Work Text:
To Tsuyu, Ochako is like the sun. (She’s always been Ochako to her, never Uraraka). Ochako’s last name means “bright” and “beautiful”, which she definitely lives up to— she’s cheerful, talkative and expressive, and Tsuyu swears that her cheeks almost glow half the time.
☀ ☀ ☀
All the little things about Ochako that Tsuyu appreciates— her laugh, her determination, the warmth of her hand when Tsuyu held onto it that one time on the school trip— are like drizzle. Perhaps irritating to some, but pleasant and refreshing to Tsuyu (she’s a frog, after all— she’s always loved the rain). They’re like tiny little droplets leading to the beginning of something bigger inside of Tsuyu’s heart.
☀ ☀ ☀
The drizzle turns into rain when Ochako tells Tsuyu about how she feels about Izuku Midoriya.
“I really admire him…” she says, the blush on her cheeks stronger than ever “When things get tough, I think about what he would do and I imagine him smiling at me and telling me to keep going and I just—!”
Ochako sighs and doesn’t finish her sentence but Tsuyu understands the feeling that she’s referring to— she realizes that, it’s in fact, what she herself feels for Ochako.
☀☀☀
It continues to rain.
Tsuyu continues to admire Ochako. Sometimes, she wishes that she was more open and friendly and that people gravitated towards her the way they gravitate towards Ochako. Sure, her teachers said that her stoicism is one of her strong points when it comes to being a hero but, it’s not exactly helpful when it comes to making friends in high school.
She recalls the words of that creepy villain girl from the school trip and fears that her feelings will consume her and cause her to hurt Ochako. Pushing them down and continuing to maintain a calm facade is the best course of action.
The rain has become a torrential downpour by now. It’s becoming too much for even a frog to handle.
☀☀☀
Tsuyu secretly hopes that someone will stumble upon a puddle and notice how she feels about Ochako.
“You seem to glance over at Uraraka a lot,” they’d say, “Do you like her like… that?”
“Yes,” is all Tsuyu would reply. Even though she can admit her feelings in some form now, she still can’t say that word.
☀☀☀
The rush of energy Tsuyu feels when she lies in bed and imagines Ochako kissing her and touching her is lightning, the way she whispers Ochako’s name as her hands trace her body is thunder.
The guilt she feels afterwards is the storm. Tsuyu waits for it to pass, only for her to fall asleep and wake up with it still raging inside her.
☀☀☀
Her feelings have grown into a category 5 hurricane. Tsuyu has difficulty holding them back now, but she has to. She has to, or else her friendship with Ochako will be ruined. The one for Ochako is Midoriya and not her. She knows that if they burst out of her, Ochako will only feel shock and disgust.
The words she wants to say to Ochako are on the tip of her long, sticky tongue, but she still can’t bring herself to say them.
She feels like the puddles have become a flood, yet somehow, no one has noticed.
☀☀☀
She leaves the public library with Ochako— the two of them have just finished studying together. It’s raining, for real and not just inside of Tsuyu.
“That was a good study session!” Ochako chirps, as she opens her umbrella, “You’re so helpful, Tsuyu, I’m so glad to have met you!”
She smiles and it’s brilliant.
Something about those words and Ochako’s smile gives Tsuyu the bravery that she’s never had before.
She grabs Ochako’s face and gives her a quick kiss on the lips. Ochako’s lips are soft and warm, and somehow more perfect than Tsuyu had ever dreamed of them being.
“Tsuyu…?” Ochako asks, “What was… that for?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Tsuyu says, hoping that she can avoid saying that.
“Not… really?”
Tsuyu takes a deep breath and gathers all her courage. It feels like it’s taking forever for her to spit out what she wants to say— she feels her hair getting wet and her shoes getting soaked but she doesn’t mind. The only thing that bothers her is Ochako’s expression— she can’t tell if she’s surprised or confused or disgusted or feeling something else altogether.
Finally, she says it.
“I love you, Ochako.”
“Ah…”
“In… that way.”
“…”
The pattering of rain fills the silence between them. Tsuyu is in the eye of the storm now— she feels relief because she’s gotten her feelings off her chest, but has yet to learn the truth of what Ochako feels.
But finally, she speaks.
“I’m sorry… I don’t feel the same way but! It makes me happy that you care about me so much! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… I’m glad I met you, Tsuyu Asui.”
Tsuyu wants to cry but instead she smiles.
“Thank you…” she says.
Ochako flashes a big, beaming smile at her.
It doesn’t hurt anymore.
The storm is over.
The sun shines.
Tsuyu sees a rainbow.