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Izuku scrambles off the couch when he hears the familiar rhythm of a knock he’s heard countless times at this point—he’d recognize Ochako’s soft knocks from anywhere.
‘Coming!’ he calls out, rushing to turn off the lights in his apartment. His fingers flick light switches off with practiced efficiency—the lamp in his room winks out, then the fluorescent light of the bathroom, followed by the warm glow of the hallway, until finally the living room plunges into darkness save for the golden glow of the streetlights right outside his windows.
He grabs his jacket from the coat hanger next to the front door, slipping it on with ease before turning the knob and swinging the door open to see the very familiar, beautiful face of his wonderful girlfriend. She stands at the foot of the doorway, face flushed from the cool evening air, smiling at him with an affection that made his heart flutter. Her hair was tied into a low pony, the longer hairs that framed her face in the most perfect way falling slightly loose from the band that held the rest of her hair back. Her outfit was simple enough, a cream sweater peeking out from under the light pink jacket she had zipped up, paired with dark denim jeans that clung to her legs so snugly, laced knee-high boots to couple.
God, she truly was the most beautiful person on the planet.
“Hi,” he says, leaning on the frame of the door, chest rising and falling a little faster than usual, a tad out of breath from the running around he was doing just moments ago, but more at the sight of Ochako Uraraka than anything else—if he were being honest.
She giggles, amused at his boyish charm that didn’t seem to change much from his high school days—only now it was shrouded in maturity, and she thought it to be quite possibly the most attractive thing in the world. “Hi to you too. Did’ja run a mile before you opened the door or something?” she jokes with a tilt of her head.
“Something like that,” he jests back, unable to control the smile that tugs at the corners of his mouth, stepping out of the door and pulling it shut behind him. He turns around to face the door, digging into the pocket of his pants for his keys.
Ochako watches him attentively, everything he did was so weirdly attractive to her. Was it strange to be so utterly captivated by the smallest details of her boyfriend’s existence? Maybe. Possibly not. She didn’t know. But she wasn’t complaining in the slightest—in fact—she quite enjoyed watching his every move. From the way his fingers flexed, locking the door with practiced ease, to the way he ran his fingers through his hair, fluffing the soft curls out even more—something she wouldn’t mind doing for him right now, all of it sent warmth curling through her chest.
Izuku turns to look at her, keys jingling as he fits them back in his pocket. Without another word, his arms come to encircle her, wrapping around her shoulders as he pulls her flush against him. He buries his head in her hair, breathing in the fresh scent of her shampoo—the one that smelled faintly sweet. Ochako’s own arms come to loop around his back, palms planted on his shoulder blades—feeling his muscles flex as he massages her shoulders.
“Missed you,” he murmurs, voice a low hum that sends shivers down her spine. She giggles, goosebumps traveling up her body—a pleasurable sensation that made her bury her face deeper into his neck.
“We saw each other this morning.” she says, voice soft yet teasing.
“Briefly,” he sighs, pulling back slightly to look at her. “Besides, I still miss you.” he insists, leaning down to capture her lips in a soft, lingering kiss—and he can taste the faint sweetness of the lip balm he knows the taste of all too well. They part, foreheads leaned against each other as they chuckle through light breaths.
“Okay, yeah,” Ochako says, cheeks flushed as she gazes up at him, “I missed you too.” He chuckles; the rumble felt in his chest carrying through hers as they were still pressed together. He caresses her cheek, thumb rubbing the soft flesh of her cheek underneath, and she leans into his warmth—her eyes fluttering shut.
“So you said you know a place?” Ochako asked, nuzzling her face further into his palm. The sight made Izuku smile, a warmth spreading through his chest that bubbled with a deep affection.
“A place you’re going to love.” He responds, his hand dropping down to intertwine her fingers with his, his other dipping into his pocket to mindlessly fiddle with his keys.
“And I’m assuming we’re taking your car?” she says, brushing a strand of hair from her face as they begin walking down the stairs.
He nods; a proud grin plastered on his face. “You bet. It’s a decent ways away. And I’m also really proud of that thing.”
