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“Oh? What’s that? Do I see the soulless shambling corpses of defeated rejects before me? No, no, surely not! It’s Class 1-A after all! They couldn’t be so exhausted and pathetic after just a bit of training time in Gym Gamma? Hmmm? UA’S FINEST COULDN’T POSSIB—” the aggressively patronizing tone was cut off violently and abruptly by Kendo Itsuka’s swift chop and Monoma crumpled into a heap. Izuku bit the inside of his cheek, that looked pretty painful actually.
“Forgive us, yet again. I swear we let him out of our sight for a second and he’s already making trouble. You’d think our own training would have bled him of his antagonistic behavior, but no,” the girl commented, shaking her head.
“Give the fucker a leash then,” Kacchan mumbled and Izuku shot him a glare that went unnoticed, the blonde focused on adjusting his gauntlets but Kirishima was polite enough to give him a nudge of disapproval. Kaminari and Sero on the other hand actually had to be scolded by Iida for their loud laughter. Izuku rolled his eyes. Things just couldn’t be easy between everyone, could they?
Yaoyorozu took a few steps forward, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, “It’s quite alright, Kendo-san. We’re admittedly a bit high-strung ourselves.” She looked down, quickly wiping soot and dust from the bottom of her hero outfit. She laughed nervously, “So believe us, we know how tensions can rise like this.” Kendo smiled and Izuku had the distinct sense that the softness in that look was exclusively for his class vice president and not the group as a whole. “Good to hear. I’d hate to push away my—our best competition, Yaoyorozu.”
“I feel much the same, Kendo-san.”
“Just Kendo is fine, you know.” Yaoyorozu actually blushed a bit at that. Jirou hid the word gay in a poorly disguised cough that only served to make their vice president blush harder. The classes sort of melded together as they walked back to the dorms, Tetsutetsu dragging Monoma behind him as he talked with Awase and Kaminari about some new game. Feeling bad for the way the unconscious boy was being half-heartedly scraped across the ground, Izuku stepped forward and asked to take over the role of designated Monoma-holder. The steel hero shrugged and put the collar of Monoma’s shirt in Izuku’s hand, thanking him and transitioning smoothly back into his conversation.
Izuku sighed and lifted Monoma up to lean against his own shorter form. He bore the majority of the other’s weight and walked more slowly because of it and the exhaustion of the day in general. He hoped Monoma woke up and he’d not have to lug the boy all the way to the dorms and into his room. Though Izuku was curious as to what the B dorm set up was like. It would likely be a duplicate of his own, but perhaps the other class had added little touches that made it more unique.
Like the “Kiss the Cook and Die” apron Mina had gotten Kacchan as a gag gift that hung up in the kitchen that he claimed to hate but wore every time he cooked on the weekends. Or the little supportive sticky notes in rainbow colors Hagakure slapped on the wall surrounding the elevators. There had to be at least fifty by now. Or the bands of Sero’s tape over that one couch leg from when…someone…did something, Izuku couldn’t remember what. He thinks there was definitely some sort of faux-wrestling thing involved but the rest was blurry.
Izuku and Monoma trailed behind the others but just as the Heights Alliance came into view properly, the other teen stirred. He nearly tripped when he got his feet moving so Izuku halted and tightened his grip around the boy’s waist. “Whahh?” Monoma mumbled, blinking and bringing a hand up to muss his hair. “Are you feeling better, Monoma-kun?” Izuku asked. The Phantom Thief pushed himself away, straightening the crumpled collar and fixing his tie. “I take it that Kendo felt the need to knock me out and abandon me? Leaving me to fend for myself among the starving wolves of 1-A.”
“She didn’t abandon you, Monoma-kun,” Izuku said, pointedly not discussing the violence, “Tetsutetsu was drag, er, was bringing you back but he um, well he wasn’t exactly gentle about it, so I offered to help you instead. Sorry, if that was overstepping. I know you aren’t…fond of us in 1-A.” He started walking again and the blonde kept pace with him despite the frown on his face indicating he’d rather not be beside him at all. Izuku wasn’t overly concerned though. Monoma thrived off insulting the class as a whole, it seemed; Izuku all by himself wasn’t as easy a target.
“Yes, well, it stands to reason that you’d be left behind as the weakest amongst them. You’ve hardly even begun to stop brutalizing yourself in every way imaginable. Coupled with the—” Okay, so maybe Izuku’s assessment had been a bit off. He crossed his arms and huffed, speeding up his walk despite the protest in his sore muscles. “I’m sorry my help and general person is so detestable, Monoma-kun. I’ll see you around, I suppose.”
His pride shouldn’t have been as bruised as it was but…Izuku thought that maybe if he’d shown the belligerent male how nice and genuine he and his peers were (and instill in him that competition can and should be friendly in UA) he would grow to like them. Or at least hate them in less of an overly dramatic way. Not that Kacchan had been much better in the past, but nowadays the explosive boy had begun to be less verbally abrasive outside of his actual fighting. Monoma was just plain rude. And his laugh erred more on the side of unhinged than amused. But that didn’t mean he was a bad person. He wanted to be a hero just like the rest of them. His heart had to be in the right place, even if his words never were.
“W-wait a minute!” Monoma caught up to him quickly because of those stupidly long legs of his (great, now Izuku was being unnecessarily mean, too) and almost touched his arm but seemed to think better of it at the last second. “I didn’t mean to…upset…you.”
“I find that incredibly hard to believe, Monoma-kun.”
“No, it’s true. I can admit when I’m in the wrong. Unlike a certain class of vainglorious, overhyped—”
“Monoma-kun.”
