[✔️] 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐬 | 𝘬. 𝘫𝘪𝘳𝘰𝘶

might as well

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

The next day, Y/N walked into Class 1-A feeling more exhausted than usual. She hadn't slept well, her thoughts a tangled mess of emotions. Her conversation with Jirou the night before still lingered in her mind, and the half-hearted phone call she'd had with her boyfriend didn't help much. It was as though she was speaking to a wall, he barely asked how she was, only briefly mentioned his busy schedule, and cut the call short.

Sitting at her desk, Y/N rubbed her temples, trying to ease the dull ache in her head. It didn't help that Jirou sat a few rows behind her, just close enough to be a reminder of all the confusing feelings she was trying to push away.

"Rough night?" Mina's voice piped up from the seat beside her.

Y/N smiled weakly at the pink-haired girl. "You could say that."

"Girl, you need some serious TLC," Mina said, leaning in with a mischievous grin. "What's going on? Boyfriend troubles?"

"Yeah, kind of..." Y/N mumbled.

Before Mina could probe further, Kaminari swung over to their desk, leaning his chin on his hands. "Bet it's not as bad as my night. I stayed up gaming till 4 AM."

Mina rolled her eyes. "That's because you have no self-control."

Kaminari shrugged. "What can I say? I live dangerously."

Y/N chuckled, glad for the small distraction. "You're gonna fry your brain, Denki."

"Oh, it's already fried," Jirou's voice chimed in, the usual teasing tone in her voice. She was walking by, plugging in one of her earphone jacks into her phone. "There's no saving him now."

"Et tu, Jirou?!" Kaminari feigned a dramatic gasp before laughing along with the others.

Y/N smiled at the banter, but her eyes couldn't help but follow Jirou as she took her seat, her earphone jacks idly swinging by her shoulders. There was something about the way Jirou could blend in so easily with everyone else, teasing and joking like nothing was wrong, yet she could still be so... soft. At least, when it came to Y/N.

"What's the plan today, Bakugou?" Kirishima suddenly called out from across the room. "We're training after school, right?"

"Obviously, dumbass," Bakugou barked back. "I'm not wasting time just because some of you can't handle real work."

Kirishima laughed, unbothered by the insult. "Guess I'll see you guys at the gym then!"

Y/N watched the group banter unfold, but her attention kept drifting back to Jirou. The way she carried herself, cool and unbothered, yet attentive when needed, it was hard not to admire her. It was becoming harder not to feel more.

▬▬▬

Later that day, the halls of U.A. were quieter as most students were either at the gym or hanging out in the dorms. Y/N had been heading toward the library, her bag slung over her shoulder, when she heard the familiar strum of a guitar coming from the music room. Her feet paused before she could stop herself. The sound was smooth, rhythmic, and unmistakably Jirou's.

She stood there for a moment, unsure if she should go in. Her heart was already a mess, and spending more time with Jirou... Well, she knew it was a bad idea. But something inside her kept pulling her forward. Before she realized it, her hand was on the doorknob.

"Might as well..." she muttered under her breath, pushing the door open gently.

Inside, Jirou was sitting on a chair, her back to Y/N, completely immersed in her music. The steady chords of the guitar filled the room, creating a calm, intimate atmosphere. Y/N took a breath and stepped in.

Jirou glanced over her shoulder when she heard the door. Her expression softened when she saw Y/N standing there. "Hey," she said, her voice low and welcoming.

"Hey," Y/N replied, shutting the door behind her. "I heard you playing and... thought I'd stop by."

Jirou nodded, her fingers still lightly strumming the guitar. "Take a seat. You can listen if you want. Or... talk."

Y/N sat down in the chair beside her, watching as Jirou's fingers danced effortlessly across the strings. It was mesmerizing, the way she could make music look so easy, as if it was just another extension of herself. For a while, Y/N said nothing, just letting the music fill the air around them.

Eventually, Jirou stopped playing and set the guitar down gently beside her. She leaned back in her chair, her earphone jacks swaying as she rested her arms behind her head. "You seem... lost today. Wanna talk about it?"

Y/N hesitated. Part of her didn't want to unload her problems on Jirou again. But another part of her, the part that was growing louder by the day, wanted to confide in her. She took a deep breath.

"It's him," she said finally, her voice quiet. "I don't know what's happening. He's always busy, and when we do talk, it feels... off. Like he's not really there anymore."

Jirou listened carefully, her eyes focused on Y/N with an intensity that made her feel both comforted and vulnerable. "Have you talked to him about it?" Jirou asked, her voice calm.

"I've tried. But it's like no matter what I say, he just... doesn't hear me. I don't know what to do anymore."

Jirou leaned forward, her gaze softening even more. "Y/N... you deserve better than that. You shouldn't have to feel like this all the time."

Y/N looked down at her hands, fiddling with the edge of her sleeve. "I know. But... we've been together for so long. I don't want to just... give up."

"It's not about giving up," Jirou said gently. "It's about knowing what you deserve. And you deserve someone who makes time for you. Someone who's there, even when things get tough."

Y/N felt her chest tighten, the truth of Jirou's words sinking in deeper than she wanted to admit. She wasn't sure when it had happened, but her heart had started to drift. And now, sitting here with Jirou, everything seemed so much clearer. Maybe it wasn't just her boyfriend who was the problem. Maybe it was her feelings, too.

"I know you're right," Y/N said softly. "But it's hard."

Jirou nodded, her voice low as she replied, "I get it. But just... don't lose yourself trying to hold onto something that's slipping away."

For a moment, they sat in silence, the weight of their conversation hanging in the air between them. Y/N felt her heart racing, knowing that the line between friendship and something more was becoming dangerously thin. And she wasn't sure what to do about it.

Jirou stood up, breaking the silence, giving Y/N a sweet grin. "Wanna head back to the dorms? I've got some new tracks I've been working on. You can help me with the mixing if you're up for it."

Y/N smiled, grateful for the change in subject. "Yeah, I'd like that."

As they left the music room together, Y/N couldn't shake the feeling that this was all leading somewhere she couldn't turn back from.

And maybe, just maybe, she didn't want to.