Siren Song (All Might x Reader)

Chapter 30: Sorahiko

"It's a nice day out..." You mumbled awkwardly.
    "Mhmm..." He grunted, walking at a leisurely pace beside you.
    You weren't sure why you'd agreed to go on a walk with him. You easily could've come up with some sort of excuse or even ask him if he would help you with some more training. Anything would've been better than walking alongside him in awkward silence. For some reason, though, you couldn't reject him. He'd barely ever spoken to you before, so if he was asking you to do something with him it must've been for a good reason.
    You tried to focus on other things aside from the awkward tension growing between the two of you. You focused on the park you were walking through, alive with summer life. Birds were chirping, a warm breeze was flowing through the trees. You could smell the saltwater travel all the way up from the ocean. The scent was comforting for you. You wished you could go for a swim in the warm water.
    The ocean was always so alive this time of year. Bright life filled every nook and cranny of the sea floor, an abundance that made living down there not so terrible. You missed it, in an odd way, but you wouldn't trade the life you were living now to return to the ocean.
    Gran Torino led you down towards the beach and onto the pier. The boards creaked under your feet as you strolled down to the end, where the pier hung over the gentle waves of the ocean. There was an old wooden bench at the end of the dock, sitting unused and well worn.
    Gran torino walked down and took a seat, letting out a heavy sigh as you sat beside him. The wind coming up from the ocean waves blew your hair backwards. You could feel the gentle spray of the salt water against your face as the water crashed against the dock.
    "So, you and Toshinori are together now, eh?" The old man asked suddenly.
    You stiffened and tried to stutter out an excuse.
    "N-No! We just- uh- We-" You waved your hands furiously in denial, but his face showed he wasn't buying it at all.
    "You're both adults. You can do whatever foolish things you want to." He grumbled. His eyes were on the horizon, almost as if he was lost in thought.
    "I- I'm sorry..." You mumbled in shame. Heat flooded your face.
    Word certainly spread fast in your small group.
    You could only imagine how angry and disappointed he was in you. You knew he'd find out eventually, but you figured he would confront Toshinori instead of you. He probably thought you were jeopardizing the mission, that bringing you on is a mistake. You knew he was right, in a way, but at the time you confessed you weren't worried about that.
    "Why are you apologizing?" He asked.
    "For- for jeopardizing the mission... for doing something I shouldn't have..." You mumbled. It felt like you were a kid again, being scolded for something you shouldn't have done.
    Gran Torino sighed again and shook his head. "I'm no spring chicken. I could see it coming. I told him living together would be a bad idea, but he said living together would help you 'bond'."
    "I'm going to do my best to help against All for One! I promise! I'll work even harder in training. I'll prove to you that-" You tried to defend yourself, to apologize to him, but you were cut off by his halfhearted laughter.
    "W-why are you laughing?" You asked in astonishment.
    "You remind me of her..." He chuckled again, staring off into the distance.
    "Her?"
    "Toshinori's master. Nana. She was one of my closest friends before she passed."
    "Oh..." You whispered, following his gaze to the setting sun. "I'm sorry."
    "I've known Toshinori for most of his life." Gran Torino muttered. He reached into his pocket and pulled out two candies, one of which he gave to you. You quietly unwrapped it at the same time as him before popping it into your mouth. "When Nana chose him for her successor, I doubted her decision. His body was his only redeemable quality, he seemed too reckless and foolish. He still can be, but he's better now. He was only 18 when she passed. He was like a mother to him."
    You sat in silence for a moment, unsure of what to say. "It must've been hard for both of you."
    "It was... Toshinori was a lot different after that, but he still kept his dreams of being the 'symbol of peace' in his sights. I'm sure she'd be very proud of him." He added almost reluctantly, embarrassment spreading across his face.
    "Have you told him that?" You questioned.
    He chuckled again, shaking his head. "No. I'm not good with saying those things. I don't want him to get a big head."
    "I think his head is already big enough," You laughed.
    "It is..." Gran Torino nodded. You could see him mulling his next words over in his head. "(Y/N), Toshinori seems more focused than ever at defeating All for One now. Whether that's of his own accord or because of you, I don't know. All I know is that since you've come around he's stopped screwing around so much. Teaching you has been good practice for him, he seems focused on it for once. I don't care what you two are doing, but if it keeps him acting like a sensible hero then keep doing it."
    "I-I'll try my best, Gran Torino!" You offered. 
    "I know you will, kid. Come on, let's go get some food. I'm starving."
"What kind of food?" You smiled at the drastic change of conversation.
"I'm thinking Taiyaki." He grumbled. "We can stop and get some at the convenience store."
"Convenience store? I could make you some instead."
"Fine. But don't overcook it!" He hissed.
You grinned and laughed at his irritated demeanor. "I'll do my best."
The two of you started your walk back to Might Towers, a more lighthearted and less awkward air between the two of you this time around.
"Hey, Gran Torino? Thank you." You smiled meekly at him as you walked to the entrance of Might Towers.
His faces softened the smaller degree and he gave you a small smile. "Anytime, kid. And call me Sorahiko."