Chapter 30: Dares, Truths, and Romantic Sleuths

The short break had done wonders for the general mood in the suite. Between the warm tea Momo had prepared and the snacks scattered across the coffee table, everyone had relaxed as they enjoyed the evening together. Even Kinoko, who had initially looked ready to disappear beneath her long bangs whenever someone addressed her, had begun contributing to conversations without needing Mina to drag the words out of her.

Izuku, meanwhile, had managed to recover from yet another unexpected display of his physique… mostly. He sat comfortably beside Ochako, sipping his tea as Eiko enthusiastically described an obstacle course she'd attempted during the festival. Apparently, losing to Katsumi and Masako hadn't dampened the redhead's enthusiasm for physical challenges in the slightest.

Eventually, however, Toru decided that everyone had relaxed for quite long enough.

"Alright, everybody!" the invisible girl announced, clapping her gloved hands together as she leaned forward on the loveseat. "Break time's over! We've still got plenty of juicy secrets to uncover!"

Mina enthusiastically raised her cup in agreement. "Hear, hear! We can't call it girls' night if we spend the whole evening drinking tea! We need gossip!"

Tenka adjusted her glasses, giving the pink girl a mildly disapproving look. "I would argue that drinking tea is a perfectly respectable way to spend an evening with one's peers."

"Yeah, but it’s not making anybody blush," Mina countered, grinning shamelessly.

Tsuyu placed her empty teacup on the table and reached toward the bottle. "I think that's what you're really after, Mina-chan, kero."

Mina simply winked.

With everyone's attention back on the game, Tsuyu gave the bottle a smooth spin. It rotated several times before gradually slowing, eventually coming to rest with its neck pointed toward Mina. The pink-skinned girl practically bounced on her cushion.

"Ooh! Me again!" she exclaimed, clasping her hands together. "Alright, Tsu! Hit me!"

Tsuyu tilted her head. "Truth or Dare?"

"Let's change things up a little," Mina replied, leaning back with a confident grin. "Truth!"

Tsuyu regarded her for a moment, her large eyes blinking slowly as she considered the opportunity. Then she asked the question with the same casual tone she might have used to inquire about the weather. "Are you always this much of an instigator?"

Eiko slapped a hand against her knee, grinning broadly. "Do you really need to ask?"

Mina, rather than looking remotely embarrassed by the accusation, placed one hand dramatically against her chest.

"Absolutely!" she declared with unrestrained pride. "I love stirring the pot!"

Tenka sighed, seemingly unsurprised by the admission. "At least you're honest about it."

"Hey, somebody's gotta keep things interesting!" Mina countered, spreading her hands toward the assembled group. "Especially when romance is involved. You've got cute couples, secret crushes, people who get embarrassed over the tiniest things..."

Her golden eyes briefly flickered toward Izuku, who immediately grew suspicious. "...and occasionally, you get all three at once!"

Toru dissolved into giggles beside her, while Ochako leaned more firmly against Izuku's shoulder.

Mina continued, looking thoroughly pleased with herself. "Besides, everybody's having fun, right? A little harmless embarrassment is practically the whole point of girls' night!"

Tsuyu nodded thoughtfully. "That's what I figured, kero. I just wanted confirmation."

"Well, consider it confirmed!" Mina laughed, flashing an enthusiastic thumbs-up. "And for the record, we haven't even reached this evening's full potential yet!"

Izuku looked toward the ceiling, feeling a vague sense of foreboding. 'Well, that’s not reassuring.'

Across from him, Toru cheered at the announcement, apparently delighted by the promise of additional mischief. With her turn concluded, Mina grabbed the bottle and spun it, watching eagerly as the plastic whirled across the coffee table.

It eventually stopped in front of Momo.

"Oh, perfect!" Mina exclaimed, grinning at the dark-haired girl. "YaoMomo! Truth or Dare?"

Momo considered her options, glancing toward Eiko and Izuku as she remembered their earlier physical challenges. Both had seemed to enjoy their dares, and Mina's demonstration of flexibility had been genuinely impressive, even if some of its more provocative elements had escaped her notice. Perhaps it was time to try something different herself.

"I believe I'll attempt a dare this time," Momo answered, smiling with quiet confidence.

Mina's expression brightened considerably. 'Oh, this is gonna be good.'

The pink girl tapped her chin, pretending to deliberate over her options. There were countless things she could ask of their elegant classmate, but perhaps the most entertaining approach would be something that sounded completely innocent.

She snapped her fingers. "Alright, YaoMomo! I dare you to give someone a quick shoulder massage!"

Momo blinked, then smiled brightly. "Oh! How lovely. I would be delighted to!"

Mina's grin faltered slightly at the enthusiastic response. "Really? Just like that?"

"Certainly," Momo replied, sitting straighter. "I've received massages quite frequently myself, particularly to alleviate the strain that comes with my rather... considerable physique."

Her gaze dropped briefly to her chest, and she gave a small, self-conscious smile. "Back discomfort can be troublesome, especially after prolonged periods of standing or studying. I've always appreciated the assistance, so returning the favor sounds wonderful."

Mina pressed her lips together, struggling not to laugh. 'Oh, Momo. You sweet, innocent angel.'

Momo glanced toward the petite brunette sitting beside her.

"Komori, would you mind if I practiced on you?" she asked politely, clasping her hands with an earnest smile. "I promise I'll be gentle."

Kinoko blinked in surprise. "M-Me?"

"Only if you're comfortable, of course," Momo assured her, looking almost hopeful at the opportunity.

Kinoko looked into her classmate's sincere, slightly pleading eyes and immediately felt her resolve crumble.

"O-Okay," she agreed, giving a timid nod. "I guess that sounds nice."

"Wonderful!" The bubbly, elegant girl cheered.

Momo rose gracefully from the sofa and moved around behind it, positioning herself directly behind Kinoko. She gently placed her hands upon the smaller girl's shoulders and began working her fingers into the muscles beneath the fabric of her sundress.

Kinoko's shoulders relaxed almost immediately.

"Oh," she murmured, looking pleasantly surprised. "That actually feels really nice."

Momo smiled with satisfaction. "I'm glad! Please tell me if the pressure is uncomfortable."

Unfortunately, Momo's enthusiasm for doing a thorough job led her to lean farther over the back of the sofa. Her generous chest settled against the top of Kinoko's head.

Kinoko went completely rigid. Her face turned scarlet as she became acutely aware of the soft weight resting against her hair. At the same time, Momo continued massaging her shoulders without the slightest indication that she'd noticed anything unusual.

'W-Wait, wait, wait!' Kinoko thought frantically, her hands gripping the hem of her dress. 'She's... she's right there! How am I supposed to concentrate on relaxing?!'

Momo, entirely oblivious, continued her work.

"Your shoulders are quite tense, Komori," she observed kindly, adjusting her grip. "You really should take care not to overexert yourself. It's especially important for aspiring heroes to maintain proper muscular recovery."

