Warning: High emotional volatility in this story. Snowflakes, go home.
Izuku, Ochako, and Tsuyu had just finished an outdoor training exercise and were having a break.
A sixteen-year-old Izuku watched in horror as Tomura Shigaraki rose from the ground like a zombie.
"Like my new entrance, Deku?"
Izuku half-screamed, half-shouted as Tomura inched closer.
"Step out of the way, Deku. I'm not here for you. I'm here for your little princess!" Tomura gave a grinchy smile.
Izuku gasped as he realized that he was talking about Ochako, his best friend that stood beside him, the one that encouraged him recently even more than All Might did, the one he had acquired a strange fixation on that dominated his bedtime thoughts, which seemed to overrule any other reasoning in his mind.
"I said step aside!" Tomura demanded.
"Why do you think we'd listen to you?!" Tsuyu responded.
"Oh, you're the one with the Frog quirk, right? Lick me!" Tomura dared.
Tsuyu shook her head.
"Well, I'm not here for games this time, Deku."
A hand reached up from the ground, grabbing Ochako's foot with four fingers.
"There are only two options here, Deku. Let me kidnap her, or force me to kill her."
Izuku was about to break. But before he could respond, Tsuyu did. "We're not susceptible to your mind games, Tomura. You want to kidnap Uravity to dishearten Deku, right? Well, here at UA, we put our heroics first. Doing something to Ochako would not faze Midoriya. Of all of the people in our class, he is the most steadfast person besides Iida."
"You're just trying to trick me…"
"No, really, what you're doing is pointless. Do you remember how your kidnapping of Bakugo went? And where's that guy with those little balls that captures people?"
"Gah! How could I forget?! Capturing her would have been so much easier if I had him do it. What a waste of my time." The hand on Ochako's foot let go, and it and Tomura sunk into the ground.
"Let's go get some coffee. You know there's a coffee shop right next to the visitor's center?" Tsuyu related.
Izuku and Ochako followed her without a word.
Izuku was a mess. Somehow, they had just walked away from that.
A minute and a few seconds later they were entering the coffee shop, sitting down at a table.
"Man, I didn't think that lie was going to work!" Tsuyu stated.
There was a pause. They were all looking at each other.
Izuku burst into tears. Ochako started to cry as well.
"Guys, everything's okay. Guys?" Tsuyu responded.
Ochako instinctively leaned into Izuku's torso, tears exacerbating.
Izuku wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer. He was mumbling very fast and incoherently.
Tsuyu exhaled in frustration, seeing that the two seemingly had no capacity to respond. "Hey! Didn't Shigaraki say he was sending Mr. Compress?"
Izuku and Ochako looked over at Tsuyu. They were very pale.
"Wait, no, if he had still thought it was worthwhile, he would have kidnapped you right there. We're in the clear."
Izuku and Ochako exhaled in relief. Then they looked at each other, realizing the position they were in. Izuku quickly retracted his arm and Ochako quickly scooted away from him, both with faces that might have been red had they not been so pale before.
"I'm going to order," Tsuyu stated. Her easygoing vibe glossed over their extreme reaction. "Do you guys want anything?"
"I'm good," Ochako stated. She sounded high.
"Green tea, please," Izuku requested. Then he realized that green tea sounded like the first part of Ochako's name, and the object marking particle exacerbated the similarity. He did his best to ignore that and act like the thought had never crossed his mind, but it almost sounded like he wanted Tsuyu to give him Ochako. (お茶をください。versusお茶子ください。)
"Small, medium, or large?" Tsuyu asked.
"Large," he blurted. What was wrong with him?
"Okay, coming right up!" Tsuyu left to order.
There was a small silence.
Ochako covered her head with her hands. "I—I honestly just want to cry. I thought my life was over."
"I'm sorry." Izuku could feel the tears coming in again. "I couldn't save you. If Tsuyu hadn't done quick thinking and talked us out of there…" He covered his face with his arm. He knew what he had to do. He clenched his teeth.
"Deku…"
"I'm so worthless! I couldn't even protect you when you were right next to me!"
"You didn't let on that Tsuyu was lying. That's what got us out of there."
