MY HERO: NEW AGE OF HEROES
~ Part 02: What Are The Right Words ~

Inside the private massage room for guests to use, Izuku is calmly laying on the massage board as Ochaco watches from afar on a nearby couch. He had stripped himself of his shirt, dressed in a pair of white shorts, with his scars on full display across his upper body and hands. A look of worry plagued Ochaco's face as she looked on before the masseuse came in.

"Sorry to keep you both waiting." a woman's voice said. Their gaze turned to her, a middle aged woman dressed in a casual kimono and with short black hair, as she approached Izuku. She took one look at his multiple scars and gasped.

"Oh…wow. Miss Uravity wasn't joking. You truly must've suffered when you were overusing your power, Mister Deku. Even so, I thank you for all you did for us during those dark hours. If it weren't for you and the other Heroes, I don't think we'd still be here." she said, bowing politely to him. Izuku chuckled.

"It's a small price to pay if it meant making sure we all had a future to look towards." he casually replied. The masseuse took her position next to Izuku and asked him to flip over. He agreed while crossing his arms under his head to prompt his pillow as she went to work, beginning with his upper muscles. It took a while for the feelings of her massage beginning to take effect, but Izuku looked extremely comfortable and sighed heavily once he was completely relaxed.

"Woooww. I…don't think I ever got a massage…that felt this good before." he replied with a goofy grin. Ochaco chuckled, using her phone to snap a pic of his expression before he noticed. As the massage went on, the overwhelming sense of relaxation caused him to drift to sleep. A previous conversation soon replayed itself in his mind, seated next to the elderly retired Toshinori at the park for lunch one day.

"Hmm? You wanna know what the best way is to tell Uraraka how you feel about her?"

"Yeah. It's been something I can't seem to get right…no matter how much I practice ahead of time. You must've had a lot more experience dealing with fans admitting they loved you, right All Might?"

"Ha ha ha heh! Young Midoriya, I might've been the biggest celebrity in Hero society when I was in my prime…but even I don't have the answer to something like that. I didn't have anyone that made me fall head over heels for them. So I'm afraid I'm NOT the best person to talk to. I know. Why not ask Young Todoroki? He's quite popular when it comes to the ladies."

"Nngh! If I went to Shoto about this, I'd…I'd be way too embarrassed to ask him straight to his face."

"Heh heh. Well, I don't know what made you think talking with me was the better choice. But…I may have something that might help."

"H-Huh? What? What is it?!"

"Just be yourself, young man. Use the time you've spent with her during your classes and just naturally apply it in future opportunites you get. If you just follow what your heart says, then just like how you mastered One For All…you'll be able to let the voice of your heart reach her."

"Thanks, All Might."

"No problem, my young protege…also, you know you don't have to keep calling me "All Might", right?"

"D'oh! Geez! I can't believe I let it slip out again!"

Toshinori's laugh echoed in his mind as he slowly awakened from his massage, eyelids feeling heavy still. The first thing he noticed was Uraraka reading from a magazine before she noticed his eyes.

"Hey sleepyhead. How was your nap?" she teasingly asked. Izuku yawned loudly, covering his mouth, before rising up from the table.

"You slept through the entire process. She finished a while ago…but I guess you needed the extra hours of beauty rest." Ochaco continued. Izuku gasped, remembering what happened earlier, before asking her if she had a mirror on her. She pointed to a nearby full body mirror and let his reflection answer for him. When he gazed at himself, he couldn't believe his eyes. The large scar that once filled up his upper left arm as well as the previous wound on his face had miraculously vanished, restoring the freckles beneath his eye. Still in shock, he brought his hand to his cheek and rubbed it. No trace of his damaged skin could be felt as Ochaco handed him his clothes back.

"N-No way. This…is amazing. It's like it was all a dream." he muttered.

"See? I knew this was a chance worth taking. Now you have your adorable face back." she replied. Deku immediately turned bright red in the face, Ochaco suddenly realizing what she said and slapped her hands over her mouth.

"W-What are you THINKING, Ochaco?! Why'd you say THAT?!" she thought. When she realized he was glancing her way, she freaked out and began frantically waving her arms around,

"I-I-I-I DIDN'T MEAN IT LIKE THAT! I-I meant…uhh…yeah! You'll look a lot more "photogenic" next time someone asks for a photo. Yeah! That's it!" she exclaimed, completely flustered. Izuku started snickering, trying to hold it back before he burst out laughing.

"That's quite the compliment, Uraraka! Thank you though!" he laughed. His infectious laugh soon washed over her as she started laughing as well, wiping away a tear from her eye. The look of her big smile made Izuku's heart skip a beat, his feelings overwhelming him once again. As she continued laughing, he began to move his arm towards her. But, feeling this wasn't the right time, lowered it back to his side.

~ A While Later ~

Having dressed himself again, Izuku and Ochaco left the spa and spent the remainder of the afternoon walking and reminiscing with each other. Their walk eventually led to the two having dinner together at a nearby cafe, the two sharing a table. He once again felt his smooth cheek.

"Thanks again, Uraraka, for today. I know my mom is going to be over the moon when I see her next." he said.

"You don't have to thank me…but if you insist, then I'm gonna hold you to it. If we end up getting dessert, I'm going to get whatever I want…no matter how much. You can repay me by offering to pay." she teased "I already paid for your massage." Izuku let out a small chuckle.

"Okay then. I think I can manage that." he asked. Ochaco laughed, telling Izuku she was just jostling and not to take her words that seriously. The waiter arrived at their table with their orders and set them on the table. As he watched Ochaco talking with the waiter, he began thinking back to his talk with Toshinori.

