"Anyway, haven't you been standing there for quite a while? If you want the both of us to eat lunch together, then it's high time we get to it." I said with an undoubtably annoyed look on my face as my stomach had been growling over and over as Midoriya just stood in place with the weirdest grin on his face. But it was then that he finally snapped back to reality and knew exactly what he had to do.

"Right. Then allow me to- Midoriya spoke as closed the distance between us and was about to pick me up. But before that I slid my body away from him to the other end of my seat. LIKE HELL I'M LETTING THAT HAPPEN HERE!

"Don't you even dare!" I snapped back before hissing at him. Though Izuku Midoriya quickly realized that he would only be making me more uncomfortable than I already am if he suddenly swooped me into his arms in front of the whole class. But there was one thing that did confuse him momentarily.

'So, she's a cat now?' Midoriya thought internally while recalling the moment he entered the classroom and caught Sakayanagi growling like a dog to him. It was rather amusing that she was able to mimic the sounds of those wonderful critters so well to the point that it made him chuckle to himself a bit. Though I didn't know that, but I knew whatever he was laughing at was me.

"You want to die?" I replied while cracking my knuckles as if each crack unleashed the sound of thunder. Thankfully, Izuku Midoriya understood his place and replied with 'Not for a very long time.' And then…

"May I escort you to the roof, Madam Sakayanagi?" Midoriya asked while extending his hand toward me as he was struggling to contain his laughter. However, him doing that was the equivalent to stepping on a landmine.

"Stop making fun of me, you foolish fool who does not know how foolish he is because you are the fool!" I replied with what was unquestionably an annoyed look. But me saying all of that only had the reverse effect when he started chuckling, much to my growing dissatisfaction. I couldn't help but snap back at him with a 'Quit it!' Thankfully this time he stopped for good.

"Okay. Then let's go Sakayanagi." Midoriya replied with his ever so weird smile that irked me to no end every time I looked at it. But since I didn't have much of a reason to refuse his request (Especially after he paid for my favorite meal out of his own pocket.) I chose to accept by grasping his hand with my own. What happened afterward was the only acceptable outcome. Izuku Midoriya held my hand and helped me out of the classroom. And since we would have to traverse six flights of stairs in order to reach the roof, the only optimal solution was the elevator. Though Midoriya wasn't satisfied by this.

"You know, it would have been faster if you just let me carry yo- Midoriya spoke but I cut him off right before he could finish.

"Over my dead body. Anyway, we're here." I replied as the elevator made an audible 'Ding!' The moment it reached the roof. Not even a second later, the doors opened which allowed the cool autumn air to pass by me. This refreshing feeling made my overall mood much better as I always loved the cold weather in comparison to the hot. And with that, we stepped out of the elevator and made our way onto the roof as the doors of the elevator closed behind us. I took note of our surroundings, and it was just as he said, we are all alone. But this brings me back to that perplexing thought I had earlier. Just what is it he wished to discuss with me that couldn't have been done in the classroom? But I was just about to find out what was, right now.

"Sakayanagi… I'm really sorry." Midoriya said out of nowhere as I was completely caught off guard by it. I just couldn't have begun to even fathom where that apology came from. It didn't make sense to me. But it certainly drew my attention squarely to him, and he was counting on that.

"Of course, that's not all I have to say, but I thought it would be a nice start. Even if it might be simple. Something anyone can say at the drop of a hat. However, there's nothing wrong with that. Because saying you're sorry is proof you're regretful of your actions. Isn't that why you said the same thing to me, Sakayanagi?" Midoriya asked as I averted my eyes from him the moment he finished speaking. I couldn't stand to look at that smile anymore. That annoying, weird, happy go lucky smile that irked me to no end! Just why?! Why was he smiling like that?!

'Don't fret. You can take my hand, Arisu.' Just like my father! My father who hated me and never loved me, not even once! And if it was just as that demon said, then he and Izuku Midoriya, must also hate me too! I couldn't stand it! The sight of him smiling just like my father once did while hating my guts! It made want to spill his guts open for even considering toying with my feelings like this! But I had no power to fight back.

