#nha

it starts the way all good things do —- with a lie.

mayumi doesn ’t say ‘ happy birthday ’ that morning,, doesn ’t kiss his cheek like usual,, doesn ’t send him a dumb gif or leave a little note on his desk the way they always do on his big days. just a sleepy half-hug and a yawned “ have a good one ” before slipping out the door.

and izuku, bless the poor hero ‘s soul, pretends not to be crushed.

he tries to be normal about it. gets up,, goes through his morning routine, makes his coffee extra sweet today, checks his phone more times than he ’ll admit. nothing.

it ’s not like he needs anything. he doesn ’t. it ’s just… it ’s mayumi. they always remember.. nd maybe that ’s what makes the silence feel heavier than it should.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀but while izuku is quietly spiraling, mayumi is running around the city in order to make sure everything is /perfect/ .ᐟ

there ’s a scavenger hunt to finish, a cake to decorate ( poorly ), a playlist to finalize, and a hidden piece of art just for him still drying on the edge of the counter. they ’re wearing three different jackets by the time they finally text him, cheeks flushed from the wind nd adrenaline —- a different kind than what they ‘re used to.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀🖤 → ‘ hey hero. check your mailbox. ‘

izuku ’s halfway through marking some of his kid ‘s work when he bolts to the soul ‘s door,, inside the little metal slot: a folded envelope that ‘s hand-written and unmistakably his pickpocket ‘s.

clue one: you talked too much here. i made fun of you,, of course. we shared a piece of dango. go.

midoriya stares at it, lips parting in disbelief and then he ’s out the door. no hesitation with his heart in his throat.

the trail leads him across the city,, each stop more familiar than the last. a park bench where they watched fireworks,, the convenience store where he first bought them their first (nd definitely not last) sweet tea,, a bridge lit by string lights. every place held a memory nd a clue a line with the next location, written in that half-sarcastic, half-sincere way only mayumi could pull off.

by the time he reaches the final stop —- his own apartment —- he ’s breathless, heart thudding, hands shaking just slightly from joy he doesn ’t quite know where to put yet.

the lights inside are dim, music plays softly from somewhere down the hall. something in soft jazz that ‘s familiar.. something they slow-dance to when no one ’s looking.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀he steps inside.. and there they are.

mayumi,, leaning against the kitchen counter in a paint-streaked hoodie, arms crossed, smirking like they didn ’t just send him running all over town like a lovesick idiot.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀❝ happy birthday, golden boy. ❞⠀⠀⠀⠀nd izuku laughs,, breathless,, disbelieving.. and maybe a /little/ teary.⠀⠀⠀⠀❝ you ‘re awfully good at surprises,, does rody know that .ᐣ ❞⠀⠀⠀⠀he says, stepping closer, still catching his breath.⠀⠀⠀⠀❝ you scared me. ❞

❝ good, ❞⠀⠀⠀⠀they say, smiling now. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀❝ you were getting too comfortable. can ‘t have that .ᐟ ❞⠀⠀⠀⠀they kiss his cheek, press a cupcake into his hand with a crooked candle sticking out the top.

he stares at it, grinning that soft one he always does, savoured just for them.⠀⠀⠀⠀ ❝ you didn ’t even light it. ❞⠀⠀⠀⠀nd mayumi simply shrugs.⠀⠀⠀⠀❝ you have to earn your wishes. ❞

he laughs again,, shakes his head,, and when he looks at them, it ’s with this soft, open-mouthed kind of awe, like he doesn ’t know how the hell he got this lucky.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀they eat cake on the floor,, izuku sitting between their legs, leaning back into their chest. mayumi tangles their fingers in his curls while he hums along to the music, full and warm and so, so in love.

and sometime near midnight, when he ’s almost asleep in their arms, he murmurs..⠀⠀⠀⠀❝ this was perfect. ❞