Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Creative Defender

It was a warm spring day within the country of Japan. The cherry petals were currently falling, and the flowers were in full bloom and the weather had turned warmer, but a lone cold wind could still be felt causing a few to shiver.

The warm day even effected the young heroes in training who wanted to get out of their classrooms and go explore the towns or relax with a nice picnic with friends, or to just chill by a lone tree and just relax under the shade.

For one student however, had decided to visit one of her more favorable establishments. Taking a sip of her warm tea and feeling the warm bitter taste course through her, relaxed her more then she would have liked to admit.

Yes, for Momo Yaoyorozu a nice relaxing day at her favorite café was always a highlight of her day. The young heiress let out a relaxed and pleasant sigh as she lowered her cup from her lips. She didn't know how much she needed this. These past couple of weeks have been stressful to put it simply.

The young girl gazed out the window and had to smile lightly as she watched the many citizens walk by either going about their day or going out on dates. Not even realizing what had been happening behind the scenes. She sighed and lowered her head back to her steaming cup and frowned softly.

The final battle of All Might was still weighing on her mind. She was there, watching it in person was truly something she couldn't ever forget, even if she at times wished she could. Seeing the number one hero fight like his life was on the line and nearly loose scared her more then anything that had happened yet in her short life as a hero.

Seeing him turn into a walking skeleton only made her worry and fear double. But he won, he defeated that monster and saved the day. But he had lost his quirk.

Momo reached for her cup and took a calming sip. The number one's hero's quirk. His power that made him the symbol of piece was gone. He said so himself. It chilled her to the bone knowing that he had retired in that state and that the greatest hero of the world was now practically quirkless.

Yet, she was more impressed that he never lost his smile. Even when he had entered for their Heroics Class. In a tan business suit, instead of his costume, the former All Might had given them all a smile. A smile that despite his sunken skin and eyes still blinded them and filled them with a blanket of safety and warmth.

He was still a hero, even if he couldn't fight, he could still inspire the next generation. Something he was doing much better at.

Momo had to stifle a small, amused giggle at remembering how lost the number one hero had been the first couple of months of teaching. The poor guy looked so out of his element it was amusing if not a little sad. Still, she had held her tongue out of respect and watched with growing warmth and pride at seeing the great hero find his groove in the classroom.

Now he didn't need to rush to get out to keep his sickly form a secret. He could spend more time on details and even offer after-school lessons for some students. He didn't look rushed or panicked anymore. Something she was a little grateful for.

She sighed softly and took another sip feeling the tea relax her more. After the battle, the dorms were built to help protect the students in a post All Might world. It made sense but Momo couldn't help but think there was another reason for their construction.

Despite that, the transition was a little rough at first. She sighed and leaned her head on the window in remembrance. That first month was an experience and a real test of patience. She loved her classmates, truly but she never expected to live with them for a long duration of time. Thus, it became a challenge for her at first to figure out how everyone acted when not in class or a school setting.

It was rough since she was an only child and had never lived with others her own age before. She had remembered blushing bright red when she had come down to the main dorm room for a snack, only to see Kirishima and Sato without shirts locked up in a wrestling hold with some of the other guys chanting "Go!" repeatedly. She couldn't understand what they were doing and frankly she didn't want to.

It got better and had become more amusing as time went on as she was able to look over her class. she had been raised to be an early riser. Getting things done on time and to be ready for the day with efficiency. Yet she had to stifle a laugh at remembering how her friends and classmates were not all morning people.

Mina was more likely to sleep past noon unless someone went in to wake her. Momo had often made acid repelling sheets in this case, when Kirishima was busy. Jiro her best friend in the class was also not a morning person, but instead of attacking those that dared wake her up like Mina, she instead would just curse them out with such vulgarity that she was sure would make Bakugou proud.

Speaking of her exploding classmate. She had to admit he was an odd one. Vulgar and a brute, he was not someone she would expect to appear in a class like this. But she had to admit grudgingly that he surprised her with his strength and smarts and while his view on looking at things can be skewed and he gives advice that doubles as insults, he is rather intelligent and has good insight on the profession.

She respected him, and would do anything to keep him safe, but they were not friends.

Momo was pulled from her thoughts as another hot cup of tea was placed before her. She blinked in surprise before looking up and smiling thankfully at the waitress. She was maybe a year younger than the heiress with long pink hair tied in a ponytail, her eyes were a bright yellow and seemed slit like and she had a small teasing smirk on her rather fair peach colored face that reminded Momo of her pink skinned classmate.

"Penny for your thoughts?" The waitress asked standing up straight and brushing off the small amount of dust from her uniform.