"G-Good advice," Kinoko squeaked, staring straight ahead.

Momo leaned slightly farther forward, and Kinoko's face somehow turned even redder.

Mina buried her face against Toru's shoulder, her entire body shaking with suppressed laughter. 'This is so much better than I imagined!'

Tenka watched Momo's technique with genuine interest, apparently focusing entirely on the practical application.

"Your technique appears quite effective, Yaoyorozu," she remarked approvingly. "Have you received any formal instruction?"

"Only a little," Momo answered cheerfully, finally straightening and removing her hands from Kinoko's shoulders. "My family's massage therapist taught me some basic methods."

She smiled down at her smaller classmate. "Well, Komori? Was that satisfactory?"

Kinoko slowly turned her head, looking as though she'd just survived a particularly bewildering experience.

"G-Good!" she stammered. "V-Very good! Thank you!"

Momo clasped her hands happily. "I'm delighted to hear it!"

She returned to her seat, completely unaware of the spectacle she'd created.

Across from her, Mina finally lost the battle against her laughter. "Pfft... Ahahaha!"

Momo tilted her head in confusion. "Is something funny, Ashido?"

"N-Nothing!" Mina wheezed, wiping an imaginary tear from her eye. "You just did such a good job!"

Kinoko quietly lowered her face into her hands. 'My face is turning into an Amanita muscaria.'

With her dare completed, Momo happily reached for the bottle and gave it another graceful spin. The bottle rotated several times before coming to rest and pointing toward Ochako.

"Oh!" Ochako exclaimed, looking pleasantly surprised. "My turn again?"

Momo smiled. "It would seem so. Truth or Dare, Uraraka?"

Ochako considered the question before settling comfortably against Izuku.

"Truth!" she answered, figuring that a question from Momo would probably be relatively harmless.

Momo nodded thoughtfully. "Actually, there is something I've been meaning to ask you since we first met."

Ochako blinked. "Really?"

"Yes," Momo replied, studying her face with growing recognition. "I've always preferred academic literature over fashion magazines, but I do occasionally encounter catalogs and advertisements. I couldn't help noticing that you resemble someone I remember seeing in several campaigns."

Izuku smiled knowingly as Ochako's expression became slightly bashful.

Momo tilted her head. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but did you happen to be a model?"

Ochako rubbed the back of her neck, offering a sheepish smile. "Ahaha... Yeah, actually. I used to model professionally."

The response immediately captured everyone's attention.

"WAIT, WHAT?!" Eiko exclaimed, nearly falling forward from her chair.

Toru gasped dramatically. "You're a model?!"

"Was," Ochako corrected gently, holding up a finger. "I'm retired now. I wanted to focus on becoming a hero."

Momo's face brightened.

"I knew it!" she exclaimed, looking thoroughly pleased with herself. "I remember some of your work now! You appeared in several scientific campaigns, didn't you? I believe there was also a particularly lovely advertisement featuring spring-themed formalwear."

“Whoa.” Ochako blinked in surprise. "You actually remember that?"

"Of course!" Momo replied warmly. "You photographed beautifully. I recall thinking the campaign was especially tasteful."

Ochako's cheeks turned pink. "Aw, thanks, Yaoyurozu. That's really sweet."

Kinoko leaned forward, her interest suddenly piqued.

"Y-You worked as a professional model?" she asked, her eyes brightening. "That's amazing. Lots of idols do modeling work too."

Ochako nodded. "Yeah! Actually, I got to work alongside a few singers and performers during different campaigns. It was pretty fun."

Kinoko looked delighted by the revelation.

Before she could ask anything further, however, Mina leaned forward with a positively wicked grin. "So, O~cha~ko..."

Ochako's smile faltered. 'Uh-oh.'

Mina rested her chin in her palms. "What kind of modeling are we talking about?"

Ochako blinked innocently. "Um, lots of different kinds? Mostly science stuff. But with, you know, Casual clothes, dresses, seasonal collections..."

Toru leaned forward eagerly. "Swimwear?"

Ochako's cheeks warmed. "Well, yeah. Sometimes."

Mina's grin widened. "Lingerie?"

Ochako's face turned crimson. "M-Mina!"

"Oh my gosh, you totally did!" Toru exclaimed, clasping her hands together.

Momo looked mildly surprised, though not particularly scandalized. "Such work is fairly common in the fashion industry, is it not?"

"Exactly!" Mina replied, looking delighted to have found an unexpected ally. "Which means Ochako probably has some seriously scandalous photos!"

Ochako covered her cheeks. "I mean, there were a few more mature shoots, but I wasn't doing anything weird!"

"Nobody said weird!" Mina countered, laughing. "We're talking scandalous! Sexy!"

Toru leaned closer, practically vibrating with curiosity. "Do you still have any of those pictures? Come on, show us one!"

Ochako glanced helplessly toward Izuku. He had been watching the conversation with an affectionate smile, but the increasingly aggressive questioning finally prompted him to intervene.

"Hey, wait a second," Izuku remarked, raising his free hand. "Didn't you two stop me earlier because I was asking too many questions about Yaoyorozu's Quirk?"

Mina blinked, and Toru paused.

Izuku smiled with just a hint of playful satisfaction. "Shouldn't the same rule apply here? Ochako already answered the question."

Tsuyu nodded from her beanbag. "He's right, kero. We shouldn't turn one Truth into an interrogation."

Tenka immediately straightened her glasses.

"Precisely!" she declared, looking thoroughly approving. "Uraraka has fulfilled the requirements of her turn. Any additional questions must be reserved for future opportunities!"

Mina sighed dramatically. "Awww, you're no fun!"

Toru slumped against the loveseat. "But we were getting to the good stuff!"

Ochako gave Izuku's hand a grateful squeeze.

"Thanks, Izuku," she whispered, smiling warmly.

He returned the smile. "Anytime."

Across from them, Mina and Toru exchanged a suspiciously meaningful glance. Neither appeared particularly discouraged.

'We'll get those pictures eventually,' Mina thought, her grin returning. ‘We need a dare!’

Ochako, recognizing the look, decided that the safest course of action was to get her turn over with as quickly as possible. She grabbed the bottle and gave it a vigorous spin. It whirled across the table before gradually slowing toward Eiko.

The redhead brightened immediately. "Aw, yeah! My turn again!"

Ochako's eyes sparkled with sudden inspiration. "Truth or Dare, Eiko?"

"Dare!" Eiko answered enthusiastically, flexing one arm. "Hit me with something good!"

Ochako grinned. "Okay! I dare you to bench-press Mina ten times!"

For a moment, Eiko simply stared at her, then her face split into an enormous smile. "HELL YEAH!"

Mina burst into delighted laughter. "Oh my gosh, I get to be the weight?!"

Ochako nodded, looking immensely pleased with herself. "Yep! Ten repetitions!"

