(MHA x OC) The Lizard and the Phantom

Chapter 1

Ryuji's POV

A few hours had passed since the Nomu incident. As I sat there, texting Izuku about my experience with Kamui Woods and fighting a Nomu, I heard a knock at my front door then a voice on the other side:

"Inari-san? I want to talk to you."

The voice sounded like a girl actually. Was it Ibara? I stood up and went to open the door. I was right, it was Ibara, in a jean jacket and light brown skirt. 

"Talk about what, exactly?" I asked her.

Ibara began to squirm slightly as she put her hands behind her back and looked sideways, her cheeks red.

"I ought to thank you for saving me from the nomu before," she said with an awkward note in her voice.

"No need to thank me. It's a hero's duty to save others." I answer in response. 

The tone of her voice did not bother me then; I just thought it was because she was embarrassed about being saved by me.

"It's a blessing from the gods to have you as an ally," she tells me with genuine delight. I'm surprised she complimented me because she rarely does. She usually talks about gods and miracles.

She took the opportunity to kiss my cheek while I was distracted. She looks down at her feet immediately, her face red in the process. At the moment, I was also a little red. Her eyes were fixed on me.

"So what do you say to a date at Starbeans, Ryuhei?" she asked with an awkward yet cutesy smile.

She leapt in the air ecstatically as I nodded to her confession. It seemed that for a short moment, she had shown her true self. She's kind, funny and genuine. It's difficult to describe only by her devotion to some spiritual power, but there is a truly beautiful girl with a heart of roses and gold if people were to get to know her better. I wish she would show her true colours more often. Oh, sorry, I've been rambling for a while now!

"Great! I'll see you at 11:00 sharp in front of 1A's dorm Sunday!" she said as she walked back to her room.

Then I closed my door quietly and settled into bed. My mind was racing with thoughts. I mean, I'm going on a date with Shiozaki and I got to fight a Nomu! My phone buzzed with a message. I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and turned it on to see a message from Tsuyu-chan:

Hello, Inari-san! I hope you enjoyed your internship! Don't forget about Sunday, you said you were gonna take me to one of the bakeries over in Esuha! I look forward to seeing you when you return! ^u^

Oh shoot, I totally forgot that I was going on my first date on Sunday! How could I have forgotten? Why did I accept Ibara's confession so blindly? Ughhhhhhhh, this is the worst!! I replied to Tsu with a "👌" emoji and rested on my bed to think. It would be okay to cancel the date with Ibara and stay with Tsuyu. However, I don't want to hurt either of their feelings. Ibara wants to thank me for saving her life, and it'd be impolite to turn down her gesture. I have been planning this date with Tsuyu for weeks now! 

"Heh, I'd be delighted to go on a date with you, Inari-san.." Tsuyu's voice echoed in my head. That time, right after that night. There was this...empty, heart-squeezing feeling inside of me. What would Tsuyu think if she found out? In my head, I imagined the scene. I could see her reaction, their reactions. It tormented me. Like it was a wound I carried for years in secret. 

Yet it was my ringtone that saved me from that vision. I had fallen asleep as sunlight glowed behind the drapes. I sat up sheepishly and answered the phone. Ibara answered,