Momo hummed softly and gently sat down her empty cup of tea. "Just thinking." She answered softly.

"Oh?" the waitress asked with a raised eyebrow her golden eyes alight in teasing curiosity. "About what? A boy perhaps?" she asked.

Momo felt her cheeks redden but she did roll her eyes at the comment. "Is it only boys with you?" she asked dryly.

The waitress shrugged with a smirk. "What else is there to think about? The job is dull, but it allows me to ogle to my hearts content." She said with a wistful sigh.

"Honestly, Maria." Momo sighed and shook her head with a small grin.

"What?" the waitress named Maria asked her tone cheeky. "At least I'm honest with myself." She shrugged good naturally her hip thrown out to the side.

Momo could only smile at the waitress before her. When Momo had first discovered this little café around the second weak of school, Maria had been the waitress at the time and the two had hit it off quickly.

Maria would often tease the poor girl but with thanks to both Mina and Toru's constant good natured teasing Momo had grown quite immune to the waitress playful comments. Still didn't stop the blush from appearing on her cheeks though.

"All serious though, you look stressed." Maria said with a small frown her golden eyes showing slight concern over the girl. "Trouble at your hero school?" she asked taking the empty cup into her hand.

Momo sighed softly and nodded. "It's just been stressful is all." She assured gently. "Everyone is still getting accustomed with living together." She took a small sip of her freshly made tea and felt her shoulders relax, "Everyone is trying to figure out and establish boundaries and schedules."

"Sounds rough." Maria said with a frown. But she then smirked cheekily, "But it must be nice to have all that eye candy so close." She teased. "I mean that hardening guy with the rock-hard abs, the strict guy with the big legs and that exploding blond, Woof." She teased with a blush.

"Your drooling Maria." Momo teased with a small smirk of her own.

"I'm allowed to look!" Maria defended with a smirk. Making Momo roll her eyes at her. "I know you look at that fire and ice guy!" she teased making Momo's blush grow a darker shade of red. "Ha! Knew it!" she teased.

"We are just classmates, nothing more." Momo said with a flustered look.

"Uh-huh." The waitress said out with a cheeky grin completely not believing the young heiress.

Momo sighed and took another sip to try and ignore the girl and this topic completely.

"Honestly, girl, just ask the guy out." Maria said with a grin. "Bring him here, I'll put in a good word for ya!" She said with a wink.

"Not in your life." Momo said with a frown making Maria pout at her. "Shouldn't you get back to work?" she asked.

"I'm on break!" Maria said with a smirk lifting the empty cup up and over her shoulder as she crossed her arms over her chest. "But honestly, you need to bring someone here! You can't hog all the eye candy for yourself girl!" she demanded.

Momo rolled her eyes again, but a warm smile did grow on her face as she spotted someone outside of the window rushing down the street. "Well, you're in luck then." She said making Maria blink in surprise.

Momo smiled warmly and with amusement as she heard the door for the café open and heard fast footsteps approach her table. She looked up along with Maria whose eyes had grown wide as she saw the freckled face and green curly haired form of Izuku Midoriya taking deep breaths and looking panicked.

"I'm sorry!" He bellowed sounding panicked and tired. "Aizawa-sensei kept me and Aoyama behind to talk about the recent test." He explained. "I tried to get here as fast as I can, but I got lost and couldn't find it! I tried asking for directions, but everyone was busy then this old man needed help with his car, and I wanted to help him since he looked like he needed it. After that some kids ball got stuck on a roof and they looked so upset, so I jumped up and grabbed it, then I found I was further away than when I started and-"

"Midoriya." Momo interrupted with a soft grin making the boy snap his mouth shut and gazed at her with nervousness shining in his green eyes.

"Y-Y-Yes?" he asked softly.

"Glad you could make it." She said warmly and extended her hand to the seat across from her. "Have a seat." She offered kindly.

The green haired teen blushed making his diamond shaped freckles pop and he quickly slid into the seat across from her. "T-Thank you." He whispered.

Momo gazed at the green haired teen with soft affection remembering the first time she had met him. It was the first day of class and while at first, he didn't seem like anything special, with his inability to hold a conversation along with his rather bland appearance, Momo didn't give him much thought.

Then he threw a softball with so much force it caused a sonic boom. That was the first moment that Momo reevaluated the green haired boy. He had that strong of a quirk that would break his bones. A backlash like that was insane to think about, but what was strange was that it just didn't seem to fit the teen.

Most quirks seem to reflect the user's personality, it showcased a fragment of themselves that most quirk users built their own persona and characters on. So, seeing the rather shy and timid boy use power that could level a building was a bit bizarre.

