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The lights were so bright in here, compared to the starless night sky outside—even the neon signs lining the Tokyo shopping districts were dim in comparison to the blinding cacophony decorating the ritzy hotel’s lobby. Everywhere Ochako looked, fairy lights and golden sconces had been strung up, illuminating every inch of the spotless marble flooring stretched out in front of her. It was… a little nerve-racking, if she had to be honest. She’d slowly gotten used to such high-end establishments, but it was hard to ignore the fact that any one of those fancy paperweights on the reception desk would probably cost more than what her parents’ apartment.
The idle thoughts faded as she rushed past, though. She’d had plenty of practice running in heels, costume and life being what they were, and all the better for it. She was late. She’d barely had time to pin her bouncy hair into a bun and apply the faintest makeup, after pulling on the very first expensive thing she’d bought herself once she started making decent money—a simple black dress that hugged her figure before flaring slightly at the skirt, ending just above her knees. Coupled with the string of pearls her mother had gifted her on her nineteenth birthday last month, it became her signature outfit for gatherings like these. Official appearances.
Three years later, it was still all so dreamlike to her.
She turned the corner, marble giving way to plush carpet, and noticed two ushers standing before the grand ballroom. Glancing down at her badge, she saw that it held the same symbol as the one on the doorplate. This was the right place. The women looked up as she approached, one lifting a walkie-talkie and saying something Ochako was too busy fidgeting to listen to.
“Miss Uravity,” the younger one said, stopping her several doors back from the main entrance, now closed. She gestured to another a little ways down. Ochako followed, heart pounding in time to the slightly muffled pop track they had blasting inside the ballroom. “We’re so happy you made it. One of our guests of honor requested that we save you a seat.”
She blinked. “Really?” That was news. And to think, she was terrified she’d have to sit on the floor at the back or something!
“Yes. It’s not the best table in the house on account of short notice, but we think you’ll be able to see the stage just fine—sorry we couldn’t do more!” She glanced back, a wide smile on her face. “And if you don’t mind me saying, it’s so great to meet you. I’m a huge fan!”
Ochako smiled a little in return, heat creeping into her cheeks. It was still so strange to hear that said to her, about her. She clutched her fist over her heart. “Oh! Thank you so much, really!”
“No, thank you— and right this way, please.”
They stopped at a small side door, and as soon as they drew close to it Ochako felt the music’s vibrations beneath her feet. The usher shimmied the door open, leaning toward her and pointing just inside. Ochako followed her line of sight to a white-clothed table tucked away into a corner. “Your spot is right there, ma’am, hope you enjoy the event!”
“Ah, okay—!”
She didn’t really have time to properly thank the girl, as she’d swiftly closed the door, leaving Ochako squished against intricately carved chairs and a room full of people she barely recognized. Some of them wore suits and badges, cameras hanging from straps around their necks. She’d recognize the press anywhere, of course, but luckily their attention was too focused on the room’s opposite end to notice her at all.
She ducked her head, scooting behind big, fully-packed tables to the one she’d been pointed to. She slipped into it, only realizing exactly who she sat beside as she adjusted herself between the armrests. Her smile widened and she finally began to relax as she met emerald eyes identical to a pair she knew so well already.
“Uraraka-san!” the woman said, leaning over and taking Ochako’s hand. She gave it a squeeze, which Ochako returned with fervor. “Oh, I’m so glad you got to make it! It was getting late, so I was getting worried about you.”
She shook her head, waving politely. “I’m so sorry! I had this crazy fire hydrant leak to deal with-- traffic was literally all over the place. But I promised I’d be here!” She punched the air, her original excitement finally settling those dang butterflies in her chest. “Not that I’d miss this for the world anyway!”
Green eyes widened, and for a moment, Ochako wondered if she’d made too big of an outburst. But sure enough, those same eyes softened as a smile spread across her weary face. “It surprises me sometimes how alike you two are. I’m glad my Izuku has you, sweetheart.”
Ochako fought down her blush, positive she didn’t succeed in any capacity. Because, truth was, she was glad she had him too. And even though he was the one who’d become her best friend, Ochako still felt lucky to have become so close with Miss Inko.
"Ladies and gentlemen, if you could please find your seats…”
“Looks like I really was just right on time!” Ochako chuckled sheepishly, and Miss Inko followed suit. It was hard not to keep her grin as they shifted their focus to follow everyone else, toward the stage set up against the ballroom’s back wall.
