pooled over the edges of said table.

Fine China decorated with subtle festive patterns laid on appropriately themed placemats in front of each chair. The silverware sparkled with a mirror-like sheen and was placed on either side of the said China plates. The glassware gleamed like freshly fallen snow and stood at attention beside the complexly folded linen napkins.

A base of evergreen branches dusted in a coating of artificial snow surrounded by rustic pinecones lay in the center of the table. Their rich brown hues created an earthy contrast that gave the feeling of the holidays with a touch of the outdoors.

Along the branches were clusters of fake cranberries, adding a pop of color and further capturing the essence of the season. Three slender candles, aglow with artificial flames stood like pillars amidst the greenery and each one of them was dressed in a delicate red bow.

At the head of the table sat Mr. Iida, and next to him on the left was his wife. Across from her sat Tenya and next to him Tensei, and finally you took your place next to Mrs. Iida. You shyly glanced at Tensei from across the table as all of you waited for the food to be brought out.

A few minutes of silence passed before the savory scent of roasted turkey, creamy mashed potatoes, green beans, carrots, cranberry sauce, and mouthwatering dinner rolls filled the air. You swallowed as the food was placed on the table, and your stomach gave an approving growl.

As the last of the food was being brought out, you followed Mrs. Iida’s lead and unfolded your linen napkin before draping it across your lap. After expressions of gratitude were complete, Mr. Iida went to work cutting the turkey and everyone filled their plates.

The sound of silverware clanking against said plates echoed, as did the gentle clink of glasses. Regardless of the lack of conversation, there was a peaceful and familial atmosphere. You had almost forgotten about the earlier incident until the repetitive sound of a spoon gently hitting the side of a glass echoed.

Everyone at the table looked at Mr. Iida, the one conducting the noise. He stood up when he was certain he had everyone’s attention. “It’s an honor for the Iida family to be together to celebrate this festive occasion,” he turned his glance on you and unlike before, you weren’t intimidated by any means.

Rather you cocked your eyebrow at him, wondering where he was going with this speech. “And it’s time to celebrate the newest member of our family,” he said. While he knew you had declined the offer, he and his wife so graciously gave you, he would make it happen regardless.

This is what his wife wanted after all. There was no better gift he could give her than watching their son get married to the one she believed would make an excellent spouse. What? You looked around, almost as if you expected someone else to spontaneously manifest out of thin air.

Naturally, you became quite concerned when you noticed that everyone’s gaze was turned on you. ‘Why is everyone looking at me?’ You thought for a moment that you had food on your face or perhaps that you spilled something on your outfit.

But you quickly realized when you looked back at Mr. Iida that he was now gesturing in your direction. “Uh...” you glanced away, feeling quite awkward. Mr. Iida lifted his glass into the air, the contents of it swirling around as he made a toast.

“I’m honored that Y/n has agreed to marry our son,” he stated causing Tenya to jolt in his seat. He blinked, and his lips parted as he looked at his brother who was equally as shocked. But Tensei’s eyes were focused on you as if you would have the answer to what had just happened.

Your mouth hung open and you shook your head slightly as if to convey to him and Tenya that you had no idea what was going on. Well, other than the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Iida didn’t respect the answer you had already given them and were now twisting it in their favor.

You frowned, understandably angry, in addition to the other confusing emotions you had been dealing with since yesterday. Even if marrying Tensei would be a dream, you couldn’t let him do that if he had feelings for someone else. “Mr. Iida I-” he ignored you.

“I propose a toast to the new couple,” he said before looking at his wife who was absolutely beaming with happiness. “We’ll start planning the wedding accordingly,” with that, he swallowed a mouthful of his drink and sat back down. “I’m so honored that you changed your mind,” Mrs. Iida said, turning to you.

Despite wanting to tell her that you, in fact, did not change your mind. You knew that was disrespectful and you didn’t want to ruin dinner. So instead, you nodded and remained quiet as you continued eating. You focused your attention on your plate, refusing to look at the members of the Iida family.

