A/N: Apologies if the notifications were messed up for this chapter, I accidentally posted something else at first. Anyways, onto the new chapter!
Kaminari and Uraraka were outside now, sitting on a bench under a tree. They had not talked to each other much throughout their first year at UA. However, they knew each other just well enough to not feel uncomfortable about the situation. They both sensed what this was about.
"So, like, you're best friends with Midoriya," Kaminari finally said.
"That's fair to say," Uraraka sighed.
"Um…"
She looked over to Kaminari, surprised by his sudden gloom. There was no relaxing for the ever easy-going student.
"Are Jirou and Midoriya, you know…"
"You know what?" Uraraka said, tensing up.
"Together?"
Uraraka grit her teeth. No, there was no way that could be the case. She figured Midoriya would have told her right away if that was like that. It just could not be.
"No way. I know they're hanging out with each other more recently, but I'm sure she still likes you," Uraraka said.
"Wait, what do you mean?" Kaminari said with a startled tone.
Silence over both of them yet again. Uraraka was certainly not like Ashido when it came to romance, but she occasionally liked to pair people together as she saw fit. Her and Deku, obviously, were the first match, but she also always thought Kaminari and Jirou had mutual feelings for one another.
"You like Jirou, right? I'm surprised you haven't asked her out yet," Uraraka said.
"Uh… I don't. I don't feel like that at all. We're good friends and all, but… I don't like her like that - wait, she didn't tell you that she likes me, right?"
"No, it's just - well, I thought you two liked each other, since you're always together!" Uraraka said defensively.
"Nope! We're just good friends. I was only asking because we haven't talked as much recently. I was just worried that I made her mad or something. And besides, I know how you feel about Midoriya, so I thought you would know," Kaminari said.
"Wh-what? N-n-no - okay fine, I do like Deku. But Jirou isn't mad at you, she's just been busy. Don't worry!" Uraraka said.
"Oh, thank goodness. I was feeling guilty but things have been pretty crazy the past few weeks."
"I can try to ask her sometime soon if you really need the assurance. I'm sorry you've felt like that. Truthfully, I've felt the same about Deku… he's been with Jirou so much. But I don't think he's mad at me," Uraraka said.
"Thanks. And I'm sure he's just been busy too."
They sat again in silence, unsure of what else to say. Kaminari got up moments later and left without saying another word. Uraraka stared up at the sky, thinking about Deku, Jirou and the sleepover on Friday.
"Ugh, between Mina and Deku, what's gotten into me lately?! I have to end this once and for all," Uraraka said.
"Just go like this dude!" Kyotoku Jirou said.
Going on a rampage with the bass in his hands, he played louder and louder as he got further into the song. Midoriya was too embarrassed, nervous and shocked to even play a single note. Kyouka was embarrassed too - although she knew she should have warned Midoriya prior to the lesson about how her father can act. Mika, meanwhile, crossed her arms and shook her head. The four of them sat in the small studio room together, but despite only one person playing at the moment, it sounded like a concert right before them.
"Kyouka, come on! Show this dude what you can do!" Kyotoku said.
Kyouka grumbled. One look at Midoriya was all it took to know how uncomfortable he was. But, she knew she had to get started, or else the night would be ruined before it even started.
Kyouka began joining in on the song her father played, one that was written by him himself. Mika watched both of them to make sure their technique was on point. Midoriya, seeing Kyouka now playing, strummed a few notes on his own.
"You two are doing fantastic! Louder! Come on, honey, you need to join too!" Kyotoku said, looking over to his wife.
Mika said something, but it was drowned out by the three basses. They approached the final notes of the song, with Kyouka and Kyotoku hitting it in synchronization, while Midoriya watched them both. Both of them took deep breathes as they concluded.
"That's how you play bass! Whaduya think?" Kyotoku said.
"It's… it's cool, thanks for show-showing me how to play, Mr. Jirou," Midoriya said.
"Ahaha! Just call me Kyotoku, there ain't no formalities here!"
"What did you think of how I played, Izuku?" Kyouka said, blurting out the first thing she could think of to divert the conversation.
"You, you were in-incredible as always!" Midoriya said.
"Oh, c-come on, it wasn't that good," Kyouka said, tapping her jacks together.
"How about - "
"Enough!" Mika said, cutting off her husband with two earphone jacks in front of his face. "Kyouka, stop being hard on yourself. Izuku, my apologies for the disorganization. How about we start with some basic notes slowly, Kyotoku?"
"Ah, of course! Yes, honey! Izuku, Kyouka, here's some scales. Try it out!" Kyotoku said.
"Boooring!"
Mina Ashido pouted as she threw another dart on to the dartboard on her door. None of the other girls were around, leaving her by herself in her room after school, much to her unamusement. As she tossed the last dart, she thought about the impending sleepover, and her plan with Uraraka to expose Jirou.
"Ooh, that's it! Darts! She's so good at darts, so that'll certainly make her crack! Hee hee!"
She then heard a text notification from her phone.
Katsuki Bakugou: Yep, they left together. Almost got caught too! Now leave me alone!
"Ha! It's going to be a match!" Ashido said, going into a breakdance as she spun around on her bedroom floor.
Another hour passed, with it now being 5:00pm, and the bass lesson was over. Midoriya was feeling more comfortable with the focus being on the basics, while Kyouka was relieved that her father had finally chilled out for more than five minutes. Afterwards, they packed everything up and went back to the living room.