“Right, right. Sorry, force of habit. But I didn’t mean to lash out at you specifically. If, if I’m honest you’re actually one of the least despicable members of 1-A. And your Quirk is interesting. I’ve never come across one so powerful that I wouldn’t want to copy with my own.”
Izuku’s head dipped slightly in mortification, “Well, I’m getting better with it. It’s just really complex in practice despite seeming so straightforward. And I didn’t actually know it was er, a part of me for years. I’m a little behind you and everyone else.” He gripped his right arm with his left hand. Monoma’s frown deepened, his gray eyes fixated on the shorter boy. “You…you’re catching up, though. Arguably. For a, a late bloomer.” Izuku turned to him with a smile, “Yeah. Yeah I am. Thanks for noticing.” Monoma looked away, “Don’t let it go to your head; there’s enough inflated egos in your class as is. It’s only a matter of time before they all fall thanks to their own hubris and Class B finally steps into the limelight.”
“I’m sure both groups will keep each other on their toes,” Izuku responded magnanimously.
“Deku-kun, hurry up! Sato’s gonna show us how to make cranberry scones! Mina’s gonna hoard all the good ones if you don’t move your butt!”
“Coming!” the boy shouted back to the jumping form of Uraraka at the top of the steps to their dorm. “See you around, Monoma-kun. And try to keep an eye out for Kendo-san’s chops!” Monoma’s eyes narrowed at the last comment, knowing it was a return for his own jab earlier but the earnestness in the other’s voice made it seem like he actually didn’t want Monoma to be hit again. He turned abruptly, coattails flaring out, and strode back to his own room. He’d had more than enough of 1-A’s nonsense. More than enough.
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“That green bro’s pretty cute, huh? Midoriya, from 1-A?” Tetsutetsu remarks to Awase in the locker room one day, awkwardly trying to tug off his shirt but his arms are bent and he’s sort of stuck. It takes him what Monoma considers to be a frightfully long three seconds to figure out how to get out of the fabric without ripping it in half with his bare hands. Sadly, that’s something he’d seen the other teen do before when particularly frustrated.
“I guess?” the welding boy shrugging, “I don’t really have a thing for dudes but he’s pleasant enough to look at.” Tetsutetsu nods, “Ah man, I forget not everyone swings both ways sometimes ‘cuz like, my parents do and I do and that one uncle of mine who always shows up late to reunions because he’s bad with directions and also that old lady at the supermarket I go to. I mean, I think. She always flirts with this one lady who buys a ton of cat food but this dude came once and she totally gave him an up-and-down.”
“You’re getting a little off track, Tetsu,” Awase said.
“BUT anyway, I just was thinking like last week? When we saw 1-A? He’s—you know, Midoriya—he’s like kinda really my type, you know? Like all soft and nice but also super strong and manly! I want to spar with him sooo bad.”
Monoma scoffs in disdain, “Is that some sort of euphemism?” Tetsutetsu scrunches his brows, “No, what do plants have to do with fighting? I’m talking rolling around on the mat for a few rounds with the dude. I get he’s green, but he’s not a veggie for those little bear dudes.” Oh for crying out loud! “EUPHEMISM, Tetsutetsu. Not, not eucalyptus! I wanted to know if you were insinuating that…nevermind.” He focused on making sure the hem of his sleeves were symmetrical and adjusted his belt. He felt miffed by the metallic boy’s comment and his agitation only grew when the other misconstrued his own words so ridiculously. Eucalyptus!!
“I don’t get it.”
“We know, Tetsutetsu,” Kaibara said dryly.
“I just don’t get it.”
“We know, Tetsutetsu,” Kaibara repeated.
“Anyway, I like his smile. And his freckles. He’s definitely cute. So’s that zappy dude. And Kirishima of course, I mean like he’s my bro and my rival but like, still real cute. And the guns on that gravity girl? She’s like super jacked. Love that in a lady. Love that in a person just, man, good arms are hot as hell.”
“Was there a point to all of this,” Monoma cut in a bit more sharply than he’d intended but felt no need to apologize for.
“Nah, just making conversation. You think any of them are cute, Monoma?”
“Class A are nothing but a slapdash collection of jesters playing knights for the amusement of Aizawa and Principal Nedzu. They’re all beneath me, beneath us all, and their comeuppance will occur soon enough.”
“Woah, bro, no need for that kinda language! I woulda settled for a yes and some names, I didn’t need to hear all your sex talk. I mean, damn. We’re in school dude.”
“Every day with you, Tetsutetsu. It’s every day with you,” Monoma remarked as he massaged his temples and strove to keep his temper in check.
“No, we don’t have classes on Sundays, remember?”
“I swear on my mother’s life if someone doesn’t stop this, I’m going to—”
Awase smoothly stepped in, patting Tetsutetsu on the back, “Hey buddy, on the subject of school, do you still need help with history?”
“YES! Please, this new assignment is just—it’s killing me!”
“I’m glad something is,” Monoma muttered sourly to himself, stalking out of the locker room. He’d much rather wait ahead of the others while he cleared his head. Class B was his largest source of pride next to his own Quirk but gods, how they grated on his patience in times like this.
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The short grandfather clock hanging on the wall beat its perfect metronome rhythm in his ear as Monoma’s flipped through his textbook and jotted down notes. He really needs to pick his grades up, remembering the swell of disappointment and self-loathing that had crashed into him when he’d been forced to take remedial courses during the forest training camp. His only pacifying thought had been that so many of the overly glorified 1-A students had been taking the course alongside him. Of course, the fact that he’d had to remain in their presence for so long was detestable, so all-in-all he’d not been very pleased with himself.