Black and silver ribbons woven in an elaborate braid framed the entire space, and also decorated several tables arced around the stage. Clumps of people stirred in the middle, not sitting down since all the huge tables were occupied by people in snazzy get-ups-- Ochako noted that she and Miss Inko had the smallest one. Streamers cascaded down the walls, and balloon bouquets rose from every chair. Though the crowd was thick, Ochako spotted several people she knew—Momo and Mina, at a table opposite them, dressed to the nines and practically glowing. She recognized a few sidekicks and minor pros, as well, even waving to Ryukyu when she caught her eye. Even though Ochako still felt a little out of place, she felt comfortable here at her little table with Miss Inko in company she knew well.
Because some of these people she recognized for different reasons, and they didn’t have to do with the connections she’d made for herself.
Celebrities, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, politicians, to name just a few. And there were so many heroes here they didn’t even need their private security, really. Just the sheer cumulative, diverse affluence and influence in this room was enough to make Ochako shiver.
Everyone’s lives revolved around heroes-- no matter the age, gender, size, shape, ethnicity, or Quirk-- everyone in the world could name a hero they admired or despised. Ochako had come face to face with that so many times even just as a student. But this was the first time she’d seen it in such a context.
Shaking off the intimidation, Ochako refocused on what had brought her here in the first place. The stage itself was curtained just the same as the rest of the Grand Ballroom, in black and silver, although the gold podium stood out against the background as Ochako saw something twitch in the wings behind it. She raised an eyebrow, wondering what was up, when distant thumps echoed against some microphone she couldn’t see.
And then, Mount Lady sashayed from behind the velvety curtain with a breezy smirk that lit Ochako right up.
She wore a dress with the same pattern as her hero costume, only sleeveless, and adorned with some incredibly flashy jewelry she’d become known for-- including the crown jewel, a high collar set across her shoulders and back that had been sprinkled with glittery sequins like it faded into the dress itself. It kept her posture secure and strong, but even without the ability to arch her body and show off her curves to the cameras, the mischievousness in her face and pure joy she emitted was surely worth more than any of those “money shots.” She wore no physical mask tonight, so even the long blonde hair swaying around her couldn’t hide her captivating aura. But there was no denying she still loved the performance.
Yep, Ochako decided, Mina had been right-- Mount Lady had already stolen the show. No wonder she’d joked that the Heroes’ Association had picked an awful hostess!
Not that it mattered, since Mount Lady was head of PR anyway.
She stopped behind the podium, winking to someone, probably Miruko judging by the huge guffaw in the front row. The music dimmed a bit and there was a beat as everyone fanned out across the open area.
“Thank you, thank you-- yes it’s nice to see me, too!” A few laughs pittered around as she picked up a stack of cards on the podium, surveying the room like she was checking off some kind of list in her head. Ochako waved as her gaze passed over her and Mount Lady inclined her head, just a bit, her smile a bit more earnest. She gave a few others the same look before clearing her throat and banging the cues like a gavel. “It is my greatest pleasure-- and honor, too, I guess-- to finally open up, in partnership with the Japan World Heroes’ Association, the very first annual Empathy Network Foundation Charity Date-Night Auction!"
Tremors resounded through the applause, Ochako cheerfully clapping along. As one of the very first official members of said foundation, she couldn’t be prouder.
Mount Lady played it off even though Ochako had seen her cry when it finally got off the ground. “Yeah, yeah, it’s a mouthful, I know. Now-- as all of you are aware, any proceeds generated from this event will be going straight into the Independent Heroes’ Recovery Fund, which will help with national relief efforts as many of our hero academies are still striving to rebuild the communities they’ve reestablished strongholds in. For many of our friends outside the Hero Association, you may know that the hero academia has been instrumental in providing resources for citizens and heroes alike in the face of anarchy. So for that reason, let’s reach deep into those hearts-- and pockets-- to help our academies help you. Remember, if nothing else, do it for the children!”
Miss Inko shook her head good-naturedly as Ochako banged her hand on the table, barely managing to contain herself. She’s really selling it!
One of the nicely-dressed ushers was handing out small cards with numbers on them, all attached to sticks. Ochako sat up, attentively, the lady plucking two from the top and handing one to both of them. On Ochako’s, one side was totally blank, but the green side read 267.
“Now, all of you know the rules of engagement-- one dashing Hero will be introduced to you ladies-- or gents-- and once the floor opens you all will have the ability to bid on your man of choice. The highest bidder gets to spend twelve hours with their prize and a big sack of cash towards the Recovery Fund! But don’t worry too much if the one you're gunning for gets swept away; we have plenty to choose from, and I’m sure some of our volunteers will surprise you! Just remember that every Hero here is more than worth it in his own right.” She flashed a genuine smile. “Now, without further ado, let’s set up this chopping block, shall we?”
