[Third person POV]
Everyone soon stepped into the steaming hot spring, their bodies instantly melting into relaxation as the soothing warmth wrapped around them. One by one, they let out long, satisfied sighs, the tension of the long day's training finally easing from their sore muscles. The atmosphere grew peaceful, the bubbling of the water blending with the quiet crackle of lanterns set nearby.
Jirou, however, tilted her head as her sharp eyes scanned the group. She sat up slightly, her wet bangs clinging to her forehead. "Hey, wait a sec… where did Momo go? I swear she was just with us," she asked, her tone carrying a hint of suspicion.
Melissa, who had settled comfortably by the edge of the spring with her legs dipped in the water, gave her a casual shrug. She was idly kicking her feet, her blonde hair tied up in a messy bun that somehow made her look effortlessly cute. With a deliberately mysterious tone, she replied, "She has… other arrangements."
"What?!" Toru blurted out from the center of the spring, her invisible form making the ripples around her the only sign of where she was sitting. "What could possibly be more important than soaking in a hot spring after all that training?"
Melissa only smirked faintly, her shoulders lifting again as if to say she wasn't going to spill any secrets. "Don't ask me, I'm just as in the dark as you guys," she said, though the teasing lilt in her voice suggested otherwise.
Uraraka and Asui exchanged knowing glances. The thought that crossed both of their minds was the same, but the two wisely chose to keep it to themselves. They weren't about to get involved in whatever "other arrangements" Melissa was hinting at. Instead, they sank a little deeper into the hot water, letting the steam fog around them.
Meanwhile, on the boys' side, things weren't nearly as calm. Laughter and playful chatter filled the air as they relaxed in their own spring, but one very specific problem ruined the peaceful atmosphere. Mineta, wrapped in nothing but a towel, was crouched near the wall that divided the two baths. His breathing was shallow, almost panting, his eyes wide and gleaming with dangerous intent as he stared at the barrier separating him from the girls.
"Mineta…" Kirishima muttered with a disapproving shake of his head, his spiky red hair sticking up even wetter than usual. "If Tony finds out what you're planning, he's gonna blast you into next week. You know that, right?"
But Mineta, trembling with excitement, waved his warning off with manic energy. "Well, too bad Tony isn't here, is he?! This is my chance! Hot, naked babes, here I co—"
…
Far away from Mineta's idiocy, the so-called "missing" pair were walking hand in hand beneath the canopy of the forest. The moonlight filtered through the leaves, painting silver patches on the forest floor as Tony confidently led Momo through the undergrowth. He was dressed simply in black swimming trunks, while Momo was wrapped in nothing but a fluffy towel, clutching it to her chest with one arm as she followed with a mixture of irritation and curiosity.
"Tony," Momo said with an exasperated sigh, though there was the faintest curve of amusement in her lips, "just where exactly are you taking me? I'm missing out on a very nice, very warm bath because of you, you know."
Tony glanced back at her, his grin wide and boyishly charming. "Relax~ just trust me, we're almost there. I promise you're gonna love it."
"I swear, Tony, this better be worth it," Momo huffed, though the sparkle in her eyes betrayed her mood. Despite her complaints, she hadn't stopped smiling since he had taken her hand.
"Trust the process babes~," Tony said with a mock-serious tone as they pushed past the last row of shrubs and stepped into an open clearing.
Momo's breath caught. "Woah…" she whispered, eyes widening in awe.
Before them stretched a pristine, crystal-clear lake. The surface shimmered like liquid glass, the full moon overhead spilling its silver light across the water until it looked as though stars themselves had sunk beneath its surface. Fireflies drifted lazily through the clearing, glowing softly as though nature itself had decorated the scene with lanterns.
"It's beautiful…" Momo murmured, stepping forward without realizing. The natural light reflected in her wide, astonished eyes. "Tony… how did you even find this place?"
Tony leaned casually against a tree, the moonlight catching on his features as he smirked. "Did a little recon before we got here. You know me—I like knowing my surroundings. Found this place by accident and thought… 'yeah, this is a spot worth sharing.'"
Momo turned to him, her cheeks glowing red as her heart skipped at the way he was looking at her. Before she could say anything, Tony leaned in and brushed a quick kiss against her cheek. She froze for a heartbeat, then blinked.
"Come on, let's go in," he said playfully before breaking into a sprint. Without a second thought, he dove into the water with a splash, vanishing beneath the shimmering surface.
