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Midoriya was staying behind in the classroom to assist with cleanup and had insisted on their going ahead without him, so Uraraka and Tenya were walking to the station alone. After some time talking about their homework, Uraraka gave him a considering look. “Iida, I don’t think I’ve ever asked. Is there anyone you like?”
“W-What?” he asked, jolting. She couldn’t possibly mean… “Why would you ask me that?”
“I like to know things,” she said, shrugging. “I already know who Deku and Todoroki like, not to mention most of the girls in class, so do you have a crush on anyone?”
His friends all had crushes? He supposed that made sense, but he’d never noticed anything. Who did Midoriya have a crush on? He’d thought it was Uraraka for a while, but maybe that changed? And who did Todoroki like? He only seemed to like spending time with Midoriya, Uraraka, and Yaoyorozu… Perhaps one of them?
“Iida?” she asked, frowning now with some concern.
“Ah!” He flinched. “My apologies. I do not have a crush on anyone.” Tenya frowned. “Or, at least, I have never had a crush on anyone to my knowledge.”
Uraraka tilted her head as she looked up at him. “You’ve never had a crush?”
He shook his head. “I do not think so. My older brother used to tease me about it.” Yet another reason to be called a robot. At least with his brother, the teasing was affectionate. He looked away. “I know it makes me seem cold.”
Uraraka shook her head. “No, no, it’s kind of cute.” When Tenya looked, she was smiling. “You’re kind of innocent, aren’t you?”
Tenya huffed, embarrassed, but he couldn’t deny it.
“Alright, well, why don’t we find out?” Uraraka linked her arm through his. His face flushed. “I’ll ask you questions, and we’ll figure out if you have a crush on anyone together!”
He adjusted his glasses, coughing and turning his head away. His cheeks felt warm. “Could you release my arm, please?”
She laughed, but let him go. “Sorry about that. Now, who do you like spending time with the most? Like, you want to hang out with them all the time, even if it’s doing something you don’t have much interest in?”
Tenya frowned. The only people that came to mind… “You, Midoriya, and Todoroki, I suppose.”
Uraraka smiled. “And, of the three of us, who do you enjoy your time with the most? I promise, I won’t be offended if it isn’t me.” She winked.
Tenya sighed. “Then, probably Todoroki.”
“Okay,” she said. “And, of the class, who do you spend the most time looking at?”
Tenya hesitated. “I don’t think I know what you mean.”
“Hm, like, do you ever find yourself looking at someone, just because? Even when you aren’t talking with them?”
Tenya considered the question carefully, tapping a finger against his lip. “I often look at Todoroki, I suppose. I’ve been worried recently, since he seems to be bottling something up.” Tenya bit his lip. “Though, I suppose I only noticed because he hasn’t been meeting my eye when I look at him.”
Uraraka raised her eyebrows. “Is that right? And do you think Todoroki is handsome?”
“Of course,” Tenya agreed easily. “He is quite handsome. Striking, even.”
“And have you ever thought about touching Todoroki? Holding his hand, or sitting near him, or touching his cheek, or…?”
Tenya stopped walking, frowning thoughtfully. He had thought about touching his cheek. When they were studying, he spent more time than usual within his personal space, edging closer than he probably needed to see the questions Todoroki was working on.
He froze. Did he have a crush on Todoroki? He crossed his arms, looking down.
All of Uraraka’s questions led to him, but surely that just meant he was his closest friend? What was it that differentiated from a crush and a close friend?
“I thought about kissing him,” Tenya realized, his cheeks flooding with color. He felt faint. “More than once.” He pressed his hand over his mouth.
“Well, that does seem to clear things up,” Uraraka said, still smiling. “Are you—Iida, you’re not panicking about this, are you?”
“O-Of course not!” Tenya insisted, panicking.
“You totally are!” Uraraka protested, also panicking.
Tenya covered his face with his hands. “What am I supposed to do? This has never happened to me before, and Todoroki is a dear friend.”
“Okay, well, I think you should see him.”
“Impossible.”
Uraraka laughed. “It is not. Hear me out, okay?” When Tenya peeked out of his hands, she was smiling up at him, her hands behind her back. “Okay, so, I think you should tell Todoroki how you feel.”
