Three years later….

University of Hokkaido

Bakugo was nice enough to leave a note on his forehead upon waking up. Juice Wrld's "Lucid Dreams" has been his alarm ringer since he has been too lazy to change it. He kept telling himself that the ringtone was paying homage to the recently departed musician, but that was only sometimes. In the depths of his heart, the song had a deeper meaning. A meaning if he were to spend some time in deep thinking, it would revive synapses in his brain from yesteryear. However, those were oftentimes his perilous thoughts. He wasn't sure if perilous was the right word. When seeing the delightful note on his face, he gnashed his teeth when realizing that he had another Freshman Composition test that he didn't study for yet again.

Test today, you fucking pussy! Meet you at study hall before class! Rubbing his head to alleviate his throbbing headache. It could be from dehydration. The night before, he and Katsuki went to a study party at the nearby manga cafe with a few of his classmates. However, he should have known better that a party at a manga cafe would escalate into karaoke at the drink bar. Just like a typical college freshman, he said that he was going to drink one beer.

Well, after eight cans of beer and a shot of tequila later, the teen wouldn't like nothing more than to take a siesta. Be that as it may, he needed to take this test. It was the weekend before fall break and Izuku had plans returning back home to spend his parents.

Knowing that he wouldn't have time to shower, he hoped that a little wash off with soap and water would do. He could apply some deodorant and cologne to hide any musk until he came back from his midterm. Using his cell phone to turn onto YouTube. Using the playlists he saved in his library, he clicked on the playlist, Random. Songs that he liked as he was passing through or saving for later.

Seeing that he had an hour before the test, he needed to be quick. If he remembered correctly, Momo told him that the professor was allowing them to use an index card as a cheat sheet. As he allowed the water from the faucet to get warm, he pondered if her or Tenya would like some money if they were to 'crib' his index card for him so he could have time to grab a quick bite at the student canteen before heading to the study room at the library.

While he was composing the text, his YouTube tuned into a song he had completely forgot that was in his shuffle.

And I know she'll be the death of me, at least we'll both be numb

And she'll always get the best of me, the worst is yet to come

But at least we'll both be beautiful and stay forever young

This I know, yeah, this I know

His heart skipped a bit. He nearly lost grip of his cell phone when hearing the words that penetrated his ears. Such candid, horrid, yet hauntingly beautiful words that would impact the synapses of his mind for the rest of his days.

And I know she'll be the death of me, at least we'll both be numb

And she'll always get the best of me, the worst is yet to come

All the misery was necessary when we're deep in love

This I know, girl, I know

Izuku returned back to the page and put the song on pause. If this headache wasn't enough for the tired eighteen-year-old, then the conundrums of yesteryear weren't helping his current debacle either.

'Izuku! Izuku! I love you!'

'Love me! Love me like you would Ochako or the girls you speak with at school! Love me like we are lovers.'

'I love you, my little emerald gem.'

'I love you like crazy.'

Those powerful verses from the musician were nothing more than sheer empathy. Fresh as the mildewy towel on his flushed and sunken cheek. Fresh as the sun-kissed lips he shared with the woman. Powerful as the eruption he spewed into the womb of the woman.

Woman was a better choice of words. It took guts for the fifteen-year-old to do a job for a woman. Whispering and spewing sweet nothings into his ear to take away the very thing he had hoped to save for the woman of his dreams. Only a woman who had the prowess to steal his lips. Only a woman who had the aptness of taking charge of the situation, leaving him confused and timid in his meek state of mind.

'I have to do this. I love you! I can't keep this pain in my heart. If I can't do this now, then it will be pointless. I must seal the deal. I want to show you how serious I love you.'

'I think you might hate me, so allow me to not give you such a ghastly image.'

'I love you, my little emerald gem.'

'I love you like crazy.'

Three years. It has been three years!

How could she love him without saying goodbye. After spilling his seed inside of her, she ran away from the apartment. He lied there on the floor. He felt cold, spent, used. The music of the Weeknd continued penetrating into his formerly virgin ears. Ruby never came back that night. Izuku concocted a lie that his classmates decided to throw her a surprise farewell party at the karaoke bar. When his mother asked why he wasn't in attendance, his excuse was he couldn't find the words to bid farewell.

