(Early Authors Note: WOAH! So many people are actually liking this! Thank you, thank you all ever so much for taking the time out of your days to read this! With chapter 2 now out, I really hope you all continue to enjoy this humble tale. Now, enjoy...)
Ah, February. The last month of snow and the winter season.
Since Reiko's birthday party everyone has had much of their own designs to do, so Izuku usually just walks alone around the parks and other places. Peace and quiet is just something nice to have, especially on a calm snowy day like this. Besides, being the next user of a quirk such as One for All can really test a person. So, what better than walking around an empty park to just stop and think?
"Oh, Midoriya. I didn't think you'd be here."
Unless your thinking is interrupted. Sure enough, it was Reiko who stopped to talk to him. "Y-yanagi?! What are you doing out today?" Izuku said (more than a little startled at the sudden speech).
Reiko just looked at him curiously before saying "Well… it's actually dark now, Midoriya. Did you really not notice? If there's something you need all your time to think about then I'll leave…" However, Izuku felt that something seemed to be bothering Reiko too, so he said "Wait, Yanagi! Is… is there something you need? I know we haven't ever really talked much, except at your birthday, but is it because of your quirk? You can tell me, you know?"
Reiko said nothing. She just looked up to the falling snow. Izuku was about to ask again, but Reiko then said "I've always enjoyed snow days, even the really bad ones. The snowmen and snow forts that can be built… the snowball fights to occasionally win or lose… it's all stuff that I wanted to do. But I never did. Everywhere I looked, I saw people working on these things together. Not one single person, but two or more. I tried to fit in, but no one really seemed to want me. "Don't worry, we got this" they would say. And the people who do let me help soon turn me away when my quirk acts up. With groups of people always coming together in the snow, I've taken to calling a day like this 'soul day'. And… s-since you were out here alone… I-i thought that maybe… we could build a snowman together?"
Izuku knew the same pain that Reiko felt. Funnily enough, he was isolated and left out of things because he didn't have a quirk, yet here is Reiko Yanagi who was isolated and left out of things because she did have one. What a world we live in…
That aside, Izuku said "Of course! Since your quirk can make things levitate, it could make building snow forts and other things so much easier! Those people really missed out, if you ask me!"
Reiko was taken aback by Izuku's kind and optimistic words, and soon started to smile some. "Really? Well, then… let's go have fun!" she said as she ran to start building the snowman. Izuku soon joined in and with Reiko's quirk of making much of the snow levitate, they made 12 snowmen in under 8 minutes. Afterwards, they gave each other half and soon built snow forts (which escalated into a full-on snowball battle). "Take this!" Izuku yelled as he threw a volley of snowballs at Reiko's fort, knocking down a section of wall. As the snow settled and Izuku strode forward, he suddenly noticed a huge group of snowballs (300, to be precise) speeding straight towards him! He had no time to duck or dodge, and was soon pelted into the ground from them. A slight giggling could be heard, and soon (through his one eye that wasn't covered with snow) Izuku saw a laughing Reiko.
"Hahahaha! Looks like I won, Midoriya! You put up a good fight, so instead of dubbing you house-cleaner, you'll just be my… coping pillow."
With that, Reiko brushed off all the snow on Izuku and proceeded to hug him tightly. "So warm… s-so, so happy…" she said. Now, Izuku had never once in his life (before and after he got OFA) thought a girl would hold him like this. So naturally, he's nearly gone and broke down. But a quick shake from Reiko pulled him back into reality and he said "P-p-p-pillow?! What?! B-but what if other people see? Is this something p-permanent!? I-i-i-i-"
Reiko simply put a finger to his lips and shushed him before laying her head on his chest and saying "Please, Midoriya. I… I haven't had anyone to hold on to like this for so long. No one was really there for me, except you. I've felt… felt so, so cold and alone, like the ghost I am. B-but, when you're around… I have someone. Someone to talk to… someone to play with… someone t-to… to…" she then started to silently cry and started to shake and sway slightly. Like a lonely autumn leaf on a dead tree.
As the two dropped to their knees, Izuku held on to Reiko and said "It's alright. Please don't cry, Reiko. I've gone through the same problems as you when I was in middle school. No one ever cared for me… respected me… they just saw me as a joke. I've carried that pain for a while now, and I had hoped being at UA would help me drop it." He then looked down at Reiko, who looked back at him with teary blue eyes. After holding on to Reiko a little tighter, Izuku then said "It turns out I just needed to meet you to actually start. So, if you ever need someone to hold on to, Reiko… I'll be there to help. After all, that's what a hero does, right?"
Suddenly, Reiko's heart skipped a beat as she blushed a bright red. Never once in her life did she think she'd feel the feelings she is right now. But because of dear old Izuku Midoriya, Reiko might actually be feeling something on the precipice of love.
"R-really?" she said, trying to stop the tears.
Izuku nodded and said "Of course. We may not be in the same class, but if you ever need… er… y-your 'cuddle buddy'-"
"Coping pillow."
"Ah, right. S-sorry. I meant to say 'coping pillow'. If you ever need me for t-that, just look for me here."
As he said this he handed Reiko a slip of paper. It was a surprisingly detailed map depicting the quickest route from UA to his own house. Even as this heartfelt moment was happening, Izuku also started to tear up a bit. "Oh, s-sorry. I just get a little… emotional sometimes, you know?" he said as Reiko laughed a little before saying "I know. Believe it or not, you yourself have developed something of a small reputation at UA. You're really strong… but also sometimes a crybaby."
She then paused before getting up and saying "But I rather like that."
Izuku was more than a little red in the face as Reiko said that, but got even more so when she got up really close to him and whispered "I'll be sure to visit plenty and often~"
"Wh-wh-wh-but-I-i-i-i-" Izuku couldn't even form words at this point.
Reiko smiled and hugged him one more time before turning and saying "Thanks again, Midoriya. I'm really glad I got to spend a soul day with someone. And I'm even more glad it was with you." Then she left the park, leaving Izuku alone with his thoughts once again. This time, of course, he's thinking about much different things than before.
"I never thought Reiko would be holding that much pain…" he thought.
"But, could that be why she puts on such an emotionless face? To cover up her feelings? Yanagi… why didn't you tell us? But she did tell me… she trusted me enough to open up to me."
Before Reiko was out of earshot, Izuku called out to her "Y-yanagi, wait!"
She turned back and waited to hear what Izuku would say.
The 9th user of OFA then clenched his fist and said "You told me about the hurt you've carried for most of your life… I can't sit back and just leave it at that! I meant what I said when I told you that you could visit any time. I've been trying to cope with my past… and my own pain. So I promise… I promise I'll help you cope with yours!"
Reiko just smiled, a single tear rolling down her face, and walked away.
Izuku meanwhile, watched her a little longer before turning away and heading home. He had a promise to keep, and heroes always keep their promises.
Later that night...
As Reiko layed down for bed, she couldn't help but shed more tears at the thought of Izuku Midoriya promising to heal her heart.
"Midoriya… you didn't have to say that. But I'm so happy that you did. I finally have someone… someone I can really connect to.
(Ending Authors Note: Well, I hope this chapter appeases your expectations! I really do like writing this story, and I myself am more and more believing this ship could've been a thing. Oh well, that's what this story is here for! Thank you all so much again for taking a look at it, and please don't forget to review (I could always use some advice our pointers), follow and favorite, and most of all share with others so they can read it too! Have a good day (or night) and be sure to look forward to chapter 3, coming soon!)