After Class

"Hey, Rey, wait up!" Deku shouted.

I turned around. "What's up?"

"Tenya, Uraraka, and I are planning on going to the library to work on our English homework. Do you want to come, too?" Deku asked.

"Of course. Are we waiting for Tenya and Uraraka then?" I smiled at Deku. I was still exhausted by what had happened in English class, but I didn't want to turn down Deku. Maybe it would do me some good to hang out with my classmates instead of going back to my house alone for the weekend.

"Tenya and Uraraka are waiting for us outside the gates. Let's go!" I followed Deku to where the three had agreed to meet up.

"Tenya, Uraraka! Rey is coming with us!" Deku announced to the duo.

"Yay!" Uraraka cheered.

"Glad to have you with us, Rey." Tenya greeted me.

"Thanks for letting me join your group." I replied.

"Now that everyone is here, let's go to the library!" Deku said.

"Let's find a table to sit down." Deku said.

"I know a good spot." Rey said, leading the three with him to a vacant table near a window. "I used to come here all the time to read before going to UA."

"I didn't know you like reading books." Uraraka commented.

"I had a lot of free time on my hands before, so I would always come here to enjoy the quietness." Rey explained.

"Present Mic said that our assignment this weekend was to write a paragraph about something we are thankful for in English. I think I'm going to write about my parents. How about you guys?" Uraraka shared, pulling out her notebook and pencil pouch from her backpack.

"I'm going to write about my brother." Tenya said.

"I'm going to write about All Might!" Deku decided.

"Haha, I'm sure everyone knew what you were going to write about, Deku." Rey teased.

"Eh? Is it that obvious?" Deku blushed. Uraraka laughed.

"How about you, Rey?" Uraraka asked.

"Me? I'm not too sure to be honest. I'll have to think about." Rey said.

"Tell us if you don't have any ideas. We can help you brainstorm." Deku offered.

Rey nodded.

The four worked quietly on their homework assignment. There was an occasional rustle of papers and the scratching of lead on paper.

Rey doodled on his paper, trying to think of a topic to write about. He didn't know what to write.

"Uraraka, can you read this sentence for me? I think it sounds weird, but I don't know why." Deku whispered to Uraraka.

She scooted her chair over next to Deku. Their heads were nearly touching as Uraraka leaned over to look at Deku's paper. Rey saw the two and smiled. He secretly took out his phone and snapped a picture of them. Enlarging the image, Rey propped up his phone on a stack of books, and he started to draw.

"Hey, Rey! What are you doing?" Uraraka asked after she completed her last sentence of her paragraph. She bounced over, curious about what the boy was doing.

"Oh wow! Is that me and Deku?" Uraraka exclaimed. "Look, Deku! Look at what Rey drew!"

Uraraka pulled Deku over next to Rey. Tenya also came over.

"I happened to catch you guys sitting over there together, and I thought it would be a shame if I didn't capture the moment. So, I took a picture of you guys and did a quick sketch." Rey explained, scratching his head in embarrassment. "I didn't have a lot of time, so it's kind of simple right now."

"I think it looks amazing!" Uraraka gushed. She was extremely excited. "What do you think, Deku, Tenya?"

"It's really well done." Tenya complimented.

"I didn't know you were so talented in drawing, Rey!" Deku said.

"I picked it up a couple years ago. It's a hobby of mine." Rey replied.

Deku and Uraraka picked up Rey's sketchbook to look at the drawing more closely. Tenya pulled out his phone from his pocket. "Oh, look at the time! It's almost 6 pm. The library should be closing soon. Let's go!"

"Okay!" Deku returned the sketchbook to Rey. Uraraka looked like she wanted to say something, but she didn't in the end. The four put their stuff away and headed out of the library.

"Do you want to eat dinner together?" Deku suggested. Everyone agreed.

"I haven't eaten at Sakura Blossom Cafe for a long time. Let's go there." Uraraka said. Rey opened his mouth but closed it when he saw how everyone wanted to go.

After a ten minute walk, they arrived at the cafe. "A table for four, please."

They sat down at a table. A family of three was eating next to them. The place already had a few customers eating, and dinner time was just starting. The place would get busy soon.

"Have everyone eaten here before?" Deku asked. Uraraka and Rey nodded.

"This is my first time." Tenya said.

"I suggest getting their tempura. It's really good. One of the best ones I've eaten before." Deku suggested.

"I'll try it then." Tenya replied.

"Is everyone ready to order then?" Uraraka asked.

"Yes!"

Uraraka waved at the waiter, and the man came over.

"What would you like to have today?" he said. He looked at the four. "Oh, isn't this Rey? Are these your friends?"

"Huh? He knows you?" Uraraka asked.

"Did Rey not tell you? Rey is one of our best chefs here. His tonkatsu is one of the best ones I've tasted before!" The waiter explained.

