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My name is Osaki Chizue and the prince of U.A. high, Todoroki Shouto, is my childhood friend. Well, not so much on the “childhood” part since he was heavily sheltered in the past but we did become friends before our high school career started. I’m not sure how or when but gradually we spoke more and more and then one day I randomly came to the conclusion that we were pretty close. Now that we’re here at U.A. together, in the same class, I’ve found myself paying close attention to Shou-chan. We’ve always been good friends but I feel a change in atmosphere between us that I can’t quite put my finger on. Perhaps this unknown change has happened because of the sports festival? We both had gone through some drastic events during the festival and afterward had a long heart to heart. We’ve always been open about our emotions but something feels off. Like an untouched subject… Speaking of subjects, when will class be over, ugh.
Mr. Aizawa eventually concluded the class for the day and I began packing up for the day. I took my first step towards the door when I heard my name and turned to see who said my name but it appeared nobody called for me, rather there was a significantly large group of my classmates huddled, whispering. I couldn’t see who everyone was but it looked like the majority of the class. My eyes just continued to stare in curiosity until I decided to eventually just brush it off, realizing no one noticed my questioning looks and headed home.
“Welcome home, sweetie,” my father greeted me at the door, “how was school today? You kick any butt?” My dad’s goofiness always brought a smile to my face and I responded with a simple ‘no.’
We enjoyed a nice simple dinner while I couldn’t stop thinking about my classmates' odd behavior and I could have sworn I heard my name. They weren’t gossiping about me, were they? There was nothing I have done that would be worthy of gossip, at least I hope. Suddenly, my throat tightens and my chest feels heavy and I begin to sweat. My brain was wracking itself to find an answer that probably wasn’t there. In my desperation to get my thoughts under control, I nearly missed my father’s words, “you ready for tomorrow?” That got my attention and I clung to it to ignore my potential anxiety attack. “What?” He chuckled at me for a moment but I was still somehow missing something. “You didn’t forget your own birthday, did you?” I relaxed into the conversation and reassured my dad that I didn’t forget when in reality I hadn’t thought about my birthday once this month. My dad did not look convinced but didn’t hang onto the fact that I indeed forgot my own birthday and went on and on about cake and presents and throwing a huge party. I’m not very close with a whole lot of people so I assumed it would just be dad and me and a ton of distant family. With celebration in mind as I lay in bed that night, my thoughts came to Shou-chan.
Shou-chan and I, of course, both knew about each others’ birthday. We normally would spend a day together and the person whose birthday it is gets to choose whatever they want and the other would have to buy it for them. Now that I’ve thought about it, Shou-chan never said anything about what day is good for birthday celebrations; he actually hasn’t mentioned my birthday at all. Is this because something feels different between us now? Does he not want to hang out? Does he not want to be friends anymore? Yet again my chest felt heavy and unexpectedly tears began to fall. Sleep soon came after.
The next day, classes went by quickly and I nearly dashed out of the room if it wasn’t for Shou-chan’s hand on my shoulder to get my attention, “Will you come with me for a second?” I was very confused but even though I was doubting Shou-chan and my relationship at the moment, I still trust him deep down. So, I nodded and followed him to the park not far from the school.
“Shou-chan? What are we doing here?” I faced him and he quickly shoved his hand in his pocket. “Shou-chan?” Shou-chan’s face suddenly looked crazily flushed and he averts my gaze like his eyes were following a fly. I gave him a questioning look as he hesitantly took a few steps over to me until we were directly in front of one another. I almost didn’t hear him but he quietly muttered, “can you close your eyes, please?” I didn’t think much of it; he probably felt sick and was embarrassed because he thought he looked gross? I think he always looks good, personally. My eyes shut and I soon heard rustling around until a cool object barely grazed the tip of my nose. I instinctively flinched back and opened my eyes.
I came face to face with a simple silver heart charm with the engraving ‘Shou’ written into it hanging off a silver chain.
My eyes slowly widen and a blush begins burning my face. I’m speechless and overwhelmed. What should I say? What should I do? “I wanted to give this to you earlier…” I turned my focus to Shou-chan as he struggled to speak himself. My best friend since forever was standing in front of me, flushed, embarrassed, and shy with a very insinuating gift. It was nearly too much but I… loved it. “…but I thought it would, um,” everything slowed down around me, “be best if I gave it to you on your birthday.” Is this the change I felt in our relationship? The feelings I feel… The way Shou-chan makes me feel… Is this what I think it is? Shou-chan continued his nervous blabbering but all I saw was his lips and I wasn’t thinking anything but to have his lips on mine. So, I captured his mouth with my own to cut him off. He was shocked at first but soon responded and our lips were practically dancing. My stomach flipped as we moved in sync. His arms around my waist and both my hands on either side of his face. Our lips eventually left one another in order to breathe properly but we continued to hold each other. We stayed like that for as long as we could but then I remembered the necklace.
I got out of Shou-chan’s grasp, turned around, and lifted my hair. I realized the long pause in the air meant Shou-chan didn’t understand what I was doing so I just breathlessly chuckled, “The necklace, Shou-chan.” He let out a small ‘oh’ and instantly his loving hands put the necklace around my neck. His slightly calloused fingers grazed the back of my neck which gave me goosebumps. Once the necklace adorned my neck, I turned my head to give Shou-chan a quick yet lingering peck on the lips.
“Does this mean I can be yours, Shou-chan?”
“If it means I can also be yours.”
“Of course.”
We began kissing once again but then Shou-chan seemed to remember something and asked if I would come with him. I had no reason to say no and we soon stumbled, hand-in-hand, upon a more excluded area of the park. “SURPRISE!!” My ears were overflowed with the unmistakable cheerful noises of my classmates. I was more than surprised to see several tables set up with birthday decor, food, and a smallish chocolate cake. Not to mention, the shock of seeing most of my classmates smiling at me, wishing me a ‘happy birthday.’ I ended up having a party with friends after all. Ochako came up to me in her usual bubbly attitude, “Were you surprised?” Then Midoriya pitched in cheerfully, “It was Todoroki’s idea!” In an instant, everyone’s behavior made sense. I looked at Shou-chan and he smiled as I smiled back, “Thank you, Shou-chan.”
There was music, we ate, talked, had a few games, and all the girls who were there gushed over the necklace while some boys congratulated Shou-chan. At one point, Shou-chan met my eyes through the crowd of our classmates and somehow I knew everything from here on out would be just fine. As long as I had my oldest friend Shou-chan by my side, I would be fine.