Not to mention the villain attack. He’d been so foolish to have felt that sliver of jealousy in him when he heard of the events at USJ despite his jibes at the troublemaking nature of Aizawa’s students. When the League had manifested in the woods, when he’d seen the genuine worry in Vlad King’s eyes at the thought of any of the teens he was in charge of being hurt—Monoma had felt fear. He’d felt it, deep and chilling, in his bones and could hardly fathom how Class A had managed to fight these monsters before and make it out alive, could continue to laugh loudly at the lunch table.
It’d taken a while before Monoma’s shame at his inaction, the limitations of his courage and Quirk, grew greater than his actual fear. He’d poured himself into training harder and stretching beyond the borders of what he’d taken for granted. He had to be stronger and better to bring pride to Class B’s name. To show the world that the children in 1-A were just that, children, and he’d grow to surpass them in time along with his classmates.
The other group of teens may have had some sort of odd advantage to facing villains so early and struggling as they had with that obnoxious thug being kidnapped and all, but Class B and Monoma himself had the opportunity to hone their skills as nature and the curriculum at UA intended. And that itself was an advantage too. Class A may have tasted what it was like to be heroes with their lives on the line more often but Class B was further along the well-trodden path that had been paved by countless UA alumni before them.
Monoma and his classmates would reign supreme; it was inevitable. And not a single person from 1-A could stop them. Not the Todoroki prodigy or the Yaoyorozu heiress, not the latest in the line of Ingenium, not that crude and boorish ash blonde with all his snarls and rage, and certainly not Midoriya Izuku. As if such a contradictory creature—with his big rounded features denoting softness and sincerity mixed with that defiant set in his jaw and the hardness of his muscles flexing as green lightning danced across them and shattered through whatever obstacle was in their way—could halt the ever-forward momentum of Class B. What utter nonsense. Class A was just utter and complete nonsense!
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Izuku was tossed down hard on the training mat, but couldn’t stop himself from smiling up at Tetsutetsu, enjoying himself. His legs wrapped around the guy’s waist and in a swift movement had reversed their positions, pinning Tetsutetsu’s lower half with thick thighs and clamping his opponent’s wrists down with his hands. The man underneath him let out a rush of air and his face was sort of…oh, oh right, this position was a little, well. And their chests were brushing and their faces were close and—
“Ha, told you bro!” Kirishima said loudly and Izuku got up quickly, extending a hand out to help his sparring partner up. Tetsutetsu accepted the hand easily and was pulled up in a smooth motion. He used his free hand to grasp Izuku’s forearm and stare at him with misty eyes, “I wanted to win, but man there’s no one I’d rather have top me. ‘Cept maybe Kirishima. That was a manly battle, Midoriya. Thank you!”
“Uh-u-uh, right. Yeah. Th-thanks. You as well, um, good match. Fought well.” Did he really have to say ‘top me,’ though? Izuku didn’t need to think about that! Kirishima clapped them both heavily on the back and Izuku stumbled forward slightly, “He was training with me and Ojirou, so he’s like the king of mixing martial arts with good ol’ fashioned bash and grabs.”
Tetsutetsu turned and threw his arms around Kirishima, “Dude! Bash and grab with me!! Lemme get some water first but I wanna throw down still!” Kirishima laughed, “Yeah, dude. Let’s rock it.” They walked off to grab the aforementioned drink and give the steel hero a chance to catch his breath some with their arms wrapped firm and snug and rather low around each other’s waists. Well. Okaaaay.
A towel was thrown at Izuku’s face and he sputtered as he pulled it off. “You’re sweaty,” Monoma noted, “it’s unbecoming, but of course it’s all well and good as long as everybody plays nice and has fun, right? That’s your whole thing.” His voice was level in volume but the tone he had was scalding. Izuku was very confused. “Um, thanks for the towel, Monoma-kun. I appreciate it.”
“Yes, well, you’d better. I’m not one to dote on those I feel aren’t worth my time. Not that you’d care about me with all your focus on wrestling. Don’t let me distract you from rolling around and getting dirty with whoever’s next because I’m sure—”
“Do you want to spar with me Monoma-kun?” Izuku asked before the blonde could descend into what was likely another tirade.
“Do I want—no! Of course not! I would, I don’t need to, there’s no reason for me to!”
“Okay, just figured I’d ask. Would you like to take observational notes on the others, then? I don’t get a chance to write about Class B all that often and I’d like to improve on what I have so far while Tetsutetsu, Shishida, Bondo, and Honenuki are here.”
Monoma appeared taken aback by Izuku’s offer but huffed and showed his agreement by trailing along after him as he tucked himself in a good spot to see all the little one-on-one matches spread about the room. Izuku’s pen set about catching every detail while he stared out at the others but he continued to try and have a proper conversation with Monoma nonetheless. “Why did you come along with the others if you had no intention of sparring?”
“I find it greatly entertaining to see my peers defeat yours thoroughly in any sort of battle. Hand-to-hand combat may not be my forte but appreciating the way my classmates pummel some modesty and shame into 1-A most certainly is.” Izuku glanced at him, “Alright, I guess.” It was quiet then, save for the scratching of Izuku’s writing utensil and the grunts of exertion from the various pairs duking it out.
“Why did you come? For Tetsutetsu’s challenge?” Monoma found himself asking.
“No, I planned on just watching and taking notes,” Izuku explained, shaking his book in the air before he put it back in his lap, “But Kirishima said he wanted to see Tetsutetsu and I fight. I think he said something about a manly show between mutual friends being the sort of inspirational sight he needed to give him courage.”