"Hi, Uncle Saburo. I was just about to tell them when you beat me to it." Rey said.

"That's so cool! I had the tonkatsu here before. It was really good!" Deku said.

"Since you are all Rey's friends, then I'll ask Masaaki to give you guys a discount. So what will you all be having today?" Saburo promised.

"The okonomiyaki please."

"The tempura and curry rice, sir."

"Yakisoba and miso soup please."

"Just the club sandwich, Uncle Saburo."

"Your orders will be here shortly! Don't forget to introduce your friends to us after, Rey!" Saburo wrote down their orders and left.

"When did you start working here?" Deku asked.

"I've been working here for two years." Rey said.

"I heard there's a lot of pro heroes like to come eat here. Is that true?" Tenya asked.

"Mhm. A lot of pros like to come by to have a snack after their patrols. Actually, if we're lucky today, we might be able to see Kamui Woods come by. He likes to come by and eat after his evening patrols." Rey mused.

"Woah! I didn't know working at a restaurant would let you see so many pro heroes!" Deku exclaimed. "Have you seen anyone else?"

Rey told the three about his stories and how one time he got to make tempura for the number 3 hero, Hawks. Not long after, Saburo returned with their food.

"Young lady, your okonomiyaki. Young sir, your tempura and curry rice. Rey, your club sandwich. And it's Izuku right? I remember Rey telling us about a classmate with green hair called Izuku. Here's your yakisoba and miso soup!" Sabura placed their dishes in front of them.

Deku was happy that Rey had talked about him with his colleagues. Rey picked up his sandwich and started to eat. The others joined in soon after.

"Look, it really is Kamui Woods!" Uraraka whispered, looking at the entrance of the cafe.

Deku and I watched as Kamui Woods sat down at a table in the corner.

"So cool!" Deku gasped.

"Is the chef who made the soufflé pancakes here today? I would like to one strawberry pancake." Kamui Woods told Saburo.

"I'm really sorry, Mr. Kamui Woods. The chef is not here today. Can I suggest you a different dessert instead?" Saburo apologized.

"It's okay. I'll come back another time." Kamui Woods said. He prepared to get up.

"Aw, what a pity. He's leaving so soon?" Uraraka lamented. I looked at her then at Kamui Woods. I stood up from my seat. I ran up to the table where Kamui Woods was at.

"Mr. Kamui Woods, I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Your pancakes will be ready in 10 minutes. I'm sorry for the confusion!" I said, trying to get my hint across to Saburo.

"Rey! Why are you late? Your shift started twenty minutes ago. Hurry and get changed! Don't keep Mr. Kamui Woods waiting!" Saburo scolded. Thankfully, he got the hint.

I bowed at Kamui Woods and ran off into the kitchen. Strawberry soufflé pancakes coming up!

Ten minutes later, I finished three servings of soufflé pancakes and pulled Saburo over.

"Uncle Saburo, I'll give Kamui Woods his pancakes. Can you bring the other two servings to my friends?" I asked.

"I got it." Saburo said.

Wiping my hands on my aprons, I cleaned the rim of the plate and brought the pancakes over to the hero. "Your pancakes, sir."

"Thank you so much. They smell wonderful." Kamui Woods complimented.

"I hope you enjoy them, sir." I smiled.

Meanwhile, Saburo placed the two plates of pancakes at Deku's table. "Two servings of strawberry soufflé pancakes on the house. Rey wanted his friends to have a taste, too."

"Thank you, Mr. Saburo!" Tenya, Uraraka, and Deku said.

"I hope you like them." Rey said, coming over to sit down. Rey picked up the cup with strawberry syrup and poured it over the pancakes. "Hurry and take a bite. They taste the best when they come out of the oven."

The three picked up their forks and knives and dug in.

"It's so good!" Uraraka exclaimed.

"Mhm!" Deku nodded vigorously.

"You're really good at baking, Rey." Tenya complimented.

"After we finish, I'll bring you guys over and introduce you to my colleagues!" Rey said.

"Good bye, Tenya! See you Monday, Deku!" Rey and Uraraka waved the two boys goodbye.

"I'll also get going then." Uraraka turned to say goodbye.

"Here. You can keep this, Uraraka." Rey handed her a folded piece of paper.

"See you later, Uraraka. Don't stay out too late." Rey waved and left.

Uraraka waved back. After watching Rey leave, she curiously unfolded the paper. It was the sketch of Deku and she at the library. She smiled and put the paper carefully away in her pocket.

She whispered. "Thank you, Rey."

I sat on my bed, looking at my English homework. I wrote "I'm thankful for" and paused. What am I thankful for?

I closed my eyes, and the scene of Uraraka, Deku, and Tenya eating the pancakes flashed through my head. I smiled.

I'm thankful for class 1-A.