-.My Hero Academia: 180 degrees. -
8. Where Deku reunites with Uraraka after not seeing her for a while and meets new friends.
Izuku was walking down a busy street, lost in his thoughts as he made detailed notes in one of his notebooks. His steps were automatic, more guided by routine than by any attention to his surroundings. The world around him seemed to move at a fast pace, but he was completely immersed in the task of recording every idea that crossed his mind. There was something comforting about this habit, a way to organize the chaos of his ever-active mind. However, just as he lifted his gaze to get his bearings, something made him stop mid-sentence. A familiar figure, standing out in the crowd, caught his attention.
It was Uraraka.
Izuku felt a warm wave of emotion wash over him as he recognized her. She was just a few meters ahead, walking with determined strides. Her martial arts suit was tight but practical, and her hair, pinned back in a simple clip, gave her a casual yet resolute look. The image struck him as unexpectedly cute, and his heart began to beat a little faster than he expected.
—Uraraka, wait! — Deku called out, raising his hand in an attempt to get her attention.
Hearing his voice, Uraraka quickly turned around, her eyes lighting up with surprise and joy when she saw him. —Deku! — she exclaimed with a radiant smile. —What a surprise to see you here!
—I just finished a training session with Todoroki and Mr. Yagi,— Izuku explained, still a bit flustered with excitement at having found her.
—I just finished training too,— she responded, her voice filled with shared enthusiasm.
They smiled at each other, and without the need for more words, they began to walk together, enjoying the unexpected company. As they walked, something about Uraraka's outfit caught Izuku's attention. The neckline of her martial arts suit subtly exposed the back of her neck, a small part of her skin that, somehow, seemed more delicate and attractive than he had ever imagined. Unable to help himself, he stared a second longer than he intended.
Noticing his gaze, Uraraka turned towards him, causing Deku to immediately feel nervous. — I-it's a shame we don't see each other as often anymore! — he blurted out, trying to divert attention as he fidgeted with the edges of his notebook. —I think it's been two months since the last time we met.
Uraraka lowered her gaze for a moment, and her tone softened as well. —Yeah, it is,— she replied, as if sharing the same sadness.
Izuku felt a small knot form in his chest upon hearing her words. He wasn't sure why the distance between them had been bothering him so much lately, but he couldn't help but wonder if she felt the same way. He remained silent, searching for the right words to break the invisible barrier that seemed to have formed between them over time.
—Would you mind if... I called you sometime? —he finally asked, his voice laced with a palpable shyness. He averted his gaze to the ground, unable to maintain eye contact for fear that his proposal would be misunderstood. —B-but if you're busy, I'll understand...
Before he could continue, Uraraka suddenly stopped in her tracks, causing Izuku to come to an abrupt halt as well. His heart raced. Had he said something wrong? Had he crossed a line he shouldn't have?
—S-sorry if I said something inappropriate... —he stammered, panic seeping into his voice—. I didn't mean to make it sound like... like I want you to be my girlfriend or anything. Not that... not that I have those intentions... I know we're just friends...
His words crumbled over themselves, and his face turned bright red, unable to hide his embarrassment. He felt like he had lost control of the situation, and just as he was about to apologize again, a familiar presence interrupted the scene.
—Then get out of the way, nerd!— snarled a sharp voice, followed by a strong shove that knocked him to the ground. Izuku barely had time to react before seeing Bakugo standing in front of him, wearing his usual defiant expression.
'Where did he come from?!' Izuku thought, still dazed from the hit.
—Bakugo, does this mean...?— Uraraka asked, looking at Bakugo with a mix of confusion and curiosity.
—Yeah,— Bakugo replied as he gently cupped Uraraka's cheek with surprising tenderness. —I rejected all those extras for you, round face.
—Wait, Kachan!— Midoriya shouted, but his voice was drowned out by the growing sense of despair welling up inside him. Suddenly, he saw himself as scrawny and weak, wearing his school uniform, just like when Kachan had suggested he jump off the roof.
Bakugo looked at him with contempt, his quirk crackling menacingly in his hand. —So, what will you do?— he asked, as fear paralyzed Izuku's legs.
Bakugo's face grew closer and closer to Uraraka's, as if time had slowed down, until they were interrupted by a powerful and resonant voice.
—Hahaha! It's all okay now. And why? Because I am here!
—All Might! What are you doing here?!— Bakugo and Uraraka exclaimed in unison, their hands intertwined.
Izuku watched as All Might walked right past him without even noticing him, and a wave of sadness washed over him. —Your death threat reached my heart, young Bakugo,— All Might said, his voice solemn. —That's why I've decided to make you my successor!