Your mind was too preoccupied to carry on a conversation anyway. It was a strange feeling, you finally got the chance to be with the one you had adored for years and yet, you couldn’t because he had feelings for someone else.

Granted, there was no name mentioned in the letter making it nearly impossible to figure out who he was referring to. Asking Tenya did cross your mind, but you felt like that was going behind Tensei’s back and the last thing you needed to do was to hurt him.

The most important thing now was not your feelings but Tensei’s. If you could have a private moment with him after dinner, then maybe you could explain how you found his letter and ended up reading it out of curiosity.

You could potentially also explain what had just happened and how you initially refused the offer his parents gave you to marry him. You wanted to sigh but instead latched onto your lip. This holiday season just turned into a Hallmark love triangle tragedy.

[ Chapter IV ]

[faulty-writes]

[ Hello followers and or fans, I present to you, Chapter Two of my Tensei holiday series. I hope you enjoy it. You can find the first chapter by searching this tag on Tumblr or clicking this link. ]

[ After discovering Tensei’s letter by mistake, you’re under the assumption that he’s in love with someone. As such, when the two of you leave together he notices that something is off but you’re not willing to tell him what. ]

The agency was empty, except for Team One greeting you upon arrival. You, the rest of your team, Hizashi, and the hero students were a little bruised and battered, but all right. Unlike your previous missions, however, you took priority on keeping Tenya from harm despite knowing he could handle his own.

This was mostly for Tensei’s sake, you could only imagine what he’d do if Tenya got injured. But even so, you had a fine medical team working under your agency, and after getting patched up, you changed into your festive attire again, and tracked Tensei down.

It wasn’t much of a surprise that he was in your office, and as you approached you heard laughter. It didn’t take much to realize who it was coming from and served as a reminder that Tensei, indeed, had a knack for making others come out of their shell. 

When you opened the door and stepped through, you were greeted with the most unusual sight. Tensei was spinning his wheelchair around with Eri in his lap, a large smile was on her face and her cheerful laughter continued.

“Heh,” you crossed your arms and leaned against the doorframe. “Having fun?” you asked, interrupting the moment. He came to a halt and like deer caught in the headlights, their eyes were wide and their expressions blank.

“Don’t look so surprised,” you said, softness enveloping your features. Tensei remained quiet, knitting his eyebrows as he noticed the bandages that covered one of your arms and the small cuts on your face. “Hm?” You noticed the way he was staring at you and tilted your head.

“What?” You asked before realizing. “Oh,” you looked at your bandaged arm, “this is nothing, don’t worry about it.” You knew he would, but you didn’t understand why. He had gotten injured countless times when he was a hero.

In particular, you remember the time he installed airbags into his suit. They proved to be useful when he ended up crashing and receiving minor injuries after trying to apprehend a villain by the name of Batto Yobayakawa. It was still amusing to think he was one of the few villains that stumped Tensei back in the day.

However, you would never understand his motive for uninstalling said airbags, even after you and the rest of his team tried to convince him otherwise. Ultimately, he had faith that all of you would keep him from being harmed. Although some might argue that using a mattress to prevent yourself from crashing again wasn’t exactly original.

Seeing others injured, however, didn’t sit well with him, especially since it was you. Eri suddenly seemed uncomfortable, her once happy grin now replaced with a dreaded frown and she too, seemed to be ominously staring at your bandaged arm. A certain fear danced in her eyes which had you immediately concerned.

“Eri?” You asked before crouching down in front of Tensei and trying to extend your hand out to her. She gasped in response, that fearful expression growing and causing her eyes to darken. “Hey,” you said, trying to calm her down.

“It’s okay, this was jus-” You flinched when she exclaimed, “I’m sorry!” You and Tensei exchanged concerned glances, and he placed his hand on top of her head. You noticed that she was trembling, and her eyes were squeezed shut.

“Hey, why are you sorry? Everything’s okay, promise!” He gave a large grin as he ruffled her hair. She hitched her breath and looked at him, her eyes misted over. He knew her reaction might have something to do with her not-so-good past.

