Chapter Text
Ochaco Uraraka adjusted her grip on the cardboard box, nudging the dorm room door open with her shoulder. It creaked slightly, like it had a personality of its own, and she couldn’t help but smile.
“Okay,” she murmured to herself, stepping inside. “New place, new start. You’ve got this.”
The room was small but bright, sunlight spilling through the window and pooling across the polished floor. Two beds, two desks, two closets—simple, but full of possibility. Ochaco set her box down on the nearest bed and let out a small breath. This was it. College. Independence. A step closer to helping her family.
She had just started unpacking a stack of neatly folded clothes when the door burst open behind her.
“Hi!!”
Ochaco startled, nearly dropping a sweater as she turned. Standing in the doorway was a girl about her age with messy blonde hair pulled into loose buns and the brightest smile Ochaco had ever seen.
“I’m so sorry if I scared you!” the girl said quickly, though she didn’t look sorry at all—more like she was trying not to laugh. “You must be my roommate, right?”
“Oh! Yeah—yeah, I am!” Ochaco straightened, brushing her hands on her skirt. “Uraraka Ochaco. Nice to meet you!”
The girl stepped inside like she already belonged there, setting her bag down with a soft thud before clasping her hands together.
“Himiko Toga,” she said. “And you totally look like someone I’d get along with.”
Ochaco blinked, then laughed—a soft, surprised sound that seemed to echo in the little room.
“That’s a pretty fast judgment.”
“I’m good at those,” Himiko replied, grinning. “And I’m usually right.”
There was something about her—something open, bright, and a little unpredictable—that made Ochaco feel at ease almost instantly. It wasn’t overwhelming, just… warm. Like stepping into sunlight after being inside too long.
“Well,” Ochaco said, smiling back, “I hope you are.”
“I definitely am,” Himiko said, already moving toward the other bed. She dropped onto it without hesitation, bouncing once before looking around the room with wide eyes. “Oh, this is cute. We should decorate it.”
“We just got here,” Ochaco said, amused.
“Exactly. Perfect time.”
Ochaco shook her head, but she was still smiling as she turned back to her unpacking. A moment later, she noticed Himiko watching her—not in a weird way, just… curious.
“You’re really organized,” Himiko said.
Ochaco glanced at her neatly folded stacks and laughed sheepishly. “I kind of have to be. It helps me stay on top of things.”
“Makes sense,” Himiko said, nodding. “I’m more of a ‘figure it out as I go’ type.”
“I can tell.”
“Hey!” Himiko pressed a hand to her chest dramatically. “That sounded like judgment.”
“It wasn’t! Just… observation.”
Himiko studied her for a second longer, then broke into a grin again. “You’re funny. I like you.”
The words were simple, said without hesitation, but they made Ochaco’s cheeks warm just a little.
“I like you too,” she said, before she could overthink it.
And just like that, it felt easy.
—
They ended up unpacking together, even though most of the work was technically Ochako’s. Himiko insisted on helping anyway, handing her things, asking questions, occasionally getting distracted halfway through and starting a completely different task.
“Where should this go?” Himiko asked, holding up a small stack of notebooks.
“Desk is fine,” Ochaco said.
Himiko placed them down carefully—surprisingly careful, actually—before picking up a little keychain from the box. It was round and worn, with a faded design.
“This is cute,” she said. “Did you have it for a long time?”
Ochaco paused, glancing over. “Yeah. My parents gave it to me before I left.”
Himiko’s expression softened, just a bit. “That’s really nice.”
There was no teasing in her voice this time, just something gentle and sincere. Ochaco felt it settle somewhere warm in her chest.
“Yeah,” she said quietly. “It is.”
Himiko set the keychain down with extra care, like it mattered.
—
By the time the sun started dipping lower in the sky, their room looked… lived in. Ochaco’s side was neat and cozy, while Himiko’s was a little more chaotic—but not messy, just full of personality. A jacket tossed over the chair, a bag half-open, a few small trinkets already scattered across the desk.
They sat on the floor between their beds, a shared bag of snacks open between them.
“I’m glad I got you as a roommate,” Himiko said suddenly, popping a chip into her mouth.
Ochaco looked up from where she was absentmindedly tracing the edge of the bag. “Really?”
“Mhm.” Himiko nodded. “You’re easy to be around.”
Ochaco blinked, a little surprised at how straightforward she was.
“I was kind of nervous,” she admitted. “About who I’d end up with, I mean.”
“Me too,” Himiko said. “But I think we got lucky.”
There was no dramatic pause, no awkwardness—just a quiet agreement that settled naturally between them.
“Yeah,” Ochaco said, smiling softly. “I think so too.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The room was filled with the soft hum of distant voices from down the hall, the fading light casting everything in a warm glow.
Himiko stretched her arms above her head before flopping back onto the floor with a content sigh.
“This is going to be fun,” she said, staring up at the ceiling.
Ochaco leaned back on her hands, glancing over at her.
“…Yeah,” she said again, softer this time.
And somehow, she knew she meant more than just college.