Chapter Text
Chilled air combed relentlessly through my hair and the wind sending my duster far behind me like a flag. The roar of the bike loud in my ears and rumbling beneath my legs. The metal surface below my palms painfully chilled to the touch despite the warmth of my hands grabbing the handle bars. Always cold.
Decidedly ignoring any intrusive thoughts accompanying the tense ride, I considered the fateful moment that led to this memory road I found myself on.
“Hey! Hey, Mondo!”
My eyes adjust as I turn to see who the hell is calling my name this early in the morning -so damn loudly- in the middle of campus. A bubbly and familiar girl wearing sport shorts and a tank top bounds my way. Once I lock eyes on the unmistakable ponytail bouncing behind her head, I recognize the girl as my old classmate.
“Oi, Hina. What’s up? It’s uh... been a while.”
“Well, yeah!” She stops her determined sprint and huffs as she stands in front of me, hands planted firmly on her hips. “It’s been like a whole year! Or more? Oh god, that sucks to think about.” Her smile turning into an uncharacteristic frown on her face.
“Hey, don’t let me get ya down. What’d ya need me for?”
“Aw, Mondo, I’m not asking you for any favors, really! I juuuust wanted to invite you to something.” She giggled as she spoke.
The fuck could she possibly want to invite me to? It’s not like we aren’t friends or something, but…
As if she could hear me questioning myself, she continued, “I kind of missed our old group of friends, ya know?” Friends was exaggerating a bit. “And nothing against the reserve course students, but being around them so much really made me miss you guys... S-so I thought we could all get together again! For old times sake...?”
I’d never really thought of it before. I sorta assumed we all graduated, went to do or different things, and would probably never see each other again so… getting to hang out with everyone again? Do I even want to bother. What would they even be like?
What am I thinking, it’s only been a little over a year, they can’t all have changed that much. I sure as hell haven’t.
“Yeah... sounds like a great idea, I’ll be there.” Instinctively I ran my hand over her hair and ruffled it a bit. I flashed my most encouraging smile, but to be honest I don’t think it was that convincing. Nothing ever stops Hina from being a ray of positive sunshine though.
“Oh my gosh, thank you, Mondo!” She leapt into my arms and hugged me tightly. Man, she’s so damn strong! “This is gonna be the best! We can all start hanging out again, or even do a study group! I bet Taka would love that.” She giggled.
I froze.
“Uh, yeah, sure... Whatever, jus’ tell me where I need ta be an I’ll be there.” I shoved my hands into my pants pockets and resisted the urge to scowl. Hina looked up at me, catching my sad attempt at hiding my pissed off look.
Hina looked understanding. “You know… he’s not a bad guy. And who knows, maybe you two will becomes friends!”
I scoffed and tore my eyes away from her sickeningly cheerful face. “Yeah, yeah... Always trying to make everyone get along. You’ve got good intentions, Hina, an I promise I won’t ruin the reunion by being an ass.”
“Thanks, Mondo. I really owe you.” She pulled away from the hug and backed up a few steps, placing her hands behind her back as her eyes trailed downwards, looking thoughtful. “Sakura misses you, too. She’ll be really excited to see you again.”
“Oh yeah?” An involuntary smile snuck up on my face. “Damn, it would be fun to spar again... Ya know what? I’m really pumped for this whole thing now.”
Hina looked back at me, seeming to be genuinely happy at the stupid thought.
After she checked a dozen times to make sure she had my correct phone number, she waved goodbye and sprinted away. Looks like I really couldn’t get out of this one.
Hopefully, this wouldn’t be a fuckin’ disaster.
My motorcycle rumbled to a stop outside of the house that Hina sent me the address for. Taking a deep breath in a useless attempt to calm my crackling nerves, I kicked down the stand and walked up to the front door. Before my knuckles could even make contact with the wood, I stopped. Staring at my fist that refused to cooperate with the action, I gave a heavy sigh.
What the hell am I actually doing here? I don’t think anyone besides Hina would actually want to see me after our time at Hope’s Peak. Hell, it ain’t like I ever fit in there in the first place. Surrounded by Ultimates? Gimme a fuckin’ break… Was never my damn M.O. and Kiyotaka Ishi-fuckin-maru sure as hell didn’t help make me feel any more welcome. And now not only was I going to be face to face with that asshole tonight, because of course he would never decline an invitation to a social event from one of his beloved classmates, but I was also going to have to deal with entitled fuckin’ Togami, an “perfect” as ever Maizono, and-
Suddenly, the door swung open in my face revealing the cheerful girl who had invited me here in the first place.
