AN: Thanks for reading! If you like the story, feel free to leave a review!

The more Ochako delved into her latest book, the more confused she became.

"The symptoms I feel line up with happiness, which I already knew," Ochako said to herself as her fingers traced over the words on the page. "But it does not explain why I am thinking about him when he is not here. Or the other symptoms I feel when we meet up. We have had this routine for weeks, so why…"

She continued flipping through pages, reading all about emotions humans feel and the chemical processes used to create those emotions. Eventually, she reached the entry about love and bonding.

"The symptoms here are similar to what I am experiencing," Ochako's brows furrowed. "But at the same time, they are not. All of this discussion on attractiveness and reproduction do not apply. However…" Her voice trailed off, but her traitorous thoughts finished the sentence for her.

However, everything else lines up with what I am feeling.

"It does not make sense," Ochako said as she began to reread the section. "I should not be able to feel this way. Especially not toward a human-"

Once again Izuku's words came to her, clearly echoing in her mind.

"...well, now that we know you can feel emotions it feels kind of… sad. If you were to give that up. After all, our feelings are an important part of what makes us well, us."

"Izuku, were you hoping for this to happen?" Ochako looked up from the book.

"You look cute!"

Ochako felt blood rushing to her face as she thought of the subtle signs Izuku had been displaying.

"Why did you choose to give me the second name of Uraraka?"

"It-" Izuku swallowed the lump in his throat. "-was a name I read in a manga once," Izuku said. "I just said the first name that came to mind."

Ochako clearly remembered searching up the meaning of the name later that evening, only to find out that it meant 'Beautiful Day.'

"Does this also mean Izuku is feeling the same way? Does he love me?" Ochako asked herself. She didn't understand why her body was producing adrenaline in response to that idea, but she felt her body displaying the now-familiar symptoms of excitement.

"Is that why he wanted me to keep this body?" Ochako asked the book, wishing it would give her clearer answers. "Why are you so unhelpful?"

She felt acid pooling in her stomach as she closed the book with more force than was necessary. As backward as it felt, there was one person whom she trusted implicitly on this planet - the very source of her problems. She had so many questions and needed answers from him.

As Ochako tore open the rift and stepped through, she tried to push down the growing sense of fear. She didn't want to think about what would happen if she didn't like the answers Izuku gave her.

Izuku breathed a sigh of relief as he left his office for the day. Shouldering his bag, he began the short trip to the park where Ochako was waiting for him. As he idly wondered how her day went, he suddenly felt the now-familiar falling sensation of falling through reality…

…Only to come face to face with the being in question.

Except her expression was very unlike her. She looked upset.

"Ocha-" Izuku started, raising his hand slightly.

"Did you do this on purpose?" Ochako asked, a mixture of so many emotions spilling out with each word.

Frozen in place, Izuku felt worry creeping up his spine. "Do what on purpose?"

"You-" Ochako said with more force than necessary. She paused for a moment, closing her eyes before she tried again. "These last few days, I am constantly thinking about you! And every time I look at you my heart speeds up and my stomach produces acid and-" She opened her eyes, those brown eyes locking with Izuku's green. "-and I remembered what you said. About keeping this body- about feeling emotions- Izuku. Did you intend for me to have these feelings?"

Izuku stared at those eyes. Hearing her words, he suddenly realized the emotion behind them.

It was fear.

Fear and confusion. Toward him.

But also something else-

Hope.

And trust.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Izuku took a cautious step forward, once again raising his hand to reach out to her. "Ocha-"

"Stay back!" Ochako demanded, her petite form suddenly surrounded by a dozen shadowy tendrils hovering protectively over her.

Despite their sudden appearance, Izuku wouldn't be deterred. Ochako needed him to be strong for her - to be her anchor.

He took another step forward. "Ochako I- I promise I didn't intend for this to happen."

"How long?" Ochako whispered, taking a step back.

"What?"

"You have been displaying signs of attraction toward me," Ochako explained. "How long have you felt that way?"

