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There is a flower garden on the campus of UA, which Momo finds at the beginning of her second year while wandering around in the hopes of clearing her mind. When she stumbles upon it, Shiozaki from Class B is kneeling in the dirt, pulling up weeds and humming to herself as she works. She’s clad in her gym uniform, with a wide-brimmed hat atop her head. Momo watches for a moment, until Shiozaki sits back to wipe the sweat from her brow and catches her staring.
“I didn’t realize there was a garden like this on campus,” Momo says, as an explanation of sorts. Shiozaki’s face is flushed from the heat, and Momo tries not to let her gaze linger on the pink in her cheeks.
“It was originally cultivated by civilians sheltering here during the war,” Shiozaki explains. “I believe its survival to be a reminder that hope which blossoms in even the darkest of times will always prevail.”
Momo steps closer, not wanting to disturb Shiozaki or the plants, but also fascinated by both the vibrant colors and the thought of these flowers blooming so beautifully even after having withstood the same terror of war she did. “I think that’s lovely!” she replies.
Shiozaki smiles. “Thank you.”
Momo hesitates. She truly does not wish to be a bother, but she’d hate to leave so soon. Before she can overthink it, she uses her quirk to pull a water bottle from her arm and offers it to Shiozaki.
“It’s hot out today,” she notes. “You should ensure you’re staying hydrated.”
Shiozaki accepts the bottle with a bow of her head. “You are very kind, Yaoyorozu-san.”
“Please, you can call me Yaomomo. All of my friends do.”
“Yaomomo-san,” Shiozaki repeats. “It was nice speaking with you, but do not let me distract you from your responsibilities.”
“Oh, I’m not busy,” Momo assures her. “I was merely walking around campus to get some fresh air. If anything, I fear I’m the one distracting you!”
“I don’t mind the company.” Shiozaki twists the lid from the water bottle and takes a slow drink. Momo’s eyes fix on the way her lips press against the lip of the bottle, and the bob of her throat as she swallows.
She takes a leap of faith and asks, “Would you mind if I stayed a little while longer, then?”
“Not at all.”
It becomes a regular occurrence, after that.
Shiozaki tends to the garden, and Momo sits by, watching her work and providing her with water. She’s offered to help with the manual work, but Shiozaki is very particular about the care for these plants she has adopted, so she politely declines. Momo doesn’t take offense, though she does think it might be nice to work side-by-side with Shiozaki on something she loves so deeply.
But she enjoys simply watching, too. It is mesmerizing, in a way, to observe Shiozaki pouring her heart and soul into the garden. Whether she is pulling weeds, watering the plants, pruning the flowers, or anything in between—she does it all with such utter devotion that Momo finds herself transfixed by the sight. So often, hero students forsake their other hobbies in pursuit of their career goals, but Shiozaki has found a balance Momo is almost envious of.
(Or, perhaps she is envious of the fact that Shiozaki has a hobby to engage with in the first place.
Studying is the only things Momo has ever devoted her time to.)
After Shiozaki finishes her work, she joins Momo. They sit beside one another on a picnic blanket and eat snacks which Momo prepared in advance, and they appreciate the beauty of Shiozaki’s garden in peaceful quiet. Birds chirp overhead, bugs sing their summer songs, and leaves rustle in the breeze. The sun shines down over them, bright and hot, and for as long as they are here together, it feels as if this moment is the entire world.
The destruction and grief left behind from the war do not exist here—they cannot touch Momo or Shiozaki when they are in this place of peace. Here, in the presence of blossoming hope, they are safe and whole.
“You’re going out again?” Ashido asks, perking up from where she’d been commiserating over a homework assignment with Kaminari and Sero. “Are you going on a date~?”
Momo’s cheeks warm. “No,” she denies, though she supposes she wouldn’t be opposed to her time spent with Shiozaki being referred to in such a way. “I’m meeting up with a friend.”
“You’re always meeting up with this mysterious ‘friend’,” Kaminari points out. Apparently he, too, has decided Momo’s social life is more interesting than schoolwork. “Are you sure it’s not a mysterious girlfriend?”
“You shouldn’t assume someone’s sexuality,” Sero comments.
Ashido rolls her eyes. “Girl, please.”
Momo is not going to get into any of that right now. Yes, she is a lesbian. And, okay, she might have a small crush on Shiozaki. But none of that is her classmates’ business! Not to mention, if she lingers in the dorms talking with them for too long, she will be late meeting with Shiozaki, which she would like to avoid if at all possible.
“I am going to see Shiozaki-san, from Class B,” Momo explains, in the hopes that that will soothe their curiosity long enough to allow her an escape. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
A look of deep consideration crosses Sero’s face.
Kaminari taps his finger against his chin. “I can see it.”
Ashido giggles as she waves Momo off. “Have funnnn!” she sings. “And I’ll totally figure out if she’s into girls for you, if you want!”
Momo ignores that last comment and scurries away.
As July draws to a close, Momo finds herself wondering what will happen to the garden during their summer break. She voices this concern to Shiozaki, who admits she’s been contemplating the same conundrum for the past couple of weeks.
