Work Text:
Momo watches as the “Bakusquad” and “Dekusquad” groups leave without speaking to her, other than saying goodbye. She knows, she knows it’s normal for her to say no about things because she just doesn’t say yes. But to not even be invited by them rather than the simple text, especially to a class thing, even if she were to say no, it sucks.
It stings.
She just- she just hates how she feels about it.
Sure, it’s probably because she’s so freaking motherly, parental in her planning and responsible attitude because she was raised to be.
It’s difficult for her to feel included in anything, even the things she plans… It feels more like they’re doing it to make her happy rather than because they want to. It’s difficult because for so long, with her own friends, it felt like she was just there, and then it was the same with her family.
She was always just there, not wanted but not fully ignored, at least that’s how it felt.
The worst part about it is that she knows it’s not the case. She knows they like her, like to spend time with her, and she knows it because they’ve said it. They’ve reassured her a million times, but then she wonders if, maybe, just maybe, that’s why they don’t mention it anymore.
She needed reassurance, and maybe they’ve given up on her because why reassure someone who doesn’t try? Why reassure someone who doesn’t get involved? Someone who doesn’t seem to want to be involved?
Maybe it is all her fault.
Maybe she is the problem.
And that’s where things turn dark because now, now, she’s heading up to her dorm and planning to hide for the rest of the day.
She shouldn’t be alone, and she knows that, but she feels like she has to be.
Is that a bad thing? Yeah, probably.
Could it be considered a punishment? Yeah, probably.
But she does it anyway because it’s what she knows. As she shuts the door, pressing her back to the wood and sliding down, she makes a promise.
“I’m not going to say anything to them about this, how I’m feeling. I won’t say a word.” She murmurs to herself as she pulls her knees to her chest and bends forward to press her forehead to the arms wrapped around her legs.
Silence. Alone.
It’s what she knows best, and that’s probably another bad thing for her to do.
She’s dwelling, letting the negativity sweep her away again because there’s nothing she can do to combat it right now without turning to them. She doesn’t want to turn to them, not for this, and not right now. They’re out having fun, having a meal, and they deserve to have fun together. Her class has more than earned the fun and the break of a meal.
See, she’s doing it again. Singling herself out as the loner when she’s really not, god she’s overreacting. But she might not be, she might just not be letting herself feel how she’s feeling.
But no matter what it is, she needs to just stop all of it, right now.
Momo forces herself up and shakes her head, trying to ignore the way her eyes feel dry, there’s a lump in her throat she can’t swallow down, and she’s feeling more tired than she had before.
They weren’t intentionally leaving her out, and she knows that.
The invite was there, it just wasn’t pointed or confirmed with her, but that doesn’t invalidate her hurt. It just means that she’s a mess.
No, it means that she’s not entirely sure how to feel about any of this because life.
Momo has every right to feel hurt, but she also has every right to not feel hurt too. She’s upset because she feels like they didn’t want her to come, especially because they didn’t ask her when she didn’t respond to the “invite” text. But she’s also upset because they really sent the invite a day ahead of the plans, and maybe an hour before, they said that everyone could come along.
The only one that didn’t go, as far as she’s aware, is Shouto and that’s because he had already planned to go visit his mom. That’s part of why she didn’t want to go along. A bunch of couples having dinner, when she’s never dated anyone and already knows far too much about their relationships than she ever actually expected to know? It didn’t really sound like a good idea when it was offered. Especially when you consider that she hears about their relationships, and their private activities, all the time anyway.
Can anyone blame her for not really wanting to be surrounded by couples for a few hours during a meal where they’re going to be all sweet to each other as usual? Granted, they don’t usually do too much in public because they’re all keeping their relationships private, but that doesn’t change much with the teasing they all do with each other about it.
She’s making herself sound worse, isn’t she?
Momo stops in the middle of her room, stomping her foot as she brings her hand up to poke herself in the middle of her forehead and rant, “Stop thinking about it! Just- just stop. This is so stupid it’s ridiculous. They weren’t trying to exclude me! They weren’t trying to leave me out! I’m not an outsider! If I was, would they constantly ask me about dating stuff and clothes? Would they invite me for tea and lunches and shopping sprees that I’m not allowed to pay for them on? No, no they wouldn’t. You know they wouldn’t because you’ve seen them leave people out of plans before because they’re rude or causing drama. You’ve seen it, even had them do it for you, to protect you from those jerks. Stop losing your mind over this.”
Knock.Knock.Knock.
Momo whips around with wide eyes as panic surges through her because nobody is supposed to be here, nobody but her.
“Hey, Princess? I wanted to come back and check on you real quick, are you okay?” Bakugou’s voice sounds through the wooden door with concern filling it despite the gruffness.
“Yeah, I- I’m fine!” calls Momo through a strained tone because she really didn’t expect Bakugou to come back and check on her, not when he and Izuku planned this little dinner.
“I know you didn’t say you wanted to come, but we’d really love to have you if you wanted to come with us too.” There’s Izuku.
Momo sighs, her head dropping forward for a moment as she laughs silently before she says, “I’m really okay. I don’t really feel up to going to dinner, but I appreciate you two coming back for me… You didn’t have to, but thank you.”
“We’re all here, actually.” calls Izuku seriously, and Momo’s eyes go extremely wide as she stares at her bedroom door with a dropped jaw.
“What-” Momo’s disbelief has her moving before her brain can catch up, and suddenly she’s yanking her door open and staring at a very full hallway. “What are all of you doing here right now when you were supposed to be eating dinner together?”
They all share looks, and isn’t that a wild view, but then Izuku is looking at her with those shining eyes of his that always brings everyone to their knees.
“We wanted to make sure you knew we wanted you to come, but we also wanted to double check because you never responded to the text.” replies Izuku softly, the care making Momo’s eyes water just a little.
“I appreciate that you wanted to come check in with me, I do, but you know you didn’t have to, right?” asks Momo softly, trying to hold back the appreciation that threatens to flow down her cheeks.
“Of course we didn’t have to, Princess, but we wanted to. That’s why we did, so we won’t force you, but do you want to come out to dinner with us tonight?” replies Katsuki seriously, rolling his eyes at her as he usually does.
“I really appreciate this, I do, but I don’t think I should come to dinner tonight.” murmurs Momo as she wraps her arms around herself and rubs at her arm.
“Okay, that’s okay, but you have to agree to come next time at least.” says Izuku softly, understanding in his tone as he tugs her attention to him.
“I don’t know if that’ll happen because circumstances change, but I can agree to at least try to come next time as long as circumstances allow me to.” replies Momo with a soft laugh because she knows she should’ve expected that one.
“Alright, I can accept that agreement. Shouto is planning to bring dinner back for the two of you, so he wanted me to tell you that he’ll message when he’s downstairs if you aren’t already down there when he arrives. He’s only planning to stay another hour because Fuyumi brought Mirko to meet Rei.” explains Izuku easily as he nods and holds out his hand to shake on the deal being made.
“Okay, sounds like a plan then.” murmurs Momo as she steps forward and reaches out her hand to take Izuku’s and shake it in agreement.
“Perfect, we’ll see you later then, Momo!” exclaims Izuku with a soft squeeze to her hand before he drops it and they all walk back towards the end of the hall where the staircase and elevator sit.
Momo shuts her door again and presses her forehead to the wood.
“I am so lucky.” She whispers to herself as she realizes that some people may have let her down before, but now, now, she’s found people that won’t.