I'm a-okay, I'm a-okay
You say it but you just don't mean it
You're so insane, you're so insane
Shut up and just enjoy this feelin' - Way Less Sad by AJR

"I just don't know what to do," I complained, "I mean, I know what you said, but I made these decisions on my own. Midoriya has never, not even once, expressed any interest in me further than…" I groaned, "comrades."

Mina visibly wilted, even lounging on her bed, "Everyone knows how he feels."

"Maybe." I fiddled with a pencil on her desk, "But I was determined to change my mind. I decided to not like him that way."

Mina shook her head, "You still do. Or did?" She smiled, "Shinso-kun doesn't cause this kind of conflict?"

I shrugged, "Midoriya's goal, one I don't honestly share, is to be the number one hero. To become the next symbol of peace. I just want to help people. I want to help make this world a place where kids don't have to be afraid to go to school. Someone with that much passion…"

"So why did he ask for a date?"

I had asked myself that a thousand times since Friday night. I never thought he'd ask. I'd flirted, a tiny bit, not enough to send him running, obviously. I'd maintained our friendship; our, what I thought was mutual, plan to just not be that kind of friend. I was okay with it. I have been okay with it.

"I blame you."

"It really is my fault." Mina glomped onto me, and gave me a monster hug. "I'm sorry, girl. If you want I'll tell him you aren't feeling well."

"No, I can at least be honest with him." I looked at Mina's wall clock, "Shoot. I have to go. Apparently I'm supposed to meet him in the student gym."

"Yuck." Mina stuck out her tongue.

I rolled my eyes, "It's not romantic. So, I suppose Shinso-kun won't have any competition."

Mina waggled her brows, "Actually, he might. Tomorrow, Kirishima wants to take you out." Her eyes took on a softer look, "He's a great guy. You should give him a chance."

"Same as everyone else." I shook my head and stood to leave, "See ya in a bit, I don't think this'll take long."

I hurried to my room and quickly re-dressed in soft yoga clothes. I rode the elevator down and dashed out of the dorm and out to school grounds. The student gym was possibly one of the most popular places in UA, and the structure itself was huge. As I neared, I slowed, the place was hardly deserted, and I hoped that Izuku had at least reserved a room for us.

The date in question waved at me, and I jogged up to him, "Hey, Izuku."

"Ochaco, hey. I hope you didn't mind coming out here. It's not really…" He blushed, "a great place for a date. I know."

"It's alright. I didn't know what to expect." My smile felt unreal, but I left it. I could feel my nerves spill over. How long had I had a crush on him? No matter how much I decided not to notice or care, I could not deny that those feelings existed.

He seemed to wilt, "I wanted to talk, if you want to run?"

I supposed I could keep a conversation going if I lightened all my clothes and forced him to keep it down to a jog. "Sure." I giggled, "Maybe just a jog?"

He laughed right back, "Okay." He started off at a brisk pace, but one I could keep comfortably for a little while. I silently thanked the fates that allowed me to get into UA. I was certainly more in shape than ever before.

"Can I ask you why you asked for a date?"

Midoriya skipped a beat, nearly tripping over his own feet, "Ah. I wasn't going to." He glanced at me, but I had totally been expecting that. "I just felt like…" I could practically see the gears turning as his pause dragged on. "Like after Kacchan was so mean to you, I knew what that felt like. You know, sort-of." He blushed, even in the dark I could see his cheeks reddening.

"I thought that out of everyone, you would feel the same as he does."

"I do." He said it simply, though I felt like it was not as simple as that. Especially as he gazed at me, as if willing me to understand. He looked away to gain a moment, then swung his big, luminous, green eyes on me, "But you should know why he said that."

I blinked at him, suddenly upset. "I do know what he meant. I understood him perfectly!"

He waved his hands as if to erase that off some cosmic blackboard, "If you really want to be a hero, I mean. Kacchan went about it wrong. Of course."

I stopped dead, "So to be a hero I can't be human?"

"You know that isn't what I mean. To be true to my goal, I have to put aside those things." He studied his shoes, "For now."

I felt my chest constrict, "So you can deny your feelings to stay true to your goal. I am proud of you. I really am. But to be true to myself, I have to remain true to all parts of me. The part that wants to be a hero." I locked eyes with him, "And the part that wants to be in love."

I had tried not to get upset, to let this play out in a way that might mean I could just go to bed without becoming frustrated with the person I admire most. I darted back to the dorms, leaving Midoriya behind. Too bad staying true to myself was such a pain in the butt.

AN/ Midoriya is never gonna wake up and smell the bacon, guys. I love him. Really. My beta, Mosevic... Thank you once again for.. Saving my bacon? LOL