Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Izuku Midoriya has been curious since a young age concerning her surroundings and the mysteries behind the facade exposed to the public eye. She used to be a sweet and innocent child, holding onto her mother’s shirt to observe the endless sky drawing itself like an old cartoon movie. The most breathtaking view appeared as a movie scene where each star would tell their stories to the amazed souls ready to hear them.

The green-haired woman was easily impressed and awed by the bright colors surrounding her world and the new people crossing her path, changing the story's narrative through the years into a fever dream or a complete nightmare. 

However, despite being alone and celebrating each of her achievements with the same faces, she often wished to have someone by her side. She pictured the tender moment between an imaginary partner reaching her hands, intertwining their fingers with hers, and kissing the palm of used skin. The idea of sharing her flaws and secrets with someone she trusted more than her own life crossed her mind more than once, but never became a reality….

At least until the most breathtaking painting came out of nowhere and changed her entire perception of love. The greenette still recalled the moment her heart missed a beat when the gift of the gods if it wasn’t a goddess herself, reached her path. There was no way someone as stunning as the blonde-haired woman was currently asking about a note concerning a lecture they both shared ! 

“-Oi, I’m talking to you, freckles,” the voice said, cutting the shorter figure out of her mind. She didn’t even realize how her breathing stopped and her cheeks got redder until now. This situation was pretty awkward by itself but Izuku didn’t need to ridicule herself even more!

“So…Sorry, I was out of mind for a moment,” she mumbled, letting her hands hold the book tighter in her hands with the hope it would protect her from this embarrassment. The crimson eyes met hers, letting Izuku catch a slight glimpse of a smirk appearing on the other’s face.

“I can see it,” the blonde woman sighed, resting her arms against her chest. A glance at the shorter figure was enough to reveal all the information she needed about the curious soul. “Look like you need to focus more or you’ll miss great opportunities that might come once in a lifetime.”

What does the pretty woman mean by that? It was a complete mystery. Instead, she decided to nod without fighting back, covering the evident blush on her cheeks and the panic inside her chest.

“I’m sorry but do I know you ?” Izuku asked most innocently, trying to calm her breathing. She kept reminding herself of the urge to make a good impression or this stunning woman would be afraid of her and consider her as a weirdo! 

Katsuki’s eyes widened in surprise, almost surprised by the question before turning into a soft expression. This scene only lasted a few seconds, making the poor heart of the green-curled woman fall even more for this stranger….Damn, women had no right to be this beautiful!

“I’ve seen your face a few times in our lecture but I think some proper introduction is necessary,” the taller shadow said, stepping back and reaching her hands toward the hesitant figure. It was probably the first time Izuku was facing such a complex situation between her heart screaming to marry this person, and reason by letting the logic calm down her heart. “Katsuki Bakugo, I share the same class as you in the psychology field.”

Izuku didn’t answer. A million questions reached her mind, forcing her to open her lips in a slight gasp before closing them due to the embarrassment. The background noises of the crowd surrounding them brought her back to reality, while her viridian eyes regained their confidence. Hesitant hands reached out for the blonde’s, feeling how this temporary meeting of their skin was enough to occupy most of her next thoughts.

“Izuku Midoriya,” she answered with a slight smile, ignoring how the crimson eyes were still observing each of their movements with carefulness. “I’m surprised you noticed my presence in this amphitheater among thousands of people.”

“To be fair, I only recognized the curls because they’ve been a mess since the beginning of the semester” Her fingers left the scarred hands, and played with the other’s hair, in a teasing tone. “Looks like they’re still shitty, but I’m not a hairdresser. Listen,  I missed the last class due to personal reasons and you’re the only face I can recognize among the extras.”

Oh. 

Izuku was naive to think this flirting game was meant romantically when they didn’t know anything about each other. She was stupid to think an invisible shadow on the blonde’s path could catch the other’s attention, knowing how all eyes were on them and their short interaction.  

“Don’t worry, I’ll share it with you…Do you have a way where I can keep in touch or any email? It’s better to make both of us comfortable because I know everyone has their preference through communication, which is fine but sometimes misunderstandings can lead to awkward situations. About my notes, thanks for trusting me but, you know, sometimes. my writing is messy but if I need to reformulate them I can still-”

“Hey, breathe for a second,” interrupted the taller figure,  putting her hands on the shaking shoulders. It was her first meeting with the freckled woman who had her charms that didn’t leave Katsuki insensitive. Izuku’s breath returned to a normal rhythm when she stared at the mesmerizing eyes, regaining consciousness and hoping to hide the evident blush on her cheeks. “That’s right, do you feel better? I underestimate how talented you were to beat the Guinness record.”

The shorter woman nodded in answer, walking to the closest bench to sit, and observing how the taller figure joined her. A glance was enough to catch the curious expression on the students' faces, talking about the nature of the interaction between the two women. Izuku wasn’t used to this kind of treatment where she was the center of attention, that’s why she decided to change her mind and noticed how the worried crimson eyes waited for an answer...The notes, she nearly forgot!

“I’m so sorry for what happened earlier !” She apologized, wanting to hide in shame behind her book for making a scene. 

However, she surprised the beautiful woman who made a sigh and ruffled the messy curls to have the entire attention of the shorter shadow. Katsuki would lie by explaining how the freckled woman beside her wasn’t her style…because she was pretty enough to make Katsuki forget what she was going to say. It should be considered a crime to have such beautiful eyes and fluffy curls. Don’t start with the forms of the freckles on her cheeks that echo children's drawings and-

“No need to apologize for something you can’t control,” she reassured, catching how the previous worry turned into awe. This fever dream could have lasted longer if only the extras’s shadows hadn’t appeared in Katsuki’s vision field, indicating how it was time to shorten their conversation against their will. “Don’t worry, I bet your notes are good, I just need a backup for the exams but you can still reach me at this number. Unfortunately, I have to go but it was a pleasure to see a cutie like you in this shitty university. I hope our paths will meet again.”

Izuku tried to control her breathing to not publicly reveal how panicked she was at the idea of seeing her classmate leave…There was no way this gorgeous woman just flirted with her before disappearing like nothing happened! She wanted to reply, but before realizing it, the taller shadow was out of reach, lost in the endless corridors of the building. The scarred fingers stared at the precious piece of paper with the phone number….being the only way to communicate with Katsuki. 

“Sure…I hope too,” she mumbled with a slight smile, putting the number in a hidden place. Her first instinct was to immediately reach her phone and text a familiar number.

——

From Izuku : 

I think someone flirted with me…. Is that even possible to feel its heart beating this loud? Because I think I’m gonna die.

Or I probably fell in love with this gorgeous woman, which isn’t a bother because she was a literally goddess waiting for me in the afterlife. Do you think you can prepare for my funeral? 

From Ochako : 

Hold on.

We can meet in 5 minutes once my class is over but you need to explain everything to me…Because sweetie, It’s too early to plan your funeral just because you made your first gay panic 

It happens to the best of us, but don’t you dare leave this world without giving me the tea about your love life. I used to pray for a time like this!

———

A week later, 

Izuku Midoriya spent the night explaining to her best friend the interaction that became her sexual awakening, facing the wide-open eyes of the brunette. The only people the freckled woman had a crush on were losers who didn’t do the bare minimum to return her love, or only played with her feelings until they got bored…. imagine her surprise when Ochako heard the familiar name of Katsuki Bakugo.

Rare were the people who were unaware of the reputation of this seductive woman who got all the men in the palm of her hands but never gave them any chances to make their proof. The rumors tend to describe her as someone unreachable, heartless, and focused on her little person, the kind of friend you don’t want to have in your group. This new information was crazy to the freckled woman who saw another side of the blonde….Instead of affirming the common whispers spreading through the campus, she faced the worried crimson eyes ready to help her! 

Thousands of people were ready to kill to get a glimpse of her attention, but she decided to give it for free to someone like Izuku Midoriya, the invisible shadow in the crowd. Each night, the green-haired woman kept picturing the way these delicate hands reached her shoulders, assuring she was fine, bringing a blush to her cheeks before realizing what was happening inside her chest….

The next morning, Izuku didn’t think twice before calling her best friend and admitting out loud how she was attracted by Katsuki Bakugo. Ochako decided to miss her class to spend the day with her friend in town, changing their mind and explaining the entire situation with a coffee. They shouldn’t worry about their notes, knowing the group chat already did a great job at summarizing the most important notions of the last year. Her best friend’s love life was more important!

Despite her own opinion concerning the blonde, it was still heartwarming to see the freckled cheeks gaining colors every time the blonde was mentioned. Being a lesbian herself was already a hard job, but the brunette admired how the other was taking her time to understand her sexuality. It was her first time: Full of discoveries and the beginning of a new journey. There was no way she would let the other down for such meaningful steps in her life! 

—--

The sun was highlighting the sportive zone, full of people ready to support their team in this upcoming season. 