Izuku nearly tripped over air as the blood rushed to his cheeks. "I- oh." Looking at the girl, he was hit with the realization of what was going on. "You… Ochako. I didn't mean for you to feel that way about me. I… I know what you really are. Know that you're going to leave when you're done. My feelings-" Izuku looked down at his hands. They were shaking. He flexed them, trying to stop them. "I was never going to tell you how I felt."

"Why not?" Ochako asked, sounding genuinely hurt by the revelation.

"Because," Izuku closed his eyes. "You- you have an important mission, protecting-" he gestured to the starfields "-all of this! And I'm just… me. It wouldn't be fair for me to burden you like that! So I was going to enjoy our time together and then…" it took all his strength to offer her a sad smile. "I was going to say goodbye."

Ochako felt a strange sensation fill her chest - one she could not describe, but she didn't like it. Izuku was so kind, thoughtful, and considerate. To know he was willing to do all of that for her- knowing that he felt that way-

As she stood there, she suddenly felt as if she understood the emotion known as love.

"I do not like that answer," Ochako said, her voice soft - barely a whisper.

"Huh?" Izuku looked perplexed. "What else am I supposed to-"

Ochako stepped forward, the tendrils disintegrating into stardust. "Look around you Izuku," Ochako said softly. "It does not matter where I spend my idle time. I can cross the galaxy with a thought."

"Oh- oh," Izuku said, as if realizing what she was implying. Taking a hesitant step forward, he hesitantly reached out, his fingertips brushing against the back of Ochako's hand. As he watched, she closed her eyes, savoring the sensation. Emboldened by her response, he wrapped his hand around hers, their fingers entwining. "Are you sure about this?" Izuku asked hesitantly.

"No," Ochako admitted. "Before I met you I was untethered, free to float among the stars, unbound to anything but my obligations. But now… Now I want nothing more than to stay here- to stay with you. I do not like this feeling."

"I'm sorry," Izuku apologized.

"No!" Ochako said forcefully, before repeating herself more quietly. "No, do not be. I am scared…" She tightened her grip on Izuku's hand. "However, I have faith in my anchor - he has done so much to help me understand what it is like to live on the planet Earth, and to understand how to live as a human does."

"Ochako-" Izuku breathed. "Does this mean…?"

"Yes, Izuku," Ochako replied. "Now that I know what your intentions were… Despite my initial negative response, I cannot help but find myself strangely entranced by this emotion. I like how it makes me feel. How you make me feel." She turned to face the stars. "I do not know where my duties will carry me in the future, but I do know I do not want to say goodbye to you. Not yet."

Izuku felt elated as he looked at the woman standing in front of him. She loved him! Enough to stay on Earth! With him! Sure, she may have to leave, but he could live with that!

Wait…

A nervous smile filled Izuku's face as he looked at Ochako. "So um, does this mean we're dating?"

"What is dating?" Ochako asked as she turned toward him.

"Err… when two people are exploring their relationship status, they often go through a period where they say they are dating! I would be your boyfriend and you would be my-" Izuku felt his throat constrict, the word suddenly becoming difficult to say. "-girlfriend."

Ochako looked at him with a curious expression, before a smile spread across her lips. "I believe that accurately describes our evolving relationship. If it makes you feel better, then yes we are dating."

Izuku couldn't help but feel his smile become more confident as he looked at the petite form in front of him. "I know it probably sounds silly to you, but it does. Make me feel better, I mean!"

"If it is important to you then that is enough for me," Ochako assured him. "So how do humans explore their relationship status?"

"Oh," Izuku felt his smile slowly morph into an expression of panic. "Um, well… we spend time with each other, going to different places and doing different things together. And then there is the p-physical component-"

"The way you describe things, it sounds like we have been dating for a while now," Ochako's lips curved into a subtle smile. "And I already enjoy doing those things. Especially physical contact with you - the chemical release it gives me is pleasant."