But for now, it was best to de-escalate her worry. “Yeah, you didn’t do anything wrong,” you said in a soft voice, gently reaching out to hold her hand. She turned to look at you, eyes wide and a few tears falling down her cheeks. You wiped them away with your opposite hand and smiled at her.

“Just take a deep breath,” you instructed and while she tried to comply, she ended up coughing. “Slowly,” you stated, and while she did that, you looked at Tensei. “I can tell you guys had a fun time while I was away,” you half-joked before standing up.

“Sorry if I ruined it, but you’ll be glad to know that everyone made it back in one piece,” you said. “I told Midoriya and Tenya I’d bring Eri back, they’re waiting at the front.” It was a shame that you missed the party you and your agency worked so hard to set up, but there was always next year.

“Oh right, sorry we were having such a good time and-” he suddenly remembered the letters and turned his wheelchair to face the desk. “Hm?” Your eyebrows raised when he rolled over to it with Eri still on his lap, her little hands twisted into the front of his suit.

“Wanna show Y/n the letter you wrote to Santa?” he asked and Eri eagerly nodded before hesitantly taking it from the desk and sliding off his lap. He made a mental note to pick up his letter before you saw it, but he’d do it when you walked Eri back to Izuku and Tenya.

You smiled when she approached and chuckled softly when she held up her letter, her glance turning to the side. “Oh, can I read it?” You asked, and with her permission, took it from her. Her letter made you smile, not many kids would admit they don’t know what they want and instead, ask Santa to give others what they most want.

It was a very selfless request. “This is a very nice letter, I’m sure Midoriya would love to see it too,” you suggested, before handing it back to her and holding your hand out. “Ready to go?” You asked, and she stared at your hand like she was uncertain if she should take it or not.

But after a few seconds, she wrapped her small fingers around the palm of your hand. “I’ll be back shortly,” you informed Tensei before disappearing down the hallway with Eri. He nodded, smiling as he waved the two of you goodbye. Once he was sure you were out of sight, he turned to the desk.

He grabbed his letter and quickly looked down at the crayon-colored letters he scribbled down. His heart was beating like a hummingbird, and a rosy complexion colored his cheeks. It was a little embarrassing, he would admit, to write a letter to Santa, asking for...you. Maybe a little selfish too. 

Yeah, you were his friend. His best friend. But was it bad to want your best friend to fall in love with you? To ask Santa to make that happen? As most could confirm, when you chose to become a hero, you were also signing your life away.

It meant that you sacrificed other plans. Dating, falling in love, having a family. All seldom when you were a hero. But that was just it. When he was a hero, he had that special someone in his life. That someone he fell in love with, that someone he could envision having a family with. 

That someone who helped pick up his life, who kept his agency alive, and who meant so much to him and his family. He was more than certain others could see it too. Even his mother had given him hints throughout the years that you were the one for him, but he always laughed it off.

Maybe he did that to prevent his hopes from getting too high. Still, he knew that writing a letter wouldn’t magically make you, his. Even if it was the season of miracles. So, with some regret, he crumbled his letter and threw it into the small garbage pail next to your desk.

“Hey,” a metallic clank echoed through the room when his exhaust pipes that promptly stuck out of his elbows hit the push rims of his wheelchair. It seemed that your speedy return surprised him and as such, he jumped in his seat and spun around so quickly that he almost fell out of it.

You snickered. “Did I scare you?” Tensei chuckled. “Just surprised me,” he replied. “Sorry,” you shrugged and walked up to him. “Yamada said he wouldn’t mind driving you back home,” he paused, glancing to the side in thought.

“Or I could drive you, but I know it’s late and-” he perked up at your offer. “A ride from you sounds great,” he replied, and you couldn’t help but chuckle. “You are so predictable,” you commented, placing your hands on your hips with a smirk, but that’s what years of friendship did. ‘Friendship’ You frowned but quickly shook your head.

“Uh, cool. So, I’ll go tell him and Tenya you don’t need a ride, but are you sure? I was going to stay and clean up with the rest of the team, it might take a while,” you informed him. He chuckled. “I’m sure, I’ll help clean up too.” You knitted your eyebrows and pointed your finger at him.

