Just The Way You Are. (An Izuocha Story)

07 | "Excess"

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~Jirou Kyoka

... something is wrong.

My eyes faltered at my brunette friend, before sternly facing the wall ahead. I shouldn't drag this lecture on any longer. Yet the thoughts still wandered....

"I know you care about your instruments a lot, how could you say it's okay!" Her voice trembled from her mouth and her eyes held an undeniable disbelief. Okay maybe it wasn't alright, but I didn't feel angry.

I didn't feel upset, nor did I hold it against her.

"-- you'll have to repay her alongside the damages from the school." I blinked, stopping myself from falling into a flashback from something that happened mere moments before. I blinked once more, realizing that I had zoned out at an important part before I pieced things together using context clues.

Based on his sentence alone it wasn't hard to deduce what the missing parts were, and it would've explained why I suddenly thought of Ochaco's earlier outburst.

'So in the end, she still has to pay the damages?'

I glanced down, watching as she trembled ever so slightly, her natural blush mark was full-blown red instead of peach and her mouth was agape- yet by the hazy look in her eyes I doubt it was from disbelief.

I had experienced her disbelieving face just moments before after all.

My ears twitched as I faced the pro heroes concerned. Something was off with Ochaco, not only was her breathing staggered but her posture was akin to a wilting dandelion - never knowing when the next wind would blow her away.

A nearly inaudible hiccup fled her lips, yet it caught our full attention - because we were watching her - as Aizawa-sensei's expression abated. His once furious glare looked like a joke before he walked towards us in concern. His baritone whispers eased towards us addressing the normally upbeat girl.

"Uraraka, is everything alright?"

I nearly rolled my eyes at his question- no sensei, even if I can't see her face I can tell she doesn't even look alright.

I witnessed Ochaco's inhale disorientating, those staggered breaths failing to stay solid as she exhaled shakily. She was hyperventilating. Her head dipped towards the side, almost like a poorly attached doll head, before she collapsed onto the floor. My eyes widened, as one word fled in a shout.

"Ochaco!" I reached for her, stopping awkwardly as a paw grasped my outstretched arm. Sensei's voice mingled with mine as he rushed towards her. I inwardly cursed, realizing she was out of hearing range before activating my quirk. My brows creased with worry as I drowned everything besides the quivering soprano.

Hiccups. There was barely any interval for breathing with all the gasping and hiccuping she was creating. Even with 'Earjack' active I faintly heard her accuse someone of messing with the thermostat, as she adjusted her neckline between pants.

Her flushed cheeks gathered into a heavy pout, as she grumbled about the sudden temperature shift.

"Is no one else feeling warm?"

I frowned, besides the freezing aura Sensei was emitting earlier the room was very cool to stand in.

Sensei, who Headmaster Nezu didn't stop, took long impatient strides towards Ochaco, his hands slowly rising - probably to check her temperature.

It all happened in a bizarre flash of brown. Sensei's choked shout drowned my disbelieving gasp as his head slammed into the carpeted floor. I winced, momentarily looking away and rubbing the side of my head as if I received the impact.