At first Momo believed the teen was just too lazy to train with his quirk, thinking he didn't need to train to be the best. A feeling she had even when he was given the class representative position over her. She was a little bitter about that she would admit, but she would be proven wrong that same day as she saw the teen show doubt about his skills as a leader and would be shocked and a little annoyed when he gave his position to fellow classmate Tenya Ida. Even though she had more votes than he did.

She had pouted for a day before getting over it quickly over seeing how dedicated Ida was to his role and being the strict kind while she was more understanding but at times a bit too naïve to what others needed. In hindsight Midoriya had chosen a perfect person to be class rep.

It wouldn't be the only time he would surprise her and blow her expectations of him. Watching him rush to fight that monster at the USJ always made her stomach turn. Then watching him fight Todoroki and push himself to have the son of Endeavor use his fire while breaking his arms and fingers to the point of his hand being forever deformed caused a feeling to rise in her.

The fact that the ice and fire quirk user had grown more friendly with the class and had gotten close to the green haired teen had not gone unnoticed.

Even though her fight ended in an embarrassing quick time, and her internship was a lot to be desired that sadly hurt her confidence more then helped it. It was thanks to both Shoto and Midoriya for rebuilding her confidence.

Shoto had talked with her during the finals helping her build her confidence enough to help pull out a win, but it was during the summer camp that Izuku would finish the job.

She had stepped away from the campsite as the rest of the class and class 1-B had gathered around to roast some marshmallows and make smores. A bonding exercise is what Mina had stated looking dead tired as she had leaned onto the red-haired teen who looked just as tired.

Momo had excused herself silently and had moved a bit into the forest to get some silence and just think. She did not expect to spot the green haired teen leaning against a tree looking tired and a bit sad.

"Oh Yaoyorozu." He said having heard her approach him. He had sat up straighter and given her a small nervous grin.

"Midoriya." She had greeted back with a small nod. Not expecting to run into the green haired teen. "What are you doing out here by yourself?" She asked.

Midoriya had blushed and started to rub the back of his head in nervousness. "O-Oh, um. Well, I was just taking a small breather." He spoke softly with a nervous tone.

Momo narrowed her eyes at him but decided to not pry.

"What about you?" he asked.

Momo blinked and gazed at the teen with a raised eyebrow making him blush and look down to the ground.

"I-I mean, I thought you would be with everyone else. Is all." He explained softly.

"We all need some time for ourselves Midoriya." She explained rather tersely making the teen stiffen and look down and away making the girl feel a bit of guilt at snapping at him. "I'm sorry." She said softly.

"I-its okay." He said softly something hidden in his tone that pulled at her heart and made her guilt grow.

"I-I'll just go." She said softly about to walk away and leave him alone.

"I wanted to prove it to him."

She paused and turned around to see the green haired teen staring ahead with a tired look in his eyes and his form slouched in disappointment.

"What?" she asked confused.

"I wanted Kota, you know the son of the Water Hose Duo, to see what heroes were like. To understand just how important, they were." He sighed softly and slumped more into the tree and winced in slight pain. "He…he doesn't like them, or me very much." He said softly and shook his head with a sigh.

Momo listened with a small frown as she slowly approached him and sat down next to him on the tree. "Why are you trying to get him to like heroes?" she asked softly. It honestly didn't make much sense to her. There was going to be people who didn't like heroes or what they stood for. That was the reality her family had drilled into her head when she announced she was going to be a hero.

Izuku shook his head with a small, defeated smile before looking up at the sky, Momo following his gaze and had to gasp softly at the many stars that she couldn't see when in the city or back home. "It's because he needs hope." He said softly causing Momo to turn back to the teen with confusion.

"Hope?" she asked.

Izuku nodded. "Yeah. He…he needs to see and have hope that heroes will be there to help and save." His gaze did not lower as he gazed at the star filled sky. "E-Even when they fail." He said softly causing Momo's breath to hitch.

He sighed softly and looked down at his arm, "I know the risks that come with being a hero. What sacrifices we may need to make to keep the public safe. Sometimes…we may have to give our lives to save someone." He said softly.

Momo stared at the green haired teen with wide eyes, never hearing him speak so seriously before. It was a bit awe inspiring to the young heiress if she was being honest. Like she was talking to someone much older.

He sighed and looked up at the girl next to her and gave her a small warm grin his emerald eyes shining with determination. "I want him to believe and have hope again. For when someone loses that hope…" he looked away, but Momo caught the small amount of self-hate, doubt and sadness in his eyes making her tense and grow deeply concerned, "Then…they have nothing to believe in. Nothing to push them, nothing to…make them better." He whispered out.

