Chapter One
Uraraka couldn't keep her eyes off of her. She knew that she needed to pay attention— midterms were fast approaching. Yet she found that Yaoyorozu was like a magnet. Everytime she attempted to pay attention to Aizawa, her eyes would drift until she was looking at the back of Yaoyorozu's head again. Goodness sake, this is impossible. Uraraka lowered her head until her chin pressed against her desk. Just to block her view of Yaoyorozu with the person sitting in front of her.
This worked until Uraraka had to sneeze. The instant her body rose, her eyes flicked back toward Yaoyorozu. Heat rushed into her cheeks. She wondered how someone could be so mesmerizing when they were facing the other way. Uraraka sighed. Preparing for her midterm was going to be impossible. She was about ready to accept that. Her chances of passing weren't good to begin with— she'd been busy with her hero internship. Training with a pro hero didn't leave one much time to study.
"... Uraraka, when are you to report to this room for your midterm?" Aizawa said.
Uraraka felt like all the air was pulled from her lungs. She'd been so busy trying not to stare at Yaoyorozu that she completely glossed over everything her teacher had said. Sweat trickled down her forehead as her classmates turned around. Deku and Iida both opened their mouths, perhaps to help her out, but quickly shut them after Aizawa shot them a look. Uraraka felt her face grow warmer. So many eyes were on her at once, something that rarely happened.
A solution came. Uraraka watched Yaoyorozu hold up a hand. A quick gesture that went unnoticed by Aizawa. It took Uraraka a moment to decipher what this could have meant. We meet up for midterms in five days! I think. Anyway, I'm just gonna say that.
"Uh...in five days?" Uraraka said.
"Correct. Good on you for thinking before you spoke. That was very rational. Anyway, class is dismissed. Enjoy your extended weekend. I'll see you all on Wednesday."
Uraraka exhaled. She looked at Yaoyorozu. Butterflies floated around inside her stomach the instant their eyes met. Uraraka wasn't sure what was the most alluring part of Yaoyorozu. Was it her eyes? Onyx and round? Or her lips, full and just the right size? Uraraka had spent many nights debating the answers to those questions. She shoved her notebook inside her backpack, saddened by the realization that she hadn't taken any notes.
It couldn't have been helped. Not with an angel sitting in the same room as her. Uraraka rose. Seeing all the notes scribbled on the board sent a spike of fear through her. The midterm was already daunting before she'd realized what she needed to know. There's no way I'll be able to study all of that in five days. Darn it, I should have started studying weeks ago! As the classroom started to empty, Uraraka looked at who remained: Todoroki, Yaoyorozu, Deku, Iida, and Bakugo.
Uraraka sought out her friends first. She caught the way Deku tensed as she approached, saw the blush that spread in his cheeks. Uraraka averted her gaze. The way that Deku felt about her was obvious. It made her feel uneasy, having the knowledge of someone else liking her in that kind of way. Particularly because she could never feel the same way about a guy. Deku wasn't ugly—he was quite cute— but seeing him didn't make Uraraka's heart go nuts. The thought of being together with him did nothing for her. The spark Uraraka felt by thinking about other girls just wasn't there.
"Deku! Iida! I need your help," Uraraka said. "I really want to pass the test, but I am so lost! Can you guys help a girl out with her studying?"
"I deeply apologize, Uraraka, but I have some familial obligations to take care of this weekend," Iida said.
"I-I have to help Gran Torino out with a few things," Deku said. "But I should be done by Monday. Does that sound good with you? We could meet up by the park."
"No, sorry," Uraraka said. "I need to start studying now. I'm not as smart as you two. You guys can probably get by with studying for two days. People like me have to prepare a lot more. Good luck, guys. I'll see you later."
Guilt seeped into Uraraka's veins at the sight of Deku's face falling. She could have taken him up on his offer, but she didn't want to have to spend a day alone with him. It would have been too awkward. She would have to deal with the glances he would give her when he thought she was unaware, all the awkward moments that the two of them would surely have. Uraraka preferred to avoid getting herself into situations like that.
Desparate now, Uraraka looked at the two other boys in the room. She and Todoroki didn't talk at all. But from what she knew, he got good grades in the class. Uraraka cupped her chin. Todoroki's pretty smart. I bet I can have him tutor me. But wait… Uraraka's breath hitched as she realized something. Todoroki was Endeavor's son— a hero who Uraraka wasn't fond of. She just couldn't imagine herself being in the same building as him. Even if it was for only one afternoon. Todoroki met eyes with her, brow raised, body turned toward her. Uraraka offered a smile and turned away.
