9

Fragrance of the cold

The final school bell rang and the students were beginning to leave the school. Izuku and Momo stood from their desks, getting their things. He turned his head back in her direction. She noticed his eyes and met them, her lips raised ever so slightly into a light-hearted grin as her cheeks gained a tint of pink. He cleared his throat, trying not to show his nervousness as they started to walk out of the classroom together.

They walked side by side through the hallways, their friends were passing them by in a blur as they were only focused on each other. The gentle tapping on the windows accompanied their slow pace out the building.

"Um, even though it's been raining all day, it doesn't look like it's been heavy." He tried to continue the conversation they were having in the morning. "I like how the smell has lingered throughout."

Momo nodded with a small prep in her step, "I agree, although the raincloud looks like it stretches all the way across the sky," She glanced out the window admiring the weather.

He followed her eyes, "Yeah... but it looks kind of delicate."

She turned away from the window to her other side, staring at him as she tilted her head, her eyebrows knitted together looking like a curious kitten. Her words came out more as a wondering sigh than an actual voice. "What do you mean?"

Izuku shifted his gaze to Momo, looking a bit perplexed as well before his eyes widened and he did his best to explain his meaning while scratching his cheek, trying to get rid of a growing blush. "Oh, um, you know, I don't know but it looks like some parts are lighter than the others and that the sunlight could breakthrough at any moment."

"Oh, really?" She turned back to the window, glancing up at the sky. "I didn't notice... I wonder if we'll be able to see the light pierce the could as it rains,"

"Huh? I, I don't think I've ever actually seen that." He placed his hand to his chin as he thought about it, "Well, aside from movies, and anime, or stuff like that." He raised his eyes upward as his thoughts rambled on, "I wonder how it will look like in real life, the rain and sunlight are perfect contrast to each other and are usually used in stories after a long difficult thunderstorm," He would have kept going until he heard a gentle giggle coming from besides him. He glanced over to her.

She was covering her mouth with a hand as she apologized. "Sorry, but it's fascinating how once you find interest, you can seemingly over-analyze anything regardless of the subject."

"O-Oh I do tend to do that, huh. Sorry,"

She giggled a bit more before waving him off. "Nonsense, I'm quite jealous, a skill like that would suit my quirk."

"Th-Thanks..." He didn't know why but Momo's complement gave him a bashful feeling.

They had reached the entrance lobby of the school, he and Momo went to their lockers to get their things and change out of their school shoes. "Huh, where's my umbrella? I thought I left it here." Instead, he found a note, reading it.

'Izuku, we needed an umbrella, - Mina.'

"Is all that it says... She could have at least apologized for the inconvenience."

He sighed as he walked to Momo who was waiting for him at the entrance, ready to leave the school.

"Ah, I guess Mina and the others didn't bring an umbrella and ended up taking mine," He ruffled the back of his hair, carrying an apology in his actions.

"Is that so? Well no matter, I wouldn't want any of them to get. I'll just make one for us." She didn't want to rip apart her uniform so she unbuttoned her blouse around her stomach as she activated her quirk, causing a light of creation to emerge out of her exposed tummy.

He blushed and quickly averted his gaze'

"W-Well then shall we be going?" She asked as she shyly handed him the umbrella.

He reached, hesitated, then reached for it again, grabbing the handle. "Yeah, Momo."

They were walking out of the school. He was holding the umbrella up for both of them as they walked under it. His nose crinkled like a bunny when he was hit by the strong scent of the rain.

Momo took in a deep inhale, raising her shoulders and lowering them as she exhaled. Her breath came out condensed from the cold. She had a calm half-lidded stare as she stared off, simply enjoying the moment. "... Petrichor."

"Huh?" He raised an eyebrow, confused at what she just said.

"It's the scent of the rain hitting the earth, that what it's called, petrichor."

"Oh, I never knew there was a name for it," He turned his eyes away from her, glancing up past the edge of the umbrella, to the sky inhaling the fragrance, taking his time to enjoy it, before he glanced back at Momo, who had been staring at him and his actions. He didn't know why but he felt embarrassed by her intense eyes and puffed-up cheeks. He stared straight ahead, not trying to look uncomfortable. "Uh, is something wrong?"

She shook her head. "I was just wondering what it would be like if you did your over-analyzing on me." Momo was asking the question in the context of Izuku talking about her quirk, and possible strengths, and weaknesses.

But Izuku, he took the question as examining her personality and appearance. He assumed Momo was indirectly asking what he thought about and his feelings towards her. 'I mean we did take a huge step yesterday and neither of us has mentioned it... I mean I was the one who took the initiative and kissed her. Maybe she's expecting me to also be the one who takes the lead when it comes to a r-relationship.'

Momo didn't notice Izuku going into a mental panicked spew as he tried to sort out his feelings and build his confidence, and because of it, she assumed he was quiet because he was taking his time to answer the question as best he could. Momo could have looked over to see that he was clearly dealing with something else but her nerves had grown ever since she asked her question, with her eyes remaining focused on the steps she took, and the longer his silence went on the more intimidated she became.

Both Izuku and Momo were over-analyzing messes because of the other, although neither was aware of the other's internal dilemma or that they were the cause of it.

And they didn't know if it was either fortunate or unfortunate that they had the rest of their walk home to figure it out.