35

Prep

The morning classes went by smooth enough, although there were the awkward stares in between Izuku, Momo, and Mina. The rest of the classroom could feel the tension, even the dense Todoroki was aware of it.

The bell rang for lunch. Most of the students started making their way to the cafeteria, Izuku walked to the front of the class where Aoyama and Mina sat, his girlfriend got out of her seat and accompanied him. As they walked to the front door of the classroom, his ear twitched to the sound of that distinct elegant voice.

"P-Pardon Aoyama, do you mind if I join you for lunch?"

Izuku turned his head slightly in their direction, he could feel Aoyama's eyes on him as if asking him if it was okay, it was almost unnoticeable but he did nod as he left the classroom with his girlfriend, Mina Ashido.

"It would be my pleasure." Aoyama more than welcomed the company of Momo Yaoyorozu, aware that she might be the one who felt the most lonely, and he could always sympathize when someone wasn't fitting in regardless of the reasons. But he was also secretly a close friend to Izuku and knew this involved him which is also why he looked at him for approval, not wanting to betray his trust.

Surprisingly, Dekusquad and Bakusquad were sitting together with Kacchan and Toru sitting on one side of the table with his group and Izuku and Mina sitting on the other side with his group of friends. Most of them were making jokes wanting to keep the conversation light, Todoroki and Uraraka even started making plans for the beach. Kirishima was mostly keeping to himself but Sero, Tsuyu, and Kaminari were good friends, keeping him involved. Mina and Toru were talking about the usual gossip but this time it was about Deku and Kacchan. The dynamite boy kept barking at Toru that they weren't dating but she simply brushed off his remarks while keeping her arm wrapped around his.

Deku had a sweatdrop behind his head with deadpan eyes staring at the two interact. "I think he's enjoying arguing with Toru. In fact, she's as stubborn as he is." Then he glanced over to his girlfriend. "But she's the most of them all..."

"Oi, what the hell did you say Deku!" Kacchan tried to threaten but it was hardly intimidating when an invisible girl is repeatedly pecking his cheek.

"Who are you calling stubborn?" Mina was glaring at him with puffed-up cheeks.

Izuku's expression did not falter, in fact, he now had his hand on his chin as he went on one of his rambles, this one about how he was pretty reserved, and yet besides Todoroki, he only attracted the boisterous or obnoxious.

"There he goes again," Tsuyu remarked.

Mina shrugged her shoulders, "I'll just be mad at him in five minutes then."

They laughed before Todoroki and Jiro both dropped their heads in gloom.

"What's wrong?"

They both replied the same, no longer able to ignore the vacuum in conversation. "This is the part where Yaoyorozu would say something motherly..."

Hearing that caused Izuku to stop mumbling dead in his tracks, and actually focus on the underlying problem. He still hadn't replied to her text but he knew that he had to talk to her, alone.

Mina grew disheartened, she did miss Yao-momo's presence but how could she ever look at her the same as before? Although she did her best to not sour the mood like at the party, Yao-momo was just as much their friend as she was.

They all looked at Midoriya, hoping him and Mina could make up with Momo. He ruffled his hair trying to avoid their gazes. 'Todoroki and Jiro are giving me their puppy dog eyes! Ah, Uraraka and Kaminari are doing it too now!'

Izuku caved with a defeated sigh as lunch came to an end.

It was after school and the students we making their way out of the class, but he held her back.

"Momo, can we talk,

about last winter?"