“Mondo, you’re here! I heard a motorcycle out front, but no one at the door… so I was coming out to get you. Come on in!” She moved her body sideways and outstretched her arm gesturing me to come inside.
“Yeah, thanks.” My eyes immediately noticed the alcoholic cider she had in her outstretched hand. At least there would be booze tonight. Once inside the house, I followed in her stead and wandered past the decorated walls of the short hallway. It was littered with pictures of friends, tournaments, and medals that hung perfectly. Once we were in the main room she loudly announced, “Fast and furious has finally arrived!”
She must have been drinking a bit to come up with something sooo funny. I shook my head lightly at the bad joke and turned my attention to the other side of the living room. There, I found myself making eye contact with a certain programmer I hadn’t realized I’d missed so much.
“Chi! You bastard, come here!” I immediately ran over to them, enveloping them in a suffocating hug and spinning them around a few times. “Aw, man, I’ve missed you so fuckin’ much!” Small hands made useless attempts to hit my arms away as they giggled into my shoulder. “What the hell, have you been purposefully avoiding me? I haven’t heard from you since goddamn orientation.” I chuckled lightheartedly.
Once back on the ground, they straightened out their pant leg with swift palms. “A-ah, no, of course not! I-I’ve missed you a lot. I promise I haven’t been ignoring you... my course work has just been keeping me so busy.” They shifted nervously a bit. “Honestly, Hina is the only person I’ve kept in contact with since we started college, a-and I was so happy that she invited me here with everyone. I missed you all so much… s-so I promise I’ll be a better friend from now on!” They declared as they balled their fists in determination.
I patted the smaller one’s shoulder reassuringly. “Yer fine, don’t worry. But yeah, let’s stay in contact from now on.” I couldn’t help but smile at my old friend. They were one of the only people who really knew me at Hope’s Peak... and looking at them now, the person they’ve become in such a short time, it’s endearing. They look a lot more comfortable. Their hair had grown out a bit and they wore it in a short bun, with the loose strands tucked behind their ears. It’s a good look on em.
I flash a crooked but genuine smile back at them and straightened up to take a good look around the rest of the room. Before I can fully scan, my eyes land on the large athletic figure heading straight towards me. “Sakura!”
She smiles endearingly and places a firm hand on my shoulder. “Mondo. It has been too long.” Her eyes scan over me quickly. “You have not faltered in your training, I see.”
I scoff jokingly. “Like I ever fuckin’ could. I may not be headin’ the gang anymore, but I can’t become a wimp. I’ve got a reputation to uphold, ya know.”
She chuckles and we chat briefly about her recent championships, the training regimens she’s been creating for other students in her classes, as well as a recent hobby she picked up (at Hina’s request). She’s still as kind and determined as ever. It is nice to see her again.
It’s actually really nice to see everyone.
Once Sakura shifts her attention to Chihiro, who previously had gotten caught in conversation with our host, she asks how they’ve been doing in their training efforts. I laugh under my breathe when I see their shoulders tense at the question. They haven’t been working out at all, hah. Leaving them to fumble over their answer, I take the chance look around the room again.
The nervous lump in my throat doesn’t go away, even when I don’t find what I’m looking for.
Not many people from our old class actually bothered to show up. Somehow, that doesn’t surprise me. Jackasses. After thinking about the noticeably absent faces, I catch sight of Leon and Sayaka on the couch chatting it up with each other. They really do look like not a day has passed. Always attached to the hip like that. I guess that’s just how musicians are. Birds of a feather and whatnot.
Out of the corner of my eye, a flash. It’s nothing, ignore it.
I make my way to the couch and kick the ex-baseball stars leg. “Yo, you jus’ gonna leave me hanging?” I extend a closed fist to the red head and see his eyes finally detach from Sayaka’s face for the first time since I’d arrived.
“Mondo?! Holy shit, dude! It’s been forever.” Leon’s fist meets mine and he stands to chat with me.
“Only a year, fuck, not like we’re old people or something.”
“Sometimes it feels like we are, hahaha!” A bundle of blue hair emerges from below and cuts in. “I’m in physical therapy right now from a performance fall and I feel old.”
“Shit, they got you busting’ your legs up there or something? That’s not right.”
Sayaka waives her hand at me in dismissal and flashes her oh-so-perfect manufactured smile. “Oh, no, not at all! It was purely my fault. A simple mistake, really…” Leon slings his arm around her in response. “Hey, at least you’ve got a bit of time off now for it! They work you to the bone, babe.” She giggles in acknowledgement and I decidedly ignore the comment. Whatever their relationship is, it ain’t none of my business, and frankly? I don’t give a shit.
