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Melissa isn’t going to admit it out loud, but she is definitely ogling Deku right now.
She rationalizes it under the fact that they’ve just been through a great deal, her adrenaline high hasn’t worn off yet and, well. His jacket and shirt had been torn to shreds from fighting Wolfram, so there’s nothing to cover his topless form, and damn he is fit. She wondered how he’d been able to do so many amazing things, especially since it seemed his body couldn’t handle most of it—but he’d trained to look this way, she realizes, and it has definitely paid off.
Of course, Deku’s way more than just a plain-looking face with amazing abs and admittedly cute freckles. Deku is kind. He’s selfless to a fault, and extremely intelligent. He has a knack for attracting others to him, and has a leadership quality that makes him easy to follow. His ability to think quickly and strategically is almost envious. Not to mention the immense power he keeps stored inside of him, power that’s very similar to her uncle’s.
Seeing the two of them fight side by side definitely confirmed her suspicions about his quirk. It has to be something he received from All Might—the way they move and their attacks are so strikingly similar it can’t be a coincidence. It was like watching two All Mights at once, finishing up the villain with a final “SMASH!” that saved the day and proclaimed them both as the greatest heroes.
From the minute she met him, and seeing how he interacted with her uncle, she could immediately tell that the two of them were a lot closer than they implied. Melissa is more perceptive than most—growing up quirkless requires you to divert your attention elsewhere—and she’s learned over time how to study people, to read them, in order to understand them better. If she’s going to help others along their paths to being heroes, she has to be smart about it, and be able to pick up on things that don’t need to be explained. So really, it doesn’t come as much of a surprise to her as she originally thought it would.
Not that she blames her uncle for liking Deku, no. There’s just something about the eccentric boy, more to him that meets the eye, a deep strength within him that’s more powerful than just his flashy quirk. He has the makings of a true hero, just like Uncle Might. And seeing their fight just now made their connection all the more clearer.
Melissa watches as Deku observes the sunrise, his eyes lighting up brilliantly at the sky’s pink glow. She feels almost weak in the knees at the sight—of freckled cheeks and toned muscles, of singed hair and beautiful smiles. He’s absolutely breathtaking. Her hero.
The wind picks up and sweeps away the lingering scent of crushed metal and smoke as the clouds part, and Melissa thinks this moment couldn’t be any more perfect.
Deku breathes in the morning air, his chest expanding, and the girl feels heat rise to her cheeks. She quickly looks away, smiling bashfully. Maybe it’s not just the adrenaline anymore.
The green-haired teen blinks, and that’s all it takes for him to snap out of it, because in an instant he’s at her side. His expression is wide open, full of concern.
“You’re okay, right, Melissa-san?” He asks.
His worry is absolutely touching, and she’d probably feel more inclined to accept it if he didn’t look ten times more battered than her.
“I’m okay,” she assures, “just a little banged up, that’s all. But you! You’re a total mess, I should be asking if you’re okay!”
Deku looks down at himself and, seeming to just realize how beat up he appears, laughs awkwardly.
“It probably looks worse than it is,” he grins. “I’ve been through more awful situations than this one, trust me.”
The blonde girl pouts. “That’s not the point, Deku-kun! What matters is that you’re all injured like this right now...”
“I’m sorry!” Deku squeaks, looking totally earnest and oh-so-adorable. The dawn’s light spreads over the top of his head like a halo. God, he’s gorgeous. “I promise I’ll get myself checked out as soon as possible! But really, it could have been so much worse without the gauntlet you gave me...so I have to thank you again, Melissa-san!”
She smiles at this, her heart feeling as warm as the sun. “I’m so glad it could help you, really. Maybe I’ll be able to make another one for you sometime?”
Watching Deku light up makes her stomach flutter pleasantly.
“Really?!” He gasps, eyes starry. “That would be amazing!”
She giggles at this, finding his enthusiasm contagious. “I’ll see what I can do!”
“I look forward to it!”