'That's what you said, and you were right. I know that feeling of betrayal far more than I ever thought I would. So, it's okay. There's nothing for you to apologize for. Because I lost everything. Congratulations, Sakayanagi… you won.' Not to mention he had the gall to apologize to me after what he said?! His words couldn't possibly be the truth! But since I had no power against someone as freakish strong as Izuku Midoriya, the only way that I could fight him was with my words!

"Izuku Midoriya… there's nothing for you to apologize for. It's just like you said, we both know that feeling of betrayal. We lost everything! And you have the audacity to sweep this all under the rug?! You think saying your sorry can change everything? Not on your life! What you did to me! What you took from me and my father is something that can never be remedied with an apology! I… hate you! There's nothing that will stop me from hating you! Just like how there's nothing that will stop you from hating me!" I snapped back at him as I was determined to end this conversation before it could continue further.

However, I knew I was lying to myself. Deep down I knew that Izuku Midoriya didn't want my father's legacy to be tarnished, nor did he want him to die. It was for that reason I couldn't find it in myself to truly 'hate' him any longer. But then why did I go as far to say all of that? I might as well have been spitting in his face. So why? Isn't it obvious? There was only one possible answer that was making me lie to myself. It was obvious from the very beginning after all I already knew it was the 'truth.' But I just couldn't accept it. I couldn't accept that my scheme to ruin his life and have all of his friends turn on him…

… Had all been for absolutely nothing. It wasn't as if I wanted to be in the right. To have him be exposed as a horrible monster who takes pleasure in defiling the lives of innocent girls like me. But that's exactly what I did. I can't say that I came up with the exact details of the plan, that was all Kikyo Kushida. Though that doesn't excuse what I did to him. I went along with it. I could have stopped it any time and yet, I did nothing and waited until the house of cards that Izuku Midoriya had so carefully stacked onto each other came tumbling down. Because I wanted to satisfy my greed. Greed which makes me no better than a pig. That's what I am. And if I accept that…

… Then I'll absolutely hate myself forever. I'll have nothing left to live for. Because what point is there to be alive when no one loves you? Zero. That's why my only choice is to love myself or die. Because no one will ever be able to love someone as cruel and despicable as Arisu Sakayanagi. And I was right.

"You're… right about a few things. More specifically, we know full well how horrible the feeling of betrayal can be from people that we both care about. There also isn't a single thing I can do to change the fact that you and your father's prestige have been tainted. Even worse, I can't do anything to bring him back to life. I wish I could. I have so much power. Just a little bit of it would be enough to take the life of almost anyone on this planet. And yet, I can't do a single thing to bring back the lives of the deceased. If… only I could. But that's impossible." Midoriya admitted while accepting his words as the truth. But I didn't know that. I wasn't a mind reader after all.

However, it didn't take much critical thinking to grasp that he was deeply sorrowful over my father's demise, as well as the life of his friend who was snuffed out by that monster. Nothing could be done to change either of those events. The past can't ever be changed no matter how much we may wish to change things. But that's what makes us weak, pathetic, and unable to do anything. And yet, why is he saying something that is so obvious? I don't understand. And before I could say anything, he continued speaking.

"However, that's all you're right about. Everything else couldn't be more wrong. There's so much I can apologize for. I'm sorry for messing with you a bit in class. To be honest I was just trying to make you laugh. Though I know that I'm not very funny. That's not all though, I'm sorry that I embarrassed you a bit. It wasn't my intention to do so, I just… say what's on my mind without thinking sometimes that's all. I'm also sorry that I wasn't there for you when Tsukishiro kidnapped you. You must have been really afraid. I should have been there for you, so I'm sorry I wasn't. More importantly, I'm sorry about- Midoriya rambled on and on, but I couldn't bare to hear him apologize again and again when he had no reason to do so! That's why I interrupted him before he could go on even further!

"What's with you?! Apologizing about every damn thing?! Who said you needed to do that? Didn't you hear a single word I said?! No matter how many times you say you're sorry, nothing will change the fact that we hate each other! Do you honestly think that I can find it in my heart to forgive you after EVERYTHING you did to me?! Fat chance! I can never forgive someone who had made it their mission to take away everything I held dear! I doubt even you can forgive me for everything I did to you! You just want my help finding Kiyotaka! And once you're done using me, you're going to discard me like a piece of trash! Because… you HATE me!" I snapped back as I was trying desperately to convince myself of the lies that I had conjured up.