The university had a special tradition where their football team would make a selective match against one of their rival team, an old rivalry that lasted for decades according to the rumors. If some people were genuinely interested in this event and became regular faces in the crowd, others sounded more attracted to the idea of keeping an eye on the players and selecting their next target. 

Still, Izuku has always been interested in fitting into this tradition, even if she didn’t understand anything about the sport itself. This gesture was a simple attempt to fit into this new dynamic of the campus until graduation, forcing her best friend to follow her every time. Ochako was the kind of person to rather spend a sleepover watching shitty shows than waste her time for the sake of the campus ... .but she never betrayed any of her promises until now, including the idea of following the greenette everywhere she goes.

“-I heard Katsuki is currently looking for a partner, this woman is probably one of the most gorgeous people I’ve seen. If I wasn’t straight, I’d be in love with her !” A voice expressed, in the background, catching the brunette’s attention. Casually, she wasn’t listening to the stranger’s conversation but it concerned her when the blonde’s name was mentioned.

“Come on, don’t be stupid,” the other replied, rolling her eyes, and making a chuckle. “We all know how falling for a person like her is a dangerous game. You might be heartbroken and have another name on her victim list. If you want my opinion, It’s  better to stay away from this tempting game…”

Spreading rumors concerning Katsuki Bakugo’s love life was the only occupation some students found in their lonely days. Indeed, Ochako was on a mission to get the most information she could about this woman who stole her best friend’s heart. It was her job to be the biggest supporter of this new relationship but she wasn’t afraid to kick the blonde’s ass if she was playing with Izuku’s feelings! With a short glimpse of her surroundings, she decided to see herself as this “goddess” as her best friend described, even if the answer was right under her eyes since the beginning. 

The brown irises succeeded in catching the physical description of the person described by Izuku: From afar, a few rows above them, the taller figure with other classmates, leading to the conclusion that they might be close friends.

One of the first rules in this quest of love was to ensure the potential future gifted of Izuku wasn’t under the bad influence: At first sight, they all seemed pretty close with the red-haired man teasing the blonde, before being stopped by a pink-haired woman. It looks like the two of them were in a relationship due to the look on Kirishima’s face when Mina kissed the palm of his hands. Beside them was a blond guy making a constant joke, followed by black-haired and purple-haired figures. 

Yet, the crimson eyes seemed to be focused on something…or someone. The brunette made a glance at the green-haired woman, only to find how the emerald eyes answered this previous gesture. It was discreet, hidden by the crowd movements and loud shouts, but it seemed like the two figures were unable to keep their eyes away from each other, almost like they were mesmerized by the other’s presence.

A smile drew itself on Katsuki’s lips, making the freckled cheeks blush in a scarlet color before moving her head and returning to reality. Thousands of questions crossed Ochako’s mind, but her face naturally betrayed her when a smile appeared across her lips, remembering the previous heartwarming sign. It’s been a while since she’d seen her best friend genuinely happy with someone, and a part of her wanted to believe this story could work if Katsuki’s sentiments were sincere.

“I saw everything,” she pointed out with a teasing tone, making the smaller woman blush harder. “There’s something else you need to tell me, maybe ?”

This private interaction she exchanged with Katsuki echoed as the result of many questions and scenarios appearing in her mind, wondering if their path might meet again. This campus was big enough to lose yourself between two classes, and finding a shadow in the crowd was a question of luck. After all, the two women didn’t know everything from each other, except their natural charms that led them to fall for the unknown on an innocent day…

As naive as it seem, the shorter shadow wanted to know more about Katsuki’s life, including her passions, hobbies, interests, family, and background. If the chemistry between them was something evident to the public eyes, it was a mystery to solve for the concerns shadows in this huge bundling. Izuku wanted to take her time to create a good base before eventually switching into a friendship and potentially confessing her love in 5 years…But another one wanted to make sure she wasn’t wasting her time with someone who’ll never return her feelings, again.

“Shut up,” the other objected with a sigh, putting her hands against her forehead. “I can’t believe the only thing I can do is start at her like a creep. Maybe I deserve to change my name and leave the country, it would be fair to be afraid of someone like me. Don’t you wish sometimes your eyes speak louder than words? Because I would do anything to use this trick and confess my truths.”

“You’re such a drama queen and you’re not going to leave the country just because you’re experiencing your first gay panic,” Ochako explained with a hit on the other’s shoulder, holding a low chuckle, remembering her old days when she was discovering her sexuality It was heartwarming to see her best friend building her own story and showing signs the brunette recognized too well. “There’s nothing wrong with the idea of falling for someone like her, I mean her reputation was right, she’s one of the most gorgeous women I’ve seen, even if she’ll never beat Himiko, but it’s a question of preference.”

“But she’s too pretty for me,” the freckled woman confided with a brittle tone. There was no way this previous flirting was something serious because it was Katsuki Bakugo and she was. Izuku Midoriya. “I already know I have an opponent on the line to win the spot in her heart, maybe  I’m just a bother. Tell me, am I worth loving ?”

“Trust me, you deserve to know someone who shares the same mutual devotion and endless love you’re offering. I’m one of those people who think life is worth living by having all kinds of experiences, and the only way to know the answer to this final quest is to try. Don’t you want to go against all those desperate soldiers and be the center of her world? Because if there’s someone able to win this fight it’s you.”

Izuku’s face softened at this realization. Her anxiety usually ruins each of her decisions, sometimes wondering if her life would’ve been different if she made a different choice at the moment…But the brunette’s words succeed in giving her enough motivation to give it a try. After all, she already faced multiple heartbreaks and this challenge might lead to two different types of ending: the negative one with rejection, or the positive one with a mutual love.

“You might be right, but let fate decide for us,” the shorter woman chuckled with a smile, resting her beard against the brunette’s shoulder as they decided to introduce another subject of conversation. 

The recent days have been emotionally exhausting, especially with the college and Toga’s return after her one-year break. However, lost in the euphoria of her conversation, Izuku ignored the strange sense inside her chest indicating how someone was observing her from afar…without knowing how Katsuki’s eyes were focused on her with a distant glance.

“Hey, I don’t know if something happened between you and this cute girl, but I caught her looking at you more than once in the last weeks,” Denki affirmed with a slight smirk before groaning in pain when the purple-haired woman hit his beard. He was conscious about how it was none of his business but it was the first time he found his friend being genuinely interested in someone…when the blonde would usually curse the extra name for being annoying.

“Would you shut up for a moment and let Kats flirt with whoever she wants ?” Jirou commented with an annoyed sigh, before sharing a quick nod at the taller woman, indicating how she got her back. In the group, everyone had their personality and Jirou was the only one able to calm the situation when her boyfriend wanted to spice things up…and Katsuki was grateful for that. 

The blonde made a grin in answer, recalling his friend’s words. Izuku was one of the prettiest women she had ever seen. Her beauty was more captivating than any treasure pirates used to collect back in the time. She started to consider small details as meaningful depending on the other’s presence and the smiles she would share with extras. 

It was the first time Katsiki was genuinely interested in someone to the point of ruining her day if she didn’t see the other shadow in the crowd, discovering more about her feelings…Especially for someone who’s never been in love in the past. This green-haired woman had no right to haunt Katsuki’s mind, especially when so many people wanted to have her attention, leading the stubborn figure to easily be jealous.

They might be strangers, but it was a question of time before building their narrative.

—---

These constant games of cat and mouse lasted longer than they expected as the semester went on. 

Drawn into the assignments to give and exams to study, Izuku had barely the time to think about her love life, even if the only moment of peace was the lectures, checking for the familiar shadow. It was like finding a needle in a haystack! 

When the first week of holidays finally offered rest to the students after the previous months were intense enough to slowly drive them into craziness, Izuku decided to change her mind by hanging out with her best friend. The shorter woman was aware of how playing the third wheel between the couple and the greenette was stupid, but she would rather spend her days with familiar faces than stay in bed and think about the “What if”. The whole situation with Katsuki Bakugo turned her world upside down and each night was haunted by the glimpse of the other’s smile, being another reminder about how she put herself on this messy journey.

The wind slowly moved the lost curls against her forehead and stared at the landscape drawing itself under her eyes. The green-haired woman has always been a huge fan of mysteries and didn’t hesitate before following the duo on their hike, taking some fresh air after this emotional rollercoaster.  The main problem was how, after endless hours of walking, Izuku’s legs decided to give up. 

The two women rolled their eyes with teasing expressions on their faces before agreeing to take a 5-minute break, insisting on how they wanted to return home before the sunset. The shorter figure regained her breath by taking a sip of her water bottle. What a crazy idea to accept such a challenge when she barely survives after reaching the second floor of the university!

With a quick glimpse, Izuku noticed how Ochako and Toga were oddly discreet. It wasn’t in their habits to mumble in their bear unless it was something important…which confirmed the other’s doubts. With a discreet movement, she decided to walk closer to know the source of their interest and immediately regretted it. 

