Welp, it's Christmas. Now feast your eyes because part three of the drama is ready for your pleasure. Hope it lives up to your expectations.
12/25/18 Edit: So, I reread this chapter and I felt that Deku not saying anything to Uraraka or the other way round a little unnatural. Even if she doesn't really want to be angry with Deku and he doesn't really have to explain himself, I figured he'd want to, considering the kind of person he is.
Classes had just ended, and as promised, Izuku was going to Training Room Theta with Uraraka, along with some company. "Are you sure you want to do this today? I mean, I said I can wait and you can take all the time you need."
"I appreciate the sentiment, but this isn't something I can weasel out of. The more I wait, the worse the backlash is going to be and the rift between us and Uraraka will get bigger to the point where it's irreparable. It's not right or fair. To you or her. You guys have known each other since before life at UA began, and I don't wanna screw that up, for any reason. So if she does something, just….let it happen."
"Okay." Izuku gave her light tap and squeeze on the shoulder but said nothing more. Questioning her resolve any further would only be an insult. "I don't know what to expect but I will step in if I have to though, just so you know."
"Thanks. I'll be there in like….fifteen minutes to half an hour." With Izuku, Yaoyorozu, Tokoyami and Todoroki left the classroom.
Jirou on the other hand felt even more nervous than when she had to first perform at the Culture Festival. Pulling her phone out, she dialed her mother for comfort as well as one last booster for morale. "Hey mom."
"Hi, Kyo." She could just see her mother sporting a knowing smile about what she was calling for. "So? What's the latest scoop on….your crush? Or potential significant other-to-be?"
"He's….not a crush. Not anymore." Jirou mumbled. "I'm….we're um, together now. Officially."
"He asked you to marry him? Already?"
"Wha-NO! Dammit mom! No, not like that! Not that kind of officially! We're high school freshmen, for crying out loud!"
"Oh, I know. Let a mother have her fun teasing her only child. But honey that's wonderful news! Congratulations!"
"Thanks. But it's not all peaches and cream though….In the heat of excitement, I….kinda forgot to tell you that there's someone else in class that has a crush on him and I….I didn't….inform her of my intentions….."
Mika sucked in a sharp breath as she winced. "Ooooh….that's…..goodness. That's not good. And how long has it been since you two have gotten together?"
"Today makes day four."
"That's not that bad. From my experience, it gets worse once you get past the one week benchmark. For you. So, are you going to tell this girl that's crushing on your boyfriend about this?"
"Yeah, today. With help from a few other people that know about us and are keeping quiet."
"Is that what the apple pie you asked for was?"
"Compensation for their time, yeah. Sooner the better. I like to be a woman of my word. But aside from being honest, how am I going to do this? What can I possibly say?"
"Kyoka, it's your boyfriend and your friend. I can't exactly give you a script for this situation. Just….make sure when you open your mouth, use your brain and your heart. And, well, if it doesn't go as well as planned, try not to dwell on it too much."
"What?!" Jirou stared at her phone in utter confusion. Not dwell on the fact that she stole a friend's crush behind her back? "I….I don't follow."
"Look. Your friend, this girl….has had a crush on your boyfriend for how long now? Weeks? Months?"
"Couple months and change, yeah."
"And yet she did nothing to act on it. They're in the same school, same class, undoubtedly with plenty of opportunities. But she did nothing. You did."
"But….but she had eyes on him first! I'm a….a runner-up at best."
"There is no such thing as calling dibs in romance, Kyo." Mika's voice grew firm. "Anyone who thinks otherwise can have an amp dropped on their head."
"Whoa, there…." Apparently the soft-spoken demeanor and outer appearance hid something far more frightening underneath, and Jirou shuddered at the thought of seeing it surface.
"Answer me three things. Do you like this boy?"
"I wouldn't have told him that I did otherwise."
"Humor me and answer. Do you like this boy?"
"Hell yes." The answer came out a lot louder and enthusiastic than she wanted, which she could tell from Mika giggling.
"Does he like you?"
"Definitely."
"And would you let anyone get in between you two, tell you that you should quit while you're ahead?"
"Uh….Probably not?"
"Then there you have it. That's your answer. How long you've liked a person is irrelevant. If you like him, you tell him that and if he likes you, the rest is history. That's all there is to it. Never forget that. The only wrong thing you did was confess to this boy behind her back. But other than that, you have absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. So, hold your head high and, you know….go get him, tigress."
