Chapter 4: The New Normal

A/N: Hey everyone! It's been awhile since I wrote the last three chapters! I wrote the next three, which were hard for me to write since I envisioned Chapter 6 in so many different ways. I changed it so many times, and found this one version to be the best fitting.

***I messed with Ochako's quirk a little, giving it a little more complications and other techniques!

Hope you enjoy!

She was still thinking about what Ida had told her back in her room.

She wonders if Deku really didn't know how to act ever since their mission together. Sure, they spent a lot of time working closely with one another, but was that a legit excuse to just completely avoid someone?

Still, sitting next to him on the train felt a little odd. Ochako sat in silence as she watched the others converse with one another. Most of the class decided to tag along, so each of them had their own group. Tsu was with Todoroki and Yaoyorozu (another pairing she was rooting for), while Ida was supervising Sero and Kaminari.

The only ones not talking were just her and Deku, who was busy writing something down in his hero journal. She wondered how that thing was still being kept bound, especially seeing how yellowed and wrinkly the pages were.

Figuring it was going to be a silent ride, she reaches over for a local magazine. She sets it on her lap and flips it open. The best part about UA was getting to experience life outside her town. She wasn't really a local to the area around her school so seeing how this city was filled with so much life and news felt like a whole new world to her.

She flips to a section displaying all classes being offered near by. In bright white lettering, she could see Gunhead's limited offer for his defense class. 'Limited offer for limited seats! Apply now to join on exclusive training!'

"Have you applied already?"

Ochako looks up. Deku is looking at the page with her.

"Erm, Yeah, kind of." she says a little surprised from him suddenly talking to her. "I sent him an email to see if I could participate in his class, but I haven't gotten a response yet."

She saw his eyes soften. "I'm sure he'll get back to you." he smiles, "How could he not accept Uravity?"

Hearing her hero name made her heat flip, especially coming from him.

"I hope so." she finally says, closing the magazine. There was a brief moment of silence again between them. Today has definitely been going strange. First he invites her out, then he doesn't talk to her for a while, and now he's doing small talk? What is happening between them?

She could hear Ida's voice echoing in her head again. "Especially after what happened between you two."

She swallows, trying not to think so much on that memory

But, if she was going to make things right again between them, she had to at least try to strike up a more lengthy conversation right? That's what they always did before! If she was going to want things to be normal then she had to act like it.

Displaying her biggest smile, she scooches closer to him.

"So, have you stumbled upon any new All-Might videos?" If there was any topic that could get him talking it was this one.

She saw his face lit up. "Actually yeah!" he says with excitement in his voice. He fishes his phone out of his pocket. In a matter of seconds he scrolls onto a video as if his fingers had remembered it's exact placement. Honestly, she wouldn't be surprised if he did.

"Here, take a look." he says, handing off her phone. She holds it up for both of them to see, but that didn't stop him from leaning closer for a better view. She could feel his green curls brush against her own hair. She knew damn well her cheeks must have turned pinker than normal with the way it burned. For the first time, she was the one getting flustered over how close he was.

"You see, in this video it shows All-Might using one of his power moves to leap from building to building." Deku points out in the video. She turns back to watching one of their professors glide off a rooftop with just one fellow skip. It could have practically passed off as flying.

"I want to learn how to jump like that." he says with the video still going. "I can already run and jump and land pretty far, but nothing compared to this. I'm thinking maybe if I speed up my power and spring myself out, I can probably glide for long strides just like he did. I know Kacchan uses his quirk similarly, and maybe even Todoroki, but I've been thinking." Deku stops and meets her gaze.

She catches her breath fully aware of how close their faces were starting to get.

"...I've been thinking maybe if I learn how to make myself feel lighter, I could master this with no problem."

She cocks her head to the side. Was that even possible?

"That's not too bad of an idea." she finally replies, tucking a strand of hair back, "But exactly how are you going to make yourself feel lighter?"

He leans back into the plastic seat, placing a hand on his chin. His typical thinking pose. "Well, there's making my gear lighter for movement, but there's also another wild idea I have."

Ochako stares blankly at him. As if she needed more explanation.

"I remember after the sports festival you told me more about your quirk." he begins to say, "There's more to it than just touching an object and letting it float. You have to believe that those objects will float. Which means you have to believe in yourself that you'll make that happen. I was thinking, maybe if I believed that I'm lighter, I can jump farther."

"But-" she tries to slow his rambling

"I know it's a pretty wild idea, and I'm sure i'll probably land on my face at first." Deku continues, "But you clearly had to learn how to believe in yourself to make your quirk work. I was wondering maybe if you could give me a few tips on how to do that too."

Ochako's butterflies in her stomach fluttered into her heart. Her mind was still trying to figure out how Deku went from not talking to talking again. And, now he wants her help? Of course she would help him in any way possible. Despite her feelings on their sudden estrangement, he was still her friend. A close one at that. But why does it feel so convenient for him to ask her after not talking to her for so long?

Before she could say anything the train came to its abrupt stop. Clusters of people squished by them to get by, forcing them to be shoulder to shoulder.

"I know I've been distant with you since our mission. Especially after what happened." he says loud enough only for her to hear, "I shouldn't have-"

"WE'RE HERE!"

The pair jump back in their seats seeing Mina hovers over them. Ochako quickly scans the train seeing the rest of her group walking out. She must have been distracted from Deku's talking while everyone was getting up to leave. She turns back at him and notices him gathering his backpack and phone. He brushes right past her with his head low.

She looks back at Mina and glares. That was their chance!

Mina stares back confused. "What?"

"Nothing." Ochako shakes her head and walks out.

There was a reason why she didn't want to think about the mission anymore. If Deku didn't talk about what happened, then why should she? But the fact that he started bringing up that night could have led to some explanation for his distant behavior since then.

She reaches up with everyone, almost passing him by. That's when he turns at her. His face touched with a nervous expression and a tinge of blush on his freckled cheeks.

"We can talk about what happened later if you want." he says, looking at anything but her. "T-That's if you want."

She stares at Deku. He looks back at her, biting the nail of his thumb. Ochako, stunned, only allows herself to nod.

She watches a flood of relief come over him. "Alright then. I'll catch up with you later." he grins, turning back to catch up with the boys in the class.

Ochako bites the side of her lip and laughs a little. Things were definitely not going to go back to normal.