"Thank you so much for the lesson, Mika and Kyotoku! And you too Kyouka, for even in-inviting me over," Midoriya said.
"N-no problem," Kyouka said, sitting on the same couch as him, while her parents were across from them.
"Would you care to stay for dinner, Izuku? It's the least we can do," Mika said.
"Oh, um, I thought - ah!"
Kyouka slung an earphone jack right past his nose, prompting him to close his mouth. She gulped as she tried to think fast.
"He was actually planning to, um, stay for the night, if that was okay with you two," Kyouka said.
"Of course! It's the least we can do for the two of you for all you go through as UA students," Mika said.
"Ha! Guess I can teach you some more things about the way of music, right kid?" Kyotoku said.
"Oh, um, of course, Mr. Jir - I mean Kyotoku!" Midoriya said.
"We're going to go cook dinner now. Kyouka, Izuku, we'll be in the kitchen if you need us," Mika said.
The two parents left the room alone for Kyouka and Izuku now. Realizing they were on the same couch together, Midoriya gandered around the room once more, trying to take his mind off of the nerves by reading what was on the wall.
"I have some homework to do, so I'm going to my room. I can show you to the guest room, if you want," Jirou said.
"Yeah, good idea, I totally forgot about schoolwork!" Midoriya said, relieved.
She led Midoriya upstairs, and pointed to the room across from her own bedroom. The guest room was rather bland, with beige walls, a nicely sized bed, a closet and a dresser, and absolutely nothing else was in there. Jirou told Midoriya that she would be right across the hall if he needed her, and shut the door to the guest room.
Midoriya breathed. It may have seemed silly for him to be all worked up, but truthfully, he had not felt relaxed since he had woken up. Over the past couple of weeks, Jirou had gone from being just another person to the one he cared about the most. And despite being around her, at her own house, the nerves only grew and grew.
"A phone call is here! A phone call is here!"
"Huh? Oh, Uraraka!" Midoriya said, answering it. "Hello?"
"Deku! Where are you?" She asked.
"Hey! I'm at Kyouka's for the night. Her parents are teaching me how to play bass! What are you up to?" Midoriya asked.
"Oh… um, Deku, are you two - nevermind. Bye," Uraraka said.
She hung up before Midoriya could say another word.
"Huh, that's unlike her. I hope she's doing alright," Midoriya said.
Over in Jirou's room, she laid in her bed while holding a book in the air. She barely paid attention to it. She knew that Midoriya, along with herself, needed the break after the stress-inducing lesson. After a few more moments, she put on headphones, and began listening to her top rock playlist that she had hand-picked herself.
"I hope he's doing alright."
Midoriya, more than happy to be away from her parents for the time being, worked furiously to complete his assignments. Jirou was on his mind as he worked hard, and he knew the faster he was able to complete it, the faster he would be able to see her again.
"I hope she's doing alright."
Downstairs in the kitchen, the Jirou parents prepared the meal for the evening - Katsudon. Kyouka requested the meal in particular, catching them off guard considering it was not one of her favorites, but they figured she must have been craving it for whatever reason.
"Honey," Mika said.
"What is it, Mika? How're you doing on time?" Kyotoku said.
"Good, good. But don't you think it's strange that Kyouka is so open to this Izuku about her music? And how she felt comfortable enough to let him spend the night here?" Mika asked.
"That's what friends do, nothing strange about that!" Kyotoku said.
"Well, no - I mean the music part in particular. She's always been so reclusive regarding her hobby. Maybe she's finally opening up?"
"I hope so! She may not accept it, but she's talented enough to be a PRO if she ditches being a hero! I doubt that'll happen though," Kyotoku said.
Still, Mika nodded and wondered if there was something more to the equation.
Once Midoriya finished his work, he texted some of his classmates about how things were going, along with Inko to assure her everything was alright. He wanted to check on Jirou, but also was not sure if he should interfere with her studies.
"Dinner should be ready soon anyways. I'll practice One For All right here, no contact!" Midoriya said.
Several punches and kicks were thrown mid-air, all while making sure he did not make too much noise or his anything. Although the quirk that had been transferred to him was not 100% suitable for his body yet, plenty of progress had been made over the past few months, thanks to UA and All Might.
"Detroit - "
"Woah, Izuku! You good?"
Midoriya saw Jirou at the doorway with a concerned look. She wore purple headphones, which matched her hair color, while also holding a book in her hands.
"Yep, all good! Just practicing a little - hey, I, um, love your headphones!" Midoriya said.
"Oh r-really? Thanks. I got these back in junior high," Kyouka said as pink crawled onto her cheeks. "You know, I can show you some other - "
"Kyouka, Izuku, dinner's ready."
"Coning right down!" They both yelled.
As they went down the stairs, Midoriya realized that he would he spending the meal with the Jirou family. However, he felt more calm, knowing their personalities from the lesson. The time to decompress afterwards also helped clear his mind.
"Just like All Might said. I just need to be myself."
A/N: Another chapter in the books! This is an arc with multiple chapters with Midoriya being at the Jirou's, so the pacing may seem different compared to past chapters. But as you can tell, there are several other things going on behind the scenes at UA… only time will tell where that leads to!
And next Wednesday, the arc will continue - can Midoriya survive dinner? How about the night afterwards? Thank you for reading, and thank you for the comments, follows, and favorites! Have a great week!