"I….I will." She will get him and keep him. A surge of confidence stopped the nerves from rattling. "Thanks, mom."
"You're very welcome. Oh, and do make sure to bring him around our place at some point, okay?"
"MOM!"
"Not tomorrow, goodness! Just…sometime in the future. Preferably sooner than later though."
"You know what, just…no. No. Okay? Give me at least a month."
"Okay, fine. A month it is." Cutting the call off, Jirou jammed the phone into her bag and left the classroom. She had a boyfriend to contend for.
"Honestly, I wasn't expecting this many people." Uraraka said with an eyebrow cocked. "But I guess the more the merrier, right?"
"Indeed. Learning how to properly throw a punch without Dark Shadow will definitely be a necessary arsenal in absolute emergencies. Midoriya, are there any tips to…apply proper technique? Consistently?" Tokoyami showed Izuku his knuckles that were getting red. There were several beads of blood forming where the skin had broken as well.
"Well…..I-I guess repetition helps. At least several hundred one-twos per day, calisthenics for the muscles, lots of stretching…..oh yeah, and also conditioning of the bones."
"The bones? Care to explain further?"
"So um…..when you punch something with your bare fist, your knucklebones fracture, right? They're called micro-fractures, and breaking it again and again overtime hardens those parts. Broken Sword kicked trees to condition his shin bones and he can literally take down a wall with a kick. Even if your Quirk doesn't enhance physical abilities, you can destroy a cinderblock at the very least. If you do it right, that is. And you have a high tolerance for pain….."
"I said I need proficiency, but that…..is too high of a tier to aspire to."
"Well, if Dark Shadow knows how to fight like a boxer, it'll make double-teaming a lot easier for you. I mean, he can punch through a wall."
"I will take it under consideration. Uraraka, can you demonstrate that throw you used on Midoriya? I may need it."
"Yeah, sure! C'mon over here and have a closer look. Deku you ready?"
"Mm-hmmm."
While Izuku, Tokoyami and Uraraka were comparing notes and demonstrating new moves, Todoroki and Yaoyorozu were simply sparring, although the latter was the one that was more out of breath. "Todoroki, I'm honestly surprised you would be here for….something like this."
"If it were anyone else, believe me, I wouldn't. But it's Midoriya, so I made an exception. I …owe him, in a manner of speaking, but in ways more than I can ever express in words."
"I see. And this is just one of the many different ways you're repaying him?"
"You could say that. I'm taking baby steps. You're here for Jirou, I'm guessing."
"Yes. We have known each other for a while, and I feel as a friend I owe it to her in my own way to see this through."
"You might want to get ready then."
"Hmm?"
Todoroki merely jutted his chin out towards the entrance of Training Room Theta. "She's here. You might want to get closer if you were serious about support."
"H-hey, Jirou. Um….What's…what brings you here?"
Izuku and Tokoyami quietly stepped back as Jirou walked up to Uraraka. There was nervousness in Jirou's eyes, but determination that overwhelmed that as well.
"I'm pretty sure you know why. Look, I owe you an apology. You might already know this, but Izuku and I are…..dating. As of four days ago."
Uraraka's eyelids snapped down tightly as if she were trying to escape a lucid nightmare, taking deep, shuddering breaths to maintain composure. "Figures." She muttered, her hands unconsciously clenching into fists. "You told me there was nothing between you two. You told me it wasn't like that!" Anger was rising in her trembling voice. Not anger for the sake of others, but a more selfish, darker one.
"There really wasn't anything between him and me back when I first went to him for advice."
"Stop it. Stop. Lying." Her voice began breaking as she began tearing at her hair. "Stop. Lying!"
"I don't expect you to believe me when I say this. But there really wasn't anything. Not then. But….that changed, which made what I said at the time exactly what you say it is: a lie. It wasn't what I intended, but it still makes me a liar. For that, I am sorry. I also went behind your back about him and it took me until today to work up the courage to say this to your face. It was a chickenshit thing to do, and I'm sorry for that. I never meant to hurt you."
"SHUT UP!" She screamed, her breathing now uneven as tears streamed down her cheeks uncontrollably. "You…you…. You lied to me…"
"Whether you forgive me or not is up to you. I already said my piece. If you want to say something to me, I'm right here."
