Chapter Text
Izuku Midoriya was a hero.
That much was clear. The symbol of peace, inheritor of One for All, the successor to All Might himself, only faster and stronger. His punch created tornadoes overseas; his drive inspiring thousands across Japan in its darkest hour. He was the hero who defeated All for One, as a mere high schooler.
Many could trace his rise to heroism back to his quirkless, middle-school self. It was shocking, going from a scrawny 14-year-old to a well-known hero in just four years, doubters turned to fans all in between.
Izuku often found himself reflecting, feeling almost nostalgic, remembering the fledgling days of his journey to the top, his true first experiences with heroism. He even missed them at times, those early days before the League of Villains, pure innocent excitement running up to the blue towers of UA. Now, he called it home.
He had fought hard to protect his home, and everyone in it, even if it meant sacrificing his quirk.
So, yes, Izuku Midoriya was a hero.
Yet, sitting among the next generation of heroes—his classmates, those who had witnessed their teachers fall, who had fought the League of Villains with a determination that matched his own—surely he’d feel like one of them, a hero through and through.
"C'mon, dude, it's your turn!"
He definitely wasn’t feeling like a hero right now.
Eyes snapping back into focus, Izuku sat up straight, his bewildered expression meeting the watchful eyes on him. He scanned the room, momentarily forgetting that he didn’t need Danger Sense in this situation, though his mind still buzzed with a hint of anticipation.
"Ah, sorry. Is it?" he'd say in a sputter, his cloudy vision clearing as he met the faces observing him so intently.
Oh, right.
"Yeah, man, if we want to get to the good stuff, we gotta get the lame-o’s out of the way." Mineta’s nasally, self-absorbed remark echoed through the room, met with a few huffs of disapproval, a chuckle from Denki, and a flick to the ear from Kirishima.
"Mineta! If we are to play this game, we must ensure everyone has a good time! Enough with the teasing!" Booming, Tenya’s voice was followed by approving hums from Shoto and Yaoyorozu.
Izuku met the class rep's eyes, still a bit lost, as if he were regaining consciousness after speaking with the vestiges. He noticed Tenya’s stern gaze soften before he spoke.
"Izuku, you seem uncomfortable. You don’t have to join in if you don’t want to," he said, professional as ever, it added a touch of comfort to the situation. For a moment, Izuku considered it; maybe he was too tired to be entertaining right now, his eyes glazed and droopy.
"Yeah, mayb—"
"Aww, come on, Deku! It’ll be fun!"
Ah, that’s why I zoned out.
Ochako Uraraka.
She had always been an outlier in the equations within Izuku Midoriya. Always curious about just how she managed to always be there, her gravitational pull sending him into orbit.
That night on the cliffside, he had held her close, his unwavering emotions exploding through his heart, yet he was unsure of how to ease her pain.
He was always unsure with her.
Too friendly to be a rival, yet as competitive as anyone. At the 2nd-year sports festival, they faced off in the finals. Izuku, admittedly overconfident, was left in the dust—she defeated him in what might have been the fastest final in UA history, a whirlwind of graceful skill, like a tornado of flower petals. He couldn't be mad.
Too caring to be just a friend, yet their bond was far more than friendly. He’d only seen her cry three times, and each time, he had wanted nothing more than to help, growing closer with every salty droplet.
Too passionate to be anything more, yet maybe that’s what she wanted. He knew she thought highly of him, and he felt the same way, but he always wondered what she and Himiko Toga had discussed during their fight. Izuku had grown, no longer as naive as before, noticing she acted a bit differently around him. Yet he could never quite put his finger on why.
Maybe he hadn’t grown that much.
Tonight, the class was camped out in the living room, bundled up in cozy sleeping bags around the TV, backs resting against the bottom of couches, bottoms on hardwood floor. Their dormitories were under maintenance, so they’d decided to have a big slumber party, with Aizawa’s approval of course. To some, it was a chance to reconnect with those they’d grown up with, sweet and endearing.
Izuku would spot Tsu and Uraraka sharing a sleeping bag, watching a show on Tsu’s phone, sharing a set of earplugs. He saw Shoto and Tenya sitting across from each other with tea in hand, solemnly discussing their families.
