Chapter Text
Izuku swung his leg out, amazed at what a simple little suggestion could change in his approach. I can do this! I can actually do this! And he beamed as he stood in stance, feeling power in his legs.
"Alright," he grinned, then strode back to his notebook and jotted down another note.
"Maybe if I had some kind of secondary impact, it could lead to more force on a swing—and with the momentum behind it… I wonder if some support gear could do something like that—"
"Y- you been out here awhile, huh?" Uraraka's voice surprised him. But he looked up with a smile, rubbing the sweat off his brow.
"Uraraka," he greeted her. Wow, living in the dorms was great. Of course the circumstances of why they were here was… not great. But! Having his friends close was something he knew he'd cherish. "I just wanted to get in some practice before tomorrow."
"Tomorrow, yeah," she said, and her voice seemed a little bit… off?
His mind flashed back to the sports festival, after her defeat with Kaachan. And it broke his heart a little, even now, recalling the sounds of her tears. He opened his mouth, then bit his lip, unsure. They hadn’t known each other for very long… and he didn’t want to be intrusive or bug her, but… she seemed like she was looking for someone to talk to.
I… have to be a good friend!
"Are you nervous?" He asked after a moment. "About the license exam?"
Uraraka looked at him, then shook her head. "Kinda? I guess I am, but I…" she bowed her head as she sat on the curb. She let out a sign, then smiled brightly. "I guess I am nervous, huh?"
He smiled gently. "Yeah, me too."
That smile was the same kind she’d given him before his match with Todoroki, the same she always smiled. It brought a lift to his soul and a blush to his cheeks, and yet… he couldn’t help but hear the nerves in her voice, see it in the tension of her face. She’s using that smile… to hide how she feels…
He thought of Iida then, marching off to seek vengeance, and his regret at not being more emphatic in his attempts to help. He should've been. But it was difficult knowing with these brand new friendships what was overstepping.
And maybe he shouldn't worry about overstepping because he was trying to be a hero, and maybe, even in emotional turmoil, he could lend a helping hand, just like with physical peril.
"You can talk to me about it," Izuku said softly, closing his notebook and sitting beside her. "If you want to. But… if something's bothering you, I wanna help, if I can."
Uraraka stared at him, her big smile falling into a smaller, shier one, her cheeks a bit pinker.
"You’ve already helped me so many times," he continued. "Of course I would be happy to return the favor."
She looked him over, her smile actually gone now, and she bit her lip, then looked at her feet. "I- I’m feeling… distracted? I can’t really focus…"
Izuku rested an elbow on his knee, considering that. He felt like his attention was forward focused one hundred percent of the time, so he couldn’t quite relate. "Do you know why? Maybe if it’s something that’s bothering you, it'd be best to deal with it so you can focus again?"
Uraraka curled her knees up, looking torn. "Yeah…"
"I’ll help, if I can!" He grinned. "At least, I’ll do my best!
"I-" she hesitated, and he watched as her frame grew more withdrawn and nervous than before. "I…"
She buried her face in her knees completely,
"A- are you okay?" He fretted. Did I say something wrong?
"It’s just-!" She burst up, surprising him as she laughed, waving her hand around. "It’s- I mean, it’s not even really an issue! It’s so silly—of course it’s silly, I mean, Aoyama said it so- I dunno why I- it’s fine. I- sorry I bothered you-"
"Uh- w- wait," he waved his hands as she started to get up. "It’s okay, Uraraka! You didn’t bother me! And even if it’s silly, if it’s bugging you, it’s better to talk it out, right?"
He tentatively reached out, patting a hand on her shoulder. "What did Aoyama say?"
Uraraka looked up at him, her eyes wide. His widened too, and he dropped his hand, but he still waited. It wasn’t like her to get so bothered by something, especially an offhand comment that someone might have made. And he couldn’t imagine Aoyama saying anything that was hurtful or downright mean, or-?
"I like you."
"Eh?"
Izuku blinked at her, then blinked again. Wh- what?
…
Wait, WHAT?!
"Ah-"
Uraraka's face was turned away from him now, and he could see her ears were about as red as he felt.
Did… did I hear that right? Uraraka likes… me? Me?! ME?! Why?! What?! Since when?! Why would she… is that true?! But why would she say it if it weren’t?! His head was spinning so fast that he nearly missed the next part.
"Aoyama said… that I like you."
He stared blankly at her, blinking at this whirlwind.
Oh.
So… she doesn't?
For how confused he’d felt, the disappointment he felt was ten times worse—and baffling beyond belief.
Uraraka buried her face in her hands. "I- you- I shouldn't have said anything, I just didn’t know what I-"
She stopped as he looked at her, and he shook his head. "I- I’m glad you did-!" He got out, though his words were stiff and his face was glowing in the dark. But he put his own feelings aside—he'd wanted to help, right? It was… fine—if she didn’t like him. He just wanted to help her. Be a good friend. "M- maybe you can feel a little bit better now?"
She just stared at him, her hiding smiles gone for now as she just looked at him—maybe for too long, what on earth is happening?!
"The thing is…" she said softly, looking at her feet as she curled in on herself. "When I… saw you out here, working so hard, just being… Deku, I thought… 'what if… he's right…?'"
What if… Aoyama's right… about her feelings… for me?! What if she… likes me?!
…What if… she likes me…?
He gripped a hand to his shirt, grabbing at his heart as it leapt wildly within him.
What do I feel… for her? He stopped, feeling a stillness come over him. What does that even feel like?
But as he thought back at this short time together, since that first day. Since she’d saved him from tripping, since she’d offered her points for him at the exam, her constant joy and companionship to this awkward weirdo—but despite that, she hung around him often. She liked to talk with him like no one ever had before. She waited for him to walk home with. She defended him, cheered him on, supported him—her friendship was… everything to him.