With Deku standing there looking at her like she’s made his day, Melissa can barely feel the sting of her injuries. She’s sure that once things calm down her body will crash and burn and she’ll be sore all over—but right now, she feels like she’s on top of the world...and she practically is, standing at the top of her father’s tower. Triumph fills up her lungs and her heart and she realizes with a jolt—this is what real heroes feel like, when they save the day. This is what it’s like to be a real hero, to help those in need, to push past your limits and go beyond. Her Uncle’s favorite phrase rings in her head, and she beams. Maybe it’s time for her to go Plus Ultra, too.
Melissa steps closer, ignoring the mess at her feet. “Deku-kun, listen. I—”
“Young Izuku!”
Deku lights up like the sun just hit him straight on, and it’s like every muscle in his body is prepared to leap into action and do anything All Might asks of him. The pure admiration and respect in his eyes is endearing.
Her uncle is limping up the piles of debris, and when Melissa turns to look at him she almost slides down the hill in shock.
“Uncle Might!” She shrieks, her spine tingling in horror. “Oh my god, are you okay?!”
All Might looks like a skeleton, like someone had shoved a straw into him and sucked out every bit of supporting muscle until he was left with nothing but bones. His face is gaunt and pale, eyes sunken, limbs spindly and weak. Fear clogs up Melissa’s throat until she feels like she’s choking—is he alright? Did the villain do this to him? Is this why her father had been so intent to steal back his own invention, to solve the mystery behind her uncle’s rail-thin appearance?
Deku is already on the case, picking his way down the mountain of broken metal until he reaches the taller man’s side. Melissa feels too rooted in her own dismay to move.
“All Might! Don’t push yourself,” Deku frets, using his bulky frame to hold her uncle upright. Strangely enough, the pro hero doesn’t protest—instead, he leans into Deku fully, a relieved look crossing his features.
Her uncle’s eyes meet hers and Melissa inhales sharply. Despite the circles under his eyes and the wrinkles on his skin, Uncle Might’s eyes are sparking with energy, a striking bright blue that shakes her to her core. There is still a powerful hero buried beneath that skeletal frame, and she feels a bit of the tension seep out of her shoulders at the revelation.
“Do not fret, dear Melissa,” All Might smiles. “I’m perfectly fine. Though I do apologize for you having to see me in this state...”
“Is this...” She swallows. “Is this what Papa was talking about earlier? Are you...are you sick, Uncle Might? He said your quirk was going away!”
All Might bows his head, smiling sadly. His hero costume blows in the breeze, barely clinging to his body. Melissa’s heart thumps painfully in her chest.
“I’m afraid so,” he sighs, long and deep. “But the details of my problem can be discussed later. For now, I just need you to promise you won’t reveal my current state to anybody else. Not even my students are aware—only Young Izuku knows.” He looks serious, sharp gaze piercing through her. “Can you do that for me, Melissa? Can you keep this form of mine a secret?”
“Of—” She chokes. “Of course I will, Uncle Might! I’d never—I swear, I won’t tell anybody else...”
The man’s eyes soften at this, a tentative smile pulling up the worn corners of his lips. “Thank you.”
Deku prods him gently, eyebrows drawn up. “All Might, are you sure you’re okay? You pushed yourself way too hard in that fight...”
In an instant, her uncle’s attention swivels onto the young hero, and she watches in fascination as his whole expression seems to melt.
“I’m fine, Young Izuku. What about you, though? You look quite battered! You didn’t get seriously hurt, did you?”
The way the older man frets reminds Melissa of an overbearing guardian, and she giggles a bit.
The smile Deku gives him in return could probably tame even the angriest of villains. “I’m okay! Just a bit banged up...but really, I’m fine! I’m more worried about you...”
“Don’t concern yourself too much over an old man like me, my boy,” All Might chuckles, playfully tousling Deku’s hair. The teen giggles merrily, his cheeks flushed at the attention.