"I'm surprised I even did that. If they had kidnapped you, I don't know what I'd do with myself."
"Deku…" She couldn't think of anything to say. Did he just confess love for her?! No…
"I mean, it almost happened! It should have happened! If it weren't for Tsuyu's smooth talk, it would have happened! Make—make sure you don't go places alone, and be extra careful, okay?" He sounded very shaken.
"Why does the League of Villains care so much about you anyway?"
"Um…" He turned his face away.
"Is it a secret?"
"I'd really … like it if I could tell you, but you might get into further danger if I tell you."
"Oh." Ochako looked disappointed.
The conversation fell dead.
Izuku mustered all of his self-control. "In—In fact, I would, uh, recommend that you stop being close friends with me, for your safety." His voice cracked. The words sounded very forced and fake. He wanted to take those words back and stomp on them. He felt a sharp stabbing pain in his heart. "Nothing too extreme, you know, it just is in your best interest to keep a bit more distance… I'm not saying that we shouldn't be friends! In-fact-I-want-us-to-get-closer! I-just-want-to-make-sure-you're-safe, andthat'swhyIsaidthat. Maybewecouldthinkaboutthismorecreativelyinstead!"
Izuku went off on a muttering marathon.
"Deku, our friendship should never be about anything outside of us. As for this whole thing, don't worry. Just live your life the way that you want to live it. If the villains can get you to isolate yourself, then they have already won a very large battle."
"That is correct. The way they have come after me the past few days has been horrendous. I didn't foresee them coming after my friends, too. They like striking infrequently enough for me to be caught off guard, but within that, as often as possible."
Their phones dinged.
The texts read "Iida has been murdered by assassins from the Villain Alliance." It was from Todoroki.
Midoriya also got a text from All Might in the exact same moment. It struck him at his core.
Midoriya covered his face with his hands. "Please stay away from me, before they decide you're worth killing. From now on, we need to act like we don't know each other." His voice deadpanned. "It's been nice knowing you, Ochako." Emotion seeped into his voice as he began to break down.
Ochako broke into tears. Him using her first name felt like the sealant lining the coffin of their relationship. She used to think how wonderful it would be for him to use it. Now it stung like a barb. It was a sign that the barriers of concern for her thoughts were shot through. She thought he was just being insecure about her safety unnecessarily, but now she knew the truth.
Tsuyu came back. "Midoriya, your green—tea?" Then she noticed they were bawling their eyes out. "What's—wrong?"
"Don't check your phone," Uraraka warned.
Tsuyu responded by checking her phone in curiosity. "Iida is dead?! That's … so weird. We just saw him a couple hours ago… Is he really dead?" Tsuyu dialed up Iida. "Hi Iida—wait, that's just his voicemail instruction message. Oh, it's about to beep. Hey, Iida! Just wanted to check on you to see how things are doing. Todoroki says you're dead. Heh, seems like that practical joke went too far…"
"Todoroki doesn't make practical jokes," Midoriya responded.
"Anyway, just wanted to see how you're doing. See you later!" She hung up. "You guys look miserable. Do you guys want to head back?"
"N—N—No! No, I want to drink my green tea here. Do you guys want to hang out with me here while I drink my tea?"
"I'm bailing. See you later!" Tsuyu left.
"Could you stay here just for now, while I drink my tea?" Izuku pleaded. He was glad he had gotten a large now; he had more to sip at, which meant more time with Ochako.
"S—Sure!" Ochako responded. She felt like once she left, she would never have any relationship with him again.
"I—There's so much I want to say," Izuku started. "To you, I mean. But now I can't think of anything."
"Same here." This seemed like the perfect time to confess her feelings for him, considering that she wanted to be with him, but since their time was waning, she didn't bring it up; it wouldn't make a difference, except for exacerbating the pain.
"I just never thought this would change. I thought we would always be friends."
"I thought so too. Things in life don't always happen like you plan."
There was a moment of silence.
Izuku started slowly sipping at his tea.
Ochako felt like he was sipping from her heart, slowly draining it of all of its hope. She realized she needed a question, something to get him talking again. "Do you think we'll know each other when we're older?"
"Who knows? I'd like to think I'd be past this by then—…Ochako, what makes you happy?"
