Two sides of the same coin

Chapter 9

It started small.

At first, Toga thought it was nothing—just Ochako's usual alertness in public, scanning crowds like any pro-hero would. But after a while, she noticed it wasn't just habit. It was fear.

One afternoon, they were at the park again. Toga reached for Uraraka's hand like she always did, but Ochako hesitated just a second too long before taking it. She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.

"You okay?" Toga asked.

"Yeah, just... people are staring."

Toga glanced around. A few passersby were looking their way, but nothing unusual. "So what if they are?"

"It's not 'so what.' If someone recognizes you, if someone connects us..." Uraraka trailed off, her gaze flicking to a pair of teens with their phones out. "I just don't want to give anyone a reason to start talking."

⸻

The next week, Uraraka suggested they start meeting at her place instead of going out. "It's quieter," she said. "Safer."

But Toga could see the truth in the way Ochako always kept the blinds half-shut, or the way she'd glance at her phone every time a notification came in.

"You're hiding me," Toga said one night, her voice flat.

"I'm protecting you," Uraraka replied.

"From who? You're the hero here, remember? You're the one they love."

"That's exactly why it's dangerous!" Ochako snapped, then caught herself. "If people find out I'm... with you, it won't just be my career. They'll drag you through the mud too. You think they'll care about how much you've changed? They'll just see a villain sleeping next to a hero."

Toga stared at her for a long moment. "And you're scared they'll be right."

Uraraka didn't answer.

⸻

The paranoia only grew.

Whenever they did go outside together, Uraraka kept a few steps of space between them. She avoided eye contact with strangers. She'd drop Toga's hand the second someone passed too close.

It was like watching their world shrink—until there was barely enough room left for the both of them.

One evening, as they sat on the couch in silence, Toga asked, "Do you still love me, or are you just afraid to be seen with me?"

Ochako looked pained. "I love you. But loving you feels like standing on the edge of a cliff with everyone watching, just waiting for me to fall."

Toga's chest tightened. "Then maybe you should step back."

Neither of them said anything after that. The only sound was the quiet hum of the city outside, muffled by the blinds that were always drawn.

And in that heavy, airless room, Toga realized that Ochako wasn't just afraid of the public finding out—
She was afraid of what she might lose if they did.