Chapter 5

"She said she's in the training grounds and to come meet her there," Deku exclaimed enthusiastically.

Kirishima tugged an arm around his shoulders in support with a wide grin on his face, while Kaminari and Tokoyami nodded in approval.

"See I told you she's still into you! It's not too late man go get her!"

"Yah but how did the text read? Like plain? Happy? That all factors into it," Denki added, Tokoyami once more, nodded silently.

Deku shuffled nervously now. Her reply was short and straight to the point with no hint of positivity. He figures even after all this time, she'd still have a place for him. There were so many regrets he had after what went down, not knowing at the time that Ochako harbored feelings for him. Now looking back it was a slap in the face what he did.

"She didn't really say much actually.."

"Don't listen to him! Hurry up and go get her!," Kirishima yelled, slapping him on the back of the head.

It was hard not to get too hyped with one end being shot down, and the other glad that she at least agreed to see him. There friendship had been strained and Ochako hadn't done something as simple as eat lunch with he and Ilda. Perhaps it was his fault she became withdrawn, everyone else had noticed it. But no one asked.

Deku nodded with a determined look. "You're right. I'll do my best!"

He high fived Kirishima before strodding out the door and running down the hall way. He couldn't contain the bright smile that shown on his face as his cheeks blushed. Images of her, Ochako's kind words and expressions flooding his mind. All the times she was there for him. The unending support and cheers from the stands. And then, in the end silence.

That's not how I want things to be.

Busting through the front doors, he ran across the field disregarding the walk way and strange looks from facility leaving the campus.

Coming up to the school doorways, they opened before he got a chance, slamming right into Present Mic.

He barely budged but the paperwork he was carrying had been thrown all around, giving a shocked squeal as he scrambled to gather it up before it touched the ground.

Deku immediately mimicked him, apologizing over and over. "I'm so sorry sir! I really didn't mean it!"

Present Mic huffed, fixing his glasses and smoothing out his shirt. "The schools closing. What do you want at this time?"

Deku handed him the papers he gathered as Mic snatched it out his hands annoyed.

"One of my classmates is in the training grounds. I uh, was gunna go get her. She probably doesn't realize how late it is being as there's no windows," he lied, which wasn't a very good one at that.

Present Mic stopped, his lips parted for a moment as he looked the young boy over. Previously he had gone to see Aizawa, and had caught him in the midst of ripping off parts of his bandages as he pulled his pants and shirt back on, lacing up his boots preparing to leave. There was no stopping him in such a sour mood, but he had made a comment about going train and threatened him not to say a word nor try to stop him.

He leaned in closer. "Oh yea? Which classmate?"

Dekus eyes widened. Surely they wouldn't get in loads of trouble, but he also didn't want to if he withheld information from a teacher.

".. Ochako Uraraka sir."

Mic scowled, scratching the bottom of his chin trying to remember why it was so familiar. That name was ringing bells but he could barely place it.

"Anyways can I go? I'll be quick I promise."

"Fine fine but hurry up! No loitering!," he snapped, moving past as Deku bowed to him thankfully, running straight through the hallways into the building. He stared at the boys back disappearing through the darkness of it, brows furrowed as he tried to remember.

"Ochako sir. Ochako Uraraka."

Her sunken in face and distraught eyes flashed in his mind, the memory of her leaving from the bedside of his friend. If it served right, he could've sworn he heard her call him Shouta, not by any means of teacher-student or the polite usage of his last name. The whole thing was strange but he hadn't gotten a chance to mention it to Aizawa, being as he was angry and stormed out to go the second he awoke two days ago. None of the students were to know of his health just yet or that he was up and about. Hell even some other faculty didn't know as Recovery Girl tried to force him back to bed.

"It's that girl.. But how did she-?"

Deku flew down the lower section of the school, his heart pounding in his chest the closer he got. He wasn't even sure what to say to her just yet, only that no matter what he was sure the outcome would be good. Ochako was a kind person that wasn't likely to feel resentment like that. He missed her dearly, their playful laughter though the cafeteria or the inside jokes shared on the field.

When he found out she liked him, he was floored. Guilt washed over.

I was such an idiot. So stupid why didn't I see it? Why didn't I go ask Ilda for advice instead of her that day?

Approaching the outside of the gym doors, his pace slowed. Leering through to see her standing there, holding the side of her bag close. Her facial expression was solemn with no hint of a smile.

Already anxiety creeped in as he began to over analyze the situation.

Deku slowly walked in. Hearing the creak of the doors she turned and stared at him, though her face didn't change. No glint of joy on her mouth or a spark of happiness. It was dull, almost like a different person than he imagined. There was something intimidating about it.

