UA was buzzing as usual the next day, but something felt off to Jiro as she entered the classroom. She'd spent the evening with Izuku again, and the memory of cuddling up to him at the skate park still lingered in her mind. It was supposed to be their little secret, but the way her classmates were whispering today made her stomach drop.
"Jiro," Mina called out, her voice carrying a hint of curiosity. "You've been hanging out a lot outside school, huh?"
Jiro tensed. She didn't respond immediately, her eyes darting to her classmates. Mina, Denki, and a few others were gathered around her, all wearing expressions that made it clear they were fishing for something. Bakugo sat in the corner, uninterested but likely aware, while Todoroki and Ochako exchanged glances.
"Just, you know, some alone time," Jiro said, trying to play it cool. But she could feel the heat rising to her cheeks.
"Izuku, huh?" Denki teased, leaning closer. "You guys have been spending a lot of time together."
Her heart skipped a beat. Did they know? Could they have seen the Instagram posts?
Before she could come up with a response, Ochako chimed in, her voice softer but laced with curiosity. "We saw some pictures... You two at the skate park?"
Mina gasped. "And wasn't there one of you cuddling with him?!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with amusement.
Jiro's heart sank. She'd hoped they wouldn't notice. Sure, she had gotten close to Izuku, but she hadn't realized anyone was paying that much attention to her outside of school. The thought of the entire class knowing made her anxious.
"He's... a friend," Jiro mumbled, avoiding their eyes.
"A friend?" Mina smirked. "You don't cuddle with friends like that!"
She wanted to argue, to say something to make the whole situation disappear, but instead, she just shrugged. "Whatever."
Just as the conversation was heating up, the door slid open, and in walked Izuku. He was as nonchalant as ever, his expression unreadable. He strolled to his seat, completely unfazed by the growing whispers around him. His skateboard was strapped to his backpack, and Jiro couldn't help but glance at him as he passed by.
Everyone fell silent, waiting to see if he'd acknowledge the rumors. But he simply sat down and leaned back in his chair, his eyes half-closed like he hadn't a care in the world.
"Yo, Midoriya," Denki called out, a grin tugging at his lips. "You and Jiro getting close, huh?"
Izuku barely glanced up, his voice calm and detached. "Maybe."
Jiro felt her face heat up, a mix of embarrassment and frustration. She was used to Izuku's laid-back attitude, but when it came to things like this, it made everything so much harder.
The room buzzed with whispers, and as class began, the teasing didn't stop. Throughout the lesson, Jiro's mind wandered. Her thoughts drifted back to the previous night, where they'd spent hours together in the quiet park after everyone else had left. She had found herself leaning into him as they sat on a bench, the cool night air wrapping around them like a blanket.
She hadn't planned it, but after a while, she had rested her head on his shoulder, feeling a sense of peace she hadn't experienced in a long time. And he didn't push her away. Instead, he let her stay there, his arm casually draped around her without a word.
Later that day, after the whispers and glances from their classmates had died down, Jiro found herself once again at the skate park with Izuku. The sun was setting, casting a soft orange glow over everything. Emi, Kaito, and Ren were skating in the distance, but it was just her and Izuku sitting on the ramp.
Izuku was leaned back, arms behind his head, completely relaxed. Jiro glanced at him, biting her lip. "They know," she finally said.
He raised an eyebrow. "About what?"
"Us... hanging out."
Izuku gave a soft chuckle, his tone unaffected. "So?"
Jiro blinked. She should've known that nothing really fazed him. "Aren't you worried?"
"About what? People talking?" He looked over at her, a small smile playing on his lips. "Let them."
Jiro sighed, resting her head against his shoulder again, just like she had the night before. The comfort she found with him was undeniable, but his ability to stay so detached from everything still surprised her.
For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of the skateboard wheels rolling across the concrete and the distant laughter of their friends.
"Jiro," Izuku said softly, his voice low and calm. "I don't care what they think. You shouldn't either."
She lifted her head slightly to look at him, searching his face for any sign of uncertainty. But there was none. He was serious, and that reassurance was all she needed.
Jiro leaned into him once more, her heart settling. Maybe it didn't matter what everyone else thought. Here, with Izuku, she felt safe. And that was enough.