But that's all that they were. Lies. Lies so evident that it seemed like Izuku Midoriya was beginning to understand how I really felt about him. And more importantly how I felt about myself. I couldn't let him reach the truth, so I tried to escape his grip. But no matter how much I tried pulling away from him, there was nothing that I could do about it. He was far and away stronger than I could ever dream of being. But that realization only set a fire under me that made me lash out even harder.

"When will you get it through your thick skull?! Just… LET GO OF ME ALREADY!" I snapped back, finishing with a shout at the top of my lungs. I couldn't be around him any longer! Because if I do, if I accept the fact that everything, I had done had been for nothing and that he was trying to make amends for all of it… then…

… I'll lose what little will I have left! But it was almost as if Izuku Midoriya could sense that if he let go of me now, then it would spark another tragedy that he would never be able to change for as long as he draws breath. Which is why he continued to grasp my hand gently and firmly while not budging an inch. And even though he didn't even need to say it. I could tell what his thoughts were if they were written on his face. He still said it.

"I won't… I refuse to ever let go of you! Because you're trying so hard to accept that notion that I hate you! But you're wrong! You and that bastard who said such horrible words couldn't be more wrong! But even still… even though you know that you're STILL trying to accept them as the truth! You are… you are an idiot, Sakayanagi!" Midoriya yelled out as I gritted my teeth. To think that he has the audacity to toy with my heart like this! I won't let him get away with it! I REFUSE to let him believe in something so ridiculous!

'Please… just stop.'

"I'm an idiot?! How absurd! I have the best grades in my class and I'm in the top three within the entire school! Not even you can come close to reaching such academic excellence no matter how much you may try! So, to accuse me of being an idiot… that only makes you one! You're the idiot here! Not me!" I snapped back at him again as I tried desperately to steer the conversation away from the truth of the matter. I couldn't let him find the truth. Not like how he did back then when my father was still alive! I must do everything in my power to stop that notion from becoming reality! Otherwise…

'No more… I can't take it.'

"Don't you think I already know that! I'm an idiot for trying to lie to myself like you are now! But the fact that you're still trying to do it even though you know how I really feel about you makes you even more of an idiot than me! You're a colossal idiot! The biggest idiot to ever have left lived! That's what you are, Sakayanagi!" Midoriya snapped back even harder than I did before. I just couldn't believe it. He's still calling me an idiot again and again! How dare he! How dare he make a mockery of I, Arisu Sakayanagi! The girl who will one day achieve the role of becoming the head of the Sakayanagi family! That's what I have to be! That's what I must become! Because then… maybe then… he will… and I will…

'I… I… I…'

"… I can't stand myself." Those words escaped my mouth before I knew it. It was so sudden That Izuku Midoriya's eyes went wide the moment he heard them. It was only natural for that to happen. Even I was surprised that I finally gave in. But it was inevitable. He's such a stubborn man that I know he would never ever quit. He's so much stronger than me to the point that it's utterly ridiculous. Meanwhile all I am… is powerless. So, utterly weak and powerless. But I knew that already… for so very long. That's why the lie was going to be revealed one way or another. The time for that to happen was now, I suppose.

"… Are you really that surprised? Surprised to hear that? You must have known that's how I felt about myself the entire time. But even then, you pressured me over and over again to tell the truth. Just like how you did with my father. You completely cornered me. So, what else was I supposed to say?! That there's nothing I hate about myself even though my father thought I was absolutely worthless!? You think I have just gone on living thinking that no one can compare to me and that each and every student here has no right to reach the throne that I had made for myself?! I… I…" I began lashing out, but my voice trailed off before I could finish as I struggled to say the last word. That word that would cement my Fate forevermore. But he knew exactly what I was going to say. And he stopped me before I could land the final blow on what little self-confidence I have left. And then…

"To tell you the truth, I didn't think all that highly of myself. I've struggled with thinking that I'll ever amount to anything. Even now… I'm not entirely sure if I'll be able to protect all the people I care about in the end. That's pathetic for me to say… isn't it? But there's something I can do right now. Something that I should have done so long ago. But… I was so afraid to say it. Because it would mean all of those awful things I said to you and Karuizawa were words of a coward trying to accept that he deserves to be alone like you are now. So, here goes… I forgive you." Midoriya said as I was utterly spellbound up until the moment he said those words. I just… I just couldn't believe it. There's just no way he… he would ever… ever forgive someone like me!