Izuku wasn't present when Ruby was sent off to the airport. He never left his room that day. Matter of factly, not for a few days. Wrapped in the cocoon that he called his blanket, he was processing the events that happened. This wasn't rehearsed. This wasn't planned. How could a teenager walk up to him and forcibly take his virginity without giving him any consideration if he had wanted it or not. Be that as it may, the emerald-haired teen was a nice guy, a bag filled with holes. Even back then as he did now, he had always given Ruby the benefit of the doubt.

Contact ceased on that day on the floor. Ruby wasn't on any social media. Even if he was tempted to go through her friends, all of their accounts were private.

Numbness about Ruby was the only feeling to describe her. The final parting gift and there wasn't even a receipt to show for it. Not even a Dear John letter. Nothing to convey, solidify, or justify the events that occurred that day. Three years have passed since then and emptiness remained. His virginity wasn't the only thing she took with her. There were precious things that she kept in the purse he called her heart. Even if she brought it back, what value would be of it?

He knew that diving into yesteryear wouldn't do any good. There was a midterm to be taken and he needed just enough points to keep his B-average. After putting on his UCLA sweatshirt, he grabbed his wallet and his keys and stepped out of the apartment. He just prayed to God that his blessings were on his side.

A couple of hours later….

Katsuki Bakugo, Tenya Iida, Shouto Todoroki, Momo Yaoyorozu, Yui Kodai, Minoru MIneta, and Itsuka Kendou were sitting outside of the cafeteria foyer at the Student Center. On the surface, it appeared that the duo was studying for another class. Or at least that was what Izuku could see as he was buying his third cup of coffee.

Americano was best for hangovers. A miracle drink to the eighteen-year-old as he took two nitro brews before heading for his mid-term.

As if God was on his side, the test was on scantron and the teen made enough to keep his B-average in the class.

Thanking the barista for his third Americano shot, he paced himself as he approached his classmates.

Katsuki waved his hand to attract Izuku's attraction. He bumped Minoru with his shoulder. "Move it, man! You can make room for your imaginary girlfriend when you play Goat in the Stable tonight."

The grapehead teen scoffed. "Don't you dare talk like that. I do have a girlfriend. I can prove it."

"When Himiko Toga becomes President, then I will believe you," retorted Katsuki as he sheepishly grinned. "Deku, my friend. What's going on? Have a seat with your buddy."

"Yo! Guys, what's happening," said Izuku when he saw his friends. The others all smiled when seeing him in their path.

"Izuku, my man," said Shouto as they high-five each other.

"What's going on, Shouto, Bakugo, Yui, Minoru, Itsuka, Moes?" Momo went and hugged him, followed by slapping him on his back.

"For the last time," she smiled, "Stop saying that." She appeared embarrassed, but Izuku loved how flushed she looked.

"Dude, did you just leave Freshman Comp," asked Itsuka.

"That test was a killer. I thought I would bomb that test," answered Izuku. He tapped the table. "Knock on wood, I waited on the professor. And guess who can coast it with a B at this time?"

"That's what you get when you study at the last minute," said Momo in a sing-song.

"I did study for it," exclaimed Izuku.

"It doesn't count when you study for it five minutes before class," said Momo.

"Could have more time if a certain roommate could have woke me up on time," said Izuku when turning his head to the not-so-coy blond. He was whistling with a pencil on top of his nose.

"Don't look at me. You don't like my wake up calls," said Katsuki.

"I am not sure that wake up calls involve wet willies and bowls of water every morning," said Tenya as he was scanning his notebook.

"Jesus," screeched Katsuki. "We're in college! The best time of our lives." He crossed his arms. "So what if I do a prank or two with him. We don't have frats around here." He put his finger to his lip. "Maybe if we should…."

Shouto interjected. "I smell controversy just within your thoughts." The icy hot teen proceeded to stand. "Do you guys have some time to chill before our next class?"

