Season 2.....a little throwback.....
Four days had passed since Maki officially enrolled at U.A. Academy.
After a long day of identity verification, Maki and Nemuri returned home to prepare for the coming school days.
Nezu had personally guaranteed Maki's enrollment, so everything should have been settled.
Before they left—
Unohana stepped forward and kissed Maki on the forehead.
Maki did the same and kissed her forehead in return.
"I'll wait for you here," Unohana said softly.
"Please do," he replied.
They hugged tighter, their bodies pressed close together.
Then Maki felt a sharp sting at his neck.
Unohana had bitten him, leaving a visible mark.
In response, Maki gently kissed her neck.
After their long embrace, he said goodbye to her—and to Nezu.
"Goodbye. Take care," they replied at the same time.
Mei and Nemuri watched them.
Jealousy filled their hearts.
Especially Mei, who hadn't received a kiss yet.
Makoto and Naomasa were still resting and would wake soon.
Maki stood up from the sofa.
But before he could fully rise, Mei approached him.
"What about me?" she asked, pressing her index fingers together while pouting.
He looked at her.
Then he hugged her.
Mei's eyes widened, but she hugged him back tightly.
She kissed his cheek—and even licked it.
He kissed her cheek in return.
There was no need for more words.
He knew now that Mei was telling the truth.
He could feel her feelings for him.
"I'll wait too," she said while still holding his cheek.
"I understand," he replied.
She finally let go and walked toward Nemuri, whispering something to her.
After their goodbyes, Unohana, Mei, and Nezu escorted them to the elevator leading to the basement parking area.
Nemuri opened her car door, saying goodbye again.
Before entering the car, Maki looked at Unohana and Mei.
"Don't replace me too fast."
The two women stared at him.
They both shook their heads immediately.
"I'm not that kind of woman!" Mei protested.
"That's not happening," Unohana added firmly.
He looked at them and said, "I'll hold on to that. Please bear with me."
His words sounded like someone who had experienced loss before.
Like someone who had been left behind.
Unohana looked into his eyes.
Blue and red met.
"You can trust me."
Mei crossed her arms and pushed her hair back.
"You better come back. Or I'll come find you myself."
For the first time—
Maki gave them a genuine smile.
They froze at the sight of it.
"Thank you," he said before bowing slightly and entering the car.
Nemuri smiled and gave them a thumbs up.
The three watched as the car drove up from the basement.
Nezu looked at the two teachers.
"You two moved fast. He's still young," he teased.
"Yup. Young and wild. I like it," Mei replied casually.
Unohana folded her arms. "I feel like he's much older."
Nezu glanced at her. "So you think that too?"
"Yes. He acts mature… and yet not at the same time."
Nezu chuckled. "I still can't believe it, Unohana-sensei. You met him yesterday, and now you're acting like husband and wife. If someone told me I was dreaming, I might believe them."
Unohana closed her eyes. "I would also like to know why."
"Maybe it's because he was charging," Mei answered playfully.
They smiled at her response.
Unohana then asked, "What class are you placing him in?"
Mei immediately looked at Nezu as well.
"We'll discuss that after all examinees finish their tests," Nezu replied.
They walked toward the elevator.
Then Nezu added quietly, "I saw it in his eyes. He was worried about you two."
"When he looked at you, his eyes weren't detached or void. And when he asked if he was only temporary… it showed he cherishes relationships more than anything."
Mei and Unohana remained silent.
They understood.
They had seen it too.
He was opening his heart to them.
Mei chuckled. "Who else would even be worthy of me except my husband?"
Unohana smiled faintly. "Replacing him? That's like asking me to kill myself."
Nezu laughed manically at their answers.
He couldn't deny it.
If every woman knew what kind of man he was, who would waste him?
Part of the rare few among billions.
A future king.
Kind.
Polite.
Powerful.
Who would dare replace someone like that?
Nezu didn't fully understand human emotions, but his mind could calculate patterns.
When he looked at the two women, it wasn't greed for power he saw.
It was something else.
He whispered, "Truly bizarre."
Inside Nemuri's car—
Maki stared at the statues lining the road.
"Nem-nem… is this alright?"
Nemuri kept her eyes on the road.
"What is?"
"About everything. I just met someone… and they're telling me they'll wait for me."
She didn't look at him.
"Why do you feel uneasy?"
Maki watched the endless line of statues passing by.
"I feel like they'll leave me sooner or later. And that's something I don't want to experience again."
Nemuri heard him.
She stayed silent.
The wind passed through his hair.
He closed his eyes and let the breeze brush against his face.
(;・∀・)