"N-No… y-you can't say that… t-there's no one who would forgive me after all of those horrible things! Haven't you forgotten everything I did! Let me remind you! I could have picked you up in my butler's limousine on that day we met! But I didn't! I wanted to see you run after me because I wanted to believe that you were someone that was even more pathetic than me! Someone that can't do a single thing without the help of another person! But even then, you ran! It was so stupid to see you run like that and yet… and yet…" I spoke but my voice trailed off again as I recalled our first meeting so vividly. Along with the words I said-

'You can do it.' I wanted to believe that he was capable of doing something so simple but so outrageous with the lack of time he had left! Because maybe, just maybe I would be able to pull off something as crazy as that! That I would be able to run to school by myself! But I… even someone as pathetic as I-

"I can't even do something so simple! I couldn't do a single thing to walk on my own without that stupid cane! I always needed help to get anywhere in life! Be it, my butler, my father, Katsuragi or any of my classmates! I couldn't do a single thing on my own! No matter how much I wished I would be capable of! I'm not capable of doing ANYTHING on my own! But I still act like I'm above everyone else! Constantly belittling people like you because I want to feel good about myself! Just what the hell is wrong with me?! No one loves me! No one has ever loved me! I absolutely hate myself! I DON'T HAVE ANY REASON TO LIVE!" I lashed out more so than ever before.

The result was that I finally admitted what I had been holding back for so long. That I hate myself and have no reason to live. That all I've been doing was indulging myself with the belief that no one is capable of reaching the pedestal so impossibly high in the sky! But that's all that was! A 'belief!' A belief that I was someone incapable of being reached by a single person! But even then… I hoped that someone would reach my pedestal. But even then he didn't even bat an eye after seeing me again! He forgot about me! He NEVER cared about me, not even once like everyone else! No one has ever loved me. I'm incapable of being loved. I should just di-

"Then I'll give you a reason to live! If you honestly believe no one ever gave a shit about you then take a look at this!" Midoriya yelled out as he shoved something within my line of sight! Wait a minute! That's the beret! What is he-AH! That can't be… that can't be! I… how could those… there's no way he would ever-

"Your father really did love you. Why else would he put 'My beloved Arisu' on the inside of it? You never noticed it was there, didn't you? Not that I could blame you. I mean, whoever takes a look at the inside of their hat? It's something that most people wouldn't do before putting it on their head. I wouldn't even have noticed it if you hadn't given it to me! But this beret doesn't belong to me! It belongs to you, Sakayanagi!" Midoriya continued before putting that beret back on my head. And it was then I looked up at him to see that he was smiling again just like my father. And with that…

… Tears began running down my cheeks. I couldn't stop them any longer. It was a miracle that I hadn't cried up to this point. But here I was crying in front of the guy who I was responsible for making suffer again and again. What a cruel joke.

"Even if he did love me… there's a chance he really did grow to hate me. And if that's the case… how can I be sure that you or anyone else won't grow to hate me too? How can you not hate me?" I asked as I genuinely couldn't understand how someone can be so forgiving. No human should ever be so nice. It just isn't possible. It's almost as if he's from some faraway land with people who are far kinder than the ones that exist here. But even if that's not the case, this world has so many people that would never discard their grudges for as long as they live. Constantly hating people to satisfy themselves like I had been doing for so long. So how can he-

"Because hatred is a cruel and vicious cycle that does nothing for anybody. It only cements misunderstandings. It doesn't allow people to change themselves for the better if they can't let go of their hatred. Nothing good has ever come from it and nothing ever will. It's so easy to hate someone and blame them for all of your problems. I've been doing it for so long too. Hate the people that hurt my precious friends. I was so ready to give into something that I would never be able to take back, because I thought that was all that I could do with the rage within me for not being strong enough." Midoriya admitted before taking a second to remember someone that I could never know about and another person who died saving the man she loved. But not long after that he continued.