“What are you doing-” Her voice shouted louder than she expected, waking up the sleeping birds and ghosts haunting this place. Her emerald eyes widened at the screen, showing a proper picture of Katsuki. The sudden sound forced the two women, too focused on their activity, to jump at the sudden screamer. They caught their breath, wiping the sweat falling down their foreheads before meeting the stunned expression on the shorter woman’s face. 

“Ochako told me about your new crush so I naturally did my research,” Toga said as if it was the most casual thing to use in this kind of awkward situation. This idea belonged to her but, to protect her girlfriend, she decided to sacrifice herself from potentially embarrassing thoughts between Ochako and Izuku. “Not my style but I have to admit how she’s pretty distant from social media, it’s harder to find a simple glimpse of her face. Thanks to her friends for posting, because I would’ve never known what she looks like.”

“You should respect her private life and not search deeper into something that doesn’t belong to you,” objected the brunette with an evident blush on her cheeks. Instead of being mad at the two shadows for doing their research, it made things easier for the freckled woman Indeed, Izuku never dared to even type the blonde’s name on the search bar, already ashamed about her invading her private life.

“Darling, the moment it’s posted on social media, it belongs to the public,” pointed out the brown-haired girl. She scrolled in the tagged section to see if there were any hints of her biggest fear: openly flirting with a desperate soul while being in a relationship, and creating a drama on purpose. “Plus, she always looks bothered in her pictures, I’m starting to think she reserved this pretty smile for you…and you have no idea how people would kill to be at your place.”

Alright, maybe Ochako had a point in her reasoning but this doesn't mean she had to point out this precious information out loud! With a sigh, the shorter figure agreed to sit next to them and watched the few pictures appearing on the screens, indicating how the blonde might probably have known her friends for a long time, raising some questions. A part of her was envious, wondering if she would have the chance, one day, to be this close to Katsuki if they’d met earlier…

“No sign of cheating in horizons, which was a reassuring statement because I wouldn’t mind putting this Katsuki at her place if she was playing with my best friend’s heart,” affirmed the other with a nodd after hours of research and no sign of any account with the name of the blonde. Izuku didn’t know if she should consider this as a good or a bad sign, but she was forced to accept how the mysteries concerning Katsuki Bakugo became a more complex quest.

“Maybe we should let things happen by themselves, as much as I love your support in me figuring out my sexuality,  we should give her some privacy…” 

Izuku wasn’t sure if it was the right strategy to adapt when her chest was full of hope for the next time they’d meet each other, but the more realistic she was, the less she’d be hurt once the rejection happened. 

The two women stared at each other with a smile on their faces, understanding the unknown the shorter figure was facing, but it was full of good intentions! Ochako saw her best friend being hurt in one-sided love in the past, and for the first time, she had the impression of seeing this endless circle breaking up with the scene she had seen at the match.

“There’s no privacy when it comes to helping your best friend experience a potential relationship for the first time, and I can read in your eyes how you have more to share than a simple comment concerning Bakugo’s personal life…Am I right ?” Her hands reached the other’s shoulders, making sure to comfort the hesitant soul who couldn’t hide any secrets from the brunette. 

Izuku sighed, forced to admit out loud how she was exposed to her games and beliefs. Being in love had never been an easy thing, especially with the past experiences that led her to think she was the problem in the relationship…but experiencing a mutual attraction and interest was scary. She used to picture this sentiment as a romantic frame like the movies she used to watch in her childhood, wondering if someone was waiting for her outside these walls and finding a goal in he life. Dreaming about this impression was easier than facing reality, where fate turned out to be in her favor for catching Katsuki’s interest…but she was afraid of being too delusional.

“I used to be confident about the notion of love itself, especially with the idea I had since childhood about finding your missing pierce and seeing your life change overnight. Unfortunately, I’ve never been able to sincerely experience the power of having someone like you back and this is scary…”She confessed with a sigh, deciding to be honest with herself for the first time. “I have no idea how to flirt, or even show my interest in someone. I don’t know how to behave around her, she’s unreachable for me but-”

“But ?”

“But what if I mess up everything ?” Izuku asked with a hesitant tone, starting at the two figures who listened to each of his words and felt how desperate she was, having a hard time dealing with her emotions and the idea of making another move. “I’ve never experienced such an intense situation where my heart wants to grab this chance, but my reason orders me to stay distant because it’s the only thing I can do when things become too serious. How am I supposed to not break anyone’s heart and mine if I’m facing this overwhelming war of sentiments in my guts? Maybe I’m broken.”

Ochako’s eyes widened. She heard many bullshit in the past but this was the first one on the list! Don’t get her wrong, she was aware of how the freckled woman tended to self-sabotage her life,  and probably needs more therapy sessions to accept how her mistakes can be transformed into strength…but it’ll take time to find peace in this mindset. The greenette shouldn’t put aside the possibility of a happy ending with someone able to return this affection, just because she tricked herself into this mindset…

“You’re not broken and will never be,” assured the brunette with a determined tone, feeling her girlfriend’s hands on her legs, and offering her support. Toga wasn’t as close as the two best friends were, but she knew enough about Izuku and how sensitive she was, especially when it came to love. “It’s okay to be afraid of the unknown but you should put your overthinking aside and go get your girl! Who knows if another occasion like that will happen again? I’ ’m pretty sure Bakugo would love to get more about you and the best way to know is to try. You can count on us if something goes against your journey to find your happiness…but the only way to know if this relationship is worth it is to see it by yourself.”

Izuku stayed silent, realizing how a part of the heavy pressure on her shaking shoulders faded away after the other’s words. Ochako was right, the only way to know if the blonde was worth fighting was to understand if this was an entire scenario in her head or her reality where someone could love her back. With a sigh, she put her head against the brunette’s shoulder and decided to make sure to apply this advice the next time her path met the blonde’s.

—---

The peaceful atmosphere residing inside the campus was now erased by the crowd showing itself to their next classes, continuing the same everyday life they signed the moment they reached this building. The lectures remained the same and Izuku’s eyes kept chasing after the taller figure in the amphitheater, holding on to the hope of putting into practice the previous advice of her best friend but accepting how it was a question of time until having a full understanding of the situation.

However, fate decided to be in her favor when her life changed on a sunny afternoon. 

The stadium benches were occasionally filled with extra staff for their favorite team on game days, but some people found time to sit or take a break in a place exposed to the general public. There was no shame in being seen alone in university, especially when most of the students were typing on their phones or listening to their playlists with the idea of spending a little time in their bubble. It was the small freedom they could have between two classes and their huge timetable, and Izuku had no problem being one of them. The green-haired woman felt the wind moving her lost curls, constantly teasing the sweat on her forehead finding a place on the wooden bench, and checking the time.

At this hour, her best friend was hanging out in town with Toga, sacrificing one day of the program to spend the day with her girlfriend. The fresh air met her skin, grabbing her water bottle and checking her favorite blog dedicated to one of the biggest influences in the last decade: All Might.

The home page on her phone was constantly full of updates concerning the next turn in this man's career who touched each domain this world has to offer, having a huge list of competence on his CV. Izuku envied him for being able to leave his comfort zone and try something new without being afraid of the unknown, and she was a dedicated fan from an early age! However, the recent days were calmer than usual, explaining how the famous actor was playing in a new movie, supposedly released in the next year.

“Can I sit here ?” A sudden voice interrupted, waiting for an answer coming from the green-haired woman, too focused on finishing her article. It was one of these moments when Izuku couldn’t stay away from her phone, was too interested in the plot of the next movie, and was already planning to reserve the tickets if it was possible…she couldn’t miss her chance to see her favorite actor on screen! 

“Sure,” she mumbled with a quick nod, reaching the last paragraph and regaining consciousness about the previous interaction. She felt guilty for pretending to be not interested in this stranger who agreed to sit next to her despite the empty bench in the stadium. With a sigh, Izuku moved her head to give a face to his offended person who was considering her rude…and her heart missed a beat.

Next to her was standing the same woman who occupied her wildest dream, with a ponytail and some eyeliner applied in a style that screamed the strong personality of the woman. It was the first time she wasn’t accompanied by her friends, which seemed to please both of them, hating the crowd and enjoying private moments. Multiple questions crossed her mind, wondering what Katsuki Bakugo was doing here and how she was probably annoyed by the previous reaction Izuku gave her! A scarlet color reached the freckled cheeks to the point that even makeup couldn’t hide the intense shade of red on her skin…Maybe she could blame the sun and not her pounding heart inside her chest.

“Don’t give me that gaze, I won't kill you for being too focused on your nerdy article,” reassured the blonde with a teasing tone, feeling how the atmosphere became awkward. Indeed, Katsuki was doing her best to cover the fast heartbeat that echoed louder than the multiple scenarios crossing her mind. The blonde noticed the familiar green curls from afar, and before realizing it, she was already standing beside the shorter figure who didn’t seem to notice her…Good job, Katsuki.

“Sorry for…you know, me ignoring you,” mumbled the shorter woman in her bead, making the other smile. She put her phone behind her bag and glanced at their proximity, especially how close they were compared to the last time. “Should we do it again, this time without messing things up? I’m pretty bad at this.”

