The next day at U.A. High, everything seemed to return to normal. Classes went on as usual, and the events of the previous mission were already being analyzed by the teachers. Despite how well things had gone, there was a lingering tension that only a few could sense.
Izuku sat at the back of the classroom, as always, staring out the window. He was physically present, but mentally? Somewhere else entirely. His mind floated through his own thoughts, far removed from the lesson. Every now and then, he'd scribble something down, but his focus remained detached.
Jiro couldn't shake the curiosity she had about him. He was always so calm, too calm sometimes. She had seen glimpses of who he really was during the mission—how he'd broken off from the group and how casual he was when he caught back up. It was like nothing could shake him. But there was something behind that nonchalant exterior, something she knew he wasn't showing anyone.
After class, she found herself trailing behind him as the students made their way to the dorms. Izuku, as usual, didn't seem to notice or care about anyone around him. He had his headphones in, music blaring, and his eyes set ahead.
Jiro decided to act on her curiosity. She jogged up next to him, pulling one of her earphone jacks out slightly to get his attention. "Hey, Deku, wait up."
Izuku didn't bother taking out his headphones but gave her a small glance, acknowledging her presence without a word.
Jiro hesitated for a moment before asking, "Do you want to hang out for a bit? I figured we could go somewhere outside of U.A."
He looked at her for a second longer than usual before shrugging nonchalantly. "Sure, I guess."
Surprised he agreed, Jiro led him away from the school grounds. They walked in silence for a while, heading toward a nearby park. It wasn't long before they ended up at a small, secluded skate park, hidden between some old buildings. The atmosphere was quiet and laid-back, perfect for a few moments away from the pressures of being heroes-in-training.
Izuku sat down on one of the benches, pulling out a small notebook and flipping through the pages. Jiro watched him for a moment, unsure of how to start a conversation. She had never really talked to him outside of class, and now that they were alone, it felt strange.
"So, I didn't know you skated," she said, breaking the silence.
Izuku glanced up briefly before replying, "Yeah, I do."
"Do you come here often?" Jiro asked, trying to keep the conversation going.
"Sometimes," Izuku answered, his tone indifferent.
Jiro frowned slightly, realizing how hard it was to get him to open up. He was so guarded, even when they were away from the chaos of U.A. She could see why he seemed distant from everyone—he wasn't one to share much about himself.
As they sat there, she couldn't help but notice something else. Izuku wasn't just distant—he was carrying something, something heavy that kept him detached from everyone around him. And now that she was paying attention, she could see it more clearly than ever.
Izuku finally stood up, tucking his notebook back into his pocket. "I'm gonna head out," he said simply.
"Wait," Jiro called out before he could leave. She hesitated for a moment before blurting out, "Why do you always keep to yourself?"
Izuku looked at her, his expression unreadable. "Why does it matter?" he asked, his voice calm, almost dismissive.
"I don't know," Jiro admitted. "I just... I guess I'm curious."
Izuku sighed softly, running a hand through his hair. "There's not much to know. I'm just doing my thing."
"Yeah, but it feels like you're keeping everyone at arm's length," she pressed.
Izuku paused for a moment before shaking his head. "I don't really care about all that stuff—friends, bonds, whatever. I'm just here to be a hero. Nothing else matters."
Jiro felt a pang of sympathy. "But... doesn't it get lonely?"
Izuku shrugged again, his nonchalant attitude firmly in place. "Maybe. But it's easier this way."
Before Jiro could respond, a notification buzzed on her phone. She glanced down and saw a new video had been uploaded to Instagram. It was Izuku's skater friends—Kaito, Ren, and Emi—taking videos of their latest tricks at the park. She glanced up at Izuku, wondering if he'd seen it too, but he didn't seem to care.
"Your friends... they're cool," Jiro said quietly.
Izuku nodded but didn't comment further.
As he turned to leave, Jiro found herself watching him walk away, feeling more intrigued than ever. There was so much about him she still didn't understand. But one thing was certain—there was more to Izuku Midoriya than he let anyone see. And Jiro was determined to find out what that was.