"Would…NOW be the best time to tell her? I mean, a lot of couples usually do so in those movies my mom enjoyed watching. Or is that just an overused troupe?"

Ochaco picked up her utensils just as Izuku snapped back to the present.

"Maybe I should hold off a little later. I mean, I don't want to embarrass her when there's so many people here. If any of them happen to be reporters….hoo boy."

"Looks good! What do you think, Izuku?" Ochaco asked. Izuku looked down at his steak and nodded back.

"It looks like a place Momo would definitely come to. Oh, speaking of which, did you know Kaminari and Jiro got back from their trip recently? The one Momo's parents helped pay for?" Izuku said, leading them into another conversation. The rest of their time together was them enjoying good food, each other's company and catching up. To Izuku's slight frustration, once the night ended, he realized he once again botched his chance to tell Ochaco how he felt.

~ The Next Day ~

At Ochaco's house the next day, she had just finished making herself look presentable before heading out in her hero costume. She adjusted her head piece before taking another glimpse at herself in the mirror. As she was leaving, she noticed her mother walking towards her.

"Oh. Before you leave, Ochaco, there's something I wanted to ask you. Do you have a second?" she asked. Even though her hand was on the doorknob, she nodded.

"Sure mom. What's up?" she asked. Her mother lightly smiled.

"It's not a big deal or anything. But I forgot to ask you how your date with Izuku was last night? You came home with a pleasant smile on your face…so I can only imagine you finally let the boy know you like him?" she asked. Ochaco suddenly froze up, her eyes widening and pupils shrinking, as sweat raced down her face.

"M-Mom. About last night, I…uhhhhhhhhh…" she said in a monotone fashion. Before she finished, her mother lightly sighed and shook her head, making Ochaco even more embarrassed.

"Really, Ochaco. You don't have to keep holding it in any longer. I know you work hard as a Hero to provide for your father and me. We already have plenty of money now, especially since we were endorsed by the Hero Public Safety Commission after you graduated. But…I'm worried that you're doing all this at the cost of your own happiness." she continued, resting her hand against her cheek. Ochaco calmed down albeit still with her face blushing greatly.

"Even if you only start out as your own hero team, it's okay to rely on others. Amazing things can happen when people come together with those they care for. Remember?" she asked, making her daughter gasp. The memory of her and Izuku together after All For One's defeat came flooding back, remembering the pain and misery she felt because she blamed herself for Toga's death.

"Ochaco…holding a hand can be enough to soothe the pain. You're MY Hero!"

Tears began leaking from her eyes, wiped away soon after.

"Sorry, mom. I guess…when it comes to love…I need a little more courage. But, don't worry. If you and dad are backing me up, I'll definitely be able to tell him." she replied, nodding with confidence. Her mother smiled before hugging her.

"That's my Ochaco." she said, patting her back. She then let her leave, Ochaco using Float to travel across the city with a mighty jump. She touched down near the intersection of downtown before she turned her Quirk off. Just then, she noticed someone had witnessed her touchdown and saw Mina Ashido glaring at her with arms crossed. She impatiently tapped her foot with a look of disappointment radiating off her.

"O-Oh. Good morning, Pinky. How are…?" she waved before Ashido hurried over to her. She gave her an aggressive glare, pouting directly at her. Ochaco hesitated to say anything back.

"OOCCHHAACCOO! Why didn't..?! How could…?! I-I mean…! D'OH!" she growled, fumbling over her words before she started comically bopping Ochaco's head "Dummy! Dummy dummy dummy dummy DUMMY!" Ochaco grabbed Mina's wrists.

"Whoa! Calm down! Why are you pummeling me?!" she asked.

"Why?! Why did YOU botch things up again?! You had Deku in the palm of your hands and, just like the OTHER times, you didn't seal the deal! YOU'RE JUST A TOTAL DUMMY!" Ashido exclaimed. Suddenly, Ochaco realized that she had texted the others about their day together before she went to bed last night, sharing that she wasn't able to confess. Mina's look of anger quickly made sense for her.

"Ugh! I swear you are HOPELESS! Do you WANT some other girl to swipe Midoriya before you stop dragging your feet?!" Ashido continued "He might be as dense as you when it comes to romance…but you're driving me nuts with how long you're taking!" Ochaco heavily sighed.

"Ribbit. Why did I know this was going to happen first thing?" Tsu asked. Both girls gasped and looked nearby, seeing Froppy stuck to the wall of the building in her hero suit. She leapt down inbetween the two before shoving them apart.

"Ashido, leave Uraraka alone. We've known each other since school and you should've expected this by now. Let her do things her own way, ribbit." she continued, turning to Ochaco "Don't worry, Uraraka. Deku's not going anywhere." Ashido groaned, muttering Tsu was not helping her case under her breath while looking away. Just then, the ear piece Ochaco wears in her helmet gave a couple of buzzes. She brought her hand to her ear.

"H-Hold on a second." she said before pressing a button down.

"Uravity! Come in! Are you there?"

"Deku? What's wrong? Is there a crisis?"

"We've got a wounded child laying in the intersection by U.A. High! He was trying to stop a truck from hitting another bystander but took the hit in his place! But he's losing blood at an incredible rate! We could use your Quirk to help get him in the ambulance ASAP!"

"O-On my way! Hang on!"

"H-Hey! What's up, Ochaco?" Mina asked. Ochaco turned away and used her Quirk on herself again, her fingertips glowing briefly.

"Deku needs my help! A child was caught in a traffic accident and he's bleeding out!" she shouted "I gotta go! Sorry Ashido! We're going to have continue this later!" They both gasped before she then leapt off again into the blue skies, leaving them watching from below.

TO BE CONTINUED…