She couldn't tell you when it first started. It wasn't until Aoyama pointed it out during their midterms that she realized that she had fallen for him, but it was clear to her that her feelings had begun quite some time prior.

She could, however, tell you exactly when she realized the feelings were deeper than a regular crush. Right around when he and the others returned with Bakugou after the Kamino incident and everyone read them the riot act. She couldn't bring herself to do the same. All she could think about was how she had told him not to go, and he went in spite of it. She didn't stop him. That was the moment she knew she'd never forgive herself if anything happened to him. How much having him around mattered to her.

And it wasn't long after she made the decision at their Provisional License Exam to simply set those feelings aside. She needed to be a pro hero for her family's sake, and she certainly couldn't ask him to put his dreams on the backburner for her, either. And it worked! They both passed the exam, and time and again after, the decision worked out great for both of them.

And now, in their 3rd year, she could say she had no regrets.

Well, she could say that.

Sitting next to him, right now, alone in the common area of the dorms, still felt as agonizing as it did during those first few days of realization. She could just compartmentalize. Ignoring it and hoping it would go away was a poor choice, all things considered. Every triumph the two had achieved only made her like him more.

But, she was a permanent fixture of his life. He asked her, before anyone else, on this study... session. Not date! Session. That was enough. She had his trust, his respect, his companionship. All the things people expect in a partner, but without any of the downsides.

*ring*

Well, one.

"Who's that?" Uraraka asked.

Midoriya gave his phone a once-over. "Hatsume's texting to say she finished my new gear."

"And... you're gonna head over there after this?"

Midoriya quirked an eyebrow. "That was the plan..." he answered, confusion clear in his tone.

"Cool, cool."

It wasn't cool. It was the furthest thing from it. Midoriya had never dated anyone or anything, and though some girls had flirted with him, he'd never realized it. But Hatsume was so blatant, that even Midoriya knew what she was getting at. Problem was, she was the best student in the Support Course, and navigating her somewhat amorous advances was just something he'd learned to put up with.

And Uraraka... tolerated it. Hatsume had helped her with support gear in the past, too. It was fine. Midoriya was allowed to have female friends. Uraraka didn't own him or anything. And she was content knowing he turned to her first. That was all that mattered. She could indulge her feelings this way, and Midoriya wouldn't have to know or worry. And he'd not have to reciprocate. And she could live on like this. Onwards. Unchanging. Stuck in this pseudo-relationship purgatory of longing and nothing else.

Actually...

On second thought...

Fuck longing.

"Hey, Deku."

"Hmm?"

"I've had a massive crush on you for like, 2 years now."

Midoriya's eyes widened to an impossibly large degree. He opened his mouth, but no words escaped, as his mouth was seemingly devoid of moisture.

Uraraka, having apparently chosen to throw caution to the wind, continued, "And it doesn't even matter if you don't feel the same way or anything, but... we're graduating sooner rather than later, and I couldn't take you not knowing. So, even if you don't like me like that, the definite 'no' is healthier than no answer at all-"

"I've had a crush on you since we first met."

Now it was Uraraka's turn to be silent.

The two remained that way for a good minute or so.

*ring*

Another text. Uraraka would not stand for this. "If you tell her to wait another hour, we can go to my room and make out."

Midoriya grew increasingly flustered at this. "Y-your room?!"

"Well, your room's got All Might everywhere! It'd freak me out..."

"So... wait... I wanna see if I've got this," the green-haired boy began, "I've got a crush on you."

"Apparently," the brunette replied.

"You've got a crush on me."

"Huge one."

"And if I push back the meeting with Hatsume, we can spend that extra time making out?" he clarified.

"If you're up for that."

Midoriya quickly gathered up his studying materials, and began to move toward the dorm rooms.

Uraraka turned her head to follow his movements. "What are you-?"

"I can walk and text back at the same time!"

Suddenly realizing the boy's train of logic, Uraraka began to gather her studying materials as well.

"Should've done this years ago..." she muttered.