She laughs—the sound light on Izuku’s ears as they make their way toward the parking lot, cutting the corner of the apartment and spotting Izuku’s car. The color was a nice dark green—forest almost, and the window of the trunk had stickers of his hero aspirations and friends—All Might, Dynamight, Shoto, Ingenium, Froppy, Uravity to name a few. Ochako fell into a laughing fit when she first saw it, finding it to be the most adorable, most Izuku thing in the world. He never grew out of his fanboy ways, she noted; but she wouldn’t have it any other way, it was just one of the many things part of his charm.
The car beeps, lighting up when Izuku presses on the unlock button. He rushes to the passenger side of the car to open the door for Ochako, a gentleman he always was—and she smiles at him, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek before sliding in as he closes the door shut.
“You having stickers on the back of your car is just so you. I don’t think I’ll ever get over it.” she chuckles, buckling herself in.
Izuku laughs earnestly, the skin surrounding his eyes crinkling as his smile widens, “Funny story actually,” he starts, twisting the key to start the engine, “Just a few days ago one of my students spotted me hauling groceries into my trunk at the market, congratulated me on the new purchase.” he says, putting an arm over the head of the passenger seat—searching behind him through the eyes of the trunk to ensure he could backout safely, “But the moment I closed the trunk and they saw all the stickers, I was being laughed at like it was nobody’s business.”
Ochako laughs, “Oh my gosh, that’s horrible,” she says through giggles, palm covering her mouth in a rather poor attempt to stifle the laughter.
“You did the same thing!” he remarks, unable to control the smile that spreads across his face.
“Nuh-uh!” she protests at first—then thinks back to that day—smiling defeatedly when she remembers just how hard she was laughing. “Okay, I did.” she admits, “But only because I found it adorable because it’s so… you!”
He joins her in laughter, eyes laser focused on the road as he pulls out of the parking lot. “My student said the same thing.”
“See? I told you!”
“Yeah, yeah.” he jokes, playfully rolling his eyes as he grabs ahold of her hand over the space separating the drivers and passengers seat, his thumb tracing absent circles around her knuckles.
Ochako tilts her head, one eyebrow quirked up teasingly, “Driving with one hand, huh? Seems like you’re already a pro.”
“I just so happened to have aced that drivers exam.” he smiles, adjusting in his seat proudly. “…and I have a serious need to hold your hand at all times.”
She laughs, cheeks lightly flushing as his hand held hers tighter, “I’m in the same boat, I think.” she admits, squeezing his hand back. Her free hand hovered near the radio controls, fingers pausing just centimeters from the knob. “Mind if I play some music?” she asked, tilting her head toward him.
“Not at all.” Izuku responded, shaking his head, “Just a warning though, I still haven’t found a channel that plays decent music.” he added.
“I got this, don’t you worry.” she declares, flipping through the channels, “I’m gonna find the best channel ever.”
She settled on a channel that played smooth jazz, the speakers filled with the rich, velvety tones of a saxophone, its mellow notes weaving through the air like liquid gold—the sophisticated instruments blending together in fluid, harmonious ways that produced a sound so pleasant and relaxing—piano keys dancing playfully with double bass notes, creating a rhythm that seemed to sync perfectly with the gentle hum of the engine and the occasional crunch of gravel beneath the tires. It blended beautifully with the atmosphere of the evening outside.
Perfect for a night drive.
The two fell into a comfortable silence, quietly swaying their bodies side by side as they got lost in the music—city lights blurring past their windows—the glow softening into golden halos as they drove further from the urban center. They turned down a less familiar path, the sounds of the city faded into the background, replaced by the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. The unfamiliar scenery snapped Ochako back into reality, her curiosity piqued when they drove further into mountainous hills. Oh no. Were they going camping? I mean, she didn’t hate the idea, but she couldn’t say she was well prepared to be dealing with wet dirt and annoying bugs right now. She turns to look at Izuku, looking him up and down to assess whether ‘camping’ was actually on his mind or not. Hm. He wasn’t necessarily dressed for the occasion. Neither was she. Plus, she hadn’t seen a tent kit, or blankets, or food for that matter packed anyway. Okay. Must be something else. But what could it b—?
“It’s a surprise, Ochako.” his voice broke through her racing thoughts, rich with amusement.
“Huh?” she blinked, caught off guard.
Izuku’s lips quirked into a knowing smile, “Don’t worry, we’re not going camping or anything like that. But it’s still a surprise.”