“You do realize you were supposed to be a guest, right?” You couldn’t very well expect your guest to clean up. Tensei laughed. “All of you did such a good job organizing the party and taking care of that incident earlier. It’s the least I can do,” he explained before rolling closer to you and taking your hand.

Your eyebrows immediately raised. You should be used to the subtle signs of affection Tensei gave, but the way he squeezed your hand conveyed a sense of concern. “Something bothering you?” As if that wasn’t obvious enough.

His eyes shifted to the bandages that covered your arm. “I’m just glad you’re alright,” he said. “Well, out of the two of us, you’re the only one who has given a huge scare to me and the rest of the agency,” you replied, shaking your head, but a smile tugged at your lips. 

“And you can’t imagine how glad we were when we found out you were okay,” you took a deep breath. “But enough about the past, let’s go help clean up and…” you paused and glanced at your hand, still cradled in his. How you’d love to hold his hand forever, but unfortunately that wasn’t possible and instead, you smirked. 

“You can let go of my hand anytime you know,” you teased, and while most individuals would be embarrassed, Tensei merely chuckled. “Your hand feels nice,” he teased back but released it anyway. “Hardy har,” you replied, turning to leave with him following suit behind you.

When you walked out to the main lobby of the agency, you noticed that your team members were already halfway done with the cleaning, and they all paused to look at you. Tenya and Izuku also paused, and you noticed they too were helping clean up.

Maybe they had nothing better to do while they were waiting for you to ask Tensei who he wanted a ride from, and you assumed that Hizashi and Eri were waiting in the car for them. “Heh, wow. Beat me to it, didn’t you guys?” You turned to Tenya and Izuku.

“Tensei said I could give him a ride,” Izuku nodded while Tenya walked up to him. “Very well, I shall see you at the estate, brother. Please drive safely,” he stated, chopping his hand through the air. “I always drive safely Tenya,” you barked back, and Tensei chuckled.

“That’s true, Y/n is the safest person I know,” he said, playfully punching his brother’s arm. Tenya seemed a bit off-put by this and readjusted his glasses before looking at you. “Thank you once again for the invitation. It was an honor to fight alongside you today,” he said with a small bow.

You smiled. “It was no problem. You guys did a wonderful job out there. I’m proud of you,” Izuku bowed. “T-thank you,” he stuttered out before turning to Tenya, and after exchanging a glance the two of them left. You waved them goodbye before crossing your arms.

“I’m still helping clean up,” you stated before grabbing a small trash can and walking over to the snack table that was littered with empty cups and leftover food, some of which was half-eaten. Tensei smiled and rolled over to you.

“I can hold the trash can for you,” he offered, and you raised your eyebrow but inevitably surrendered it. It’s not like your arguments with Tensei were actual arguments, but sometimes it was best to lose the battle so you could win the war.

Not that there was a war, well maybe between your heart and your brain. But that was already implied, wasn’t it? However, you only managed to clean a small portion of the table before Enigma and Onemu walked up to the two of you. 

“Hm?” You paused and looked at them while Tensei turned to look over his shoulder, a clueless expression on his face. “Oh, hey guys, is something wrong?” He asked and you nodded. “Yeah, is something wrong?” They looked at each other before their gazes fell on you again. 

“Why don’t you two head home?” Onemu suggested laying a hand on your shoulder while Enigma took the trash can from Tensei. “What?” You replied, shaking your head. “No way, as leader of-” Onemu silenced you by placing a finger to your lips.

“We’re worried that our leader will be too tired if they stay too late,” she responded, making your eyebrows knit. Enigma nodded in agreement and Onemu stepped back. “Today took a lot out of us, but you worked harder than anyone out there.”

A growl rumbled in your throat. Yes, it never hurts to be concerned about someone else and to an extent, their working habits. But you wished they’d care a little less. Then again, maybe they didn’t want to lose another leader. That was understandable.

“We’re proud to have you as our leader, and we want you to be well-rested over the holidays,” she explained. Well...your assumption was correct. A sigh passed your lips, did they ever treat Tensei this way? You couldn’t recall and looked at him with an expression that begged him to give his two cents.