Something warm and tender blooms inside of Melissa’s chest. Her uncle and Deku...are very close, aren’t they? She knew she hadn’t been mistaken when she noticed their connection, but apparently their fates are more intertwined than she could have ever imagined. She doesn’t think she’s ever seen her uncle look at anyone the way he’s looking at Deku—like he’s something unbelievably precious, someone that has to be protected at all costs. The look in his eyes speaks of a deep fondness, of an attachment far beyond that of a normal teacher and mentor. Almost like...
The blonde man’s eyes dart over Deku’s form, and his jaw slackens.
“Young Izuku...”
Deku tilts his head cutely. “What is it?”
All Might reaches over and starts patting at his shoulder, mouth agape. “Your arm...”
The teen yelps and frantically wiggles it around. “Wh-what? I didn’t break it this time, I swear!”
At this, her uncle beams, and an overjoyed laugh booms out of his chest. With a surprising amount of strength considering his current form, All Might sweeps Izuku up into an embrace, spinning him around in circles.
“That’s it! That’s exactly it!” All Might cries merrily. When he finally sets Deku back down, the boy’s face is comically red, and a stream of overwhelmed squeals escape his mouth.
The pro hero runs a hand through Deku’s fluffy locks, disheveling them even further. Deku’s cheeks are a lovely shade of pink, and his smile is wobbly but extremely pleased.
“You didn’t hurt yourself beyond repair this time,” All Might breathes. “Oh, I’m so relieved. And so, so proud of you, Young Izuku.”
At this, tears flood Deku’s eyes, and his lower lip trembles. “A-All Might...”
“You saved a lot of people today,” her uncle continues. “Everyone on this island, your friends, Melissa, Dave—and me.” He steps forward and wraps his arms around Deku’s shoulders, pulling him in for a hug. “Today, you were my hero. Thank you.”
Melissa bites her lip and smiles as Deku instantly bursts into tears. She finds that she’s having a hard time holding back her own as she watches them embrace. Deku clings to All Might like he’s his only lifeline, sniveling like a baby, and All Might cradles him close.
That’s right—the thing she’d noticed earlier. Her uncle is treating Deku more than just a student, than a pupil. He’s treating him like a son—like family. They may not be biologically related, but right now, Deku really looks as if he could be All Might’s own flesh and blood. A happy sob leaps out of her mouth at the realization.
For all the time she’s known her uncle, he’s always been alone. Sitting at the very top of the hero rankings, being the world’s number one hero—it has to be lonely, she’s sure. Her uncle smiles and waves and interacts with hundreds of people every day, but he rarely allows himself to be drawn in, to get super close to others. She had the privilege of growing up and being his favorite niece, but just like her papa, he’s a busy man. With a world that needs so much saving, All Might never seemed to rely on anybody else but himself to do the job, but now...
You’ve finally found someone you can trust completely and be close to, she thinks, wiping away joyful tears. Someone else you can think of as real family besides Papa and I. Oh, I’m so glad.
If anybody deserves the position and is the most capable for it, it’s definitely Deku—and Melissa thinks, at this very moment, she understands better than anybody why All Might has so much faith in this young man. Deku is earnest and more kindhearted than anybody she’s ever met before, and a person worthy of carrying on her uncle’s legacy. A true hero.
“Come come, now,” All Might chuckles. “It’s alright, Young Izuku. Hold your head high. Be proud of what you accomplished today.”
Deku sniffs audibly and nods. His face might be covered in tears and snot, but he looks more determined and resolved than ever. Melissa’s heart skips a beat.
The blonde man takes a moment to look around, his lips pursing into a thoughtful frown. It’s honestly weird seeing him with any other expression on his face besides a bright smile—but then again, she’s really only ever known him as All Might, the endlessly smiling Symbol of Peace, and not as Toshinori, the mere human underneath all that. Her stomach feels weirdly hollow at the thought. Even Deku has known the real Toshinori longer than she has, and she’s been acquainted with the pro hero since childhood.
“This is going to be quite a mess to clean up,” All Might—no, Toshinori—says with a sigh. “But, well, we can worry about that later. For now the first thing to do is get first aid for everyone who was involved.”
