Ochaco trotted down the stairs, excitement racing through her veins. She could already hear the commotion of cooking in the kitchen and games on the television as she rounded the corner.
"'Chaco!" she heard a few exclaim, among them Mina. Her gold eyes lit up as she approached the brunette.
"Happy New Year!" Mina cheered, grabbing Ochaco's hands.
"Mina, it isn't the new year yet. Still got a few hours t'go!" Ochaco laughed.
"Yeah, yeah. Come help in the kitchen! We could use your cooking prowess!" Mina tugged at her hands, and Ochaco followed along happily. She felt warm inside, watching some of the guys playfully fight over the video game results and smelling the scents wafting from the stove and oven. Most of the students had gone home for Christmas, and a few had come back to campus for the New Year. Ochaco had returned because train tickets were cheaper in-between the holidays, and while she wasn't sure of the others' reasons, she was grateful for the company.
"Ochaco, grab that onion right there and get a'chopping!" Tooru directed with a wooden spoon, wearing a cute "Kiss the Cook!" apron. Rikido was checking on something in the oven, and Mina had decided that she would be the "ultimate test taster."
"Yes'm!" Ochaco quickly got to work, carefully slicing the onion the way her parents had shown her a few years back. She genuinely liked cooking, the methodology of it soothing, the scents (and small tastes!) delicious. Her favorite part was when her loved ones ate what she made - such a satisfying feeling to see their smiles and empty plates.
Her thoughts drifted as she started dicing. She was about to start her final term in her final year at UA High. Only a few more months of living with her friends, growing side by side. Only a few more months of this... warmth. Then she would be frighteningly on her own. She swiped at tears that she wasn't sure were from her thoughts or the onion in her hands.
Well, not exactly, she reasoned. She'd have an agency, whatever agency she wound up working for (whichever agency actually wanted her... she dismissed the negative thought rapidly), and she would always have her parents' support. Hopefully, the ties of friendship she had created and forged at UA would last out of school, too. She desperately loved her little "hero family", even Bakugo to an extent. She stifled a laugh and rubbed at her watering eyes and slightly dripping nose with the back of her hand, careful not to inhale the onion juices on her fingers.
She threw the pieces of onion in the sizzling pan on the stove and rinsed her fingers under the icy tap water. Drying them on her jeans, she wandered over to the doorway, her eyes landing on the boys in front of the television. From what she could tell, Deku was talking about some quirk-related topic to Sero, whose attention was barely there. Shoji and Maishiro were ignoring them, focused on the video game. The green-haired boy's eyes were bright and his cheeks flushed as his hands moved around with barely-suppressed enthusiasm. Ochaco felt her lips twitch upwards, and she hugged her arms around herself as she watched him babble, wishing she were there instead of Sero.
She'd smile, and maybe even give him a playful shove or touch on the arm, depending on the conversation. He'd focus those gorgeous, expressive green eyes on her, and she'd feel her knees weaken just a little.
"Ochacoooo, we need you!"
At Mina's cry, she startled, then turned around with a sheepish look on her face. "Sorry! Comin'!"
It was a while later before the food was steaming on the table, and everyone gathered around to grab plates.
"We decided to try to make some American snacks for you! We do have some traditional Japanese food, too, though," Rikido stated proudly, gesturing over the smorgasbord.
After the students grabbed their helping of food, they settled on the sofas surrounding the television and turned on the show, Kohaku. Ochaco found herself patting the seat next to her for Deku, and he sat down with a grateful smile. Her elbow kept brushing his arm as she picked at her plate, and she tried not to think of how heat was just radiating off him.
"I'm surprised you don't have any mochi on your plate," Deku chuckled, glancing at Ochaco.
Ochaco blushed and revealed a second plate to the side of her. It was piled high with strawberry and chocolate mochi. Deku let out a hearty laugh, and Ochaco joined him, embarrassment still on her cheeks.
"I can't help it," she giggled, "mochi is my weakness!"
"Oh noooo, can't let a villain find out about that," Deku teased, his eyes twinkling.
"I can't ever imagine mochi being used for a dastardly deed!" Ochaco mocked a surprised look on her face.
"You'd be surprised!" Deku laughed out. The two collapsed in giggles, their shoulders brushing with each heaving breath, and Ochaco found herself just staring and smiling at the boy next to her, even as her chest felt tight from some unknown emotion.
"...W-what? Do I have something on my face?" Deku brushed at his freckled cheeks, his eyes going crossed as he tried to look at himself.
"No, I'm just... really grateful you are in my life, Deku." Her grin got wider as he flushed. There it was, that pang again, except in her stomach
"Oh, well, I, erm..." he stammered, fiddling with the sleeves of his t-shirt.
"You don't have to say it back or anythin'. I just wanted to make sure you knew," she said gently, touching his elbow with all but one of her fingers.
She turned to reach for her mochi, deciding something sweet would get her mind off of how sweet the boy next to her looked, when she felt a hand on her arm. She swiveled back around to look at Deku, whose smile was a nervous squiggle across his red face.
"I do want to say it back, though. You know you're my best friend, right? I don't know what I'd do without you, Uraraka," Deku stated quietly, his eyes earnestly holding hers. She felt something fragile within her break, and she turned away as tears filled her eyes and she gasped for air.