Sadly, he only offered a sympathetic smile. “Thank you,” he said before once again grabbing your hand. “I’ll be sure that Y/n gets proper rest, and you better do the same,” he said, addressing the team members in the room.

“Yes Sir!” they replied in unison. While you would never think ill of Tensei, you couldn’t help but notice that they had never replied to you in such a manner. Was that because they respected him more than you? No...your team respected you, or so you hoped.

Was it because he had been the leader for years before you took over and had a sense of seniority? You tried not to dwell on it and sighed again. “Fine,” you replied, shrugging your shoulders. “I know when I’m beaten,” at least in this situation.

“But be aware that our agency is on alert during the holiday season,” Which meant that if by chance, a villain attacked on Christmas Day, Team Idaten needed to secure and contain them. A hero’s work was never done. Unlike Tensei, you only got subtle nods in response and as if sensing your uneasiness, he squeezed your hand. 

You offered him a faint smile before looking at Onemu. “I just need to get my things from my office,” you said, shifting your gaze to Tensei. “I’ll be right back,” with that, you walked down the hallway. Your office door creaked open, and you bee-lined for your desk, grabbing your backpack from underneath it.

Placing it on the chair, you rummaged through it for your keys. Once that was done, you swung the bag over your shoulder. “Alright,” you said, yawning as you turned to walk around your desk, but your foot brushed against the trashcan causing it to tumble onto its side. 

“Damn,” you quickly kneeled to pick it back up when your eye caught the sight of a crumpled-up paper with what appeared to be blue writing on the inside of it. You placed the garbage pail against the desk and took it out. Carefully uncrumpling it, you realized it was a letter, and the first words of it were ‘Dear Santa.’

You quickly assumed it might have been the first draft letter that Eri had decided to throw away. But the writing was entirely different, it was more structured and professional while Eri’s was, well…what you would expect the writing of a child to look like.

You drew your bottom lip into your mouth, remembering that Tensei was waiting for you, but surely this wouldn’t take that long to read. You took a deep breath. ‘While I could ask for anything in the world there’s only one thing my heart wants.’ You paused, knitting your eyebrows.

“The one thing my heart wants?” You repeated, shaking your head before you resumed reading. ‘It’s something I kept wishing for,’ your blood ran cold, and yet, at the same time, your heart almost popped out of your chest. ‘If I could get them under my tree, that’s all I’d ever need. Signed…’ your throat tightened as you spoke his name.

“Tensei.” You allowed the crumbled letter to fall from your fingers. “T-Tensei…” you repeated before falling back on the floor, feeling the back of your shoulder hit the chair. Your heart sank in your chest. Was he…in love with someone?

It hurt to think that someone wasn’t you. But from his letter, it sounded like he had loved them for a long time, and yet…‘Friends…we’re just…friends.’ That reminder hurt most of all. At the same time, you knew that as his friend, you should be happy if he was happy.

You swallowed thickly, trying to fight back tears. Maybe you didn’t have the right to feel sad. After all, it’s not like you told Tensei how you felt, at least not with your words. You frowned, trying to keep your emotions under control.

You needed to get back up, even if you didn’t want to. Taking a deep breath, you grabbed the corner of your desk, using it to pull yourself back up. The walk from your office to the lobby seemed to last forever and Tensei was the first to notice the look of despair on your face and immediately sensed something was off when you returned.

“Is something wrong?” He said, rolling over to you as fast as he could before grabbing your wrist. Your throat tightened, and you looked down at him. You wanted to snap, to demand who he was in love with and why he kept it a secret from you but knew that wouldn’t solve anything. So instead, you shrugged.

“Guess I’m just tired,” you replied before walking past him and outside to your car. He frowned and followed behind you. Maybe you were just tired, but he didn’t completely buy that. There was no way your whole personality could change in a few minutes like that.

He knew it must be something you didn’t feel like talking about, at least not right now. So, he continued to follow you in silence until you arrived at your car and opened the passenger door for him. “Do you need any help getting inside?” You asked, your tone flat. 