Ochako’s mouth fell open slightly before breaking into a grin. “I think I just figured out your quirk,” she starts, “It’s mind-reading. Has to be.”
His laughter filled the car, bright and unrestrained, the sound making her grin even wider, “Or I just know my girlfriend all too well.”
“That too.” she conceded, joining him in laughter.
Izuku gave her hand one last reassuring squeeze before returning both hands to the wheel as the road curved upward. “Just hold tight, okay? We’re almost there.”
She smiled at him, nodding her head. “Okay.”
—
The car rolled to a stop on the gravel shoulder, tires crunching against loose stones as Izuku killed engine. Through the windshield, Ochako could see nothing but dense tree cover and the faint glow of moonlight filtering through the leaves. Izuku parked some ways behind the location he was taking her—holding onto the promise of a surprise.
“We’re not going hiking, are we?” she asked, eyeing the shadowy path ahead with mild suspicion as she unbuckled her seatbelt.
Izuku chuckled, shaking his head as he opened his door. “I’d hate to go hiking at night,” he assured her, the interior light casting golden highlights across his freckled cheeks. “We’re almost there—just gotta walk a small path. But…” he hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck.
Ochako raised an eyebrow as she stepped out, the cool night air brushing against her skin. “Hm?”
“Ah… Can you close your eyes?” he asked, rounding the car to stand before her. His hands hovered near her shoulders, fingers twitching with barely contained excitement. “Until I tell you to open them?”
“The curiosity is killin’ me here, Izuku.”
“I know, I’m sorry. It’ll be worth it though, I swear.”
She exhaled through her nose, the corners of her lips quirking upward. “I trust you.” she said, letting her eyelids flutter shut.
The sudden loss of vision made Ochako hyper-aware of every other sensation – the solid warmth of Izuku’s chest pressed against her back, the way one of his hands settled protectively on her shoulders, the other sliding down to rest on her waist, the scent that was so him mixing with the earthy aroma of their surroundings.
“Ready?” he says, voice barely above a whisper.
“Lead the way,” she responds, placing her hands over his where they rested.
Izuku guided her forward with painstaking care, his hands never leaving hers as they navigated what felt like a gentle incline. The ground beneath Ochako’s boots transitioned from pavement to something softer – grass, perhaps? The sounds around them had changed too; the rustling was louder now, and she could hear what sounded like leaves whispering secrets above them. The air smelled fresher here.
After what felt like both an eternity and no time at all, Izuku came to a stop. His hands slid fully to her waist now, turning her gently until she faced what she assumed was the right direction. “Okay,” he said, his voice thick with anticipation. “You can open your eyes now.”
Ochako complies, blinking against the sudden return of her vision, eyes adjusting. They stood at the edge of a cliff, not her—no, their usual cliff, but a new vantage point she’d never seen before. Below them, the city sprawled like a constellation of its own, its glittering lights painting the valley in gold and white. The view was breathtaking, the entire skyline visible from this unfamiliar angle.
“This is so beautiful, Izuku.” she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper.
She felt more than heard his chuckle behind her. “Oh, it is,” he agreed, voice soft. “But…” he gently tugged her hand, leading her to sit beside him on the soft grass. “Come lay down. And look up at the sky.”
The grass was cool, slightly damp beneath her as she lowered herself onto her back, but she hardly noticed, because when her gaze lifted to the heavens – her breath caught in her chest.
Above them stretched a canvas of infinite depth, the night sky unobscured by city lights. Stars upon stars glittered like scattered diamonds across the vast space of black, so numerous and bright that she felt she could float up to the skies right now and shine amongst them. The Milky Way arched across the expanse in a shimmering river of light, so vivid and bright, dancing amongst the sky.
“Oh,” she breathed, the single syllable carrying the weight of a thousand emotions. One of her hands rose unconsciously, as if she could touch the stars and hold it in the palm of her hand. She turned to look at Izuku. She saw the way love shone in his eyes, the way the starlight caught in his freckles, making them look like a constellation of their own.
“It’s so… perfect. You’re perfect.”
Izuku’s cheeks are quick to flush, he chuckles as he props himself up on one arm, leaning in to place a gentle kiss on her forehead. “You’re more perfect.” he says, smiling at her. “I know how much you love stargazing, and I know it’s something we used to do occasionally at U.A., so when I found this spot I figured I’d bring you here.”