A small grin crossed the blonde’s lips, before standing up on the bench and catching everyone's attention. Izuku’s eyes widened, feeling how everyone was staring at them with a curious glance but the only thing that mattered was how the taller figure was trying to this situation more comfortable for both of them. It was a well-known fact that Katsuki Bakugo didn’t care about the word’s opinion, as long as she was confident….something Izuku admired a lot.

“What are you doing-” Her voice gaped in an embarrassed tone before catching the soft expression appearing on the other’s face. At this moment, she remembered the words confessed by her best friend about how the blonde was giving special treatment to the greenette, something able to make everyone jealous if they knew about their proximity. “Seriously, this is ridiculous, everyone is looking at us.”

“It never hurt anyone to be the center of attention, especially if this means showing your freckles under the spotlight,” affirmed Katsuki with a teasing tone. “Let me ask you the question again…Can I sit here, freckles ?”

Izuku was trying her best to hold her breath and not reveal to the others how she was dying from the inside. Her social skills were pretty bad and she was lucky to have Ochako by her side tolerating her presence but it was different when the prettiest woman on the campus was asking you such a question. Katsuki was acknowledging her presence when she could’ve seen someone else but she chose Izuku instead….

“Sure, I don’t mind some company,” she mumbled with a light smile at the corner of her lips, deciding to put her overthinking aside temporarily, even if it was a hard fight against old habits. Instead, she decided to focus on the current moment when the two women were sitting next to each other, almost like it was coming from one of their fever dreams. It was odd to see the strong and confident woman suddenly shy and trying to read in the emerald eyes, afraid to bring a morose atmosphere to the conversation. “What are you doing here ?”

“Taking some air from Aizawa’s class,” she pointed out as if it was the most obvious statement. “He might be a good teacher but I can’t handle his 3-hour class about the linguistic program, plus I always have the extras to take notes for me….But I should return the question, you’re not the kind of person to easily skip class, am I right ?”

Katsuki Bakugo made conversation with her and it was a huge development compared to the multiple heartbroken on the campus who were immediately rejected. The best way to not mess this up was to hold on a little longer in the hope of a real friendship, even if this was temporary. 

“You’re right,” she admitted, letting her fingers play with the tissue of her top, continuing this unconscious habit of covering her anxiety with the slightest detail observable. “I have another class in one hour, but I never expected to see the great Katsuki Bakugo being such a bad student…..There must be a good reason for making such a sacrifice, especially when this semester just started.”

Without realizing it, Izuku dug her own grave. She underestimated how this simple comment would lead to the rise of new emotions inside their chest, something they couldn’t control, and would potentially lead to the no-return point. However, the crimson eyes simply glimpsed around to observe how calm the area was, hearing a few whispers behind her ears, knowing she had something else to focus on. 

“What if I told you how you that you were the reason for me being here ?” The words unconsciously escaped from her lips, surprising both figures at the same time. 

Izuku didn’t know how her cheek could be redder than a sunhat, but the shining stars appearing in her eyes succeeded in betraying her. Shit, she was conscious about how she was exposed to potential rejection, at least it was what she tried to convince herself but her heart melted at the sight of the taller woman blushing for the first time. An awkward silence appeared in the conversation, letting the background noises echo as the wind gently moved the messy curls.

“I would say it’s surprising, knowing how I’m another shadow in the crowd,” she confessed with a soft tone, releasing the shaking fingers from the tissue of her top to stay in a better position. Katsuki knew she should’ve chosen the teasing tone instead of flirting immediately with the nerd, but she let Izuku’s beauty erase all her logical plans and let her heart talk instead…this pretty witch! 

“Don’t underestimate yourself, I’m sure there’s more behind this pretty face,” the blonde admitted, moving closer and observing how the greenette was holding her breath. They were both trying their best to cover the panic inside their chest after the previous slippage…That’s why she decided to choose the safest option by switching topics. “You seemed interested in your reading, may I ask what it was ?”

“Oh….It’s nothing, really just a stupid article about someone I admire a lot since my childhood.” It was the only explanation Izuku could give, knowing how she would never be able to lie about that. Still, it was easier to let the blurry topic be forgotten in the conversation than to publicly admire her truths, remembering how people tended to mock her back in the day about being childish.

“If you don’t spill this out, I’ll check on your phone and you’ll have no way to defend yourself, embarrassing or not, freckles,” the other teased with a grin, forcing the green-haired woman to reach her bag closer and keep it away as possible from the taller figure. There was no way Katsuki Bakugo would expose her secret to the world… “Alright, would it make things better if I promise to not judge you or any bullshit like that? Trust me, if I wanted to put someone down, half of the campus would be expelled for the secrets they gave me.”

The brunette couldn’t help but feel a hint of jealousy when she pictured the others confessing their truths to the blonde, thinking it could be taken to their advantage and have a good reason to stay close to their target. However, if this campus was still in peace it was because Katsuki knew how to keep a secret and Izuku had to respect her for this ability…knowing how some students are ready to do anything to let their rival fall.

“Okay, I’ll say it but don’t judge me….” She mumbled with a sigh, regaining her breath and feeling how the crimson eyes were watching each of her movements. Something was touching in the way the taller woman stayed silent until the other felt ready to break a small part of her shield, just to continue this heartwarming conversation. The scarred hands grabbed the phone inside her bag and turned it on, revealing the website with multiple articles. “I’ve been a huge fan of All Might since I was 10. I started following his journey when he was at this cooking emission, being released after the information….My mom agreed to watch this show with me until I fell asleep and I refused to miss any episodes.  Some people consider this hobby as something childish, that’s why I tend to keep this in my secret garden, right?”

A sudden silence appeared in the conversation, making Izuku uncomfortable. Shit, she knew she should’ve never been honest with herself, it was a question of time before humiliated again because she was escaping from her reality. The idea of being mocked by someone like Katsuki was painful to imagine, to see the judgmental glare on her face and hear the harsh words about how ridiculous it was. Izuku tried to hold the unshed tears, before jumping when calloused hands grabbed the shaking ones.

Scared emerald eyes met the awed crimson ones, before transforming into worries at the sight of tiny tears rolling down these chubby cheeks. During a few seconds, the two women had the impression of being alone against the world, ignoring the background noises and focusing on each expression. The delicate fingers reached the freckled cheeks, wiping the slight tears away and wondering what was going on inside the other’s mind. Katsuki didn’t know anything about Izuku or her interests, but she could feel how sensitive she was…which was something the blonde needed to protect from now on. 

“Oi, why are you crying? Did I do or say something wrong ?” She asked with genuine concern, letting her fingers rest against her heated cheeks. She faced the heartbreaking sight of the emerald irises, looking at her like she was afraid to make another mistake. The truth was that Izuku was simply emotional at the idea of someone being genuinely attentive to her interest and having the complete attention of Katsuki Bakugo was a selfish wish.

“Nothing,” the brunette replied with a smile, already missing the touch of the tempting fingers against her chubby cheeks. “It’s just…I know it’s stupid but I thought you would publicly mock me and I don’t think I would be emotionally strong to handle such an embarrassing situation. I’m surprised you were respectful, especially coming from someone like me.”

“Don’t let anyone tell you what you should like, not when it’s none of their business,” the taller woman affirmed with a sigh, putting her hand on the shaking shoulders and forcing them to stay closer. Their proximity will be the center of all the questions in the next few days but they don’t mind, mostly because they are enjoying their bonding moment. “There’s a million of fuckers who think they’re right when it’s just bullshit and the only one to truly know what’s the best for you is yourself. I don’t know about you, but I don’t mind listening to your analysis of the last movie and its symbolism.”

Izuku’s eyes widened. “Wait- How did you know it was my analysis? There’s a thousand similar threads on this application and there’s no way-”

Katsuki rolled her eyes, playing with the messy curls before putting it back behind the other’s ears. There was something addicting with the way the unreachable figure of the campus was easily comfortable with an extra like Izuku Midoriya, almost like they were both shy at each other’s presence. 

“I caught your username and knew how it reminded me of something,” she explained with a smirk before stepping back. “I have to admit how the fifth paragraph was detailed enough to convince me about your representation of victory, but I know the comment I left under your post played with your nerves. Seriously, what were doing awake at 3 am on Saturday ?”

Sudden frames crossed the other’s mind, recalling this week of hell when one of the readers explained how Izuku missed a point of the show and entered into a war of who’s gonna have the last words. The two accounts kept replying to each other with strong arguments, sacrificing their sleep before realizing how they had gone too far when the fandom started to add their salt. The green-haired woman used to have a genuine hate toward this stranger who criticized her hard work, and she would’ve never guessed that-

“Are you telling me you’re Dynamight_01 ??” She shouted out loud before being shut down by Katsuki’s hands against her mouth to cover her secret identity. “You have no idea how you gave me hell and still…I should return the question. You were the first one immediately replying to my comments, even if it was at 3 am or 10 pm! Don’t you have a life or something like that N”

“Well, I guess I’m not different from you,” the blonde made a grin. “I’ve never told anyone how my secret garden was to lose myself in a forum and argue with a stranger online because I can’t handle a different opinion. Now you’re having your final confrontation, could you remind me why The Golden Age is a bad prequel ?”