“You’re definitely getting checked out right away,” Deku says stubbornly. He still hasn’t moved an inch, with Toshinori propped up against his side, Deku’s arm around his back.
“I told you, my boy! I’m fine—”
“You were already at your limit and even after that you pushed it! No arguments,” Deku looks firmer than ever, and Melissa’s jaw nearly drops in shock when her notoriously stubborn uncle sheepishly gives in with a resigned look on his face.
He never does that, not even when it’s her papa bugging him!
“Alright, alright,” Toshinori grumbles. “As long as you promise to get yourself looked at too, Young Izuku. I’m—I’m worried about you.”
Deku’s smile is blinding again, shining like stars. “I promise!”
Toshinori tugs him in again, this time in a side hug, and ruffles his hair once more. He seems to be very fond of doing that. Deku presses against him and laughs. Melissa really wishes she had her phone so she could snap a picture.
“After this, I’ll treat you, okay? We can go anywhere you’d like.”
“Really?!” Deku squeaks.
The blonde man nods. “This was supposed to be a vacation trip for you and I, and yet we ended up getting dragged into this situation...well! I feel bad about that, so I’ll take you somewhere good to eat once we all get patched up. There’s plenty of nice restaurants around here—ah, hopefully they’ll still be open after all this chaos happened…”
“We couldn’t really help that,” Deku points out with a giggle. “But, yes, please! At this point I’d be fine with anything, I’m starving...”
As if on cue, Deku’s stomach lets out a loud growl. His cheeks immediately flush with color, his expression turning bashful. But with one look up at Toshinori, both of them burst into laughter, looking like two mischievous kids getting into trouble. Melissa’s heart warms at the sight.
“Actually, I’ve been meaning to ask,” Toshinori pipes up, “Young Izuku, you—”
“Midoriya!”
He’s abruptly cut off by a call from beyond the metal trash heap. Deku immediately perks up, eyes wide, and Melissa gazes curiously up the hill.
“Midoriya!” The voice shouts again, this time sounding desperate. Melissa looks back over to Deku, who suddenly looks as equally desperate.
“It’s Todoroki-kun,” Deku breathes, biting his lip.
“Go to him, my boy,” Toshinori says, releasing him slowly. “I’ll be fine here.”
“But—”
“He needs his hero, too,” her uncle cuts in, smiling. “Don’t keep him waiting, okay? I’ll stay and take care of Dave.”
Melissa yelps at that. “That’s right! Papa!”
How could she have forgotten? Her papa is injured and bleeding and she hadn’t even bothered to go check on him, what kind of daughter is she—
“He’ll be just fine, Melissa,” Toshinori reassures before her thoughts can spiral off. “I already patched him up. He’s just resting until the medics get here.”
Melissa feels her knees go weak. “Oh...thank god...Papa...”
“Melissa-san!”
Deku’s at her side in an instant, gently steadying her before her legs give out completely. Pressed against him like this, feeling nothing but his skin against hers, her heartbeat skyrockets.
“Th...thank you, Deku-kun,” she whispers, smiling nervously.
The green-haired boy doesn’t seem to notice her compromised state, for he grins and straightens her out with ease. Melissa almost mourns it when he pulls away, and she feels unsteady on her feet again—but for an entirely different reason this time.
“You two go check on the other students, alright?” Her uncle asks them. “I’ll stay with Dave. He’ll be in safe hands, don’t worry.”
Melissa meets his eyes and sees the conviction there. Despite Toshinori’s current state, she has no doubts in her mind that he’ll keep her papa safe.
“Thank you, Uncle Might,” she murmurs.
“Midoriya!”
Deku jolts. “Ahh, Todoroki-kun!”
He hurries up the hill, slipping a bit on pieces of broken metal. Melissa follows him, taking her time to pick her way through. She’s still barefoot, after all.
When she reaches the top, she sees Deku already scrambling down to where Todoroki waits. The taller boy’s suit is shredded, as well—singed to almost nothing on his left side, as a result of using his quirk. The thing that surprises her the most is the look on his face.