"That's…very noble of you Midoriya." Momo said softly pulling her knees close and hugging them leaning her head down on them and gazing at the teen with a soft smile.

The teen just shrugged with a small blush. "T-Thanks, but I d-don't think I'm doing a good job." He said with a sigh.

"Don't give up." She said sternly making him turn to her with surprise. "Keep with him and don't give up on him yet. If you want to give him that hope, then prove to him what heroes are. If anyone can do that, then its you Midoriya." She encouraged with a smile making him blush a dark red and give her an honest smile.

A smile she wished she could see more on the timid teen.

She sighed softly and leaned her head on her legs and chuckled a bit, "Makes my issues seem so much lesser then they are." She said softly.

"Not true." He said making her look up realizing she said that out loud. "Everyone's problems are valid." He said with a firm tone his eyes shining with that determination he used when fighting Todoroki. "What's been bothering you Yaomomo?" he asked making her insides warm up at him using the affectionate nickname that Mina and Kaminara had given her.

She smiled softly at him and let out a tired sigh. "Well…I guess, I'm just second guessing myself." She said softly.

"Why?" Midoriya asked his tone gentle with a small head tilt.

Momo let out a sigh and leaned her chin on her keens and gazed out into the darkened woods. "I got accepted into UA by recommendation. I didn't earn my place like the rest of you. I lost in my match at the Sports Festival in three seconds, and my internship wanted me for my looks and not my skill." She explained softly. She closed her eyes and looked away. "It…it just feels like I don't belong. That I don't deserve to be here."

"THAT'S NOT TRUE!"

Momo jumped and turned with wide eyes to look at the green haired teen giving her a glare his eyes glowing a burning emerald. "W-What?" she asked.

"That is not true Yaoyorozu!" he repeated softer this time, but his glare remained. "You are amazing! Your quirk is amazing! All of you is amazing!" he said waving his arms around in an excited matter.

Momo's cheeks were reaching new levels of red. He thought she was amazing? "B-But I lost so quickly…" she said sounding so small right now.

"It was a bad match up Yaoyorozu." Izuku said with a softer tone now, his glare leasing and giving her a warm look. "Tokoyami and Dark Shadow are a frightening pair, and they are really strong."

"I know." She said with her hands closing into fists. "But…I could have done better. I should have." She spoke with emotion.

"We are only human Yaoyorozu." He said softly gently placing his scarred hand over her own making her stiffen and blush. "We all make mistakes, what's important is what we do with those mistakes." He said with a small grin.

Momo looked up at him with watery eyes. "W-What we do with it?" she asked softly.

Izuku nodded with a warm smile. "Y-Yeah." He looked down at his hand over her own and felt his face grow hot as he pulled it away quickly. Momo would deny that she missed the comfort it brought.

He gazed at his hand and let out a sigh. "I…need to learn control. I keep breaking my bones and causing nothing but pain and strife for everyone and I just…I need to be better at controlling this power." He looked up at her with a small grin. "I try and not push my body to far, try and limit the amount of power I use, but even that has been a pain." He shrugged his shoulders, "I also know now not to overdo it." He said sheepishly.

There was a story there she was sure of it.

"The point is, that we all make mistakes. You, me, Todoroki, Kacchan, Tokoyami, even All Might." He said with a small understanding smile. "It's the lessons we learn that pushes us to be better heroes and people." He explained.

Momo gazed at him with wide eyes feeling a weight start to lift a bit. "Midoriya…" she whispered softly.

"So, you had a bad match, so what?!" He said with a smile, "You know what to do next time right?" he asked making her nod slowly. "Then you learned something! That's already an improvement!" he cheered. "You'll beat him next time, if not give him a much more challenging fight." He promised her.

"H-How do you know that?" she asked him still having her doubts about her skill.

"Did you think I stood a chance against Todoroki?" he asked.

Momo looked at him in surprise and had to look away with a bit of shame giving him her answer.

"It's alright if you didn't. Trust me, I didn't think I stood a chance either." He said with a small chuckle. He sighed softly and gave her an encouraging smile, "I was at a disadvantage all match. Shoto could just stay long range and keep blasting me with ice till I broke myself or till he got a lucky shot in. One of the two." He watched Momo turn to him slowly making his grin grow, "I went overboard, did some stupid things in that fight, but I got him to understand something. Maybe in the future I can try and not do that." He laughed softly making Momo join him with her soft laughter.

"But the point is, I know what to improve on. A loss is only truly a loss if you don't learn anything. Yaoyorozu, you had one major lost, it is going to sting and make you think about things, but all you can do is get up and try again." He said with a cheesy grin that lit up the girl and making her giggle.