Something clenched inside Izuku’s chest at this comment she took personally. There was no way this beautiful and stubborn woman would have the last word about a conflict they put aside a long time ago. Still, this situation seemed to amuse the blonde who made a soft chuckle when she realized how the granite was defending her values with her entire soul. At this moment, Katsuki realized how something was touching in the way Izuku Midoriya was defending her rights, making her cuter and melting the blonde’s heart on the spot.

The two women kept continuing the endless conversation concerning their mitigated opinion about their passion for All Might, before making a compromise to admit how the golden age was the worst movie of the saga. Without realizing it, the minutes became hours and the previous shadow in the crowd faded away, leaving Izuku and Katsuki filling the silence. 

“You seemed pretty close with round cheeks,” pointed out the blonde with a hesitant tone, letting her jealousy take the lead. She wasn’t naive about how tactile the two were with each other, and she needed to know if chasing after Izuku was worth it… “How long have you two been together ?”

“Since high school,” smiled Izuku, remembering the memories of how they went into the crazy shit together and still survived. “She became someone important in my life when she supported me through some dark period of my life, the same one I thought I’d never return alive. She’s the best friend someone needs and I'm really glad to have someone like her in my life.”

Oh.

Katsuki was stupid to immediately jump to the conclusion that Round Cheeks and Izuku were together. Her jealousy easily led her to the wrong conclusion, putting her in an embarrassing situation. However, she was relieved to know that the freckled woman was single and she might have a chance…It was a question of time before letting the green-haired woman fall for her charms. Yet, the blonde knew she put herself in an awkward moment when she felt emerald eyes staring at her with a light smile, almost like she was reading inside the other’s mind.

“Wait…Were you jealous ?” Izuku asked with a soft chuckle, punching the other’s shoulder and observing how the blush was covering her cheeks. Katsuki had no right to be this stunning under this angle and god knows the thing the freckled woman was ready to do to keep this beauty for herself. “I promise nothing is going on between us and she’s already been in a relationship for years. If you want to steal my heart, the competition is open, Kacchan.”

The nickname split out of her lips without realizing it,  making the taller woman blush harder and step back to cover her face. Shit, the blonde was so cute when she was easily troubled by Izuku’s teasing if only the shorter woman could bring her into her arms…But it was too much, especially after everything they’ve been through today. 

“Shut up, I wasn’t-” objected Katsuki with an annoyed tone but it wasn’t enough to calm the soft chuckles escaping the other’s lips. “It doesn’t matter anyway, it’s getting late.”

The green-haired woman had no right to be this pretty when the sound leaving her mouth echoed to a melody to the other’s ears! Against her will, she turned her head to meet the familiar eyes, shining as bitter as any midnight sky, and her heart missed a beat. A million thoughts crossed her mind at this moment, focusing on how breathtaking the freckled woman was with her genuine smile able to steal many hearts, chubby cheeks begging to be cupped by the blonde’s hand, or even the way her face was worth a thousand words. 

Oh…Katsuki Bakugo was in love with Izuku Midoriya.

“Already? Come on, I know you want to escape this conversation as soon as possible but I still have class in 15 minutes, blondie,” replied the shorter woman with a teasing tone. She underestimated how talking with Katsuki was the conversation she needed until now. Rare were the people ready to spend hours listening to her passion for All Might and even interact with her instead of simply judging her! It felt like a fever dream, too good to be true, and Izuku wished she could stay forever inside this warmth of happiness filling her chest. 

Katsuki rolled her eyes, grabbed her phone, and showed the current time. Izuku’s eyes widened, her previous excitement transforming into surprise when she realized how she spent the entire afternoon at the bench with the blonde…but she also missed her classes and her bus! Shit, she couldn’t believe how stupid she was to not check earlier, now she was doomed to give a proper explanation to her mother about why she was so late.

“Something’s wrong, nerd ?” The taller woman asked with a curious tone, catching how the other’s eyes turned sadder. “I know you hated this conversation but it’s not a reason to give me the impression I was a bother to you-”

“No, you’re wrong !” cut the other, trying to avoid a misunderstanding. “I loved spending the afternoon with you and getting to know you better than the whispers in the corridors, but I realized how it’s way past the last bus I’m supposed to take and I have no way to return home…”

Katsuki Bakugo wasn’t stupid and knew how to take an occasion when she saw one. It might be crazy but she didn’t care, especially if this implied staying a little longer with the woman who gave her the impression of being in heaven each time their gaze met. 

“I can give you a ride to your house if you want,” she proposed, taking her bags and mesmerizing the shining expression on the other’s face. If only she could put this into a painting…she would stare and praise at it every day. “I don’t mind having some company, especially when the radio isn’t enough.”

“I would love to, Kacchan,” Izuku smiled, accepting the offer by letting the blonde’s finger reach her as their two shadows moved away from the breach, continuing their conversation….knowing there’d be a lot to explain tomorrow.

—--

“Someone's in love,” a familiar voice echoed in the room,  making the taller woman jump at the sudden hands on her shoulders. She immediately rejected the failed attempt of her friends to play with her nerves, expressing her annoyance at the previous comment. 

“I’m not Pinky…I’m just tolerating her presence that’s all,” Katsuki replied with a middle finger, hearing a few laughs escaping from the other side of the room. “It’s already an easier job than dealing with all of you.”

The blonde tried to convince herself about how the previous days were simple dreams, but the hidden smiles were the reflection of their common reality. Izuku and Katsuki became way closer since their heart-to-heart conversation, taking each other’s phone numbers and texting from time to time about this new article about their favorite celebrity. It got better when the familiar shadow reached the stairs at the amphitheater, purposely sitting beside the green-haired woman even if Ochako was doomed to watch her best friend blushing every five minutes because Katsuki was standing too close.

The brunette only wanted her best friend’s happiness and was reassured to notice the few hints of Katsuki making actual efforts to get closer to Izuku and her loved ones. There was no doubt the freckled woman mentioned their friendship earlier in this long conversation establishing a solid trust between the two women. It was touching to see how the taller figure was trying its best to fit in, ignoring the stunned expression on the other student’s faces, and only focusing on Izuku’s mumble.

During their breaks, the freckled woman didn’t hesitate to enter into a deep conversation with the blonde to explain how she was convinced about her new theory from the ongoing movie. Ochako was doomed to simply stare at the two figures interacting as if they had known each other their entire lives, and the realization that her best friend found happiness melted her heart. However, when the shorter woman was out of reach, the brunette didn’t hesitate to put Katsuki aside and let her know how protective she was toward her best friend…which surprised the other, but she accepted and promised to do her best to keep Izuku happy.

After that, the two women casually shared news and found themselves unable to stop texting at night, staring at their screen for hours and impatiently waiting for the next interaction. It was the first time the freckled woman had the impression of being loved, even if it was a stupid illusion she was creating to comfort a potential rejection. She wasn’t naive and noticed how close Katsuki and her had become in the last few days, raising more questions on everyone’s lips. If the two friends never addressed the doubts concerning the nature of their relationship, their hearts knew how desperate they were for another sign of this mutual love.

This led to the current situation where the crimson eyes stared at the screen on her phone, exposing the previous texts exchanged between the two women. The last one explained how the freckled woman couldn’t wait to see Katsuki to share a discovery, and make some progress on her assignment, which was due at the end of the week. The idea of spending time with the nerd brought a sudden warmth to the blonde’s chest, making a hidden smile. 

“You should invite us to the wedding,” Sero added with a teasing tone, appearing from behind and stealing the other’s phone, catching her off guard. Katsuki’s eyes widened, holding her anger to not be expelled this earlier in her cursus due to a murder. She rushed after the black-haired man who threw the phone into Denki’s hands and read the conversation that was supposed to be private.

“Give me my phone back before I’ll kick your ass this strong that’ll you end up six feet under the grass,” threatened the blonde who successfully grabbed her phone and groaned in pain, covering the blush on her cheeks. There was a good reason why her love life was private and the extras should consider themselves lucky to not have any compromising picture, even if it was too early to reach this step in the relationship.

“Wow, I’ve never thought that Kats would finally find someone interested in the same hobby,” Mina added with a teasing tone, trying to calm the atmosphere down after the cold glare the other shared with the group. “But I would’ve never guessed you two were this close !”

“Are you kidding me? I’ve been ditching the group more than once to hang out with Deku and everyone on the campus starts to suspect something about us, you must be blind to ignore the whisper and hints.” Katsuki was aware of how she was defensive concerning the topic of Izuku, especially when she wanted to keep this private…It was not until these idiots found out about her attachment to the messages.

After all, the greenette was the first one who truly seemed to understand her, ready to spend hours on a bench to listen to her analysis and stupid comments…something that could turn many people away, but the shorter woman decided to stay.  As stupid as it was, the blonde couldn’t wait to see her friend again, even if this meant facing many questions from the public. 

