Disclaimer: I don't own Tiger & Bunny in any way, shape, or form. I just like to play with the characters.

Summary: Everyone else remembers, Kotetsu forgets, and it's all's well that ends well.

Author's Note: Now I'm hungry, but I can't decide if I want Indian or Chinese -

Pao-Lin chose the restaurant this time, so instead of hot and spicy curry, there was a buffet of hot and spicy Sichaun Chinese dishes.

"I told you-" The youngest of them gulped down a mouthful of Dandan noodles. "That you would like this place!"

Kotetsu was the only one who didn't say anything since he was currently focused on sampling from the fried rice dishes in front of him. Each of them had something different for the moment. Nathan was methodically cracking crab legs, the snaps making Barnaby twitch, causing him to hunch deeper and deeper over his plate of tea-smoked duck.

Keith had a plate full of egg rolls (since the place had learned long ago to also carry the more notable dishes from other parts of China), and Karina was focused on her spicy deep-fried chicken, losing more pieces to Antonio's wandering chopsticks. Ivan vocally agreed even though he was giving the hot and sour noodle soup in front of him wary glances.

"Enjoyable." Nathan sucked on one end of a cracked crab leg. "I like how they added just a hint of heat to the crabs, but without overwhelming the flavor. That takes a delicate touch."

"You said you wanted to celebrate something," Ivan said, pushing the soup away from him and grabbing Karina's chicken as she scolded Antonio.

"I did," said Pao-Lin. "I've officially been working with you all for five years now, and even though it's been hard sometimes, keeping one thing in mind has helped me get this far."

"Oh?"

"What was that?" asked Barnaby, pulling a plate of mapo doufu towards him.

She glanced at Kotetsu, who was still happily buried behind bowls of rice, and her smile grew even wider.

"Someone told me that no matter how much people complained about my size, my age, my gender, or anything like that, as long as my heart and soul stayed lit with an inner fire, I'd become a great hero."

"Good advice," said Keith, nodding. "And again, good advice." His face slowly went red, and he snatched a glass of tea, frantically pouring in into his mouth.

"Try something with bread," suggest Karina, swatting at Ivan's chopsticks and frowning at him. "Though... did you really find an egg roll to be spicy? What's next, mayonnaise?"

"Mmph," said Kotetsu, swallowing the food he'd packed his cheeks with. "That sounds like something I'd say." He laughed. "Who told you that? I kinda want to meet them."

The rest of the Heroes watched as Pao-Lin's face went from pure happiness to confusion, then slid into anger, eyes narrowed at the veteran Hero.

"You told me!" she retorted, snapping up a fish slice and biting it with her front teeth. Like a ping-pong match, everyone turned to look at the surprised Tiger.

"I did?" He gulped, and Barnaby hid a smile behind some food; it was like watching when Kaede lectured her father. Kotetsu's face would fall, his eyes would grow wide, and usually whatever his said was the complete opposite of what he needed to say. Usually.

"My first day on the job," grumbled Pao-Lin, shoving more fish into her mouth. "But, I guess it's not important if you don't remember it."

"That's not true," said Nathan, reaching for another crab leg. "In fact, I remember what Kotetsu said to me when I first started."

"Really?" Karina turned away from Keith, surprise in her voice. "Well, what did he say?"

Barnaby watched his partner. Kotetsu was looking from side to side, then he clenched his jaw before shooting a death glare at Antonio.

"He said..." drawled Nathan, leaning back in their chair and winking at Barnaby. "Something like this. 'You look gorgeous, don't let anyone else tell you different. And if they do, wow! their socks off.'"

"I say you're lying," Kotetsu said instantly, scooping more rice into a his spoon. "That was years ago, you can't possibly remember what I said!"

"Do you remember what Kaede said to you years ago on Father's Day?" asked Barnaby, laughing at his partner's betrayed look. "I know you do. Messages... tend to stay around when they're important."

"I memorized mine too," snickered Antonio, this time sneaking one of Keith's egg rolls. He was a little surprised when the wind master just pushed the plate at him, but he eagerly grabbed one and bit into it with relish. "Don't fuck this up like you did with Tomoe."

"Old cow," muttered Kotetsu as everyone at the table, even Pao-Lin, started laughing.

"What can I say?" asked Antonio, spreading his hands out. "You were right. I screwed up with Tomoe, and that almost cost her her life. You were just reminding me, in your own way, not to screw this up too. And that little voice of concern has kept me going as well."

"I don't..." Karina looked away, a blush spreading across her face. "I don't remember the exact words, but I do remember someone asking me why I wanted to, to do what we do. He made me stronger, and his words made my resolve stronger."

Her eyes darted to Kotetsu, then she looked away, grabbing one of Antonio's egg rolls and shoving more than half of it into her mouth.

"That same someone used a lot of words with me," said Ivan, a shy smile on his lips as he played with his untouched hot and sour noodle soup. "Way too many for me to remember. He also encouraged me, helped me grow. Told me that I was the only one who could do what I could do."

Kotetsu was the one with the red face now, unsure of where to look at except the food in front of him.

"It wasn't words with me," mused Keith, a small smile on his lips. He rubbed his chin. "It was spirit. When I joined, I was being told by one group that points were important, but he was the one who showed me what was truly, and again, truly important. Protecting and helping the citizens of Stern Bild."

"...is that why you go on patrol every night?" asked Pao-Lin, looking up at Keith. He nodded.

"I figured it was because you're a boy scout," mumbled Karina, rolling her eyes.

"The thing about messages is that they don't need to be important to the speaker," added Nathan finishing off their last piece of crab with a contented sigh. "They need to conform to the listener. Karina is someone who needs questions, because her finding answers is what helps her. When Kotetsu talked to me, he saw someone who needed encouragement, like he did in you Pao-Lin."

"He knows me," said Antonio, laughing. "Nothing else would've stuck inside my head like that did."

"Sooo... it's okay that I think what he told me was special, and he doesn't?"

"That's life." Nathan looked over at Kotetsu. "The best thing is that he doesn't even know he's doing it."

The table exploded into laughter, getting the attention of the staff and other people at the restaurant.

"You know," said Pao-Lin, taking Ivan's soup away from him. "Nathan's right. Thanks Kotetsu, even if you don't know why."

"And not just in words," Barnaby said, speaking up. He looked his partner dead in the eyes, a small, mischievous part of him enjoying the panic he was causing. "You've apologized to me, and you've had my back every inch of the way. If that's not friendship, then I don't know what is."

Kotetsu cleared his throat.

"It's not as if I'm doing anything special," he protested.

"You don't think so," said Keith, "but we do. And that's what matters."

"It's the same when Kaede gives you something she made at school. It means everything to you, even if I don't think you need a lopsided ash tray for your living room." Barnaby smiled, and that took the slight sting out of the words. "Just accept the compliment, would you?"

Kotetsu looked around the table. Eager faces watched, waiting to see what he would do.

"Thank you Pao-Lin," he finally said, holding up a spoon full of shrimp fried rice. "I'm sorry I don't remember exactly what it was that I said, but I'm glad I was able to help you become the amazing person we all know and love."

The cheer that came from that heartfelt message sent the manager over, scolding all of them for causing a commotion and disturbing other customers.

Letter from the Soup - G for Growth

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