Work Text:
Momo was ten years old the first time. The feeling of the touch was burnt into her mind. She remembered the fear, her discomfort, and her inability to stop it. When she told her mother, she was scolded for letting it happen.
In middle school, Momo learned that her body was wrong. The other girls hated her. According to them, she was too perfect. Momo knew that was wrong — she was so far from perfect. The boys didn’t hate her, not at first, anyway. The second Momo voiced her thoughts, she was discarded. In middle school, Momo learned that she would never be more than a body.
Momo had thought that going to a hero school would change things. In a way, it had. Her thoughts were welcomed, she was listened to. In the most important way, though, it hadn’t changed at all. The teachers did nothing about the constant sexual harassment and assault, even when it happened right in front of them. The girls of class 1A became closer out of necessity. They were forced to defend themselves over and over again.
When they moved into the dorms, Momo knew it was supposed to make them feel safer. She felt more unsafe than ever. The knowledge that Mineta was living in the same building as her was terrifying.
It was the first night of living in the dorms, and Momo couldn’t sleep. She sat pressed against the wall, in the bed that was too big for the room. She had made sure to lock the balcony and cover it with thick curtains. The door was closed and locked. She had checked every cranny of her room for cameras. There was no way anyone could be watching her right now, but that didn’t stop the paranoia. Momo couldn’t stop the tremors or the unsteadiness of her breathing. She was a mess; her mother would be so disappointed.
Her phone buzzed, and Momo jumped away from it. It’s just your phone, you idiot, she chided herself. Calming herself down enough to look at it, she read the message.
Jirou Kyouka:
that moment when you can’t sleep >:{
Me:
same haha
Jirou Kyouka:
we really said ✨insomnia✨
Me:
oh, i didn’t know you had insomnia
Jirou Kyouka:
yeah lol
it’s from my ✨sensory overload✨
wbu? why no sleep?
Momo stared at her screen, unsure what to say. She was weak for letting fear keep her awake. Jirou had an actual reason. What would she think of Momo if she knew the truth? Chewing on her lip nervously, Momo typed out her response.
Me:
i’m not really sure
Jirou Kyouka:
that’s fair lmao
the dorms are a new environment, so like having trouble sleeping makes sense
Me:
yeah haha
Jirou Kyouka:
i’m low key kinda bored
since we’re both being dysfunctional and not sleeping…
you wanna be bored, tired, and incapable of sleep together?
Momo started typing out an enthusiastic yes, when she remembered there was no way to know the rest of the dorms were safe. She stared at her phone, panic running thick and fast through her veins. The shaking was getting worse. She needed to answer, or Jirou would think she didn’t like her. She didn’t have a good answer. Tears pricked her eyes. Momo couldn’t move. The next buzz of her phone caused her to throw it across the bed in a fit of panic. She was hyperventilating now. She was so useless.
Calming herself down enough to move, Momo picked up her phone and read the messages.
Jirou Kyouka:
it’s chill if you don’t want to
sometimes i want to be alone too
yao-momo?
you still here?
👀
did you go to sleep?
without saying goodnight to me?
rude smh
/j
sorry for the spam lol
i will let you sleep
Me:
i’m sorry!!!
i’m here
Jirou Kyouka:
you’re good lol
is everything okay?
👀
👉👈
Me:
yes, i’m sorry for disappearing
Jirou Kyouka:
like i said, you’re good
just wanted to make sure you’re okay
Me:
thanks :)
Momo paused, unsure if she should send the next text. Pushing down her fear, Momo pressed send; she wouldn’t lose her friendship with Jirou to her own cowardice.
Me:
and i would like to hang out! does my room work?
Jirou Kyouka:
:D
yes!!
omw uwu
Momo brushed the tears off her face. She slid off of the bed, her heart hammering. Straightening out her clothes, Momo walked over to the door. This was okay, she would be okay.
Despite knowing it was coming, Momo still jumped at the knock at the door. Taking a deep breath, she unlocked the door, and opened it far enough for Jirou to come in. As soon as the other girl was inside, she closed the door and locked it. Momo turned to Jirou, forcing a smile.
Jirou was fiddling with her ears, and looking at Momo carefully, “Are you actually okay?”
“I-“ Momo started, “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You don’t have to pretend to be okay in front of me.” Jirou wore the same expression she had during hero training, “I want to know how you’re really doing.”
Momo stared at the girl in front of her, “You want to…?” The tears she had managed to push down before threatened to spill out. “I’m sorry, I just haven’t….” Momo wasn’t sure how to finish that sentence either.
“You don’t need to apologize, Yao-Momo.” Jirou paused, as if unsure of herself, “Do you want a hug?”
Momo looked down at her feet, “I don’t know.”
“If you don’t want to talk about stuff, that’s okay. I brought chips,” Jirou held up said chips, “we could ruin those fancy blankets of yours by spilling crumbs all over them.”
Momo couldn’t help but join Jirou’s laugh. The two of them sprawled over the bed, eating Jirou’s chips and talking about nothing important.
Momo rolled over, meeting Jirou’s eyes, “Just so you know, I always wanted to hang out with you tonight. I was just, scared, I guess.”
“Sorry if I came off too strong!” Jirou said quickly.
Momo grabbed Jirou’s hand without thinking, “No, you didn’t do anything wrong.” The feeling of Jirou’s calloused fingers in her hand was calming somehow. “I just get that way sometimes.”
Jirou squeezed her hand softly, “I get that.”
Momo stared at their intertwined fingers, “You do?” She asked softly, afraid to break the spell of understanding.
“Yeah, I get scared all the time.”
“I’m scared of Mineta.”
“Me too.”
Momo looked up and stared into Jirou’s eyes. “You always seem so brave.”
Jirou smiled softly, not breaking the eye contact, “Being scared doesn’t stop you from being brave.”
“What if it stops me?” Momo’s voice broke.
“If it stopped you completely, you wouldn’t be here right now.” Jirou’s other hand carded through Momo’s hair, “You’re one of the bravest people I know.”
“But I’m not brave.” Momo protested
“Yao-Momo, don’t you dare put yourself down like that. You deal with constant pressure and harassment, not to mention all the villain attacks. And you still get up every day and deal with it. You-“ Jirou’s voice softened even more, “you inspire me.”
Momo pulled Jirou into a hug. Burying her head in the fabric of Jirou’s black hoodie, Momo managed a muffled “You inspire me too.”
After there tear-filled conversation, the girls snuggled together in a comfortable silence. Momo’s face was pressed against Jirou’s hair, a deep woodsy smell enveloping her. Never before had she felt so comfortable with touch. Now that she was receiving it on her terms, Momo realized just how much she had missed it.
“Yao-Momo, can I tell you a secret?” Jirou whispered.
“Mhm!”
“I like you.”
“I like you too.” Momo answered drowsily.
“Like, like, like?”
“Oh,” Momo pulled Jirou closer, “yes, that too.”
Jirou rolled over, and their faces were mere inches apart. Momo closed the gap, pressing their lips together. Jirou froze for an instant before kissing back.
“I’m glad you like me too.” Jirou whispered.