"I-I'll be right back!" she shouted as she stood up quickly, her food flying everywhere. She felt curious eyes on her. She didn't have time to mourn for the lost mochi, though, as she sped out the room towards the stairwell. Once behind the heavy door, she let loose a sob, looking around quickly before crawling underneath the stairwell. She shuddered at the dead cockroaches and beetles keeping her company as tears dribbled down her face. She swiped at them angrily, trying to figure out where this well of emotions was coming from as she scooted against the brick wall.
Suddenly, she heard the door to the stairwell creak open, and she froze, trying to quiet her sniffles. She saw bright red high-tops come into her field of vision, and Deku popped his head down to look under the stairs and meet her startled, teary gaze. His face was neutral, but Ochaco could tell his brain was working hard from the way he bit his lip.
"Mind if I sit down?"
Ochaco shook her head, and Deku crawled to her side. "It's a little dusty under here, huh?" Deku asked, referring to the dust bunnies beside the dead bugs. Ochaco smiled slightly at his attempt at conversation.
"How'd ya' find me down here?"
Deku smiled sadly. "I guess I know you too well. You like small spaces when you feel overwhelmed."
She tried to hide her shock by burying her face in her hands. Deku placed a hand on her shoulder.
"What's up, Uraraka? Did I... say something that upset you?"
Ochaco shrugged, her face still hidden. Deku waited patiently. That tight feeling in her chest from earlier felt like it was twisting her lungs.
"I just... I can't help but think this is the last time we will all be doin' somethin' like this together."
She wiped at her face as more tears came streaming down, and she could feel Deku's eyes on her, but he was still waiting for her to speak. So she did.
"Everything is gonna change in the next few months, and I'm... scared. Not that I won't be a hero or taken by an agency, although I worry about that sometimes, too. I just... Being a hero seems like it is a lonely job. I don't want to lose any of you."
He was still looking at her with an unreadable expression on her face, and that just added to her anxiety.
"... Especially you, Deku." She dipped her head to rest on her folded up knees. "When I heard you say that I'm your best friend, it just reminded me that... it won't be this way forever. I'm so scared you'll leave me behind. That you'll forget all about me. And I don't wanna be selfish and hold you back, but... I'm going to miss you so much." Tears flowed freely from her closed eyes now, and she heard Deku shuffle around before placing his hands on both of her shoulders, almost bracing her. She looked up, sniffling as tears continued to track down her rosy cheeks.
"Ochaco. I could never... You're so important to me." Deku had a serious look on his face, and she shuddered at having all his intensity focused on her. His hands gripped her tightly, and she could feel the slight shake of them moving her gently.
Suddenly, Deku shook his head, laughing quietly. Ochaco stared at him, wide-eyed, her face wet.
"You don't know, do you? Of course you don't, I tried my best to hide it, and I like to think I'm good at-"
"Know what, Deku?" she asked, interrupting his rambling. Normally, she could listen to him talk for hours, but her lungs were still tight, and she didn't know what to do. He looked into her eyes and gently squeezed her shoulders.
"You don't know how..." Deku seemed to be searching for the right word, and his green eyes flicked to the stairs above them.
"...how enraptured I am by you! You are so amazing and strong and, and crazy good at hero work. You're just... so cool! And I get to be your friend? I find myself wondering over and over how I could get so lucky to have you in my life, and I can never come up with a good answer."
His eyes caught hers again, and she found herself trembling.
"I couldn't possibly ever forget you and the impact you've had on me. You make me a better person - a better hero." He smiled at her, all earnestness and sweetness, and she felt something in her chest release. She gasped for air as tears ran down her face even harder, and she threw herself into his arms. He stumbled back for a moment, her movement throwing him onto his butt, but then he shifted around and wrapped his arms around her. She sobbed into his t-shirt, this time out of palpable relief. She hadn't known she needed the reassurance, but she was really glad he gave it.
A few moments passed, where she just cried and he held her, rocking slightly and petting her hair intermittently. She finally sat back on her knees, wiping at her face and flushed with embarrassment.
"Sorry about that, Deku, heh."
"It's no problem, Uraraka," Deku smiled, reaching out in a rare gesture to pat her knee comfortingly. "We should probably get back to the others, though. They'll be wondering where we are."
Suddenly, the two could hear cheers from the other room, and a countdown began.
"FIVE!"
Deku and Ochaco looked at each other with wide eyes, his hand still on her knee.
"FOUR!"
His irises were very dark green, and they threatened to swallow Ochaco whole.
"THREE!"
She blinked slowly, staring at the boy in front of her. His fingers seemed to burn through her jeans.
"TWO!"
She saw him glance down at her lips, and she wanted.
"ONE!"
The last glimpse she saw was him moving forward before she closed her eyes in anticipation.
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!"
His lips touched hers gently, and she almost sighed as she leaned into the kiss. It was her turn to grab his shoulders now, and his hands slid to her waist. They wobbled slightly as they gave each other soft pecks. She pulled back, and Deku looked a little starstruck, very red, and like steam might blow out his ears any second. Feeling dazed herself, she chuckled lightly before leaning her head on his shoulder.
"Happy New Year, Deku."
His head fell to her shoulder with a light thump. He giggled with her. They listened quietly to the popping of fireworks from outside.
"...Happy New Year, Uraraka."