He aligned his wheelchair with the door and shook his head. “No, I got this,” he replied, locking his wheelchair before reaching for the handlebar on the upper side of the inside of the door. Then he grabbed onto the inside of the open door, pulling himself out of the wheelchair and into the passenger’s seat. 

You couldn’t help but look at the spectacle with some amusement despite feeling heartbroken now, Tensei could still amaze you in the simplest ways. “I can see you’re still capable all on your own,” you commented before folding the wheelchair and placing it in the backseat with your backpack.

Climbing into the driver’s seat, you put your seatbelt on and ignited the engine. The dashboard lit up blue, and your headlights illuminated the street before you. Luckily, at this time of night, the city wasn’t too busy, and you knew the way to the Iida Estate by heart. “You can turn on the radio if you want,” you suggested.

Tensei leered at you for a moment. “Sure,” he said, and soon enough, holiday jingles filled your car, drowning out the awkward silence between the two of you. After a few minutes, he leaned toward you and asked, “Is everything okay?” again. “Yeah, everything’s fine,” you replied, not wanting to let your emotions completely take over.

He didn’t deserve that, he deserved that loving friend he had always known even if that loving friend was having a hard time accepting that he could have feelings for someone else. He frowned, not exactly wanting to take those words as an answer but leaned back in his seat.

His stare was somewhat blank as he looked ahead at the darkened street in front of you, adorned with streetlights and familiar houses. Still, he couldn’t get the distressed look of your face out of his head or that look of hurt that seemed to be dancing in your eyes. 

When you arrived at the Iida Estate, Tensei gave you the code for the gate and you pulled up to the driveway. The house itself was a rare fusion of traditional and modern ecstatic, constructed from rich wood that permeated a sense of elegance that was normally associated with the Iida family.

Its tiled roofing sloped perfectly and seamlessly curved into the prominent eaves that made up each corner of the roof. The windows were constructed from wooden shoji screens, making the light from inside the estate filter through it like soft sunlight, illuminating the engawa that surrounded the outside of the house.

This light also reflected off the stark wooden veranda that encircled the building. Most importantly, you noticed the ramp in front of the entrance. That was probably the newest addition to the Iida Estate and one that was made for Tensei’s sake. 

You carefully parked your car and retrieved his wheelchair before unfolding it and rolling it over to the passenger side door which he had already opened. You made sure to lock it and assisted him as much as you could into his wheelchair before pushing him to the front door of the estate that opened to reveal his mother.

“Oh, hello Mrs. Iida,” you said, bowing respectfully. Even if you had known the Iida family for years, you remained formal…at least with Tensei’s parents. She was an older woman, with short dark hair that ended just a little past her ears.

She had soft, coal-colored eyes and wore oval-shaped glasses. Despite her high-class upbringing, she had a casual sense of style. But she seemed prone to wearing a crisp white top with a powder blue cardigan and a knee-high, navy-colored skirt with Mary Jane’s.

She smiled softly at you and folded her hands in front of her. “I’m so glad the two of you made it back safely, Tenya informed me that you would be arriving late,” she stated in her normal motherly tone. “I’m afraid that’s my fault, Mrs. Iida,” you said.

“I thought scheduling the party during the evening would reduce interruptions but…well,” you rubbed the side of your neck and her eyes widened when she noticed the bandages that covered your arm. “Hm?” You saw the way she was looking at you and suddenly remembered that yes, you had bandages on your arm. 

“Oh, this isn’t anything major!” You reassured her. The last thing you needed was for her to react like Eri did. Although you knew that was pointless. Since Tensei’s incident, she took injuries, even minor ones, very seriously, and tended to over-worry. “There was an incident in the city district of Naruhata and-” She nodded and stepped closer.

“Uh...” You flinched when her fingertips brushed along your bandaged arm. “Yes, I was fortunate enough to view it on the local news station,” you hitched your breath, oh boy. “You commanded your team very well,” you felt a sense of relief wash over you at her words.