Melissa knows a fair amount of information about some of the students at UA. It’s the school her uncle teaches at, after all, and she’d been curious as to the sorts of heroes that were in training there. Of course, anyone aiming to be a proper hero had to know who was at the top in the pro world, so she’s well aware of Endeavor’s position in the number two spot, and that he has a prodigy son enrolled in the hero course.
Melissa’s seen videos of Endeavor before. He’s very intimidating, powerful, and rarely smiles. The Todorokis are a family who keep their emotions locked up tight, barely betraying how they feel with a twitch of a muscle. Shouto Todoroki always seemed blank faced and aloof in photos and videos of him online. So when she looks at him now and sees the utter relief on his face—and the broken desperation in his eyes—she’s almost taken aback.
That doesn’t come nearly as close to the shock she receives next.
Todoroki looks almost eager as Deku makes his way down to him—in fact, he can’t even seem to wait, for he starts stumbling up the hillside himself. As Deku draws closer Todoroki makes a weird, strangled sort of noise, a bit like a sob, and his arms open wide. Deku cries out happily and readily crashes into them.
In an instant, the air shifts—and Melissa feels as if she’s witnessing something she shouldn’t.
The two teens curl around each other as if they haven’t seen each other in months. One of Todoroki’s hands bury into Deku’s hair, the other wrapped tightly around his bare waist. Deku has his own arm looked around Todoroki’s lower back, the other splayed across his shoulders. They’re pressed into each other so closely that it almost looks like they’re melding together.
Todoroki heaves out a quiet little whimper, pushing his nose against Deku’s ear.
“Midoriya...Midoriya—”
“Todoroki-kun,” Deku whispers, soft and full of emotion.
“You’re,” Todoroki starts, and upon closer inspection, Melissa can see he’s trembling. “You—god—”
“I’m okay,” Deku tells him, squeezing him tight. “I’m okay. I promise.”
“Sh—shit,” the dual-eyed boy chokes out.
“I’m sorry,” Deku continues, tracing patterns up and down Todoroki’s back. “That must have been scary to watch, huh? But you did your best...thank you, Todoroki-kun.”
Todoroki pulls back and looks into his eyes, his own glittering in the morning sun. One side is like a swirling storm, the other a frozen sea beginning to thaw. Melissa almost can’t stand to look at them, the raw emotion scraping her heart in a way she can’t particularly name.
“You are unbelievably reckless,” Todoroki scolds, but it sounds half-hearted at best.
Deku giggles, and the other boy’s eyes instantly soften in a way that says he’s absolutely whipped.
“I didn’t break anything this time though, see! I was extra careful!”
“You should always be extra careful,” Todoroki scoffs, gently pinching Deku’s cheek with a free hand. The green-haired boy squeaks, the sound quickly shifting into a twitterpated sigh when Todoroki releases him to tenderly cup at his cheek instead.
“No matter what I say you’ll rush in headfirst anyway,” he sighs. “But please. Don’t scare me like that again...I—I couldn’t bear to lose you, Midoriya...”
Deku’s eyes glitter with the sheen of unshed tears. “Todoroki-kun...”
Todoroki’s expression twists, a subtle little giveaway to the near devastation he had felt, and Deku moves to smooth his fingers over his cheeks. Deku moves in close, so close—Melissa feels her cheeks heating.
“Shh, Todoroki-kun,” Deku murmurs against his mouth. Their lips are mere centimeters apart. “It’s alright...”
Todoroki nods, slowly, still clinging to Deku’s hip like a lifeline, the other hand curling around the back of his neck.
“You’re okay?”
“Yeah,” Deku says quietly, smiling up at him. After a moment he leans in so that their foreheads are touching. “I’m okay. I’m more than okay, actually.”
Melissa almost can't stand to look at them they're so brilliant. They're shining on like a morning star, and she feels as if she's trapped between Deku's electric green gaze and Todoroki's own fiery cool combination.