She smiles, eyes darting back and forth from his face to the sky – she couldn’t decide which sight was more beautiful, though she’d say Izuku had the edge over the night sky itself if she were honest. “How… I mean, how’d you even find this?”
“Was out hiking with Kacchan and Kirishima one day, we ended up stumbling on this cliff.” he says, the words laced with quiet amusement. His fingers trace absent patterns in the cool earth between them. “We took a wrong turn somewhere past the ridge and—” his hand sweeps through the air, “—there it was. This perfect little outcrop, just waiting to be found.”
The night breeze carries his words as he continues, voice softening. “The second I saw it, I thought… Ochako needs to see this.” he says, smiling to himself. “It was broad daylight, so I couldn’t be sure about the stars, but…” his eyes crinkle at the corners. “The air quality was crisp, and light pollution hardly exists up here, so…”
“Hold on,” she interrupts, “Bakugo actually agreed to go hiking? Voluntarily?”
Izuku laughs, “Kirishima works wonders on that guy, I’m telling you.” he says, shaking his head.
She giggles, nodding her head in agreement. “Well either way, I’m glad you found it. I think you found our new picnic spot.”
“And perhaps camping too?”
She laughs, “Okay, okay.” she relents, nudging his side with her elbow. “Skies like this are hard to pass up on regardless of the occasion, so, camping too I suppose.”
He laughs, the sound warm and rich in the quiet night, before settling back onto the soft grass, his body sinking slightly into the earth. His fingers find hers effortlessly, intertwining.
Ochako squeezes his hand, the scars on his palm rough against her skin. “You know,” she mused, her voice warm, “I think this might be even better than the other cliff.”
“Really? You think so?”
“Yeah.” she exhales, her breath curling into the cool night air. “I mean as far as views go, I feel like this definitely took the number one spot.”
Izuku hums, thoughtful. “Other place has the memories though, don’t you think?”
“Oh, of course.” she says, her voice thick with nostalgia. “I’ll never forget our time spent there.” she smiles to herself, reminiscing the time shared alone, just the two of them at that cliff.
She had been at her lowest there – when Izuku comforted her in a way no one else could. When her hero declared her as his hero, when he held her hand softly; shedding tears with her as he held her close, her crumbling beneath him. But she also had some of her happiest moments there—with him—sharing food, talking for hours, training, or sitting in comfortable silence, whatever it was, she enjoyed every bit of it. It’s a mystery to her sometimes, why she never confessed back then—all those years ago. But that didn’t matter. What mattered was they’d find their way to each other no matter what, no matter when. What mattered was they were together – and they were the happiest they’ve ever been in their lives.
Ochako can feel Izuku’s eyes on her when he shifts his head to look at her to speak, “But we can create precious memories here, too.”
She smiles at him, the permanent pink on her cheeks widening, “We’re absolutely going to.”
A comfortable silence settled between them, filled only by the distant hum of the city below and the rustle of grass in the breeze. Ochako traced the patterns of the stars with her free hand, her voice quiet with wonder. “It’s crazy, isn’t it? Out of all the places in the universe, we’re right here, together, under the same sky.”
Izuku hummed in agreement, his gaze drifting back upward. “When I look at this sky this way, I think about how small all of us are compared to… this.” he starts, motioning his hand toward the sky. “But then I remember that even if we’re just dust in the wind in the grand scheme of things, we still get to share moments like this. And that makes it all feel… bigger.”
Ochako turned her head to study his profile, the way his lashes caught the starlight, the curve of his smile, the quiet intensity in his eyes present whenever he spoke of things that mattered to him. Her chest tightened with affection. “You’re such a dork,” she teased, nudging him gently. “But you’re right. I think you make the most out of life when you’re with the ones you love.” she said, turning her gaze to the skies. “I think that’s what life is all about.”
He smiles, heart fluttering at the weight of her words. He turns to look at her, and my god, she’s just so wonderful. It’s sometimes unbelievable to him how a person like this actually existed. He loved everyone, everyone was special to him—he truly believed this. But nobody could make him feel the way Ochako made him feel, nobody could tug at his heart strings the way she did, could fill his body with so much love, so much affection, he felt like he should give every piece of himself to the world just because she exists in it. Izuku didn’t love anyone the way he loved Ochako, the way his heart might burst from how much light she brings into his life—he knew that for sure. She was his most special person, and he thanked the stars everyday that he realized so.
