"Third year is coming up soon, huh?"
"Yeah so?"
"I don't know. I feel kinda nervous."
"Nervous about what?"
"I don't know, Bakugou. Maybe the fact that we're about to graduate soon? Maybe the fact that we're this close to becoming pro heroes? Does that ring a bell?"
"Being pros make you nervous? That's funny! Just wait. I'll crush the world with my pro debut."
"Thanks for discrediting my feelings."
"I don't think you're nervous about that at all." Katuski nudges Kyouka with his elbow. "Perhaps it's because you won't be with Kaminari as often, huh?"
"Why do I even hang out with you?"
"I honestly don't know." Frankly both of them don't recall why they started hanging out more often. The Cultural Festival happened two years ago, but the band never disbanded. They meet up for jam sessions occasionally. Beyond that, Kyouka started seeing Katsuki as friend. Not the sweet, lovable type, but the type that is surprising fun to chill with. The type of friend that's willing to sit on the rooftop and talk about things that bother them. "Eating popsicles on a rooftop is pretty cliche don't you think?"
Not to mention they have the friendship where the two roast each other casually. "You're cliche."
As the two sit on the rooftop of their dorm eating sea salt ice cream, the question of their last year in UA came up.
"Third year, huh? It's come so sudden."
"I know. But now that you mentioned it. I wonder how the others are gonna deal with their relationships?"
"Is it really that big of problem?"
"Well, for me no, but I can't speak for the others."
Katsuki licks the last bit of popsicle off the stick. "Weak."
"Okay, not everyone has a long-distance relationship like you and Camie."
"I admit to nothing." Of all the things they talk about, relationships is the subject that comes up often.
"Judging from what we know Midoriya and Ochako are probably gonna live together."
"That's a given."
"Maybe even Todoroki and Yaomomo."
"Hmmm... Speaking of half-n-half, there's something that I noticed about him?"
"You still call him that?"
"It's his honorific."
"Wow what an honor."
"Shut up, earphones. Anyway, let me ask you this? In the many times you've seen him and Momo were together, who do you always see being affectionate?"
"Yaomomo. What are you getting at?"
"Nothing really, but it just bothered me a little that I never heard that guy say 'I love you' to her."
Kyouka licks the tip of her popsicle stick. She bends is back and wacks Katsuki's cheek with it. "It's not your business to get involved with their love. Maybe you should focus on how you're gonna deal with your girlfriend once you turn pro." Katsuki scoffs in denial. Suddenly he hears a sound.
"Do you hear that?"
"I hear everything. It sounds like crying."
The two rush back down. Access to the rooftop is from the girl's half, and as soon as they made it to the hallway, the crying got louder.
"It's coming from Momo's room." The two rush to the door. Kyouka is hesitant to barge right in, but her buddy isn't.
"What happened!" Kyouka has been through this before, but the sight of Momo acting this way came as a shock to Katsuki. Her hair messy, he face flushed red, and tears streaming down her face. This was the first time Katuski has seen her so sad. Like the best friend she is, Kyouka pushed her way through and proceeded to begin her usual "Make Yaomomo Feel Better" routine. First, she takes her to her ginormous bed, and wraps her gently with a blanket. Second, she hands a hot cup of tea. Tea isn't hard to come by; Momo has an entire cupboard dedicated to that. Lastly, Kyouka give Momo a hug, and lets her take a sip before she let's her speak. She hands Katsuki a chair and a cup of tea. The two wait patiently for what Momo has to say. It took a while. Five minutes. Ten minutes. Fifteen.
Katsuki got up. He to a knee in front of Momo and held her hand. As gently as he could he asked, "Tell us wrong. I'm not used to seeing you this way, and frankly it's upsetting to see you being sad like this." Dead eyes looked at him, but Momo didn't respond. She took her hand back, and Katsuki sat back down. He gave Kyouka a look. "Maybe we should say something," she read. She was about to say something until Momo could no longer hold back her tears. She let her cry. Based on previous experience if none of her words worked on Momo, simply having a cathartic release was more than enough. As Momo dried her tears, the two awaited for her to speak. In the past, Katsuki's minute observations led to the unraveling of an even bigger issue. Usually he feels a sense of pride, but this time...
"Shouto doesn't love me."
He really wishes he could take his observation back.
Continued next chapter...