“Courage? For what? Not that I particularly care about the pedantic lives of your classmates.”
“I’m not entirely sure but,” Izuku lowered his voice and leaned closer, sliding his book up to cover his mouth as he spoke into Monoma’s ear, “I think he’s going to finally ask Tetsutetsu out!” Monoma seemed to freeze in place. “Ah, but you’d probably frown upon that, wouldn’t you? Intermingling between our A and B, how horrid!” He pulled away and smiled to show he was just teasing when he noticed that Monoma’s neck and ears were pink. Hmmm.
“Of course not, that’s…I might detest 1-A—with good reason, might I add—but I’m not immune to the, the importance of affection. Tetsutetsu’s always had terrible taste but I must admit that I doubt his desire to rise up and defeat your lot once and for all would be lessened by accepting the redhead. Even if his lust clouds his mind, Tetsutetsu’s will is strong.” Izuku blinked, “Oh. Well as Kirishima-kun’s friend, I do take offense to the implication that he’s anything less than amazing but that was all rather…reasonable of you. Almost congenial, even.”
“Yes, well don’t expect it again. I just think there aren’t many options for Tetsutetsu out there. I’d hardly want to subject him to anyone but if he’s found happiness or will find it soon with your friend, just, just let them be, I say!” Monoma said. Izuku nodded, “I agree.”
“Nothing wrong with romance, after all!” the blonde continued.
“Exactly.”
“Nothing wrong about feeling unexpected ways about someone else!” His voice was high and borderline frantic now.
“Yeahhh,” Izuku continued, a little curious as to where this was going and a lot worried about being present for it.
“Nothing wrong about considering someone in an entirely new light despite the fact that you have little, if ANYTHING, in common and on some level, you can hardly stand to be near them because a part of you keeps imagining what it would’ve been like had you met earlier in life or been pushed together by fate instead of pitted against each other by nature!”
“….yeah, okay, yeah. Monoma-kun, I’m now entirely convinced we’re no longer talking about Kirishima-kun and Tetsutetsu and that we really ought to get you to Recovery Girl because you’re looking incredibly pale like you’re about to pass out and wait, don’t stand up so abruptly or—!”
Monoma swayed and fell sideways as his eyes rolled up, Izuku’s arms catching him before he could actually slam into the ground. “Or you’ll actually pass out. Is what I was going to say.”
“Sir Monoma be stricken with illness?! Pray tell he will be removed posthaste and directed toward the infirmary with which—” Shishida began before Honenuki slapped his arm to shut him up, “The big guy’ll spend the next ten minutes talking all Shakespeare. You gonna be alright taking him to RG on your own or you want one of us to help?”
Izuku sighed and took a moment to get Monoma into a more suitable hold for transport, supporting the lankier body against his own with his arms gripping him just below the knees and toward the middle of his back. The blonde’s head rested what Izuku hoped was comfortably on his upper chest. Not that it mattered much with the other boy being unconscious, but Izuku had been called softhearted many, many, many times in his life.
“No, thank you, I’ll be fine. But if Kirishima-kun could bring my notes back to the dorms for me, I’d really appreciate it.”
“Sure thing, Midoriya! Count on me!”
Izuku left with a last thank you and a general shout of goodbye to everyone.
“……Was that a bridal carry, Tetsu?”
“Looked like it, Kiri.”
“Manly as hell.”
“Manly as hell,” Tetsutetsu agreed, nodding sagely.
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“A charlatan,” Monoma morosely called from the couch and the students milling around the living area all ignored him.
“An ignorant deceiver masquerading as a prophet,” he went on, undaunted by the silence his words were met with. Kendo’s eye twitched and Tokage looked like she was on the verge of saying something in response but Manga tugged on her sleeve while shaking his head, the speech bubble now morphed into a spiky starburst with a bold red NO!! at its center.
Monoma’s head tossed back as his voice rose, “BLASPHEMOUS! A TRAITOR TO MY OWN CAUSE!!” Manga tried to put his hand up but Tokage was just too nice. “What are you talking about Monoma?” The collective sigh of disappointment and exasperation from the other occupants in the room cause her to flinch slightly but Monoma showed no signs of acknowledging anything other than the fact he was spoken to.
“I’ve committed treason of the highest order, Tokage-san. Tartarus itself would not be enough to truly punish me for what I’ve done.” Kendo pinched her brows, “For the love of all that is holy, Monoma, could you cease the dramatics for a single moment? Just one, it’s not too much to ask. I’ve not led a life of sin, I don’t deserve to be subjected to this kind of abuse.”
The Phantom Thief laughed, though it was more a derisive and self-deprecating cackle than anything implying actual amusement. “You think you have it rough, Kendo-san? I’ve been cursed by that ghastly manipulative creature into questioning the very ideals that have guided my every movement within this academy. But he just appears before me, stumbles into my life like a natural disaster and rips my roots, the foundation of my life Kendo, right up from the ground. I’m tetherless and full of, of this disgusting curiosity about him that absolutely sickens me. I should go back to Recovery Girl.”
“Literally just a crush,” Kendo mumbled.
Kamakiri released a series of clicks that the others recognized as his laughter, rather rare to hear from him as he was kind of self-conscious about it. “Going to be carried there by Prince Charming again? You look so stupid in the halls the other day, snuggled up like a princess.” More clicking was heard before he was chastised by Komori, but the girl was muffling her own distinct “ufufufu~” laughter behind a few mushrooms so it had very little effect. The copycat teen glared, “Feel free to allow me to wallow in my suffering alone and continue my crisis of self-identification in peace.”