Eiko sprang to her feet and rolled her shoulders, looking as though she'd just been offered the greatest opportunity of her life. "Easy! Come here, Pinky!"

Mina skipped eagerly into the open space beside the coffee table, throwing her arms outward. "Presenting the fabulous Mina Ashido, your beautiful and highly aerodynamic exercise equipment!"

Eiko laughed as she approached. "Alright, hold still a second. I don't wanna drop you."

Using her Body Manipulation Quirk, Eiko subtly reinforced the muscles supporting her arms and adjusted the shape of her hands so that her grip would maintain better stability. After confirming that Mina was comfortable, she carefully lifted the smaller girl into a secure horizontal position.

Mina immediately struck a ridiculous pose. "Behold! The world's cutest dumbbell!"

Toru cheered from the loveseat. "Go, Eiko!"

Eiko grinned and began her repetitions, raising Mina above her chest before lowering her in smooth, controlled motions. Not long after, she completed the final press, then carefully lowered Mina back to the floor.

Mina immediately threw both hands skyward. "TA-DAAA!"

The room erupted into applause.

Eiko flexed both arms proudly, looking thoroughly pleased with herself. "Challenge complete!"

Ochako clapped enthusiastically. "That was amazing!"

Izuku grinned at his roommate. It had only been a day since Izuku changed her quirk from Hardening to Body Manipulation, so seeing it in action was a treat. "Seriously impressive, Kirishima. Your control over your Body Manipulation is really good."

Eiko positively beamed. "Thanks, bro!"

Mina wrapped an arm around the redhead's shoulders, laughing happily. "And I didn't even get dropped! Ten outta ten, would recommend being picked up by this baddie!"

After returning to her chair, Eiko eagerly grabbed the bottle. "Alright! Who's next?"

She gave it a powerful spin, perhaps a little too powerful. The bottle shot across the table, wobbling dangerously near the edge. Fortunately, the bottle lost momentum just before falling and spun back toward the center, eventually coming to rest in front of Tenka.

Eiko grinned. "Oh, perfect! Iida!"

Tenka looked down at the bottle before adjusting her glasses. "Very well. I believe I shall attempt a dare."

Several girls looked surprised.

Mina raised an eyebrow. "Oho! Look at Iida getting adventurous!"

Tenka straightened proudly. "I am perfectly capable of challenging myself, Ashido."

"Hmm... A challenge for Iida..." Eiko rubbed her chin thoughtfully before her expression brightened. "Oh! I know!"

She pointed enthusiastically toward Tenka's legs. "Earlier at the festival, we were talkin’, and you mentioned knowing some pretty cool leg-based capture techniques, right?"

Tenka nodded. "Indeed. While my family's fighting style emphasizes speed and precision, I've also studied several grappling techniques to improve my close-quarters capabilities."

Eiko grinned. "Then I dare you to show us a capture technique using those killer legs of yours!"

“Killer? I would never aim to kill with my legs! However…” Tenka considered the request. "A demonstration of controlled restraint techniques would certainly be educational," she agreed. "Although I would require a willing practice partner."

Eiko immediately turned toward Izuku. "Midoriya!"

Izuku blinked. "Huh?"

Eiko shot him a thumbs up. "You're up!"

He pointed toward himself. "Me?"

Eiko nodded enthusiastically. "Come on, bro! You're always interested in learning new fighting techniques, right?"

Izuku's hesitation lasted approximately half a second.

"Actually, yeah!" he admitted, his expression brightening. "I'd love to see how Iida adapts grappling techniques to complement Engine!"

Tenka looked toward him, visibly relieved by his enthusiasm. "Are you certain, Midoriya? I assure you that I will exercise appropriate caution."

Izuku nodded eagerly. "Of course! I trust you."

Tenka's expression softened slightly.

'He trusts me so readily,' she thought, adjusting her glasses to conceal a faint blush. 'I must ensure the demonstration is conducted flawlessly.'

Izuku moved into the open space beside the coffee table, sitting on the carpet as Tenka joined him. The girls shifted forward to watch.

Tenka began explaining the principles of grappling, outlining how heroes could restrain dangerous opponents without relying exclusively on overwhelming force. Izuku listened attentively, occasionally asking questions about how she compensated for the mechanical structures of Engine around her calves.

Eventually, Tenka settled onto the floor beside him.

"For this demonstration," she explained, "I shall perform a controlled triangle choke. It is important to understand that this maneuver can be dangerous if performed carelessly, so I will not apply actual choking pressure."

Izuku nodded seriously. "Understood."

Tenka guided him into position, treating him as a mock villain who had already been brought to the ground. She shifted onto her back and carefully arranged her legs around his upper body, demonstrating how a grappler could use positioning and leverage to immobilize an opponent.

It was only when Izuku's head settled between her thighs that Tenka realized something rather important. She wasn't wearing her usual training clothes. Instead, she'd changed into a comfortable pair of thin pajama shorts before the gathering, leaving most of her muscular thighs bare. And Izuku Midoriya's face was currently nestled between them.

'O-Oh goodness.' Tenka's composure faltered. Her face warmed as she became acutely aware of their proximity. His fluffy hair tickled at her inner thighs, and his breath tingled her skin.

Izuku, meanwhile, was experiencing a similar crisis. 'Okay. Triangle choke. Focus on the technique. It's a perfectly legitimate grappling maneuver. There's absolutely nothing unusual about this situation.'

Tenka adjusted her position slightly.

Izuku swallowed. 'Except Iida has really strong legs. Really, really strong… sexy legs.'

He tried to concentrate on the mechanics of the hold, but the warmth of her thighs and the unexpectedly intimate position were making that considerably more difficult than he'd anticipated.

Tenka looked down at him, her cheeks increasingly pink.

"A-Are you comfortable, Midoriya?" she asked, her voice wavering despite her best efforts. "I haven't applied any significant pressure, have I?"

Izuku raised one hand and gave her a thumbs-up. "N-Nope! All good! All comfortable here! Ah-ha…"

Tenka exhaled with relief. 'Good. Excellent. This is entirely professional. A legitimate academic demonstration between two aspiring heroes.'

Unfortunately, a small and thoroughly inconvenient part of her mind was also noticing that Izuku seemed rather comfortable resting against her.

'This is... not unpleasant.' Tenka's eyes widened at her own thought. 'Absolutely irrelevant! Focus, Tenka!'

Across the room, Mina's grin had reached positively dangerous proportions while Toru leaned toward her, shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.

"Are they both blushing?" the invisible girl whispered.

Mina nodded enthusiastically. "Oh, they are so blushing."

Ochako watched the demonstration with a mixture of curiosity and amusement, recognizing that her boyfriend's enthusiasm for learning had once again placed him in a rather compromising situation.

Eiko, meanwhile, seemed genuinely impressed. "Whoa! That's a pretty solid hold, Iida!"

Tenka latched onto the compliment like a lifeline.