She feels a bit silly for even thinking that she stood a chance against Deku—even more so for thinking her swirling, confused feelings could evolve into something more. She arrived at the starting line way after the race had already ended, and Todoroki had been the one to win, walking off with Deku's heart and affection as his prize. Deku's looking at Todoroki as if he's the only person in the whole world that matters, as if Todoroki's hung the moon and the stars for him. Todoroki looks back at Deku and it's intoxicating, like there's a fire igniting in his eyes and in his very soul, like Deku was the one to set his heart aflame. His expression is so unbelievably tender and full of pure, unbridled need that it makes her flush. Should she really be watching this? Wouldn't it be better to give them privacy?
Todoroki murmurs Deku's name and it makes both Deku and Melissa quake. The sun is suddenly much, much too hot on the back of her neck, and it feels like her entire face is going up in flames when the two of them close the distance between them in a kiss for the record books.
She honestly isn't sure who instigated it, or if it was a mutual movement—but if love were a tangible thing she could reach out and touch, she's sure it would be rolling off these two in waves by now. Todoroki's fingers are threaded back through Deku's hair, and Deku digs his fingertips into Todoroki's hips and gasps into the kiss. Todoroki seems determined to steal Deku's very breath away, and Melissa finds she can't find hers, either. Todoroki's cheeks are pink, pink, like a peach, and Deku's are a shade or two darker, making his freckles stand out beautifully against his skin.
Melissa finally finds she can't take another second and cups her hands over her eyes, squeaking. The kiss isn’t exactly...innocent. She feels as if she's witnessing the most passionate of rendezvous, something not meant for public eyes.
A quiet whimper reaches her ears and she shakes her head, mouth wobbling. Is it possible to die from blushing overload? These two are determined to put her into an early grave, apparently!
When she hears an embarrassed chuckle, she peeks through the gaps in her fingers and startles when her eyes meet Deku's own. The boy is staring at her with a bashful expression. Todoroki isn't even looking at her, his eyes still glued to Deku's face.
"S-sorry about that, Melissa-san," he says, sheepish. Melissa adamantly shakes her head.
"N-no, it's okay, really! I didn't realize you two were...um! Well, I'm glad to see that you're okay, Todoroki-kun..."
Todoroki finally chances a look at her, his eyes still endlessly soft. Oh god that's so not fair.
"Thank you," he says, simply, but the words are enough to make her heart pick up into a rapid staccato again.
"Heeey! Deku-kun!"
The three of them look over to see the rest of the group approaching, their faces smudged with dirt but bright with relief. They’re a bit worse for the wear but about the same as she is. The blonde girl isn’t sure if she’s grateful they chose to show up now or not.
"Uraraka-san, Iida-kun, everyone!" Deku beams. He doesn't move to meet them, still trapped by Todoroki's embrace. He seems content to stay there, however.
"That was crazy, man," Kaminari gasps, reaching them first. The sun makes his hair look especially yellow. "But you're okay, right?"
"Your suit is totally shredded, dude!" Kirishima laughs.
Deku gets that cute sheepish look on his face again. "Haha, yeah, well..."
"I'm relieved you aren't terribly hurt," Yaoyorozu breathes, clasping her hands together.
"Seeing you and All Might fight together...that was crazy to watch," Jirou adds, shaking her head in wonder.
"Tch. I could have done way better," Bakugou scoffs.
"Shut it, Bakugou, Midoriya totally risked his life out there for us, you know!"
"He did a shitty job! I would have blown that bastard to smithereens in two seconds flat!"
"You're just saying that...there's no way, man..."
The group bursts into uproarious laughter at this. Deku and Todoroki smile as one, perfectly in sync.
"You're okay too, right, Melissa-chan?" Uraraka asks, walking over to her. There’s scratches all over her arms and face but otherwise she still seems to be full of energy and as perky as ever.
"You seem to have a few minor injuries. We will get them looked at immediately!" Iida chirps, his hair blowing in the morning breeze.
"Oh, thank you!” Melissa answers.