The crowd-- mostly containing high-pitched shrieks-- roared so loud Ochako felt kind of dizzy. But she clapped anyway, eyes laser-focused on the stage’s left side. There, the billowing curtain fanned out wide as a platoon of dress shoes emerged from behind it.
The room’s energy electrictrified.
She named off each Hero as they walked out— Hawks, Rock Lock, Fatgum, Heat Seeker, Kamui Woods. She snickered as she saw Gunhead strut into line, too, swearing that she could see a blush beneath his mask. Selkie was right behind him wearing the same expression.
But as funny as it was seeing her mentors up on that stage, Ochako really failed to contain herself when her former classmates shuffled in behind them.
Not a single one of them looked confident. And if they did, they didn’t look comfortable. Though Kirishima, Todoroki, and Iida looked right at home in their tailor-made suits, their awkward smiles (or Todoroki-kun’s case, a half-grimace) made it seem like they’d never worn one in their lives. Which Ochako, of course, knew to be wildly untrue for a variety of reasons. Kaminari’s cocky grin, funnily enough, made him the most presentable of all.
Then there were Bakugo and Shinsou, who, judging by their baggy pants, hadn’t gone to any of the fittings, but Ochako was surprised enough that their publicists had managed to get them into full three-pieces anyway. The thought made Ochako howl so hard she couldn’t even begin to guess where Mirio’s jacket and shirt had gone, or why Monoma’s had coattails dragging along the stage carpet.
After a moment, as they stood shoulder to shoulder, nearly taking up the whole of the stage, Ochako’s gaze once again darted to the curtain. The flash of red underneath sent her into a fit of giggles all over again. But when the final Hero stepped out onstage, they died in her throat on account of the sharp jolt in her sternum.
All it took was one clunky sneaker-- of course he’d wear his high-tops-- mechanically filing in beside them, and her fond smile crept onto her face like a spectre. His emerald green suit, the same shade as his eyes, wasn’t as flashy as some of their friends’. In fact, it had definitely only been thrown together hastily judging by the wrinkled creases. There was no designer outfit in the world that would look better, though, by her estimate. The flutters in her chest only ached worse as he moved beneath the stage lights, hair glistening in a way that suggested someone had attempted to tame its unruliness but had given up halfway through.
That was fine with her. Ochako liked it best when he was himself. She could surely picture him shrinking into some stylist’s chair, having arrived very early but still running late as the makeup team decided what to make of the antsy boy they’d always seen onscreen as a ferocious warrior. They hadn’t decided on time. Ochako really could only tell that they’d put on makeup, because there weren’t any streaks of sweat on his forehead despite the lights. His tie was also done correctly-- which she knew wasn’t his own doing despite having at least four years of practice-- and sat over a chest that his jacket actually hid quite a lot of.
And no one could really train him into giving up the boyish, shy wave that Izuku Midoriya offered as his hero name rang out at the tail-end of the roster call (he’d been a last-minute entry, of course, at Mina’s suggestion-- neither of them really trusted her insistence that the tall, dark, and mysterious hero Deku would be a smash hit considering he himself sputtered out that he was none of those things and was too busy dishing out literal smash hits anyway).
All it took was Ochako jokingly promising to bid for him-- for the children, of course-- and the next thing she knew, Mina was on the phone with Mount Lady and they’d both found themselves in a fancy hotel wearing fancy clothes surrounded by fancy rich people.
Speak of the devil, Ochako practically felt holes burning into her head. She tried to ignore the knowing grin Mina wore as their eyes met. Ochako had managed not to let herself get worked up about Deku’s reaction to her joke, especially after learning who else Mina had prodded into signing up. But now she was starting to feel a little lightheaded. Just a little!
Her friend had grown up a lot. They both had. They’d had to. Nothing as dumb as a high school crush would change anything, and it definitely wouldn’t get in the way of work so important.
Mount Lady cocked her head, most likely totally aware of the quiet conflicts happening in the audience before her. “Let’s introduce our first contender, shall we? Right in the middle is everyone’s favorite former Number Two, the fierce and fast Winged Hero, Hawks!”
Every sign around Ochako shot up with accompanying squeals, and so the Hero Association Charity Date-Night Auction began.
It seriously impressed her, how fast the older Heroes went. Even when someone lost a bid they continued on undeterred with the next round. And if they happened to win, well, Ochako was surprised they didn’t pass out with how loudly they all screamed. Hawks went to some tech heiress Ochako vaguely remembered hearing about for an amount that seemed made up. Gunhead to a lady who only blushed half as much as he did. RockLock to his wife, which had the whole room cheering as she dipped him into a kiss… despite being five months pregnant with their third child!