"Th-Thank you, Kirishima!" she replied, hurriedly releasing her position and allowing Izuku to sit upright. "As demonstrated, a properly executed restraint can provide a hero with an opportunity to secure an opponent without unnecessary striking!"

Izuku nodded, his face still noticeably pink. "Y-Yeah! That was really interesting!"

Tenka quickly stood, smoothing her pajama shorts with both hands. "Naturally, such techniques must only be practiced under appropriate supervision and with suitable safety precautions."

Mina rested her chin in her palms. "Mhm. Very educational."

Tenka narrowed her eyes. "Ashido..."

Mina smiled innocently. "What? I didn't say anything!"

The girls burst into laughter as Izuku returned to his seat beside Ochako, looking thoroughly relieved to have escaped the demonstration with his composure mostly intact.

Ochako gave him a playful smile. "Learn anything interesting, Izuku?"

Izuku hesitated. "Uh... Quite a bit, actually."

Her smile widened. "I bet."

He wisely chose not to elaborate.

Tenka, eager to restore some semblance of academic dignity to the proceedings, promptly reached for the bottle and spun it. The bottle rotated several times before coming to rest in front of Toru.

"Ah!" Tenka exclaimed, looking rather pleased. "Hagakure. Truth or Dare?"

"Truth!" Toru replied cheerfully, bouncing in her seat. "Whatcha got for me?"

Tenka adjusted her glasses and considered her question carefully. After the previous demonstration, she was particularly interested in steering the evening toward something constructive. "What skill do you believe will be most beneficial to your studies and hero work at U.A.?"

Toru went still, then her shoulders slumped dramatically.

"Iidaaa," she complained, drawing out the name. "That sounds like something from an interview!"

Several girls giggled while Tenka looked mildly offended. "It is a perfectly reasonable question!"

"I know, I know!" Toru replied, waving a gloved hand. "I'm just teasing."

She settled back into her seat, considering the question more seriously. "Well, I guess my best skill is stealth."

Izuku immediately perked up as Toru continued, sounding increasingly enthusiastic.

"I mean, being invisible gives me a pretty huge advantage when it comes to sneaking around, right?” She gestured to herself. “I can get into places without being noticed, gather information, and maybe even help rescue people without alerting villains."

Tenka nodded approvingly. "Precisely! Reconnaissance and intelligence gathering are essential aspects of hero work."

Toru brightened at the praise. "And I think I could be really useful for infiltration missions too! If the bad guys don't know I'm there, I could find hostages or identify threats before anybody else has to go charging in."

"That's a really good point," Momo agreed, smiling thoughtfully. "A hero capable of moving completely undetected could provide an enormous strategic advantage."

Eiko grinned. "Plus, surprise attacks!"

"Exactly!" Toru chirped. "Nobody expects the invisible girl!"

Izuku leaned forward, his analytical instincts already stirring. "Actually, that raises a really interesting possibility concerning..."

Ochako gently squeezed his hand, and Izuku stopped. He looked toward his girlfriend as she smiled sweetly. "Izuku."

He blinked.

Then he laughed sheepishly and settled back into his seat. "Right. Sorry."

Mina burst into giggles. "Oh my gosh, she doesn't even have to say anything anymore!"

Tsuyu gave an amused ribbit. "She's learned how to manage him, kero."

Izuku protested weakly, although Ochako simply wrapped Izuku’s arm around her shoulder, allowing her to worm deeper into his embrace with a pleased smile.

Toru giggled at the exchange before reaching for the bottle. "Alright! My turn!"

She spun it with enthusiasm, watching the bottle rotate across the table.

It gradually slowed and finally stopped in front of Ochako. Again.

Toru's invisible hands shot skyward. "YES!"

Ochako stared at the bottle in disbelief. "Oh, come on!"

Mina immediately leaned forward, her golden eyes sparkling. "Ohoho! The bottle really likes you tonight, Ochako!"

Ochako sighed, though she couldn't suppress a smile. "Apparently."

Toru clasped her hands together. "Truth or Dare?"

Ochako hesitated. The last time she'd selected Truth, she'd nearly been interrogated about the more revealing portions of her former modeling career. Perhaps a dare would be safer.

"Dare," she answered, nodding with newfound confidence.

Toru went very still, then she slowly turned toward Mina, whose grin widened.

Ochako's confidence immediately evaporated. 'Oh no.'

Toru leaned forward with barely restrained excitement. "Alright, Ochako! I dare you to show us one of your risqué modeling photos!"

Ochako's face turned crimson. "TORU!"

Mina practically launched herself off the loveseat. "YES! YES! YES!"

She clasped both hands together, grinning toward the increasingly flustered brunette. "And it should totally be one of those private pictures Midori likes!"

Izuku nearly choked on his own breath. "W-WHAT?!"

Ochako covered her face with both hands. "Mina!"

Tenka immediately raised one hand. "Ashido! You are not the one issuing the dare! Additional conditions may not be imposed by outside participants!"

Mina pouted. "Aww, fine."

Toru giggled, looking thoroughly pleased with herself. "Just one picture, Ochako! Nothing too crazy!"

Ochako peeked through her fingers. 'I should've picked Truth.'

She glanced toward Izuku, who looked almost as embarrassed as she felt. Still, she'd agreed to the game's rules. While she did have some extremely revealing photos she’d sent to Izuku and only him, she did have a few photographs that weren't particularly scandalous by professional modeling standards. The problem was showing them to her new classmates.

With a resigned sigh, Ochako retrieved her phone. "Okay, okay. Give me a second."

She unlocked the device and opened an old cloud archive maintained by her former modeling agency. After navigating through several folders of professional photographs, she eventually located a collection of glamour shots from one of her final campaigns.

Her cheeks burned as she scrolled through them. 'Definitely not that one. Nope. Absolutely not that one either.'

Eventually, she settled on a photograph that seemed relatively tame. It depicted her kneeling gracefully on a neatly made bed, dressed in an elegant pink-and-white lace lingerie ensemble. The photograph was professionally lit, with soft shadows and a tasteful composition that emphasized her beauty without being overtly provocative. Still, it was considerably more revealing than anything she'd normally show her classmates.

Ochako glanced toward Izuku. "Hey, Izuku?"

He turned toward her. "Yeah?"

She discreetly angled the screen so only he could see it. "Do you think this one's okay?"

Izuku looked down, and his brain promptly stopped functioning. He recognized the photograph almost immediately. Ochako had shown him some of her former modeling work before, and this particular image had been among those he'd found especially beautiful.

The soft lighting, her gentle expression, the elegant white lace… 'Oh wow. I forgot how gorgeous that picture was.'

Ochako watched his face turn scarlet. A fond smile spread across her own. 'He's so cute when he gets like this. Maybe I should send him some more…'

"Izuku?" she whispered, gently nudging him.

Izuku blinked rapidly. "O-Oh! Yeah! I mean, it's beautiful! You look really beautiful! Stunning, incredible, gorgeous, amazing!"