"Where are you getting all this?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

Midoriya blushed and rubbed the back of his head. "O-Oh…well you know…" he said out with some shyness.

"Was it the All Might motivation book?" she asked with a teasing tone.

"Hey! That book was amazing!" he said with a pout making Momo break out into a deep belly laugh.

Izuku joined her soon after making her feel lighter than she has felt in weeks. When they were done, they leaned back onto the tree and just gazed at the stars.

"You belong here." He said softly making her turn to him in surprise.

"Really?" she asked softly.

He nodded with a warm smile. "Of course. Your quirk is amazing, and your creative and kind. You may be recommendation but that just means you had to work harder to impress someone." He took a deep breath and closed his eyes looking relaxed. "You have a talent not many have Yaoyorozu, your quirk is an amazing tool, but if anyone else had it, no one else would be able to use it like you."

"What do you mean?" she asked sounding curious.

"Well, your quirk works based on making everything from scratch, right?" he asked turning to her seeing her nod. "Well, that means you need to remember and know how those materials are made, the different formulas and equations in how its shaped. You create things that most people would never even know about, all based on the amount of research and study you have done." He shook his head with wonder. "You're the smartest student in the class Yaoyorozu, from book smarts, to even hero ethics and English." He chuckled softly. "Yet you also show great restraint, not making something to dangerous and lethal. Thankfully." He said with a small gulp.

Momo just stared at him with wide eyes feeling her chest warm and her stomach doing strange flips at his words.

"So, you didn't fight robots in the entrance exam? You still studied more than anyone else and trained your quirk to great efficiently to get in." He smiled warmly at her making her cheeks grown warm and tears to drop from her eyes. "You belong here. You are going to be an amazing hero Yaoyorozu. I know it." He said with so much conviction that she dared believe him.

He believed in her so strongly. Even when she barley believe in him. She felt herself filled with guilt over that bit quickly burned it away with fiery determination. She would make sure his belief in her was worth it. She would also start believing in him as well.

"Thank you…Izuku." She said softly with a warm smile making the teen blush and smile at her bashfully.

"Y-Your welcome. I-I just said the truth was all." He said bashfully making the girls stomach do even more flips and filling her with an urge.

An urge she did not fight as she leaned over and gave the green haired teen a small kiss on his cheek making him stiffen up and grow a dark shade of red as his eyes had grown super wide. She only smiled warmly at him with her own cheeks a dark red. "In any case, thank you." She said softly feeling lighter than she had in months and ready to challenge the world and take on this training that this summer camp would provide.

That is when Momo fully came to see the green haired teen before her as a true friend and confidant. She confined in him along with Jiro who she had noticed had also grown closer to the green haired teen often calling him different nicknames based on his hair and its color, much to both her and Jiro's amusement.

She gazed at him as he looked over the menu that was still on the table, Maria having mysteriously disappeared as soon as Izuku had walked in. Her gaze traveled to his glove covered hands and had to frown softly at them. Izuku had grown self-conscious about his scars and how his arms looked so he had started to wear gloves and long sleaved clothing. All because some jerk called him out on them when he was at a restaurant with Sato.

Oh, once she was told of what happened, she wanted to find that no good jerk and…have a talk with him. The fact that she would talk with him with many of her cannons was but a coincidence. Neither Mina nor Jiro believed her.

After that event the green haired teen had started wearing gloves and long-sleeved clothing making her and the class grow upset and worried. They all tried to reassure him he didn't have to hide them, but he just said it was better that way.

"Don't want to make anyone uncomfortable." He said with a small broken tone with an empty smile.

Ochaco had tackled him with a hug at that along with the class. Minus Bakugo since he just scoffed and walked back to his room calling the green haired boy and idiot.

Momo took another sip of tea and narrowed her eyes lightly at him. "So, what did Aizawa-sensei want with you and Aoyama for?" she asked.

Midoriya blushed and lowered his menu with a small bashful grin. "H-He wanted a bit of clarity on some of the test answers that Aoyama had. Since I helped tutor him Aizawa-sensei had me stay behind to see how I was doing."

"And?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

Izuku smiled wide. "He got a solid B." he said proudly.

"That's great!" she cheered with her own smile growing making the teen blush at her praise.

"Praise Aoyama. He did the hard work, I just helped." He said humbly making the girls smile grow warmer.

"You're to humble for your own good you know." She said with a small grin making him blush and look away.

"W-W-W-Why did you ask me t-t-to come out h-h-here?" now he asked his face red.

Momo pouted at him with narrowed eyes, "Can't I ask my friends to come have tea with me?" she questioned him.