—Wouldn't expect anything less,— Bakugo responded with an evil laugh that echoed endlessly, reverberating in Izuku's mind as he felt himself spiraling into a dark, bottomless pit.
Then, he felt someone shaking him gently. —Midoriya, I think you're having a nightmare.
When he opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Todoroki's concerned face.
The sun was just beginning to peek over the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange as Midoriya and Todoroki walked silently down an empty street, each carrying a shovel over their shoulder. Though the surroundings were calm, Midoriya's mind was still clouded by the remnants of the nightmare that had disturbed him just moments earlier.
—I'm sorry for bothering you with my nightmare —Midoriya said, rubbing his eyes to shake off the sleep—. And thanks for waking me up.
Todoroki, as usual, looked at him with a mix of calm and concern. —You always murmur a bit in your sleep, but today you seemed especially troubled.
Midoriya stopped for a moment, surprised. —Wait, I always murmur in my sleep? I didn't know... I hope I didn't say anything embarrassing.
—You just kept repeating one name over and over.
—Wh-what name?
—Kacchan.
Midoriya's face fell, and Todoroki glanced at him from the corner of his eye.
—Don't worry. I haven't been able to sleep much since then anyway.
At Todoroki's words, Midoriya remembered that since the abduction of Todoroki's mother, no one had contacted them for a ransom or to state their intentions. The investigation hadn't progressed much either, given that Endeavor, with all his years as a hero, had made countless enemies to suspect. Todoroki appeared calm, but Izuku had a good sense of how he truly felt.
It had been two months since they had cleaned the beach, and in that time, Mr. Yagi had introduced him to a man who had been a pro hero, known as Gran Torino. He had helped Midoriya undergo training that initially seemed way too extreme. On weekends, they went to a rocky area where he learned to scale and make huge leaps similar to parkour. With a modification from Hatsume to his shoes and knee pads, he could store energy by repeating squats, allowing him to jump higher than he ever imagined.
—Over here! —called a familiar voice from the distance. It was Toshinori, waiting for them near a large area in ruins.
—This is... —Midoriya was surprised to recognize the remnants of the structure.
—That's right. It's the bridge that Tomura Shigaraki attacked a few months ago.
—Are we here to investigate? —Todoroki guessed, raising his shovel.
—No. All the information that could be gathered here has already been documented —replied Toshinori, surveying the massive destruction.
—As I once told young Midoriya, there are jobs that aren't as glamorous as saving people as a hero, but community service is necessary for society's well-being. A bridge like this might not seem like a big deal, but for the people who would use it daily, it's a vital part of their lives... Just like the beach you helped clean.
—That's something All Might said in an interview a few days ago —Todoroki mentioned—. In the same one where he clarified he still hasn't chosen a successor.
Caught in his own words, Toshinori tried to brush it off.
—He did? Must be we think alike on the matter.
—I wouldn't know. Since I stopped following All Might, I don't get his notifications anymore —Midoriya reflected.
—Anyway —he began, clearing his throat—, I've organized a small call for young people in the community to come and help rebuild the bridge. The construction company is going through difficulties, and this project has become a stain on their reputation. So I thought we could lend a hand and give this place a fresh start.
—So that means... —Midoriya started to say but was interrupted.
—Hey! Good morning! —a familiar voice cut in. It was Kirishima, as energetic as ever.
Alongside him was a girl with pink skin and striking eyes. —Hope we're not late!
—Hi. Is this where help was requested? —asked another girl with big eyes and green hair, standing next to a blonde boy with a large tail.
Heavy footsteps echoed behind Midoriya and Todoroki, prompting them both to turn around.
—Thank you all for coming —said the newcomer with a warm smile.
—That's Uraraka's dad! —Midoriya exclaimed, recognizing him from their encounter at the police station.
The man approached him directly, placing a firm hand on Midoriya's shoulder, his gaze filled with gratitude. —Izuku Midoriya. I don't think I'll ever be able to thank you enough for saving my daughter. And now, you're helping my company? I'll always be in your debt.
Midoriya quickly tried to deny it, feeling a bit uncomfortable with all the praise. —No... that's not...
Before he could finish, a cheerful voice interrupted. —We all agree Deku's great, but don't forget there are other volunteers here too, Dad —Uraraka said, stepping forward behind the frog-like girl and the boy with a tail.
—You're right —her father replied, chuckling softly.
