Kimiko's POV
I take back every nice thing I ever said about Fuyumi.
The violet dress she had picked out for my date clung to me like a second skin and the heels she requested I wore cut of the blood flow to my toes. Gazing at myself in the mirror, I had to admit, the outfit looked nice. But it wasn't me. I told myself that I would be honest during this date and this outfit, as pretty as it is, is anything but reflective of my personality.
I began searching through my closet in an attempt to find something slightly more comfortable and settled on a plain black knee length dress that flared out at the waist. Although the bodice was bodycon, it would feel ike pyjamas compared to the torture device that Fuyumi picked out. I slipped off the heels, much to the appreciation of my toes and placed my favourite black converse beside my outfit. It looks good and more importantly it looked comfortable. I smiled to myself before glancing at the clock to see I had another 15 minutes before Hawks got here. God, why does 15 minutes feel like both alarmingly quick and slow at the same time?!
I struggled like a dying seal out of the original dress and slipped on my new one alongside my converse. After glancing at myself in the mirror once more and nodding with approval I froze. The locket Touya gave me still hung around my neck. It was simple and perfect, the only piece of jewelry I had ever worn consistently since receiving it.
But should I take it off?
I wanted this to be a fresh start. I want to move on but the memories of Touya pulled me back like gravity. My fingertips danced along the cold metal locket and my mind was taken back to when I first received it.
Flashback Kimiko's POV
I was sitting cross legged on my bedroom floor gently rubbing Peanut's feathered head as he rested beside me. As of 2 minutes ago I was officially 16. I wasn't really too bother about it but having received a text from Touya at exactly midnight waking both myself and Peanut from our sleep, the feeling of the future began to sink in. I was 16 now. My teacher would be handing out career forms this year. The future was stretched out in front of me, a twisting ambiguous path, waiting for me to make a move. But the only problem is I have no idea what I want to do. Most people my age wanted to be heroes. Did I want to be one too? My quirk isn't exactly suited for fighting. Besides Touya always goes on about how awful heroes are anyway. But should that even impact my decision? As I sighed heavily two cold hands covered my eyes from behind.
"Guess who?" Hot breath fanned out against my ear making me shiver but also tense up with surprise. I spun around at an alarming pace only to be greeted with the sight of my boyfriend Touya. His red hair was messier than usual and deep set bags rested under his eyes. He looked both exhausting and enticing.
"Touya!" I yelled, glomping him, startling Peanut and knocking both Touya and myself to the ground.
Touya let out a muffled laugh but allowed his arms to wrap tightly around my waist.
"Shh not so loud babydoll, your parents might hear" he whispered out in a raspy voice close to my ear.
I pulled back slightly to gaze at him once more. His father had sent him off to a governmental training facility for the past few months and seeing him had become such a rare occasion. I got so giddy at his birthday text, thinking it was the closest form of contact I would get with him for now. But being in his lap with his warm arms locking me in place wrapped me up in a familiar comfortable blanket.
"You sound so raspy?" I mocked in a deep voice. He lightly giggled before pressing his face to the crook of his neck and inhaling deeply.
"Just over using my quirk. Don't worry about it. I missed you doll" he mumbled against my skin. I could tell he wanted to avoid the topic of his training so I'd let it slide for now.
"I missed you too Touya" I whisper back making sure to keep as quiet as possible. I moved to face him before closing my eyes and connecting our lips in a sweet kiss. Touya moaned softly at the contact, tightening his hold on me and pushing me further into his lap. I brought my hands up to become lost in his messy red locks as our lips moved in sync.
Just as the kiss was getting more heated, we were interrupted by the high pitch squawk of "That was legitness".
We break apart giggling slightly at Peanut who sat on my side table staring level at our faces.
"Yeah it was," I couldn't help but quote back whilst petting his head lightly.
"Seriously man? Every damn time." Touya muttered glaring at the bird who seemed oblivious to his presence now that he was receiving a head pat. Touya and Peanut never really got along, they were both too possessive.
"Aww is my handsome boy not getting enough attention?" I asked sweetly watching a small blush dance across Touya's cheeks in the dark.
