35: You are beautiful Toru~~

The next morning, Aiden was awakened by the rumbling sound of engines and the beeping of vehicles reversing outside his villa. Confused and slightly groggy, he rubbed his eyes and sat up, with Nimbus, his tiny pet, curled up beside him.

The little creature stretched and gave a small chirp as Aiden picked him up and made his way downstairs to investigate.

As he reached the ground floor, the noise grew louder. He peeked through the curtains and saw several vans and construction vehicles parked in the driveway, along with men carrying various tools and materials.

His brow furrowed in curiosity, trying to recall why they were there. Then it hit him—'the materials he'd ordered for his workshop.'

Opening the front door, Aiden stepped out into the bustling activity of workers unloading crates and equipment. He walked further outside, holding Nimbus in one hand, watching as some of the men carefully hauled large steel beams and advanced tech pieces he had specifically requested.

His gaze wandered to the side of the driveway, where he noticed Elara, his loyal maid, standing confidently as she spoke to a man in a hard hat.

He assumed this was Ochaco's father, based on the pleasant yet professional demeanour the man had.

Aiden approached, nodding in appreciation at how organised everything seemed. As he got closer, Elara glanced his way and gave him a warm smile.

"Good morning, Your Highness," she greeted. "I was just overseeing the construction crew. Mr. Uraraka here is handling everything splendidly."

The man turned to Aiden, offering a polite bow. "Good morning, young man. I'm Tanji. Uraraka. We're here to build that facility you requested. My team is ready, and everything's going according to schedule."

Aiden nodded, glancing around at the busy workers. "Thank you, Mr. Uraraka. I appreciate the help. It's good to know that everything's running smoothly."

He paused for a second, remembering the conversation he'd had with Ochaco about her parents. "I'm glad I could support your company."

Mr. Uraraka smiled warmly. "We're grateful for the work. It's not every day we get to work on such a unique project."

Elara added, "I've also placed the additional orders from the Yaoyorozu company. They'll arrive later this week."

Aiden smiled, satisfied with how quickly everything was coming together. "Perfect," he replied. "Everything is falling into place faster than I expected."

Elara, always attentive, glanced at Nimbus, who was perched comfortably on Aiden's arm. "Would you like me to prepare breakfast while you supervise the progress here?"

Aiden shook his head, gently petting Nimbus. "I'll take a look around first, but thanks. Nimbus and I will be fine for now."

As Elara nodded and returned to her duties, Aiden wandered through the construction site, watching the skilled workers transform his vision into reality.

The sounds of hammers, drills, and heavy machinery echoed around him, but instead of being overwhelmed, Aiden felt a sense of accomplishment. Everything was moving according to plan.

Nimbus chirped happily, seemingly enjoying the activity, as Aiden patted his little head. "Looks like things are coming together, buddy. Soon we'll have our own space to build whatever we want."

As Aiden stood there, watching the workers diligently build the facility for his inventions and creations, he felt a twinge of excitement for the future.

-

-

Half an hour later, Aiden was dressed in his school uniform, his long dreadlocks untied and messy from the rushed morning.

Despite the formal attire, he carried himself with his usual relaxed energy.

Today, he decided to walk to school, wanting to get a feel for the neighbourhood. Of course, his bodyguards protested, insisting it wasn't safe for the Prince to go unaccompanied, but Aiden had had enough.

"Stay behind," he ordered, knowing they wouldn't dare disobey a direct command.

With a sigh of relief, he stepped out of the villa alone, enjoying the calm of the quiet streets as he began his walk. After just a few minutes of peace, however, he sensed something off.

A quick glance over his shoulder confirmed his suspicions—his car was following him from a few metres back, slowly trailing behind.

His bodyguards had taken their own approach to 'protection,' and Aiden could only shake his head in exasperation.

"Fine, let them follow," he muttered to Nimbus, who was tucked into his pocket, peeking out curiously. "Can't win every battle."

As he walked along the empty road, taking in the sights of the peaceful morning, he found his mind wandering to the events at UA, thinking of the upcoming day. It was nice to feel somewhat normal, despite his status.

Just as he rounded a corner, lost in his thoughts, he suddenly bumped into someone.

"Oh! Sorry!" came a familiar, soft voice from nowhere.

Aiden blinked, glancing down to see... no one? That was until the faint outline of a figure shimmered before him. It was Toru Hagakure, the invisible girl from his class.

"Oh, it's you, Toru!" Aiden said, recognising her distinctive presence. "I almost didn't see you there—literally."

Toru giggled, her cheerful voice giving away her position. "Yeah, sorry! I'm always doing that. Are you walking to school too?"