—Uraraka! —Midoriya couldn't help but express his happiness at seeing her. This time, her hair was tied in a half-ponytail that suited her really well. Izuku tried to smile normally, and she returned the gesture with the same warmth.
As the atmosphere among the young people relaxed, Toshinori stepped forward, taking the floor with his usual calmness.
—Thank you all for coming. The foremen will be here to guide you on what tasks need to be done. . I understand that some of you are practicing to enter the UA hero course, like Mr. Uraraka's daughter, so feel free to use your quirks, but do so with caution. Remember, we're here to help, not to create more problems.
—Let's do this! —shouted Uraraka, raising her fist into the air enthusiastically.
—Yeah! —everyone responded, fueled by her energy.
The group clapped in unison, and within seconds, the area buzzed with activity as the work began.
Midoriya did his best to keep up with the workers. The bags of cement were passed from hand to hand, and alongside Todoroki, they kept the chain moving.
Out of the corner of his eye, Deku observed the other volunteers and workers, taking note of the quirks they used to make construction easier. He found it all fascinating and was already eager for a quiet moment to write everything down in his notebook. Every quirk, every ability, represented a new opportunity to learn.
—Ah, could you wait a moment? —one of the workers interrupted, frowning as he checked a list on his tablet—. I think we're missing a few bags of cement. I need to call the supplier to make sure it's not a mistake.
Both Todoroki and Midoriya nodded, relieved by the brief break.
Fatigue was starting to set in their arms, and Midoriya took the chance to wipe the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. Meanwhile, his eyes instinctively searched for Uraraka. He knew that if anyone was standing out in this project, it had to be her with her Zero Gravity quirk.
—Is she Kachan? —Todoroki asked, pointing toward her.
Midoriya turned sharply, a bit confused by the question. But when he saw Uraraka, she was chatting animatedly with the boy with a tail, and they seemed to be laughing at something. Although he didn't want to admit it, something about the scene bothered him a little, and Todoroki didn't miss the slight frown on his face.
—I don't like getting involved in other people's business, but... maybe if you talk to her, you might sleep better —Todoroki suggested in his neutral tone, though his words made sense to Midoriya.
Just as he was about to take the first step, ready to approach Uraraka, the worker spoke up again, interrupting the moment.
—Alright! —he announced, looking up from his tablet—. The missing bags will arrive tomorrow, so we can get back to work.
The rhythm of the construction returned to normal in an instant.
...
—Thank you all so much. We'll see you tomorrow, if you're not too tired —said one of the foremen as it was time for the students to head to school.
—Thank you for having us! —responded Kirishima energetically, speaking on behalf of the departing group.
Midoriya looked back, hoping to see Uraraka catching up since she wasn't with them. He thought maybe she had stayed a bit longer with her father.
—Hey, Midoriya! —Kirishima's voice snapped him out of his thoughts—. You know, I invited Bakugo to come along, but he said he preferred to hit the gym, you know, "like a normal person." I thought he'd like this kind of activity. The smell of masculinity is everywhere.
—I think you're not being very fair to us—reprimanded the girl with pink skin from the other side—. By the way, I'm Mina Ashido.
Kirishima scratched his head, realizing his mistake.
—Sorry! That wasn't intentional, really.
—I'm Izuku Midoriya, nice to meet you—Midoriya introduced himself with a slight bow, trying to ease the tension.
—Since we're in the middle of introductions, I'm Tsuyu Asui, but if you want, you can call me Tsu—added the girl with a frog-like appearance, speaking calmly.
—Nice to meet you, Tsu. By the way, I liked how you used your quirk today! —commented Kirishima.
—It's easy when you can adhere to surfaces—replied Asui, shrugging.
The young man with a tail joined the conversation.
—I'm Ojiro Mashirae, and this is Toru Hagakure. Nice to meet you.
Everyone blinked, puzzled as they looked toward the empty space where Ojiro had pointed.
Unable to contain himself, Ojiro let out a laugh, accompanied by a second, lighter, and more playful feminine laugh.
—Sorry—he apologized—, it's a joke we like to play when we meet new people.
For a moment, no one understood, until Midoriya, always attentive to details, figured it out.
—Oh, Hagakure is invisible! —he exclaimed.
Ojiro nodded, still laughing.
—A little while ago, we made Uraraka believe that her power was going haywire and that she was making a bucket float that she hadn't even touched.
Midoriya recalled when he had looked in their direction and finally understood. He smiled a bit, but felt oddly relieved that they hadn't been laughing alone. But why?
—Wait... —Kirishima raised an eyebrow, as if just realizing something—. Does that mean you've been...?
