Conquer | Ice-Skater Deku

Chapter Four: Quest for Importance

Class 1-A was hanging out in the dormitory. Sato, Momo, Mina, Mineta, and Shoji were in the kitchen helping Sato to cook desserts. Though many times they had to set Mineta aside due to his tendencies. Tsu, Todoroki, and Koda were studying in the dining room. And Izuku, Uraraka, Iida, Denki, Kirishima, and Tokoyami sat around the living room space, paying attention to the television that was playing a classic movie. They turned the light low to a mere orange-ish tint since they wanted to watch the movie better. Since many of them complained about which movie to play, all having their own separate opinions, they all agreed on playing one that couldn't be completely disliked. Izuku was one of the many, sitting down on the couch and paying attention to the movie, laughing as certain parts came up, even if it wasn't all that funny. He realized that some of the others looked over at him as he reacted to the film, worried he toned down on it a bit, hoping his actions weren't bothering them.

Izuku sat on the left couch, right next to some of his closest friends in UA; Uraraka and Iida were laid down comfortably beside him with a fluffy blanket covering them all. On the other couch, Denki, Kirishima, and Tokoyami sat, similar in positions to Izuku's couch. All were comfortable, watching the movie, but the few glances that came Izuku's way continued to worry him. His heart sank. He wasn't reacting as much now, why are they still looking at him? He didn't want to be the center of attention, isn't that what the movie is for?
"Deku-Kun." The girl from his left mentioned his nickname, the one that he once felt uneasy with. Izuku looked over at her; Uraraka sat there, her facial features scrunched up and staring at Izuku's confused eyes. Fortunately, Izuku has been friends with her long enough to realize her expression of worry. "I just have a question I was hoping you could answer."

Izuku cocked his head to the side, unsure of what his classmate was wondering. This in itself made him worry even more. But he still gave her a response, "Yeah?"

Uraraka's eyes looked down towards the blanket covering them, then back up at Izuku's eyes. "Uhm. I'm sorry if this is too intrusive but I just wanted to ask where you ran off to today." She saw the shock come up on Izuku's face and immediately backed away. "AH! I'm so sorry if that was too pushy! I promise I was just curious!"

Izuku shook his head quickly, trying to make the girl feel less awkward. He quickly checked the television, but as he did so from his peripheral vision he could see his other classmates looking over as well. A strange feeling rose in his stomach, it was the same as the time at the ice skating rink, just less intense.

"I just... went to visit my family, that's all." Izuku avoided eye contact with all of them, staring up at the movie, hoping that they'll just end it.

"Seem's pretty suspicious to me man, you running off out of class doesn't sound like you are just visiting your family. If something is going on though, you can just tell us, bro." Denki's cocky voice entered Izuku's ears, but it never left, his fear spurred up by the comment. Even though he looked to the others to be watching the movie, underneath the blanket his fingers were fidgeting intensely and he wasn't paying attention to the stupid characters in the film either.

A quieter voice scolded, "Denks. If he doesn't want to tell us he doesn't have to." Kirishima. Izuku's eyes widened, and he realized that the others thought he was keeping something from them. He is, and that's the issue. If he didn't have to keep this secret to himself, he wouldn't have to deal with this constant fear that it will be revealed.

Izuku unwrapped the blanket around himself in a state of adrenaline. He stands up and rewraps the blanket on Uraraka and Iida.

"I think I have some homework." Izuku's voice lowered, almost in a whisper. Holding tightly to the phone he grabs from his pocket, he walks out of the room.

...

"So I wasn't the only one?" Uraraka asks the group. Now a majority of Class 1-A was around the living area, although Iida went off into the kitchen to get himself some water. Many nod their heads at her question. "He's been doing it more recently... And not only that but he's acting weird. Even at dinner he barely pays attention and he seems to be distracted."