I decide to go find where Hina is stashing her drinks, and I see a few more ugly mugs on my way to the kitchen. Yamada is here, of all people. Hiro is in the corner giving Naegi a reading of some sort, based on the shocked look on the lucky students face. Finally I round a corner, sure that I’ve found what I’m looking for…
“Oh fuckin’ hell! You scared the shit out of me!”
Sitting quietly against a countertop is the ever mysterious and silent Ikusaba. Her eyes piercing into me, although her relaxed posture shows no signs of purposely being threatening. She’s always been like that. Guess it just comes with being the Ultimate Soldier or whatever.
She says nothing and raises the glass bottle she is casually holding, using her other hand to point to the fridge at the end of the kitchen counter.
“Thanks…” I mumble. Shoving past, I select some random beer and quickly retreat from the kitchen. It ain’t like she’s a bad person or anything, just… she kind of wigs me out.
“Oof!” Another bundle of hair collides with me as I exit the kitchen, luckily, it’s just Hina. “Oh, perfect, I was just about to tell you where you could find those! Help yourself to anything you like, everyone’s already started drinking.” She giggled into her palm as if it was some secret. This is a college party for fucks sake.
“Yeah.” I scoffed lightheartedly. “I can tell.”
Suddenly she is looking around with a concerned look on her face, mumbling almost to herself. “But it’s funny, where did he go?”
Huh?
“Oh well, that’s okay! I’ll just get as many people as I can for the party games, come on!” Next thing I know she’s grabbed my wrist and is tugging me along to the living room.
“Alright, everybody, it’s time for some fun! Meet in the living room, wooo!” I follow helplessly as I’m lead to the couch and pushed into the cushions with a firm ‘pompf’! Leon happily sits himself right next to me and kicks his feet up on the coffee table, beer already at his lips. “Ya think it’s gonna be a sexy game?” He slurs, wiggling his eyebrows stupidly. I push his shoulder playfully, accidentally pushing him right back into the lap of his girlfriend. “Don’t be stupid, man. Keep your gross thoughts to yourself.”
As the others take their spots, conversing lightly, Hina pops back around the corner with another victim involuntarily being strung along by her antics. Only this person is probably the only sober one here. I decidedly avoid them and give Chihiro a cheeky wink. They laugh and take a sip of their drink of choice.
Hina proudly takes her place at the front of the room and comically clears her throat, like she’s about to make some grand announcement.
“I present to you… drumroll please-“ Sakura and a few others play along and taps their palms to their thighs rhythmically. “Ta-da! Seven minutes in heaveeeen, ooooo~”
In the hand she pulled from behind her back is a bowl filled to the brim with strips of stark white paper. Each folded neatly, with small hints of ink visible from afar.
“Um… what is… seven minutes in heaven?” A nervous question comes from Naegi. He is quickly interrupted by Yasuhiro who decides to throw his insight into the ring. “I gotchu, Makoto-bro! It’s a game of luck where you and one other person are selected to spend seven minutes in a dark and confined room together and do whatever you want! With your luck, bro, you’re totally gonna get picked! Congrats!”
The lucky student seemed to freeze upon understanding, and almost the whole room burst with laughter at his reaction.
“Oh, don’t worry, bro. If I get picked as well, you can get another oracle reading, pro bono, man! That’s a great use of seven minutes, if you ask me.”
Makoto reluctantly nods and laughs it off as Hina collects herself and begins to twirl her hand around the whirlpool of paper. “Okay, okay- Let’s see who the lucky pair is…”
A few of the group members look intently with anticipation, namely Yamada and Leon, as the first slip of paper is slowly pulled from the masses and unfolded with deft fingers.
“Ooo! Our first lucky participant is the one, the only, Mondo Owada~” Hina says in her most stereotypical T.V. Host voice.
I throw my head back against the couch and laugh as Leon playfully punches me, commenting about how he will ‘kill me if I get seven minutes with Sayaka.’ She doesn’t seem to happy about the drunken connotation and gives him a fairly solid strike on the arm, which gets him to retreat his assault on my side for now.
“Next up, Mondo’s lucky partner will be…” She slowly opens the next slip of paper, carefully reading the name listed there and her eyes widen. With surprise, happiness, shock, fear, who knows. But what she says next…
“Taka!”
Immediately, wide scarlet eyes meet mine.
Fuck, here we go.