Christmas Eve.

The Class B dorm was all but deserted. A single low yellow light bathed the common room. A winter wind whistled past outside.

Nearly everyone had gone to be with their families for the holiday. A few people that didn't celebrate it at all were still around, like Kamakiri and Tsuburaba for example. But Yui was pretty sure she was the only girl left.

She walked across the common room and bent down to plug in the Christmas tree. It was the same plastic one from the year before, which Class B had put up yesterday. Their actual party would be on the 26th of December, along with Class A's. This was due to so many people being out on the actual holiday.

The tree lit up with a rainbow of LEDs, and Yui allowed herself to smile a little, the lights reflecting in her blue eyes like fireflies over a deep pool. She folded her slender hands behind her back and rocked back and forth on her toes, just staring at the tree for a minute in a sort of serene bliss.

Her phone buzzed on the table nearby. She wasn't wearing any pockets, so she'd set it down. Yui blinked and walked over to read the text message, expecting something from Reiko or maybe Itsuka.

Her eye twitched. It was from her mother.

Hey, Buttercup.

I know you want to stay at school, and don't want to come see us for the holiday. But if you happen to change your mind, there's a place for you.

We love you.

Yui sniffed. Something wet dropped onto her phone screen and slowly ran off the bottom.

She set her phone back down on the table, facedown.

I could respond, she thought. It'd be very rude to leave a message like that on read.

But…there was nothing to say. Nothing that wouldn't feel fake or forced or manufactured. And if the options were like that, then Yui Kodai absolutely preferred to stay silent.

"Kodai!"

She turned. It was Nirengeki Shoda, a short boy in her class who was actually quite nice.

He was walking toward her with a somewhat happy expression. "The boys who are left were gonna play some board games, do you want to-" He stopped short, going pale. "Whoa. Are you okay?"

Yui neutralized her face. She hoped her eyes weren't shimmering or anything. "Fine," she replied shortly. "You all have fun."

"Oh." Shoda frowned. "Would you…feel weird being the only girl? I'm sorry, I still feel bad, I don't want to leave you out…"

She shook her head. "I'll be fine," she repeated.

"Well…okay. If you're sure." He gave her one last concerned look and then went back upstairs.

Yui sighed. Now she had people worrying over her. Was this how Saya had felt, all those years ago? Maybe she should just go up there to whatever boys' room they would be in and try to enjoy herself…

No. If she went up there now, they would make a big deal about it, and she'd be forced to be the center of attention.

That was one thing about wearing a mask. At some point, it became such a part of your self-projection that even if you wanted to unmask yourself, the annoyance and discomfort of having everyone react in their different ways to your unmasking was too much.

Her thoughts strayed back to her parents again. No.

…

Izuku walked back into the dorm, shivering as he exited the winter's night.

"Oh, Midoriya," Yaoyorozu said in surprise. "You're back already?"

Izuku put his phone in his jacket pocket. "Yeah. My mom and I exchanged gifts and drank some hot chocolate. Then she said it was okay for me to come back here. I…I think she wanted to be alone." He frowned. Something about Dad, maybe?

"Well, in that case." Momo pressed her hands together. "Tokoyami, Tsu, Ojiro, Kirishima and I were all going to watch a movie."

She nodded to the common area around the TV, where the others were sitting. "Hello, Midoriya," said Tokoyami.

"Ribbit," Asui echoed.

Izuku realized - these were all the people in his class whose families didn't really celebrate Christmas. "Where's Todoroki?" he asked. He knew for sure that Shoto had not gone home.

Momo shrugged. "Not sure."

Kirishima patted the spot on the couch next to him. "Have a seat, Midoriya! We're gonna watch Seven Samurai."

Izuku blinked. "Never heard of it." To be honest, he was really bad with movies unless it was something hero-related.

"It's a classic! Released in the twentieth century! I think you'll really like it. Nice and manly." Kirishima flashed a grin.

Ojiro nodded. "It's one of my favorites of all time."

"Hmm…" Momo was tapping her chin. "We should get some snacks ready first."

"I'm on it, ribbit," said Tsuyu. "I can microwave popcorn."

"I'll help," Tokoyami echoed, following her toward the kitchen area.