“You should’ve introduced us ! Kats, you know how we would do anything to support your love life and only want the best for you,” assured the pink-haired woman, sitting next to the taller figure. “You’re down bad for Midoriya, right ?”

The sudden shade of red colored the other’s cheeks, wishing she could hide away, but was forced to stay here and admit out loud how Pinky was right. It was stupid to hide a universal truth that everyone on the campus knew, especially with the curious glance when their two shadows were appearing in the room. She genuinely cared about Izuku, and was ready to do anything to have her complete attention….but she was scared of messing things up, especially for a first relationship.

“She’s the only one occupying my mind every single time, even when she’s five feet away from me,” she confessed, putting her hands in the golden hair and trying to understand what she was supposed to do now. It was too early to rush the dynamic between them, forcing the taller woman to take her time and hold her jealousy to herself when someone was trying to flirt with Izuku, even if the other always denied their offer. “I don’t want to let her think I’m a mess, I have no idea how to act the next time I see her or even how to let the nerd understand the double meaning of my words. Maybe I’m creating a fake illusion where this is mutual…”

“Kats, you’re too hard on yourself,” Mina explained with a soft tone, putting her hands on the shaking shoulders and making sure to let the other know how it was alright to be afraid, especially when feelings could either strengthen or destroy a dynamic. “Try to be yourself the next time and see how it goes. After all, maybe you shouldn’t pretend and let Midoriya see the real you…but the only way to figure this out is by trying, even if it’s baby steps.”

“It’s easy for you, you’ve already faced all this bullshit with Shitty Hair, my case might be a misery next to yours,” Katsuki wasn’t the kind of person to easily show her vulnerabilities unless she had too much to handle, and forced herself into a breakdown. However, this uncomfortable situation where she wasn’t able to control her feelings was too much to handle, hating the idea of seeing someone else being this close to Izukuw 

“You seem to miss the point…” she pointed out with a reassuring tone, being this big sister the blonde always needed. “I’ve been in the same case as you and shared the same misery of not knowing if this was mutual or not. It wasn’t the best period of my life but I give it a try and look at me today…writing my happy ending. We both started at the same places, so why should you let your anxiety win and go get your girl !”

Silence filled the room, while Katsuki wiped her hidden tears from afar, refusing to show them to the others. It was embarrassing enough to have a breakdown in front of the others but Pinky’s words succeeded in reassuring her worried about not being enough for this fight…even if it was a question of time before facing them again. Despite her stubborn and strong personality, Katsuki Bakugo was someone easily attached to people and she was grateful to have such a supportive group by her side, especially in these kinds of circumstances.

“You’ve been through more difficult fights and survived until now, are you telling me you’re going to stay the causal friend when there’s a chance of being more than that? Are you going to show the whole campus how no one should mess with Katsuki Bakugo and her girl? Are you going to fight to have Midoriya’s love or let a stranger steal it from you ?”

“Absolutely Not,” she shouted, standing up and putting her fists on the wooden table. There were still hints of the previous tears she whipped away, as a sudden confidence drew itself on her lips. “I’m gonna make the first move, be the only one she thinks about and show to these fuckers how they shouldn’t take away Deku.”

“Who ?” One of the voices shouted with the rest of the group, trying to motivate the taller woman with their mutual energy. The entire group hated to see how the confident woman let herself down by her insecurities, knowing how it was not her fight she could win.

“Izuku Midoriya,” repeated the blonde in a louder tone, forgetting the previous pain in her chest. “My future girlfriend, the love of my life, and the one I’ll be ready to kill for if she asked me-”

“Okay Kats, I love your motivation but let’s take the first steps before jumping to conclusions,” assured the pink-haired woman with a smile, pinching the other’s nose and admiring how she succeeded in her mission to bring a smile back to Katsuki’s face. “We’ll be there for you and you can count on us if you need anything. From now on, you better try to get Midoriya’s heart and make yourself proud.”

As clingy as it seemed, Katsuki found herself enjoying the comfortable atmosphere in the room, previously drowned by the awkward silence. It was the right amount of serotonin the blonde needed to reach the next step of her plan: make sure to keep every vulture away from this breathing treasure that was Izuku Midoriya.

——

Katsuki Bakugo was a bad liar and the shorter woman noticed it ...not because she was attentively mesmerized by the expression on the other’s face, but because she was worried! 

Even if it was a recent relationship building through the time,  the greenette became attached to the idea of spending her time with someone sharing the same passion as her, and listening for hours to her rant about the new movie released in the theater. It felt right to lose herself for hours in their endless conversation, catching the slightest change on the other’s breathtaking face and wondering how it felt to wake up beside this beautiful woman, offered by the gods. 

Izuku was doomed to lose herself to the idea of being like these other couples in the movies, holding hands and sharing secret glances in public, owning the world between the palms of their hands. This attachment was so powerful that that Katsuki could be a painting to the Louvre, it’ll be Izuku’s favorite. She wouldn’t hesitate to spend all her money to visit the place and adore every aspect of this work of art. 

“- Then, I was about to answer the post but I realized it was with my wrong account and it would be the death of me if someone found out about my All Might fan page !” The green-haired woman explained with a stunned look, letting the wind move the lost curls against her forehead and the shining irises.

 To be fair, the blonde completely forgot the topic of the conversation, finding herself addicted to the sight of Izuku being passionate about her secret garden. If she wanted to hide her awe, she did a bad job because the silence following the previous sentence gave an uncomfortable atmosphere. Shit, Katsuki needed to do something before the other find out about the thought reaching her mind and- 

“Kacchan, what’s going on ?” The voice asked with a worried face. The green-haired woman might have an actual idea about what was occupying the other mind, especially with the event of earlier…something was wrong. “Is this about Shin and his terrible attempt at flirting? We both know this was a lost case before even trying, plus I’m pretty sure he got a girlfriend.”

Katsuki rolled her eyes at the mention of the classmate's name, the same one who publicly tried to have a date with her future girlfriend! People have no shame these days, knowing something was going on between the two women and still trying to get some attention…almost like it was a trophy to get. The blonde wasn’t mad at him, she was jealous and making sure none hurt Izuku because she deserved the world !!

“Don’t ever mention this extra’s name again,” replied the taller woman, making a movement to the other’s lip, shutting her down. Her round and shining emerald eyes shouldn’t be this pretty, and what kind of trick did Izuku put into the other’s soul to make her fall every time they stared at each other? “It’s not like he’s important or anything like that, you said it yourself: this asshole is cheating on his girlfriend.”

“I’ve never said he got one, I just explained my suspicions based on the latest rumors on the campus. Tell me, are you afraid to be replaced by someone else? If that’s the case, I’m genuinely hurt by you thinking such a thing ....” the shorter woman confessed between two chuckles, punching the other’s shoulder. Her eyes caught the shade of red highlighting the blonde’s skin, making her smile. 

“Stop saying bullshit, and I’m not worried-” Katsuki tried her best to defend herself but both shadows knew it was a lost fight, but they needed to pretend any longer to reach the real point of this conversation. The freckled woman moved closer to the blonde…way too close because there was no more proximity between them, with their shoulders bumping into each other and faces being separated by a few centimeters. 

“You’re jealous,” she gasped, this time leaving no choice to the taller woman to accept their close distance. From here, they were able to feel each other’s breath as their eyes simply stared at each other, trying to read the thoughts behind these mesmerizing irises.

“I am not, and stop making a scene !” Objected the other but failed at her own game when the scarred hand reached the tissue of her pantyhose, ignoring the whispering around them. The roles were supposed to be reversed and now the nerd was the one taking the lead without any warning ?!

“Kacchan, you don't need to be worried about such an insignificant detail,” the freckled woman added with a teasing tone, followed by a genuine smile. “Because we both know no one will ever be able to take your place…you’re too important for me.”

Oh.

This time the realization hits both of them after the sudden confession. This started as an innocent game but caught them off guard when the heart started to mix with the reason. Izuku was too stunned to speak, stepping back and trying to hide the heavy blush on her cheeks, knowing damn well that it was a mutual thing. If she wanted, one gaze and the breathless sight of Katsuki’s cheeks being colored a scarlet color would fill her wildest dreams. Izuku Midoriya was a weak person when it came to love, and wasn’t afraid to break her shield when it was about Katsuki Bakugo.

“Whatever,” mumbled the other with hesitation, trying to calm down the heartbeat being louder than her own breathing near her ears.

 A quick glimpse at the freckled woman indicated how she was enjoying this situation but at least now Katsuki had the confirmation that the nerd was sincerely caring about her…as a friend right? 

——-

The hours passed faster than they expected, as the boring classes and lectures were an unbearable headache for Izuku and Katsuki. If they tried their best to stay focused on the teacher’s voice, the frame of their conversation echoed in their mind. 