As if to emphasize her point, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Izuku, pulling him into a hug. Responding on instinct, Izuku wrapped his arms around the woman's shoulders, holding her close as she rested her head on his neck.

As they stood there in Ochako's pocket dimension, surrounded by the stars, Izuku decided that the rest of the explanation could wait. For now, he simply was content to enjoy the pure happiness he felt as he and Ochako - his girlfriend! - held each other tightly.

After Ochako left, Izuku's apartment stood empty, waiting for its occupants to return. Eventually, the lock on the door twisted, rotating to the 'unlocked' position before the second lock followed suit. The handle began to rotate, and the door opened, heralding the return of Izuku and Ochako.

"I should have come back and cleaned up," Ochako observed as she stepped in, noticing the lights were on and the pile of books was scattered on the floor. In her haste to leave, she didn't even notice that she knocked them over.

In her defense, she had more important things on her mind.

"You had a lot on your mind," Izuku said as if he knew her thoughts. Reaching out he brushed his free hand on her exposed shoulder, and Ochako savored the brief sensation of skin contact. "Why don't you clean up and I'll start heating up dinner."

"Okay," Ochako said, already noting the absence of his warmth as they separated.

She had enjoyed the bodily contact inside her pocket dimension, and then when she returned them to Earth she held his hand the entire time they were out. At one point she asked Izuku if he cared, he simply smiled at her and said he was enjoying it as well. Having secured his permission, Ochako held his hand tightly with no intention of letting go. Her body was warmer than when she first arrived on Earth, but it was still colder than the human average. Because of that, it always felt like Izuku positively radiated heat that she selfishly absorbed. In addition, there seemed to be new, even more complicated chemical reactions occurring with the mutual acknowledgment of their emotions.

Ochako enjoyed the sensations very much. When she asked Izuku about other aspects of love, he turned bright red and explained that they were going to be taking it slowly. She was more than happy with that - everything had felt so new and fast and different these past few weeks, it had already threatened to overwhelm her.

Even if part of her was excited, she still knew how to be patient.

As she reflected on events she knelt and began collecting her books, slowly separating them into two piles - one to return to the library and one to continue reading.

"Psychology and Human Emotions huh?" Izuku asked from his position in the kitchen.

"Yes," Ochako said as she looked at the cover, debating where to place it before she ultimately decided to continue reading it. "It was how I was able to determine you were in love with me."

"Is that so?" Izuku asked curiously.

"You were not exactly subtle with your feelings," Ochako pointed out.

"I tried though!" Izuku protested. "I can't help it. You just - you have a way of throwing me off my guard, that's all!"

"Oh?" Ochako placed the last book on the 'return' stack before rising to her feet. "Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"

"A little bit of both," Izuku said softly as he suddenly became very interested in plating their meals. "There are so many ways people are expected to act around each other, so many social cues that we've picked up and you just didn't have any of them. They catch me by surprise and I just… say what's on my mind without thinking."

"That does not sound like a bad thing to me," Ochako said as she walked over to the kitchen. Normally she would help set the table, but she decided to take advantage of Izuku's admission. Coming up behind Izuku, she wrapped her arms around him and pressed her head against his shoulder. "This feels like it would be a good thing."

Izuku was glad she couldn't see his face as he felt his cheeks burning. "I-it is!" Izuku insisted. "It's just - you didn't have emotions for so long and then you're still learning - I just - I didn't want to take advantage of you. I didn't want to manipulate you. You deserve better than that."

"That is why I trust you so much," Ochako replied. "And if my understanding is right, it is also a large part of why I have fallen in love with you."

Izuku paused, placing the serving spoon on the counter so he could grab his girlfriends' hands. "That's why I said it was also a good thing."

Ochako paused, reviewing his words in her head. "I guess you did. But now that I know, I will continue to surprise you, if the results are as pleasant as this."

Izuku gave a nervous laugh. "We should probably eat dinner. Before it gets cold!" He added quickly.