To others, it was truly a slumber party. Ashido and Hagakure would prank the boys, with Kaminari and Sero would retaliate.
And then, of course, there were those who preferred solitude yet craved connection. Shinsou would always set himself up on the farthest couch but lay on his side to watch the festivities.
It was nice, really. The class was like a tightly woven family, bound by fate and the experiences that followed, more than three years of hardship, promise, and accomplishment.
Which brought him to now. Sitting there, eyes half-lidded, his classmates watching him from within a circle, around a glass bottle.
".. Deku? It’s not that late, is it?"
The voice of his friend jolted him back to reality. Oh man, I have to stop doing that, he thought, pulling himself out from another dream state. He turned to face whoever had called his name, and, of course, it was her. Eyelids letting go of their weight as they flung upward.
"Ah! Don’t—don’t worry about me! I’m not tired, let’s play!" He looked away from her bashfully, trying not to be captivated by her chocolate-brown eyes. He faced the bottle in the center of the circle, feeling warmth creeping onto his freckled cheeks.
That’s right; we’re playing Spin the Bottle.
Izuku reached over and gave the bottle a firm spin. His hearing would return as the class hooted in excitement, watching it intently as it revolved in the center of their circle. Their hopeful eyes tracked its movements, each secretly wishing it would land on them.
The bottle spun a little too long for his liking, and he frowned slightly. He, too, was curious to see where it would land. His eyelids felt heavy again. Maybe it was getting late.
Earlier, the suggestion for the game had sparked much debate. As soon as Aizawa left, the class erupted with suggestions.
“Oh! How about a Mario Kart tournament?!” Kirishima exclaimed. “I’ve been practicing!”
Izuku had been interested, setting his sleeping bag in his usual spot beside Tenya and Shoto.
“LIKE HELL, SHITTY HAIR! THAT GAME SUCKS.”
Izuku winced as Bakugo’s voice boomed.
He chuckled, Ka-chan was never good at that game.
The class would idly toss out ideas, all met with mixed reactions. A couple ‘oh yea’s’ rivaled by a few more ‘nah’s’, they cycled between games like tabletops, chess, reading (Thanks Yaomomo.), and even sneaking out for the arcade (Not happening, Sero).
Although, it didn’t surprise Izuku, a common occurrence really, but he couldn’t help but smile at the antics, curious to what the class would decide.
“I have an idea!” Kaminari would speak up, lifting up his knapsack, it clinked concerningly. Momo and Tenya exchanged knowing, concerned glances, both stepping up to speak against whatever he was about to suggest, only to be met with Denki’s halting finger.
“No no, it’s not what you think it is!” He said hurriedly, as to not be shut down immediately.
Izuku, now curious to see what he has in store, peeked over the class reps shoulder. Watching as Denki retrieved the very empty wine bottle out of his pillowcase, a knowing glint washing over everybody's eyes, well, all except Izukus, who looked a little puzzled.
“Let’s play… Spin the Bottle,” Chargebolt announced proudly.
To Izuku’s surprise, no one objected. Even Tenya and Yaoyorozu had agreed, Momo echoing the fact that; “We’re adults; we can be civil.” Tenya nodding in agreement, declaring, “It will strengthen our class bond!”
And so it was decided, later that night, they would play Spin the Bottle.
....
Wait.
“Um, how do you play Spin the Bottle?”
“WHAT?!”
It was only much later, until the class began to set up the game, that Izuku actually managed to mutter it out, his embarrassment ripening at the class's exclamation.
Sure, He’d heard of the game before at Aldera, the popular kids always regarded it as a mature activity, its possibilities boundless, well, as boundless as a 13 year old's imagination.
"I know how to play, but, um… could we go over the rules?"
He didn't, but he had to save face.
Ashido had practically tackled him with excitement, much to Izuku's surprise and concern. She promised him some “action.” Izuku’s cheeks flaring up at the thought, what did she mean, action?
It was only until Ochako chimed in that he figured things out, and, embarrassingly so, the game was easy to follow.