"But… I was wrong. I couldn't have been more wrong and stupid to just accept that me feeling all this hate was necessary. Even before I knew about Kiyotaka, or any other person who tried hurting people dear to me, there was someone that I hated more than anyone else. Me. I hated how worthless and pathetic that I was for not having a Quirk. I truly thought that it was something that defined me. Something that would never make me a hero for as long as I lived. I genuinely believed in the words of my hero who agreed with me. But even still…" Midoriya's voice trailed off for a few seconds as he struggled to admit the truth holding him back too. He was just about to slap his cheeks to steel his resolve but stopped before he could hurt himself again. And it was then that his smile shined even brighter than before. And then…

"… He was wrong too. I mean he was correct, that I couldn't fight against villains who had Quirks and could demolish me before I could blink. But that didn't mean he was right either. Because you don't need to save the world to be a hero, I forgot about that. I thought that I had to save everyone to even be considered a hero. But… that couldn't be more wrong. A hero only needs to save one person to be one. So… let me save you… Arisu." Midoriya said while continuing to smile brighter than he had ever been before. My eyes went wide the moment I heard him say my first name. It was just all too much that my tears kept coming down my cheek with no end in sight. It was then I realized that we were so similar. No…

… Me and him were the same. We gave into hatred so that we could continue living. All the while hating ourselves. It was sufficient to say that Izuku Midoriya's worst enemy was none other than Izuku Midoriya. And the same could be said about me too. But then how can he smile so brightly while admitting all of that? It couldn't be… does he actually-

"That's right. I don't hate myself anymore. I was never a weak and pathetic loser when I was Quirkless. I was just… human. Just an average guy you'd find on the street. There wasn't anything that made me more special than anyone else even when I received a Quirk from that hero of mine. I finally… realize that now. That I'm just… Izuku Midoriya. So, why should I even hate myself or anyone else when I can just choose to focus on loving the people that I care about?" Midoriya asked as I couldn't find any words to respond to him. After all, even if my father hated me, who says he didn't die truly hating me in the end? Who says he won't feel the same way in a few years? Who says he even… no. I needed to confirm it. Here and now.

"My father might have grown to hate me. Why else would he say such horrible things to me? It could have all just been one lie spun from the very beginning." I replied while Midoriya listened and nodded once I finished.

"It could have been exactly how you said. But even if that's the case, your father doesn't define you. My father… he never gave a rat's ass about me or my mother. So, even if he was the same as mine, then there's just one thing you need to do." Midoriya replied as I could only whisper 'What's that?' Under my breath. But even though it shouldn't have even been audible, he heard it.

"Jeez, you really are an idiot." Midoriya replied while I clenched my fist out of anger for him calling me an idiot so many times! But before I could do anything with it, he put his hand on that fist. And it didn't take long at all for that anger to fizzle out. And then…

"Find someone you can love. It's really that simple. But then again, it took me quite a while to realize that. So, in the end, we're both idiots, aren't we, Arisu?" Midoriya asked as I averted my eyes from him the moment he said my first name again. It just wasn't fair.

"No fair… I didn't say you can call me that." I replied with a pout as Midoriya nodded in affirmation.

"Yeah, I guess you didn't. Sorry about that." Midoriya replied with his usual smile and a bit of a chuckle while he was at it. He was so greedy. So greedy that he has the audacity to ask me to find someone I can love when he's doing all of these nice things for me. Just who the heck does think he is? My hero? What a cruel sick joke.

"And what if I find someone who I can love… and that person doesn't feel the same way about me? What can I do when he has a girlfriend? Am I supposed to just accept that? Accept that he'll never truly love me?" I asked as Midoriya began patting my head, much to my dissatisfaction.