Ochako giggled softly. "Thanks."

She gave his hand a quick squeeze before turning back toward the others. "Okay! Ready?"

Mina leaned forward eagerly. "Born ready!"

Toru clasped her hands together. "Show us!"

Ochako took a deep breath. Then, with one quick motion, she held up the screen. For barely a second, the photograph was visible to everyone.

Then she immediately locked her phone and hugged it against her chest. "There! Done!"

Several girls blinked. Mina stared, and Toru's invisible head appeared to tilt.

"WHAT?!" They both erupted. "That was way too fast!"

Ochako grinned triumphantly despite her blush. "You said to show you one! I showed you one!"

Mina pointed accusingly. "We didn't even have time to appreciate it!"

Toru nodded frantically. "I barely saw anything!"

Tenka adjusted her glasses with an expression of immense satisfaction. "Nevertheless, Uraraka has technically fulfilled the requirements of the dare."

Mina groaned. "Iidaaaaa!"

"The rules are the rules," Tenka replied firmly, folding her arms.

Ochako practically sagged with relief. "Thank you, Iida."

Momo smiled sympathetically. "For what it's worth, Uraraka, the photograph looked lovely. I apologize for causing this."

“It’s nothing…” Ochako gave her a grateful smile. "And… Thanks, Momo."

Across the table, Mina and Toru exchanged another conspiratorial glance. They'd only gotten a glimpse, but it was enough to confirm that Ochako's modeling archive contained some very interesting material. And that, as far as they were concerned, counted as a victory.

Ochako, meanwhile, was more than ready to put the attention back on somebody else. She reached for the bottle and spun it. The plastic bottle rotated several times before stopping and pointing toward Mina.

Ochako's eyes lit up. 'Oh, I've got an idea.'

Mina grinned. "Ooh! Me again!"

Ochako smiled sweetly. "Truth or Dare?"

"Dare!" Mina answered immediately. "Bring it on!"

Ochako glanced at Izuku, then back toward Mina. Her smile became positively mischievous. "Alright, Mina. I dare you to sit in Izuku's lap until someone else lands on you!"

Mina's grin widened into something positively radiant. "Oh, honey."

Ochako's smile faltered.

Mina rose gracefully from the loveseat. "You have no idea what you've just done."

Before Ochako could reconsider her decision, Mina skipped across the open space and approached Izuku with a playful sway to her hips.

"Excuse me, handsome!" she chirped, planting her hands on her hips. "Mind if I borrow your lap?"

Izuku stared at her. "Uh..."

Mina tilted her head, grinning. "Pretty please?"

Izuku glanced toward Ochako, who suddenly looked considerably less confident about her brilliant plan.

His girlfriend gave a helpless little shrug. "I did dare her..."

Izuku sighed, smiling despite himself. "Okay, I guess."

"Yay!" Mina promptly settled sideways across his lap, wrapping one arm around his shoulders and making herself thoroughly comfortable.

Izuku's face turned scarlet.

Mina giggled, shifting slightly to find a more comfortable position. "Ooooh, not bad! You've got a pretty comfy lap, Mi~do~ri!"

"M-Mina," Izuku stammered, carefully keeping his hands at his sides. "You're making this a lot more embarrassing than it needs to be."

She leaned closer with a mischievous grin. "That's kind of the point!"

Toru burst into laughter. "Oh my gosh! She looks so happy!"

Eiko shook her head, chuckling at her friend's shamelessness. "You're impossible, Mina."

"Thank you!" Mina replied brightly.

Ochako watched the scene with growing disbelief. 'Wait a second. This was supposed to embarrass her!'

Instead, Mina looked like she'd just been handed a prize. And Izuku, despite his embarrassment, was being far too accommodating for his own good.

Ochako narrowed her eyes playfully. 'Oh, no you don't.'

She rose from the loveseat.

Mina noticed immediately. "Oho? What's this?"

Ochako approached with a sweet smile. "Just making sure nobody gets too comfortable."

She gently nudged Mina toward one of Izuku's thighs before settling onto his other leg, wrapping an affectionate arm around his waist.

Izuku's eyes widened. "O-Ochako?!"

His girlfriend smiled up at him. "What? It's my boyfriend's lap."

Mina burst into delighted laughter. "Oh my gosh! Competitive Ochako!"

Ochako puffed out her cheeks. "I'm not competitive!"

"Sure you're not," Mina teased, leaning comfortably against Izuku's other shoulder.

The resulting arrangement left the green-haired young man supporting two rather curvaceous girls across his lap, one his affectionate girlfriend and the other a gleeful troublemaker who seemed determined to extract every possible ounce of embarrassment from the situation.

Izuku stared straight ahead. 'Okay. Breathing. That's important. People need to breathe.'

Momo watched with a mixture of amusement and fascination.

"My goodness," she murmured. "You certainly seem to be enjoying yourselves."

Tsuyu blinked slowly. "Midoriya looks a little overwhelmed, kero."

Eiko chuckled. "He's handling it pretty well, all things considered."

Tenka, meanwhile, looked as though she was reconsidering the wisdom of allowing physical-contact dares. "Ashido, Uraraka, please remember that Midoriya is a person, not a piece of furniture!"

Mina grinned. "Don't worry, Tenka! We're taking excellent care of him!"

Ochako leaned closer to Izuku, giving him an affectionate smile. "You okay, Izuku?"

He managed a weak chuckle. "Y-Yeah. Just... wasn't expecting this."

Ochako giggled. "Me neither."

Mina looked between them and smiled triumphantly. "Best dare ever!"

Still comfortably perched on Izuku's thigh, Mina leaned forward and grabbed the bottle. "Alright! Let's keep this party going!"

She gave the bottle a spin, and it rotated several times before slowing toward Tsuyu.

The frog girl looked up. "Kero. Me?"

Mina grinned. "Yep! Truth or Dare, Tsu?"

Tsuyu considered the question for only a moment. "Truth."

Mina's expression brightened. 'Oh, this is perfect.'

She leaned forward, her golden eyes sparkling with mischief. "Alright, Tsu. Tell us something a previous partner has complimented your tongue for!"

Tsuyu answered with her usual calm honesty. "I've never had a romantic partner, kero."

Mina paused as Tsuyu continued, apparently unbothered. "So nobody's ever complimented my tongue for anything romantic."

Mina stared at her, then she slumped dramatically against Izuku's shoulder. "Awwww! Seriously?!"

Tsuyu nodded. "Seriously."

Mina shook her head in exaggerated disappointment. "Girl, you've got that crazy, amazing tongue, and nobody's had the chance to appreciate its full potential?"

Tenka's face turned crimson. "ASHIDO!"

Mina looked toward her innocently. "What?"

"That is an incredibly provocative thing to say!" Tenka protested, gesturing emphatically. "Asui's romantic experiences are her own private concern! And you should refrain from making such inappropriate implications about kissing!"