Aiden grinned, slipping his hands into his pockets. "I am. Decided to ditch the car and get a feel of the area. What about you?"

Toru's outline shifted as she waved an invisible hand in the air. "I live pretty close by, so I always walk! It's kinda nice, you know?"

"Definitely," Aiden agreed, enjoying the small chat. As they walked side by side, with only the faintest shimmer of Toru visible in the morning light, he couldn't help but think how odd yet interesting this encounter was.

"So... no guards today?" Toru teased lightly, obviously aware of Aiden's royal status.

Aiden chuckled, glancing back at the trailing car. "Oh, they're here, alright. Just... giving me some space. Sort of."

Toru laughed again, her lightheartedness making the morning feel more relaxed. "Must be tough, huh? But you seem to handle it pretty well."

"Yeah, you get used to it," Aiden said with a shrug. "Though I do prefer a bit of freedom now and then."

They continued chatting as they walked towards UA, talking about simple things like school, classwork, and the upcoming hero exercises.

It was a refreshing break from the usual formality Aiden was used to, and Toru's upbeat personality made the walk enjoyable.

....

As Aiden and Toru continued their walk, the gentle sway of her school uniform—floating clothes in the air—made her invisible presence all the more amusing. Aiden glanced at the floating uniform beside him and couldn't help but grin.

"You know," Aiden said, hands in his pockets, "I've got to say, walking with you is... different. Not every day you walk next to floating clothes."

Toru giggled, the sound light and cheerful. "Yeah, you get used to it! At least it's a good way to avoid getting spotted when I don't want to be."

Aiden chuckled. "I bet it comes in handy. I mean, it's got to be the most unique quirk in our class."

Toru's outline shifted a bit, her uniform bouncing slightly as she replied, "I guess so! But sometimes, it's tough, you know? Being invisible all the time... people don't really see you."

Aiden could sense a hint of something in her voice—an underlying sadness—but he didn't want to push it. Instead, he decided to lighten the mood.

"Well, from what I can see," he said, with a playful smirk, "you're cute. Really cute, actually."

Toru paused for a moment, almost stopping in her tracks. "You're joking, right? There's no way you can see me." Her tone was teasing, but there was a fragile edge to it, as if she was used to hearing empty compliments.

Aiden raised an eyebrow, feeling the shift in her mood. "I'm not lying. I think you're beautiful."

The silence between them grew a little heavy as Toru suddenly became quiet. The faint shimmer of her figure slumped a bit, her tone turning more sombre. "You don't have to lie, Aiden. I've never seen what I look like... not even my parents know what I look like. It's not something I can ever change."

The weight of her words hung in the air, and Aiden realised how deeply her invisibility affected her. The world had never seen her, and perhaps she had never seen herself either. There was a sadness in that kind of existence, a longing to be recognised, not just as a presence but as a person.

Aiden stopped walking, turning slightly to face her. His expression softened as he let out a deep breath. "Toru... I'm not lying." His eyes glimmered faintly with a soft, violet glow as he continued, his gaze steady.

"You've got gorgeous green hair, short and a bit wavy. It moves so freely with every step you take. Your eyes—they're this brilliant shade of green, almost matching your hair, but there's this brightness in them that stands out. Your smile... when you laugh, it lights up your whole face."

Toru stood there, frozen in shock. Her mouth opened, but no words came out for a moment. "No one's ever been able to describe me... How... How can you see me?"

Aiden gave a small smile, his eyes still glowing faintly. "I don't know how, but my quirk... it lets me see the real you. And you're amazing, Toru."

For a few seconds, Toru just stood there, staring at him in disbelief. Then, her green eyes welled up with tears—not of sadness, but of pure shock and happiness. "You... you're serious?"

Aiden nodded. "Yeah, I am."

Toru sniffed and wiped her eyes, her usual bubbly attitude returning as she chuckled through the tears. "I don't know what to say. I guess I'll take your word for it, huh?"

"You don't have to say anything," Aiden replied gently. "But just know, I'm not lying. You're beautiful, Toru. And you should believe it, too."

There was a pause, a silence hanging between them as Toru tried to process everything. A mix of emotions washed over her—joy, confusion, and disbelief all swirling in her mind.

No one had ever described her appearance before, and certainly not with the kind of tenderness that Aiden had.

"Thank you..." she whispered after a long pause, her voice barely audible.

Aiden smiled, walking alongside her again. "Anytime."

As they neared UA, the atmosphere between them was different—more comfortable, more open.

Toru didn't have to hide, at least not around Aiden. She had always felt invisible in more ways than one, but now, for the first time, someone truly saw her.

And that made all the difference.

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