The next day at UA was unusually quiet. Word had spread quickly about the confrontation with Izuku and Jiro, and it was clear that the class was still processing everything. The usual chatter and camaraderie had faded into a heavy silence, with everyone unsure of how to act around them.
Izuku didn't seem to notice, or at least he didn't care. His nonchalant attitude remained unchanged as he walked through the halls, hands in his pockets, his headphones on, drowning out the world around him. The playlist was a mix of beats and lyrics that kept his mind calm, far away from the drama that had erupted the night before.
Jiro followed closely behind him, her own headphones hanging around her neck. She was still trying to shake off the weirdness from the previous night. Her old friends hadn't reached out, and she hadn't expected them to. But being so attached to Izuku, she felt a strange sense of distance from everyone else. Still, she wasn't going to let that stop her from being close to him.
As they reached the classroom, they noticed a few students giving them sideways glances, whispers barely audible from the corners of the room. Izuku didn't even look their way as he headed straight for his seat, dropping his bag on the desk and sitting down as if nothing was out of the ordinary. Jiro slid into the seat next to him, her presence a silent statement of where her loyalty lay.
Iida, always the most formal, approached them cautiously. "Midoriya, can we talk for a moment?"
Izuku raised an eyebrow, taking one earbud out. "What about?"
Iida cleared his throat, struggling to find the right words. "It's about... last night. We've all been talking, and... well, we're concerned."
"Concerned about what?" Izuku asked flatly, already losing interest.
"You've changed, Midoriya. We all have noticed it. The way you're acting now, it's—" Iida hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "It's not like you."
Izuku leaned back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. "So? People change. That's life."
Iida frowned, clearly frustrated. "But you're acting like nothing matters anymore. You used to care so much about being a hero, about being here at UA. Now it's like you don't even want to be here."
Izuku's gaze flicked up, his expression hardening. "I never said I didn't want to be here. I'm still here, aren't I?"
Jiro, sensing the tension rising, stayed quiet, watching as Iida and Izuku stared each other down. She could feel the shift in the room—everyone was waiting for Izuku's response.
"You don't understand, Iida," Izuku finally said, his tone even. "I don't have to be the same person I was before. I don't owe anyone an explanation for how I act. I'm still gonna be a hero, but I'm doing it my way. Not yours, not anyone else's."
Iida opened his mouth to argue, but Izuku was already done with the conversation. He put his earbud back in and leaned back in his seat, effectively ending the discussion.
Jiro glanced at Iida, her eyes apologetic but firm. She wasn't going to get in the middle of it—not when Izuku had already made it clear how he felt. Iida, realizing he wasn't going to get through to him, stepped back with a resigned sigh.
As the class started, the air remained tense. Izuku zoned out during the lecture, his thoughts elsewhere. He was thinking about his plans for the weekend, already looking forward to skating with Kaito, Ren, and Emi. That's where he felt most like himself—out there on the streets, not cooped up in this place.
After school, as soon as the final bell rang, Izuku packed up his stuff and headed for the door, Jiro close behind.
"Where are you going?" she asked, curious but already knowing the answer.
"To the park," Izuku replied, pulling out his phone. "Kaito and the others are already there. You coming?"
Jiro hesitated. She wanted to go, but she also knew the class was still watching her, wondering why she was so attached to Izuku and his new crew. But she couldn't resist. She nodded and followed him out.
When they arrived at the skate park, Kaito, Ren, and Emi were already there, messing around with their boards and laughing about something. Izuku walked up to them, and they greeted him with the usual nods and half-smiles, nothing overly enthusiastic but enough to show they were glad to see him.
"You made it," Kaito said, handing Izuku his board. "You missed Ren bailing hard earlier."
"Shut up," Ren muttered, rubbing his arm where he had taken the fall.
Izuku grinned, a rare show of amusement crossing his face as he hopped on his board, pushing off toward the ramps. Jiro watched him go, admiring the way he moved so effortlessly on the board. There was something about him when he skated—like all the weight of the world lifted, and he could just be free.
The afternoon passed in a blur of tricks, laughter, and the occasional wipeout. At some point, Kaito suggested they take some photos, and soon enough, they were lining up for group shots at an old, graffitied part of the park. The sun was starting to set, casting a golden hue over the scene.
Jiro took a step back, pulling out her phone and capturing the moment. She wasn't in the photo, just an observer from the side, but she didn't mind. Seeing Izuku like this, surrounded by his friends, carefree and in his element, made her smile.
Just as she lowered her phone, Kaito called out to her. "Hey, Jiro! You're part of this crew too now. Get in here."
She blinked in surprise. "Uh, no, I'm good. You guys go ahead."
But before she could protest further, Ren and Emi grabbed her by the arm, pulling her into the shot. She laughed despite herself as they huddled together, all of them throwing up different hand signs or sticking their tongues out, just being a group of kids having fun.
Later, as they reviewed the photos, Kaito pulled out his phone and began uploading a few to Instagram. "We gotta post these. This place looks sick."
Jiro watched as they tagged each other, their small group standing out against the backdrop of the abandoned place. And even though she knew their classmates would probably see the post, she didn't care. Being with them—being with Izuku—felt right.
As they wrapped up for the evening, Jiro found herself walking a little closer to Izuku. He didn't seem to notice, still lost in his own thoughts as usual. But she didn't mind. Just being near him was enough for now.
And as they made their way back to the city, she couldn't help but wonder how much longer they could keep this side of themselves hidden from the rest of UA.