“I cannot stay on campus during the break, as my family will be traveling,” she says. “I’m hesitant to leave it in the care of another, but I also do not wish for it to go untended for so long. The life here will hold through late September, if given proper care. I would hate to see it die out prematurely.”
“Perhaps there is a staff member who could watch over it while you’re away?” Momo suggests. She would offer her own services, but unfortunately, her parents are expecting her to spend the break at home as well. “I can help ask around, if you’d like. I don’t want to see all your hard work go to waste.”
Some of the tension seeps from Shiozaki’s shoulders. “That would be wonderful, thank you!”
With their combined efforts, Momo and Shiozaki are able to convince Ectoplasm to tend to the garden over break. Shiozaki leaves a list of detailed instructions, which he promises to follow to the best of his ability, and they return to the dorms pleased with their success.
They reach the Class B dorm building first, but before Shiozaki can step inside, Momo catches her wrist. Shiozaki turns back to look at her, a confused frown pressed onto her face. “Is something the matter?”
Momo swallows down her nerves. “I was just thinking… We likely won’t see each other at all over break, as we both have family commitments. But I hate to think I won’t speak with you for a whole month! So what if we exchanged phone numbers? That way we will be able to maintain contact.”
“Oh!” Shiozaki nods. She slips her hand from Momo’s hold. “That sounds wonderful!”
Momo’s heart blooms at the eager agreement.
Summer break passes with many messages exchanged between Momo and Shiozaki. Momo snaps photos of every pretty flower and fascinating plant she sees so she can send them to Shiozaki, who responds with their names and fun facts about them. They talk about their trips with their families as well—though Shiozaki’s sounds much more fun than the business endeavors Momo’s parents have scheduled.
Someday, I will take you to the garden show in Kyuushuu, Shiozaki promises. A trip for the fun of it. It is my favorite event, and I’m certain you would enjoy it as well.
In the back of her mind, Momo can hear Ashido teasing about how much it sounds like a date. Momo happily agrees regardless, gushing about how great it would be to travel with Shiozaki someday. And if, in her fantasy, she holds Shiozaki’s hand while they venture through the garden together, well…
It’s not as though anyone else has to know.
Momo returns to the garden the first day she is back on campus for the fall semester. The sight is as pretty as ever, though it has changed over the course of the month she was gone as different flowers have come into season. Shiozaki is already there when she arrives, also every bit as beautiful as Momo remembers. She seems to have already finished her work for the day, now simply sitting amongst the plants while she reads.
“I am glad to see everything still in bloom.”
Shiozaki starts at the sound of Momo’s voice, but her expression relaxes into a smile as soon as she meets Momo’s eyes. “I am as well,” she agrees. “And you look just as lovely as the garden, Yaomomo-san.”
Momo’s face heats. She is not unused to compliments on her appearance, but the words settle differently coming from Shiozaki. The wrap around her like the warmth of the summer sun, buzzing in her veins like a bee flitting around a blossoming flower.
She ducks her head. “As do you.”
Shiozaki smiles, fondness shining in her eyes.
Momo takes her usual seat beside her. They share snacks as they always do, and Shiozaki tells Momo about all of the late summer flowers that have only just begun to bloom. They fall easily into the same rhythm they had before break, but there seems to be a new weight coloring their interactions. Perhaps it is just because Momo is now acutely aware of her feelings for Shiozaki, or perhaps…
(Perhaps it is because Shiozaki is silently expressing she feels the same.)
They sit closer, knees knocking against one another, leaning into one another’s space. When their fingers brush as Momo passes over food, the touch lingers longer. Shiozaki reaches up to wipe a crumb from Momo’s chin, and she gazes at Momo with the same adoration Momo has seen her offer the flowers in this garden.
“Shiozaki-san…” Momo whispers.
“I was told the way I feel about you is wrong,” Shiozaki admits quietly. “But I do not see how something that blooms with all the same beauty as the Lord’s creation could be something He would hate.”
Momo wraps her fingers around Shiozaki’s wrist, guiding her hand upwards so she can press a kiss to her knuckles. She hopes it is not obvious how her heart is nearly pounding out of her chest and her entire body seems to be shaking. “I do not think a loving God could ever hate someone as kind and caring as you.”
Shiozaki tilts her head, seemingly considering this for a long moment. But Momo is willing to be as patient as she needs, so she holds onto Shiozaki’s hand and allows her time to gather her thoughts.
A breeze rustles the plants around them. The world here is so vibrant, so colorful, so divine, and yet—Momo cannot tear her gaze away from Shiozaki’s face.
After a stretch of contemplative quiet, she tells Momo, “The Bible says that no human would ever return to the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve were cast out, but I believe what we have grown here may be the closest man could ever come to recreating that taste of heaven on earth. It was a beacon of hope to me in the aftermath of the war, and now you have become a beacon of hope in a different way. I would like to be with you, even if others may say it is wrong, because I cannot believe this is not heaven-ordained.”
Warmth blossoms in Momo’s chest.
“I would like to be with you as well,” she confesses.
Shiozaki’s lips find Momo’s like a bee returning to its favorite flower, and she tastes sweet as nectar. Momo hopes, that from this point forward, they will grow in tandem with one another, leaning on one another for support as they reach towards the sun.