"I understand you are trying to distract me," Ochako frowned as she reluctantly untangled herself from her boyfriend. "But very well. The sooner we eat the sooner we can resume cuddling on the couch."

Despite the embarrassment on his face, Izuku had to admit, he was looking forward to how Ochako surprises him next.

Izuku waved goodbye to his coworkers as he left, making his way to the park. He couldn't keep the smile off of his face as he entered the park, in search of his girlfriend. His girlfriend!

Even though Ochako was so much more than that.

Izuku found her at her usual bench, reading something on her phone. She was dressed in a nebula-patterned skirt with black leggings underneath and a plain blank sleeveless tank top with a pair of black arm stockings that were covered in constellations. While it was nothing new, she still looked beautiful.

Then again, she would look just as beautiful in her black robes and monotone colors. A voice in his head interjected. For some reason it sounded like his friend Tsu.

"Are you going to just stand there and admire me?" Ochako asked, pulling Izuku out of his thoughts.

"S-sorry!" Izuku rubbed the back of his head, feeling his cheeks heating up. "You just looked like you were focused."

"You know I see more than what my eyes would indicate," Ochako stood up and smiled at her boyfriend. "While I enjoy the emotions I feel when you gaze at me like that, it is not enough to distract me fully."

Izuku's cheeks were burning at the insinuation. "I guess I'm more easily distracted than you are."

"Of course," Ochako replied as she slipped her hand into his. "You are only human after all. It makes me happy to know I have the same effect on you."

"T-that's how it's supposed to work!" Izuku stammered out lamely. "When two people love each other."

"As you explained," Ochako's smile turned playful. "Now then. You promised to show me what a human date is like?"

"Yeah," Izuku said, feeling his face cooling. "We haven't been back to the beach ever since you stopped that tsunami. I was thinking we could get dinner at one of the places along the beach, and explore it?"

"What is there to find that I cannot see already?" Ochako asked, tilting her head. There was no malice within her question, but genuine curiosity. As she has learned over her time on Earth, while she could see so much, there were still so many things that her sight missed. Not just things that she deemed unimportant, but feelings and emotions - as a human, there was a difference between seeing something and experiencing it.

"Well it's one thing to see the beach, but it's a different thing to be walking along it with friends… or more," Izuku felt his cheeks heating up. "Hearing the waves crashing, smelling the ocean air. It's rather peaceful after a stressful day."

"Have you done this before?" Ochako asked.

"Mhm," Izuku smiled warmly at her. "I used to visit the beach with my friends in high school. Tsu in particular was fond of the water - she dragged us down there at every opportunity."

"Would this be intruding on your memories?"

Izuku shook his head. "No. I think Tsu would be happy I'm spending time with you."

"Is she just as strange as Shoto?"

"No," Izuku chuckled nervously. "Well - she was strange, but in a different way."

"Perhaps you can tell me over dinner?" Ochako asked.

"Of course!" Izuku replied. "Shall we get going?"

After a quick detour to Izuku's apartment so that he could drop off his satchel and change into something more comfortable, the couple made their way down to the beach. The shopping district that he led them to was old, but the storefronts were well-preserved, showing the pride of their owners.

Ochako examined each of the stores curiously, but none interested her. Or, perhaps, she was more distracted by Izuku's presence than she cared to admit. Either way, she decided not to interrupt their journey and they arrived at a small restaurant near the end of the district. A 'hole in the wall,' to use Izuku's terms. As she followed Izuku in, she saw a long counter with stools offering places to sit as well as three small tables set up in what little free space there was. After speaking to the server, the pair was guided to the table furthest in the back, where they were seated.

"I know you like the contrasts of tempura, and this place is known for that. The owners used to actually go out and catch the fish themselves, before serving it," Izuku explained. "Nowadays they go to the market, but they still pride themselves on the freshness of it."

