Night Owls

"38…39…*huff* 40…41," Izuku was kicking the air over and over, continuing his new tradition of training his legs/new shoot style in the courtyard around 3 in the morning. Aizawa had taken exception to this, just as long as the reckless teenager stayed close to the building, he understood how much Deku needed to improve his skills to keep his arms functioning much to his delight.

"45…46…47…48…No, I gotta kick it up a notch," he ran up to a nearby tree, took in a deep breath, and ran up it quickly, then jumping off midway up and doing a flurry of air kicks over and over then landing safely on the ground, and repeating the process a couple more times, "56 57 58 59! …60 61 62 63!..One more, 64 65 66 67!"

"Oh hey Midoriya," Hatsume greeted as she walked near him carrying a box of tools, dressed in her normal lab attire minus the goggles.

"AGHH," Izuku yelped startled, affecting his landing as his slid and rolled back from his landing spot and right under Hatsume, "Owwwww, h-hey Hatsume."

"You ok," she asked as she laid down the box, and extended a hand to him.

"Yeah, I'm alright," he replied as he took the girls hand who pulled him up, then picked up her box again, "What're you doing out here so late, won't you get in trouble for not being in after curfew?"

"Well about that…I was kinda staying up at the lab and lost track of time when making my latest baby!"

"How long have you been there?"

"Hmmmmm 3 days," she said plainly with a smile on her face.

"3 days!?"

"Genius never sleeps, only goes to the bathroom, drinks coffee, and creates masterpieces!"

"How did they not catch you?"

"I hid under a pile of my babies."

"That explains why you have oil on your face."

"What oil?"

"Right there on your cheek," he pointed out as she tried rubbing her face looking for the spot whilst holding the box, only to no avail as she kept missing the spot.

"Mind getting that for me?"

"H-huh," the green haired boy blushed at the request.

"Yeah, if you don't mind," she asked remaining oblivious to the shy teen's nervousness.

"U-u-uh, sure," he extended his shaking hand, and rubbing his thumb across the spot, diverting his eyes from the girl who giggled slightly at the touch, sending Deku's mind in multiple directions, 'I'm touching a girl I'm touching a girl I'm touching a girl I'm touching a cute girl wait cute what? I don't mean that but I do but I don't but I do but I don't her giggle is adorable OH GOD STOP IT…aww AAGGGGGH!'

"H-hey Midoriya you can stop now," she chuckled at his unleveled head.

"AGH! Oh, uh sorry H-hatsume," he apologized as he retracked his hand to the back of his head, rubbing it nervously, as his other hand was used to block his deeper blush, "I-I-I just g-g-get nervous around pretty girls," his eyes went wide, nearly smacking himself out of embarrassment.

"That explains a lot- wait what was that," Hatsume smiled at first, but then blushed slightly at the comment, not entirely sure if she heard him right.

"I-I-I-I-I uh," he racked his brain for an answer but couldn't find one, and he certainly didn't want to lie, so he simply swallowed, and lowered his hands to his side, his lips quivered, "I…called you pretty, I'm sorry for being so weird, I'm just a bit tired."

"W-well it's fine everybody spouts random things when they are tired," she returned her gin, both because she didn't want to make him feel sad, and secretly appreciated his compliment, "I can't tell you how many times I've said something I don't mean!"

"But I actually-"

"So what brings you out here at night," she changed the subject hyperactively, much like the hero in training she wasn't used to such things in her life.

"Oh, I was just training my new fighting style. I've been doing it for the past couple nights now so that I can put less strain on my arms."

"So that's what you've been doing."

"You knew?"

"Huh."

"You said that like you've seen me out here before."

"No I didn't," she laughed it off, making it more obvious that she was lying.

"I mean it's fine if you did, I'm not creeped out if you kept passing me while I did it."

"I mean, I passed you by a couple times at night. I just, wanted to speak to you."

"Then why did you wait?"

"…Don't laugh."

"I won't, I'm not really that kind of person."

"…I don't really have many friends."

"Why," he asked as he frowned, his expression turning concerned, as hers became sad as her eyes lowered to the ground.

"Mostly because they think I'm a little too weird, I focus mostly on my super cute babies, mapping out schematics, invading personal space, and being too bubbly, plus nobody is up as late as I am anyway."