Momo gasped, clutching her towel tighter. "Wait, what?! Is it even safe? What if there are bacteria or—"
Tony erupted from the water with a laugh, his dark hair plastered over his face as droplets rolled down his skin, reflecting silver under the moonlight. He grinned at her, eyes gleaming. "Hahaha, Momo, you worry too much! Do you really think I'd drag you here without checking first?"
"Yes," Momo deadpanned immediately, her expression completely straight.
Tony rolled his eyes as he floated lazily on his back, the moonlight reflecting across his damp skin. "Did you also forget we're Super Soldiers? We literally can't get sick. Our metabolism's so strong it's impossible for that to happen."
Momo pursed her lips, her thoughtful hum carrying through the quiet clearing. "Hmm… that's true," she admitted, sounding almost reluctant to concede the point.
"Exactly," Tony said, flipping back upright with a grin. He spread his arms across the surface, letting the water ripple around him. "So stop being such a city girl for once and just enjoy the moment, will you? It's nice and warm, you know~"
Momo gave him a flat look, her cheeks puffing in slight annoyance. "Tony, you're as much a city boy as I am a city girl," she retorted, rolling her eyes. Still, she hesitated for only a moment longer before letting out a small sigh. "Oh, alright then."
"Yay!" Tony exclaimed in an overly cute, almost cartoonish voice, making Momo chuckle despite herself.
A flash of light sparked beneath her towel as she created something new with her Quirk. When she let the towel drop, it revealed a deep red two-piece bikini that contrasted beautifully against her pale skin. Without giving Tony the satisfaction of teasing her about it, she took a step forward and dove gracefully into the water.
A powerful splash followed, the wave smacking Tony right in the face. He sputtered and laughed as Momo surfaced nearby, her hair transformed by the water into silky strands that gleamed under the moonlight. She ran her fingers through it slowly, brushing it back over her shoulder with elegance that came naturally to her.
"Hmm… not too bad," she hummed in appreciation of the cool-yet-warm sensation against her skin.
"See? You just had to stop being so skeptical," Tony said smugly, flashing her a triumphant grin.
Momo responded by sending another splash his way, and before long the two were playing like children. They swam in circles around each other, their laughter echoing across the otherwise silent forest. The moon above shone down like a spotlight, highlighting them as if the universe itself wanted to frame this moment.
At some point, Momo even created large water gun out of thin air, passing one to Tony before the two waged a playful "battle." Sprays of water shot back and forth across the lake, accompanied by the sound of their laughter and cheers.
"Hahaha—why is it," Momo managed between giggles, "that I always end up having such a fun time whenever I'm with you, Tony?"
"What can I say?" Tony puffed his chest out dramatically, grinning wide. "I'm the life of any party—even if the party's only a duo."
Momo arched a brow at him, smirking slyly as she swam closer. "Can a duo even be considered a party? That sounds more like… a date."
The playful atmosphere shifted slightly at her words, something warmer settling between them.
Tony tilted his head, smirk softening into something more genuine. "Then is that how you see this? As a date?"
The water rippled gently as Momo drifted into his space. She draped her arms over his shoulders, crossing them behind his neck with deliberate intimacy. Her lips curled into a teasing, confident smile. "As a matter of fact, I do. Did you mean for it to come across as one?"
Tony's hands instinctively settled at her waist, holding her steady in the water. "Obviously," he murmured, his usual wit giving way to a rare sincerity. "I'm just glad you're enjoying yourself."
Her expression softened, her smirk fading into a tender smile. "Like I said… I always have a grand time when I'm with you, Tony."
Her voice was quieter now, almost a whisper, and it pulled him in.
"Yeah?" Tony breathed, gazing into her dark, almond-shaped eyes that seemed to reflect every star in the sky.
"Yeah," Momo whispered back, their words now little more than breath.
Slowly, naturally, they leaned in. Their eyes fluttered closed, anticipation hanging between them like a fragile thread. Then their lips met, gentle at first, but filled with a warmth that made the entire world seem to fade away.
Tony's arms wrapped tighter around her waist, drawing her against him. Momo pressed closer, one hand sliding into his damp hair as their kiss deepened. The lake around them rippled quietly, the fireflies still glowing softly, as if nature itself held its breath in reverence.
For that moment, it felt as if nothing else existed—just the two of them, together beneath the endless stars.
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