Mina went very still, then her grin slowly widened. "Oh, Tenka. Sweet, innocent Tenka…"

Tenka blinked. "What?"

Mina leaned closer, looking utterly delighted. "It's adorable that you think I was talking about kissing."

Tenka's mouth opened, and her entire face turned scarlet.

Toru collapsed against the loveseat, laughing hysterically.

Eiko buried her face in one hand. "Oh my gosh, Mina..."

Ochako hid her giggles against Izuku's shoulder, while the young man himself had gone approximately the same color as Tenka.

Tsuyu simply watched the exchange with her usual unreadable expression. "Kero. I figured there was another meaning."

Mina's grin widened. "See? Tsu gets it!"

Tenka covered her face with both hands. "I cannot believe I agreed to participate in this game."

"Aw, come on!" Mina replied, still laughing. "You love us!"

Tenka made a noise of profound frustration but chose not to respond.

Tsuyu, apparently satisfied that her answer had been accepted, leaned forward and spun the bottle. It rotated gently across the table before stopping in front of Kinoko.

The mushroom-loving brunette blinked. "Oh! Me again?"

Tsuyu nodded. "Truth or Dare, Kinoko-chan?"

Kinoko hesitated briefly. "Truth, please."

Tsuyu considered her question. Earlier in the evening, Kinoko had revealed her love of idol culture, but she'd also nearly admitted something more personal before abruptly changing the subject. The frog girl had been curious ever since.

"You mentioned liking idols earlier," Tsuyu began gently. "Have you ever wanted to become one yourself?"

Kinoko froze, and her face turned bright red. "W-W-What?!"

Mina perked up immediately. "Oho! Now that's an interesting question!"

Kinoko waved both hands frantically. "N-No! I mean, not really! I mean..."

She lowered her gaze, nervously twisting her fingers together. "I've thought about it a little, but it's not like I could actually do something like that."

Ochako tilted her head. "Why not?"

Kinoko gave a nervous laugh. "Well... I'm not exactly the kind of girl people expect to see onstage. I’m not all that pretty… Or confident…" She trailed off, shrinking slightly into her sundress. "I'd probably just embarrass myself."

The response immediately drew objections.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Mina exclaimed, sitting upright on Izuku's thigh. "Hold on! Who said you don't have the looks?"

Toru leaned forward enthusiastically. "Yeah! You're super cute, Kinoko!"

Momo nodded warmly. "Indeed. You have a very distinctive appearance, and your personal style is quite charming."

Eiko grinned. "Plus, you've already got the whole mushroom theme going! That's pretty memorable!"

Kinoko's cheeks flushed even deeper. "Y-You really think so?"

Ochako smiled. "Of course!"

She glanced toward Izuku, giving his shoulder a gentle nudge. "Right, Izuku?"

Izuku looked toward Kinoko, who was watching him with a mixture of hope and embarrassment. He smiled sincerely. "Definitely. You're a really pretty girl, Komori."

Kinoko went completely still as Izuku continued, unaware that his compliment had nearly overwhelmed her.

"And honestly, your Quirk could make for some incredible performances. Imagine using controlled mushroom growth to create elaborate stage decorations or visual effects! Depending on the species, you could even make glowing patterns or..." He stopped himself, chuckling sheepishly. "Sorry. I'm doing the Quirk thing again."

The girls giggled.

Kinoko, however, looked positively radiant beneath her embarrassment. 'A boy thinks I'm pretty?' Her hands rose toward her cheeks. 'And he thinks I could actually perform onstage?'

The idea was almost too much to process.

Tsuyu watched her with a faint smile. "See, Kinoko-chan? You might be better suited to it than you think, kero."

Mina nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly! And let's be real, girl, you've definitely got the boobs for it too! A total babe!"

Kinoko blinked, and Mina grinned and gestured toward her chest. "I mean, those puppies would certainly get some attention!"

Kinoko made a tiny squeaking noise. Her entire face disappeared beneath the curtain of her mushroom-shaped hair. "M-MINA!"

Eiko burst into laughter, and Toru clapped delightedly. Even Ochako couldn't quite suppress a giggle, though she gave Mina a mildly reproachful look.

Tsuyu blinked at the pink girl. "Mina-chan."

Mina shrugged innocently. "What? I'm just saying she's got plenty going for her!"

Kinoko quietly buried her face in her hands. 'I was finally starting to feel confident, too...'

Still, beneath the embarrassment, there was a warm little spark of happiness. Everyone had been so encouraging. She slowly lowered her hands and offered the group a shy smile. "Th-Thank you, everyone."

Momo smiled warmly. "Of course, Komori."

Ochako nodded enthusiastically. "And if you ever want to try performing, I could try reaching out to some of my old contacts."

Kinoko's expression widened. "That would be… amazing. I mean… I…."

Before Mina could offer any more observations about her physique, Kinoko hurriedly reached for the bottle. "M-My turn!"

She gave it a gentle spin, and the bottle rotated across the table before coming to rest in front of Toru.

The invisible girl immediately perked up. "Ooh! Me!"

Kinoko looked toward her with a timid smile. "Truth or Dare?"

"Truth!" Toru replied cheerfully. "I'm on a roll tonight!"

Kinoko considered her question for a moment. After everyone had been so kind about her own interests, she wanted to learn something about her equally cheerful classmate. "W-What kind of stuff do you like?"

Toru practically lit up. "Oh my gosh, where do I start?!"

She began counting on her invisible fingers. "Shopping, obviously! Cute clothes, adorable accessories, makeup, music, hanging out with friends..."

Her voice grew increasingly enthusiastic. "And boys! And romance! And cute couples! And romantic comedies!"

Mina slowly turned toward her. A grin spread across her face. "Ohoho..."

Toru continued, apparently oblivious to the danger. "I love all that mushy romantic stuff! Flowers, chocolates, hand-holding, kissing under the stars..."

Mina leaned forward. "So basically, you're a hopeless romantic."

Toru giggled. "Pretty much!"

Mina's grin sharpened. "Then how come you're still single?"

Toru froze, and her shoulders slumped. "Ugh! Don't remind me!"

She flopped backward against the loveseat with an exaggerated groan. "Do you have any idea how hard dating is when nobody can even see you?!"

The room quieted slightly as Toru waved her hands dramatically. "I mean, sure, being invisible is awesome for a bunch of things, but it's not exactly great for romance!"

Momo tilted her head sympathetically. "Surely there are people who would appreciate you regardless of your appearance."

"I know!" Toru replied, sounding frustrated despite her cheerful tone. "But it's still awkward! Half the time people don't even know where to look when they're talking to me."

She folded her invisible arms. "And finding a cute hunk who's willing to kiss an invisible girl? Practically impossible!"

Ochako's expression softened. "Toru..."

Toru gave a small, embarrassed laugh. "Seriously! Nobody wants to risk missing my mouth or accidentally bumping noses. And it's not like I can just point to my lips and tell them where to aim!"

