Chapter Text
“I’m sorry, Uraraka, but I think it’s best we end things here.”
The world had suddenly gone muted as Izuku’s words—eternally laced with care—pierced what felt like Ochako’s very soul. Actions spoke louder than words, however, which was more than apparent as he stood as far from her as he could in her tiny dorm room. Her tears were quick to the scene, already trailing down her face in heavy drops as her gaze fell to the floor. The silence spread a thickness in the air she couldn’t quite describe. Her chest felt heavy, like gravity itself had begun to increase until it dragged her into the ground.
She almost wished she hadn’t seen this coming, but Ochako knew better. Izuku had been pulling away for months, inexplicably. While she hadn’t the slightest clue why, she knew something had changed. He wouldn’t sit next to her at their lunch table, his hugs were growing more rigid, and the sparkle in his eye that used to shine with fervor in her presence had dulled akin to a faulty lightbulb. He never liked to speak his true feelings, but they were on full display through his features whether he liked it or not. Izuku was an open book, especially to Ochako. She liked to believe she had the badge of honor of being Izuku’s closest friend, aside from perhaps Bakugou (although if Bakugou were to read her mind at the moment, she’s unsure if he would laugh right in her face or send her flying). She’s not so sure anymore. He felt like a stranger.
“A-ah.” The sound choked its way from her throat as her arms came up to hug herself, the only comfort she’d be receiving at the moment. At least he had done her the honor of doing it in her dorm room, where no one else could see and she could kick him out as soon as she had received her closure, if that were even possible. An ugly sniffle waffled from her nose, sending an undignified trail of snot down her face. Thankfully, Ochako could afford a few more luxury items over her time at UA—that is, if you consider tissues to be a luxury. They were the good quality as well, not the kind that turned your nose red and raw. Ochako was certainly thankful she had made the purchase as she reached over for a handful of them. She blew into it like a fog horn, slowly unraveling in her sadness as it slowly formed into a much uglier emotion.
“Was it really that bad being with me?” Her voice wavered as she looked back towards him, her fingers slowly curling into the meat of her palm as if it were a stress toy. “I just- I just wish we could’ve talked more about this.” She haphazardly shoved her tissues into her pajama pants—which, of course, were Izuku’s—before wrapping herself into a tighter embrace, analyzing him as he had with so many of his classmates. Izuku was always a complicated puzzle, even to his closest friends. She thought she had been able to figure him out and put the pieces back where they were supposed to, but perhaps she had just made everything worse. His brows knitted together on his face, concern weaving its way into each of his features as he took a small step forward.
“No, that’s not it at all, I promise.” His arms were held out, but his hands were flexed as if he was still scared of being too close to her. She waited for him to continue, but the only response she got was silence. She marched on.
“Then why? What was it? What happened between us?” Ochako’s mind scanned through the moments before this repeatedly, desperate for an answer. She should’ve texted him more. She was always bad at responding to his goodmorning texts, which had been notably absent as of late. She picked out the movies they watched too often, perhaps he felt like she wasn’t considering his needs. She was a bad girlfriend. This was her punishment.
“It’s… complicated. I’m really sorry Uraraka, it’s hard for me to describe.” Hearing her family name come from him shot another devastating blow to her very being. She had to fight the nausea in her stomach as she stumbled over to sit on her bed for stability. She began to feel queasy, but it was nothing like she was used to because of her quirk. This nausea filled her whole body, like at any moment, her heart would just come flying from her throat.
“I want to understand.” Bitterness laced her whisper as she glared up at him, a small sniffle escaping her as she clutched at the sheets beneath her. “At least let me try to understand. Please, Izuku.” Her breath caught in her throat as she did her best to calm herself down. She would *not* begin to full-blown sob before him, that’s for certain. After nearly a year and a half, he owed her an explanation for this rocky ending. Most of it was good, really good. They had shared each other’s first kiss, first time, even inklings of a planned future where they could debut as sidekicks at neighboring agencies.
But he was running away, just as he had during their first year. Should she insist that they should try again? The bed dipped, albeit a good half-foot away from where she was sat, before feeling the familiarity of his nice, strong hand on her inner shoulder. Her head immediately snapped up towards him, drinking him in as if it were the last time she could.
“I… I think- No, I uh-…” For once in his life, Izuku Midoriya was speechless. He refused to look at her, tugging at his bottom lip like he usually does when he’s forced to think beyond his typical train of thought. She'd find it endearing if this were any other time in any other circumstance. Instead, annoyance was poking and prodding at her, desperately waiting for him to sort it out in his head so she could finally work on whatever he needed to say. His hand left her shoulder, taking his warmth with it.