Ochako didn’t raise her sign once, but just watching the spectacle was so much fun she couldn’t have imagined stepping into the ring, anyway.
The last seasoned pro on the list was Kamui Woods-- who had exactly one bidder, courtesy of Mount Lady’s death glare out into the audience. Ochako wasn’t entirely sure if the rules permitted that, but no one seemed upset in the slightest. In fact, howling laughter erupted once Kamui walked behind the podium with a stony expression, only to jolt into the air once he passed his fiance, looking scandalized. Judging by the way Mount Lady waggled her eyebrows it didn’t take a genius to guess what she’d been up to.
Ochako, fanning her blush away, glanced at Miss Inko. “It’s nice to see how amped up everyone is!” she said, in a desperate bid to shake off the awkward.
Miss Inko only smiled warmly in response, but Ochako got an answer she wasn’t expecting instead. The table buzzed against her, and when Ochako glanced down she saw a text pop up against the meteor-shower background on her smartphone.
Mina: Well I’m def glad the opening is over. Time for the main event!
A chill shot down Ochako’s spine when she whirled around to see Mina winking.
Swallowing heavily, Ochako’s gaze shifted back to the stage. Sure enough, the only heroes left gathered onstage were all her age-- the first batch awarded their licenses after finally gaining ground on the Paranormal Liberation Front and beating them back into the shadows. A few were from their sister academies-- Ketsubutsu and Shiketsu-- but the vast majority were recent graduates from UA High.
There was no denying it. Mina was right. She’d met most of the Heroes auctioned off tonight, adored them even, but this was personal.
These were her best friends.
Ochako shifted in her seat, hands digging into her dress’s lacy fabric so hard it made her knuckles itch. The corners of her mouth strained from keeping her smile unreadable. Now she was the one starting to sweat.
It started off similar enough to the older pros. Iida, Todoroki, Monoma, Kaminari, Kaibara, Awase-- they all went to who Ochako was expecting, either close friends or other young heroes or rich girls with too much time on their hands. Well, except Iida, who tearfully accepted a date with Granny Suzumura all the way from Nabu Island! Nejire won Tamaki. Then she won Mirio. Ochako wasn’t sure what was happening there but she didn’t ruminate on it too much.
It was when Bakugo-kun ambled onto the runway with one hand in his pocket that things started to get interesting.
Bakugo grunted as Mount Lady playfully announced his Hero name. One of his typical twisted-up sneers followed. A low murmur buzzed over the audience, heads leaning toward each other with unintelligible whispers.
Five seconds passed. Then, Bakugo-kun got impatient .
“You extras better not hold out on me! I’m worth at least ten of these losers combined! You’re lookin’ at the strongest Hero in Japan-- unless you’re all just full of shit show me the money!”
A chorus of whoops and signs lofted up.
“I can’t believe the Great Murder God just insulted all of us in person,” some girl shouted to her friend a short distance away. Ochako, her sign still neglected on their table, shook her head. And people accused Deku-kun of being a whackjob in his fanboyism.
Mount Lady took several bids, Bakugo-kun not looking happy with any of them, when something really strange happened.
A young girl, probably eight or nine, stood up atop one of the row seats and waved her sign wildly.
Mount Lady, amused, pointed in her direction. “And this little missie in Row Three?”
She lowered her sign, wobbled on her feet a little, and with a totally nonplussed expression yelled out: “One million yen!”
Ochako nearly fell out of her seat. Even Bakugo-kun balked.
A hush fell over the crowd.
That was twice what the last bidder had put up.
Mount Lady, managing to recover, straightened her gown and the index cards she held. “Are you sure you can afford that as someone of your… stature?”
The young girl gave a single curt nod, then disappeared beneath the crowd grouped around her. When she reemerged, she held up a notch-clip clutch, yellow bills sticking out from the top so haphazardly that the thing wouldn’t even close all the way.
“That’s real money,” a man said, voice wavering.
Bakugo-kun, still struck speechless, looked between the girl and Mount Lady. “...The hell?”
“Well-- going once.”
Nothing.
“Going… twice?”
Mount Lady weakly banged her gavel, still too confused to really believe it. “Uh, well, I guess that’s one million on Dynamite to Number Two Hundred Thirty-Two then,” she said. “Bakugo, quit gawking and get offstage.”
His mouth still wide open, he took mechanical steps towards the wraparound stairs near the wings, still doing takes over his shoulder. Even Ochako’s limp claps betrayed her. How the heck could someone so young spend so much money on Bakugo-kun, even if he somehow ended up around kids a lot. He was hardly child-friendly. And what the heck was a young child doing at a bachelor bidding auction anyway!?