“Do it your room then and not in a public place,” Kaibara said without remorse.
Monoma was seriously contemplating beating the boy and the laughing teens with the nearest couch pillow or perhaps screaming into it for a good hour or so when Yanagi slid up soundlessly on his left side and placed her hand on his shoulder, startling everyone except her. He swore he felt his soul leave his body at the touch and when it drifted back, he tilted his head to look up at her. She didn’t smile at him—though truthfully he wasn’t sure if she was capable of it—and her voice was as quiet and toneless as it always was. “You have feelings for Midoriya. They do not necessarily mean your other more established feelings are automatically invalidated. You don’t have to act on any of them either.”
She shuffled away toward the kitchen and Monoma was struck by the solid and encouraging nature of her advice. And because that might have been the longest string of words anyone had ever heard put together by the ghostlike girl. Taking a cursory glance around the room at the variety of astonished faces, Monoma confirmed it; Yanagi never spoke that much and for her to have done so to help Monoma was actually incredibly sweet and considerate of her.
“Yes. Those are excellent points, Yanagi-san. Thank you,” he managed to get out after a few moments of just gaping. She glanced at him from the kitchen and silently continued to prepare herself a pot of coffee which the other students watched her dump into a large soup bowl and shuffle to the elevators with, sipping occasionally. It was quiet enough to hear a pin drop in the aftermath of the elevator doors sliding shut over the impassive young woman.
“She just left with like six cups of coffee in a bowl. Like not even any milk or sugar or anything. I didn’t even know we had coffee in the kitchen. What the fuck? Like seriously, what the fuck?” Kuroiro asked, slipping from behind the curtain and scaring the group of teens yet again.
“Were you there the whole time?!” Tokage questioned.
“I fell asleep.”
“I should be paid for this,” Kendo said to herself, “I should be financially compensated for all of this. Generously.”
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Izuku finished his fifth lap around the track and wiped his face down, looking for his water bottle. A flash of red caught his eye and he saw that Monoma was sitting under a tree nearby with his bottle. The blonde shook it in the air again and Izuku jogged over, slipping down next to the other teen and enjoying the blessed coolness of the tree’s shadow. He took the bottle and popped the top open with his teeth. “Poisoned, I take it?” he joked, taking a few hearty gulps before slowing down.
Monoma didn’t laugh but his lips twitched upwards and that was good enough for Izuku. Clearly, he wasn’t the worst company the guy had ever had, that was kind of nice to know. “You’re pretty good company, actually.”
“Oh, said that last bit out loud, huh? Sorry, bad habit. Comes with the mumbling.”
“And the unnecessary apologies?”
“Yup! Sorry,” Izuku added cheekily, enjoying the light banter, and Monoma did laugh this time, knocking Izuku’s shoulder with his own. The green-haired boy was genuinely thrown off his rhythm by it. The laughing, not the playful nudge. Monoma didn’t sound all hoity-toity and snide this time. It was…the sound he made was pleasant? Like real? And happy? He looked handsome when he laughed like that; his smile softer and far less creepy than normal, eyes crinkled a bit in the corners, the hint of a little dimple on his right cheek.
Izuku started noticing the way the light filtering through the leaves caught on the blonde’s hair and made it shine a bit like pale gold and quickly turned his head away to hide the beginnings of a blush. He started fiddling with his bottle, pushing the cap down and pulling it back up with his teeth in an attempt to stop his mouth from forming the words, “you look nice like this” or “I like the sound of your laugh.” When the urge to blurt the phrases out had passed, he stopped the repetitive motion immediately. It had probably annoyed the other boy actually.
He chanced a peek out the corner of his eyes to see whether or not he looked annoyed enough to deserve an apology (and they’d just got over that, hadn’t they) and saw that Monoma was already staring at him. Not in a hostile way, just looking closely. Nervously, Izuku patted his own cheeks and tugged on a few stray curls. “Something on my face? In my hair?” Monoma blinked rapidly like he was taken out of a trance and coughed, nodding. “Yes. Here, I doubt you’ll be able to find it just flailing about like an idiot.” He lightly swatted Izuku’s hands to get him to shift them out of the way and then slid his fingers through thick green locks for a moment or two.
He pulled away with his fingers pinched tight together around something but Izuku couldn’t see what it was before Monoma tossed it in the grass behind them. It had to have been small because Izuku hadn’t felt anything being tugged out from his no-doubt messy head and his hair and scalp were kind of sensitive. Maybe it was dandelion fluff or a piece of fuzz from a shirt or something. Monoma must have a good eye for little details if he’d caught a tiny thing like that.
“Got it,” the blonde said and gave him a smile. It was a nice smile. Suited his face. Izuku should stop that train of thought before he said something silly out loud again. “Blue,” he said abruptly. So much for not saying something silly. Was that a new record for him? A whole 4 seconds?
Monoma looked confused, “What?” Izuku ducked his head down and started ripping up the grass to collect in a small pile. “It’s not like important or anything, I just uhhh, back when I first helped you after Kendo-san’s er intervening a while ago, I noticed that your eyes are kind of blueish. I thought they were just gray when I first met you. But they’re not. They’re sort of…bluey.” Intelligent. Well-said. Full marks on that one, Izuku. Bluey, what the hell was wrong with him?
“Oh. Yes. It’s part of the reason the accents in my hero costume are blue, to make them pop. Appearances are important to hero work too, after all. That and blue happens to be my favorite color—not in a narcissistic way. I just like it. Though recently I’ve been kind of interested in green.”