Uraraka watched Bakugo storm past her, muttering complaints about Aizawa's teaching methods. She wasn't sure why she'd considered asking him in the first place. He was crude and arrogant. And he'd bullied Deku. That was something that was unforgivable in Uraraka's eyes. Though Deku had grown confident over the months since their admittance to U.A, Uraraka could still pick up on the vulnerabilities created by the treatment he faced at Bakugo's hand. Urakaka glanced at her fingers. Sooo that was Deku, Iida, Todoroki, anddd Bakugo. That only leaves…
"Uraraka," Yaoyorozu said. "I would be delighted to assist you with studying over the weekend. If you want me to, that is."
Uraraka whirled around. Yaoyorozu stood in front of her, lips curled into a smile. The sunlight that bathed the room illuminated her features, giving her eyes a certain kind of glow. A serene one. Uraraka exhaled, trying to calm herself down. To ignore the fact that Yaoyorozu had extended her hand in an act of kindness again that day. When Yaoyorozu rose a brow, Uraraka realized she needed to speak.
"T-That would be great," Uraraka said. "L-like I was telling Deku—"
"—you're lost. No worries, I've already prepared a review packet that covers everything we need to know for the midterm. Would you like to come over to my place this weekend? We can go over everything you need to know."
Uraraka almost fell on her face. Yaoyorozu, the girl she thought was out of reach, was inviting her over for a study session. She couldn't believe it. Uraraka felt as though her quirk was activated, a strange sensation settling in her belly. The shift in expression Yaoyorozu made caused Uraraka to shove these feelings back. She needed to accept her offer before she got too excited. Nothing was set in stone yet.
"S-sure, Yaoyorozu," Uraraka said. "T-that would be great."
"Text me where you live, and I'll have someone come pick you up. See you Saturday, Uraraka."
The smile Yaoyorozu sent her way gave Uraraka the jitters. She managed to compose herself enough to allow her classmate to step by her. Uraraka caught a whiff of the shampoo that clung to Yaoyorozu's hair. She smells like peaches… As the door slammed shut, the hero-in-training sniffed the air in the hope that she could find that smell again. All her life, she'd never been one for peaches. Now she had the urge to stop by the market and sink her teeth into one.
Once she overcame her shock, Uraraka threw her backpack over her shoulder. She made small strides to the door, head feeling warm and fuzzy. All she could see was the smile that Yaoyorozu gave her. So warm and full of care. Uraraka sighed, slapping her cheeks. She needed to get it together. She and Yaoyorozu would be studying together this weekend. If her mind was stuck in the gutter, she couldn't hope to pass the midterm.
Uraraka left the classroom. As she headed down the hallway, humming a tune she'd heard on the radio during her morning commute, her mind zeroed in on one detail. It would be just her and Yaoyorozu, alone for the first time. Uraraka's cheeks grew warmer as she came to a halt. Maybe I'm overthinking things here, but it's almost as if this is a date! Is it a date? If it is, I am totally not ready for it! She's so pretty, perfect, and nice. Oh, what if I mess up and make her not like me anymore? This is tough!
Uraraka pressed her back against the wall, she overreacting, or was this study session really more of a date? Not knowing for sure didn't calm her heart, make her blush subside. The buzzing of her phone pulled her back to reality. Uraraka pulled her phone out, gasping at the reminder that occupied her lock screen. Shoot, the train is leaving soon! I'm not going to be able to get home in time. Uraraka was about to slide her phone back into her pocket when she felt her stomach twist into a knot. Quit putting it off. Text her already, a voice whispered in the back of her mind.
Uraraka drew a breath, unlocking her phone to text Yaoyorozu the information she needed. Her finger hovered over the send button for what felt like an eternity. She was usually pretty thoughtless when texting her friends, quick to send whatever came to mind. Yaoyorozu was different. Uraraka analyzed every last word she'd typed, checking to see how she would sound. Exhaling, she finally hit the send button. She put her phone away, sprinting down the hallway.
Even after she'd ran out into the downpour, Uraraka could swear she could still smell the scent of peaches lingering in the air.
Author note: Hi, all! I got the idea for this fic while having a conversation with a friend about a BNHA roleplay! Writing this version of Ochako was kinda fun! Any constructive criticism is appreciated! Thanks for reading. I'll try and the second and final chapter finished asap!