Bakugo-kun didn’t join his partner, instead leaning against the wall since he wasn’t typically a crowd person. The little girl made no move to join him.
“Okay, uh-- next up, at any rate, is the rough and tumble gentleman himself, the Soft-Hearted Hardening Hero, Red Riot!”
Ochako shook off the weird previous exchange and cheered for her friend. Kirishima-kun’s crowd response was much different from Bakugo-kun’s. The roars shook the ballroom, and he blushed nearly as red as his hair, brushing it back with a soft chuckle. Ochako giggled as the bids climbed higher, reaching nearly half a million yen.
She was so excited to see just how far he’d go, when the center of the crowd shifted again-- and out popped a green sign, just over everyone’s heads. It raised higher into the air as one more head poked out, right next to the girl who’d bid on Bakugo-kun.
They were identical.
Mount Lady paused for a moment, eyes narrowing, but gestured to her with gavel in hand anyway. “And you?”
“One million yen!” she said proudly.
There were audible scoffs in the audience as the girl lowered her sign. The two sisters-- twins-- looked at each other with bright smiles.
“That’s strange,” Miss Inko said, and Ochako whipped around to face her. She’d pressed her hand against her cheer, smushing it up in thought. “I think I saw Kirishima-kun talking to those two earlier.”
Ochako raised an eyebrow. “Oh, did you?”
Miss Inko hummed in confirmation, and Ochako turned back to the stage. She looked at the four, all the weirdness coming together in her mind.
“Tsk tsk Kirishima-kun,” she whispered under her breath, unable to hold back her smile. “Now that’s cheating.”
The gavel hit the podium again and Mount Lady sighed. “Whatever. Red Riot sold to Two Hundred Thirty-Three. Money up front, ankle-biters.”
The two girls scrambled down and handed their clutch bags to Mount Lady. She let them run back around as she counted the money, begrudging confusion crossing her face as she silently counted the bills-- Kirishima-kun ran to Bakugo-kun with blinding excitement. Ochako joined the applause, feeling warm as she watched the covert exchange. What a clever plan-- and one so generous, too.
Bakugo-kun might’ve even been impressed , but his stony frown turned into a snarl when he caught Ochako watching them. She straightened as they greeted the two young girls, both jumping onto Kirishima-kun.
Ochako took a deep breath. Maybe her friends could lend her some strength. She couldn’t be as brazen as Nejire or Kirishima-- but maybe she could muster up enough courage for herself tonight, too.
Mount Lady stepped back behind the podium with a fierce grin. “Now, now, ladies and gents, don’t think that was the final act tonight-- we have one more Hero up on the stand.”
The crowd’s low hum sounded like a drumroll inside Ochako’s head. Why did it suddenly feel so hot? Why did it suddenly feel like there were too many people in here? The audience wasn’t clapping any harder than they had been, but it still felt like way too much.
Maybe she’d get lucky. Maybe no one would put up any offers. Oh, but that was terrible of her! He’d feel so embarrassed-- and not in a good way. So what should she do? She shouldn’t be too aggressive, right? She’d just come to reassure him! Right?
She tried to fan away her rising blush without anyone noticing, but Mount Lady said something to whip up the crowd again. Her phone buzzed on the table.
Mina: Now, it’s about to get good.
She didn’t want to look at Mina. Thankfully, she didn’t have to.
“For our final bid of the night, please welcome the very special Hero who spearheaded the rally that saved UA High, the one responsible for carrying our ideals into the next generation: the Deku Who Can Do It!”
He started for a moment, looking at Mount Lady in awe, even as the applause beckoned him down the catwalk. Ochako stole a secret giggle as he gawked. It was true-- he hadn’t really been given an epithet, or chosen one, as most had. He still saw himself as just doing his best. That was why Ochako had suggested his title when she passed Mount Lady in the World Hero Association Japan Branch a few weeks ago, when Mount Lady had stopped her in the hallway to ask about it.
Not many people knew the whole story. But when Ochako suggested it, after rambling out the first thing that popped into her head, Mount Lady wrote it down with a decisiveness Ochako was very surprised by. But when she thought back on it later, she couldn’t have imagined choosing anything else.
It wasn’t one that would stick, but it would do for tonight.
Faint pink bloomed on his cheeks as he walked forward, stride still nervous but with no hesitancy in it whatsoever.
Ochako’s fingers wound around her sign, finally taking it from the table.
“And we’ll start the bid at a hundred thousand yen!”