“I’m not sure if my feelings are the same as yours. I don’t know. I just don’t want to take you down with me. You deserve the best, Uraraka. I can’t be that for you anymore.” His voice lacked the usual confident charm he usually carried with him, now sounding rather empty. She could feel everything in her body halt momentarily as she took in his words. Bile rose in her throat, but she swallowed it back down with a practiced ease. Suddenly, she didn’t want to take him in at all, glaring at a poster that sat on the opposite wall as she made an effort to get as far away from him on the bed as possible. Ochako couldn’t help but fall down the rabbit hole of questions that would only lead to harsh answers she didn’t want to know. How long had he felt this way? Had he always felt like this about her? Did he date her out of pity?
She knew one thing for certain: This couldn’t be fixed. Hell, they both knew that.
“Well, if that’s the case, then maybe- maybe it is f-for the best.” Her voice cracked and crackled like dying embers as she spoke, desperately holding herself together for just a few more seconds. She wasn’t sure how long it’d last. “Y-You can go now, then.” A small gasp left Izuku’s lips at her words, and she could sense him reaching out to touch her once more. She spun her torso fully away from him as she sprung up from her bed, the dam finally breaking. She made a desperate attempt to stop it, covering her face frantically with her hands. Goodness, she wished she could just stop trembling.
“P-please leave!” Her breathy cry made her sound so small, but Izuku didn’t fight her on it anymore, hanging his head low towards his chest as his lips sealed a thin line against his face. She could hear his footsteps—however quiet they may be—as they slowly stalked towards her door. A small creak could be heard before the gentle bang of the door closing, which signified it was all finally over. Ochako fell to her knees on her rug as she allowed her sobs to, at last, take over her body. She curled up in the world’s tiniest ball as she fell to her side, her shoulders jutted up and down with every gasping breath that rushed from her mouth. Ochako had never felt such heartbreak, this felt so different than the anxieties and dangers of being a hero. It was life or death in those moments, yet she could handle it with a well-practiced ease. She thought she had a better handle on her more vulnerable side, but this felt world-ending. Her life would forever be changed after this moment.
She could only assume it was for the worst.
She was not sure how long she had been left to herself, but eventually, a swift knock interrupted her pity party. Ochako didn’t have the energy to get up or answer. Thankfully, she didn’t need to as a familiar, friendly voice snuck through the cracks.
“Ochako? It’s Tsu, Mina’s with me too. Midoriya told us to come to check on you.” ‘Of course he did.’ She couldn’t help but feel bitter about it. Even after breaking her heart, he still thought of her.
“Are you okay? You sound like you’re crying, kero.” A pinch of relief snuck its way into her heart and motivated her to get up. Her legs wobbled like a newborn fawn as she approached the door, cracking it open as if she were checking for villains. Sure enough, it was indeed Tsu and Mina, both looking mighty concerned. She could also see through the small crack that Tsu had some of Ochako’s favorite mochi tucked towards her chest while Mina had some strawberry milk in her grasp. Her friends knew her so well that it made her sobbing grow louder. Everything began to blur together as Ochako ushered her friends inside, and somehow, the three girls had ended up sitting against her bed, each girl on either side of Ochako in a love sandwich.
They gave her all the time she needed to cry it out, Mina making sure to completely envelop her left arm in a dedicated hug while Tsu merely rested her head against her right shoulder, hands delicately wrapped around Ochako’s. Once Ochako’s sadness had reduced to numb sniffles, Mina was on the prowl for some answers.
“So…” Before Mina even started, Tsu gave her a wary look, but either she didn’t see her or flat-out ignored her as she continued. “I’m guessing you and Midoriya are done-zo, huh?” Tsu’s gaze narrowed at her pink friend before letting out a small sigh as she shook her head in disapproval. Ochako didn’t seem to mind the question, or rather, she had already gotten the sadness out of her system enough to give her a clear “Yep, we broke up.”
“You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to, Ochako.” Her amphibian friend quickly hopped in after she spoke, giving Ochako’s hand a small yet comforting squeeze. “Whatever will help you during this time.” Her flat delivery had become something Ochako had grown not only fond of but used to as she and Tsu had become closer friends. She could even read her friend’s slight but very-much-there tells about her true feelings, so it warmed her heart to see her here, supporting Ochako without any explanation. Meanwhile, Mina was practically vibrating as she watched the two of them talk.
“Yeah, girl, so if you need to get anything off your chest, feel free… Or don’t, whatever works for you. We promise it’s okay.” The curious lilt was not lost on Ochako, giving a tiny laugh at her friend’s antics. Even during some of her lowest points, her friends would always be there for her. Maybe her life wouldn’t suck after all. There might be hope.
“Thanks, guys. I love you both so much.” Ochako’s eyes began to prick again with tears, gliding down her face like rain on a window pane. Tsu reached a tender hand up towards her cheek, wiping her face with her fingers before wiping them off on the worn cotton of her shirt. Eventually, Mina was the one who cracked open the snacks they had gotten Ochako, and the trio shared the chewy sweets as Tsu put on one of Ochako’s favorite movies from when she was little. Before long, the girls were laughing and singing along as if nothing was wrong. She forgot about the heartbreak briefly, and because of her friends, she could get some sleep that night. It was dreamless and left her a little more tired than where she started, but it was sleep nonetheless.
