Chapter Text
She stretched in her chair, her back complaining about her posture through the medium of pain. Letting out a long sigh, she looked out the window, lifting her eyes toward the sky. Night was closing in rapidly, the heavy clouds blocking any early stars from view as they decanted their dreary droplets in relentless rain. Holding back her disappointment, Ochako glanced up at the clock on her wall. The homework had taken longer than she had expected, her desk lamp now the only thing casting light in the dull room.
Deciding she needed a change of surroundings, she stood up, closed her curtains and headed downstairs. A drink would be a good idea, maybe some tea to warm up. She hadn’t eaten since lunch, but the rest of the class probably ate already. That wasn’t a worry for her. Ochako was used to skipping the occasional meal. Although she wasn’t on such a tight budget now, no longer paying rent or being the sole person buying food, her nature hadn’t changed much.
Making her way through the common room, Ochako found about half of the class were also downstairs. Ojiro and Aoyama had joined Toru, Jiro and Tsu around the comfy chairs by the girl’s lift, the latter of the group half involved in their conversation as she looked out at the rain. Kaminari, Sero and Mineta were sitting around the sofas on the other side, playing some card game and trash talking each other.
As she turned the corner, Ochako found Iida and Sato sat at one of the dining tables, a recipe book in front of the bulkier boy, and a notepad in front of the class rep. Looking up mid discussion, Iida smiled at her.
“Good evening, Uraraka. I didn’t notice you were back” greeted Iida. Sato turned in his chair and gave her a wave.
“Oh, I wasn’t out, Iida” she corrected gently. “Just lost track of time finishing the maths homework.”
“My apologies. Had I known you were in, I would’ve called you down for dinner.” His voice was earnest, but she waved him off.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m just about to get myself a drink, that should be enough for me” she replied reassuringly.
“There’s some cake left. Help yourself” Sato offered. Ochako’s smile turned contemplative.
“Maybe I will.”
The lift doors bumbled open some distance behind her. Casually, Ochako glanced over her shoulder just in time to see Deku walking out of the lift with a towel around his shoulders. A smile spread across her face as she turned to face the greenette, tucking her arms behind her back.
“Oh, hey Deku.”
“Hey guys” he walked up to the group with a smile, finding a spot between Ochako and Sato.
“Glad to see you’ve managed to dry off, Midoriya” Iida noted jovially.
“Mostly” Deku chuckled, running a hand through his damp hair.
“You were out in that?” asked Ochako, surprised.
“Yeah, I was training late in Gym Delta” he said plainly.
“Goodness, you must’ve been soaked!” she exclaimed.
“He looked like a drowned rat!” Sato cut in with a chuckle.
“I did get wet, but it could’ve been worse.” Uraraka gave him a questioning look. “I ran into Shinso halfway to the dorms. He was kind enough to let me share his umbrella. Still needed to change out of my wet clothes though.”
Ochako felt the ground shift subtly beneath her feet. Shinso appearing again, for the third time in the week since he joined them for training. She didn’t dislike him, but something about him wasn’t sitting right with her. Yet she couldn’t put her finger on what it was. He was aloof, but so were Tokoyami and Todoroki at first. He wasn’t hostile like class B were, but when she tried to offer him an open ear or hand of friendship, he rejected it. He wasn’t rude or loud about it like Bakugo, his quiet presence simply appearing at unexpected times, then brashly leaving just as unexpectedly.
“I suppose that’s fortunate then” she said before her thoughts had a chance to break her calm exterior. Deku’s gaze turned to her. It wasn’t intense, but it was searching, as if he could tell something was off. Her back straightened and her cheeks grew warm as she tried to keep her expression steady.
“And an exemplary act of kindness” Iida spoke up, seemingly unaware of her plight. “Shinso doesn’t strike me as the sociable type. A gesture like that shows he has a heroic heart!”
Ochako put on a smile. “Maybe umbrellas should be standard support items then” she joked.
“You could do a Mary Poppins impression with it” Sato quipped back at her. Ochako sputtered at the idea. That got the group laughing.
Their laughter was interrupted by the bubbling groan of an empty stomach. All eyes turned toward its source. Padded hands cupped perma-blushed cheeks.
“Uraraka” Deku started. A gentle concern billowing through his time.
“It’s fine. I was just about to get myself some tea” she dismissed, waving a hand in front of her chest.
“Have you eaten yet?” he pushed.
“Well, no, y’see, I had a big lunch so-” she began reluctantly, trying to keep her voice light.
“I’ll make something for you” Deku’s resolve cut through any excuse she might offer.