"I could spare some time, can you babe," asked Tenya.

"You know that I can." Yui happily said and then faced Izuku. "What about you, Deku?"

"Sure," replied Izuku monotonously.

"Itsuka," asked Shouto.

"I'm game. Wasn't planning to go to my next class anyway," answered Itsuka. "Got Minoru here to take care of that."

"Yep! Yep! Is the deal of thinking of you in the tub still on," asked Minoru desperately.

"As long as the notes are detailed as your erotica in your fanfiction," said Itsuka as she winked at the grapehead.

"Great, I will buy us hamburgers," said Shouto excitedly as he went to the canteen. He turned his head and held his hands at them. "Don't worry about the cost. It is on me."

Katsuki looked as Shouto headed to the canteen before turning to Momo. He clicked his tongue at Momo. "You must've given him some this morning."

A tossed balled napkin hit his face. "Jesus, you baka! You're worse than Minoru. At least there is subtlety with his." She shuddered. "God, I give him a compliment. No offense, Minoru."

The teen shrugged his shoulders. "None taken. Got your panties from last night to make it even." He clicked his tongue. "You and Shouto were quite drunk last night."

Momo wanted to slap him, but decided against it. Too many witnesses. "No wonder I felt a drift."

A few minutes later, Shouto returned with a tray of hamburgers. "I brought enough for those who want extras," he said as he took a seat next to Momo. The teens thanked the icy hot teen as they partook on their burgers.

However, Izuku was the only person who didn't partake in Shouto's offering. That alone surprised Shouto. "Hey, Izuku. Aren't you going to eat? It's on the house."

Izuku took steady breaths, delightfully declining the meal. "I want to. Honestly," he told Shouto. "However, I promise a dear friend that I would eat her bento."

When Izuku pulled the bento box from his book bag, the others recognized the Hello Kitty bento box with the initials written in monogram.

M.S.

"Holy Dio," cried Yui as she made the sign of the cross.

"Where are my tweezers," cried Itsuka.

"That is worse than walking in boxers after my three-day masturbating session," cried Mineta.

"Melissa's lunch, Deku," barked Katsuki. "Really?"

Upon opening the bento box, a wave of a strong odor penetrated the nostrils of everyone around the table.

As well as a few others within the vicinity.

"What in the hell is that? Who forgot to wash their ass?!"

Kodai used her handkerchief to cover her nose. The black-haired beauty spoke. "Izuku, darling. I wish you can just tell Melissa that you don't like her lunches." She grabbed her boyfriend, Tenya's inhaler as she was trying to breathe.

Minoru grabbed the plastic bag that contained Momo's panties as he was trying to breathe. "Dude, that is a bento full of funk."

Katsuki snatched Izuku's chopsticks and began poking at the dish. "I can't tell if that udon, taiyakisoba, gelatinous fat, or the afterbirth from the baby alien in Alien vs. Predator."

Itsuka began retching when hearing that comment. She excused herself to the bathroom.

Shouto snatched the bento box from Izuku and tossed it in the nearby trash can. Upon doing that, it was met with an astounding roar of an applause.

"Take this burger. At least it won't kill you as fast as that contraption," said Shouto. "You didn't think Melissa accidentally took her father's lab experiments by mistake."

Izuku sighed heavily. "What I eat is my business. What's wrong with Melissa's lunches?"

A growling sound was heard from the trash can before a popping sound was released. The others turned back to look at the teen. Izuku released a nervous smile. "Leftover heat from the microwave?"

Katsuki took a bite of his burger. "You would think you were trying to get some from Melissa by forcing yourself to eat that slop."

"What makes you think I want Melissa," questioned Izuku.

"Izuku, baby," retorted Momo. "A guy who forces himself to eat whatever you want to call it must like her."

"Or I am just being a friendly person is all," said Izuku.

The group stared at each other momentarily before turning back to Izuku. "Liar!"

Tenya rubbed his nose with his glasses. "For the last couple of weeks, you have taken whatever lunch she had given you and not one time did you reject it." He turned to Yui. "Remember last Monday when she gave him Korean BBQ?"

