~BNHA~ Everything That I Am

Chapter 33

Izuku felt the cool night air against his skin as he perched atop a rooftop, eyes scanning the city below. His heart raced with anticipation. Tonight was his first mission with Todoroki, and the newcomer, Jiro, who had proved herself remarkably adept and level-headed. He found her presence reassuring.

Their mission was simple, in theory—gather intel on Chisaki's men who had been spotted in a rundown safe house near the school. But for Izuku, nothing was ever as simple as it seemed. His mind buzzed with potential scenarios and strategies.

Below him, Jiro was at work, her earphone jacks snaking through the cracks of the building as she eavesdropped on conversations within. He wondered what she was hearing, what secrets were being unveiled. His thoughts raced; his fingers itched to be doing something.

Todoroki's voice, calm and authoritative, broke through his spiraling thoughts. "Observe their movements, Midoriya. Let's look for any vulnerabilities or patterns."

Izuku nodded, his focus sharpening as he eyed the entrance of the hideout. The guards seemed on edge, their movements deliberate and vigilant. He made mental notes of the number of men, their positioning, and weaponry.

Feeling an urge to know if they had any leads yet, he checked in with Jiro. His voice was low, the static of the coms, courtesy of Hatsume crackling in his ear. "Jiro, any information yet? We need to gather as much intel as possible."

Her voice came back, tinged with focus. "I'm picking up chatter. They're irritated that they were moved to this place instead of staying in their main estate."

As Izuku perched on the rooftop, his muscles tense and ready for action, his thoughts kept wandering back to his recent encounter with Kacchan. His heart ached, the memory of Kacchan's lips pressed against his own, still vivid, leaving his mind in a whirlwind of emotions. Izuku could feel the tingling sensation linger, as though Kacchan was still there, right in front of him.

The confusion, pain, and yearning in Kacchan's eyes haunted him. He clenched his fists, trying to regain focus on the mission. The cool night air enveloped him, the city below seemingly indifferent to the turmoil in his heart. Why did Kacchan push him away like that? Why couldn't they communicate without hurt and accusations?

As Izuku tried to steady his thoughts, his gaze shifted to Todoroki. He wondered if Todoroki had ever experienced something similar, something that shook him to his core. On impulse, the question slipped from his lips. "Todoroki, have you... ever been in a relationship?"

The suddenness of the question surprised even Izuku. His heart thumped loudly in his chest as Todoroki turned towards him, an eyebrow raised in mild surprise. "Relationships? Why bring that up now?"

Heat flooded Izuku's face as he stammered out an embarrassed explanation. "I-I was just wondering. Never mind."

But Todoroki's reaction was unexpectedly understanding. His eyes softened, and he placed a hand on Izuku's shoulder. "We can talk about it later, Izuku. Right now, let's focus on the task at hand."

Izuku felt a flood of gratitude towards Todoroki. Though his question was ill-timed, he realized his teammate was someone he could lean on.

Izuku pushed his attention back to the mission, though the memory of Kacchan's kiss and the pain in his eyes lingered on his mind.

As they continued to monitor the safe house, Izuku made a silent vow to himself. He would not let the confusion and pain dictate his actions. And when the time was right, he would find the words to bridge the gap that lay between them. With a sense of resolve, he immersed himself in the mission, his heart resolute.