Ochako simply stared at him, and she had to admit she enjoyed seeing him like this. Even though this would be an incredibly mundane thing if she were simply human, he still showed how much he genuinely cared as he talked about the shop. Once he had finished, she realized it was the perfect opportunity to continue the conversation from earlier.

"Is this one of the places you discovered with your friends? With Shoto and this Tsu person?"

"Yeah," Izuku said, with a smile on his lips. "There's a few restaurants tucked away here. Maybe we can visit the others sometime?"

"I think I would like that," Ochako replied. "Although I am curious about how you became friends with Shoto. From his brief visit, you two did not seem very similar?"

"Ehehe," Izuku rubbed the back of his head. "It's a bit of a story. Back in Middle School I wasn't in the best position - I was friends with someone named Katsuki. Or well, I thought I was friends? Our parents are friends, so naturally we were supposed to hang out, right? Well… it turns out that wasn't the case. We ended up going to different high schools and that was for the best."

"I can already tell I will not like this Katsuki person when you tell me about him," Ochako said.

"Yeah… that's a story for another time," Izuku said, pausing as the server gave them drinks and took their orders. "But the end result was I ended up kind of… lost and drifting when I started high school. Turns out I wasn't alone."

"That is where you met Shoto and Tsu?"

"Yeah," Izuku continued. "Shoto was… well you saw him. Although he wasn't as eccentric back then, he was always looking for a way to get out from under his father's shadow. He was tired of so many people trying to befriend him because of the Todoroki name, and he hated it. When he saw that I didn't care about that he, well, started opening up to me, I guess?"

"And Tsu?"

"Tsu was always a little eccentric. She was what you would call a science nerd. When you combine that with the fact that she was always blunt and spoke what was on her mind, well… she wasn't exactly the most popular girl at the school. Not that she cared - she had her frogs and her snakes, and that was enough for her."

"I am starting to understand," Ochako replied. "Such a personality would also be appealing to Shoto."

"Yeah," Izuku smiled fondly as he thought of them. "Shoto invited us out a couple of times, and it was really awkward at first but eventually we became the best of friends," Izuku chuckled at some unspoken thought. "We all went to different universities but we've stayed in touch over the years. Too bad Tsu is working out in Nagoya, but she's trying to transfer back to Mustafu to be closer to her girlfriend. Maybe you'll be able to meet her someday!"

"I think I would like that," Ochako admitted. "And we still owe Shoto dinner, as well."

"Yeah…" Izuku said guiltily. "I don't think we can put that off much longer."

"Do not worry," Ochako assured Izuku. "I have come to better understand your world since we first met. I will not give away any important information when we have dinner with him."

"I- thanks," Izuku smiled warmly at her. "I'm just worried what would happen if he found out-" Izuku gestured with his hands, not wanting to say it out loud while they were in public.

"Yes. Such individuals can be a danger to themselves and others. It is a universal constant," Ochako sighed as if she spoke from experience. "I am glad he has someone such as yourself to help guide him."

She paused for a moment as the server delivered their plates of food - a pair of baskets full of tempura-fried seafood and vegetables along with dipping sauce. Gratefully accepting the fork and knife, Ochako carefully selected several items from the basket, examining them with extreme care before moving them to her plate.

She cut a scallop in half and dipped it into the sauce before she took a bite. It was just as wonderful as Izuku had promised. Tempura was a particular favorite of hers due to the variety of textures and flavor profiles that each bite offered. The contrast was a delightful surprise and one she would never tire of.

"Do you like it?" Izuku asked in anticipation.

"The food is delicious," Ochako said. "I can see why you would come here."

"I'm glad you like it," Izuku said before taking a bite as well.

The pair ate their meal in companionable silence, and Ochako had to admit that, much like the night before, something felt different now. She didn't even pretend to understand the why of it, but something about identifying the emotions she felt toward Izuku and acknowledging that those feelings were reciprocated changed the way her body responded to Izuku.

The human body was strange and fascinating, Ochako decided. Fortunately, she would have plenty of time to figure it out.