Uraraka's response was a swing punch right into Jirou's jaw. Another one was about to strike her square on the nose, but Izuku stepped in and intercepted that fist, catching it into his palm. "Enough. Please."
"D-Deku….?"
"I won't pretend that I understand what you feel right now," Izuku spoke as he chose his words carefully. "I don't. But be that as it may, I….I owe you an apology as well. For…not noticing how you felt about me."
"No. No, it-it's not――"
"You're one of the closest friends I've ever had the good fortune of knowing. Someone I respect and care about who's trying to be a Pro Hero not for….lofty dreams like mine, but for specific people that you care about. Someone willing to give back to them everything they've given you and more so they can have the life that they deserve. And that person likes me. Romantically. And I….I carried on obliviously like a fucking idiot. I really am sorry that I've hurt you for….God knows how long."
"Please, don't…don't say――"
"I was surprised that you felt that way about me just as much as I was honored though. Someone with such a kind, big heart likes me. Of all the people that would be worthy of your affections, it was me. I like you as well, Uraraka, I really do. Just….not the way that you want me to. And this….decision is something that both Kyoka and I made. Together. So if you really still have to hit someone, I'm right here. I won't dodge, I won't block. Just…don't hurt her any more. Please."
Uraraka pulled her hand back as Izuku slowly loosened his grip. Her mouth opened, closed, opened again, and shut once more into a thin line. "I hate you." She hissed before storming off.
For a few seconds, nobody said a word, but Yaoyorozu soon bolted towards her friend that had been knocked off her feet. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah….she's got a strong arm." Jirou chuckled. "Um, could I get some ice for this, Todoroki?" Without a word, he materialized a slab of ice in his hand and tossed it to Izuku, who quickly caught it and wrapped it in a towel to press against the area that was struck.
"Izuku, thanks for….letting me take that. At least the first one."
"I still feel bad for not stepping in for the first one."
"If you did that, it could've gotten worse. I'm lucky it was just one punch. She coulda pummeled me if she wanted to. Yaomomo, everyone, I wanna thank you for being here for that. It made a lot more difference than if I was doing this one on one with her."
"Of course," Yaoyorozu nodded with a sad smile. "Anything for a friend."
"Indeed." Tokoyami concurred with his arms folded across his chest. "This may not be the best of beginnings to a relationship but…..I am sure both she and you can recover from this."
"We'll give you some time alone." Todoroki said as he gave a light pat on Izuku's shoulder and quietly walked out. The other two followed suit.
Silence fell as Izuku sat down in front of Jirou, his eyes cast to the ground. "Kyoka, I am so sorry. For all of this. For not being better. If I had known earlier, about….about how Uraraka felt about me, if I had caught on earlier, this mess wouldn't have…."
"No. It's okay." Touching his face, Jirou raised his chin up to meet his sorrowful gaze. "It took you this long, you wouldn't have figured it out either way." Jirou chuckled. "Besides, if anyone should be apologizing, it's me. I've more than likely wrecked your friendship with Uraraka now. One of your first friendships at UA. If not permanently, for an indeterminate amount of time."
Izuku didn't know what else to say. Being unable to think of tactful words of comfort, he resorted to pulling her in for a tight hug, which she accepted, but she soon began sobbing into his shoulder, the guilt tearing through her heart as it caused far greater pain than her earphone jacks ever could. She cried, silently begging for forgiveness for causing the anger and grief, for betraying her friend like this.
Izuku was fighting back tears as well, cursing his powerlessness in this situation and his lack of perception. A hero that saves those in need with a smile; that was what he aspired to become, someone like All Might. Yet the newest addition to the people he must keep free from grief-stricken tears was sobbing uncontrollably in his arms. He was an utterly useless, pathetic excuse of a hero. And it made him angry.
Later that night, Izuku had an unbecoming and somewhat frightening dismal expression on his face as he headed out to the wooden post. He struck hard, harder than he had ever dared to with every part of his body: fists, elbows, shoulders, knees, shins, balls of the feet, and even his head. Anything would do. Anything that would dispel or at least dull the throbbing pain. Even when his arms were so sore he couldn't lift them, he kicked. When that was impossible due to fatigue, he headbutted. Within an hour, Izuku had exhausted himself as he lay face up in a puddle of his own sweat and tears.