“Green’s nice, I suppose. I’m a bit used to it,” Izuku said, ruffling his hair, “but it is nice. Blue’s really pretty, though. And red is fun. Vibrant.” He shook his water bottle and knocked his shoes together to emphasise his point.
“Yes. I agree. Though green feels more lively to me than red does.”
“Reminds you of plants, right? Living things and all that.” He suddenly felt sort of bad about the pile of ripped grass and smoothed it out like that would help somehow. Bit late for that, Izuku.
“Maybe. Or maybe it’s something else,” Monoma said cryptically.
Izuku giggled, “Why are we even talking about colors right now?”
“You brought it up!”
“You kept the conversation going, though, you could have just let it taper off into awkwardness! That’s like my go-to thing!”
“Well forgive me for actually wanting to chat with you longer. I promise the next time I wish to converse, I’ll just sit in silence beside you instead and wait for you to get up and leave me alone,” the teen responded while rolling his eyes.
“Noooo, don’t do that!” Izuku cried in faux-pain. “How can I face the day without Monoma Neito’s ceaseless haranguing of all the flaws of 1-A and the vague premonitions of our inevitable demise under the onslaught of the superior-in-every-conceivable-way team of 1-B? I just can’t imagine what life will be like without knowing exactly how much you hate me and my classmates at any given moment!”
“I don’t hate you.”
Izuku swallowed and met Monoma’s wide eyes with his own. The other was quick to add a clause to his previous statement, “As much! Not as much as the others! You should be just as bad, really, being cut from the same ilk as them, but you aren’t. You’re more tolerable. So I don’t hate you…as much.” His voice grew quieter, “Not…not really at all, I guess. If I’m being honest.”
“That’s…that’s nice. For the record I—well, I don’t hate you either. You’re also tolerable, Monoma-kun.”
“Thank you, Midoriya.”
“No problem. It’s literally the least I can do? But I get how it was probably really hard to admit for you and to me, so really, I should be the one saying that. Thank you, Monoma-kun!”
“…You’re welcome.” The quiet that descended between them under the shade of the tree was soothing and pleasant. Izuku wasn’t heated from the run anymore and if anything, it was a bit on the cooler side now that he was resting. Yet somehow, a part of him still felt sort of warm. He liked it.
:—:o:—: :—:o:—: :—:o:—: :—:o:—: :—:o:—:
“My boyfriend is so freaking badass and cute, you know? We were making out and he cut my lip on accident because like we both have sharp teeth and I was just gonna lick it and move on, right? But he pulls away and says sorry all sweetly and gave it a little kiss and rubs my face and asks if I’m okay and if I wanted to go see Recovery Girl. He’s so freaking perfect!!”
“You’ve said that like eight times today, Tetsu,” Awase said with a groan. “We get it. You love Kirishima!”
“Hell yeah, I do. ’S why I kept the busted lip since he gave it to me. Like a battle scar but with more love and less fighting. I got kinda really excited after it too and now Kiri’s lip matches. Kinda. He’s got two cuts. Looks hot, not gonna lie. Tasted weird but eh.” He shrugged.
“Mint. Or maybe milk…with honey,” Monoma murmured, twirling his pen and staring out the window of the library.
“Uh, what?”
“Hmm. Nothing, just thinking about h—homework.”
“Homework,” Awase repeated skeptically. “Homework about what, tea flavors?”
“Tea is a suitable comparison. Calming. Smells nice. Lifts my mood. Warm.”
“Oh gods, he’s mooning over the little bunny guy again. As if we need another Tetsu around. Keep your swooning to yourself, Princess,” Kamakiri said, clicking up a storm again. Tetsutetsu looked confused for a second before his face lit up and he grabbed Monoma by the shoulders, shaking him as he whooped with joy. “YEAH! That’s awesome, bro. You like Midoriya!! So he was your type after all, huh? Cool. Oooh, double-dates!”
Monoma pulled himself out of the iron grip with a grimace, scooting his chair so he’d be out of range “I’m not dating him, idiot. And I don’t see why I would ever want to go out willing with you and the rockhead if I were.”
“Uh, ‘cuz we’re all friends, dude? Duh. And don’t call him a rockhead.”
“We aren’t all friends. You’re my classmate and their members of the class destined to be crushed underneath our feet as we rise and take the glory of unmatched champions in UA’s hall of fame, to be remembered for eons as the—”
“Aww man, I thought we were friends,” the other boy cut in, visibly drooping. He looked like a kicked puppy. A bulky puppy that could break through walls with ease and withstand immense heat and pressure but a puppy nonetheless. And annoyingly, Monoma kinda liked dogs. Stupidly cute little mutts.
He sighed and tentatively patted a muscular arm, “That came out…I suppose considering the amount of time we’ve spent together and the many trials we’ve faced as a team, one could make the argument that we’re on friendly terms.”
“Hell yeah, friends!”
“No double-dates, though. I can’t afford to jeopardize mine and Midoriya’s brain cell count by spending inordinate amounts of time with you and your equivalently ludicrous boyfriend.”
“Lotta big words, but whatever.”
“…You do like him a lot though, hmm? Kirishima? You’re…happier together in a romantic sense than when you were just…pals?”
“Of course. Dude means a lot to me. I know we’re like young and stuff and it’s not like we’re promised forever or like even past high school, you know? We’re gonna become heroes and then we might be stationed on opposite sides of the nation or something. I dunno the future. He doesn’t. But I want to make his present good for him. And he wants the same for me. We do that by being together. Simple as that.”
