The mansion looked like it had been stolen from a royal wedding.
Silver chandeliers glowed like clusters of stars. Tables were lined with enough food to feed a hundred people. Strings of soft music floated through the air from a live quartet in the corner.
All of it… for me.
Well, technically, for my sixth birthday.
But really, it was more for my parents' business associates to shake hands and exchange polite fake smiles. I was just the excuse.
Still… I couldn't complain.
The chocolate fountain was calling my name.
"Akihiro, remember to greet the guests politely," my mother whispered as she adjusted my tie.
"Yes, Mother," I said, plastering on my well-practiced polite smile. The kind that made old ladies go, 'Oh, what a well-mannered boy.'
---
The guests were a parade of wealthy faces. Politicians. CEOs. A few high-ranking heroes in civilian clothes.
I shook hands, bowed, and accepted compliments about "how much I've grown."
And then my father cleared his throat, stepping forward.
"Akihiro," he said in his calm but firm tone, "come. There's someone I'd like you to meet."
I followed him through the sea of silk dresses and tailored suits until we stopped near the main staircase.
Standing there was a couple in their late 30s — the man tall and well-built, the woman graceful, elegant. Between them stood a girl about my age, wearing a crimson dress with a neat bow in her hair.
"This is Mr. and Mrs. Yaoyorozu," my father said. "And this is their daughter, Momo."
The girl gave a perfect, practiced little bow. "It's nice to meet you, Kuroyami-kun."
I returned the bow. "The same pleasure is mine, Yaoyorozu-san."
Her parents smiled approvingly, clearly pleased with the formality. My father exchanged a few polite words with them, but I caught Momo glancing sideways at me with a look that said, This is boring, isn't it?
I resisted the urge to smirk.
---
The next twenty minutes were a blur of more greetings, small talk, and forced smiles.
Momo and I were eventually left standing near the refreshment table, both of us pretending to care about the mini pastries on display.
"This party is…" she started, then paused, "…very fancy."
"That's one way to put it," I replied quietly. "I call it a trap."
Her eyebrow twitched. "A trap?"
"Look around," I said, leaning slightly toward her. "Our parents think this is about celebrating, but it's really about showing off connections. We're just decoration."
She blinked, then laughed softly — the kind of laugh you try to hide so adults don't think you're being rude.
"You're not wrong."
---
A waiter passed by with a tray of juice glasses. I grabbed two and handed her one.
"So," I said, "what do you usually do at these kinds of things?"
She hesitated, glancing at her parents across the room. "Stand still and smile. Sometimes hide behind the dessert table."
I grinned. "Good strategy. But… I have a better idea."
---
Five minutes later, we had slipped away from the main hall.
I led her down a quieter corridor toward the garden doors. The music and chatter faded behind us as the cool evening air greeted us outside.
The garden lights were on, casting a soft golden glow over the cherry blossom trees. The koi pond reflected the stars.
Momo stopped, her eyes widening slightly. "It's beautiful…"
"Better than listening to Mr. Sato talk about stock markets for an hour," I said.
She giggled again, a little more freely this time.
---
We sat on a stone bench near the pond, watching the koi lazily swim. For a while, neither of us said anything. It wasn't awkward — more like we were both enjoying the quiet.
Then she glanced at me. "So… do you have your quirk yet?"
I hesitated. "Sort of."
Her curiosity sparked. "Sort of?"
"I've had… glimpses of it. Nothing flashy yet. What about you?"
Her expression turned a little proud. "Yes. Mine lets me create objects from my body. As long as I know their structure, I can make them."
"Anything?"
She nodded. "Almost anything. My parents hired tutors to teach me chemistry and engineering so I can make better things when I'm older."
---
I whistled softly. "That's… impressive."
She smiled faintly. "Thank you. Most kids just think it's weird."
For a moment, I studied her.
Even at six, she had that focused, almost disciplined way of speaking. She wasn't a spoiled brat like some rich kids I'd met — she had ambition.
"What do you want to do with it?" I asked.
Her gaze turned toward the pond. "I want to be a hero. Not just a normal one… a great one. Someone who can protect people and inspire them."
She said it with no hesitation. No shyness.
I leaned back slightly. "That's a big dream."
She looked back at me. "What about you? What's your dream?"
---
I thought for a moment. I couldn't exactly tell her, 'I just wanna enjoy life.'
So instead, I smiled slightly.
"I guess… I want to be strong enough that I can choose my path. Whatever it ends up being."
She tilted her head. "That's… vague."
"Maybe," I said. "But it's true."
---
We spent the next twenty minutes just talking about random things. Favorite foods. Least favorite subjects in school. The time she accidentally made a teapot in class and startled her teacher.
It felt… easy. Natural.
She didn't look at me like I was just the Kuroyami heir. I didn't look at her like she was just the Yaoyorozu heiress.
We were just two kids who found each other in the middle of a boring party.
---
Eventually, we heard voices calling from the house.
"Akihiro! Momo! The cake's ready!"
We exchanged a look that said, Do we have to?
"Yes," I sighed. "We have to."
She stood, smoothing her dress. "Thank you for showing me the garden. It was… nice."
I smiled faintly. "Anytime."
And as we walked back into the bright, noisy hall, I had the strange feeling that this wouldn't be the last time we snuck away from a party together.
---
A/N: If you have any suggestions or questions, please comment on it. I always try to answer every single one of you