5

To be a friend

It's been a few weeks since I started-, since we, started those late nights of shared company. I still don't understand Momo's reasons for going along with it but I guess she doesn't know my reasons either after all. Maybe, maybe, it doesn't matter.

"Midoriya, Hatsume, next week, I'm going to need you two to work with the hero course. We're going to be doing a joint lesson. Think of it as field training for on the spot repairs, considering you're both the top students, you will most likely be seeing field work once you graduate and join an agency." Powerloader walked into the studio. Both of them lifted their eyes from their work. Izuku was the only one actually listening. Hatsume just as quickly dived back into her work. Powerloader shook his head and asked Midoriya for a favor to keep her in line during the exercise.

"Don't worry, Sensei. Um, what kind of activity will we be participating in?" Izuku dropped his green goggles around his neck.

Powerloader was at the doorway about to head off. "I'll email you both the official information later, just keep it in the back of your heads for now. Oh and take any support items for self-defense." He chuckled a little and left.

Izuku tilted his head. "Sensei is usually only excited about inventions." His eyes subconsciously wondered to Mei. "Although someone has chipped away at his enthusiasm..."

"Say something Midoriya?"

"I said you've been chipping away at Powerloader's interest in machinery, mostly cause of your malfunctioning babies." Izuku nonchalantly threw the truth at her.

"Oh, I thought you were being productive. Nevermind then." She completely shrugged off.

The door opened and closed again as someone entered. Midoriya was the only one to acknowledge someone new in the work area, Hatsume was being Hatsume. "Oh hey, Todoroki. Can I help you with anything?"

"Hello, Midoriya. Hatsume." The always stiff and proper Todoroki greeted. He turned to Izuku. "Actually yes. I do believe I require your help."

"Really? Did something happen to your suit? I have some spare time and parts so if you have it-"

"Thank you, but no, it's not about anything pertaining to heroes or academics. Can we speak somewhere more private?"

Izuku tilted his head confused. "Sure." He led them farther back into the shop by a corner. "Don't worry, Hatsume isn't the nosy type. So what's up?" Izuku was confused because Todoroki was always focused on school and hero work, so for him to ask for help regarding something else was definitely strange.

"Midoriya... I didn't really know who else to ask. After you helped me realize the hero I could be... I had been putting all my effort into reaching that goal... And now that we are in our third year I think that goal has become more of a reality than an ever before."

Izuku smiled at Todoroki's words. "I'm really proud of you, Todoroki. You've come a long way."

"Thank you Midoriya, I mean it."

"So what do you need help with?"

"As I said, I have been putting all my effort into my goal. But that has caused me to neglect other things...Things we naturally crave."

Izuku rose an eyebrow, concerned. "What other things?"

Todoroki looked him dead in the eyes and with a straight face, "Intimacy."

Izuku almost choked on his spit, coughing. "Wh-What? I mean," he pointed at Todoroki then at himself. "I'm not, Todoroki you're one of my best friends but I don't go that way. I'm flattered but I mean... How did this even come up?" Beginning his infamous babbling.

Todoroki narrowed his eyes in confusion until it dawned on him. His eyes went slightly wide. "What, no, Midoriya. I was simply asking for advice."

"Oh." He felt dumb for his assumption. Then he got confused again. "Advice? How would I be able to give you advice? I'm not really what you call a ladies man." He dropped his shoulders with a sighing laugh towards himself.

Todoroki rose an eyebrow. "Really? I just figured cause of your closeness with Uraraka, Asui, and Hatsume." Honestly thinking Midoriya was good with the ladies.

Izuku forced himself not to cringe. 'He really thought that? Wait, this is the guy who thought I was All-Might's secret love child!' He shook his head and cleared his thoughts, focusing on the situation. "Todoroki, they are just my friends. I don't see them in that way. I mean there is natural attraction between us, maybe," actually thinking of all three of them and the levels of intimacy possible, glancing at Hatsume's rear. She was bent down on her knees. Apparently, she had to work that way. His cheeks flushed and he began to sprout nonsense again. "Even if there was something, I-I have my self-restraint!" Oh God! More babies!

"Midoriya, focus."

"A-Ah, sorry Todoroki. Hm, any advice... I guess, be yourself. Wait that might not work, being yourself would only cause you to focus on heroing and schoolwork."

"My point, exactly."

Izuku was rubbing his chin. "Well, who is it anyway? Maybe that can help." Although he was already growing that same horrible pit in his stomach.

"I never mentioned who did I? It's actually Yaoyorozu. Hm, I don't know much about her though, I know she is intelligent, her quirk requires her to be, what else. We do get along pretty well together." He kept listing every detail he thought was important.

Izuku's eyes drained of their color, hearing him speak. He knew this would all come back at him with a whiplash, he just didn't know how hard it would actually be to go through as it happened.

"So what do you think Midoriya?"

That snapped him back to reality. The reality that he was supposed to be helping Todoroki. His cleared his throat and did his best to act natural. "Don't worry Todoroki." Flashing him a smile. "If it's Mo-, Yaoyorozu, then I think, if you're honest with her," gulp, his eyes quivered as he forced a smile, "everything will work out."

Todoroki took in his words, stared at the ground in thought, finished and rose his head back up. "I'll take it into consideration. Thank you Midoriya, like always." A small genuine smile that he rarely showed.

And it punched Izuku in the gut, almost causing his own smile to falter.

"Y-Yeah Todoroki... Don't mention it." Walking him to the door, not able to meet his eyes.

"See you at lunch."