"That was Korean BBQ," retorted Yui. "I thought that was chilli beans."

"Or yesterday she made stuffed crab," said Shouto.

"Dude! It looked like canned tuna with pickled dick cheese," said Minoru. Itsuka made another retching sound as she approached the table and turned around. Momo flicked his forehead. "No more talking from you, Mineta!" She turned her head back to Izuku. "Point is, honey, is that anyone that goes to great lengths to force themselves to eat must like that person."

The emerald-haired teen blew a raspberry. "Say what you want. I stand on my beliefs." He stood up. "I am going to the restroom."

"You do that while I help you with your burger," said Katsuki.

"Feel free," replied Izuku.

A few minutes later….

Izuku walked into the restroom. The content of the restroom had one urinal and one stall. Turning on the faucet, he began dowsing water to his face.

For once, I wish that everything doesn't have to do with relationships. Yes, I am taking Melissa's lunches. Not because I want to, but because she insists. That's why I stomach her food.

About a month ago, Izuku discovered that Melissa was engaged in an affair with the dean of the Literature department. It wouldn't be a big deal since Melissa was an adult. However, the dean had a wife and children.

The same dean who was also his professor in his Freshman Comp.

Even if he didn't study, the professor was going to pass him anyway to keep quiet. Melissa's lunches were a token of his vow of so-called secrecy. Nevertheless, he couldn't care less. For one, Melissa wasn't his type. Although cute, she didn't appeal to him.

Honestly, engaging in relationships with women of any kind have faulted since that day with Ruby on the floor of his apartment.

'Izuku! Izuku! I love you!'

'Love me! Love me like you would Ochako or the girls you speak with at school! Love me like we are lovers.'

'I have to do this. I love you! I can't keep this pain in my heart. If I can't do this now, then it will be pointless. I must seal the deal. I want to show you how serious I love you.'

'I think you might hate me, so allow me to not give you such a ghastly image.'

'I love you, my little emerald gem.'

'I love you like crazy.'

As he sat on the toilet seat in the empty restroom, he reflected upon himself. The failed conquests, the failed dates he had since that day when he was fifteen years old.

Even the night before, he was engaged in a conversation with a girl from a neighboring university. What attracted him to her was that she had a cute pearl necklace. However, it was her that made the mood. She and a few girls from her college joined him and the others at their post-study party. The group sang and danced in the crowded booth.

Later that night when Izuku went to the restroom to urinate, the girl followed them there. She pressed him to the door, keeping him barricaded as they were engaging in a make out session. Izuku just followed suit, going through the moments without looking ridiculous. Knowing the seriousness on her face when she asked if he had a condom, he didn't stop. He just hoped that this time, this would be different.

In the end, it failed. He couldn't get hard. He blamed it on whiskey dick. The girl wasn't too upset. She left him her number in case if he could rattle again. However, he knew it would be useless. It would be like every other girl he had tried to have sex or go out, it would all end in failure.

'I love you, my little emerald gem.'

'I love you like crazy.'

Izuku believed he had a special type of sexual impotence. Ruby Rose was the only girl he could ever get aroused since that day. He tried exercises online. Masturbating was the worst. Even if he managed to get partially hard, the climaxes were weak and demeaning. He even visited a counselor (or a counselor that was publicly funded by the university) and the suggestion for his sexual health didn't work.

He thought that he was no different than an eunuch. Nevertheless, he tried not to let his sexual shortcomings interfere with his life. He believed that he had a great life. Great friends, great school, great times to produce memories, things that an eighteen-year-old needed in his life.

He opened the stall and looked at himself in the mirror. He took steady breaths. Fall break was among him and he knew that he was looking forward to being home for the week.

Back to his domicile, his place of peace, his familiarity.

'I love you, my little emerald gem.'

'I love you like crazy.'

Later that evening….

Katsuki was checking himself out in the mirror as he was preparing to go out for the night. Meanwhile, Izuku was lying in bed while he was playing Grand Theft Auto Online.