Kaminari saunters over to them next, followed by Jirou and Yaoyorozu. Bakugou and Kirishima continue to playfully bicker while Deku and Todoroki watch them, amused. Todoroki leans over and presses affectionate kisses into the boy’s fluffy green hair, who leans into him with a loving smile. Melissa can't seem to take her eyes off them.
And, just Melissa's luck, pretty much the whole group notices.
Uraraka grins slyly and gently elbows her in the ribs. "I see you've got your eyes on Deku-kun."
For the first time since meeting them, Melissa gets flustered—especially since they correctly called her out.
"Wh-what? I—”
"It's totally cool, Melissa-chan," Kaminari says with a grin. "You're not the only one after that ass."
The blonde girl feels her jaw drop open before she can stop it, a flustered blush settling across her cheekbones.
"Kaminari-kun! Please refrain from objectifying Midoriya-kun and reducing him to nothing but a pretty specimen to look at!" Iida snaps, also visibly red.
Jirou bursts into laughter. "Oh my god, Iida.”
"You said it, man, not me!" Kaminari hoots. "He is super pretty to look at, you're totally right."
"No! I played myself right into your hands!" The tall boy yelps, caught off guard.
Momo's the one to giggle this time. "Well, even I can't deny that Midoriya-san is very...ahem, attractive."
"Just say he's delicious, Yaomomo, and that you want to lick his abs. We all do."
Melissa can’t help it, she snorts out a laugh at this.
"Oh my god," Yaoyorozu squeals, clapping her hands to her flushed cheeks. "Please stop being so—so vulgar about it!"
"Midoriya does have really nice abs, though," Jirou comments casually, but the pink in her cheeks gives her away.
"And a really cute butt..." Uraraka says dreamily.
"His physical stature is very admirable!" Iida adds, looping the conversation back into non-inappropriate territory.
"But, well, we're all out of luck on that front," Uraraka sighs. "Deku-kun's head over heels for Todoroki-kun, and I doubt that's going to change anytime soon."
This statement seems to sober them up—but none of them look upset about it, not really. Melissa can’t find it in herself to be too sad about it, either, especially since they can all clearly see how happy Deku is with Todoroki, and how happy Todoroki is with him.
Kaminari folds his hands behind his head. "Well, if I had to choose anyone for Midoriya to end up with, it'd definitely be Todoroki."
Yaoyorozu smiles and nods. "Yes. They have a chemistry that is nearly unmatched. When those two team up together..."
"It's like watching pros in action," Jirou finishes. "Their teamwork is incredible."
"That's because they have an infinite amount of trust in each other," Iida points out.
"And love!" Uraraka chimes. "They're so smitten with each other, anybody with eyes could see it."
It’s during this conversation that Kirishima pops in and joins them, eyes wide with curiosity. “Hey, gang! What are we talkin’ about over here?”
“How much we all want to sit on Midoriya’s lap,” Kaminari says casually, and Melissa chokes on a giggle. At this point it’s become way more funny than embarrassing, especially since the whole group seems to share her thoughts.
Much to her surprise (or, not at all), Kirishima laughs boisterously and nods in agreement. “Man, I feel that. I guess it’s thirsting after Midoriya hours again, huh?”
“You bet your ass it is!”
“Okay, though, if we’re going to make this fair,” Melissa finds herself speaking up, her mouth running faster than her brain. “Todoroki-kun could definitely give Deku-kun a run for his money.”
Uraraka’s eyes light up, and her grin turns almost feral. “You have excellent taste, Melissa-chan! All of us agree that if Deku-kun had to end up with anybody in Class 1-A, they at least had to have a really good figure. And a pretty face. And Todoroki-kun has both!”
“He’s also filthy rich,” Jirou mumbles out. Everyone stares at her, and she throws her hands up in defense. “What? It’s a nice bonus! Todoroki buys stuff for Midoriya like, all the time with his dad’s credit card. He literally spoils him rotten.”
“God, I wish that were me,” Kirishima groans.
“Oop, I think he knows we’re talking about him.”