"Actually, I might not make it. There's an overload of work at the moment."

"Really? I thought you said you had some spare time?"

"Oh," He lifted his hand to his eyes to rub out his tiredness. "I did say that, didn't I?" He shook out a yawn. He removed his hand from his face, staring at Todoroki with his purple baggy eyes.

Todoroki's stiff shoulders slightly sagged as he placed his hand on Izuku's own shoulder. "Midoriya, please get some rest. We're worried, I'm worried, for you." His small smile turned into a concerned one.

Izuku stared at his worried face. 'Just tell him. Tell him the truth. He deserves that much. Tell him what you have with Momo. Come on Izuku, just tell him. You have to!' Izuku lifted his lips. "I know Todoroki. Don't worry, I'll try to take better care of myself."

Todoroki snuck a quick glance at his right arm, ignored his own action and nodded. "Please do. Goodbye Midoriya, and thanks again."

"Yeah, Todoroki." Watching the door slide shut. He stared at it for a few moments more.

'...I'm the worst...'

Lunch. Yaoyorozu set her food at the same table they always ate at. The ones sitting there were Jirou, Todoroki, Tsuyu, Iida, and Uraraka. She noticed Izuku wasn't there. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. "Say, where's Midoriya? He was so helpful with my suit, I was going to ask about any more possible upgrades." It would be too obvious if she flat out asked for him.

Tsuyu placed her finger on her lips, staring up. "Hm, if he's not here for lunch, then most likely he is in the workshop with Hatsume, although they are prohibited from working during breaks, she's probably helping him change his bandages although I did just help him out with that a few weeks ago." She felt a prick by her side. "Ribbit?" Seeing Jirou's earphone poke her. She stared at Jirou, who was glaring back at her. Jirou then shifted her eyes to Uraraka then back to her. Tsuyu grew wide eyes realizing. "Uraraka, sorry it just slipped out." Nobody ever talked about Izuku's arm in front of Uraraka. It was always considered taboo by their friends.

"Why are you apologizing? You didn't do anything wrong, Tsuyu." She showed them a brave smile, telling them she was okay. "It's already been a long time since then. I can't stand still anymore. I'll keep moving forward and be the hero Deku believes I can be!" She triumphantly huffed.

They smiled and agreed with her optimism, they all did, except for Momo. She was staring at Uraraka with a bittersweet sentiment. 'Oh, Izuku...' It was always meant to be Izuku and Uraraka wasn't it?

"He's probably trying to catch some sleep." Todoroki interrupted the social mood. They all looked at him in confusion. "I was answering Yaoyorozu's question."

That snapped her back to reality. The reality that she and Izuku never had an intimate relationship. "Really? How do you know, Todoroki?"

"I went to see him earlier, asking for some advice. He was exhausted, so I asked him to get some rest. At least I hope that's what he's doing."

"How thoughtful of you." Momo leaned closer to him. "Ne, what was it that you would ask advice for? You're one of the top students." She caught the sight of his cheeks tinting slightly before just as quickly vanishing.

"Nothing worth mentioning." But she could already tell. She knew the school gossip. Todoroki sought out his advice, and then he doesn't show up. She pieced it all together. Her lips rose and she closed her eyes as she displayed that transparent smile.

"I see."

Thud. He groaned in shock as she shoved him against the door. "Momo... What?" Not thinking straight. He didn't even know why he came this night.

"I missed you." She hungrily let out, nuzzling his neck, bitting him, weakly. "You weren't at lunch."

"Y-Yeah, about that," he tried to explain, but grunted, feeling her pelvis pressed against him. He squeezed his fists shut, trying to resolve himself. He gripped her waist and pushed her off. "Momo, we need to talk." He pretended to not notice the rejection in her eyes. "It's about Todoroki." He glanced away with guilt.

"What about him." She crossed her arms, a little miffed.

"He... He came to me, asking for advice." His hair shadowed his eyes. "He really likes you, Momo... And I think he's going to ask you out." Izuku squeezed his eyes shut.

It was a cold silence in the night until he heard her. "And?"

Izuku opened his eyes and turned his head to her. "What do you mean, and?"

Momo uncrossed her arms, softly walking to him. She rose her hands to his cheeks, staring intently and affectionately into his eyes. "What does any of that have to do with us?"

He let out a shocked breath. "What? Of course, it has to with us!"

"No, it doesn't!" Angrily whispering it. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her forehead against his. "It has nothing to do with us... With this." She quietly begged.

"Momo..."

Sniffle.

Izuku stiffened in their arguing embrace. She was crying?

"I know you want to be a good friend. I know that, Izuku... But what we have, this, it has nothing to do with Todoroki..." She pushed her head back, and they both stared at each other.

"But-"

"Don't worry. Whatever happens between me and Todoroki, will have nothing to do with you. So you don't have to kill yourself with guilt." She had a liquid shine in her eyes, threatening to spill.

But,

She was smiling. That loving honest smile she only showed during their quiet nights. The smile she only ever showed Izuku. It captured him again, just like the first time, and all the times after that. He subconsciously parted his lips." You're..." Breathlessly enchanted.

"Hm?" She pondered for a moment. The next she didn't have to. He crashed his lips against hers. She let out a surprised squeal. She giggled lightly as he guided them to bed. "What were you going to say, Izuku?" Teasing him.

"You're beautiful, Momo..."

'I really am the worst.'

Now... Now, that I willingly crossed this line... I don't think, there is any way to be a good friend to Todoroki.

Or Momo...