His eyes grew wide and waved his hands in front of himself. "O-Of course you can!" he said with a bit of panic. "B-But I mean…people could get the wrong i-idea." He said softly.

"What kind of idea?" she asked curiously not figuring out why asking a friend to have tea would give people ideas.

"Y-You don't know?" he asked with some surprise.

Momo shook her head slowly. "No. Should I know something?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Uh…it…it's nothing!" he said quickly picking up the menu to hide his steaming face.

Momo could only blink in confusion before shrugging slightly and taking another sip of her tea.

The silence that followed was slightly awkward but over all relaxed. The young heiress observed as he looked over his menu options muttering as he went making her shake her head in amusement. "If I could recommend the Matcha tea." She said causing him to pause his mutter and look over at her.

"It's a little bitter but it can help with anxiety and stress." She explained with a grin. "I figured you could use it." She said with a narrowing of the eyes making him flinch and chuckle nervously.

"S-Sato told you about that huh?" he asked. Slumping when she gave him a firm nod. "I-I'm working on it." He tried to defend himself.

"You can talk to me, to any of us, you know?" she told him with a warm concerned tone.

He smiled warmly at her and nodded once. "I-I know. Thank you."

"Good. Just don't overwork yourself again or I will request that you not have access to the gym for a month." She said with a firm tone.

"Oh, come on! I said I was sorry." He said in desperation and embarrassment.

"Izuku, you almost worked yourself to death." She said firmly making him flinch and wilt. She sighed softly and lifted her hand and placed it over his own making him look up at her. "We worry about you, okay. We just don't want to see you like that again."

"I-I know." He answered back softly.

"Good. So please if there is anything you want to talk about. Be it nightmares, or something at your internships, speak up okay. We are all there to help each other. You would help us in a heartbeat." She commented with a warm tone making him smile genuinely at her.

"T-Thanks Yaomomo." He spoke with gratitude.

"What are friends for?" she asked back with a cute wink.

He chuckled and nodded. He gazed down at his gloved covered hand and frowned softly. "I…I should go wash up real quick."

"You are wearing gloves." She commented with a raised eyebrow.

"Y-Yeah…" he said softly before he felt Momo grip his hand in hers in a gentle squeeze.

"It's okay Izuku, go ahead I'll order your drink for you." She assured warmly.

He gave her a small embarrassed but thankful smile before slowly getting up from his seat and walking to where they had the restroom sign located.

Momo watched him with a pitying look before letting out a small sigh and took another drink of her tea thinking of ways to help her friend of his insecurities, like he did for her.

She didn't notice the waitress approaching her till she felt someone nudge her. She blinked back into focus and looked up to see Maria and smiled only to pause as she saw the narrowed eyed look of the girl, her golden eyes focused on the retreating form of her green haired classmate.

"Maria?" Momo had asked with a frown something unpleasant entering her stomach as she didn't like the look the usually bright girl was giving her friend.

"How do you know that creep?" she asked, and Momo felt herself tense in shock.

"Excuse me?" she asked in shock.

Maria turned to her with concern in her eyes. "Look, if he is forcing you to be with him, let me know and I can get a pro down here right away." She said in such a concerned tone that it completely threw the young heiress for a loop.

"What?" she asked deeply confused. "What are you talking about?" she asked.

Maria rolled her eyes and let out an annoyed sigh. "What the hell did that Deku do to get you to give him the time of day?" she asked.

The world slowly stopped, and Momo was sure she heard her brain slam the breaks as she tried to process what this golden eyed girl was saying. The only people that called Izuku, Deku was Ochaco who called him that with affection and Bakugo who used it as an insult. An insult that she had learned started when they were kids.

Momo narrowed her eyes at the waitress her expression turning cold. "What are you implying?" she demanded with a frown.

Maria rolled her eyes and gave the heiress a deadpan look. "You serious?" She asked. "Like, come on girl. There are so many better men out there then Deku." She said with a scoff.

"Midoriya is a wonderful and kind person!" Momo said slowly standing up now to stand face to face with the waitress who backed up a little in surprise. "He's hard working and determined to be a hero."

"You kidding me!?" Maria shouted out with a disbelieving glare. "The dork is a freak! He was always muttering into his notebooks. Daydreaming about being a hero when he had no chance! Wake up girl!" she said.

"No chance?! Midoriya has the best chance out of everyone in my class of being an amazing hero!" Momo defended her friend.

The waitress only snorted at that. "Deku? The useless? A hero?" She asked before breaking into mocking laughter. "I'll believe it when hell freezes over."