"Who do you think I am?! Some kid?!" I yelled out with an annoyed look on my face that I didn't even need to see to know that it was there. I just told him something so… ugh! And he's patting me on the head like I'm a kid?! Is that what he thinks my feelings are? But I couldn't have been more wrong. And he was about to make that known. Though to truly understand his thought process, something that I couldn't grasp, things must go back to his perspective for a bit.

"Of course I don't. Though, I did think you were one when I first saw you." I admitted much to Sakayanagi's annoyance. But I had to be honest with her. That's right. What Saka-no, what Arisu told me were her feelings. I can't just write them off as something trivial. That would be utterly disrespectful after she's been so honest with me. Honesty. It's something that I have tried to pride myself in. Sure, I've lied here and there. But not when I know someone needs to hear the truth. Even if it's cruel and unforgiving.

However, I couldn't say a single thing to Sakura before she died. That's something I can never change. And will always be one of my regrets that I'll carry with me until the end of time. That's why I had to be honest with Ichinose. But that only resulted in her heart being broken. She tried playing it off as something she could get over in due time, but how can I know that she's still not suffering now? I don't. So, even though I was being honest, I couldn't really do anything for her.

But now, I can make a change. Arisu wants me to love her. And I want to save her. Those two things might seem so vastly different. But are they really? No. There's a clear difference between how Sakura and Ichinose felt about me and how she feels about me right now. She doesn't want something romantic, or a parent's love, or any of that. She just wants to be loved unconditionally by someone. That's all there is to it. Yeah…

… That's something I can do for her.

"W-What? Why are you just staring at me like that? Do you have something to say to me? If it's something about your girlfriend the- I spoke as the perspective changed back to me once more. I was quickly becoming scared. Scared that he's going to say that he can't do something like that. So, I was about to drop the conversation and leave in order to protect what little remains of my heart. But before I could do so, he did the unthinkable.

"I love you, Arisu." Midoriya whispered into my ear as my cheeks grew bright red. I couldn't believe what I just heard. It's not like I heard him. It's that his words passed by so quickly. Too fast.

"… Again." I asked as I wished to hear those words again.

"I love you." Midoriya replied without even contemplating my request.

"… Please just… one more time." I asked as I wished to them once more.

"I love you, Arisu Sakayanagi." Midoriya replied as if saying my full name was the most natural thing for him to do so. But he did it on purpose. So, that I wouldn't be able to deny that he was speaking to me and me alone. How… just-

"… H-How can you say them so e-easily? … W-When you already have someone else you love?" I asked as I was genuinely confused. This is something that almost never happens to me. I'm able to figure out almost any equation with ease. I'm practically fluent in English, French, Chinese. Something that my peers struggle to grasp! So, why!? Why can't I understand something so simple as love?! I'm so stupid! But Midoriya smiled at me as if he was reading my thoughts like a book. How dare he steal my trick! But before I could say another word, he beat me to the punch.

"You're right about one thing. I do have someone I love. But… I love that person in a different way. There's not just one type of love and I think you know that deep down, Arisu. So, while I may not love you romantically, I still love you." Midoriya replied while understanding his own feelings completely while I could barely grasp mine!

"I-I don't get it… y-you're not my b-boyfriend… or my father… or my brother… or my friend… or anything! Just what am I to you?!" I asked as I was desperate to know what he truly thought of me. But then…

"… I don't know." Midoriya replied honestly. But even though he was being honest, it made me angry!

"… 'You don't know?!' What kind of an answer is that?" I snapped back as I couldn't control my feelings at all anymore. I have never felt like this before! I've always been able to keep my feelings under control! Just what the heck is going on with me? This is unbecoming of someone like me! Someone who has to become the head of the Sakayanagi family and lead them into the future! But even though I knew that. I've known that for quite some time. I… I want…

… I want to feel these feelings more! Whatever they may be! I never felt like this before! Never ever! And… it's feels amazing! But my thought process was broken when Midoriya began patting me on the head again. But this time, I didn't even say a word. I just let it happen. What's wrong with me? Letting him pat me on the head like this? When he and I both don't know what we are to each other. But he could tell I wanted a better answer from him. So, he made an effort to explain himself a bit better.

