Izuocha's Love Stories

26 - LUCKY BITE

By SevenRenny

Love had never crossed her mind. Ochaco had no time for such things. She had a bigger goal, and such girly feelings would only get in her way. Bottling everything up seemed like the only answer. However, it was easier said than done. It was such a weird feeling - unusual to the point that she thought something was physically wrong with her. The symptoms were hard to ignore: fast heartbeats, a tickling sensation within her chest and belly, suddenly feeling hot and sweaty and nervous, feeling flustered over nothing and having awkward bursts of laughter... and the need to be intimately close to a person. A very close person.

She hadn't made the connections until her classmates had started teasing her about it – about how she loved him. Everything suddenly seemed scary. The word itself was scary enough. Love. What... what was she to do? She understood family love; she understood friendship, but romantic love? She was utterly lost. She had absolutely zero experience with it. Why did this have to happen to her? Why couldn't there be a stop or – at the very least – a pause button? She needed time. She needed space. She needed a little, quiet room where time has stopped so she could sit in a corner and take her time to think everything through.

She thought as she gazed out the window. Almost everyone in the dorm was probably asleep by now. She wished she could also have a nap, but that was hard to do with the flurry of emotions going through her. She stayed where her classmates usually gathered, but with it being so late, all the sofas were empty, lonely. She folded her arms over the window sill and rested her cheek on them, sighing.

He was training outside again, the bright lines of energy glowing through his veins as he kicked at the air. It surprised her how well he could showcase his emotions in just his movements. It surprised her how Izuku could shift from being extremely easy-going and gentle, to strong and determined. With a heart of gold and a quick mind and the will to help others, she could say he was an awesome guy.

An awesome guy how just happened to be her best friend; her best friend, a boy who she probably – most likely loved romantically.

Just how did she end up in this mess?

She exhaled in misery and a little cloud fogged the window for a second before fading. If only her issues could fade that fast.

She watched as he used his strong legs to swing at the air. He had quite muscular limbs. And at some point, after getting sweaty and uncomfortable in his damp clothes, he had removed his soaked shirt, revealing a well-built body and nicely formed shoulders and chest, and all at once, he went from being a cute, nerdy boy to looking more like a strong and sexually attractive young man.

She couldn't handle this.

She reluctantly looked away and slowly went back to her room, because seeing him sweating and panting - back and stomach muscles shifting with the movements - and seeing his face and the many expressions he could pull off, and knowing she couldn't have any of him was all too much. She got ready for bed, but remained staring up at the ceiling for at least an hour, then tossing and turning for another.

He was her best friend. This wasn't supposed to happen. When did he go from friend to best friend to crush to love interest so quickly without her noticing?

She whined in frustration and pressed a pillow to her face. Don't think about it. Sleep. Just sleep. Don't get distracted like this.

The next morning, almost the whole class noticed her sleep-deprived eyes and sluggish movements. It was so evident Iida actually asked if she was sick. She quickly put on a tired smile, waving a dismissive hand.

"Guess I didn't get much sleep last night." Well, that wasn't a lie, so she went with that.

"Sleep is quite essential for both body and mind," he explained in disapproval. "Please, do not neglect yourself like this!"