"What is your problem with Midoriya?" Momo demanded with a firm cold tone. "He is far from useless! He has a very strong quirk and is improving himself everyday to do better." She stated firmly.

"The brat is quirkless."

Momo's eyes grew wide at that as Maria said those four words. "What?" she asked in shock.

Maria nodded. "I went to Junior High with the freak. He never had a quirk, never showed it off or even tried fighting back with Bakugo and his gang messed with him." She scoffed softly. "Weak little brat like him thinks he can be a hero, without a quirk, what a joke!"

Momo could only stare at Maria dumfounded. What the hell was she talking about? Izuku had a quirk, she had seen him use the damn thing! She watched him throw that softball with a sonic boom, seen him break his arms and legs trying to save Backugo and Kota at the summer camp.

"Did you not see the Sports Festival?" Momo asked with a confused look wondering what the hell Maria was talking about.

Maria only scoffed. "You kidding? The freak didn't use any quirk. He got far through dumb luck."

"He broke his fingers and arms fighting Todoroki!" Momo shouted out feeling her anger start to rise to higher levels over the level of disrespect that Maria was giving her friend.

"Oh that?" Maria asked before scoffing. "Please, special effects are an amazing thing. His arms and hands looked like they were black and blue from frost bite." She answered with a shrug. "The freak lost like he should have."

"How could you say that!" Momo demanded out with furry. "He tried his hardest and fought with all his heart!" All to save and reach out to his opponent who was also hurting, she wanted to add but thought better to speak it.

"Please. He just wanted attention. The quirkless freak just wanted to be noticed." She scoffed and shook her head with a scowl and look of disgust. "If you ask me, he should have jumped off the roof when he was told to. Would have saved us the troub-OW!"

She never finished as she was slapped hard by the heiress with such force that it brought the waitress to the floor as she cupped her cheek that was stinging fiercely. She snapped her head up to demand because the girl struck her but froze and tensed as she grew scared over the furious expression on the heiress's face.

"How dare you." Momo hissed out with a glare that would chill ice, making Maria shake in fear. "That boy is one of the sweetest individuals I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. He is my close friend, and one I care about a great deal and respect. He has done nothing to you, and you belittle him for things he had no control over. Yes, he has problems but guess what? All of us do!" she narrowed her eyes and took a step forward making the waitress flinch. "He does everything he can to make people smile. He works harder than anyone I know, and has a drive that far outshines some of the best heroes in this country.

Maria could only gape at Momo as she defended the boy. "He is a wonderful and kind person that deserves to live. You have disrespected him and insulted him thus insulting me." Her eyes narrowed into a glare and Maria felt a cold chill travel down her spine. "So, choose your next words carefully and do not insult him in my presence again."

Maria could only nod quickly in shock.

"Uh…"

Both girls tensed and turned to see a wide eyed Izuku Midoriya looking at the two with confusion and worry. "I-Is everything okay?" he asked them both.

The waitress gave him a nasty glare, but it wilted as Momo gave her the coldest glare making Maria flinch into herself.

"It's nothing Midoriya, we were just leaving." Momo said with a stern voice walking over to the surprised boy and taking his scarred hand in her own and leading him to the door.

"W-What? What about your tea?" he asked with surprise trying to keep up with the girl pulling him to the front door.

"There are other cafés we can go to. This one has recently become one I wish to blacklist." She said casually but with force making the green haired teen nod.

Momo opened the door but paused for a moment, without turning around she spoke over her shoulder. "Goodbye Maria." She said with a wavery tone before pulling the still surprised green haired teen with her leaving the waitress alone in the small café feeling that she had lost something special.

Momo continued to pull the green haired teen down the street, she was still angry and upset about what Maria had said about her friend. How could she think that way about him? How could she wish he were dead?!

"Uh… Yaoyorozu?" he asked timidly.

"Yes Midoriya?" she answered without looking back at him.

"C-can you loosen your grip…it kind of hurts." He requested with a wince.

Momo gasped and quickly turned around and pulled her hand away letting the teen let out a relived sigh as he shook his hand loosely.

"I'm so sorry!" she said with wide eyes feeling upset that she had hurt him.

"Its alright." He said with a small nervous chuckle. "Not like they can get even worse." He said with a small self-deprecating sigh.

"Don't say that!" she scolded making him stiffen and look at her with wide eyes. "You have nothing to be ashamed of Midoriya. Your scars, your hand, they are a part of you. They tell your story and how much work you put into trying to be a hero." She assured him while gently taking his gloved hand into her own two and clutched it.

"I wish you would have been more careful." She said softly making the teen look away with shame. "But…" he looked back at her with a curious expression and had to blink in surprise as he saw her give him a warm smile, "We are only human, and we make mistakes." She said softly. "Its what we do with them that matters."