Tenya frowned. “That is a terrible idea.”
She raised her eyebrows, her lips pressed together in a tight smile, like she was a breath away from laughing. “Is it really? I can’t tell you why I think it would be a good idea, Iida, I’ve been sworn to secrecy.” She winked.
Tenya frowned, lowering his hands. “I… don’t think I understand. Why did you wink?”
She sighed, shaking her head. “I can’t explain it to you right now, but have I ever lied to you? Or led you astray? Would I tell you to do something I didn’t think was a really good idea?”
Tenya thought about it, but he couldn’t come up with anything. He shook his head slowly.
“Then, will you trust me? Invite Todoroki to hang out somewhere, and tell him you think you have a crush on him.” She beamed. “Easy-peasy.”
“What would we do? There’s nothing to study for, and I don’t… pick movies.” Tenya frowned, crossing his arms.
“How about the aquarium? We get a student discount, and it’s supposed to be really cool.” She nudged his shoulder. “Plus, you’ll get to learn new things about fish and the ocean!”
Tenya could feel a smile pull at his lips. He hadn’t been to an aquarium since he was young, and it would be fun to go with Todoroki. He could always put off telling him to the end, too. “O-Okay. I’ll do it.”
“Great! You should text him now!”
As long as he had Uraraka’s help, he was going to be okay.
He was not going to be okay. Accepting the revelation when he was alone with Uraraka was one thing, but facing Todoroki afterward was impossible. They were meeting at the station nearest the aquarium, and Todoroki was right on time, smiling softly as he approached.
Tenya had seen him out of his uniform before, but he couldn’t help but gape at him for a moment too long. His heart was pounding behind his ribs, and his hands were sweating.
“I hope you weren’t waiting long,” Todoroki said, coming to a stop in front of him.
“N-Not at all!” Tenya said, too loudly, his hands waving a little in his bout of nerves. Todoroki was still smiling. “H-Have you ever been to this aquarium before?”
Todoroki shook his head. “My father thought this kind of thing was a waste of time.” His smile pulled a little bitter. Tenya winced. “There are a lot of things I haven’t done.”
“We can do the other things, too,” Tenya heard himself say. Todoroki’s eyes refocused on him, wide in his surprise. “I-If you want to, I mean, I don’t want you to feel like you’re missing out—though, of course, there might be someone better suited to accompanying you—” Tenya couldn’t seem to stop his arms from waving about.
Todoroki took his hand, his smile warm and gentle and perfect. “I’d love that, Iida. But why don’t we start with the aquarium?” The sparkle in his eyes was amusement, but the way he was smiling reassured Tenya that he wasn’t being mocked.
Worried about babbling again, Tenya restricted himself to nodding. Todoroki laughed, releasing his hand as they started to walk. Tenya missed it at once.
The aquarium was almost enough to distract Tenya from his purpose—informative and diverting as it was—but seeing Todoroki in the soft blue light caught him by surprise every time he looked over to share a fun fact from the plaques.
When they reached the jellyfish tank, Todoroki’s lips parted in awe, watching them float with rapt attention. Tenya couldn’t look away.
“I like you,” he said. His hands rested at his sides. His heart was pounding fit to burst out of his chest, and his face felt hot, but he felt settled and calm despite that.
Todoroki turned to look at him, his cheeks flooding with color, his left half icing over a little before the heat from the other side balanced it out. “You—what?”
“I like you a lot, Todoroki. N-Not just as a friend, but as—more than that.” Tenya ducked his head, unable to continue to meet such an intent gaze. “Is that o-okay?”
“Winter is coming up,” Todoroki said. “I’ve never gone ice skating before. Will you go with me?” Tenya looked up, surprised. “I like you, too, Iida. A lot. And for a long time. I didn’t think you felt the same way.”
Tenya laughed shakily. “I, uh, didn’t realize it either, actually. I’ve never—this is the first time I’ve—Uraraka had to walk me through it.” He faltered. “N-Not that she had to tell me that I had a crush on you! She only asked leading questions, but I—”
Todoroki took his hands in his. “I’m glad she talked to you, if it means I get to date you.” He released one of Tenya’s hands, turning back to face the jellyfish. “What kind of jellyfish are these?”