"While that gets prepared, I think I'm going to take a walk over to the Class B dorm and see if any of them want to join us." Momo frowned. "Whoever's left over there must be awfully lonely. I know Itsuka went home, at least."

Kirishima stood abruptly. "Do you need someone to go with you? It's cold out there." Meanwhile, Ojiro was fiddling with the remote, and apparently having issues, because he cursed under his breath.

Momo blinked. "You're not dressed to go out. Midoriya still is."

"Oh…okay. I'll go," Izuku said.

…

They walked up to the Class B dorm, which was very dark…but there was a soft multicolored light coming out of one window. Someone turned on their Christmas tree.

Momo used her higher clearance key (which all the class reps had) and opened the door tentatively. "Anyone home…oh! Hello, Kodai."

Izuku followed behind her, his heart skipping a beat as he heard the name. Sure enough, no one was down here but Yui. She was standing in front of the Christmas tree, watching it. Her pale, calm face was bathed with light.

She turned slowly to face them, and her eyebrows rose a little when she saw Izuku. "Hello, Yaoyorozu…Midoriya." When she said his name, her voice went a little quieter, breathier.

Izuku wasn't sure what it was. Maybe because he hadn't seen her in a few days. Maybe it was the Christmas lights, the atmosphere. But tonight, for some reason, he couldn't take his eyes off of her. He was drinking up her appearance as she turned to face him.

She was wearing a black spaghetti-strap denim dress, with a white long-sleeved shirt on beneath it. The dress went past her knees but beneath that she was wearing black tights, and brown flats on her feet. She moved her arms to clasp her hands in front of her waist, and her boobs pushed together a little. Izuku blinked. He had forgotten the ability to speak.

Yui stared right back at him. For a long moment, they stood there, suspended in time.

Momo coughed. "Well, Kodai…are you alone in this building tonight?"

She shook her head. "Some of the boys are upstairs."

"Well…oh. I see. Our class was going to watch a movie. You're all welcome to come over and watch with us, if you like."

Yui kept staring at Izuku. "They are playing board games. I will come, though." She walked forward, clearly intending to join them on their walk back.

Momo clapped her hands together in delight. "Wonderful! Let's go back, then."

She led the way, causing Yui and Izuku to fall in step together behind her.

The wind hit them a bit hard as they exited the building, causing Yui to wince. Izuku was still wearing his jacket. "Oh, did you…" he moved to take it off and give it to her.

She held up a hand. "It's not far," she told him in a quiet voice.

Momo looked back over her shoulder. "I like your bracelet, Kodai," she complimented.

Yui looked at the arm she'd lifted up, where a golden circle ringed her wrist. "Thank you," she murmured. "Itsuka and Setsuna got it for me. For my birthday."

"Ah. Right. That was a few days ago, wasn't it?"

"Mm." Yui lowered her arm, and then stared at Izuku again.

He gulped. He wasn't sure what to say. For some reason, his strange feelings for her were absolutely steamrolling him right now. I want her phone number. I want to go on more runs and have more conversations and maybe even hug her and cuddle her and…

He knew his face was furiously red. Hopefully the dark overcast night was hiding it well enough, but he could sense Yui's deep blue eyes still upon him, as if she was waiting for something.

"What movie are we watching?" she asked quietly.

"Oh! It's uhh…it's Seven Samurai."

Yui made a small little sound of recognition. "I have heard of that."

"That's cool. Because I haven't." Izuku scratched the back of his neck and smiled sheepishly.

Yui giggled. "You know, it's only a decade older than Ultraman."

"The 1950s, huh? Dang. Yeah…I don't know much about films, I guess."

Yui looked forward as they walked, almost introspectively. "I think you will like it. The samurai in it aren't pro heroes or anything…but they are still heroes."

"Something doesn't have to have heroes in it for me to like it," Izuku muttered.

"Are you certain?" Yui asked, mischief dancing in her eyes.

"Yes!"

They both giggled a little.

Momo looked back at them, seeming both amused, confused, and intrigued. I have never heard Kodai say so much, she thought. And before, when she invited him out to run in front of everyone…they're going to be such a cute couple.

…

They arrived back in the Class A common room. "Welcome back! Any recruits?" Kirishima asked, before turning to look.

"Just one." Momo nodded to Yui before sitting down in one of the armchairs.