Izuku gaped at her with wide eyes and a bright blush on his cheeks making the girl blush herself. He calmed down enough to chuckle softly and relax. "T-Thank you Yaomomo." He spoke gratefully.

"You're welcome Izuku." She said with a wide smile making him chuckle.

"So…what was that back there with Gōrudo?" he asked.

"Gōrudo?" she asked in confusion.

The green haired teen blushed before looking away, "Uh…I mean the waitress." He clarified.

Momo's mood dropped instantly, and she scowled as her eyes grew cold and hard. "Oh. Just a disagreement." She said simply.

"Oh." He said simply looking away in nervousness.

"How do you know her?" Momo asked with a frown.

"W-We went to Junior High together." He answered looking down with a frown seeming to crumble into himself. "She…she wasn't very nice to me back then." He answered.

Momo felt her anger start to boil at the hurt look that the poor boy was sporting. "I'm sorry, Izuku." She said softly holding his hand gently in her own.

The teen only shrugged. "Its okay. Everyone did it."

That made the girl freeze in place and look at him with wide eyed disbelief. "What?" she breathed out in shock.

Izuku tensed as well and looked up at her with a panicked expression. "Uhhhh."

"What do you mean everyone did it?!" Momo demanded with deep concern as she gently held the shorter boy by the shoulders. "Izuku please." She begged softly.

Midoriya trembled and she brought him into her arms and held him tightly. "Please, I want to help, but I can't if you won't tell me anything." She pleaded him gently.

Izuku took a deep shuddering breath and nodded slowly. She stepped back but kept her arms around him. "B-Back at my old school." He swallowed thickly and took a deep breath, "Everyone…picked on me." He said softly.

"I'm so sorry Izuku." Momo said softly feeling herself being torn apart seeing the teen before her like this. "Did the teachers ever try to stop it?" she asked hoping that he had some help.

Her hope was crushed when he slowly shook his no. "W-Why?" she asked in deep sadness and anger over that school.

"I-I was a late bloomer." He explained making the girl gasp softly. "So, everyone…believed I was quirkless for most of my life, even me." He whispered the last one making the girl bring him back into her hold.

"I'm so sorry." She whispered into his ear, wishing she could do more to help him, but not knowing what to do.

Okay not knowing anything legal to do. She had plenty of creative ideas for that dumpster of a school he went to. But that wasn't important right now.

She held him close and wished it would be enough. He gently pulled away and she let him and smiled softly as he tried to wipe his eyes with his sleeve. She didn't even look and think about it as her quirk activated and out from the palm of her hand came a soft cloth. "Here." She said gently giving him the cloth.

He took it with a thankful look and wiped his eyes and cleared his nose. She watched him and remembered what Maria had said before she slapped her. It filled her stomach with lead just thinking that someone would even suggest telling anyone that let alone Izuku. Still, a worried part of her did wonder something.

"Izuku?" she asked softly.

"Y-Yes?" he asked sounding tired.

"D-Did you ever think about it?" she asked.

"Think about what?"

"Suicide?"

The small sidewalk had grown quiet as they somehow had found themselves alone. But the silence was filled with dread and Momo wondered if she stepped over her bounds, she was about to apologize and tell him to forget she said anything.

"No."

His one-word answer stopped her, and she looked up to see his eyes were distant but showed a little fire in them. The fire that warmed her heart and reminded her why this boy was destined to become a hero.

"No, I don't. I didn't even think about it when it was suggested to me." He said softly looking at her with a small reassuring smile. "Don't worry about that." He told her gently.

Momo nodded slowly with that lead ball fading away and making her relax and smile back at him in relief. "Good." She said with warmth. "We would have missed out on meeting a wonderful person and a great hero." She said making the teen blush scarlet and look away.

"I-I-I'm not that special!" he tried to deny but only blushed a darker shade of red when he felt soft lips on his cheek making him tense up.

"I think everyone in class would beg to differ." She said back with a small smirk and red cheeks. She pulled on his hand. "Come on. I owe you a cup of tea."

He stumbled at first but followed her. "W-Where at?" he asked her still with a bright blush.

"Hmmm. Someplace new." She said with an excited grin making the teen beside her smile just as excited.

The two walked side by side Izuku had to think about how blessed he felt. To have such close friends. Friends who would defend him from his old classmates. As he gazed over at the wide smile of Momo as she looked at different café signs they passed, he felt a warmth in his chest he was not used to feeling in his fifteen years of life from anyone else but his mother.

He was truly blessed to have such an amazing friend such as her, and she felt the exact same way about him.