Chapter Text
The air in the Class 1-A dorms was thick with the lazy hum of a Saturday afternoon. Laughter and the clatter of video game controllers spilled from the common room where Eijiro Kirishima, Denki Kaminari, and Katsuki Bakugo were engaged in a fierce battle. Mina Ashido and Toru Hagakure were testing out new dance moves in the middle of the floor, their energetic squeals occasionally puncturing the peace. The rest of the class was scattered, either studying in their rooms or lounging around, soaking in the rare quiet.
Izuku Midoriya sat on a couch, surrounded by the organized chaos, but his mind was far away. For weeks, a feeling had been growing inside him, a swirling, nervous energy that had nothing to do with Villains or Hero training. Every time Ochaco Uraraka smiled at him, every time she gave him a thumbs-up, or even just spoke his name, his heart would do a frantic leap against his ribs. He had tried to ignore it, to chalk it up to pure, unadulterated admiration for his kind and determined friend. But the feeling had grown too big to ignore. Today was the day. It had to be.
He looked over at her, where she sat with Tsuyu Asui, both of them quietly reviewing notes for an upcoming exam. Ochaco's brow was furrowed in concentration, and she occasionally tapped her pencil against her chin, a habit he found impossibly endearing. Taking a deep, shaky breath, Izuku pushed himself to his feet.
"U-Uraraka?" His voice was a pathetic squeak, barely audible over the din of the common room.
Ochaco looked up, her expression shifting from focused to a cheerful smile. "Hey, Deku! What's up?"
Izuku's palms were slick with sweat. He looked around the room nervously. The last thing he wanted was an audience for this. "C-Can we, um... can we talk? Just for a minute? Alone?"
Ochaco's smile didn't waver, though a hint of curiosity flickered in her eyes. "Sure, no problem." She closed her notebook and stood, following him away from the common area and towards the quieter hallway.
Izuku led her to an empty corner near the elevators, fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. "I-I wanted to tell you something," he began, staring at the floor. His heart was a drum solo in his ears. "I... I really admire you. You're so amazing, and brave, and you always push yourself to be better. It's so inspiring..." He trailed off, his face a furious red.
Ochaco's face broke into a flattered, rosy blush. "Oh, Deku, that's so sweet of you to say!" She said, her hands clasped together near her chest. "It means a lot coming from you. I feel the same way about you! You've worked so hard, and you've gotten so strong! You inspire all of us!"
She misunderstood. It was just as he'd feared. He couldn't let her think this was just about Hero work. Izuku looked up, his gaze meeting hers, forcing himself to be brave.
"No, Uraraka," he said, his voice stronger now, though still shaking. "That's... that's not exactly what I meant. I mean... I have feelings for you. R-Romantically."
The words hung in the air between them. Ochaco's cheerful smile faltered, the flush on her cheeks deepening from flattered warmth to something else entirely. Her eyes, wide and auburn, blinked once. Then twice. The cheerful buzz of the dorms seemed to fade into a dull, far-off sound.
Her hands, which had been clasped innocently, moved slowly, one hand coming to rest over her heart, pressing against the fabric of her shirt. Her breath hitched. The realization, a shocking bolt of electricity, finally hit her: Izuku Midoriya, her Deku, the kindest, bravest boy she knew, had a crush on her. The implication of his words finally sunk in, and it was too much.
Ochaco's eyes widened even further, her vision blurring at the edges as her brain struggled to process the information. The colors of the hallway seemed to drain away. A soft gasp escaped her lips, a sound of pure, overwhelming shock. Her eyes rolled back into her head, becoming pure, featureless white.
Izuku watched in horror as her body went slack. A soft, breathless sigh escaped her, and she began to topple backwards like a felled tree.
"Uraraka!" Izuku cried out, his own panic taking over. He moved instantly, catching her before she could hit the floor. His arms wrapped around her, holding her upright for a moment before he gently lowered her to the ground. She was completely unresponsive.
Kneeling beside her, Izuku patted her cheek with a shaking hand. "Uraraka? Hey! Uraraka, are you okay?"
He got no response. Fearing the worst, he moved his hand from her face and lowered his head, pressing his ear to her chest. Beneath the soft, even fabric of her shirt, he could hear it—a steady, reassuring thump-thump. Her heart was still beating, a little fast, but strong. She was okay. She had just… fainted.
Izuku let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He sat back on his heels, a mix of relief and profound, embarrassing confusion washing over him. The common room was a world away. Here in the quiet hall, surrounded by nothing but silence and the overwhelming sound of his own racing heart, he cradled his fainted crush and wondered what on earth he was supposed to do now.