Kirishima's mouth dropped a little, seeing Yui next to Izuku, but then he smiled. "Welcome, err…Kodai! Glad you're here."

"Mmh," was Yui's response.

Tsuyu and Tokoyami returned to the TV area with snacks. "Kodai, ribbit," Asui acknowledged. The two girls shared a long look. Izuku noticed this, and raised an eyebrow.

Ojiro was sitting in the other armchair, and threw the remote down with success. "Got it!" he blurted, sighing in relief. "Some of these old Blu-rays, man…anyway, we're ready to start. Buckle in, it's about three hours long."

"Three hours?" Tokoyami repeated. "I suppose we have nothing better to do…"

Meanwhile, Izuku went over to sit on the weirdest piece of furniture they had. It was just a little smaller than a two-person couch, but a little too big to be called a loveseat per se. There was no thought process behind this; he just took a seat. Ojiro and Momo had taken the armchairs. Tokoyami sat down next to Kirishima on the couch.

Tsuyu and Yui stared at each other, and then at the two remaining places to sit. Either the last spot on the couch…or alone with Izuku.

Tsuyu raised an eyebrow in an almost challenging way. Yui just gazed.

"Come on, Kodai, make yourself at home!" Kirishima slapped the spot on the couch next to him.

"Hmm." Yui gave him a pointed look, and then walked primly over to Izuku's chair, plopping herself down next to him.

Izuku froze. He had leaned back in the seat with his arm stretched out, but quickly retracted it.

Tsuyu let out a sound that was half croak, half chortle, and took the spot where an offended-looking Kirishima had just patted. "Better luck next time, ribbit," she snickered at him. Tokoyami continued to stare straight ahead, munching popcorn in his beak. Ojiro averted his eyes and whistled. Momo was watching with an amused expression.

"Let's start," Ojiro coughed. Most everyone here had been at either the snowball fight or had seen Yui ask Izuku on a run, so they were vaguely aware of what was going on. But it remained unacknowledged. For the boys in the room, the thought process didn't go much further than Kodai's probably just most comfortable sitting next to Midoriya. Though both Momo and Tsuyu knew what was really going on.

The movie began. Izuku tried to focus on the first minute, genuinely wanting to pay attention, but the girl next to him was pulling too much focus. Yui had not leaned all the way back, so her form was very much in the corner of Izuku's eye, a silhouette backlit by the glowing television. She was sitting up straight while he leaned back, her hands folded primly over her lap. Why doesn't she relax? Izuku swallowed, but his mouth was dry. Is my presence making her uncomfortable?

Idiot, she did choose consciously to sit down next to you. But maybe that was only because it was the best option. He became very conscious of how the way she sat made the curve of her butt somewhat visible to him, and how those curves were just barely brushing against the side of his leg.

Focus on the movie. Focus on the movie. Focus on the…

Meanwhile, with Yui:

I wonder if I stay leaned forward, will he take the hint? Will he put his arm back where it was? I want his arm around me. I want to snuggle and cuddle with him. Ahhh, this is bad, I can't focus on the film at all. I keep thinking about him behind me. Is he watching me? Maybe he's looking at my hips, or my butt? I'd like to think that I have plenty of both.

She shifted herself slightly, so she was pressing against him a little more. But she didn't lean back yet.

How else to make him aware? Aware that I really do like him? Ah, I should probably just take the initiative and lean back into him. But what if he doesn't respond well to that? Wait. Wait it out, and then feign being tired and lean back into the chair, almost as if you've forgotten he's there.

So, for thirty more minutes, the film continued. Thoughts about their surrounding had long fled the thoughts of the others as the story pulled them in, but it took a little longer with Izuku. Until finally, finally…he was able to focus, and remove the Yui-sized blockage in his brain.

That was, until she yawned, and finally leaned back into the seat, leaning slightly toward him. Her right side and his left side were touching almost all the way up. He could feel her breast against his arm.

Izuku locked right up, like he'd been turned to stone. Every muscle in his body went stiff. His heart was racing something fierce. Without even realizing it, he'd clenched bunches of his pants with his fists. Yui saw this and smirked to herself. Those hands look awfully unrelaxed, Midoriya. I wonder how you'd react if I took one and held onto it? Forever, even?