"Uraraka.. Hey," he nervously said, taking small strides her way.

In return she only gave a quick polite smile back. This was awkward, nothing like he thought it would be.

"So I um, I was wondering about the dance coming up.. If you wanted to.. go with me?," he could feel the sweat forming along his temples as his heartbeat pounded. Aside from this there was so much they needed to talk about and he didn't know where to begin. Or at this point seeing the way she changed, if she even still cared.

"I can't Deku. I'm sorry..," she answered, looking away from him.

As he took a step forward to reach out to her, she stepped back. Not wanting to give him any indication that she felt the same anymore.

"Uraraka i-"

"I'm not the same.. I'm not that girl that fawns over you anymore so please don't take any of this personally."

She grimaced as she looked at the ground, knowing her words were harsh but they were necessary so he wouldn't push it.

"I know.. I also just wanted to apologize. For what happened."

Ochako glanced up at him, a strong look on her face. "There's nothing to apologize for. You didn't owe me anything. You came to me as a friend."

"But if I had known, I wouldn't have asked!"

He bit his bottom lip, hands balling into fist as he grew angry with himself. His cheeks grew hot, feeling ridiculous at the behavior but he couldn't help the pent up hatred directed towards himself.

Suddenly she approached him, gently placing a hand on his shoulder.

His head snapped up, gawking at her soft, comforting smile that told him it was genuinely okay. There were no signs of negativity in her eyes, how stupid he had been to make this about himself.

"Deku. I'm sorry I wasn't upfront when you asked me for advice on how to ask Hatsume out. I should've told you how I felt then. And after that, I was a crappy friend who avoided you. I knew she rejected you and instead of being a friend, I ignored you out of the pain in my own heart."

She gave him a gentle squeeze before letting go, slowly walking past him. All this time the people around, including herself, figured she was the one who needed closure to an uncalled for situation. But in truth it was Izuku, in plain sight.

He heard her whisper goodnight and that she'd see him in class tomorrow.

He stood there dumbfounded for a moment, processing what she said. The maturity and kindness to it made bittersweet tears prick his eyes. God he missed her in general, no one else had such an impact or could say just enough to make it okay. When she told him Goodmorning before entering school, it made his day. And when she'd sometimes walk home with him, listening to his petty complaints, he slept at night better.

As the sound of the doors opening more echoed, he turned on his heels. Hot tears streaming down his face. "URARAKA!"

It startled her, looking over at him with her lips parted. A single hand still holding the door open with the other on the strap of her bag.

"I.. I-I want us to be friends again!," he began. "I'm sorry for everything! I'm sorry for being so clueless! I miss you at lunch! And I miss you during class events! Please just don't hate me!"

Ochako stood there for a moment, they both staring at each other from across the grounds before she offered a kind smile with furrowed brows.

"Of course. I'd like that Izuku," she said sweetly. He had to know she didn't hate him, and that they were both to blame.

As she exited the room, he dropped to his knees. Listening to the sound of her footsteps fading away.

oo

Aizawa showed no emotion as the water from the solid hot shower hit his skin. The glow of red along it from overexposure as he stood there, his forehead pressed against the tile wall with his forearms above his head on it as well.

Steam rose through the shower room, blurring the mirrors. He didn't know how long he had been there for, only that the sound of rushing water right in his ear still wasn't enough to drown out her sobs. He regretted it, the cruel way he handled it after being apart for some time. Most days were spent together, at least 4 times out of the week. They made that work somehow and got around everyone. But he let his anger get the best of him.

He felt too defeated to do anything, even though he really wanted to slam his fist into the wall. Along with the fact that his body was on fire from such harsh movements that the nurse advised against, not even bothering to stretch first.

No one had passed by so they must have been the only two left in the building by this time since it had been late into the evening prior, the other teachers readying assignments for the next day. It was the only part he enjoyed of this resting period, not having to teach or deal with the other students.

Regardless, she came first. Whether in the beginning he meant to put her in front or not, God dammit she always came first and didn't even know it. He made a point not to show her anything of his true emotions and how dear she was becoming. Another part that was starting to piss him off.

In a sense it was his own fault, allowing himself to succumb to her butterfly kisses. The careful way her fingers undid the knots in his hair before tying it up for him. The way they held his scarred body, tracing over the marks leaving goosebumps along his skin. Her laugh, mocking his lazy appearance after class, knowing the tiredness was due to their late night exploration. The scolding he received from smoking cigarettes outside the school window. All of it soon became his everything without meaning to. Ochako Uraraka grew on him practically overnight.