And it was simple. Yet rather profound. Not exactly the type of philosophical answer one would expect from the boy who tripped and dented a wall with his thick Quirk-toughed skull during the first week of school. Though there was a chance that was just a rumor. Monoma hadn’t seen it himself but Kaibara said it happened. And well, Kaibara didn’t have a reason to lie.
Tetsutetsu grinned, teeth looking especially sharp and dangerous, “And I still have yet to pay him back for the Sports Festival. He motivates me like nothing else. To be better.”
“Better huh?” Monoma said softly as he thought of the note Midoriya had slipped him earlier when he mentioned struggling with English and history that held his cell phone number on it for him to text any difficult questions to, the look in those green eyes when he’d thanked him, the way the words ‘I don’t hate you’ had slipped out of his own mouth so easily and readily like he had been waiting to say it for ages just two days ago.
“Better,” he repeated thoughtfully. Was Midoriya…could he be motivating Monoma to be better? And, more importantly, could Monoma ever do the same for him?
:—:o:—: :—:o:—: :—:o:—: :—:o:—: :—:o:—:
The texting gradually morphed into something more loose and natural than conversations about phonetics and foundation dates for famous hero agencies. Midoriya went off on tangents that ranged from music to comics to hypotheticals about other animals with Quirks like their benevolent and enigmatic principal, making sure to emphasize he was interested in observational research but was entirely against any experimentation on such creatures. And Monoma let the derailing happen, contributing to it more with his probing questions about Midoriya’s favorite foods, what Midoriya liked to do for fun, why he modeled his hero costume after a long-eared rodent…the last one earned him some radio silence that bore an obvious undertone of embarrassment and righteous anger.
And then he received a text that was clearly not meant for him that made his heart lodge in his throat and all sound in the moderately busy common room to muffle like he was underwater. He read it twice before shooting to his feet and booking it to his room, not even bothering with the elevator and just taking the stairs two or three at a time. It was a wonder he didn’t fall and smash his face in.
Breathing hard, he slammed the door behind him and tossed himself in his desk chair like a ragdoll.
Midoriya
6:53pm
> Momo-san? What does kissing feel like?
The soft tune he’d set for Midoriya’s incoming messages (it had these gentle guitar strums over a few quiet piano keys and was named Dawn or Morning Glow or something in the list of pre-programmed ringtones on his phone) came through again and more was added.
Midoriya
6:55pm
> I’m just asking because of the conversation we had before about um, well, about liking someone of the same gender as you. And I had this dream, er daydream I guess, about being kissed by this guy I think I might like and I know it’s not the same but you’re the only one I know who’s dating someone aside from Kirishima-kun and I don’t think he’d explain it in a way I could understand. It’s silly because he probably doesn’t even like me back but I keep thinking about it and if I ever do confess and he accepts my feelings I just…how will I know I’m kissing right? I never did it before!
Midoriya
6:55pm
> UR NOT MOMO-SNA, FWEJHAKBHKVF
Midoriya
6:56pm
> MOMONA-KNU PLZ IGNORE THAT WHOL THING!!!
> I’M SO SORRY, YOUR NAEMS ARE NEXT TO EACH OTER IN MY PHONE!!
> SORRY! DON’T READ THAT IF YOU HAVEMT ALREDY!
Midoriya
6:57pm
> SO SORRY!! DON’T HATE ME! OR LAUGH! I’LL DIE. PLZ.
Monoma
6:58pm
> You’re fine.
Midoriya
6:58pm
> Awhfbeqkgufjvew. Fine like you didn’t read it??
Monoma
7:00pm
> I read it. There’s nothing you need to worry about, though. I get it. It was a private conversation with a friend. I shouldn’t have read it when I saw a name that wasn’t mine but I did. So I’m sorry. But you’re fine. I think. You keysmashed and made a bunch of typos. So maybe not
Midoriya
7:02pm
> I might die anyway. I can’t move past this, can I? I’m so sorry. Forget this and preferably also forget my existence.
Monoma
7:02pm
> I said you’re fine. You’re fine. I’m curious about your little crush, but I’m not gonna pry. Unless you feel like sharing.
Which one of those spineless, arrogant, insufferable Class A mongrels had warped their stupid selves into something that thought themselves worthy of Midoriya? Who had tricked the teen into blushing as he walked just slightly behind them in the halls? What boy had the gall to catch his pretty green eyes?
Midoriya
7:03pm
> No, no, no. I’m mortified enough as is, Monoma-kun. I can’t tell you that. My heart couldn’t take it.
Monoma
7:04pm
> I’ll tell you mine, all’s fair in love and war and whatnot. It’s also a boy if that helps ease you at all.
Monoma
7:07pm
> Midoriya?
Midoriya
7:10pm
> Oh. I didn’t know you um. I mean there’s a lot here at UA. Statistically, they say 7 in every 12 identifies as something other than straight nowadays, so we’re the majority! We’re two of that statistic right now. Hahaha.
Monoma
7:11pm
> Didn’t need the lesson, but okay? So who’s the lucky guy?
> Lucky in that he was determined to be attractive to you. Not that he’d be lucky to have you. HA!
Monoma
7:13pm
> Not that anyone wouldn’t be. Lucky that is. For you. To have.
> To have you.
> Fuck.
Midoriya
7:14pm
> Language, Monoma-kun. We don’t need more heroes like Kacchan.
Monoma
7:15pm
> Don’t detract from the matter at hand. Is it Bakugou? Is that why you mentioned him? Have a thing for shitty blondes who can’t be bothered to wear their uniforms properly?