Whoa, that was a bit crazy. What was she thinking?

That he was really warm, and firm, and comforting to the touch. Even when he was all frozen like this.

Come on, Midoriya, relax. Just relax…

Another forty-five minutes or so of the film passed. The tension in the film started to escalate, pulling them more and more into it…and so, the tension outside of it started to melt away.

Izuku once again forgot Yui's presence, though unknowingly, it was comforting him. Her softness, her warmth. Slowly over the course of the film, they leaned into each other more and more. Her arms went around his arm, pressing her chest into it. Her breath tickled his neck. And then, as the film began to ramp up into the climax…

Yui's head fell into the bend of his shoulder and neck, and remained there. She'd fallen asleep.

Izuku froze again. This time, he looked up sharply away from the screen at the others. All of their eyes were glued to the TV, except for one person.

Tsuyu.

She stared at him out of the corner of her eye. It was often hard to tell when Tsuyu's expression changed, though not so difficult as it was with Yui…however, knowing her for fairly long, Izuku could tell when she was smirking.

And she was now.

His eyes narrowed, remembering their conversation at the cafeteria table. Tsuyu and the others think I have a crush on her! Well…maybe I do, but…it's not like we can ever date! It would just never happen to someone like me, so…why must the world play with me like this?

Surely Yui falling asleep on him was an accident. When she woke up, she'd be mortified, right? He'd better wake her up as quickly as possible, or else he'd look like a creep, right? But, he didn't want to interrupt the movie…and she also seemed so peaceful…

That makes two times a girl has fallen asleep on me this week. Oddly, I didn't care as much when Hagakure did it. I think…maybe I'm more anxious about how Kodai perceives me than I am about Hagakure? But still. Even if things turned out fine the first time, that doesn't mean Kodai will react the same way.

Yui was sinking deeper and deeper into him, radiating heat like an oven. He felt her soft breath tickle his neck again. He could even hear her humming out of her nose a little. It was…adorable.

He hadn't realized it before, but she was clinging to him quite desperately, as well. Her arms were wrapped all the way around his own arm, and he could feel her chest pressing against it. I should wake her up, right? I should…

Tsuyu Asui shook her head once. Izuku's eyes widened. The message was clear enough. Don't.

He looked back at Yui, confused. What could that mean? The two girls had shared an expression earlier that he hadn't understood…and everything else that had been happening.

Could Kodai possibly…like me in that way? The puzzle pieces were sort of coming together, his brain trying and trying to make that last leap in logic…

…But no. How would Tsuyu know? She was just giving him advice, that's all. Advice based on him wanting to be happy, not on any evidence she might actually have. Maybe she wants us to get together or something. But it would never happen.

…Right?

The film ended. Izuku had not really mustered up the courage to wake Yui, but as the room darkened with the black of the credits, he realized he had to make a decision now. Yui did not live in this building, and it was almost midnight. She would have to move soon.

Kirishima yawned. "Just as good as I remembered it being."

Tokoyami nodded. "I quite enjoyed that."

"I told you you would," Ojiro said.

Momo stood. "We'd best be getting to bed. And…oh." She looked pointedly at the sleeping Kodai. "Well. Someone ought to do something about that."

Ojiro whistled again. "Damn, Midoriya. She's stuck to you like glue."

Kirishima gave him a thumbs-up. "Nice."

Izuku was blushing furiously. "It just kinda…h-happened…"

Momo was inwardly fighting the urge to not coo with how adorable they were. "I'll help you get her back to her dorm," she offered. "Unless…you'd rather just go by yourself?" She smiled mischievously.

"Wha…" Izuku did not understand. Why are they all encouraging this so much? "I mean, I can't get in there without your card…"

Momo tossed it to him. "I'm awfully sleepy. Just leave it on the kitchen counter when you come back." She stretched and yawned, immediately turning to go up the stairs.

"Huh?" Izuku's eyes widened. "Hey, Yaoyorozu, wai-"

She was already gone.

Tokoyami was looking at his phone. "The temperature has dropped considerably. I do not think it is safe for Tsu or myself to go outside. Sorry, Midoriya."

"You're fastest among us anyway!" Kirishima added.