"…I am," he smiled as Hatsume's eyes turned to him.

"Eh?"

"Yeah, I'm up this late, and I'm your friend."

"…Y-you are," she blushed again.

"Mhm, you've helped me a lot since I first met you at the sports festival, and anytime I'm analyzing quirks I write down in my notebooks and mutter a lot, you aren't weird it's just who you are. Never be ashamed of that, anytime you want to talk to me while I'm out here, just go ahead."

"You really mean that," she shouted smiling as she got in his face, causing him to blush again.

"Y-yes, I r-r-r-really do," he muttered but still smiled.

"Thank you Midoriya, that means a lot," her eye lids narrowed.

"N-n-no problem," his eyes turning back to her, sending his mind racing once more as they kept looking into each other's eyes, lost in a trance that ended swiftly when they both noticed that the box was about to fall.

They both acted quickly, Mei balancing the box once again at the bottom, and Izuku trying to help her by placing his own hands at the bottom…right on Hatsume's hands.

"Whew," they breathed in unison, standing up right together after bending to catch the item…then it hit them.

"Uh, sorry Mei," he pulled back nervously, shaking once more as he turned his eyes away from her again, whilst trying to hide his happiness of holding her hand, "I mean I'm glad that we were able to catch the box and everything but I'm sorry that I held your hands for a little too long not that I didn't like it but, uh crap crap crap I didn't mean to say that but I did uh mmmmm."

Hatsume placed the box down again, and happily took his hand, shutting him up quick as his heart beat quickened, "It's fine Izuku, it's nice knowing you care about me enough to say all that."

"…Hatsume."

"Hm?"

"…Thank you."

"What for?"

"Walking by tonight."

"Speaking of that, I better get going," she let go of his hand and lifted the box again, "You gonna be here tomorrow night?"

"Are you?"

"Yup, might make it apart of my routine," she teased giving him a wink, "You opposed?"

"Not at all," he said calmly, "See you then."

"Before I go, I need to thank you for something to."

"What?"

She stepped closer to him, their faces inches apart.

"For calling me pretty," she kissed him, sending him into a state of shock that he could barely comprehend.

"Wanna walk with me," she asked as she parted her lips from his grinning.

"…"

"Izuku?"

"…"

"Hello?"

It was then that the poor boy fell backwards, in combination to his lack of sleep with the sudden act of romance simply knocked him unconscious, but at least in a good way.

"…Guess it was a bit too much for him," she smiled, her face as pink as her hair.

Morning.

"…Ow, *grunt* when did I hit my head," Izuku wondered as he rubbed the side of his head, confusion had hit him like a truck, he wasn't sure why his head hurt, why he was sitting upright, why he was still outside, why Hatsume was laying on his shoulder, why-…wait.

Indeed, there she was, much to his own surprise, very much still asleep, both of them had camped out on the bench despite Izuku slowly remembering that he had hit the ground after she…kissed him. He became a bit embarrassed at the idea of having slept there all night with her, who knows how many students saw them.

"Mmmm," she let out, nuzzling her head on his shoulder.

His eyes met the box that was next to her on the bench, this causing him to smile softly when he looked at her.

'She stayed out here all night with me, not a single problem with it at all. I might be late to class but, I think I could sleep a little while longer…I guess I really am lucky I became such a night owl.'

He laid his head on hers, enjoying his newfound relationship, and the peace of the morning alongside it, even though he truly wanted the night to come sooner.

The End.

Authors note: Sorry if this one feels a little rushed, I was kind a struggling to come up for idea's on this one, and I truly hoped it turned out good for you guys, I'm gonna be honest I was a little scared that the first chapter wouldn't do so well since the romance was underplayed until the end.

Then came the overwhelming surprise that a large group of you really dug it, and I can't be more grateful for that, I'm so happy that I was able to capture your attentions and positivity, despite me being a bit of a lazy bones when it comes to stuff like this, I really needed the support, mostly because my recent comedy story (Bakugo and Kirishima in Groceries Galore) didn't really get much reception, and I feared that I may have lost my touch, but I'm glad you gave me such support on this story and it made me feel better about myself in the process, you guys have really changed my life when it came to this stuff and I am eternally grateful that you continue to read my work.

As always, have a great day and see ya in the next one!