That obnoxious prick. Blustering around with his explosions and stupidly spiked hair thinking he’s so above them all when Monoma is the one who wants to treat Midoriya right and—
Midoriya
7:16pm
> I don’t think it’s really a type thing, but he is blonde. Um, not Kacchan though. I don’t have a death wish.
Monoma wracked his brain to recall the other pathetic vain losers in that class. Blonde, blonde, blonde.
Monoma
7:16pm
> Tailboy? Seems too plain for you.
Midoriya
7:17pm
> He’s not plain, but he’s just a friend. I mean, I guess the guy I do like is just a friend too but it’s, I dunno, a little different.
Monoma
7:17pm
> You want to be kissed by this friend. That’s a lot different.
Midoriya
7:18pm
> Yeah. Yeah I guess so.
> Have you kissed anyone yet? Is that okay to ask? I mean you said you had a crush, so you want to kiss someone now. I think. I’m assuming you want to kiss him.
Monoma
7:20pm
> A lot.
> Kiss him. I want to a lot. I haven’t yet. With anyone. He’d be my first but he’s not interested.
Midoriya
7:21pm
> In you or kissing? Not everyone likes kissing I guess.
> But you
Monoma
7:25pm
> ‘But you’ what?
Midoriya
7:26pm
> You’d be
> Nice
> To kiss
> I think
> Thought about it before
> A lot
Monoma
7:27pm
> Blonde
> I’m blonde
> I’m blonde and I have a crush on you and you have a crush on me
Midoriya
7:28pm
> I guess?
> Yes, I mean yes
> It’s late. We should sleep.
Monoma
7:29pm
> It’s not that late
> …Are you thinking about me kissing you now?
Monoma
7:33pm
> Are you?
> Don’t ignore me.
Midoriya
7:36 pm
> I’m going to bed.
> Yes.
> Goodnight, Monoma-kun.
Monoma
7:37pm
> Goodnight, Midoriya.
:—:o:—: :—:o:—: :—:o:—: :—:o:—: :—:o:—:
Monoma-kun was there under the same tree they’d talked under before when Izuku finished his run. He debated running another ten laps until the boy left before he shook his head at his own cowardice and jogged up to sit beside the blonde. His water bottle was pressed into his hands and his face felt ridiculously warm. The workout, obviously. The workout and the sun.
“You’re sweaty and gross.”
“I know.” Izuku was in to process of removing some of the said sweat with his towel but a flash of impishness at the other’s words made him leave the sweat on his nape and collar alone. A sudden breeze cooled those spots more so than the rest of him and he almost cracked a little vindictive smile at that.
“You’re one of the most laudable members of the most egregiously abominable classes to tarnish UA’s name and stain the legacies embedded in every square inch of its campus.”
“So you’ve told me.” Izuku took a large swig of water, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
“I feel asleep last night thinking about holding your hand. Kissing you under this tree like I wanted to the other day.”
Izuku’s fingers splayed in the grass and he fought the ridiculous urge to rip up some, throw them at Monoma, and flee.
“So?” he asked instead. “You think you’re special? I thought the same.” Izuku’s voice was supposed to sound challenging and maybe a little judgmental, possibly condescending, maybe vaguely flirtatious. It came out passive aggressive at best and the way he practically whispered the last sentence just made it seem like he was waiting for something. Which he was, but still!
“So,” Monoma said, hand falling to rest on Izuku’s and there must be some fancy telekinesis Quirk at work that the jerk had copied and was using because Izuku’s head was turning to face him and his eyes met bluish-gray ones before shutting too tight and he was holding his breath and then something pressed against his lips and just stayed there immobile for a moment. A little oddly textured; Monoma’s lips were a little chapped and they were thinner than Izuku’s so they didn’t match up perfectly.
Monoma pulled back and Izuku opened one eye and then the other when he determined it was okay to do so. The copycat teen was just looking at his face with this little soft smile. His eyes moved to rest on Izuku’s freckles, then his eyes, his mouth, his eyes again, his mouth again. Izuku wasn’t smiling, but he sucked his bottom lip in and flexed the hand that was under the blonde’s before huffing and kissing the boy for the second time.
“Does this mean you might grow to hate 1-A a little less?” Izuku asked as he pulled away, shifting to press his back and head against the tree. Monoma mirrored his positioning, though his head was angled slightly towards Izuku even though the One for All user was looking up at the sky and not at him.
“No. Of course not. Mutually exclusive feelings exist. I hate them the same amount. Maybe more, for hiding you from me for this long.”
“Hiding he says. Like I was just crouching behind Satou and waiting for you to come sweep me off my feet.”
“You’re short, it makes sense. And you’ve picked me up several times. I’d return the favor but I’d need to borrow a Quirk first.”
“I hate you.”
“You don’t. I don’t hate you either.”
Izuku let his head fall on Monoma’s upper arm, not caring that his curls were probably tickling his neck or likely to find their way into his mouth if the breeze picked up again.
“That’s nice, I guess. Not hating the person you want to kiss.”
“Mmm. I was sort of banking on doing that pretty often for the foreseeable future so I’ll have to agree with you...I don’t like the way those words tasted in my mouth.”
“Get used to it. I’ve been told I’m easy to agree with.”
“How nauseating.” They were definitely holding hands now and Izuku was practically plastered to Monoma’s side. It was quiet. Warm. Pleasant. Izuku held himself back from saying something dumb like, "I want to do things like this more often with you" or "let’s just stay here for a while."
They did stay there for a while anyway, just sitting beside each other outside for an hour or so and enjoying the other's company without any more words.