After they ate dinner, the pair walked to the beach. The setting sun bathed the beach in brilliant hues of pink and purple, giving the beach an almost magical appearance.

At Izuku's insistence, the pair removed their shoes and socks before descending further. As they descended the beach Izuku pointed out the darker patch of sand that ran several meters up the beach. "You can still see how high the water got a few hours ago. It'll continue to recede for a few more hours before the tide rises again and covers part of the beach again."

"I understand," Ochako confirmed. "And sea detritus is left behind."

"When you put it that way, it doesn't sound nearly as impressive," Izuku said meekly as he rubbed the back of his head. "But yes! There's all sorts of shells that we can find."

"Why would we care about shells?"

"Because they look nice," Izuku tried to explain. "And we can use them to decorate the apartment! I used to have a jar filled with sand and seashells, but that's currently at my mom's house."

Ochako nodded her head. "Aesthetic beauty then."

"Yeah!" Izuku brightened. "Think of it like a scavenger hunt, we're searching part of the beach looking for the ones that are still intact."

"A scavenger hunt?" Ochako asked, before turning to look up into the sky. "That sounds much like what I have been doing ever since I have arrived here."

"Oh," Izuku's face fell as he looked at his girlfriend. "Sorry, I didn't mean to pick something that reminded you of work - there's a bunch of other things we can do instead if-"

"No, it is alright," Ochako turned to him, but the smile didn't return to her face. "The idea of people performing a task similar to work, but for pleasure is still one I do not fully understand. However I am happy doing anything with you," Izuku finally saw the corners of her lips twitching upwards. "Perhaps this exercise with you will help me understand it better. As long as we have more success than my mission - I do not want to spend the next several months on this beach."

Izuku laughed. "Don't worry, we won't! Let's go see what the ocean brought in!"

As the pair walked down to the wet sand Izuku could immediately see the reflections of shell pieces in the evening sun. Kneeling, Izuku began to comb his fingers through the sand, feeling the stark contrast between the sharp edges of broken shells with the smoothness of the interiors and rocks. It reminded him of his friends - how they helped him find himself around after everything that happened with Katsuki.

Perhaps that is why he wanted to share it with Ochako.

He spent a few minutes searching his chosen patch of beach. There were several close successes - shells that appeared to be whole until he unearthed them, and then the damage was apparent. But then, finally, it happened.

"I found one!" Izuku exclaimed as he held the pristine shell in the air triumphantly.

"This is what you were looking for?" Ochako asked as she examined the shell curiously.

"Mhm," Izuku stood up and offered her the shell.

Gently plucking it from Izuku's hands, Ochako examined the shell further. The outside of the shell was an off-white color, but when she flipped it over she began to understand Izuku's fascination with the object. The interior was pearlescent, its smooth finish acting as a prism, reflecting the sun's rays in a rainbow of color. As she rotated the shell the colors appeared to shift along with it, dancing in a prismatic hue along the interior of the shell.

"I think I am starting to understand what you mean," Ochako said. "It is indeed nice to look at."

"Yeah!" Izuku said. "And if we get a whole bunch of them, we can put them together!"

"That is a good plan," Ochako agreed before looking down at the shell in her hands. "Shall we continue then?"

The pair continued along the beach in their quest for shells, Izuku reminiscing about his high school days when suddenly Ochako froze.

"Is something wrong?" Izuku asked.

"I am leaving," Ochako said, turning toward Izuku. "Something is happening."

"Is it dangerous?" Izuku asked, dropping his shoes on the beach and slipping them on.

"I do not know," Ochako said. "If you are worried, you can meet me back at your apartment."

"I'm not worried," Izuku shook his head. "Since you'll be there with me."

Ochako looked up at her boyfriend and the determination on his face. It made her smile. "Very well then, I am opening a rift."

As the couple heard reality protest, Izuku took Ochako's hand. Without another word they stepped into her rift, ready to face this new mystery together.

AN: Bet you thought I was gonna drag this out.