The shorter woman tried to control herself, ignoring how her cheeks immediately blushed at the reminder of their sudden proximity. The truth was how her body moved on its own to play with this fire in the crimson eyes, the same one making the naive soul addicted. She glimpsed at her scarred hands, remembering how they went directly into contact with the pantyhose of the blonde! To her knowledge, none were strong enough to be physically close to this shadow everyone selfishly needed…and she let Izuku, a random person, break the boundaries ?!

“Calm down, you’re going to explode, Deku-Kun,” the brunette commented with rolled eyes, trying to make sure the previously heated skin regained its original colors. 

“Let’s say I had better days, but my therapist will know about it,” mumbled the other with a sign, chasing the embarrassing memory. 

Despite using humor as a coping mechanism, Ochako understood how the freckled woman was trying to hide something but she decided to investigate later. For the moment, she needed to focus on the class and the exam at the end of the semester, being the final decision about graduating from university or saying goodbye to their dream. However, a quick glimpse was enough to recognize how her best friend's gaze softened, and decided to focus on the project they were supposed to do at the end of the week.

If this started as a good beginning with their team working seriously in each detail to give the best of themselves, a sudden whisper of daughter Izuku’s attention, forced her to raise her head from the computer and find the familiar shadow standing outside the glass separating the two rooms. From here they were unable to read on their lips, but the more Izuku was staring at the conversation where she wasn’t invited, the more this situation was playing with her nerves!

“Katsuki Bakugo is getting another love confession,” one of their classmates whispered, trying to not distract the rest of their group but it was evident how the decisive answer was more interesting than the actual project. “It’s been a while since someone dared to make the first move, especially since Midoriya and her have been strangely close.”

“Speak lower she could hear us !” Another one replied, taking a quick stare at the familiar figure standing a few meters away, noticing how Izuku was too occupied to stare at each of their movements. It wasn’t a secret that Izuku had never been a good liar concerning her interest in someone, but this constant need to not let the other go became obvious. This situation wasn’t in her favor, but Ochako made sure to catch each expression appearing on her best friend’s face, giving enough hints about how she genuinely felt about this situation. 

From afar, Katsuki’s shadow could be seen crossing her arms and staring at the shaking man who was playing stressfully with his shirt. The judgemental glance slowly changed into curiosity, making the freckled woman’s blood boil and trying her best to hold her jealousy. There was no way someone like Hakito, a random classmate, was about to steal her place and take all the efforts she put into the relationship until now! Izuku was ready to fight to be the only one Kacchan had eyes for, even if this meant showing her jealousy publicly…but it became worse.

The green-haired woman received a few love confessions in the past, offers she declined politely and knew the expression on the man’s face….he was waiting for a final answer. His face was all red, bringing concurrence to the crimson eyes, his hands were using the tissue of his shirt as a way to calm his anxiety while Katsuki simply stared at him with a grin. Oh no…There was no way Kacchan was about to mess up her plan by accepting Hakito’s offer when she deserved better than him!

Izuku’s nail found the tissue of her pants, holding her anger while observing each movement from the blonde. She tried to read inside the crimson eyes but only found amusement as the taller woman walked closer to the shaking figure and whispered her final decision. The entire classroom went silent, wondering if the legend about Katsuki Bakugo being single by choice was just a rumor ...even if the freckled woman was containing her feelings. 

The two shadows standing outside the classroom moved in the same direction, with the man having a stunned face, without expressing any signs of sadness or happiness. At this moment, Izuku started to feel all eyes on her, waiting for a new drama to occupy their lives apparently but she decided to be smarter by pretending nothing happened. 

If this lie luckily worked on the others, Ochako knew how the smaller woman was having a war inside her chest.

—----

The same night, Izuku didn’t find the strength to eat something or even take a slip of her favorite drink. She hated this impression of sadness mixing with anger, thinking she was stupid to project herself into a future with the blonde when Kacchan accepted the love confession. After all, the taller woman explained how she’d be in a relationship when she felt ready and maybe now was the right time…It’s not like it wasn’t hard to get someone like Katsuki Bakugo, who always had everyone at her feet and could choose someone else over the freckled woman.

On the way home, the freckled woman decided to welcome the tears falling down her cheeks, knowing she should move on after the scene she saw earlier, but it would be too hard. How was she supposed to keep pretending not to be hurt when she just saw the love of her life being taken away by some classmate? She bet Hayato didn’t even know that her favorite movie was the bronze-aged one, not the available one but the limited version with the bonus scene. It was obvious how he would never understand the complexity of these beautiful crimson eyes, his fingers would never be enough to paint the portrait of this goddess without highlighting the hidden grin on her lips and the beauty of her golden hair.

Being in love sucks. 

Izuku thought she could have a chance after the multiple attempts she made toward the other, but it has been useless the entire time. It was stupid to assume that Kacchan was interested in women, but the pain inside her chest worsened when she got a text from the heartbreaker. How dare she take news from Izuku when she should have texted her supposed boyfriend who got the happy ending she deserved? Izuku Midoriya wasn’t the kind of person to curse, but she hated the impression of being used by others, and she naively believed that Katsuki would be the exception…. unfortunately, she was doomed to repeat the same endless circle.

The most rational decision was to ignore the message and put herself first, but this might have bigger consequences than answering and pretending she was fine. The shorter woman didn’t need to waste her time after someone who’d never belonged to her, no matter how hard she tried to hold on to the idea of building something serious, even a friendship. Against her will, the freckled woman wiped her tears and turned her phone on, hearing her crumbled heart begging her to stop this pain.

From Kacchan (Love of my life) 

Oi, nerd

Something crazy happened to me

You’ll never believe it 

From Izuku (Future Girlfriend !)

Hey, Kacchan 

Well…Let me guess, someone gave you a confession?

From Kacchan (Love of my life) 

Someone confe- Hold on, how did you know that?

Are you stalking me? 

Because that’s not my thing, keep this for this book took bullshit

From Izuku (Future Girlfriend !)

Very funny but was the only thing people talked about 

You should’ve seen how everyone went silent just to hear a glimpse of your conversation 

They desperately needed tea and you weren't discrete…Seriously, in front of my class?

From Kacchan (Love of my life) 

Wait, what are you talking about?

I had no idea you saw the whole scene….Shit, I’m sorry, I needed a hidden spot.

Are you mad at me?

From Izuku (Future Girlfriend !)

Sure, I bet you’re the most experienced one here.

 I understand, I’ll never be mad at you for such a thing. I just hope he’ll make you happy because you deserve the best. You’ve been discreet about your idea of being in a relationship but I’m glad you feel ready for this next part of your life.

Listen…To be honest I don’t feel in the mood to talk right now. Can we keep this conversation for another time? I had an exhausting day and need a break from all of this.

The three bubbles started to appear on the screen, being now ruined by the salty tears that fell during the previous text. Izuku couldn’t help but feel guilty for being selfish in circumstances where she never has been an option in the first place. Maybe Katsuki Bakugo was just teasing her like the others she put on the victims’s list and the freckled woman was doomed to fall in love with a reality she’ll never have. The emotions in her chest started to invade her entire soul, almost like something was ripped away from this bond the two women formed in the last months. 

Izuku had enough of pretending and grabbed the closest tissue to wipe her tears, observing how her last texts were left on a few minutes ago. Once again, she ruined everything by wanting to play the people-pleaser, without realizing how Katsuki was freaking out on the other side. The crimson eyes went wide at the message’s content, not holding back the heavy blush on her cheeks when she realized that this wasn’t a dream.

Izuku Midoriya was jealous.

This single statement was enough to establish an entire scenario of making the perfect love confession, recreating this one scene the nerd loved from her childhood movie…Katsuki could already see the tears falling down her eyes, the happiness rising inside their chest, and the way they would throw in each other’s arms before shutting the other with a gentle kiss full of promise. A smile draws itself on the blonde’s lips, convincing herself to make this perfect plan in execution and give Izuku the happy ending she deserves!

However, she got an odd impression in her guts…almost like the nerd was mad at her for something she couldn't control. Don’t blame the blonde for having a random love confession coming out of nowhere, giving her the impression of deja vu wondering when she’ll finally accept one. Her eyes widened at the sudden revelation, connecting the dots: Izuku was mad at her because she was already imagining that Katsuki accepted it, and that's why she wished her the best with this extra!

Shit, Katsuki needed to do something before ruining all her efforts to win the other’s heart. There was no way a random guy was about to put everything apart, not when the blonde waited for someone like Izuku her entire life…So, she decided to take her ovaries and make things clear, even if this meant making a one-sided conversation. 

From Kacchan (Love of my life) 

Izuku, it’s not what you think 

I needed some privacy because I couldn’t handle the curious eyes of the crowd around us 

I used to reject people in public and unconsciously humiliate them 

But I realized it was too much and wanted to give them enough dignity 

There’s nothing against you….and I’m sorry if I hurt you

*Seen*

Oh.