There it was again. He used her first name. He used it like it was just her last name. He just said it, like it was no big deal. And it wasn't, since their friendship was basically ending. "Um, saving people makes me happy, spending time with my parents, hanging out with friends, watching fireworks, eating good food, getting stronger, shopping with the girls, doing training exercises, falling asleep… What makes you happy, Izuku?"
Izuku felt the impact. Now he realized why he maybe shouldn't have switched to her first name. It felt like she had torn right into his childhood. He could imagine a tiny young Uraraka calling him Izuku. "Well, collecting All Might memorabilia—Augh! Why is that the first thing I say?"
Ochako laughed. "You're such a nerd."
"I know, I know…"
"What else makes you happy?"
"Being with my mom, collecting, uh, profiles of heroes in notebooks—"
"You almost said collecting All Might memorabilia again, didn't you?!"
"Hey, I have a lot on my mind!" Izuku took a gulp of green tea.
"One of these days, you're going to give birth to one of those All Might dolls."
"Been there, done that…"
"What?!"
"When I was little, I swallowed one of those little plastic All Might figurines, and well, I had to go to the hospital, because it got stuck … at the end."
"That's just like a real pregnancy! Did you have contractions?"
"What's a contraction?"
"You men are so lucky."
"Why?" Izuku got another big gulp.
"You'll find out when you get married."
Izuku stopped. "I—don't think I'll ever marry."
"Why not?"
"It'll get—in the way of my hero work, and—I can't imagine someone wanting to marry me. It's just not a good fit."
"Of course someone would want to marry you! You just have to find the right one."
"Yeah… I don't think that'll pan out."
"Then, what are you going to do with it? If you're not going to get your trailer hitched, what are you going to do with it?"
"I'm confused."
"Are you just going to be alone for your whole life? Do you want kids?"
"I do want kids. Wait, I want kids?"
"So, what are you going to do about that?"
"I don't know. It doesn't seem to fit in my life at all."
"Maybe it should."
"It can't happen. I'm a walking target for villains, and even if that changes, no one would ever like me, and if they did, I'd never know it, let alone have the courage to move forward."
"You'd be surprised how quickly things change."
Izuku drank more of his green tea. "I doubt that'll ever happen." He started to tear up again. "I just, don't know how to be the manly man they all want. Maybe I would if my father had been there, I would know."
"Be courageous! Even if it means being afraid in the midst of it." Why was she giving him love advice? She wanted him to stay single so she could nab him! But she couldn't help herself; she wanted to encourage him so badly.
"I don't think I can do that. I've been hurt … too much before."
Izuku flashed back to what Katsuki said to him when they were little. "Girls don't like quirkless boys, and even if you did have a quirk, no one would date you, because you're a nerd! The curly hair makes it even worse!" Katsuki had said. Then the others laughed at him.
Izuku continued. "It was a long time ago, but those kinds of wounds don't really seem to heal."
"All the more reason why you should get married." To me. She caught herself before she said something that would ruin her. She didn't like him THAT much, right?
"That's a nice thought. Do you plan on getting married?"
"I have no idea. I have had a funny feeling that romance would just spring up on me, but that hasn't happened."
"Maybe you should take your own advice, and be courageous." He didn't feel good about this, for whatever reason.
"No, I don't think that would work now…" because I missed my chance. She reminded herself that confessing now would just make things way worse. She wanted to tell him so badly, the opposite of how she normally felt.
He drank another mouthful. "Well, don't feel pressured to do it. Balance what you want and what you think is best." He went for another mouthful, but realized that the cup was empty.
The cup thudded on the table unceremoniously.
"I—I finished my tea." This was the moment they had been dreading.
"Oh. Is this when we go?"
"Not necessarily. Um, is there anything else you want to do? You know, besides getting married someday?"
Ochako's subconscious somehow took from the tone that he meant them and that it was no big deal while her conscious mind didn't grasp any of that notion. "I want to have kids, become an architect when I can't do hero work anymore, try an American burger, make a satellite-view YouTube series when I learn to float myself for long periods of time, I want to visit Madagascar, and I want to see a peacock in real life." Ochako laughed "That's kind of my bucket list. And you?"