At Uraraka’s observation, the group locks eyes with Todoroki, who has an almost possessive hold on Deku’s waist. He’s staring at them with a very unimpressed look, one of his eyebrows raised. Deku keeps looking back and forth between them like a confused puppy, and it’s adorable.
Uraraka shoots the pair a cheeky grin and makes a heart with her hands. Todoroki playfully rolls his eyes and Deku laughs, and then their attention is immediately back on each other again.
“Okay, his personality might not be the best—”
“Kaminari.”
“What?! I’m being honest! Up until the Sports Festival Todoroki was so freakin’ quiet, man. Barely talked to anybody, showed off whenever he was given the chance, and did his own thing. He was kinda a prick,” Kaminari explains, crossing his arms.
“He declined all of my invitations to lunch,” Yaoyorozu adds, and then, with a wry look to the electric teen, “I wouldn’t go so far as to call him a ‘prick’, though.”
“Who’s a prick?”
They all look over to see that Bakugou has finally broken off to join them. With a quick glance Melissa notices Todoroki and Deku quietly talking to each other, their bodies pressed close again. She huffs out a heated breath and forces herself to turn away.
“Todoroki,” Kaminari provides, and the rest of the group glares at him.
A wicked smirk immediately appears across Bakugou’s face. “That so? Finally something I can agree with you on. That half-and-half bastard’s a total asshole.”
“Bakugou-kun, you should not speak of your classmate in that manner!” Iida scolds.
“Bite me, class rep. I’ll beat the shit out of him, and anybody else who gets in my way!”
The bickering escalates again and Melissa looks on, a bit overwhelmed. Deku’s classmates are all very energetic, aren’t they?
Uraraka suddenly closes in and loops an arm around her shoulder, laughing jubilantly.
“I officially welcome you to the ‘Hopelessly Pining After Deku-kun’ Squad,” she announces with a cheery smile.
Melissa blinks, and then finds herself smiling back.
“It was that obvious, huh.”
“Oh, trust me,” Uraraka sighs, “we’ve all been there. Deku-kun has this charm about him that just draws people in. Iida-kun and I were a few of the first...but it wasn’t long before he had the entire class eating out of his hand.”
The blonde girl gives the side eye to Bakugou. “Even Bakugou-kun?”
“Especially Bakugou-kun,” Uraraka nods. “He’s just too prideful and stupid to realize it yet. We all know it, though. Unfortunately for him, Deku’s cute butt is Todoroki property now.”
Melissa starts laughing again. “Oh my goodness.”
“I’m really glad he met you, Melissa-chan!” Uraraka says, her smile sincere. “I was a little worried at first, but Deku-kun really seems to like you. And like I said, you have excellent taste. It’s just too bad he’s off the market—probably forever.”
The two of them look back at Deku and Todoroki, who are now laughing into each other’s mouths between kisses.
“If I were Todoroki-kun, I wouldn’t let him go, either,” the older girl admits.
“Hear, hear!”
It’s a letdown, really, but she’s glad it happened right away rather than down the road when she’d come to really regret it. Seeing the two of them now, she knows she could never stand between them. They give off the energy of a powerful, unstoppable force, swirling everything up into their storm, conquering every obstacle in their way. And they really just...fit together, too. Like puzzle pieces, soulmates. Melissa really thinks that they could end up spending the rest of their lives together, if the honest and downright cherishing love in their eyes has anything to say about it.
There’s still so much she has to do. Deal with her papa’s betrayal, the villain’s attack, her uncle’s illness. It’s going to be a rough next couple of weeks. But after today, she can say she accomplished several things:
1. She helped save the lives of hundreds of people with a boy that shone like the sun and the stars.
2. She ensured that her dear uncle had someone to cherish, someone to rely on, a person to truly call family.
And 3—
She was officially initiated into Class 1-A’s ‘Pining for Izuku Midoriya’ Club, and she’s more than content to join them.
Because while Melissa and Uraraka and Iida and Kaminari and Kirishima and countless others are all infatuated with Deku, Deku is in love with Todoroki, who loves him back just as much, if not more. And for now, that’s enough.