Getting ready for school was a different beast entirely. The reality of her situation was finally beginning to settle in as she realized she would have to see him again, and again, and again. Their third year had barely started a week ago. How was Ochako supposed to navigate the rest of the year around him? It was hard for her to drag her body out of bed, even with her quirk. She nearly left her room with her skirt on inside out. The last time she had made a mistake like that was back in her first year. It had been him, of all people, to point it out to her. She can still remember the distinct burning sensation on her cheeks as she practically lept for the stairs, a cloud of embarrassment hovering over her in the days after. He had reassured her that it was okay and that he did it way more often than he’d like to admit. They shared a laugh, bonded, and built stronger relationships as classmates, fellow heroes, and, most importantly, friends. Is that silly? Had she been valuing that moment way more than she should’ve? Did he even remember that day?
Somehow, she ended up in her desk chair a mere 30 seconds before the bell. She wasn’t blind to the dip in energy once she entered the class. Gazes kept flickering between her and Midoriya like they were exhibits in a zoo. She supposed it was odd to the typical outsider. They would typically walk in together with at least ten minutes to spare. Now, here she was, barely on time, with her hair a little messier than usual. Were people already connecting the dots? Did they know before she did, and they were waiting for it to finally end? It felt like everyone was looking at her, which only made her wish she stayed in bed more.
Fortunately for her, sitting in the back had its advantages. For one, Mr. Aizawa was more than ready to call out any excessive starers (looking at you, Kaminari) by lassoing them with his capture scarf and giving a sensible tug. However, the immediate downside was that Midoriya would always be in her field of vision. She never realized how much of a staring problem she had until she didn’t want to look at him. She kept her eyes on her notes, but everything Mr. Aizawa said went in one ear and out the other. She had been rendered utterly useless— because a boy! Goodness, her mother would be disappointed.
… Oh God, her mother will be absolutely crushed at the news. She loved Midoriya like he was her own; this would break her heart. Just another thing to add to the pile of shitty-things-that-are-happening-to-Ochako.
Like a sloth, lunch eventually moseyed its way into her day. What she had once been looking forward to was immediately ruined once she realized she had nowhere to go. Her typical table harbored the very man she was trying to avoid. She stood at the edge of the cafeteria as if she had never stepped foot into the room, drifting like a piece of bark as she scanned for any other option. Perhaps Kendo and Monoma wouldn’t mind her company, but could she really stand sitting with Monoma? Especially right now. He’d probably revel in her sadness.
“Hey, Ocha!” Familiar pink hands landed on her shoulders, giving a comforting squeeze before gently turning her towards another table. Mina tucked herself against Ochako’s back, leaning in a bit so she could whisper in her ear. “I figured you would wanna sit somewhere else, so our table’s open to you so long as you don’t mind Bakugou giving ya’ the stink eye. He’s usually not too keen on outsiders, but he’ll just have to deal.” At the mention of the explosive blonde, Ochako finally brought her gaze over to Mina’s table. Besides the aforementioned, there was Sero, Kaminari, Jirou, Kirishima, and to Ochako’s shock, Ojiro and Hagakure. They looked engaged in lively conversation, specifically Hagakure and Kaminari. Each of them had a friendly grasp on Ojiro as they talked over the poor guy, who was trying to eat his meal in peace. The energy at the table seemed light-hearted, and God knows she needed that. Even though this was an infinitely better option, she still had doubts.
“Do they… know about Midoriya and me?” She turned her head as she whispered back to Mina. Her cheerful expression faltered a bit as she loosened her grip on Ochako so she could stand more at her side instead of behind her. “Well, I told Kirishima… but I made him promise not to tell anyone, including Mr. Explodey Pants.” Her voice rose slightly as she jumped to her own defense, waggling a finger in her face before continuing. “But people are gonna wonder why you’re not sitting with Tsu and the others. It’s only a matter of time.” She sounded genuinely upset at that, eyes locked in on her usual table for a moment before snapping back to Ochako. “It’s your choice, girl. Like we said, whatever helps ya out.”
Whatever helps her out? If Ochako could get ‘whatever helps her out’, she’d be in her room, sobbing while rewatching When Harry Met Sally six times in a row while plowing through the rest of the mochi her friends got her last night. However, she was training to be a hero. She wanted to be a disciplined, selfless hero, and in order to push toward her dream, she couldn’t let something like this get her down, as soul-crushing as it was. She made sure to take in a deep breath, steeling her nerves before giving Mina a sharp nod. Her face lit up like a Christmas tree, and before Ochako could change her mind, Mina locked her arms onto hers and practically dragged her towards the Lion’s Den.
She could only pray that this was the right choice.