“Aurelia, or Moon Jellyfish,” Tenya answered quickly. “They typically live about six months in the wild, but these could easily live several years here.”
Todoroki squeezed his hand, swinging it between them. Tenya adjusted his glasses, coughing.
“The moon is beautiful, isn’t it?” Todoroki asked. He smiled like he was a breath away from laughing. Tenya squeezed his hand back.
“It really, really is,” he mumbled.
Todoroki was still holding Tenya’s hand by the time they made it back to the station. The sun was setting. Tenya was carrying a large stuffed hammerhead shark that Todoroki had been staring at in the gift shop. He’d protested, but when Tenya insisted, Todoroki laughed and promised to return the favor next time.
Tenya liked the sound of that: next time.
“I suppose this is where we part ways for the day,” Todoroki said, his voice wistful.
“I-I could walk you home,” Tenya offered. He didn’t want to let go of Todoroki’s hand. “It’s not very far.”
Todoroki smiled. “Isn’t it in the opposite direction?”
“Well, yes, but—it’s really no trouble,” he insisted.
“Okay, then,” Todoroki said, turning toward his house. “I don’t want the date to end yet, either.”
Tenya blushed, but he couldn’t stop the smile from pulling at the corners of his mouth. “I’m glad.” He bit his lip, unsure of how to ask about…
“Whatever it is,” Todoroki interrupted, smiling at him, “You can just say it. You’re not going to scare me away, or whatever it is you’re worried about.”
Tenya relaxed. “May I call you my boyfriend?”
“Yes,” Todoroki agreed at once. “Please do.” He hummed to himself, clearly thinking about something. “Can I use your given name? You can call me Shouto if you want.”
Tenya couldn’t quite meet his eyes; he felt like he was overheating. “T-Tenya is fine, Sh-Shouto.”
“Tenya,” Todoroki—Shouto said. He looked like he was concentrating, feeling out the word in his mouth. “Tenya,” he said again. Tenya was going to die. His heart was going to burst any moment. “I had a lot of fun today, Tenya.”
“M-Me, too.”
“Next time, we should go to that art museum downtown.” Shouto leaned into his side, their arms pressed together, and hands clasped tightly. “I’ve always wanted to go.”
“Of course,” Tenya said quickly. “I love museums.”
“I thought you might.” Shouto slowed to a stop as they approached the entrance to his house. “If only I lived further away,” he mumbled, “I wouldn’t have to let go of your hand.”
Tenya’s cheeks inflamed at once. He was sure he was scarlet from ear to ear. Shouto turned to smile at him, guileless.
“I’ll see you at school on Monday.” Shouto squeezed his hand once before letting go. Tenya opened his mouth to reply, but Shouto darted in close, kissing his cheek. Tenya’s mouth remained open, but no sound came out. He dropped the stuffed shark in his shock. “That wasn’t too much, was it?” Shouto glanced down at the toy, brow furrowed.
Tenya shook himself. “N-No, not at all, it was… nice. Could I… That is, could we…?” Shouto tilted his head to one side, curious. “May I kiss you? Properly, I mean.”
Shouto smiled. “You may.”
Tenya held Shouto’s cheeks carefully, leaning down to press their lips together. One cheek was cooler than the other, but his lips were warm all the way across. Shouto wrapped his arms around Tenya’s neck, holding him close. Tenya pulled back, touching their foreheads together, catching his breath.
“I’ll see you on Monday,” Shouto reiterated. “Text me when you get home?”
“Of course.” Tenya leaned in for one more kiss, smiling against Shouto’s mouth. “I look forward to our next date, Shouto.” He stooped to pick up the shark, handing it to Shouto. “Have a good night.”
“Good night.” Shouto waved the shark’s fin at him before he slowly turned to walk through his front gate.
On his way home, Tenya texted Uraraka, his smile unfading. ‘The date went well.’ The enthusiasm of her reply had his smile stretching even wider. He made sure to thank her again, despite her ‘I told you so’s. Without her help, he was certain he never would have done anything.
Maybe someday, he’d be able to return the favor.