"I know it's not much of an answer. But I can tell you some things I like about you if you'd like. For starters, you're driven to see things through to the bitter end. You're not one to give up, even horrible things happened to you. I find that so admirable. There are other things too! Like… um… you are easy to tease like my girl- Midoriya spoke but I cut him off before he could finish!

"Is that really it?!" I snapped back out of anger, I think. Or was it something else? God, I'm so confused right now!

"Well, can you blame me?! We haven't really gotten much time to know each other!" Midoriya replied which made my eyebrows furrow as I was definitely feeling mad. Just a bit.

"Oh yeah?! Then how about you tell me some things you don't like about me!" I yelled out thinking that he wouldn't be able to answer that. But to my surprise-

"Oh, that's easy! You're entitled for starters! The fact that you constantly look down on others pisses me off too! Like I know why you do it now. But it still makes me angry! And while I have forgiven you, you still cooperated with Kushida and wanted me to suffer! That's not cool! Don't even get me started on how you treated me when we first me- Midoriya spoke as he complained about me again and again! What the heck?! He tells me that he loves me. But he has the audacity to list all of the things he doesn't like about me right after! Does he even love me!? In fact-

"It just sounds like you hate me!" I snapped back once more as I was sick and tired of having my feelings being all over the place! I wanted nothing more than to give him a piece of mind for making me feel this way! But before I could, he gently but firmly grasped my shoulders. And then…

"You're wrong! There might be more things I dislike about you than like! But that doesn't amount to anything if I can say all that and still love you for who you are! That's how I know my feelings are true! And that's why I can honestly say I love you! So, even if it may be easier for me to hate you, screw that! I'd much rather love you than hate you! Because even if there's just one thing, I like about you then that's ENOUGH for me to love you!" Midoriya yelled out so I got my feelings for her across. But she froze for a few seconds as tears began spilling out of her eyes. Oh no! Was I too forceful?! Or was I- But before Izuku could finish that thought, this time I beat him to the punch! Go me!

"Haha… what the heck? Hahaha… that doesn't make any sense at all." I replied while laughing as tears continued to drip down my cheeks. But I wasn't feeling sad. Then what are these? Tears of joy? I… never cried like that before. Not only that, but there was no logic behind his words. They didn't make a lick of sense. But… I guess love isn't something that can be based on logic. It's something different. Something that I can just barely grasp. And yet… it's… nice. He's nice. So maybe I should start being too.

"… Thank you… thank you so much for loving me." I replied with the first true smile in a very long time. It wasn't long after that we started laughing like the idiots we were. And with that I felt like I could finally move forward in life. That I could finally be okay…

Chapter 53: Arisu Sakayanagi: Restart

… With walking alongside someone else. And with that, I divulged the secrets that I kept from him. The truth behind my Quirk: IQ. IQ increased my already incredible intelligence tenfold to the point where I could accurately determine the answer behind a problem just by glancing at it among other things. Not that I couldn't already demonstrate my genius mind before, though the 'Quirk' certainly had its benefits.

"Wow! I had never heard of such a Quirk before! Tell me more about it! For example, does it depend which tea you drink if you want to achieve the best possible effects of IQ?! Furthermore, how does it feel when you use it!? Tell me all the details!" Midoriya replied with a pen and paper in hand as he already wrote down everything, I told him in span of time it took me to blink. It was safe to say that he was certainly surprised to learn all that, which made me grin with satisfaction before replying.

"Heh! Well, if you were to get me some tea then I could-SO FAST!" I replied in my usual tone of voice before squealing out of utmost surprise when Midoriya returned with a cup of tea before I could finish speaking. Well, I guess I should try it out on him then. And with that I sipped on the cup of tea in my hands. Just by the taste of it alone, I could tell that it wasn't anything special it wasn't anything special so the effects of my Quirk wouldn't be able to achieve the fullest potential. Even still, I had no choice but to show off a bit.