A few signs went up– Ochako eyed them, fiddling with the paper edges of her own. Older women, socialites and retired heroes, who’d bid on everyone. Deku-kun smiled as if saying thank you in his own way. The bid climbed higher. Three hundred thousand. He chuckled bashfully when Miss Inko’s sign flipped up for the first time, but when some of the others who’d been throwing random bids out all evening offered up their own scripted numbers, she politely abstained.
His gaze moved from his mother to find hers, for just a moment, not in a way that was expecting anything from her but in one that suggested quite the opposite– in fact, they shone with gratitude that she couldn’t decipher.
She glanced away, crushing the butterflies in her chest with an iron fist. The number climbed still, slower than the others, as people in the audience rustled with impatience to meet dates they’d already won.
Ochako shifted too, an incredibly weird mix of relief, shame at that relief, and agitation stirring her up.
It wasn’t like she was clueless. She’d heard all the whispers ever since Endeavor’s agency publicist had announced Deku-kun’s participation in this event to the media. No one had erupted onto social media like they had for, say, Hawks or Todoroki-kun. He had plenty of fans that were excited, sure, and she was excited for him. But there was no question that Deku-kun was… a special case.
Deku, Freelance Independent under former Number One, Endeavor: amazing hero, questionable date.
“Isn’t he kinda-- intense? But like, not in the hot way.”
“He seems so awkward! It’s kind of cute, but compared to the other Heroes that’ll be there?”
“He’s basically a danger magnet. Dinner would probably literally end up in ruins.”
“He graduated nearly a year ago and All Might is still the only person he has eyes for!”
The discourse was all so– so stupid . They only saw what the rare interviews captured. And Deku-kun was notoriously good at evading capture-- which ended up meaning that everyone, even their own friends in some cases, had it totally wrong. Deku would be kind and respectful to any girl who bought a date with him. Besides that, he probably wouldn’t even be able to stammer a word out unless whoever brought him practically forced him to! And who cared if he jumped into a fight during dinner? He’d be stopping a villain, saving someone. She’d never fault him for that. She’d jump in with him!
Mount Lady smirked. “Four hundred fifty thousand to the young heroine in the back.”
Ochako was so busy trying to suss out her brain fog that she didn’t realize what Mount Lady had said. Who now? She looked around the room for answers, only to see people glancing her way with curiosity. But it was the way some people grinned maniacally that tipped her off.
She looked at her hand to see that her sign had somehow found its way into the air.
Oh. She was bidding four hundred fifty thousand. Right.
Deku-kun’s blush grew as she timidly slid her sign in front of her face. Great, she’d embarrassed him. What part of moral support did her dumb heart not get?
She wasn’t here to play games. She was here to cheer him on. That was all!
And yet, a too-long quiet blanketed the room. Mount Lady glanced around, smile growing more sinister by the second. Ochako peeked over her sign. “Going once!”
She swallowed. “Uh, wait–”
“Going twice–”
“Five hundred thousand!”
Ochako’s jaw dropped as she swung her head back to the right.
Mina, winking, gave an innocent giggle as she threw her sign up. Her bracelets jangled like a klaxon as her arm moved back and forth. Mount Lady raised one eyebrow and Deku-kun shook from his daze, but Mina’s eyes were on Ochako.
Why, that dirty–
Gritting her teeth, Ochako’s fingers wound so tightly she nearly split the wood. Mina would terrorize him. Break him to pieces. He’d never be the same Deku-kun again. She had a duty as his friend not to let her get her hands on him and do who knew what.
(Realistically make him treat her to an expensive dinner and fun night out somewhere while Mina teased him ‘til he fainted, but this was just too far!)
Yet before Ochako could rescue him, another voice cut through the crowd.
And it wasn’t Mina’s.
“Five hundred fifty!”
Ochako had to stop herself from recoiling in shock. She reached for her phone, tapping out of Mina’s text line to the group chat that’s been active since the second week of their first year at UA.
You: Tooru-chan, you’re engaged !
Tooru: I have two hands though!
Unbelievable. Setting her jaw, she threw her sign in the air again. “Five seventy-five!”
“Six hundred!”
She shot another look at Mina’s table. She saw two floating silk elbow-length gloves– Tooru-chan– clench in excitement. But it was another girl that peered out from behind Mina with an apologetic smile. “Momo?” Ochako cried. Now she was just offended. Momo had won all three of her bids, even though– again– she was pretty sure that was cheating.
Ochako stuck her hand back in the air. “Six twenty–”
“Six fifty!”
“Six seventy-five!”
Ochako’s eyes narrowed. She’d been suspicious as it was, but now she knew something was up. She looked back down at her phone, and sure enough, another message had popped into the chat.