Several girls giggled at the mental image. But beneath Toru's playful complaints, there was a hint of genuine disappointment.

'It's easy to laugh about it,' she thought, shifting uncomfortably. 'But it really does suck sometimes.'

Mina leaned against her shoulder. "Aw, don't worry, Toru! You just gotta find somebody brave enough to try!"

Toru tilted her invisible head. "Brave enough?"

"Yeah!" Mina replied, grinning. "Somebody who isn't scared of a little challenge!"

Toru considered that as she glanced toward Izuku.

The green-haired young man was currently listening to Ochako explain something about a romantic comedy she'd watched, his expression warm and attentive. Toru remembered the way he'd looked at her earlier, when he'd asked about her Quirk. The genuine curiosity. The enthusiasm. The complete lack of discomfort at speaking with someone he couldn't see.

'Hmm...' A rather mischievous idea began forming in her mind.

She reached for the bottle. "Alright! My turn!"

With renewed enthusiasm, Toru gave it a vigorous spin.

The bottle whirled across the coffee table, rotating several times before gradually slowing and finally coming to a stop, pointing directly at Izuku.

Toru went completely still, then her shoulders rose with excitement. 'No way.'

Mina glanced at the bottle, and at the man it pointed towards. "Ohohoho! This is gonna be good!"

Izuku looked toward the invisible girl with a friendly smile. "Guess it's my turn again."

Toru clasped her hands together. "Truth or Dare, Midoriya?"

Izuku considered the question. After the evening's events, he'd learned that both choices carried their own risks. Still, he'd already accepted a dare from Mina and survived it relatively unscathed. Perhaps another wouldn't be so bad.

"Dare," he answered.

Toru practically vibrated with excitement. "Really?!"

Izuku blinked. "Uh... Yeah?"

Mina leaned forward, sensing an opportunity. "Oh my gosh, Toru. Do it."

Tenka narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Do what?"

Toru straightened proudly. "Alright, Midoriya! I dare you..."

She paused dramatically before she delivered her challenge. "To kiss someone in this room on the lips who you aren't currently dating!"

Izuku stared.Ochako blinked. Momo's eyes widened. Kinoko made a tiny squeaking noise.

Then Tenka practically launched herself off the sofa. "HAGAKURE!"

Toru hurriedly raised both hands. "With their permission, obviously! I'm not asking him to kiss someone who doesn't want to!"

"That hardly makes such a request appropriate!" Tenka protested, her cheeks already turning pink. "Intimate physical contact should not be treated as some frivolous party activity!"

Mina grinned. "Aw, come on, Tenka! Maybe you'll finally get your first kiss!"

Tenka's face turned scarlet. "M-MY FIRST KISS IS NOT UP FOR DISCUSSION!"

“Oh-ho-ho, so you really haven’t kissed anyone before.” Mina teased, giggling into her hand.

“T-that's-” Tenka stammered, caught out by her outburst.

Eiko chuckled from her chair. "Wow. You two really aren't holding back tonight."

Momo looked thoughtful, although her cheeks were faintly pink. "Well, provided both parties consent, I suppose there is nothing inherently objectionable about the request..."

Kinoko covered her mouth with both hands. 'Oh my gosh. Is somebody actually going to kiss him?'

Izuku, meanwhile, was desperately trying to process the situation. 'Kiss someone I'm not dating? In front of everyone? Seriously?!'

His gaze drifted toward Ochako. She was watching him with an expression he couldn't quite decipher. Not upset. Not jealous. If anything, she looked amused.

Izuku leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Ochako? What do you think?"

She smiled sweetly, then she gave him a mischievous little wink.

"Give her a taste of her own medicine," she whispered, squeezing his hand.

Izuku blinked, then understanding dawned. His eyes drifted toward Toru.

The invisible girl was still giggling with Mina, apparently enjoying the chaos she'd created. 'Oh.'

A small smile appeared on Izuku's face. 'Well, she did ask for it.'

He gently placed one hand against Ochako's waist. "Mind if I get up for a second?"

Ochako nodded, smiling knowingly. "Go ahead."

Mina, still perched across his other thigh, looked up in surprise as Izuku carefully helped both girls rise. "Oho? What's happening?"

Izuku smiled sheepishly. "Just completing the dare."

Toru tilted her invisible head. 'Wait. He's actually doing it?'

Izuku crossed the room toward the loveseat. Toward her.

Toru's excitement faltered. 'Wait.'

He stopped directly in front of her. 'WAIT.'

Izuku lowered himself onto the loveseat beside her, leaving a respectful little space between them.

"Hey, Hagakure," he greeted softly.

Toru's voice came out considerably higher than usual. "H-Hey, Midoriya!"

He rubbed the back of his neck, looking a little embarrassed himself. "So... About that dare."

Toru's thoughts raced. She'd expected him to choose somebody like Momo, or perhaps Mina, who had already spent some considerable time sitting in his lap. Maybe even Eiko, given how close the two roommates seemed.

But her? 'Why me?!'

Izuku looked toward the space where her face should have been. "Would you be comfortable if I kissed you?"

Toru froze, and her heart began pounding. 'He's asking me.'

The realization made her cheeks feel unbearably warm. 'He's actually asking if he can kiss me.'

For once in her life, Toru Hagakure found herself struggling to produce words. "I... Um..."

Izuku's expression softened.

"Only if you want to," he assured her gently. "We can figure out something else if you're uncomfortable."

That somehow made things worse. Or better. Toru wasn't entirely sure.

He wasn't teasing her. He wasn't laughing. He wasn't acting like kissing an invisible girl was some bizarre challenge. He was simply asking whether she wanted him to. And suddenly, the answer felt remarkably obvious.

"O-Okay," she whispered.

Izuku smiled. "Really?"

Toru nodded quickly, then remembered he couldn't see the motion clearly. "Y-Yeah! It's okay!"

Across the table, Mina clutched Ochako's arm. 'Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. This is happening!'

Ochako watched with a small, affectionate smile, apparently pleased that her boyfriend had chosen to turn Toru's own dare into something genuinely sweet.

Tenka looked ready to object again, but Momo gently touched her arm.

"I believe they've both agreed," Momo murmured, offering a reassuring smile.

Tenka hesitated, then reluctantly settled back onto the sofa.

Izuku shifted a little closer as Toru's hands trembled in her lap. 'Okay. Here it comes. He's probably going to miss. Or bump into my nose. Or...'

Izuku slowly raised one hand. "Can I?"

Toru nodded again, then quickly answered aloud. "Y-Yeah."

She watched as Izuku’s hand slowly rose. Seemingly gliding along just above her arm without touching it. Almost as if he somehow knew it was there. As the hand drew closer, her eyes snapped up to his face. Watching as his pupils darted around as he couldn’t seem to lock onto anything. ‘Of course he can’t focus on anything; there is nothing for him to see.’