—Don't even say it—Ojiro interrupted, visibly blushing—. Of course, she's developed clothing using her hair as material, so it's invisible as well.
—I don't mind if people think I'm a nudist—Hagakure clarified—. It's a valid assumption, but most of the time, I do wear visible clothing.
—Anyway, sorry for thinking that about your girlfriend. It wasn't very gentlemanly—Kirishima apologized seriously.
—We're not dating. We've just gone out a couple of times—Hagakure clarified, laughing softly.
—But you didn't have to tell everyone—Ojiro murmured, scratching his chin, a bit uncomfortable.
Everyone found the situation somewhat amusing.
Midoriya wondered why the guys at his school were so different from these. It almost felt like they were all already friends, and it was so natural. He wished it could be like that every day at school.
—Hey, Midoriya, what happened with that other guy who was with you before? —Ashido asked, changing the subject—. The handsome guy with the serious look.
—Yeah, I thought the same—Hagakure agreed.
Tsuyu, for her part, thought that the guy reminded her a bit of her younger brother, so she couldn't consider him entirely handsome.
—Todoroki had something to attend to, so he left earlier—Midoriya explained.
He was a bit worried about that, but was reassured that Mr. Yagi had accompanied him.
—Besides being handsome, he's mysterious. That just makes him more attractive—Ashido commented, sharing a laugh with Hagakure.
Kirishima and Ojiro exchanged a look of resignation.
—Women...—both muttered in jest.
—Well, I guess this is where we part ways—announced Kirishima, as they reached an intersection in their path.
Everyone went their separate ways, saying their goodbyes, and Midoriya felt a bit down about being left alone. He was especially disappointed that he hadn't been able to talk to Uraraka after so long.
—Hey, wait up!
Deku was surprised and his heart skipped a beat upon recognizing the voice, but he tried to hide it.
—Uraraka... I'm sorry, everyone already left—he said, trying to sound natural.
Uraraka approached with a smile, adjusting her backpack.
—I got a bit distracted talking to my dad about his new projects. It's hard to stop him once he starts talking about architecture, but he's really happy—she explained with affection.
They continued walking toward the station, and discreetly, Deku glanced back and pinched his cheek to convince himself it wasn't another dream.
—Is something wrong?—
—No, nothing—Midoriya replied, trying to sound cheerful—. By the way, I really liked the volunteers who came today. I've never been in a group of people like that.
—Is it really that unusual?—Uraraka was a bit amused, not believing it.
—For me, yes—Midoriya looked up at the sky with a thoughtful expression—. It makes me think that... if everyone joined the hero course, they'd have a great time together.
Uraraka noticed the sadness in his words and felt a strong urge to comfort him. She tried to remember the decision she had made that day at the beach watching him train, but now she realized that it was becoming a lost cause. Because what she felt for Deku was overflowing now that she saw him again.
Uraraka moved a little closer to him and took his hand gently.
—Deku, you should try to get into UA—
Midoriya immediately felt as if an old wound in his chest had reopened. He had to admit that he constantly found himself thinking about how he would face the UA entrance exam if he tried. But hearing someone like Uraraka say it out loud made it too real.
—But... I promised my mom...—he began to say, his voice wavering.
Uraraka shook her head, interrupting him.
—I know she'll understand—she assured him confidently—. I know she won't let you give up on your true dream.
—Honestly... I'd like to keep meeting people like those from today—Midoriya reflected with a slight smile.
—And I'd be very happy to study with you and see you every day!
Saying that without thinking, Uraraka blushed instantly and wanted to let go of Deku's hand, but this time he took hers firmly by the wrist. He also seemed surprised by his own reaction, which seemed quite instinctive.
—S-sorry...—Deku began to say, but he didn't let go, and Uraraka's heart grew more turbulent—. Uraraka...
They looked into each other's eyes, their mutual confusion evident in their blush.
—I can't believe you forgot the science project! We're going to be late!—Ashido complained as she came down the station stairs.
—Oh! But Midoriya and Uraraka are still here! It can't be that late—Kirishima pointed out.
Both of them reacted with alarm, as if their hands were burning, and they immediately separated.
—But it's almost 9—Ashido said, checking her watch.
—Oh, it's really late!—Uraraka exclaimed.
—Yes, really late!—Midoriya agreed.
They both rushed up the station stairs, heading in opposite directions to catch their respective trains.
—What's going on with them?—Kirishima asked, and Ashido looked at them with interest.
Author's Notes.-
Your comments are always welcome! Thank you so much for reading, following, and liking. It always makes me smile.