A/N - I'm really rusty and working on another fic right now, but I decided to go ahead and start this fic too given its less intensive opening. For context, this fanfic starts during the Overhaul arc. Also, there's gonna be a few minor inconsistencies with the anime just since I'm writing chunks at a time while checking with the anime. Timeskips may happen, and it may become a collection of one-shots. I may also choose to publish this fiction as-is, just rough drafts, to test the waters for interest and maybe find folks who can help proof-read and give advice. :)

Tamaki Amajiki had a stomachache, and he was pretty sure it had nothing to do with his bizarre choice of calamari for breakfast. The morning air was pleasant and his friends were with him, after all, but he hadn't slept well the night before. It certainly didn't help that he'd embarrassed himself by turning his hair into a miniature field of wheat overnight and not noticing until he had made it to the student lounge in the morning - he hated being laughed at. Plus, when Mirio walked into the lounge and snuck up on Tamaki, only making himself known with a friendly tousle of Tamaki's freshly re-indigo-fied hair, the poor boy felt like he'd just eaten a swarm of butterflies. The curious look his close friend, Nejire, shot him gave him the vague feeling that he'd grown a pair of antennae - perhaps he had eaten a swarm of butterflies.

The indigo-haired boy shook himself out of his thoughts, wincing and wondering if anyone had noticed him zoning out. Just the thought of being laughed at for not paying attention made him want to disappear. If I'd had cuttlefish with my calamari, he mentally sulked, I just might. The area out in front of the police station he'd been asked to meet at had begun filling with heroes, and an enormous, huggable-looking man approached Tamaki, Nejire, and Mirio with a good-natured smile.

"Morning!" Spoke Fat Gum, the hefty hero waved, spotting Mirio close at Tamaki's side. He gave a knowing wink to Tamaki, earning an embarrassed look and a blush. Fat Gum knew better than to overly antagonize his shy apprentice and instead went for a handshake with Mirio. "Hi! My hero name's Fat Gum, but you can call me Taishiro. You must be Mirio! I've heard your prowess at Yuuei has a lot of folks eagerly awaiting your start as a hero." he introduced himself, carefully avoiding mentioning Tamaki.

Mirio scratched the back of his head and laughed nervously, "Reports of my talent have been greatly exaggerated," he quipped, good-naturedly elbowing Tamaki in the side, "Tamaki and Nejire are the true stars of the class. Speaking of which," he trailed off for a moment, glancing to his left, "she seems to have wandered off. You mind if I go look for her real quick, Tamaki?" Mirio's voice softened as he turned to his anxious friend, knowing the large crowd was making him anxious.

"Uh, yeah, sure," responded the boy, quickly looking away to hide his blush. Mirio smiled at Tamaki and walked away into the crowd, his cape waving behind him as a slight breeze came through. Fat Gum gave Tamaki a nudge and smiled.

"Keep your head up, kiddo. Everything's gonna be fine." Fat Gum reassured his apprentice. The hero straightened up in his yellow jumpsuit and turned, spotting a handful of pro heroes showing up. "I'm gonna go say hey to some of the other pros real quick, I'll be back soon." Fat Gum spoke, leaving Tamaki alone amidst a group of younger hero trainees. As Fat Gum sauntered away, a squadron of police officers exited the station, and a quick burst of a siren called the crowd to attention.

Before the rag-tag group of heroes and trainees, a stern-looking police chief stood near the entrance to the police station, and he began addressing the crowd. "After Nighteye used Foresight on the Hassaikai member," he gave a curt nod to a hero with combed, green and yellow hair, "we discovered the existence of undocumented underground facilities at the head of the Hassaikai's residence. We were able to confirm that the girl we are trying to rescue is being held in one of the rooms there." he continued. Tamaki hardly heard the rest of the chief's information over the din of his thoughts. Eri, he thought, Mirio talks about her so often. Tamaki's anxiety worsened as he thought of failing to save the little girl.

A sheet of paper with a list written on it was pushed into his hand by a polite-looking police officer before him, and Tamaki shook his head, embarrassed for getting stuck in his thoughts again. He glanced down at the paper, reading the quirks of the Hassaikai members quietly to himself, before pocketing it. Moments later, the police chief finished addressing the crowd, and Tamaki began adjusting his hero outfit as the heroes and police began moving slowly towards the resident of the villains. A first-year trainee with spiky red hair called excitedly to a handful of girls on his right, and Tamaki sighed. "You're energetic for how early this is," he trailed off. As the girls responded to their red-haired friend, another voice joined the group, and Tamaki turned to notice Nejire and Mirio returning to join him.

Nejire waved to Tamaki before a somewhat reptilian-looking pro hero approached her and the first-year girls from class A to make small talk, so Mirio split off and fell into step at Tamaki's side to keep him company. "Sorry for taking so long to get back! I had to wait for the police chief to stop speaking before I came back with Nejire, I hope you were okay." Mirio brushed his arm against Tamaki's as they walked with the crowd, giving him a reassuring smile. Tamaki nodded quietly, sure he was blushing furiously and too afraid to speak. His best friend since they were practically toddlers had always had that effect on him, even though it had gotten much stronger in the past two years. The ghost of a smile materialized on Tamaki's face, as he felt a tinge of happiness to have Mirio with him for the raid on the Hassaikai's compound. The anxiety he felt for Mirio's safety was still there, but that could wait. For the time being, Tamaki was just glad to have Mirio walking with him. Maybe after the raid, he thought, I'll tell him how I feel. Nejire would be happy to know I've finally managed to do at least that.

Thanks for reading the first, short chapter to this sweet, short story about Tamaki and Mirio! I already have a lot of ideas on where to take this, but I don't have the confidence in myself to continue writing without critiques and without warming up further. I'll get chapter two out some time this week, hopefully!