I'm back, and decided to put out several chapters over the next few weeks.

Call it wanting to make up for lost time.

Another day at UA was over. All the boys of Class 1-A filed out of the room, chatting about homework, training, or which Heroes were best. Erma was going to follow Izuku out and join him, but she hesitated, her gaze falling on her female classmates. She hadn't spent much time with them now that she thought of it. So, Erma held back and remained at the edge of the other girls.

"Man, school's so hard lately! I've barely been able to do anything!" said Toru.

"Yeah, quadratics are killing me. I feel like Kaminari after he's gone stupid…"

Erma watched them, only half listening. She paid more attention to the dynamic of her new classmates. They gossipped about difficulties in school, Momo's rich-girl stuff, Ochako's quest to save more money, and Mina's obsession with romance. Erma herself didn't engage much, at least, not until Mina slid up next to Erma. Erma did not like that sly grin of hers.

"So Erma," Mina said with a smile that was eerily reminiscent of Himiko's. Or worse, Mitsu and Cousin Momo's.

Erma raised her brow.

"I can't help but notice you spend all of your time, and give all of your attention to one specific classmate. A certain verdette we both know."

Erma felt some sweat slide down her brow, but managed to casually shrug. Izuku was her best friend after all. It made sense that they would-

"And before you try and say he's your best friend, I do have to say some of the ways you look at him don't seem like mere friendship. Especially that look when his hand brushed against yours. I almost say it resembles something…else."

Erma felt her cheeks warming. She looked around at the other girls, hoping one of them would bail her out.

"Mina sees romance everywhere. It doesn't necessarily mean something," Jiro said, twirling her jacks.

Erma felt relief filling her. Jiro was a good friend and she should really strive to speak to her more-

"But this time she is 100% right and hitting the nail on the head." Jiro smirked. "You're almost as obvious about your crush on Midoriya as he is with his on you."

Erma's cheeks were positively flaming now. She frantically waved her arms in protest while books and pencils floated into the air.

"You knew him before UA, right?" Toru said.

Erma hesitantly nodded. She went into her phone and pulled up an old photo of the two when they were still kids.

Uraraka looked at it. "Awww! You both look so cute! You've been friends for all these years huh?"

Erma nodded.

"And you were best friends that entire time?" Mina said, an evil look in her eye. "I've heard that childhood friends make great romantic partners..."

A jolt went through Erma. In her panic, she sent Mina flying across the room. Mina used her reflexes to mitigate her crash, somersaulting over a desk before saying, "Worth it!"

"Don't be shy about it!" Toru said. "You two are so cute together! You should confess!"

Toru's chair, and most of the desks around Erma, slid several feet back. Erma felt like a hunted slasher victim, waiting for the killer to pop out from behind the nearest tree.

"Now, now," Momo said, "It's not nice to pick on her."

"Yeah," said Tsu, "Just because she and Midoriya have obvious crushes on each other is no reason to tease her. Ribbit."

Erma glared at her. And Jiro. Backstabbing traitors, the both of them! For what it was worth, those two did shrink away from Erma's glare.

"That's not going to work."

Erma whirled around. Setsuna was leaning against the table with a sly smirk. "Hey guys. Heard the commotion and couldn't help butting in.

Relief filled Erma. Setsuna Tokage, someone who'd been friends with her and Izuku the entire time and could clear this total misunderstanding by telling them- wait a minute. She was Setsuna Tokage, the one girl at school who was liable to make this situation even worse!

"You said what we're saying wouldn't work?" Mina said. "Why's that?"

"Because Erma and Midoriya are denser than a couple of black holes. They're immune to nearly all attempts to get them to confess their crushes. In fact, I don't even know how they'll make themselves confess. If they ever do."

Erma felt a cold weight in her stomach at those last words. Like something she ate had disagreed with her.

"Pessimistic," said Jiro.

"Yeah!" said Mina. "This is High School, the time of romance! Why can't love bloom between two friends?"

"Because those two have been crushing on each other for six years."

Mina's mind went blank. "Say what now?"

"Yeah. They've liked each other since…I don't know, probably not long after they met. Midoriya had a thing for her as long as I've known them, and Erma's definitely liked him almost as long."

Erma's teeth chattered from sheer nervousness at Setsuna's words. Which meant they were likely true. Which meant…

"Did they ever have a reason not to? Like, focusing on school? Waiting?"

"Nope. Nothing but a cryptic reference about "waiting for the right time" or "letting it happen naturally" or some nonsense like that. They've even kissed at least once, on accident, and still haven't confessed."

"Six…years," Mina said as a fire rose within her. "Six. Years?!" Every romantic bone in her body was shaking from pure rage, sheer indignant fury at the idea. "Those two have been in love for that long and haven't bothered to get together?!"

"I know. It's dumb. Especially given how both are so unsubtle about it."

Jiro tapped Mina with one of her earphone jacks. "Uhhh…you ok Mina? You look like you're about to blow a gasket."

"Yeah," said Toru. "Ease off-"

"No way!" Mina said, whirling around and dramatically pointing. "I will not stand for this! There is love in the air and those two have kept it hidden for no reason for over half a decade! That's a third of their lives with fully requited love! I will not stand by and let this travesty continue any longer!"

Mina turned around, raising a hand before bringing it down to point at Erma. "From now on, I shall dedicate my life, fortune, and sacred honor to making sure love blooms between you and Izuku Midoriya and-where did she go?"

While Mina had been busy posturing, it seemed that Erma had vanished, likely into the floor. Even her backpack was gone.

"Curses!" Mina said. "This isn't over Williams! I shall make love bloom between you two!" The distant screech followed by the sound of wind whooshing showed that Erma had heard her.

Mina relaxed. "Well that was fun. Anyone else have some love gossip?"

"No, but I think she left us with the mess," Toru said.

Mina said, "Worth it for that intel." She started arranging the room with help of the others. As she did, she conceived of ways to make love bloom, using her vast experience reading Shojo manga as reference.

Yes, this is going to be a fun year indeed.

Hope you enjoyed! Comments and kudos make me smile!