12

Petrichor

Momo was guiding them through a path in the dense forest area.

The storm was still pouring with no end in sight, but there wasn't a need for an umbrella. It was seemingly dry under the many trees laid out for them as they walked along, with only a few gentle droplets slipping through the branches. It was serene as they walked through the scenery under the gray abyss surrounding the city, hearing thunderstorms off in the distance, and a few flashes of light piercing through the forest.

"Woah, I don't know why but it feels like we entered a fairy tale forest." Izuku mentioned as he followed behind her, placing his hand on a tree trunk for a little bit of support as they went up a dry slope.

"Doesn't it? I remember running around here when I was younger." She let out a giggle, "I feel bad about it now but my driver, who is usually in charge of my well-being, would be in a panic and search for me in worry." Momo spoke as they reached the top of the slope, heading into a clearing. Momo stopped just before it, turning around to Izuku, "It's just up ahead."

"What is?"

Momo was about to answer but just before she did, from a branch right above her, a droplet fell and splashed on the tip of her nose. It caused her to crinkle like an adorable cat before she let out a small fluffy sneeze, she let out a soft giggle at the incident as she rubbed her nose.

Izuku was caught off guard by how Momo could shift from elegantly beautiful as in the moment before they entered the forest as opposed to being adorably as cute as a Disney princess like she was being right now.

"You'll see, but we won't be able to escape the rain once we step into the clearing and it's close by so there's no reason to create another umbrella," She mentioned as she held out her hand, her pale cheeks had that rose-tinted blush and her loose strand of hair had a sprinkling glisten.

"I'll guide you as we run away..."

His lips parted as his eyes widened. Her voice was too angelic to be innocent and her words were too endearing to not be alluring. And Izuku, he was enchanted by the siren, taking her hand...

The puddles splashed as they ran past them, the rain was beating down on them but they were laughing, despite the slippery grip that was growing in between them, their hands never broke apart.

They reached a set of stone steps and she led them up it, with him falling slightly behind as he realized where they were going, seeing the worn-out traditional entrance.

"An abandoned shrine?"

But he didn't have time to take in his surroundings as they were still trying to escape the rain. Momo kept tugging at his hand as she led them inside of the small shrine house. They were taking heavy breaths, recovering from their small run as they set their schoolbags aside.

"Whoa for such a hidden away place, it's pretty-," He caught his own words with an empty gasp, he had turned to Momo as he finished talking. Her clothes had grown considerably damp since escaping the rain and her transparent blouse was clinging to her skin as the droplets trailed down her body, giving her figure a radiant gleam complimented from the flashing lighting. "... Amazing..." But this time he finished his sentence referring to her.

Momo was perplexed by his expression but disregarded it as she clasped her hands together over her bust, "Do you want to enjoy the rain with me?"

They were sitting side by side on the front porch watching the rain together.

"I found this place when I was younger, I haven't thought about it for so long, I was about to forget just as it seems society did."

"Really? So what made you think of it now?"

Momo, turned her head away from the clouds, turning to him with a tilt of her head. "I was thinking of somewhere we could have privacy... And this is where I used to run off to when I wanted to be alone..."

Izuku had also turned to face her when she started talking. His eyes widened because even though her lips were curved upwards in a small smile all he felt was loneliness.

"Oh..." His hand reached out to hers, that was lying by her lap, in between them, his fingers hesitated, before calming down and gently clasping her hand over hers. He gulped before making eye contact and speaking. "Well, we are here, alone, together, now right?" He gave her hand a light squeeze.

Her fingers curled around his hand, and squeezed back.

"Yes," Her voice came out in that beloved sigh. He didn't know if it was because she was tired or if she just wanted to be closer without saying it but her body, tiredly rested against his, her head leaning on his shoulder as she intertwined their fingers.

Izuku's heart rate increased due to her closeness but didn't want her to notice, being as still as possible while also trying to make sure she wasn't disturbed by his stiff body.

They stayed in each other's company in a silence that was both comfortable and awkward.

"Being alone like this... is nice," She whispered as she stared off with half-lidded eyes at the falling drops of liquid. "Being alone with you..." Momo didn't know how to explain it but whenever she was with Midoriya she felt like she was the only one who mattered, isolated from the rest of the world.

Izuku took in a gulp as his grip around her hand grew uneasy. Momo noticed, lifting her head away from his shoulder, sitting up properly, staring at him, seeing that he was attempting to speak and her eyes grew when his words finally came out.

"I want to be your boyfriend!" He rushed it out with his eyes shut tight, using every ounce of nerve he had to admit his feelings.

Momo had shocked eyes before they settled into a soft sentiment.

Izuku had opened his eyes as his cheeks heated up after his confession. He decided to just let his iconic rambling take over and list out his reasons for wanting to be with her. "Oh you know, it's just, we've been getting pretty close lately, b-but I mean even before we were still close but now it's different, in a g-good way obviously. B-Besides we have a lot in common like even though we tend to overthink we also sometimes act without thinking you know? And we both have our insecurities, and we also have a shared interest in learning... and after we danced together, I... I couldn't help but to-,"

Momo silenced his never-ending paragraph by pressing her lips to his. His eyes were fully opened, completely surprised before they slowly closed, reacting to the kiss. They broke apart for a moment, their breaths coming out condensed, smothering the other with warmth, contrasting the cold around them. Even though she was excited, she was just as bashful as he was as she expressed her feelings.

"Of course I want to be your girlfriend!"