His fingertips gently touched the side of her invisible cheek.

Toru's breath caught. The contact was warm. Gentle. Careful.

Izuku used the sensation beneath his hand to orient himself, his thumb resting lightly near her cheekbone as he leaned forward.

For a brief moment, Toru could only hear the pounding of her own heart. 'He's so close.'

Time seemed almost to slow down. She hadn’t meant for this to happen to her. Uncertainty ran through her. As much as she had gushed about romance, she had lost much of her hope of ever experiencing it for herself. To feel her partner's loving gaze. Yet at this moment, she wanted to believe that it could happen. His warm touch, his eyes locked onto her own, the simple affection seeming to glow from within.

Toru’s eyes widened. ‘Wait, wait, wait! How is he looking at me?’

Her heart seemed to speed up beyond its previous rhythm to a near-frantic pace. She couldn’t look away. Izuku seemed to be staring into her soul, somehow seeing her when she was certain it was impossible. Every moment brought him ever nearer.

She quickly closed her eyes. Not that anyone could tell.

Then his lips met hers. Perfectly. No awkward collision. No missed attempt. No fumbling around trying to locate her mouth. Just a soft, genuine kiss.

Toru's entire body went still. Her hands tightened against her knees as her mind struggled to process the unfamiliar warmth. 'Oh.'

Izuku lingered for only a brief moment before gently pulling away, his own cheeks noticeably pink. He offered her a sheepish smile. "Was... that okay?"

Toru stared at him, and her mouth opened. Nothing came out.

Izuku's smile faltered slightly. "Hagakure?"

Toru swallowed. "H-How..."

Izuku blinked. "Hm?"

"How did you know where to kiss me?" The question came out barely above a whisper.

Izuku rubbed the back of his neck, looking adorably embarrassed. "Well, I could tell roughly where your face was from your voice, and once I touched your cheek, I just..."

He chuckled softly. "I guess I imagined what you might look like and went for it."

Toru's heart skipped. 'He imagined what I look like?'

Izuku smiled warmly. "Sorry if that was weird."

Toru shook her invisible head frantically. "N-No! It wasn't weird!"

Her hands flew toward her face. "It was... It was..."

She couldn't finish.

Mina leaned forward, practically glowing with excitement. "Toru?"

The invisible girl's shoulders shot upward. "I-I NEED THE BATHROOM!"

Before anyone could react, Toru sprang from the loveseat and hurried toward the shared bathroom. Her footsteps pattered across the floor. The door opened, then shut.

Silence settled over the room and for several seconds, nobody spoke.

Then Tenka slowly turned toward Mina. "ASHIDO!"

Mina blinked innocently. "What?!"

"This is precisely the sort of inappropriate situation I warned against!" Tenka declared, gesturing emphatically toward the bathroom. "Hagakure is clearly distressed!"

Mina raised both hands defensively. "Hey, don't look at me! It was her dare!"

Eiko scratched her cheek, looking toward the bathroom with mild concern. "She did seem pretty overwhelmed."

Kinoko nodded timidly. "Y-Yeah. I hope she's okay."

Izuku remained seated on the loveseat, staring toward the closed bathroom door. His earlier embarrassment had given way to genuine worry. 'Did I do something wrong?'

Izuku began to rise. "Maybe I should go apologize..."

Ochako gently caught his hand. "Izuku."

He turned toward her as she offered him a reassuring smile. "I don't think you did anything wrong."

Izuku hesitated. "Are you sure?"

Ochako glanced toward the bathroom before looking back at him.

"Pretty sure," she replied softly. "I think she just needs a minute."

Izuku considered that for a moment. "Okay."

He settled back onto the loveseat, though his gaze continued drifting toward the bathroom. 'I really hope she's alright.'

---

Inside the bathroom, Toru Hagakure stood completely still before the mirror. She stared at her reflection. Or rather, where her reflection should have been. Her striped tank top hung suspended above her shorts, her gloves trembling slightly as she slowly raised both hands toward her invisible face.

'Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!' She pressed both hands over her mouth.

Her lips were still tingling. Izuku Midoriya had kissed her. Not on the cheek. Not an awkward peck that missed its intended target. An actual kiss. Right on the lips.

'He kissed me!' Toru leaned closer to the mirror, staring at the empty space above her collar.

She'd spent years wondering what her first kiss would be like.

There had been plenty of crushes, plenty of romantic daydreams, and more than a few embarrassing fantasies inspired by her favorite romance manga. But actually experiencing it? That had always seemed like something distant. Something other girls got to enjoy. Something that might happen to her someday, if she found someone willing to look past the fact that he couldn't actually see her. And tonight, she'd found herself sitting across from a handsome, muscular, green-haired hero student who had treated her like any other girl.

He'd touched her cheek, imagined her face, and kissed her as naturally as if she were standing right in front of him.

Toru's knees suddenly felt weak. She lowered herself onto the closed toilet lid, burying her invisible face in her hands. 'And he was so sweet about it!'

The memory replayed in her mind.

Toru squirmed in place, overwhelmed by the ridiculous fluttering sensation in her stomach. 'This is so unfair! He's already got two girlfriends! Two! And they're both super pretty!'

She groaned softly, leaning backward. 'And Ochako practically encouraged him!'

That particular realization only made her thoughts more confusing. She'd only known Izuku for a few hours. Surely she couldn't already be developing feelings for him? Could she?

Toru slowly raised one hand toward her lips again. The memory of the kiss sent another wave of warmth through her invisible cheeks. 'Oh, who am I kidding?'

She looked toward the mirror once more. For the first time all evening, Toru Hagakure was grateful that nobody could see her face. Because if they could, she was certain it would be glowing bright red.

She pressed her fingertips gently against her mouth, her heart fluttering all over again. 'My first kiss...'

A tiny, delighted squeal escaped her lips. 'My very first kiss!'

And of all the people in the world, the one who had given it to her was Izuku Midoriya.

Toru hugged herself tightly, unable to suppress the enormous smile spreading across her invisible face. 'I'm in so much trouble.'

---

AN: Howdy Howdy! And so our Truth and Dare game comes to a fun end. I really hope y'all have been enjoying all the character moments we've been having. I know I've had a blast writing them. Each girl got to have at least one fun or spicy moment thanks to our lovely instigators, though one of them really had the tables turned on her. How will this blossom, I wonder... Please let me know who had your favorite moment across the entire game!

Next time we wrap up the evening before finally getting to the first day of class! Thank you all for sticking with me through the breaks and the pauses. I really appreciate y'all! <3

As always, thank you all for reading, and be sure to check us out on my Discord for behind-the-scenes looks at all my writing. Lastly, a special thanks to Zephyr0F8 and Benthom for beta-ing this chapter!

Never done a Poll on CHYOA, so let's give it a shot!

Which girls had your favorite moment during Truth or Dare? (Up to 3 Choices)

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