13

Crosswalks

Midoriya and Iida reached the gates of school. He was walking along the path until someone put him in a headlock.

"What'd you do to kill Jirou's vibe, huh, Midoriya!" Mina, the culprit.

"Eh, ow! Ashido?" Izuku was trying to pull himself away.

Froppy and Tooru were behind Mina.

"Midoriya, is there something you want to tell us?" Tsuyu had her fingertip to her lips. "Jirou didn't look like her normal self earlier."

Mina softened her grip and made him face the other two girls. Iida was ordering them to act civil but it was unheard in the background.

Izuku drew a frown. "It's personal. I can't just talk about it."

The three girls glanced around at each other. Mina released her arms. "Whatever happened, fix it, Mr. Lovebook." She pointed her index finger.

"L-Lovebook?!" 'Is she referring to my notebook?!'

Mina crossed her arms. "Man and it was going so good between you guys."

Midoriya ruffled his hair. "Um, why are you guys getting involved anyways." 'Kyouka doesn't want her business put out there.'

"How naive, Midoriya!" Tooru corrected striking a pose. Mina nodded along with her.

"We have to help."

"For we are,"

"Your fans!"

"Ribbit."

Izuku's head dropped sideways. "Ara?" Defeated. 'Are they serious.'

"We totally want to see you guys together! We're rooting for you!"

"Then why'd you attack me?"

That was a confusing morning for Izuku.


Izuku was resting his chin on the palm of his hand. His elbow was at the edge of the desk. It slipped off and he almost banged his head on it.

Kyouka was chewing her inner cheek, holding a tuned out stare at the board behind Sensei.

One peeked at the other, through their lying nonchalant body language. The other tensed from the peripheral vision. Both recovered just as quickly.

Izuku turned his head to the clear sky, shining through the window. 'I don't really like sunny days like this that much anymore.'

Rainy days had a better lyrical quality.

Kyouka was staring at her desk. Her mind kept repeating the morning she shared. She woke up with Momo sleeping right next to her, faces inches apart. 'We didn't do anything..?' At that moment, it felt like they were going to. They shared a warm, misty, stare, waking up, snuggled.

Izuku perked up at the feeling of eyes staring at the back of his neck. He matched the gaze. Uraraka quickly hid her head, pretending to be focused on her book.

He glanced back forward with straight lips. 'I can't leave her hanging, either.'


Lunch. Izuku waked into the cafeteria hall, with his tray of food. He glanced around the tables.

Momo was sitting with Kyouka. Momo glanced up and their eyes met. She gave a sympathetic smile, he returned it with a weak one.

Momo went back to her conversation with Jirou, but with more detailed expressions, because a certain dark green haired teen was watching.

Izuku shifted his eyes. Uraraka and Iida were sitting together. It couldn't be helped. Iida was also her friend.

Kacchan, Kaminari, and Kirishima were munching on some food.

He didn't quite know where to sit.

"Midoriya." Todoroki stood beside him. His cool warm eyes were also deciding where to sit. "How about there." He shrugged, casually inviting him.

"T-Todoroki? S-Sure." Deku followed him. He sat next to him and smiled at the two sitting at the table. "Tokoyami, Shouji."

"Midoriya, Todoroki." They all greeted each other. Tokoyami was pecking at his food with chopsticks. Shouji's trey was wiped clean.

"Midoriya is everything okay?" Shouji asked through one of his extra limbs.

"Huh?" Izuku's thoughtful stare fell and he turned to the question. "It's nothing really."

"Jirou." Tokoyami simply added.

"Hm." Todoroki nodded his head.

"I-Is it really that obvious?"

They all gave him a yes in their own ways. Todoroki put his hand on Izuku's shoulder. "Eh?" Shouji shrugged his shoulders, shaking his head. "Hey, Shouji?" Tokoyami stayed quiet nibbling at his food. "Please say something, Tokoyami..."

"Deku didn't sit here." Uraraka sighed at the current situation in the cafeteria.

Iida adjusted his glasses. "Don't worry! Midoriya just has a few things to sort out."

"If you say so?" She felt so guilty for the rift. She had to apologize, but it was difficult. Apologizing for how you feel.

Momo and Jirou didn't say much. They were both in hard thought sitting next to each other sharing music with headphones.

Kaminari was talking to Kirishima, while Bakugo focused on his food. He said something about having another shot with Jirou. Kirishima chuckled but said good luck.

Midoriya sighed in defeat. None of them gave him a straight answer.

Lunch was over. He stood up from the table.

"Midoriya." Todoroki, Tokoyami, and Shouji all gave him a familiar look. "We're rooting for you."

Izuku almost fell to the side. 'Todoroki said it with such a straight face...' "What? Like with Ashido and those two."

"The most intimate moments are whispered in the shadows."

"T-Tokoyami, you too..." Deku was done after another ridiculous reply.


The school day was over. She was packing up. Kyouka adjusted her schoolbag.

She stepped out the door. She kept her earphone jacked to her phone. She walked along with a lot of the other kids filing out. She left the school grounds, she didn't bother to glance at the scenery. It was always the same.

She turned on the sidewalk next to the busy streets.

She did bother to raise her head when she was standing on the bridge. She glanced at the cars traveling below her.

"Kyouka!"

She flinched and played it off with a shrug. She waited for him to catch up. Her eyes were cool and half-lidded.

He panted, his hands on his knees. He rose and had a huffing smile.

"Yo, Midoriya." She rubbed her elbow, still staring at the passing by cars. "What's up?"

"H-" He gasped. 'Huh? Midoriya?' His lips daunted low a little. He straightened his back. He shared her stare of the flowing traffic. Both of their eyes faced away from the other. "I... do you want me to keep calling you Kyouka?"

She absently gave a motion of her head. He didn't know if it was yes, or no. "It's whatever."

"Oh... H-Hey wanna walk home together?"

"I was actually going to meet up with Kaminari and Momo ."

Izuku's eyes widened, then narrowed. His head slightly turned to her. "You guys still hang out."

Her disposition never changed. "Yeah. I mean, we're still friends."

He completely faced her. "That makes sense." He gazed at the ground. "So, maybe next time?" He offered.

"I, I don't know dude... Maybe?" It sounded more like she was asking herself.

Izuku's lips grew along with some hope. "H-Hey can I walk you to the crosswalk."

She stifled a pitch. "S-Sure." With hidden pouted lips.

It was a short walk, only to the edge of the bride. It was quiet and uncomfortable. They reached a red light and waited. It felt like the light was never going to change. They were both awkwardly looking around, except at each other. The light turned green. Jirou stood there for a moment, not knowing what to do.

"Th-This was nice." Izuku was ruffling his hair, looking down.

"Y-Yeah." She agreed, realizing she should start walking across the street. She left with a hidden smile she was trying to force down.

Izuku stared as she crossed safely. He held a gentle smile. He walked down the sidewalk, holding his backpack straps with some gained confidence.