Izuku gently removed himself from Yui's grip, and immediately felt a sense of cold loss at no longer being touched by her. He shuddered, and bit his lip. She sank into the seat a bit more, still asleep.

"It'd be rude to wake her, ribbit," said Tsuyu. "You should just bridal carry her back to her dorm."

"I…c-can't do that!" he protested. "What if she wakes up, what if she…"

"Midoriya-chan."

Izuku broke from his stammering, surprised at Tsuyu's sharp tone. Her frog eyes were drilling right into him.

"Kodai does not mind. At all. Just trust me. Now, carry her back to her room so she can go to sleep properly. That's an order."

"Yes, ma'am," Izuku squeaked.

Ojiro chuckled. "Damn."

Izuku leaned down, and slowly, gingerly…picked Yui up in his arms. It wasn't difficult. Almost naturally, as if she'd done it inside her dream, her arms wrapped around his shoulders. She still breathed softly, fast asleep.

Kirishima was still grinning. "Hehe. Good luck, Midoriya."

Izuku shot them all a glare, and then turned to walk out into the night.

Immediately, a cold wind struck him. Tokoyami had been correct: the temperature had dropped a lot. Yui stirred and whined in her sleep, snuggling closer to his chest. He felt his heart ache with adoration for her. I hate this feeling. But I love it too. I want it to end, but I never want it to end. I feel just…sick.

Lovesick.

Izuku set his face determinedly and activated his Quirk, rushing them through the night toward the Class B dorm as fast as possible. With both hands occupied with Yui, he took Momo's key in his teeth and pressed it against the sensor, unlocking the door.

"Alright, Kodai," he murmured softly as he crept inside. "Let's get you to your room." Luckily, he knew the way, since he'd been up there once before.

"Mmmuhhh…" she muttered. Uh oh. Was she waking up?

He went upstairs, hearing noise come from one of the rooms on the far side of the hallway. He was glad that the Class B boys were still at it, and that none of them would see him doing this.

He arrived at Yui's door. It was ajar. He was surprised, but then remembered that she had immediately joined them for the movie without even going back upstairs. She was awfully unprepared; she didn't even bring her phone. She'd just…immediately agreed to join us. To join me. He swallowed again. He didn't want to get his hopes up about what that could mean.

Slowly, he set Yui down on her bed. It smelled nice in here. He looked at the bedside table, and saw his notebook there.

Yui turned over, and smacked her lips. He suddenly saw a glint of blue, and froze, knowing that she'd opened her eyes.

"Midoriya…" she breathed. Suddenly, she let out a sound that was almost a sob.

"Huh?" All of Izuku's nerves fled him, replaced with concern. He knelt down by the bed. "Kodai, is everything okay? You're not too cold, are you? I'm sorr-"

"Midoriya," she repeated. "I…" Her eyes opened all the way, and then her eyelids fell again. "I miss my mom." Her voice broke.

Goosebumps crawled up Izuku's arms. He'd never heard her mention her parents. "I'm…I'm sorry," he repeated, feeling really useless.

"Midoriya…my phone. It's on the table…downstairs."

"Oh." He blinked, and straightened up. "I'll go get it for you, Kodai."

He quickly ran back down, trying not to make any noise that would alert the boys, and brought her phone back up.

He set it down next to her slumped form. Her eyes had closed again.

"Put your…number into it…please…" she slurred.

Heat rushed up his cheeks. Hey, whoever's making this happen? Some tricky god who thinks this is funny? Can you stop playing with my emotions, thanks? "I don't know the passcode," he told her.

"It's…" She exhaled. He was worried she'd fallen all the way asleep again.

"I'll just write it down on a piece of paper," he said. "You can put it in when you wake up, alright Kodai?" He tore a bit out of his own notebook, still on the bedside table, and wrote down his number. He left the scrap there.

Then, he turned to go out the door. "I have to get back now. Sleep well, Kodai." He could hear the longing in his own voice, and cringed inwardly.

"Midoriya…" she purred, again. His heart skipped several beats. "St…"

A long sleepy breath overrode her word. Izuku's fist opened and closed. What was she going to say? Had she been asking him to stay?

No, he couldn't believe that. He couldn't.

"Good night, Kodai," he whispered, closing the door between them. His heart had never felt so full of…anything.