"Observe! I can tell that you went on a jog early this morning! After that, you took a quick shower. For no less than three minutes! I can tell all that by your scalp being ever so slightly wet. Along with the fact that there are a few droplets of sweat on your forehead. And I wouldn't be surprised if they are on the back of your neck too. Now, praise me! Fufufu!" I replied with my usual laugh as I expected nothing but the highest of praise over my astute deductions that I was sure of were one hundred percent correct! That's right! Now shower me with all the praise you can muster Izuku Midori-

"T-That's kind of creepy." Midoriya muttered with a sightly disgusted look on his face. Unbeknownst to me, I described his morning routine with excessive detail. But even still I couldn't help but snap back with 'You asked!' out of embarrassment. How dare he make me feel this way again! And the least he could do was buy me some fine tea like Gyokuro or Matcha! Instead, he bought me some knock off brand called Key! I had never even heard of that brand before! But it didn't take me too long to calm down as I let out an exasperated sigh.

But that wasn't all. I told him everything I knew about Kiyotaka Ayanokoji too. It wasn't easy to talk about him. Especially after he completely forgot about me. But… that's okay with me. If I can help the person who loves me protect me and everyone else, he loves. I'll do it. Though it really wasn't all that much. I didn't know the location of the White Room. Only my father did, and I can no longer ask him about it. The only person who would be able to answer his questions is… the man who killed him. Just thinking about that murderer made me want to puke. But Midoriya noticed this and quickly comforted me by placing his hand on my cheek. Ugh! He's still treating me like a kid! But this was his story. So, I could only have been the focus for so long. And now it was time for me to pass the baton back to him.

"Don't worry. Everything's going to be alright, so just leave him to me. There's not much I can do right now, but justice will come for him. That I promise." I replied right after finishing the last bit of Kaiseki Ryori. It was still lunch, and the break was just about to end. So, I downed the last of it with a look of content. But Arisu took note of that and smirked to herself a bit. Yep. She definitely calmed down if she's able to do that again.

"So, you must really love the Kaiseki Ryori, right?" Arisu asked as I nodded in affirmation. She then started laughing. But in the way that kind of annoyed me. The whole 'Fufufu!' Like she's about to make me look stupid or something. But what she said next was quite surprising.

"Which do you love more, the Kaiseki Ryori… or me?" Arisu asked while placing a finger on her lip the moment she was referring to herself. It was cute. I'll gladly admit that. But-

"The Kaiseki Ryori." I replied while her eyes shot wide open out of sheer surprise. But her eyebrows furrowed, a clear indicator she's mad again.

"How dare you pick the food over me! And you didn't even hesitate!" Arisu snapped back while I chuckled a bit which only fueled her annoyance even more. Okay. That's enough teasing her. For now.

"Just kidding. Of course, I love you more. This is just food. Good food. But it only lasts for so long. You on the other hand… we'll be able to spend a lot more time together in the future now. Far more than how long it takes to eat lunch. So, of course I choose you." I replied with a smile on my face, but this made Arisu's cheeks become bright red. Wow! She's so much more expressive now!

"You dunderhead! You should have said that from the start! Plus, how can you say you love me so nonchalantly when you have a girlfriend?! You're an enemy to all fair maidens like me! And if you're already done eating you might as well get back to class! So, go on and get out of here already! Shoo!" Arisu yelled out as I stood up and got going while replying with a simple 'Got it.' I then discarded my tray of empty food and just as I was about to leave-

"… I… - you." I could have sworn I heard Arisu say something but as I turned my head around, she was already looking into the deep blue sky. Yeah. Must have been my imagination. That's what I deduced as I took my leave. All while the young girl named Arisu Sakayanagi sat on the ground with the biggest smile on her face. However, as the door behind me slammed shut. I was none the wiser to what the girl on the rooftop mumbled to herself.

"… Wait. How am I supposed to get back to my classroom now?" Arisu muttered to herself as she realized her cane wasn't in her hands. She lost it the moment Tsukishiro abducted her this morning. And without Midoriya to lend her a hand…

… She might as well have been stuck there. She realized that Midoriya was long gone now given his tendency to run full speed into things. She knew that part of him the moment she first met him on the street. And without his phone number, all the girl named Arisu Sakayanagi could do was silently curse at herself for not asking him for it. Because if she did then she wouldn't be in quite the pickle.

To Be Continued…

Next Chapter: Collision Course

Go Beyond!

Plus Ultra!