Chapter Text
Ochako wipes her face as she settles home from another intense day of classes. While she loves UA and all her classmates, she's relieved the day is almost over. With her mail placed on a well-used table, Ochako slowly makes her way to the small bathroom her apartment provides. The bathroom was a little cluttered mess with everything she had collected over the years and refused to throw out (it costed money, why would she throw it away?). Turning on the shower and closing the door, she quickly undresses and walks under the steaming shower head.
Hot water was a privilege where Ochako grew up. With how tight the budget was at her home, to get hot water Ochako's mom would heat a pot of water until it reached the right temperature. It was weird not having to do all that work for this luxury. That said, she still needs to be mindful of all the bills she now pays alone. As much as she loves having her own apartment (mainly because her parents are having a much easier time not having to provide so much for her), being a UA student is almost full time and it's been tough working a job as a student.
Tsu and Izuku offered to help with her bills, but she couldn't possibly accept that! It was way too much help, and she will find a way through it. It's going to be rough, but she finally came up with a plan to help pay her bills throughout the future months that didn't include her going back home nor asking her classmates for help. She has decided on roommate hunting.
Her apartment was somewhat small but it had enough space to have another person living somewhat comfortably. All she needed to do now was to empty her training room (not that there was much stuff to begin with but it was nice having an extra room to work out), print flyers at the library and post it around town, hoping no creeps call.
She sighs as the hot water hits her back, relieving her muscles. It's going to be a long handful of weeks finding the right person. That's with the hope that anyone will even call to begin with.
Her wash lasts a bit longer than the other days that night. Her mind clouded with thoughts of doubt regarding her upcoming plans. Ochako steps out of her bathroom with her worn-out, faded, pink pajamas and makes her way to the small fridge in her kitchen. If you can even call it a kitchen, it’s combined with the entrance, but Ochako has no room to complain. The fridge is covered with little stickers Ochako collected from Tsu during their friendship together. Tsu was always supportive of Ochako’s decisions and soon became one of her best friends after everything they had gone through together. She was someone Ochako trusted and at first pictured the two to be roommates instead of some rando on the street. Tsu unfortunately declined for reasons that Ochako respects, “Ribbit, I’m sorry Ochako but I don’t think I’m ready for that right now.” Sometimes living at home is the best option.
Opening the fridge was as disappointing as breaking your favorite mug. The fridge had an absence of food; it only held a gallon of mango juice and an empty carton of eggs. Ochako groans into her hands and takes out the mango juice and sits herself on the table containing all her letters. She really needs to go grocery shopping soon; she can’t just live on juice but.. Ochako doesn’t even need to look at her wallet to know it’s empty.
Stretching her arms, Ochako picks up the stacks of letters and skims through them. Bills, bills, junk, an envelope for a random hero college, and more spam. Ochako definitely needs to find someone soon. Preferably a girl, rooming with a guy is just too weird for her. Her face was already heating up at the thought of it!
So thus starts her next couple of weeks printing and hanging up flyers around fairly popular areas in town. Luckily, she had gotten the help of Izuku and Iida to post around their areas as well. Ochako started with a flyer in the library, next at UA, then at a nice family-owned coffee in the hopes of attracting people who Ochako likes to consider is like herself; nice, cozy, and caring.
Now she waits. Her smile shimmers down as the days go by with no new texts or calls regarding her roommate situation. It’s been about 2 weeks. Defeated, Ochako continues on with her normal life. Wake up, go to class, eat lunch, talk to friends, go home, maybe eat dinner, work out, and sleep. She’s been on a loop for days on end, it’s been like this for.. How long now? She can’t recall.
On her walk home from UA, Tsuyu calls out to Ochako. With a large smile, Tsu jogs to catch up with her. “Ochako! How do you feel about going to the grocery store with me today? You don’t have to if you don’t want to-”
“Of course I’ll come with you!” Ochako interrupts excitedly, clasping her hands together, a smile matching Tsu.