"Are you sure that you don't want to go to the club tonight with us," asked Katsuki as he began spraying himself heavily with cologne. "Plenty of foreign girls. Even girls who have fetishes for Minoru. Do you believe that?"

Izuku shook his head in disagreement. "Thanks, but no thanks. Just gonna spend a quiet evening at home. Might order a pizza."

Katsuki shrugged his shoulders. "Suit yourself! But you know if I bring a girl, then I would need you to make yourself scarce for the night."

"Oi," replied Izuku. "Just be sure to get me up. It is I that have the train tickets back to Musutafu in the morning."

"Yeah, yeah," replied Katsuki. "Just be sure to have your ass out when I bring back some action."

"Are you sure Kendou is cool with that," asked Izuku.

"Kendou," questioned Katsuki. "Please. We don't have a label." He rubbed his back with more cologne. "Knowing her, she is probably bringing some dude. Like I care with Fisty does."

Izuku decided not to further bark that tree. "All right, have fun! Be sure to wrap it up."

"Be sure to use one," said Katsuki. "Melissa's udon today was harder than that noodle in your pants." He gave him the peace sign. "Later, man."

"Yeah, much," replied Izuku as he heard the door slam.

The emerald-haired teen crossed his legs. He was yawning as he was contemplating on what kind of pizza he wanted for dinner. While pondering on ordering a pepperoni pizza with pineapples, he heard his phone ring.

When checking the phone, it saw that it was from a different calling code. Deciding that it might be some Nigerian prince or a Canadian ponzi scheme, he decided to have some fun.

"Yellow," he said mockingly.

"Goodness, Icchan. It's good to hear your voice again!"

Izuku's breath was taken away as he felt himself being lowered in his own bed.

'I love you, my little emerald gem.'

'I love you like crazy.'

"Icchan, are you there?"

Izuku grabbed the phone. He steadily placed it on to his ear. "Yeah. I am here."

"Hey, Icchan. It's Ruby. Do you remember me," said the caller. "I am happy that you still have the same number. Thank Oum!"

"Ruby," said Izuku as he was coughing in disbelief. "Long time no see, I guess."

"I know, right," retorted Ruby. "I wanted to let you know that I am back in Musutafu. I'm actually staying at a hotel at the garden district downtown. Are you free to meet, Izuku?"

Izuku sat up as he put the game on pause. Still out of breath, he reached for bottled water. "Meeting? Meeting? Yeah, I mean, sure. But, I am out of the prefecture right now. I am in Sapporo attending school. I won't be back until tomorrow."

"That's fine," she said calmly. "I am not alone. The family is here with me. Can we meet tomorrow? I really want to talk to you."

'I love you, my little emerald gem.'

'I love you like crazy.'

"Yeah, sure," answered Izuku. "I will be back in Musutafu in the morning."

"Great," replied Izuku. "Remember the drink bar that Auntie took us?"

"Yeah."

"We can meet there."

"Yeah...sure."

"Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow. Night, Icchan!"

'I love you, my little emerald gem.'

'I love you like crazy.'

"Yeah, good night!"

A few hours later….

The sound of the unlocked door was the only source of noise. The blond teenager staggered himself inside of the room as he was searching for a light. However, the teen wasn't alone.

"I can't believe this," barked Katsuki as he coughed loudly. "Out of all of the girls in the club, I wind up with your ass."

"Well, you're not exactly first prize, best in show, or honorable mention either, but I don't see you complaining," replied the redheaded Itsuka as she turned on the light. "You better have condoms, too, you damn pomeranian."

Katsuki pointed at Izuku's bed. "Check his drawer. He keeps them for wishful thinking. Speaking of which." He snapped his finger. "Oi, Deku! Either sleep on the couch downstairs or make yourself scarce. Got some action tonight."

"Um, Katsuki. Izuku isn't here," said Itsuka as she showed him the empty bed. She pulled the blanket, showing a note and a train ticket. Itsuka read the note.

Katsuki, had an emergency to deal with back home. I will see you later.

Izuku!

To be continued….