“Sometimes, people ask for truth or dare, sometimes only dares, and sometimes…” She counted on her fingers, small lights glowing at her fingertips as her gravity pads clashed, he found it entrancing.
“They just have to kiss!”
WAIT.
Kiss???!!
As the word left her mouth, Izuku’s world shifted and slowed, each syllable leaving her lips with an explosion of emotion. The way she looked at him when she said it was almost too much to handle. Thankfully, the class saw his sudden flurry of redness as a byproduct of realizing the implications of such a game, and not as something more. Izuku would hunch onto the floor and hide his face. Ochako’s adorable giggle reverberated through his eardrums as she reveled in his reaction.
“Don’t worry, Midoriya! We’re just doing dares,” someone had reassured him, Jirou maybe? Tsu? All he could think about was Ochako.
Now, as the bottle spun, he managed to catch himself from dozing off again, shaking his head to rid the sleepies. He chanced a glance at Uraraka, who sat across the circle. Looking through the green locks covering his face, his eye widening at the sight; she was looking at him too.
He flung his head back to the bottle, feeling his heart race as he caught her soft laugh. A small smile crept onto his face.
The bottle continued to spin.
And spin and spin and spin.
“How hard did you fucking spin the thing?” Katsuki’s anger clearly a shared sentiment amongst the other students.
It continued to spin.
Finally, it slowed, as if contemplating which of the 20 teens around the circle it wanted to choose, each revolution seeming like it may be its last, only to go on for another round.
Finally, finally . It stopped. Landing on…
“Yaoyorozu!”
The girls squealed, and some of the boys cheered for Izuku, eyebrows raised suggestively. Izuku’s faltered, his heart skipping a beat before remembering that they weren’t playing the version where they ‘just kissed’. The thought was enough to send a blushing shiver raging through his spine. He gave Momo a puzzled look, to which she responded with a shy smile, waiting for his dare.
“Well, c’mon, Midoriya! Give her a good one!” Hagakure exclaimed.
Izuku stammered, looking to Uraraka for help, though she seemed to be enjoying teasing Momo as well. He had to tear his eyes away from her ethereal beauty, laughing along with her friends, only briefly meeting his eyes before he looked away again, bashful blush creeping his cheeks.
Clearing his throat, he addressed Yaoyorozu with feigned confidence. “Yaoyorozu, I dare you to…”
The room went silent in anticipation, Momo bracing herself with a brazen look, sweat beading on her forehead. Izuku could feel all their excitement, hoping not to disappoint, his mind racing through any idea he could exclaim, wondering about the parameters of what would make a dare enjoyable or not. However, he's left squirming, this wasn't a battlefield, and he didn't need a battle strategy.
The room falls to a hush in anticipation, Izuku’s eyes meet his classmates, Denki is looks on with hope, hands clasped together, while Shoto sits back with a raised brow.
...
“I dare you to sing your favorite song!”
...
Wow.
It’s like someone had just deflated a balloon. The class grew noisy with rampant murmurs of disapproval.
“Aw, dude, that’s such a lame one,” Mineta mumbled, and even Kirishima couldn’t help but nod.
Yaoyorozu, pleased as ever, happily sat up straight and cleared her throat, thankful that Midoriya was the one daring her tonight. Praying to the gods above that it wasn’t someone like Kaminari, who knew what he’d make her do.
He can't help but feel a flush of embarrassment wash over him as the class groans at Momo’s chirping as she begins to sing a semi-modern pop-song, a little outdated, but still catchy. Momo had a nice voice, so it was easy for Izuku to zone her out, occupied with absorbing the brunt of the classes disappointment. They boy deflated in a sigh of relief and annoyance, happy the spotlight was off him, yet saddened by the fact that he just seemed terrible at this sort of game.
Sliding a hand across his face, he grumbles quietly as he watches Momo sing her heart out, nodding his head to her catchy tune.
Man, that was awful
“Don’t worry about it, Izuku.” Ears perking, he looked over his shoulder to Shoto, who offered him a comforting gaze, although, he didn’t say much after.
Izuku hums, acknowledging the boys attempt at comforting him, still reeling from dejection.
Shoto shifts slightly in his seat, his eyes flickering over the classmates, still cheering for Momo’s surprisingly energetic performance. He leans a little closer to Izuku.