“Perfect! My mom wanted me to pick up some things before going home ribbit. Also, I didn’t want to go alone.”
Their walk to the grocery store was a short one, both happily talking about different foods they planned to get at the store, as well as some overpriced snacks they wished they could buy. Arriving at the small store, Ochako follows Tsu to the bread aisle and hesitantly picks out one for herself too. Controlling the cart around the store, Tsu leads Ochako to the freezer section, picking out quite a lot of frozen foods the store offered.
“That’s so much frozen food Tsu!” Ochako laughed, watching Tsu pick out different frozen pizzas and more. Tsu turns to Ochako, giving her a shrug with her tongue out. Ochako simply shakes her head and lets Tsuyu do her thing.
Looking around, Ochako knows she’s not going to get much else. The bread was good enough and would have to do. Even then the price of bread has been increasing a crazy amount recently. Maybe she should get something else? Before Ochako can make a clear decision, something catches her off guard.
Her phone is ringing. An embarrassing tune at that. Quickly reaching into her pocket, Ochako answers the phone before even seeing who called.
“Hello? Is this Uraraka Ochako?”
... She didn’t know this voice. From the corner of Ochako’s eye, she can see Tsu mouthing something to her that she can’t decipher right now at this moment.
With an awkward pause and a shaky voice Ochako answers, “Uh! Yes! That’s me! Who’s this?”
“Hi! I’m Toga Himiko and I’m interested in being your roommate!” The voice on the other line squeaked out, humor laced within the tone. “So..” the ‘o’ being dragged out. “Is that like, is it still available or?”
“Yes! It’s definitely still available! Uhm!” Ochako looks over to Tsu with wide eyes, Tsuyu giving a thumbs-up in return. “What day and time are you available for us to meet?!” God why is she shouting?
“I can’t say for now, but I’ll text? Is that fine with you cutie?” ‘Toga’ hums into the phone, holding a sing-song rhythm in her words.
Ochako can already feel her face flushing.. Cutie? She wasn’t expecting this. Don’t get her wrong, Ochako is ecstatic someone finally called but, teasing already? Ochako hasn’t even met her face to face! She shakes her head, puts on a brave face, and answers
“That would be perfect! I’ll text my schedule too and uhm we can talk about the apartment and meet each other in person.”
“Okayyy! See ya!” And the stranger ends the call before Ochako can thank them for being interested. Ochako lets out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding.
“Wow you are terrible at phone calls.” Tsuyu calls out.
“Huh! Tsuyu you’re so mean” Pouted Ochako. I mean, it’s been 2 weeks since she last started posting about her apartment. She couldn’t believe someone actually reached out and showed interest. While Ochako is over the moon that someone called, she couldn’t help but think back on the word cutie. Toga doesn’t even know how she looks like! Maybe she just calls everyone that? Isn’t that a little weird though? Jeez she shouldn’t be judging Toga so hard, it was just one small phone call and Ochako is already suspicious of her maybe new roommate. But what other choice did she have? Regardless if the person was a little strange, Toga Himiko is going to be her new roommate.
On the way to the register, Tsu and Ochako paid for their respective items and walk together back to their homes. Right before splitting ways, Tsuyu hands Ochako The bags of frozen foods much to Ochako’s confusion.
“Tsu? What’s wrong?” Ochako breathes out, grabbing the two bags. She has a feeling she knows where this is going but is trying to convince herself otherwise.
“Please don’t be mad.. But I bought those for you.” Tsu responded, playing with the ends of her hair, “I know you’re fine on your own and I shouldn’t be worried! I just wanted to help out anyway I can ribbit.” Ochako was dumbfounded.
“You really didn’t have to Tsu! I appreciate it but-” Tsuyu is already jumping away to her house before Ochako can continue.
Ochako loves her friends but sometimes they can go a little overboard. However, once this new roommate shows up, Ochako is going to repay Tsuyu, Deku, and Iida back for all the things they’ve done for her.
Putting her food into her fridge, Ochako can’t help but feel a bit excited to meet this Toga character.