Mina: Surely you didn’t think we’d make this easy on you? ;)
Affronted, she shot them a glare. Mount Lady was clearly aware that something was going on, too, because she looked as confused as–
Deku-kun!
If he’d been blushing before, his whole face had gone scarlet now, looking between her and their former classmates with something stirring in his green eyes she immediately recognized as sheer, unadulterated terror. She didn’t think he’d be in on any nasty prank from that buncha traitors, but even the fact that they were using him as some kind of object of amusement was enough to crawl under her skin.
Genuine discomfort shifted her attention away, back to the sign in her hand. All her second-guesses from earlier came crashing back down.
What was she even doing? They were driving up the prices– she knew that some of Deku-kun’s real fans were here, she recognized some faces from events they’d attended in the past. None of them had even gotten a word in edgewise. What if she and the others went back and forth and they stole a date from some girl he’d really like? Who was nice and treated him the way he deserved? If Mina had recruited them, then that meant they must really look up to him– despite how mischievous she was, Mina would never do anything to hurt them on purpose. What if they really wanted a date? What if they were interested not because of Deku, but because of Izuku?
It wasn’t like she had a right to him just because of their friendship. No… she’d been the support he’d needed, right? In her heart she’d known right from the beginning that Deku-kun wasn’t going home with his mother tonight. He was too kind. And despite the gossip, was deeply, deeply loved by everyone who’d ever even looked in his direction.
She shouldn’t be selfish. If he’d wanted her to win, he’d have told her. And all she recalled in their conversation that afternoon over the phone was him asking if he’d see her there.
And he had. She’d done her part.
She was just about to gesture for Mina to drop it when a hum from behind demanded her attention.
She glanced across the table. There, Miss Inko gazed at the giggling trio with her brows furrowed. Ochako recognized a mother’s protective glare anywhere, but she seemed to be surveying the group more than anything. She just hoped that she knew they weren’t making fun of her son, not in the least. “Those are your classmates, right?”
“Our friends, yeah,” Ochako replied. By this point Mount Lady was stuttering in the background as she tried to decipher Mina’s screaming and Tooru’s frantic waving. She couldn’t bring herself to look at Deku. “They don’t mean any harm. You remember them, I’m sure– they’re all great friends with Deku-kun. He’s saved us all, once or twice. I wish they would quit though so somebody can get an actual bid in…”
Miss Inko perked up, looking to her with wide eyes. “‘Actual?’ They’re not actually bidding?”
“N-No, I don’t think so.” She threw her hands up at the pout Miss Inko gave. “Ah! I mean, they’ll definitely go on a date with him if they win! It’s just… well… I think they’re trying to prove a point.” She averted her gaze, puffing her cheeks out in an effort to choke out her blush from the source.
“Oh… well, that’s nice… but it’s a bit of a shame.”
Ochako whipped her head back up. “Eh?”
“Well– when Izuku told me about this whole thing, I was a little worried. You know how he is. He’s still so shy, even after all he’s done and been through. He was such a mess trying to explain it to me, even I could barely keep up.”
Ochako bit her lip. Mina, what did you do? She didn’t ever want Deku-kun to feel forced into something. Not after practically being forced into the life he’s in. “Gosh, I– I had no idea–”
“But I know that he was excited. Well, about seeing all of his friends and who would bid on them, but mostly because he figured he wouldn’t get any.”
She couldn’t help but sigh. “Still as clueless as ever.”
“Oh, I’d say he’s in pretty good company. He only got excited when he told me that you promised to bid on him, dear. And I think he thought you’d win.”
All the background noise faded out as Miss Inko spoke those words to her. Mina’s antagonizing, Tooru’s cheering, Mount Lady’s terse admonishments, the poppy music, everything. The whole world focused to a single point and Ochako couldn’t look at it. Not with those words whirling in her head.
Less than a second later, Ochako’s phone lit up again.
Mina: I know that didn’t intimidate you.
Mina: You have more money than me now, bitch.
Mina: We were just serving up a little payback for wasting the money we spent on saving you a seat at OUR table smh. Quit screwing around and finish this so we can get to boytoying.
She– had a seat saved–
Ochako glanced up. Miss Inko was smiling wistfully at the stage. Small table. Reserved seat. Izuku had… paid for a seat for her… just to be sure she had one?