She’s here. She’s real. And she’s his.
“Wanna hear something cool?” Ochako says, pulling Izuku out of his thoughts.
“Yeah?”
She pointed toward a particularly bright cluster of stars. “That’s the Spring Triangle—Arcturus, Spica, and Regulus. They’re some of the brightest stars you can see around this time of year.”
Izuku tilted his head, tracing the shape with his eyes as he followed her finger. “Wow,” he breathes. “They’re amazing.”
Ochako smile softens, a hint of wistfulness flickering in her expression. “Spica is one of my favorite stars ever, actually.”
“Really?” he turns to her, curiosity piqued. “Why’s that?”
“The star is representative of harvest and renewal, almost like… a promise that no matter how hard things get, life always finds a way to bloom again.” she smiles to herself, a bit sad yet grateful. “That’s something I’ve always held onto. I think that idea was able to get me through my toughest times.”
Izuku chest aches. He knows—no, remembers the weight she carried on her shoulders, the tears she’d hide, the way she used to clench her fists and smile through the pain. He studies her almost sad gaze, squeezing her hand in reassurance.
“That’s… incredible actually.” he murmurs. “I think that’s a beautiful perspective to have.”
She laughs sheepishly, shaking her thoughts away. “Sorry for suddenly getting so sappy.”
Izuku shakes his head, his smile unwavering. “What are you talking about? I happen to really like your sappy side.”
She peeks up at him through her lashes, her smile turning teasing. “Good, ‘cuz only you’re allowed to see it.”
His heart skips a beat, maybe two. “That makes me feel special.”
“You are.” she asserts, softly—like it’s the simplest truth in the world. And perhaps it was.
He props himself up on his elbow, searching her face. “I love you. So much.”
She smiles, blush deepening. “I love you too, Izuku.”
The night air hummed between them, charged with something deeper than words. Ochako’s fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, anchoring herself as Izuku’s thumb traced the curve of her cheekbone. His touch was reverent, like she was something precious—something worth worshipping under this endless sky.
And then his lips were on hers, soft at first, before the kiss deepened with a passion that stole her breath. Ochako melted into him, her hands sliding up to tangle in his hair as he pulled her closer, his grip firm against the small of her back. Every brush of his mouth against hers sent sparks skittering down her spine, her pulse thundering in her ears.
He breaks away, trailing kisses along her jaw, his breath hot against her skin. She gasped as his teeth grazed the sensitive spot beneath her ear, her fingers tightening in his hair.
“Izuku,” she breathed, half a plea, half a sigh.
He answered with a low hum against her throat, his lips searing a path down the column of her neck, and she shivered, her nails scraping lightly against his scalp. He shuddered in response, his hands sliding beneath her shirt, rough palms skimming her ribs. The contrast of his scarred fingers against her soft skin made her gasp, and he swallowed the sound with another kiss, deeper this time, his body pressing hers into the earth.
When they finally part, their foreheads are pressed together—breaths mingling in the cool evening air. They laugh breathlessly, amused at how carried away they could get when they were alone like this – but they couldn’t help it, they just had too much love to give to each other. Or that’s what they told themselves, at least.
Too much love, they’d joke. Not enough ways to give it.
Izuku gives Ochako one last kiss on the lips, slow and lingering, before laying down beside her again.
“We should probably head back soon.” he murmured, fingers tracing idle patterns over her knuckles.
“Ugh,” she groans playfully, “Do we have to?”
He chuckled, tilting his head to look at her. “Unless you wanna freeze out here, then yeah, I’d say we do.”
She giggles, turning to face him. “Okay. Five more minutes?”
“Five more minutes.” he nods, smiling with a fondness before her.
And so they lay there, side by side, hands clasped between them as they gazed up at the vast, glittering expanse above. The stars burned bright against the darkness, unwavering in their brilliance—tiny pinpricks of light that refused to be swallowed by the void.
Maybe that’s how it’s meant to be, Ochako thought.
No matter how deep the night, no matter how vast the emptiness—light would always find a way to shine through.
And as long as they had each other, theirs would never go out.