Pull Chapter 61: Tension Between Men

“Oh… yes please,” you said, giving her a polite smile, “at least I can hold onto something so I won’t look as nervous.” 

You waited for Yaoyorozu to call over one of the wait staff that was holding onto a tray of drinks and delicately plucked one off.

Take a small sip, you gave Yaoyorozu a closed lipped smile as you looked around the hall- which was empty apart from tables of food and drink, wait staff, you and Yaoyorozu.

“So… what is tonight all about?” you asked her, trying to make light conversation while you both waited for other people to arrive.

“Oh, I just thought it would be a nice opportunity for everyone t—,”

“Miss L/N!” a male voice said from behind you, making you turn to see who it was.

“Chef,” you greeted, recognizing the chef you had met at Yaoyorozu’s family bathhouse in the mountains.

“An absolute pleasure to see you again,” he said, stepping forward and delicately taking your hand in his so that he could give it a kiss. 

You allowed it, but felt a little uncomfortable at the same time, unsure if this chef was still only doing this for Yaoyorozu’s sake, or if he really did indeed find you attractive.

“This dress!” he exclaimed, stepping back to take you all in.

“Yaoyorozu designed this from her quirk and insisted that I wear it this evening for the purpose of—,”

“It is most flattering on you,” the chef said with an enamored look in his eye, “Miss Yaoyorozu has done a fine job- as expected.”

“Compliments all round,” you mused, looking across at Yaoyorozu, who was blushing with pride.

“It was only natural that I ask Miss L/N to wear this dress, considering her shape is superb!”

“I must agree,” the chef said emphatically.

“Why do people talk as if I’m not in the room?” You asked yourself. “Uh… well thank you, but it’s much to showy for the current event,” you said with a sweatdropped look on your face, “I feel very over dressed.”

“You deserve to be the star at any function,” the chef stated, “being such a lovely person and all.”

“Please someone take me out with a sniper rifle, I’m begging…”

The two continued to talking and compliment you, making you feel more and more awkward when finally the front gate bell chimed.

“I think some more of our guests have arrived,” Yaoyorozu gasped excitedly, “chef, would you mind taking Miss L/N for a walk in the garden and I will greet the invitees.”

“Please don’t leave me with him,” you begged internally, throwing Yaoyorozu a look.

But it was too late, she had already taken off to greet the classmates and you were now linking arms with the chef and walked off into the picturesque gardens outside.

“It’s a nice night,” you said, feeling very awkward.

“It is even more beautiful now that you are here,” the chef added with a smile.

“Oh, chef, you really don’t have to be giving me so many compliments,” you said with a forced smile, “I know you are most supportive of Yaoyorozu’s work but she is no longer here so you can keep the flattery to a minimum.”

“But I do find you quite delightful, Miss L/N, I would like to ask if there is a Mr L/N on the scene… or if no Mr L/N, a suitor perhaps?”

“Miss L/N is focused on her work, and her students,” a strong, familiar, masculine voice cut in from behind you both, “it would take a lot to catch the eye of such a woman.”

You let out a sigh of relief and looked back over your shoulder to see Aizawa in a black and white suit with his hair tied back.

“The hot homeless man has come to my rescue!” you thought with delight, your relief clearly showing on your face and telling Aizawa all he needed to know.

“Oh? I do not doubt that for a second,” Chef replied to Aizawa as he turned his body a bit, “and I doubt that such a woman would mix business with pleasure,” he added with a snide undertone.

“The fact that you feel the need to make such a comment tells me you already feel the pressure of my presence,” Aizawa stated, his bloodshot eyes holding an unwavering gaze as he confidently stared the chef down.

The chef clammed up immediately, not wanting to say anything else that could be used against him.

“Thank you for showing me the gardens,” you said quickly to the chef before unhooking your arm from his and stepping away, “I will go and attend the students who have just arrived.”

You stepped past Aizawa and he bent his head to whisper something to you as you passed.

“Go. I’ll keep the chef at bay.”

You nodded a little and walked quickly away, leaving the two men alone.

Aizawa waited for you to leave completely before speaking, wanting his words to only be heard by the chef.

“I would appreciate if you kept your distance from my assistant,” he stated in a cool, calm voice.

“Does my presence around her bother you?” The chef replied smartly, crossing his arms across his chest defiantly.

“No. Your presence around her bothers her.” Aizawa retorted in his dead voice.

“You seem awfully confident of this,” the chef remarked, trying to make it sound like he wasn’t put off by Aizawa’s comment.

“That’s because I know her well.”

“Or so you would like to think…” the chef replied haughtily, “Miss L/N is free to talk to whoever she likes so if she is uncomfortable, as you say, with my presence, then she can tell me herself.

“Suit yourself, but I will not stand for harassment,” Aizawa said as he turned and walked away, “if you are harassing her, I will most definitely step in.”

“This dead beat teacher thinks he’s so good. I’ll show him I am far better suited to date Miss L/N than he,” the chef thought, pursing his lips together defiantly.

……………………………

You had quickly made your way back to the hall to greet your students and had completely forgotten about the over the top dress you were in as you stepped back into the hall.

“Oh wow!” Mina shouted when she saw you, “you look amazing, Miss L, where’s Aizawa when you need him? He needs to see this!”

“Mina,” you said in a hushed tone, glancing around to make sure she hadn’t caught any one else’s attention with her statement, “Yaoyorozu made me wear this, I did not want to be in such an extravagant dress.”

“She does look stunning, doesn’t she?” Yaoyorozu gushed as she walked over to enter the conversation.

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