“You know,” he starts, his voice barely above a murmur, “I never really understood these kinds of things… games, I mean.” Shoto’s brow furrows in thought. “It’s strange—to see everyone so happy over others' embarrassment.” He stares deeply at Yaoyorozu, who's still smiling bashfully, “And yet the person in question is happy too.”
Izuku gives him a sympathetic smile, glad to have found at least someone else who was just as floundered as him. “I get that. For a long time, I didn’t think I could really join in, either. It felt like I was on the outside looking in.”
Shoto nods, glancing back at Midoriya. “It wasn’t something we did at home. Everything felt… very planned. I never realized games could be like this.”
He chuckles quietly, trying not to disturb Momo’s applause. “Yeah, they’re just for fun, really. But if you ever feel lost, don’t worry—I’m still learning, too.”
Shoto smirks, “Oh yeah, I think everyone knows that.”
The jab, although lighthearted, strikes Izuku in the gut, bowling over in an exaggerated gasp, “Low blow, Shoto!” He exclaims with a smile.
Seems like Shoto’s way of easing him into the game worked.
“But you should listen to your own advice, if it is all just for fun, you should enjoy it.”
With a sigh, Izuku sits back as Momo finally finishes up, processing what his friend had just told him, a little more lax than before. He scans the room, putting Shoto’s words to the test, in fact, he was right, everyone was smiling, laughing or cheering, the worries of Izuku’s somewhat lame proposal diminished by the entertainment, it made him feel a little better.
His eyes trained onto Ochako, who was cheering and singing along. She was so flawless in whatever she did, her striking tenacity and adorable sweetness a combination built to break Izuku Midoriya down, with pursed lips, he wondered what she thought of his dare.
“I guess you’re right, though.” He finally spoke in a sigh.
Still, it'd help to know what I'm doing.
“But be careful.” Shoto speaks again, pulling Izuku out of his trance.
“Hm?”
“You’ve got a target on your back now, Ashido, she’s been staring at you.”
A tingling shiver crawls up the boy's spine, carefully turning to see if what Shoto was saying was true, and, to his absolute dismay, it was.
Mina Ashido, sitting next to Momo, claps regally for her singing friend as she stares at Midoriya, her Cheshire cat smile plastered on her face ear to ear, her dark eyes glinting with mischief.
Izuku, now scared for his life, looks back at Shoto, who looks back at him with similar bewilderment.
Oh, that's not good.
“Now! I suppose it's my turn to spin?” Momo chirps up, the singing seeming to have put her in an exceptionally good mood, Izuku looks back as she reaches for the groups centerpiece.
“Oh-kay Yaomomo!” Ashido flings her eyes off Izuku and turns to her friend, “But don’t pull any punches, okay?” She says with swagger, staring at the green haired boy across from her as she does.
Yeah, she definitely had a target on him.
“Um- I’ll be back, I need to go to the bathroom.” Izuku speaks up as Momo lets the bottle fly. Standing from his seat, he looks around the circle of confused faces as he makes a beeline out of there, maybe if he waited long enough, Ashido would forget about him- but as he finds her dark eyes, he sees nothing but maniacal mischief.
With taps of his feet, Izuku finds himself standing in front of the boys bathroom, back against the wall to still hear the commotion going on in the common room, replaying Shoto’s words in his head.
You should listen to your own advice.
Why was something as simple as a party game causing him so much trouble? Izuku ruffles his hair frustratingly, annoyed that such a simple game was letting him get so riled, why was he being such a wimp?
He walks into the bathroom, only to walk back out again. He didn’t actually need to go, but he wanted to make sure that he looked like he went, just in case anybody else found him there.
Izuku paces in and out, finger to his chin in a murmur. Half of his mind is trying to come up with new dares he could use should he be chosen again, and the other shooting each idea down, too risky, too weird, or too boring. God! Why aren't I good at this? He silently curses himself for having such a lame upbringing.
Okay, next time, I should ask them to... talk about their favorite hero! No- that's even lamer than the last one. Hmm. How about, prank calling Togata- No! What if he's on a mission right now? Umm... What ab-
“Deku? You okay there?”
