4

Glass steps

Izuku and Momo both had distinct dreams as they slept over a shared phone call, both hearing the music box on her nightstand.

Momo Yaoyorozu dreamt She was attending a royal ball hosted by her father, the king, and that out of all the suitors that had arrived, it was the knight with green hair, who's hand she clasped and let guide her to the center of the ballroom. All those in attendance had cleared the area just for the two, looking on with wonder and joy. Momo, the princess was dancing with her knight, Izuku, and it brought peace to the kingdom, as they lived happily ever after. It caused Momo in real life to sigh affectionately in her sleep, hugging her pillow closer, thinking it was him.

Izuku Midoriya's dream started where his daydream left off, he was attending her ballet recital. He was sitting in the front row, excited to see her perform on stage. He assumed the other girls in his class were on stage with her but he couldn't focus on anyone else. It was as if the spotlight was on her or more like the stage blended with the background to match her steps. He was captivated by her graceful figure fluttering and twirling around, elegantly dancing with all her passion. It wasn't until she slowed to a stop, finally tired and out of breath that she sat down on the floor with her arms hugged around one knee. She was looking away, off the stage with a sorrowful expression of loneliness he couldn't understand.

And as he looked around, he realized the only ones there, were him and Momo. An audience member and a ballerina in an empty performance that echoed throughout the musical halls.

His eyelids wrinkled a bit before breaking open with a blurry sight. He groaned as he rolled over on his bed, staring out the window. He saw a blanket of gray clouding the city's sky. He yawned as he sat up, rubbing his eyes clear. He winced trying to recall his dream, although not able to. He sighed as he glanced back out the window at the empty abyss in the sky.

Both Momo and Izuku put their phones to charge as they went to get ready for school. They took their usual routes, he took the train and she was escorted. Although, both of them kept their view towards the sky, thinking of the dreams they had. Momo thought of her Knight and Izuku tried to remember the ballerina.

Classes were pretty tame with nothing of note. They did greet each other though, although neither of them mentioned the fact that they both fell asleep on the phone. Izuku pretended he didn't hear her moaning sleepy voice when he was fading in and out, and Momo didn't mention that she had woke up early, at three in the morning, to his soothing snores, even laying there for a few more minutes, content with listening to it.

It was lunch, they were sitting with their friends. Izuku, Todoroki, Iida, and Tokoyami were on one side. Momo, Jiro, Uraraka, and Mina were on the other. All of them were eating and talking like usual.

"Again, I'm sorry I couldn't make it Todoroki, I will make it up to you." Iida announced.

"Don't worry about it, it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Midoriya and Yaoyorozu seemed to enjoy themselves."

That statement caused all of them to stop what they were doing and look at Todoroki as he casually slurped his soba. Momo and Izuku stiffened, not believing how easy Todoroki put that out there.

"Er, y-yeah, I ran into Yaoyorozu, she looked kinda lonely and you know," Izuku mumbled as he scratched one of his growing pink cheeks, "So was I." Mumbling how Endeavor took Shoto and left Midoriya by himself.

"Y-Yes, it was quite a pleasant surprise." Momo conveniently had a napkin up to clean her mouth, covering the lower half of her blushing face. "I wasn't aware how fun a waltz could be."

"Ah, I want to go to fancy dances, why didn't you invite me, Yaomomo?!" Mina complained, taking the attention away from the two.

"O-Oh, of course you can come, Ashido. I'm sorry I assumed none of you would be interested. All of you are invited to the next ball my father throws." She fixed her loose strand of hair, tucking it behind her ear, stealing a glance at him. He caught her eyes before gulping and subtly nodding as if saying he would go as well.

"You better dance with me too, Izuku!" She pointed at him before crossing her arms.

"A-Ah sure Mina, anything you want." Ruffling the back of his hair with a sweatdrop.

Uraraka interjected. "Hey, we can all take turns dancing with Deku!" Obviously joking but Momo accidentally let out an audible gasp but he was the only one able to hear it in between the conversations. Their eyes locked, he attempted a small reassuring smile, although he didn't know why he did or if she understood it, but they both looked away, returning to the group conversation.

For the rest of lunch, they talked about having a fun time together at the next ball.

After, class didn't hold much weight, similar to the morning, except Izuku did resolve himself to accomplish a task as he stared out the window.

Classes were over and the students were leaving. Momo had walked down the school steps, she was holding her school bag with both hands, properly. Izuku walked next to her, holding his bag slung over his shoulder.

"U-Uh, hey." Izuku mentally facepalmed. 'That's all I could come up with!?'

'Hello, Izuku." She raised and lowered her shoulders in one of her beloved sighs.

He forced himself to make conversation. "So, going to another ball with everyone sounds fun."

"Yes, it does, doesn't it. I'm sure Ashido and Uraraka will keep you occupied." She inwardly cringed because it sounded bitter instead of like the playful tease she wanted.

He didn't seem to notice her tone of voice. "Hehe, a-actually, I was hoping it would be more like last time." He tried to cover his cracking voice to no avail.

"Like last time..?" She pondered it, until it dawned on her that he meant he would rather just dance with her throughout the night. Her cheeks heated up. "Oh... Really? I-, I share the sentiment." She glanced down as they walked, hiding a small bashful smile. They reached the front gates, where they had to break apart, taking different paths. Momo was about to say goodbye as they both stood there waiting for something.

The gray clouds adorned in the sky had brought with them the alluringly quiet wind that was gracefully twirling around the two, causing her ponytail to flow elegantly and his hair to swirl like a forest. He clenched his fists and squeezed his eyes shut, forcing himself to say it, instead of goodbye.

"Y-Yaoyorozu! Can I walk you home?!"

After saying what he wanted, he dared to open his eyes. His lips parted at the sight. She had an illuminated blush tinted across her pale cheeks, resonating with the gray sky. Her loose strand of hair fluttered along to the wind. She had a faint giggle from his earnest request. Her kitten-like orbs were fragile glass reflecting the clouds and her small bashful smile had turned into a beautiful toothy grin as she answered his question with that endearing tilt of her head.

"Of course..!"