“Oh, uh thank you, Mrs. Iida,” you said, bowing respectfully before Tensei interjected. “Y/n does an amazing job, I sure put my faith in the right person to take over my agency,” he said, playfully grinning at you. “Heh,” you gave him a half-hearted smile in return despite the dull ache in your chest.

“Even if that’s true, you still have a powerful reputation at Team Idaten,” you muttered, glancing away. The way they responded to him versus the way they responded to you surely proved that. Tensei tilted his head, opening his mouth to speak but his words fell silent when his mother laid her hand on his shoulder.

“Tensei,” she said, “why don’t you wash up and get ready for bed? I’d like to speak to Y/n alone.” You tensed up, it wasn’t like Mrs. Iida hadn’t spoken to you privately in the past, you were almost certain she viewed you as another member of the family. 

But you couldn’t fathom what she wanted to speak to you about and perhaps that’s what caused the minor anxiety you began to feel. “Oh alright,” he said before looking at you. “I look forward to tomorrow,” he grinned yet again before proceeding to roll past the front door and his mother shut it before turning to face you.

She was wearing a smile, and the air around you seeped with joyful anticipation. She reached out, taking your hand and sandwiching it between hers. “I’m so glad you’re alright, watching you on the news reminded me of Tensei.” You saw a happy gleam shine in her eyes.

“You both demonstrate accurate leadership skills and I’m so proud of both of you,” she stated, making your cheeks glow a soft pink hue. “Oh, uh, t-thank you, Mrs. Iida,” you said, glancing to the side. “Tensei has…always inspired me to do my best and…” You thought over your next words carefully.

“It’s an honor to be the leader of Team Idaten,” you pressed a hand against your chest. Your heart was fluttering again, its pace erratic. She continued to smile. “I assume that you’ve accepted the invitation Tensei extended to join our family for Christmas Eve dinner?” You nodded and she chuckled.

“That’s wonderful!” She exclaimed before tightening her grip on your hand, it wasn’t malicious, but it was clear she didn’t want you to step away just yet. “If you don’t mind, there’s something my husband and I would like to discuss with you tomorrow, before dinner,” you knitted your eyebrows.

Mrs. Iida had always been welcoming, but her husband remained distant. Over the years, the two of you had only exchanged a handful of words. Tensei insisted his father’s behavior was because he was a strict man, traditional in a sense.

In addition, he attempted to convince you that his father favored you as much as his mother, but you weren’t so sure. The thought of talking to Mr. Iida sent a chill down your spine and made your hair stand on end. “Hm? Is something wrong?” Mrs. Iida asked, and you frantically shook your head.

“Oh, n-no, nothing is wrong. Uh, I’m sorry,” you said, stepping away from her. “I’m just t-tired, yeah. It’s been a long day and during the busiest season of the year,” you awkwardly chuckle as you make your way down the ramp toward the driveway. 

“But yes, I will see you tomorrow, Mrs. Iida. Have a nice night!” You exclaimed, bowing before quickly getting into your car and driving away, leaving her perplexed. You could barely concentrate on the road as you made your way home.

The only thoughts in your mind were what Tensei’s parents, and more importantly, his father wanted to talk to you about. Did it have anything to do with the mysterious person Tensei had written in his letter? Was there going to be a wedding?

Were they going to ask you to help him plan it or threaten you to stay away from their son now that he had found someone worthy of him!? Yeah, it was safe to say you were having a panic attack over the millions of possibilities that could occur tomorrow. 

But one thing was clear, and it came as a realization after you had finally gotten home, showered, changed, and lay in your bed staring mindlessly at the ceiling. “I…have to go through with it,” as much as it hurt to think about Tensei being with someone else, even if it wasn’t confirmed yet, you were his friend.

You loved him and even if he loved someone else, you couldn’t just abandon him if he needed you. Taking a deep breath, you sighed although it didn’t ease the ache in your chest. You frowned as you turned onto your side and nuzzled your head against the pillow.

Trying to fall asleep would prove to be a challenge but it didn’t matter. Time didn’t stop, even for a broken heart. You just hoped that you’d have enough strength to deal with whatever tomorrow brought, be it for better or worse. 

[ Part III ]