Of course, the world really wanted him to face his fears today.
With a jolt, he flicks his head out of his hands to face Ochako, standing idly across the hallway, a look of concerned amusement, surely having heard his tangent aloud.
“Ah! Urakara- I mean, Uraraka!” He face-palms clumsily at the stumble of his words, blushing furiously as he hears the girl giggle.
“I’m fine! I just..”
He takes a look at her again, his eyes somewhat downcast. She wore her signature Saturn pajamas, the same ones he’d seen her wear whenever they would run into each other in the depths of the night. She’d definitely grown since then, her tired, yet flawlessly beautiful face seemed rosier than ever, an aspect to her he could never get enough of. He could get lost in her hazelnut eyes, full of wonder and happiness.
He immediately shakes his head, reprimanding himself for thinking about her like that, the hue of red on his cheeks turning from adoration to even more embarrassment.
All night, he’d been entranced by the girl standing before him. Whether it be idly watching her mingle with her friends, to noticing the smallest movements she'd make.
Sometimes, they just have to kiss!
Ughhh. Again!? Izuku's blush deepens, remembering her explanation.
This was one of his best friends, he was so happy at the thought of that alone. Why on earth was he acting like this? Come on, stupid Deku!
“I guess I’m just a little lost out there.” Izuku mutters, finally being able to shake the thoughts out of his head, still a little embarrassed having to admit it.
It was just nerves, of course. She explained the rules to him, told him about how there may be kissing involved, and, like the wimpy loser he is, he immediately thinks of kissing her! Get your act together, Deku. Of course, it's normal to be nervous at the thought! Who wouldn’t be nervous kissing their best friend, the prettiest girl in class, the one whose touch always sends him flying, her effortless beauty amplified by how close they’ve grown over the years. Yes, yes! Just nerves.
Nothing more!
“Aw, Deku!” The way she says his nickname always has him floating, such adoration behind her tone, he could hear her say it all night long.
“You don’t need to worry too much! I for one thought your dare was sweet.” She says, bashfully shifting on her feet. Her bubbly persona making his heart soar. Izuku looks at her with a brow raised, as if asking if she was telling the truth, a smile finally beginning to creep onto his lips.
She walks over to him with a hop in her step, her face getting closer to his as she does so, Izuku instinctively steps back, his ears burning. He feels her nudge his side playfully.
“Not everyone’s out there to embarrass each other, y’know?”
Despite his apprehension, Izuku’s shoulders drop in comfort, a sigh and a chuckle leaving his lips as he scratches the back of his head. How did she do it? Get him so riled up, and then, boom, quell his troubles with a simple touch.
“So don’t worry about it! Just have fun, silly.” She chirps again, her outward charm sweet enough to knock him out, her effortless mix of teasing and comfort finding a familiar place within Izuku’s heart.
She reaches out to place a comforting hand on his shoulder, and Izuku smiles fondly. Yeah, it was just nerves. -
“You really are so amazing.”
Ah.
He wasn’t supposed to say that aloud.
The two stand quietly, air filled only with the noises of the class still playing their game. Izuku’s smile turns shaky, as does Ochako’s. He can feel the pads of her fingertips scrunch a little, itching to leave his shoulder, stagnant due to circumstance. Her face morphs into that of proper awkwardness as her smile wobbles like a wave. He sees her face dial three extra shades of red into her skin, surely his own is the same.
“Haha Deku! You’re so sweet! Hehe! Hah!” Ochako manages squeeze out in a panic, tearing her grip on his shoulder away. She shifts awkwardly on her heel, unsure of what to say next.
Izuku, just as uncomfortable, sputters incoherent nothings, unsure of what he could possibly comment to make things any less awkward, his hands flailing in an attempt to assure, yet all he wishes is to go back to the game and forget about it, kissing Mineta didn’t sound too bad right about now.
"Ah- I mean, -"
“....Well! See you back there! BYE!”
And before he knew it, Ochako was gone.
He slumps back down, hands falling to the side, silently cursing himself for messing that up.
Maybe it wasn’t just nerves.
Sigh.
