….

  "Happy?" she asked, chewing.

  "Very." He smiled. Then, while he had her off-bance: "Now–

  "–let me touch those fluffy ears like you promised."

  Rumi's face went from pink to red instantly. "I thought you forgot about that!"

  "Nope." Dabi set the pte aside, his full attention on her now. "It was the only thing that motivated me to stay alive, in fact."

  That made her ugh - a genuine sound that lit up her face. But she still tried to argue. "The deal was on graduation day. When you ranked first in css. Which, yes, you did rank first, and congratutions by the way. But you didn't even attend the ceremony!"

  "Wasn't my fault. I was unconscious."

  "You were fighting an A-rank vilin!"

  "Also not my fault."

  "You nearly died!"

  "But I didn't. And I ranked first. And it's graduation season, so technically we are still within the timeframe." Dabi's expression was completely serious, but his eyes had a teasing glint. "A promise is a promise, my Rumi."

  She stared at him. He stared back, patient.

  Her ears fttened against her head - the rabbit equivalent of covering her face with her hands.

  "This is so embarrassing." she muttered.

  "You don't have to if you really don't want to." Dabi said, his voice softening slightly. "I was mostly joking back then. If it actually makes you uncomfortable–"

  "No! I mean—" Rumi cut herself off, taking a breath.

  Her competitive nature wouldn't let her back down from a promise. "I said I would let you. And I keep my promises too. Just... don't make it weird, okay?"

  "Heehe, wouldn't dream of it~"

  "Can you be any more believable?"

  "My bad~"

  "Forget it."

  Rumi stood up and moved closer to the bed, her face still flushed. She seemed unsure of how to position herself, which was unusual for someone normally so confident.

  "How do you want to...?" she trailed off.

  Dabi shifted over slightly, patting the edge of the hospital bed. "Sit here. It will be easier."

  She hesitated for just a moment, then sat on the edge of the bed, close enough that her thigh pressed against his hip through the thin hospital bnket. The contact sent a small thrill through him that he carefully kept off his face.

  "Okay…." she said, her voice slightly higher than normal. "But just... be gentle, alright? They are sensitive."

  "Umm, I will be." Dabi promised immediately.

  Slowly, deliberately, Rumi rexed her ears. Let them rise from their fttened position to stand upright - long, white, impossibly soft-looking rabbit ears that twitched nervously.

  Dabi reached out carefully.

  His hand was still bandaged in pces, movements not quite as smooth as they had once been. But he was gentle when his fingers first made contact with the base of her right ear.

  Rumi's entire body went rigid. A small sound escaped her throat - something between a gasp and a whimper.

  "Still okay?" Dabi asked quietly, his voice dropping lower.

  "...Yeah. Just... no one has ever actually touched them before. They are really sensitive."

  He could tell. Her ears were incredibly warm, the fur softer than silk.

  He could feel her pulse through them, quick and nervous. As his fingers traced along the length slowly, exploring the texture, he felt the subtle muscle movements beneath as they twitched involuntarily.

  Rumi's breathing had changed, faster and shallower.

  "You weren't kidding about being sensitive." Dabi murmured, running his thumb along the inside edge of her ear. The fur there was even softer, and Rumi actually shivered.

  "Shut up!!" she breathed, but there was no heat in it. Her eyes had closed, her head tilting slightly into his touch like she couldn't help it.

  Dabi took his time, learning every inch. The way the base was warmer than the tips. How the fur changed texture as he moved higher. The way she reacted differently depending on where he touched - a small intake of breath when his fingers brushed the very tip, a full-body shiver when he traced the inner curve.

  "Dabi..." Her voice was barely a whisper.

  "Hmm?"

  "This is... you are making it weird."

  "Am I?" His other hand came up to gently cup her other ear, giving it the same slow, thorough attention. "You are the one who is practically purring."

  "I don't purr, I am not a cat–" Her protest cut off with another small sound as his fingers found a particurly sensitive spot near the base.

  "What was that?"

  "....nothing." Rumi said quickly, but her face was completely red now, her ears twitching constantly in his gentle grip.

  He stroked both ears simultaneously now, watching her reactions with fascination. The way her breath hitched. How her hands gripped the edge of the bed. The tiny, involuntary sounds she was making that she was clearly trying to suppress.

  "They really are soft." Dabi said, his voice low and appreciative. "Softer than I imagined."

  "You... you imagined this?" Her eyes opened slightly, looking at him through her shes.

