For some reason, I'm walking around the mall with Midoriya
And it is really strange.
Today is Setsuna's birthday, we've been dating for two weeks now. Though much like my first relationship, this one is still a secret. I don't think I'm ready to let others know that I'm dating Setsuna Tokage from Class B. I asked Midoriya to go with me to the mall to look for a perfect birthday gift for Setsuna. Harsh? Hell no, he brought Uraraka. He said it's the perfect chance to finally go out and not feel uncomfortable with each other. Despite being rather irritated by their radiating love for each other, I actually enjoy Uraraka's company when shopping. We ended up buying clothes for ourselves, but that didn't mean that I didn't get what I came here for.
I bought Setsuna a dinosaur plushy.
Though it sounds lazy, it's all I could honestly think of that she'd appreciate. Plus, I think it's cute. It's currently noon and Uraraka seems like she's really hungry. We decided to grab a bite at the food court. The same place where me and Midoriya...
"P-Please... don't hate me-"
"Is there anything else you'd like to get, Jiro?"
Uraraka asked me while looking at the menu, I looked around to see Midoriya in line to give our orders.
"Jiro, I have a question."
"What is it, Uraraka?"
"How long were you and Deku?"
My eyes widen in shock after hearing that.
"What?"
"How long were you two dating?"
"What are you talking about Uraraka?"
"You of all people know Deku is a terrible liar, Jiro. I asked him if he felt uncomfortable hanging out with you, he said it's because you two weren't on good terms with each other because he lost your guitar pick. All I had to do is ask someone else from the floor. Someone who cares about you too much."
Someone who cares about me too much? Who? I never thought I'd ever say this, but Uraraka is actually really scary. Plus she can easily kick my ass if we spar, there's that too.
"We... We weren't dating."
"Huh?"
"Izuku probably knows it too. It's just a brief relationship between him and I. He wanted to end it almost immediately because he felt like he doesn't deserve me. I... I asked him to stay with me... and he did. I just couldn't let him go."
Uraraka looks really serious as she listens to me, my fear of her greatly lessens the more I talk to her.
"When you said you'd confess to him, I knew that I just have to do it... You two deserve each other, Uraraka. All this time, he was afraid that he wasn't enough for me... But in truth, I'm not enough for him."
"Jiro..."
"Besides, it all turned out good for everyone in the end. You guys happily dating, and I'm really happy with Setsuna."
"I'm... sorry for doubting you, Jiro."
"Don't worry, love is something you shouldn't doubt. You're only doing what you think is right."
"Though I did learn something new today."
"What?"
"That you are dating Tokage."
Shit. I kinda slipped on that one...
"T-That's-"
"Relax! I wouldn't tell a soul!"
"There's three of you now..."
"Who were the others?"
"You, Kendo, and Midoriya."
Kendo found out when she was looking for Setsuna's hand during lunch... and that time she found Setsuna's torso in my room. Why the hand? She wants to hold mine in secret, says it's exciting. Why just the torso? I honestly don't know. Midoriya found out when Setsuna was not so secretly flirting with me during breaks.
"Not even Momo knew?"
"She's the only person I told my previous relationship to, I don't want her to think I'm the type of person to just jump around relationships from one person to another."
"She won't think that, Jiro, she's your best friend. She'll understand if you explain it to her."
"Sorry it took a while, there was an old lady in line and I have to let her finish first."
Midoriya arrives with a tray carrying our food, apologizing as he lowers it.
"No, don't be. If anything, I should apologize for being the third wheel."
"Hey, if it weren't for you Jiro, we wouldn't even be a thing." Uraraka said while smiling, I guess it is true...
After a while, we went back to the dorms together. Dropping off the couple in front of our dorm, thanking them and waving off. I made my way to Class B's dorm quite hesitantly. I kinda forgot some of them hates us, especially a certain blond. I reach the door and try to text my girlfriend before entering but was interrupted when the door was opened by someone I really don't want to see today. Damn Mo-
"HUH?! WHAT IS THIS?! A STUDENT FROM CLASS A IN OUR DORM?! WHAT?! IS YOUR DORM TOO DISAPPOINTING TO STAY IN?! IS IT THAT BAD THAT EVEN YOU WOULD WA-!"