“Deku, you don’t have to” she rebutted weakly. Because of course Deku would do something like that for his friends. Her hand slipped behind her head.
“I know” he said almost timidly. Nervousness about overstepping that didn’t belong. “I know I don’t have to. But I’m going to cook something for myself anyway, so it’s not a problem to cook for you too. Besides, I don’t normally cook meals for one.”
“You eat for two to keep those muscles?” blurted Ochako before she could think. Immediately her cheeks turned a shade darker.
“NO, I, uh” he sputtered in response. Neither noticed the look Sato shot at Iida. Uncertain of himself, Deku started edging towards the kitchen while keeping his attention on her. “I used to help my mum sometimes, so I’m used to cooking for two. And since we’ve been living here, we often eat in groups, you know?”
“Okay, okay. If you’re cooking anyway, I’ll join you” she relented, turning to follow him. She quickly gave Sato and Iida a parting wave. Sato simply nodded his head before turning back to his book.
“Enjoy your food” said Iida, giving them a satisfied smile.
“Thanks.” Deku turned back to Ochako and continued. “Just don’t expect anything fancy. I’m a bit worn out from training this evening.”
“If nothing else, I think we’ve got plenty of instant ramen, and Sato said there’s cake” Ochako smiled at the prospect. “Want some tea?”
“That sound nice.”
When they reached the kitchen, the pair got to work. As she prepared the kettle and Deku gathered some ingredients, Ochako couldn’t help the way her mind wandered.
Of all her classmates, more than anyone, Deku was always looking out for others. Always ready to lend a hand or willing to chat. He was on the shortlist for the title of her best friend, it was a toss-up between him and Tsuyu really. As he started talking about some bit of hero news she had missed, Ochako was caught by the easy-going look on his face and the shine in his green eyes. The look suited him so much. Her cheeks flushed a little as she realised where that thought was going, but she didn’t throw it out. Holding the idea in her hands, she clenched her fists and held it tight.
Soon they each had a plate of curry rice and a cup of green tea as they wandered over to a dining table. Light and jovial conversation filled the space between them. In a room dotted with people, they may as well have been the only occupants. Catching a glimpse of Deku’s smile before he shovelled in his first mouthful, Ochako dared to revisit that thought. How nice Deku looked when he smiled, and how much she wanted to keep that smile on his face.
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She saw the news on the common room tv. Saying that the city was damaged was like saying the universe is big. Even with the rebuild underway surprisingly quickly, it was clear from the footage that devastated was a more appropriate adjective. And that fact was worrying.
Rioting civilians were capable of doing that? Japan was experiencing riots that extreme? The idea that something like this could happen at all would’ve been crazy just a matter of months ago. Now it was all too real. Worry gripped the edge of her mind. Fears about whether it would happen again. If another riot sprang up at home, if her parents got caught up in it. The idea was too much to bear. And she knew it was only a few years before she would be thrust into this new world, supposedly with the skills and authority to do something about it.
Ochako could tell she wasn’t the only one affected by the news. Though no one said anything, every classmate she saw had worry etched onto their faces. They may be in one of the safest places in the country, but everyone had a family. Everyone knew people from before high school that didn’t make it into UA, if they even tried in the first place. So many friends worrying about the future, the people they knew, the responsibilities they were bound to inherit. Not a single smile could be seen.
As Ochako mulled over her feelings and her friends, her eyes were drawn to a particular figure.
Deku.
His expression mirrored how he was back before the Hasaikai raid. Weighed down by feelings of helplessness and fear, while holding that underlying determination that he would carry whatever burden he could to make things better. But unlike then, there wasn’t any direct action he could take or criticise himself over. He just stewed in the frustration of inaction. A boy desperately trying to reign in his worries, barely wading out of that bog filled with self-doubt.
He was one of many in that moment, but he wasn’t just anyone. This was Deku.
Deku, whose smile beamed like the sun. Deku, who deserved every happiness he could get. Deku, so dedicated to supporting others regardless of himself.
Everyone was feeling the burden of the world right now. And if there was one thing Ochako Uraraka could do, she could lift a heavy burden.
Carefully confronting the larger bubbles of fear, she packed her worries away for now and set them aside. There was nothing she could do about them right then and there. Balling her hands into fists, she rolled her shoulders, clenched her jaw and took a deep breath in. Feeling the tension spread across her form, she held herself there for a moment before releasing it. The sensation of loosening the stress was a calming relief. All the stress and fear felt lighter, distant, unimportant. The only firm thing left was her resolve.
Confidently, she plastered a compassionate smile on her face and walked up to her friends, holding that resolve firmly in her heart. She was going to make today as positive as it could be, no matter what.