"You can be pretty scary when you try, you know that?" Todoroki commented as he looked down at Izuku. He was wearing an indigo-colored samue and sandals made of plant fiber.
"Huh? Oh….hey, Todoroki. Thanks for being there back then."
"No need, I didn't do anything."
"Well, we asked and you came. It's the gesture and your goodwill that counts."
"Don't you have to be consoling Jirou?"
"She wanted to be left alone for a while. I…I still can't believe that Uraraka punched her."
"You and me both." Todoroki nodded in agreement as he pulled Izuku to his feet. "Asui's tending to her for now. Ashido as well. Needless to say, you'd do well to stay away from Uraraka for a few days at the very least."
"I know, that's the plan. Thanks for telling me though. But now…..what the hell am I gonna do? I mean, it was a necessary step to continue this relationship with a more or less clear conscience, but….."
"It doesn't feel clear?"
"Yeah…."
"Best advice I can give you is try to move past it as best as you can. It'll take time, but you know. Baby steps. You ever hear the phrase 'yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift which is why they call it the present'?"
"….Todoroki, did you just give me advice in the form of a quote from Kung Fu Panda?"
"Shut up."
Izuku promptly began howling in laughter. "Oh. My. God. You….Ahahahahaaaaa! Oh, this is….oh, Jesus. First the Hand Crusher, and now this? Pop culture references? Todoroki, please, please, don't ever change. Oh, man. Oh, wow. Suddenly I feel a lot better."
Todoroki scowled. "You may be my friend, but I swear to God, if you tell anyone――"
"I won't, don't worry. I probably needed that more than you think. I mean, hey, I like the songs in Frozen."
"…Is that supposed to be a joke about my Quirk?"
"No, but….oh. Oh, wow." Another burst of laughter from Izuku made Todoroki just shake his head and sigh as he turned around to take his leave. He was definitely going to cash in on the favor for today when he least expects it.
But Todoroki couldn't help but smile to himself as he heard his friend shout a word of gratitude which he accepted as he raised a hand in response. He was able to make his friend in distress smile, just like All Might did, merely by being there. It was a step, albeit a small one, in the right direction for both his friend and himself.
Izuku trudged up the stairs, bypassing his floor, Jirou's, Uraraka's and headed straight to the roof, ignoring his sore muscles' complaints. There she was, sitting on her own, guitar in hand, absentmindedly plucking at the strings. "I shouldn't have left you alone."
"No, it's….it's fine. I'm okay. I just…need to think."
"I beg to differ." Izuku said firmly as gently took the guitar from her and placed it inside the case next to her. "You're making it significantly worse, and I'm not about to let you do this to yourself." Leaning in, he caught her lips with his. She wasn't as responsive as their first night together, but that was of little importance to him. This wasn't going to be a heated make-out session.
He just needed Jirou to know that he was here, and that his respect and affection for her have not been diminished. Kissing her was the only physical proof Izuku could come up with. Pulling her up to her feet without breaking contact, he deepened the kiss, the tip of the tongue knocking on her teeth for permission to enter. She remained unresponsive for a while, but relented after a minute or so, moaning against his lips as he pulled her in closer, her toes now barely touching the ground. Pushing her up against the railing, Izuku's mouth traveled along her face, planting light kisses anywhere he could reach as he listened to the moans grow louder. Pressing his forehead against hers, Izuku muttered to her. "I'm here for you, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah….I got that. Whew….I feel….better now, I guess."
"So you weren't okay before."
"No I wasn't." Jirou admitted with a sigh, pressing her forehead against his chest. "Thanks for that. God, I love you so much."
"You're welcome. And I love you too."
"Can we….meet in your room? After you shower? Not that I minded the kissing but the sweat felt disgusting. And you kinda smell."
"Right….right, sorry. Oh, and….one more thing."
"What?"
"Would you be willing to go on a date with me this weekend?"
Jirou failed to stifle a laugh at that question. "Just…hurry up and go shower, dummy. I'll tell you later." She gave him a punch in the shoulder before sending him off.
I honestly wasn't sure what I was going to make Uraraka's reaction to the revelation. Obviously she wasn't going to take it well, but adjusting the balance between anguish and anger was a bit hard. Next up, it's the long-awaited first date!
Happy Holidays, and let's pull through the last few days of 2018 PLUS ULTRA!