- . My Hero Academia: 180 degrees. -
7. Where Midoriya and Uraraka are honest about how they've been feeling and make decisions separately.
Camie took a deep breath, enjoying the fresh air gently blowing, filling her lungs and relaxing her senses. They were walking through the park after their first day of martial arts training. The leaves of the trees whispered with the breeze, and the afternoon sun painted the sky with a soft golden hue. A playful smile spread across Camie's face as she turned her head towards Uraraka, her eyes shining with unexpected curiosity.
—So tell me, Ochako, do you have a boyfriend? —Camie asked suddenly, walking backward with a light tone but filled with interest.
Uraraka flinched slightly at the direct question but quickly tried to mask it with a nervous laugh.
—No. I don't think I'm ready for that yet —she replied, her voice wavering slightly as she looked away, trying to hide the blush rising on her cheeks.
Camie wasn't easily fooled. She tilted her head with a mischievous smile, and her eyes sparkled even more.
—But there's someone you like, right? —she insisted, her voice soft and tempting as if she were trying to uncover a secret.
Unintentionally, Uraraka recalled a fragment of her dream involving Deku and couldn't help but blush even more.
—Ah, well... I...
To Uraraka's relief, her friend continued talking.
—There's someone I like.
Uraraka felt relieved that the conversation was shifting away from her and smiled widely, her usual warmth returning.
—You're so nice and pretty, I'm sure they'll like you back! —she said enthusiastically, her voice full of sincere support and optimism.
—Do you think? —Camie asked, taking Uraraka's hands suddenly. Uraraka nodded in response. —And do you think you could lend me something to use when I confess?
Surprised by the question, Uraraka nodded.
—Sure, but I'm not sure if we're the same size. I think you have much more curves than I do —she admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed.
—That doesn't matter —Camie replied with a smile as she continued walking—. I just want it as a good luck charm.
Not fully understanding what she meant, Uraraka followed her friend towards the entrance of the train station.
Deku woke up to the gentle sound of waves crashing at his feet. He abruptly sat up in the sand and saw Todoroki and Mr. Toshinori in the dimness of the night, apparently waiting for him to wake up.
—You did a great job, young Midoriya. You exceeded my expectations by a long shot— Mr. Toshinori congratulated him with a proud smile.
Izuku lowered his head with a faint smile, still disoriented. The last thing he remembered was shouting over a pile of scrap. Then, extreme exhaustion had made him lose consciousness.
—Thank you, but I wouldn't have achieved this so quickly without Todoroki's help— he said, looking at his friend, who kept his gaze fixed on the sea.
—Although we were equal in this today, I believe the credit generally belongs to you, Midoriya— Todoroki said, not taking his eyes off the horizon.
Izuku remained silent, unable to fully believe his friend's words, but deeply appreciating his kindness.
—Also... what I did was more of an act of relief than a desire to strengthen myself as a person— Todoroki admitted seriously.
—In that case, I'm the same— Midoriya confessed. —I did today's work because of the frustration I've accumulated due to things not going as I expected. From not developing a quirk to having to give up my dream of following in All Might's footsteps.
Mr. Toshinori clenched his fists tightly as Midoriya spoke, his expression grave.
—I know that compared to your family issues, this may seem trivial...
—It's not— Todoroki interrupted. —If it's your dream, it's important too.
Todoroki's words resonated with Izuku with unexpected force. For a long time, Izuku had thought his own problems were insignificant compared to others'. Hearing Todoroki, someone who had faced so much pain and conflict, say that his dreams mattered too, made him break down in tears.
—No, it's not okay to keep crying all the time. I promised to be stronger so no one would have to worry about me...— Izuku said, trying to wipe his eyes.
Before he could continue, he felt Mr. Toshinori's arms enveloping him in a warm, protective hug.
—Even if we don't want to admit it, we all have sentimental aspects about something— Toshinori said softly, his voice full of understanding and affection. He then looked at Todoroki, who was observing silently. —And it's okay to cry. Even heroes do it when they need to.