Did she do something wrong? Did she use the wrong words to describe her situation? The taller woman should confess the truth over the phone in a call but the nerd deserved more than a shitty memory like that. Izuku needed something majestic, breathtaking just like the natural charm she used to trick the blonde into this addicting love that lead her to do crazy shit she would’ve never done before.  After a few minutes of no answer and hating the “seen” delivery, she wanted to make things clear once and for all…She tried the nice way, but couldn’t imagine the other’s state if her texts were misread. It was her last straw and she refused to let Izuku think she wasn’t worth fighting!

From Kacchan (Love of my life) 

You know I rejected him, right?

I’m not even into men so they can try as much as they want, it’ll be useless….The only one I care about is you.

Plus, you said to yourself earlier how you’ll never give up on me so I think it’s my turn to let you know how I feel.

Listen, I’m bad at this texting shit and I would rather have you on the phone or face-to-face but if you want to get some rest, go for it

I just….I don’t want you to think you know the truth when it’s a part of the story 

Believe me this time, it’s all I’m asking

Goodnight, freckles.

Katsuki sighed, feeling how someone ripped her heart off her chest to put it into crumbles right under her eyes. She wanted to add so much more but knew she wouldn’t force fate if their paths were meant to separate. The worst part was how the blonde hated being so far from the other when a heart-to-heart talk would’ve solved everything. Instead, they were doomed to wait for a sign of an answer behind a shitty screen with their misery….

If the blonde decided to turn her phone off after sending such a risky message, putting the future of their relationship on the line, Izuku was too occupied to stare at the bright screen blinding her eyes. Her bedroom was highlighted by a small lamp she recuperated from her parents’s house during the relocation, revealing the dry tears on her cheeks and a huge blush coloring the form of his freckles.

No, there was no way Katsuki Bakugo, the most popular girl on the campus and the heart to take it, was saying all these sweet things to someone like Izuku Midoriya. She was a nobody in this jungle and couldn’t believe how the blonde considered her feelings on the line, making sure to send a proper answer to correct the situation that seemed realistic. The green-haired woman needed to proceed with all the information she had previously read, playing with her heartbeat that echoed louder than the background noises of the town being awake at this hour.

Katsuki rejected him? It wasn’t a big surprise, knowing how most of the people having enough strength to confess were men, sealing beautiful promises with their pretty lies, just to have the blonde as a trophy.  Some were genuinely calm and shy, accepting the rejection and thanking the taller woman for being honest, while others tended to ridicule themselves by making a public scene. This might justify why Katsuki needed some privacy but the craziest part was the other lines.

Kacchan wasn’t straight and this imply many scenarios, but all of them lead to a potential ending where Izuku could have her chance to make the most unforgettable confession of all time. This revelation succeeded in melting her heart, letting a genuine smile appear on her lips when she decided to read the text following the life-changing truth. 

“The only one I care about is you,” she said. At this moment, many thoughts crossed her mind, jumping into multiple scenarios as all her worries faded away, being now erased by the overwhelming joy filling her chest and driving her into the impression of having a fever dream. She dreamed of this scene many times since her eyes met the crimson ones, and it felt ethereal…After all, maybe Izuku deserved the right to write her happy ending if she authorized herself to fall into the unknown.

The freckled woman started to feel bad for falling for her overthinking, leading the uncomfortable atmosphere to be reflected in their conversation. She couldn't deserve to let the taller woman think she was the one to blame when it was all a misunderstanding solved in a few minutes., Izuku wanted to have enough strength to take the phone and press the call button but it was too early, not when she could tear up of relief at any moment.

From Izuku (Future Girlfriend !)

I’m sorry Kacchan, things have been rough for me lately, and I tried to not hurt anyone in the process…seemed like I failed.

It was none of my intention to let you think you were the problem, especially when I’m the one creating insecurities where it’s all in my head.

I’m grateful for your honesty, but can I ask you a personal question?

Katsuki’s phone revealed the new notifications, the one the blonde waited for endless minutes before reading the words carefully. A part of her was glad to see how the nerd was still awake to hear her apology, even if she wished to physically hug her and the shoulder to cry on.

From Kacchan (Love of my life) 

You shouldn’t apologize for something you can’t control, especially the voice in your head. 

And we both know you can ask me anything, it’ll never bother me,

Did I tell you how your curiosity was one of your charms?

Izuku’s face turned softer before making a slight smile. If Katsuki liked this aspect of her personality, she needed to show it more often…

From Izuku (Future Girlfriend !)

Are you…sincere about your feelings about this situation? I tend to be selfish for the people I care about and I never thought you’ll be one of them. Until now, you’ve always been this unreachable shadow in my life, that’s why I don’t want to break everything we built until now.

I also have to confess how I’m standing on both sides of you see what I mean….

Oh.

It was reasonable to think about the reputation preceding the blonde, being known for being a heartbreaker and being unreachable as the nerd explained herself. Don’t get her wrong, the taller woman was conscious about that but still, she didn’t expect to know so much about Izuku’s preference.  A blush rose on her cheeks, feeling her heart beating faster as her eyes read the same words all over again. This indication was enough to give all the hints she needed to take her chance but her fingers unconsciously typed the next question on her keyboard without thinking about the consequences.

From Kacchan (Love of my life) 

Oh, there’s no reason to doubt how I care about you and our friendship because I’ve been honest all along. Tell me, do you…feel ready to date a woman? Have you ever been in this kind of relationship before? Because I would’ve never guessed Izuku Midoriya, the shadow in the background, was an ally….Thanks for trusting me with this.

From Izuku (Future Girlfriend !)

I think I’ve had someone in mind for a long time, and I want her to be my first experience. As stupid as it seems, this person is important to me and I’m projecting a real future together.  

She’s one of the most impressive and inspiring people I’ve ever met and I have no doubts about how hard it's hard to hold myself when she’s here. 

We recently became closer and every time I see her in lectures, my heart misses a beat because she’s all I ever dreamed of. 

Oh.

All the previous hope Katsuki had about being the one by the freckled woman’s side faded away when she realized how it was one-sided. Izuku cared about their relationship in a platonic way, and all this bullshit about caring about each other was destined for friends. The blonde held her pain a little longer and whispered she never asked such a personal question now she knew it was a lost cause. From now on, she was doomed to be the friend watching her happiness disappear…being taken by someone else. 

From Kacchan (Love of my life) 

This person must be the lucky one then 

I hope you’ll find your happiness with her

It’s getting late and I should get some rest for tomorrow, Aizawa insisted on moving last week’s class to tomorrow….Which means he fucked up my sleep schedule 

Izuku sensed how something was off with the way Katsuki texted her. It was strange how the blonde suddenly distanced herself and used the argument of Aizawa’s class when this was planned for the next week…

From Izuku (Future Girlfriend !)

I understand he’s deflated seriously about not missing one of his lessons, especially with the precise questions at the end of the semester.

Take care of yourself and see you tomorrow, still at the same place?

I do think we owned this part of the campus tho 

The answer came a few minutes later, raising the vigilance alert for the freckled plan who hated this distance between them. She needed to check by herself as soon as possible what turned the open-hearted blonde away from this heart-to-heart conversation and Izuku’s confession.

From Kacchan (Love of my life) 

Maybe you’re right,

Goodnight freckles, see you tomorrow 

Izuku disliked the cold gone, residing behind the specific choice of words on the other side. Her fingers slowly typed the following message with the hope of changing the nature of their relationship, even if it was a confession to herself. 

From Izuku (Future Girlfriend !)

*unsent message*

Hey, don’t you dare compare yourself to the others when I love you more than anything Kacchan?

I’ve been waiting for someone to make me feel like that for years and you lightened my world.

I’m sorry for being such a mess with my feelings, I’m trying to do my best to make things right to be worthy of your love. Your choosing me is already a blessing to my heart and I’m grateful for everything you offered me. I love you, I love you so much it’s killing me from the inside to not say these words out loud but I have no choice when I don’t even know if this is a mutual feeling. Please, don’t fall in love with someone else, you’re all I ever wanted.

*message delivered at 11:30 pm*

*message only available by the user*

*message deleted 11:31 pm in the chat*

Izuku knew it was a mistake to send a risky text, that’s why this broken confession would only be a blurry memory of her past. She was ready to take this secret to the grave if this meant not embarrassing herself. 

From Kacchan (Love of my life) 

*unsent message*

Fuck, I’m sorry for bringing you into this mess because you deserve a good first experience and I’ll never be enough for your love. You’re all I’ve ever wanted and still…reaching you feels wrong. The only thing I can do is bring shame and hurt my loved ones, and my goal was only to protect you.

Tonight I failed and I wished I had taken the phone and expressed my truths about how I love you. I love you more than I love myself and I’m ready to cherish each of your flaws because they’re strength in my eyes. I love you for enjoying life in the slightest aspects and how your eyes shine brighter than any midnight sky when you’re passionate about something.

I love you so freaking much, Izuku Midoriya, and I wish you were mine but you're destined for someone else. 

*message delivered at 11:35 pm*

*message only available by the user*

*message deleted 11:36 pm in the chat*

That night the two women slept with a bittersweet taste of their conversation, wishing to fix things more healthily than letting their overthinking win this fight.