"Maybe" he muttered pulling me close once more. He began to place delicate kisses along my neck, tickling me lightly.
"I was talking to Peanut" I grinned much to Touya's dismay.
"Well then it looks like I won't be giving you your birthday present then" he states smugly pulling away and pretending to get up. I quickly pull him back down littering his face with kisses and causing him to chuckle softly.
"Peanut may be my handsome boy but you're my handsome man. Besides it would be a shame for you to have come all this way without giving me my present" I grinned playfully placing a sloppy exagerated kiss on his still flushed cheek.
Touya smiled and reached into his back pocket still keeping me steady in his lap with a hand resting on my waist. I tried to look behind his back but he began to lightly tickle my sides until I gave in and waited patiently.
"Okay, close your eyes doll" he whispered. I closed my eyes and waited until I felt cold metal against my neck, jumping slightly from the cold. After several minutes of Touya trying to put the (what I presumed was a necklace) on he sighed in frustration.
"I can't find the damn catch in this light." He muttered and I couldn't help but laugh. I felt behind my neck with my eyes remaining closed and managed to slip my hands under his and secure the clasp.
"Show off" Touya grumbled upon seeing my smug face as I opened my eyes.
"I was supposed to put it on you all romantic like." He continued pouting slightly. Oh my God why is he always so adorable?! I poke his cheek lightly before getting up from his lap to look at my reflection in my wardrobe mirror.
"It's beautiful" I gasp slightly whist running my fingers over the small heart shaped locket. I opened the locket amd was met with a photo of myself and Touya when we were age five. Bright smiles and freckles. Missing baby teeth and heads pressed tightly together. Times have changed but at the heart of our relationship was our childhood friendship that had blossomed into love. Tears began to well up in my eyes as I stroked the tiny photo, remembering how simple everything was then.
"Happy birthday doll. I thought of you when I saw it. Because it's shaped like a heart ... and you are my heart ... and - wait are you crying?" Touya's eyes widened and he began to panic rushing over to me and pulling me into a tight hug, his chin resting on my head.
"Sorry Touya. I've just been thinking about the future and I've missed you and I just wish things could be like they used to" I sobbed into his chest referring to the previous year before Touya left for the training facility.
"Hey, doll. Look at me" he whispered using his fingertips to gently tilt my chin towards his face. As I looked up I was met with the bright ocean eyes I have grown so accustomed to.
"I know this year has sucked. But once this training is over I can leave my old man behind. We can move away. Just you and me. We can start over somewhere else, away from all this crap. We can get married and get a house with a picket fence and teach Peanut to not interrupt our make-out sessions." Touya said wiping away my tears whilst I began to laugh at his last comment.
"I'm not going to pretend to have a foresight quirk, I don't know what's in our future. But I know we'll be together and that's all I want baby doll." Touya whispered before placing a feather light kiss upon my forehead.
"I love you" I sniffed smiling up at him whilst gripping the back of his tear drenched shirt tightly.
"I love you too" he murmured still stoking my face with delicate fingertips.
"And I love the locket too. Even if I started ugly crying when I opened it" I laughed. Touya pulled back slightly and began to smirk.
"Eh I've seen you look worse" he laughed whilst I playfully hit his arm making his raise his hands in mock surrender.
We spent the rest of the night cuddled up together sharing stolen kisses and speaking of our future together in hushed voices. Although Touya had to leave through my window before my parents woke up and before the trainers noticed his absence. That day was still the best birthday I had ever had.
End of Flashback
My fingers danced along the closed locket. I hadn't opened it in over a year, knowing that looking at the deep blue eyes would make me cry even more than they did when I first opened it. So much for our future together. I fumbled weakly with the clasp managing to undo it and hold the locked in my palm still unsure about taking it off.
However, my thoughts were interrupted by the loud ring of my front door, indicating that Hawks had arrived. I gazed once more at my locket. He is gone. The future he spoke of was gone too. There is no turning back from that. I nodded to myself and placed the locket on my vanity table before taking a deep breath, smoothing out my dress and walking determinedly towards the awaiting Hawk at my door.