Todoroki nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on the sea.
—Thank you, I'll remember that— he said with a firm voice, standing up with determination. —But first, I'll make the person who kidnapped my mother pay.
Izuku quickly processed Todoroki's words, feeling his friend's determination. He stood up with renewed energy despite his exhaustion.
—Then I'll help you— Izuku declared, a spark of bravery in his eyes.
They looked at each other, a silent and firm understanding passing between them.
Uraraka and her new friend were getting off the train when, by chance, Bakugo entered the car, carrying a gym bag and wearing a clearly irritated expression. Uraraka felt a great sense of relief upon noticing that he hadn't seen her and, therefore, hadn't called her "round face." However, suddenly, Camie, with her usual boldness, threw a comment.
—Hey, handsome, don't ruin your beautiful face with that frown— Camie said, walking backward with a playful smile.
Uraraka was startled at the thought of a possible explosive reaction from Bakugo, but the door closed behind him and the train began to move. For a brief moment, Uraraka thought she saw what might have been the hint of a smile on Bakugo's profile.
'What was it about a boy's smile that made them so charming?' Uraraka wondered as she recalled Deku smiling. Deku before he met with Hatsume. Deku laughing in the café. And then, unexpectedly, Deku falling from a building, but... suddenly that Deku wasn't him, but rather Himiko Toga's first love, and he wasn't falling from just any building, but from the school's roof.
She ran and reached out her hand, trying to touch him before he hit the ground. She preferred to try doing something rather than doing nothing and regretting it later, but...
Uraraka turned away from the scene, only to find the same boy who had just jumped now beside her, with his mouth open in shock, unable to believe he had just witnessed his own death.
She woke up, rubbing her eyes, and couldn't help but feel melancholic.
—Toga— she whispered quietly, as a sadness filled her chest.
Although it was early, Uraraka decided to go for a run to clear her mind. She was following Deku's example, and just that fact made her feel happy and motivated.
As the sun began to rise, she arrived at the beach and saw Deku practicing with Mr. Toshinori and a guy who must be Todoroki, whom she had heard about.
Not wanting to interrupt, she leaned against the railing, observing intently as they practiced fighting styles. She thought that at certain moments, Deku seemed to glow with the green tones of his eyes and hair against the sunrise. His expression while attacking became unusually fierce and determined.
Again, she felt like she was on cloud nine, as if floating with her quirk.
Despite the short time they had known each other, she felt like she had seen him in various facets, and seeing him in this new light, she told herself that she also really liked —Deku in attack mode.—
That expression of determination made him look absolutely cool.
Without worrying too much about whether she was blushing, she wondered:
Was this what girls in magazines called attraction? Watching Deku get stronger and stronger.
Maybe when she first met him, she was too distracted by how much he resembled the boy who had obsessed Himiko Toga to notice anything else, but now she felt like she was seeing Deku at one hundred percent.
Was what she felt admiration? Seeing him grow as a person every day and wanting to be like him.
Or affection? For having seen him at his worst and now seeing him smile again.
Or, combining it all, what she really felt was...
What if she talked to Deku about this?
The mere thought made her anxious, and as she breathed, she felt her breath was warm.
But would it be right to tell him about her feelings? She wasn't sure if it was the right time. Now Deku seemed very focused on finding a new path after giving up on following in All Might's footsteps. And she didn't want that to be lost. His ability to focus, whether as a fanboy who wrote down everything related to heroes in his notebooks, or as someone who practiced non-stop in his free time.
She didn't want Deku to change at all.
Stepping away from the railing, Uraraka decided to continue running in the opposite direction.
From the beach, Deku turned in that direction due to a strange premonition but found no one, and his distraction earned him a punch to the face from Todoroki.
—Don't get distracted, young Midoriya!— Mr. Toshinori reprimanded him.
—Yes!— Deku replied, returning to the training with renewed focus.
Author's Notes.-
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