She’s… always saving me.
The sounds of cicadas echoed through the warm, summer night as he just stared at her. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself—because she looked like she was gonna run away any second now.
"Ur- Uraraka…?" He started, unsure of what he was saying or feeling, but the longer they sat, the more that panic seemed to rise in her—and… he didn’t want her to panic. His head felt so flushed, he thought he might burst. This beautiful girl… likes me?
She glanced up to him sheepishly and— Wow. It actually brought tears to his eyes. It wasn’t something he’d ever felt before, and he wasn’t sure how to put it into words, but… Uraraka was wonderful. And he wanted to understand these feelings.
He rubbed a hand over his neck, stuttering over his words. "A- after the license exam tomorrow, d- do you… wanna g- go to an amusement park… w- w- with m- m- me?"
Her eyes were wide as she gaped at him, a blush bright on her face too. Then she smacked her hands against her cheeks and smiled brightly, despite her blush. Her hands clenched into fists as she nodded emphatically. "Yes I do."
Izuku felt breathless at it all, feeling joy rise within him at all of this. I just… asked a girl on a date! And Uraraka looks… really happy now.
He felt the sudden urge to hold her hand, and considered reaching out to do just that, but maybe that was too bold of him. It set his heart to racing just thinking of it!
But as she smiled— beamed at him, he felt a warmth fill him to the brim as they stared at each other. Oh wow. Oh wow! Silently, he reached out a hand, not taking hers, but simply offering. Uraraka's smile was dazzling as she blushed, then shyly reached out and clasped his hand. He laughed, blushing brightly as he squeezed her impossibly soft and smooth hand in his. "H- how do you feel now?"
Uraraka pressed a hand to her cheek, tears in her eyes as she practically glowed. "Happy."
His heart gave a great thump as he smiled at her like a big idiot, he was sure.
"Me- ah-!" He stopped as he fumbled his notebook in his other hand, dropping it to the ground, but he clung tight to her hand in his instead of trying to catch it. "Me too."
Uraraka giggled— giggled! —at him, and he was surprised he wasn’t a complete puddle on the ground.
Wow, he thought again. Wow.
Just then, the door burst open and Iida leaned out, hand chopping through the air emphatically. Uraraka immediately pulled her hand from his and stepped back as Iida spoke.
"There you two are! It is almost curfew! Please come inside at once!"
"Ah- sure," Izuku sighed, his hand feeling a bit cold where he’d held hers. Iida nodded, then went back inside, probably to corral more of them to their beds.
He glanced at her as she bent down to pick up his notebook. With a smile, she handed it to him.
"Sorry I interrupted your focus," she sighed.
He took the notebook from her hands, then melted all over again. Apologizing for turning his world upside down— again! Uraraka, you are truly incredibly special.
"I… don’t wanna distract you… or me…" she sighed, her smile fading. "Maybe I shouldn't have said anything."
"I- no, that's-" He shook his head and took a breath. "We're both working towards our goals, Uraraka."
He raised a fist, feeling all these brand new things mixed now with his determination. "Let’s work hard together!"
She gaped at him, then nodded, wiping at her eyes. "Okay!"
He didn’t hold her hand again, but he thought about it. And the thought made his whole nervous system react as he walked with her back into the dorms. Most everyone was working their way upstairs, brushing teeth and getting ready for bed. After working out as he’d been, he knew he needed a bath, but… I just want to talk to her more…
"Um, Uraraka," he said as they walked to the split baths.
She looked up, a blush in her cheeks. "Mhm?"
Except he didn’t know what to say! And now he was just standing there all mute and flustered. "I- usually go on a morning run. It’s pretty early, but… d- do y- you wanna come with me tomorrow?"
She blinked at him, then looked very shy for a moment before giving him a big smile. "Sure! Sounds fun!"
He grinned at that, still in disbelief. Tentatively, awkwardly, he reached out a hand, just shy of actually touching her. Uraraka looked at him and quietly slid her hand into his, and he felt a rush run through him at her touch, elated and bewildered. Why she feels like that — for me— I have no idea. But still—
"Thank you, Uraraka," he said softly, tilting a gentle smile at her. "For telling me."
Uraraka blushed brighter, looking away from him, but she squeezed his hand lightly. "Thanks for listening, I… do feel better."
She looked at him then, a shy smile and a sweet blush on her face. "I’m really happy."
That rush filled him then, that joy bursting from within him and he felt tears come to his eyes as they stood alone in the dim common room. Elated didn’t even begin to describe how incredible it felt, and he’d never wanted to hug someone as badly as he did right then. He wanted to pick her up and spin her around and hear her laughing in this joy.
"C- can I…" he started, feeling awkward as he scratched at his neck. "Can I… give you a hug, Uraraka?"
She started, but the smile she gave him was somehow even more dazzling than before. Without a word, she pulled her hand from his, then wrapped her arms around his waist. Izuku felt like he was gonna choke, he was so overwhelmed by the feeling of her so close to him—he felt like his face was on fire. But underneath his flaming face and his pounding heart, the warmth of her was nothing short of wonderful. He stiffly circled his arms around her in return, hugging her tight, and he sighed, loving this. Loving feeling this joy increased, this comfort, this happy warmth. He never wanted to let her go.
Ochako sighed against him, then laughed. "Thanks, Deku."
He wasn’t sure he could truly process all of this, and they both had a lot of other things they needed to focus on—but holding her close like that, being gifted her feelings like that, feeling his own joy and heart stirring within him. He didn’t know what the future held, but it made him that much more excited to find out.