  "Maybe a few times." he admitted with a slight smirk.

  Rumi's face somehow got even redder. "You are such a…."

  But she didn't finish the sentence because his fingers had found that spot again, massaging gently at the base of her ears where they connected to her head, and whatever insult she had been pnning dissolved into a quiet moan she couldn't quite stifle.

  They both froze.

  "That was..." Dabi started.

  "Don't!" Rumi warned, but her voice was shaky. "Don't say anything about that."

  "I was just going to say it was cute."

  "That's worse!" She moved to pull away, but his hands were still gentle on her ears and she found she didn't actually want him to stop. "This was a terrible idea. I should never have promised–"

  "But you did." Dabi reminded her softly, his thumbs stroking in small circles that made her eyes flutter closed again despite herself. "And I am really, really grateful."

  They stayed like that for several long minutes. Dabi exploring every inch of her ears with careful, appreciative touches. Rumi, unknown to her, rested her back over his chest and could feel her body heat.

  Finally…. Reluctantly…. he withdrew his hands. "Thank you."

  Rumi opened her eyes slowly, looking dazed. Her ears were standing straight up now, twitching occasionally. Her face was flushed, her breathing still uneven.

  "You are dangerous." she said after a moment.

  "Me? I just touched your ears like you promised."

  "That was not just touching. That was... that was..." She seemed unable to find the words. "You know what you were doing."

  "Making you feel good?" Dabi's smirk was unrepentant now.

  Rumi stood up quickly, grabbing her jacket from the chair with more force than necessary. "Alright, that's enough emotional vulnerability for one day. And physical vulnerability. And... all the vulnerability."

  "Rumi—"

  "The doctor said you are getting discharged tomorrow, right?" Her voice was slightly higher than normal, talking fast.

  "Right. Morning."

  "Good. Great. Wonderful." She was putting on her jacket despite the warm hospital air. "Because Gran Torino's been climbing the walls waiting to get you home. And apparently there is a huge pile of 'get well soon' cards waiting for you."

  She paused. "Some from your cssmates from U.A. A lot from civilians. And..." Her expression shifted to something complicated. "A few from Pro Heroes. Including the Water Hose family."

  Dabi was quiet for a moment. "How are they?"

  "Absolutely fine, thanks to you." Rumi's voice was firm. "Kota asks about you constantly. Wants to know when 'the hero with the blue fire' is coming back."

  She was moving toward the door, clearly needing escape.

  "Rumi." Dabi called out, making her pause with her hand on the door. "For what it's worth... that was the best reward I have ever gotten."

  She turned to look at him, her expression conflicted. Embarrassed but pleased. Flustered but smiling slightly.

  "You are still a weirdo." she said, but her voice was softer now. "Get some rest, Patchwork. And tomorrow when you are discharged? We are starting training again."

  "You really understand me too well."

  She paused at the door, looking back at him one more time. "And Dabi? That was... that was a one-time thing. Don't expect to make it a habit."

  "Understood." he said seriously. Then added with a grin. "Unless I rank first again next year?"

  "There is no next year idiot!!" She threw a wadded-up napkin at him - which he caught easily - and fled, the door closing firmly behind her.

  Dabi y back against the pillows, still holding the napkin, a satisfied smile on his healed face.

  Outside in the hallway, Rumi leaned against the wall, her heart racing. Her ears were still tingling from his touch.

  "Dammit." she muttered to herself, touching one ear gingerly. It was still warm, still sensitive. "He definitely knew what he was doing."

  And the worst part? She had enjoyed every second of it.

  She pushed off the wall and started walking, trying to get her breathing under control.

  Tomorrow. They will start training tomorrow, and she will go back to being his instructor, his mentor.

  Professional. Distant.

  But tonight, she would let herself remember the way his fingers had felt on her ears. The way he had looked at her with that teasing smile.

  ….Just for tonight….

  Dabi y back against the pillows, staring at the ceiling.

  Less than a year.

  330 days, according to his system.

  He needed to increase the [Super Soldier] progression and unlock the next evolution.

  He doesn't know how to trigger it, but one thing is sure he needs to keep getting stronger.

  But for now?

  For now he was alive..

  ….and he had finally gotten to touch Rumi's ears!!

  Big victory!!

  He closed his eyes and let himself rest, a small smile on his healed face.

  Tomorrow, the real grind will begin again.

  .

  ….

  [To be continued…]

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