Monoma was cut off by a pair of huge hands, grabbing his entire body and covering his mouth in the process. Thank you, Kendo.
"Hi Jiro! If you're looking for the birthday girl, she's in the common room. Come in."
I smiled at that welcoming response from Kendo, hopefully everyone else is as nice as she is. Though I do feel daggers pointed at me as I enter their common room, I try to look for the birthday girl only to find... literallt her head on a platter on the table.
"Hi Kyoka!"
"Happy Birthday, Setsuna."
I hug the... head of my girlfriend, and lifted her up on my arms to carry her like an infant.
"Is there any way I can speak to you... wholly?"
She snickers at that, sticking out her tongue jokingly.
"In my room, just carry me there."
I carried her to her room, putting her down for a moment to open the door. As I opened the door, I try to find the light switch. After turning on the light, I immediately turned it back off. Why? Well I was greeted by Setsuna's body laying... provocatively on her bed with just the disheveled sheets to cover most of her body. I heard her laugh at my reaction. Geez, woman, you're lucky Mineta isn't in your class!
"How did you get downstairs just as a head?"
"I asked Kendo to help me. She had the same reaction after seeing me on the bed."
I sighed at her response, lifting her up once more to place her head back to where it belongs.
"Here's your gift."
"Geez, Kyoka, having you here is enough as a gift."
"Heh"
I gotta admit, that made my heart skip a beat. I heard it. I handed her the shopping bag and she hurriedly grabbed it, peeking on what's inside.
"Is it by any chance a dinosaur plushy?"
"E-Eh?"
"It's my... fifth tonight."
"Sorry..."
That was embarrassing... I guess it really was a lazy gift idea. She gestured for me to sit beside her on her bed, I obliged.
"Hey, Kyoka. Thank you."
"But it's your fifth one"
"Yeah, but they're not really from the woman I love now are they?"
"I had to spend a day with Izuku and Uraraka for that gift."
"And I gladly appreciate that you'll go that far."
I feel really terrible that I got her that gift...
"Setsuna... I... I don't know if I'm doing enough to be your girlfriend... I feel as if I'm inadequate."
"Hey, Jack, it's fine. It's okay if it's like my fifth dinosaur; the more, the merrier. Now I can make them fight like actual dinosaurs! You're not inadequate, you're just not used to this yet. Trust me, I will keep being with you for as long as you would want me to."
Huh?
"Why do I get the feeling I've heard of that somewhere before?"
"Because it's true, Kyoka. Being in a relationship doesn't have to be equal in terms of being adequate for one another. It's only equal by how much you'd love one another."
She holds my hand, grasping it... holding it tightly.
"But what if I can't love you as much as you love me?"
"Then don't. You say that you would do what you think is right, correct? At the moment, what do you think is right for you?"
"I want you to be happy... I want to love you too."
"Right now... What do you feel?"
"I..."
She looks me in the eyes, preparing for an answer that might disappoint her.
What do I truly feel?
"I'm sorry! But I don't know how to put what I feel into words, I can't understand it myself. I don't know how I love you, but I don't doubt it either."
Even if I wouldn't feel the same way?
"Of course. I love you because I feel like it, not because I want you to feel the same..."
Even if it's not enough?
"All this time, he was afraid that he wasn't enough for me... But in truth, I'm not enough for him."
"Please... Please don't leave me..."
Stay with me, because I'll stay with you.
I loved him...
"I love Izuku Midoriya..."
Setsuna sighs at my answer, smiling ever so beautifully...
So that's how it was...
"I know I can't love you as much as you love me... but let me stay with you to keep loving you, Setsuna."
"Is that how you truly feel?"
I know it's what I want, it's how I truly feel.
"I love you, Setsuna Tokage."
"I love you more, Kyoka Jiro."
"Geez, I was having a moment!"
"It's just to say that we both love each other, maybe not equally, but we still do."
She said that in all seriousness, yet still lovingly. Setsuna smiles as she looks at the plushy she was currently holding, that smile that made me fall in love with her..
"Happy birthday, Setsuna."
Even if it's not enough, I won't stop loving you.