With a frown, Izuku steps forward, following in the girls footsteps to look at the noisy crowd, watching as Ochako hurriedly plops back down next to Tsuyu, resuming her idle chatter as if nothing had happened. His brows furrow, placing a hand on his shoulder—the same shoulder she had graced. He knocks his head against the doorframe, the soft thud echoing his confusion. Why did she leave such a lasting impact on him, with even the smallest of actions? He could still feel the warmth of her fingertips, an imprint that lingered like a gentle reminder of her presence.
Izuku muses, his heart racing at the thought, that even in the midst of childish chaos, her touch felt grounding. He found it funny, to be so affected by something so mundane, yet the familiar comfort she brought did nothing but put him at ease. She'd done it many times before, although, he couldn't shake the feeling that this moment might have been different; her playful warmth seemed to weave its way into his thoughts, refusing to fade even as he stood alone.
Why was it different? He remembers her words to him at the start of the night, the thought of being so intimate with her sending his mind and heart into frenzy.
It hurt to think about.
Sure, he’d always known that she was super important to him, and he knew that he was important to her too... But was there ever anything more? A small smile forms on his lips, remembering his first day at UA, falling over on his own shoes only for her to catch him—and then, only a few hours later, she catches him again as he barrels towards the ground from the sky.
She had always been there for him, hadn’t she?
Izuku’s smile grows wider.
It really was silly, thinking he needed her support with something as normal as a party game, especially when she had gone through the lengths of saving him during much worse. He always believed they were as close as they could be.
So why were compliments and idle touches so awkward?
Izuku hums thoughfully as he finally steps out and walks towards the circle again, apprehensive about his newfound revelation towards his best friend.
He greets the crowd with a chuckle and a wave before sitting back down next to Shoto, who looks up at him with a raised brow. A few rounds had passed, maybe Ashido had forgotten about her vendetta.
Izuku’s eyes find Ochako’s again, staring right back at him, but this time, Ochako looks away, her cheeks rosy. She exclaims loudly as Denki spins the bottle, a little too loud, causing a few puzzled looks from others, Izuku's brows raise—her blush brightens.
The boy looks back down at the bottle spun by the electric hero, watching as it hypnotically revolves, choosing which victim to claim next, he puts his thoughts to the side, reserving it to come back on a later date as he dives back into the game, prepared with new dares, and a better understanding of how to have fun. Trailing from the bottle, he tries to look at other reactions around the circle, biting lip in anticipation, unfortunately, makes eye-contact with the tyrant once again—Mina Ashido. He gulps in horror; she did not forget about him.
The bottle, finally done its merry-go-round, finds the next participant, as it slows with glassy fervor to face its tip towards Hagakure; who admittedly squeals in delight as it's finally her turn to shine.
Izuku chuckles in bemusement, as do many other classmates. Hagakure tends to be far more expressive than the others, even Ashido, so seeing her bubbly reaction gets everyone's spirits even higher.
“Oooh! Yes! It’s my turn! Finally!” The invisible girl exclaims, the sleeves of her shirt shooting upwards in excitement, “Who’s daring me again? Ooh! Kaminari! You better give me something good!” Izuku laughs aloud, his sentiment welcomed as the crowd laughs with him, only to cut his own short as his eyes catch something odd...
The class, a jumble of chuckles and whispers, train their eyes onto Kaminari, who looks back, only at Izuku. Wearing a faint glint of mischief, Izuku is reminded the pink haired no-gooder he was trying so desperately to avoid, smile dropping to a gasp.
Wait…
Izuku watches breathlessly as Kaminari rubs his hands together, exchanging a knowing look with Ashido, he smirks before speaking up.
Oh no…
While I was gone, it seems like Ashido made some… friends!
“Okay, Ha-ga-ku-re!” Kaminari starts, each syllable bouncing off his tongue.
Izuku begins to sweat profusely, silently hoping he had just imagined the glint in his eye. But no, his sense of anticipation was back, as if Danger Sense had activated.
“I dare you… to kiss Izuku Midoriya!”
The room erupts in a mix of cheers and laughter, the air crackling with a sense of playful chaos. Izuku’s eyes widen in horror as all attention shifts to him. His heart races, pounding in his chest like a drum.