"I want to protect people, and make them feel safe. That's what drives me. That's why we're separating now."
That's when Ochako realized that the sun was down, the last employee was turning the lights off.
"Hey, are you guys still there? We're closing!" the employee said.
"Oh, sorry!" Midoriya responded. He and Uraraka got up quickly, and walked out of the coffee shop. As the doors closed behind them, the lights went out inside the shop.
They started walking, Izuku using his phone's flashlight to light their path.
"I can walk you back to the dormitory building, but that's as far as I go," Izuku stated.
"Wait, you're not going to the dormitory building? Why not?" Ochako asked.
Izuku wore a terrible frown on his face, giving no vocal response.
"That's as far as I go. That is all."
Ochako wanted to cry. The way he was acting, she felt like she'd never see him again. She never would have thought so much could go wrong in so little time. Just three hours ago, it was a normal day of training. Now, she had to face something she had never prepared for.
They were so consumed with their feelings for each other that they had almost forgotten Iida had died. If they would be shown the footage, though, they'd never forget it.
"Izuku," Ochako started. Tears were welling up in her eyes. "Of my three closest friends, I've already lost one and I'm about to lose you."
Izuku looked away. If he listened to her, he would just lose it.
"Are you ignoring me?!"
Izuku gulped.
"Say something to me, at least!"
"Please don't make this any harder than it has to be."
"I don't want you to go!"
"This is life, Uraraka. … You can't just have everything you want… No. No. No! I can't take this anymore!" Izuku wrapped his arms around Ochako, falling into a mess of tears.
Ochako also cried on the spot. She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed as hard as she could.
All of their pent-up emotions spilled out everywhere.
As long as they were crying, they held each other, and when their eyes could cry no longer, they almost released each other.
"Ochako, we're floating. Don't release me yet." Deku used his quirk to blow air upwards to get them close to the ground. "Okay, now."
Ochako released him and they both fell inches to the ground.
"Goodbye, Ochako Uraraka," Izuku finished.
Ochako tried to respond, but all she could do was suck in air. She ran after him, grabbing his shoulder. "Goodbye, Izuku Midoriya." Then she released her grip and watched as he walked out of sight.
Then she followed him, making sure he didn't notice her, watching as he got into a car with All Might driving it.
"Took you long enough," All Might remarked. "All your belongings have already been packed. We're going straight there."
Izuku nodded and got in the car.
Then the car drove off into the night.
Urararka heard her phone ding.
We can still text, right? -Midoriya
Of course! -Uraraka
I won't have reception anywhere near where I'm going, so if I don't respond, that means I've entered the dead zone. I won't exit the dead zone later, so until my training ends, this is it. -Midoriya
When does it end? -Uraraka
No time soon. -Midoriya
One more thing. Um, today was very hard for me. Please don't try to contact me after the training. It'll just make me feel even worse. -Midoriya
No promises. -Uraraka
There is one thing that bugs me about this whole thing. -Midoriya
What? -Uraraka
I have this weird thing where I think about you a lot. I don't do it for anyone else. I have no idea when it started. It's probably why things got so ugly back there. Sorry that I called you by your first name. That was impolite. -Midoriya
Uraraka's heart sunk. He had just unwittingly confessed his love for her! She didn't even think that was possible.
Don't worry about it. -Uraraka
In All Might's Car, All Might spoke to Midoriya. "Whatever game you're playing on your phone, finish it up. We're losing connection pretty soon."
Cry for me at Iida's funeral. Losing reception soon. -Midoriya
I love you. -Uraraka (あいしてる)
Midoriya jumped in his seat when he saw it. "What?!" he typed. (何) He pressed Send as fast as he could. It didn't send. He had lost reception.
"No…" She tried to walk it back as fast as she could, but the text wouldn't send on her side either. "I wasn't thinking! What did I just send?!" she screamed. "NO!"
Review if you want more. }:) You know you want it. I'm so mean. It takes me a long time to write these things, and I'm low on motivation. Who knows, maybe you could … pop a REVIEW into the review box below and motivate me a little bit more. (insert Garfield emoji) I'm testing out different story ideas, seeing if I want to stick with one.