§Future Empress§

The Whole Truth (part 2)

"Uraraka is missing!!" Iida exclaimed as he found his breath in between the panting. "Ochako is missing..." Iida continued the spiral as he went down on his knees covering his face. Iida rubbed his temples and gradually stood. "Here you go" Hanta offered Iida a bottle of water which he happened carry that day. Iida ague struck red eyes looked kindly at Hanta and reached out for the bottle. "Wait, you look like as if you are down with some fever. You should have some medicine as well!" Sero said as he pulled out some medicine from his pocket. Iida gladly took the water and medicine. ^Oh so that's why he was so tired from running...he was down with a fever^ Katsumi thought. 

"Thank you so much for that-?"

 "Hanta. Hanta Sero is the name"

For a second Iida seemed to have forgotten his reason to come there but glancing upon Shoto's curious eyes piercing him, he was soon reminded of the purpose of his delirious race with time. 

"Tenya, please elaborate the situation" Shoto said as he seated the boy on a bench near one of the shops. 

Let's go back a day in time 

The Main Castle of Galilee

"OH GOD! I am burdened with so much work!" Ochako sighed as she stretched her body. Tenya who was making rounds that day happened to hear Ochako's complains so he walked towards her. 

"Is everything alright, Uraraka?" Tenya asked which startled Ochako slightly.

 "Oh, hello there Iida. I am alright. It's just that ever since the Queen and Princess left last week for Lockwood, I have been burdened with so much work"  Ochako explained her predicament.

 "Well it's a part of your job so you can't really complain about it but I understand things could be exhausting, that's why you should rest a little. How about something to drink?" Iida said and then proceeded to bring out a water bottle. "This is a cold drink, I guess it's just cold lemon tea with sugar. Want to try?" Iida continued as he dominated the whole conversation. 

Within a few minutes both were sitting in the castle garden and sipping the cold tea. Uraraka knew that Iida was like this and partly a reason for her to admire him. She found his nature reliable. At times like this she needed a shoulder to lean on. "So Uraraka, what are the tasks you have to get done?" Iida asked. 

 "Well the castle needs to be decorated as it is a tradition that the newly wed couple should spend some time here so the castle needs to be glamorous. Also for reputation purposes. There's also a valuable gift that has to be given to King Kosuke as per tradition. The gifts the kingdom Of Lockwood gave are also pretty valuable but nothing intimate. Then again this marriage is rather a confusing one. A young King who fell in love with a love-allergic princess. Both kingdoms have a rocky history. Anyone with a sane mind can guess that this marriage is more than 'love'. It's political and power centric." Ochako said as gulped down her tea. 

"Well that's a lot to take in but I do agree with what you have to say. Also I don't think Princess Izumi is love-allergic. Her love demands quality. So it is worth it when you are close to her because she reads a person as if they were a book. Also her position does not allow her to get in the frenzy of young love" Iida said as he also finished his tea. Ochako nodded slightly in agreement. "I think Shoto is the most upset with this marriage" Iida said. "What makes you think that?" Ochako asked because she knew who would actually be the most upset with this marriage. "Well he was muttering about something like 'this isn't right' 'Should I tell her'. Then the next moment he asked me to cover for him today in the main castle and left at noon" Iida recollected his thoughts.

Ochako's eyes widened in realization. She panicked and left hastily. ^Is my hard work going to go in the drain?!^ Ochako thought as she rushed to her room. She immediately took out her empty bags and started to fill them with her stuff. Amidst packing it had hit her, she was a criminal. She sat down and reflected on her past deeds. Was it too late for saving? It didn't matter anymore to her because she was tired with all this and wished to return to her parents. All this seemed to work somehow in her favor. Just as she thought of this she saw a looming shadow over her. She turned back to see Iida looking at her in perplexity. 

"Why are you packing all of a sudden Ochako?" Iida said in a heartbeat when Uraraka turned around. "I just wish to go to my parents- Wait you called me Ochako?" Uraraka said, eyes wide open and light blush appeared on her cheeks. Iida was equally flustered if not more. "I know that your parents live in Lockwood and I understand that you miss them but to leave in such a hurry-?" Before Iida could say anything, Uraraka hugged him resulting in Iida to be as red as a tomato. "I must leave Tenya and I can tell you that you do not know why exactly I am leaving" Ochako said, just when she tried to break the hug, Iida pulled her back.

"What are the chances that you would return soon?" Iida asked as calmly as he could but for some reason he feared that her reason to leave is quite serious and she might never return but he still dared to ask that question. Ochako didn't dare to tell more lies so she just embraced his hug and felt his body burning. "Ii- Tenya, do you have a fever?!" Ochako panicked and broke the hug to check Iida's temperature with her hand resting on his forehead. Iida grabbed her hand and gave it a gentle kiss. "Just return quickly because you see I seem to like you a lot. Actually scratch that, I have loved you for a while now and wish to continue doing so" Iida said. 

A million thoughts raced Uraraka's mind. Why does he love me? Why can't I answer him? Has his brain succumbed to the fever? Should I stay and fall in love? Should I run away and be with my family? What guarantees my safety here? or even in Lockwood? Does my safety even matter?.

 Iida didn't expect an answer but still felt disheartened with nothing from Uraraka's side. She laid him on her bed. "Let me bring you some medicine" Ochako said and Iida gently smiled. Ochako then bent down to kiss Iida on his lips. ^Am I selfish to desire everything even after what I did? Please let me have this even just for once^ Ochako thought. Before her eyes swell up with tears she left in a hurry. Iida was shocked but happy that his feelings were reciprocated. He wished to help and protect Ochako from any danger now that he has surrendered his heart to her. These were his thoughts just before he fell asleep and woke up a day later to find medicine on the side desk and a note.

Dear Tenya,

By the time you read this, I would have left the kingdom. I am sorry for leaving you but there are so many things I can't tell you about myself. I fear you may hate me and I do not want to lose the bond we have made. I apologize that my selfishness hurt you.

If in future, we may ever meet again and you do not find yourself angry with me then let's have a new beginning.

Sincerely,

Ochako Uraraka of Lockwood

Iida could not believe the letter but at the same time he had expected that she might run away. "I would never hate you" Iida said as tears fell from his eyes.