Sometimes the inside taunts between them was what would make his day. During the period he made a point to keep his watchful eyes fixated on her every few seconds. And he'd stand there while lecturing, looking at the way her eyes began to stay shut longer each time she'd blink, leaning on her forearm. Until she finally lay completely on the desk, the perfect opportunity to call her out in front of everyone, causing her to jolt awake and the rest of the class to laugh. Either then he'd face the board or hold a book up to his face to hide the ominous smirk on it.

Those were the things he wasn't willing to let go just yet, never realizing just how simple his life had been. A way of living he always said he wanted, yet here he was sick of it and yearning to feel complete. Not even the nighttime sky of the city, keeping watch over civilians could compare to the rhythm his blood pulsed so strong once she laughed.

Turning the water off, he stepped out, grabbing a towel hanging nearby. He roughly ran it through his hair and body before dressing in black sweatpants and a plain black t-shirt, tossing the towel in the laundry bin.

It was crazy the things Principal Nezu let the teachers get away with such as staying overnight on campus or using the open showers like this. Surely it wasn't recommended but the mouse didn't care much if it was an every now and then type of thing. He appreciated the trust on all of them. It was probably due to how many attacks they had, so it was good for this to happen at times.

Aizawa made way down the halls towards his classroom. He told her a hour, but even if he would've taken several, she'd still wait there for him like instructed.

Ochako was fairly clingy, a thing that if thought about, he'd prefer not. But with her it was oddly nice. Maybe he was used to being treated like shit from the uncaring women in his past, of course due to Mic's influence for him to date. If not for the title of a pro hero and having wealth from it, he was sure these women would never give him the time of day. He wasn't charismatic or charming like his counterpart.

Reaching it, he slid the door open, looking around the room as he stepped in then closing it in place.

Ochako sat in front of his desk on the ground, her head in her legs with her knees drawn up, hugging them. She didn't even bother to look up as she heard him enter.

The atmosphere was a little tense. His mind screaming at him to apologize to her, but on the other hand not so she'd learn from the experience. Was she this upset by what he had done earlier?

In truth she'd face troubles like that all around as a pro hero. What he had done earlier was nothing compared to what the bad guy would if given the chance.

He walked up to her, kneeling down eye level. She still didn't move.

"Uraraka what's wrong," he asked gently.

Hesitantly she lifted her head, but to his surprise and eyes widened slightly, she was smiling. A tearful, warm smile.

"I feel like a bad person today.," she answered, sniffling a little, taking the end of her sleeve and rubbing her nose on it.

He gave a slight sigh. "Me too."

Snaking his arms under her legs and around her back, Aizawa lifted her into his arms. Carrying her around his desk and kicking his sleeping bag out from under it.

Ochako looked past his arms at what he was up to.

"W-Wait we can't sleep here they'll get suspicious!"

"Pipe down and stay for a while."

He bent down with her in tow, unzipping it to place her down onto it as he yanked her boots off. Then, he slide in next to her.

Aizawa held her close as she stilled, wrapping an arm around her frame while using the other as a pillow. He could feel her eyes staring up at him in confusion.

Ochako's cheeks flushed, feeling the ends of his damp hair falling gracefully onto her face. She breathed him in, the masculine soap he used fresh and candid drowning out her senses as she looked up at him longingly. She reached up, noticing the new scar held under his eye as she traced it with her fingertips. He hissed and she instantly pulled away, moving to rest her hand on his upper chest. The long hair tickling it, she began to twirl her small fingers through his locks. Today was an overly tiring day, her emotions held out on her sleeve to be exposed to outer elements of life's crap. But in a way it was handled exactly how it was supposed to. And everything had fallen into place, along with her eyes, drifting into a deep sleep.

Aizawa felt her body relax as she dosed off, her breathing soft through her parted lips. As he looked down at her face, he noticed the bags under her eyes as the tears dried. The once pink cheeks he adored were pale due to stress. For the next bit, she'd have to suck it up. He felt awful for the recent events, but the worst was yet to come since the sports festival was reeling its way in.

Hugging her closer, he pressed his lips to her forehead, inhailing sharply as he closed his eyes to follow suit. Fuck what the nurse had to say, this was the best form of healing so far.

Unknowingly the door to the classroom had been quietly opened by a hair, watching the two inside exchange their heartfelt moment.

Mic stepped back, struggling to contain the churning in his stomach.

oo

Into it. Over it. The Flames That Used to Greet Me has been on repeat in my head as I write this lol reminds me of Ochako in it