“Me?!” he squeaks, his voice barely audible over the chorus of teasing shouts and playful chants.
Hagakure giggles, her enthusiasm infectious despite her invisibility. “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it!”
Izuku’s mind races to when Ashido tackled him, was this the action she was talking about? Oh. Oh that pink haired freak! Izuku cowers in fear as he whips his hands over his face, toppling over to the side as he tries desperately to hide his embarrassment.
Kaminari leans back with a satisfied grin, clearly enjoying the spectacle he just orchestrated. “Come on, it’s a game! You can’t back out now, Midoriya!” His tone is light, but there’s an unmistakable edge of mischief in his eyes.
The sweating boy shoots a dagger of a glare into his direction, one which crackles with the green flair of One for All. Denki yelps at the sight, instantly shrinking back into his seat.
Izuku sits back up, his arms flailing widely for any semblance of a chance to avoid this, grasps and grunts, no words able to fall through his lips, he pushes Mineta off of him- he didn’t even notice the boy had crawled over to him in tears at the thought of being in his place.
His nostrils flare and burn as he looks for anyone for help, Tenya is busy polishing his glasses, clearly avoiding eye contact to avoid having to state the rules of the game, a dare is a dare , he can practically hear him talk. Shoto is as clueless as ever, both at the fact that Kaminari could ever suggest such a thing, and how Hagakure was eager to jump in agreement.
With exasperation, he looks at Ochako, and his heart sinks. His shelved thoughts of her flooding their way back into his soul.
Ah, somethings wrong.
Well, if you could even call that a smile. An awkward, crooked grin etches her features, her eyes soulless and blank, to Izuku, it's concerning.
“Hey-”
“Pucker up Midoriya! I’m coming for ya!”
Izuku is flung back into reality as Hagakure’s ringing voice bubbles through his eardrum, her giggles making him feel all the more nervous. He stumbles over his words as he watches her crawl over to him from across the circle, the crowd erupting in excitement, the boys cheering with whistles as the girls laugh and whisper amongst themselves.
Before he can even begin to think about the look Ochako just gave him, Izuku is shoved into the deep end, tasked with facing this new challenge, the silly bottle game turning out to be far more than he thought he could handle.
With a furious blush his mind begins to spin with each inch Hagakure grows closer, her movements sultry and provocative, like a tiger hunting its prey. Izuku can't help but feel his heart flip, the display before him something he'd never thought he'd ever witness.
He'd seen Hagakure before, despite her invisibility. It was well known that when light hit her just right, even Katsuki would admit- she was pretty. And now, with her face flashing through his mind, and with Izuku running out of room to back away, watching as the very same girl approaches him on her hands and knees for a kiss, he can't help but feel... excited.
Izuku, through all his dorky years of adolescence, has never actually kissed a girl.
As a child, he always thought that when the time came, it would happen. Never one to see it a lot, his father always busy overseas, his mother the loyal wife she'd always been, he expected kissing and love to be something sacred, like a treasure you'd keep locked away.
As a middle schooler, he that feeling of longing grew to die, as knew nobody would have eyes like that for him, whether through his confidence, or his quirklessness- it often left him dejected, wanting. Yet despite this, he grew up with a far more romantic viewpoint of love, something that is built for people to treasure, something to fight for.
His mom always told him that when someone accepts you for who you are, that’s when you know they’re worthy of you.
Deku, it sounds like the word for ‘You can do it!’
Wait a minute.
Hagakure is now inches away from his face, her minty breath caressing his nose. Izuku jolts and stumbles backwards, his hands holding him up. He can hear the smack of her lips, blushing at the thought of the face she might have been making. The class hoot and cheer as she gets closer, anticipating the connection that would complete the dare, although, to any outsiders- such as Shinso and Tokoyami watching from afar- it would seem like Deku was the one subjected to the challenge, if anybody.
His mind races, a part of him convinced this is all a dream. Why would anybody be willing to kiss him just because they were dared to? His own self confidence evident in his cautiousness, he can hear cackles from Katsuki in the background, his blinding blush growing even brighter.
Can I do this?
