Izuocha's Love Stories

63 - LYING NEXT TO YOU

By Miyo02

SUMMARY: Midoriya Izuku's greatest fear is sleeping over at his best friend's apartment

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Whoever declares to not fear anything in the world is a huge liar.

Fear is something that every human possesses whether they admit it or not. It doesn't matter if they are a low-profile civilian or a prominent individual, an expressive or a secretive person, or an old man or a young child. Everyone will always have that frightening voice inside of them.

That cold, cold call in the air. One simple whisper of it is all it takes to freeze one's guts. Or that loud, loud scream. A barrage of tremors that is so strong that it can blow up the sturdiness of bravery.

This is why the concept of heroism became a natural appeal as Quirks came into existence in their world.

This is why "There's nothing to fear, cause I'm here" was an instant hit to eliminate the cowering and the shivering hiding in everyone's cores.

However, as his own fear comes knocking on his door unannounced, not even remembering All Might can help him in this.

In fact, "Sorry, Midoriya-shounen. It's something you have to face on your own," was what All Might told him via phone call just minutes ago; the words echoing and slowly dropping his heart rate that can just be as good as dead at that moment.

Fear comes in many forms. But right now, it comes in the form of:

"Oh, Deku-kun! You're here. Come on in!"

Izuku laughs nervously, seeing the very person embodying all his fears and haunting his thoughts, manifest in the flesh. She wears one of the most precious smiles in the world as her head tilts and her door swings. She welcomes him so openly with that dash of brightness glittering in her eyes, that blinks are not enough to hide it even momentarily. She exudes this familiarity that can only be built through the years of knowing her and growing with her.

Meanwhile, he only feels himself shrink in front of her, ready to descend from the 4th floor of the building to the ground, and just be buried underneath the dirt where the establishment is erected. But he holds himself together before she could even frown and ask him why he's such a nervous wreck.

"Y-Yeah...!" Feigned confidence and desperate determination fuel his voice, pumping in some bits of crumbling confidence to be able to at least stand straight and face her fully. But the moment she turns to her back to enter her abode, his body starts moving similar to a creaky robot with limbs that need to be oiled.

The nightmare has only began.

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"Izuku-kun, this is the only way, please forgive me! I am aware how this act might tarnish my promises as a friend but it must be done!"

"What...?" Izuku blinked, phone pressed to his ear as he got out of the train station that afternoon. He just sent a message to Tenya, saying that he'd arrive in Uraraka's apartment by early evening, and suddenly the phone call began with his friend's sudden apology. Formal as ever, of course. They're already on a first-name basis but Tenya's speech just remained the way it was back in high school.

"I hope you understand."

But that's the thing... "Te-Tenya-kun... I... don't understand." His left hand clutched tightly on the yellow strap of his backpack. Of course, he's worried, but he badly needed a clarification as well before his thoughts jump into conclusions that could be out of proportion. "Is everything alright? Where are you?"