He was expecting her to win? Had gotten excited… he wanted her to win? A date? With him? With her? A few days ago, he hadn’t flinched when Mina talked about charity. He was the face of a dozen different charities. But with a halfhearted (fully unbelievable) one-off joke about her… he’d jumped in…
Her breathing pitched and she nearly smacked herself with her sign as she tried to fan away the heat now radiating off her face. They were together all the time, surely if he wanted a date date he’d have said so…
But then, a nameless, faceless, ghost of a girl flitted into Ochako’s mind. She saw the girl seated across from him at lunch, and even if the girl had no features, she saw Deku-kun’s clearly. His bashful smile. Friendly and genuine, still amazed that anyone would go out of their way just to spend time with him– but searching that big brain of his for words that wouldn’t come. She pictured him sighing over the phone when she called the next day to ask how everything went, and him bemoaning the fact that meeting new people shouldn’t be so scary when he’d faced the devil himself.
She pictured him looking over his shoulder, just like he did all the time, but feeling extra terrified because the girl beside him hadn’t trained at his side for years and couldn’t read every twitch in his muscles like a signal flare– but instead was a civilian, who couldn’t help him and who needed help themself
Ochako pictured that bashful, flustered smile, filled with warmth, contentment. Free from worry. She couldn’t count the infinite amount of times she’d seen it. But she’d only seen him wear it when he was looking at her.
That was why… she couldn’t picture him giving it to somebody else.
And a really scary part of her didn’t want to.
Finally, finally, she peeked from behind a clump of balloons to see him. His gaze jumped from the girls to Mount Lady, hands already up to stop the impending chaos. But every time he looked from one direction to the other, his eyes lingered in one place a little longer, curiosity replacing the resignation in his eyes for a fraction of a second. Anyone else might think it just a trick of the lights.
But when his eyes caught hers after what had to have been dozens of missed opportunities, he still smiled. Not in an expectant way, but in a grateful way.
Like she was still his waypoint somehow. A megaphone blazing through the storm. All eyes on him– his eyes on her.
Her heart flipped up in her chest, the overwhelm springing tears to her eyes. Faintly, she heard another voice cry out, and she knew what she had to do.
“Eight hundred thousa–”
“Damn it, Mina,” she muttered, and thrust her sign into the air so high she was practically standing on her chair. “Two million yen!”
“Sold!” Mount Lady said, without even waiting on the gasps to fade. Ochako willed away the tears collecting at the corners of her eyes. She couldn’t very well let her date think she was upset, could she? “And the winning claim goes, rightfully so, to bidder number two hundred sixty-seven, the Retrieval Specialist Heroine, Uravity! Two million yen on surprisingly heavy hitter, Deku!”
He smiled so widely that the tears nearly returned to her eyes, but she smiled back, too. However, after half a second of locking gazes with one another, a very familiar shout from the ballroom’s left broke them from their trance. “How the hell did Deku go for the highest? Bastard! I’m worth ten of you!”
H-Highest?
Deku flushed blood red onstage, clearly realizing just what she did. Murmurs broke out all around and journalists broke into groups, animatedly talking and flipping through their notes. She felt the heat rising in every part of her. What did she just do? This was gonna be front-page news! The forums were gonna explode!
Ochako was just going cross-eyed when one arm slung around her shoulder, and the colorful blurs she could make out told her that her friends had flocked to her side. They jostled and cheered, shaking her so hard it made her see stars.
“I think I sold out Deku-kun,” she sputtered, trying to find water.
“Even better, you bought him!” Mina squealed.
"Why didn't anyone else bid? I know he has fans here--"
Two floating gloves clasped her hands. "Well, duh, they abstained just like they did for Mount Lady-sensei and Rocklock-san! It's only natural. Isn't it wonderful?"
“This is gonna be all over the news…”
“Yeah! All the money you just gave to charity!” Tooru said. “Plus, you get a date with Midoriya-kun! We’ve been waiting for this for like, ever!”
“It isn’t like that, you guys made it worse!”
Tooru did have a point, though. They may have to field off questions about them being couple worse than ever, but the news cycle would fade. What wouldn’t though, was the satisfied smile on Mount Lady’s face. Or Miss Inko’s sobs. Or all the displaced folks that money would help.
Or, just maybe, the shy, grateful softness in Deku’s eyes. His green jacket had new black splotches on them and the red definitely hadn’t faded, even as Miss Inko rushed him and peppered him with kisses.
The rest of their friends jabbed her with knowing smiles, but stutted away, filtering into the rest of the people as the music amped back up. But she was rooted in place. She still didn’t know what to make of what Miss inko had said, or what any of the other things meant, but…
You’ve always fought for each other. Why would now be any different?
It wouldn’t. Not in a million years.
From a torn-up runaway curled up in soaked back alley to the valiant hero shouting bloody into the night sky to the flustered boy tearfully shuffling toward her amidst a parting crowd–
Izuku Midoriya was priceless.