If only his middle-school self could see him now; still effectively quirkless, yet in a position people like Mineta would dream about, he can't help but smile a little. Before he knows it, his lips form in an ‘O’ as well, and the class's cheers only grow louder. Izuku feels a surge of confidence as such, bold enough to lean in a little to meet the invisible girl halfway. Never would he have thought he’d be in such a position this morning.
Half of him, stubbornly curious, aching to quell the insecurities of his younger self. While the other fights to stay true to what his mother had taught him, and what his heart truly wanted.
Just because you have a special power, doesn’t make you a special person!
Why was he thinking of her words all of a sudden?
He knew exactly why.
Just as Hagakure inches closer, the tension in the air is electric. Izuku’s heart races, and for a brief moment, everything fades away—the laughter, the cheers, even his own doubts. It’s just him and the thrill of the moment, a split second where he can forget all the insecurities that have plagued him, and take the plunge to make things right by his wimpy, 13-year old self.
This is the right call, isn't it?
But then, in the corner of his eye, he catches a glimpse of her. The girl whose words he remembered all of a sudden, and her expression, twisted into an odd mix of forced cheer and something deeper. It sends a jolt through his spine. His heart stutters. She’s not just a bystander in this game, is she? He remembers his shelved thoughts, how she made him feel exactly like he was feeling now, except 10 times better, how it would be a disservice, to him, to his mothers words, to her, to go through with this.
Why was she so important in all of this?
Again, he knew exactly why.
The moment stretches on, a fragile balance between the dare and the unspoken emotions swirling around him. He hesitates, caught between the urge to fulfill the silly challenge for his own insecurities, and the sudden weight of the feelings erupting through his soul. The laughter of their classmates fades into a dull roar, and he can almost hear his own heartbeat against the backdrop of the chaos.
And then I fell in love with Izuku Midoriya!
Hm? He didn’t remember her saying that.
“Wait—!” Izuku manages to stammer, his voice barely breaking through the noise. “Hagakure, I—”
But it’s too late. The invisible girl, caught up in the excitement, lunges forward. Her lips meet his, a brief touch that feels both electrifying and surreal. It’s not how he envisioned his first kiss; it’s awkward and fleeting, filled with the laughter of their friends and the rush of adrenaline. He tries to set his mind on a track, any track at this point. He tastes melon candy, smells strawberry, and sees nothing through his widened eyes, although, the idea that Hagakure may also have her eyes open gives him the courage to flutter his own shut. He tries to focus, trying to avail any sense of the experience, try to enjoy it, this was his first kiss after all!
He feels Hagakure squeak against him, the tip of her tongue poking at his lips- he doesn't let her in, her supple softness against his, the chaste wetness, all the experiences he'd imagined, coming together in a dramatic explosion of... longing.
He wishes it was her.
The world snaps back into focus as he pulls away, his face ablaze with a heat he never thought possible. The cheers erupt again, but they sound distant now. Izuku smiles briefly at the invisible girl, before his eyes dart back to Ochako, stomach dropping at the sight of her face—an unreadable mask that conceals whatever emotions she’s fighting to express.
Izuku clears his throat, letting Hagakure climb off of him as she bashfully giggles, although he pays no mind to the proximity at all, too focused on regaining in thoughts.
“Wow, that was—” Hagakure starts, beaming, but Izuku doesn’t hear her. All he can think about is the way Ochako looked at him.
He wants to speak up, glancing at the brunette again, their eyes playing a game of cat and mouse, seeing who can catch each other's gaze first, but they never connect. He knows he can’t, whether for fear of bringing up why they’re feeling this way, or to amplify feelings that have already been hurt.
Puzzle pieces, slowly but surely, beginning to connect within Izuku's mind.
Sinking back to his seat, he slumps down, staring at the floor, his heart beating a mile a minute.
Was she, jealous?
Kaminari, oblivious to the tension, shouts aloud, proud of his plan, “Next up, who’s turn is it? Let’s keep this going!”
Izuku can barely focus, the cheers of his classmates blending into the background. All he can think about is Ochako and the weight of the unspoken words hanging between them, feelings more complicated than ever.
This game sucks.