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‑ˏˋ 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐒𝐈𝐗 ˊˎ‑
𝐈 𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐏𝐏𝐄𝐃 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐓 the minute I saw Ochako's two-story house. The cream-colored paint and white borders made it look like something out of a fantasy or dream. And with this expensive-seeming house on the outskirts of a small town ― it was that much more fragile. I felt like I didn't belong here in my run-down shoes and old clothes.
Ochako just pushed the gate open as if she had been doing that her entire life, only to stop. "Izuku? Are you coming?"
"Y-Yeah," I said uncertainly. Taking the gate from her hand, I closed it gently. "I'm coming."
She continued to the front door, carefully climbing the few steps before turning the knob. I followed after her, trying not to pay attention to the lavish decorations inside. Instead, my focus was trained on the back of Ochako's head. She had her hand against the wall as she moved forward slowly.
"I'm sorry," she said. "We just moved here about a week ago, so I haven't gotten used to getting around the house yet."
I smiled, hurrying to walk next to her. "There's no need to apologize."
Once we had finally made it to her bedroom, I knew I was a sore thumb in this house. There was a queen-sized bed pushed up in the corner, the sheets messily thrown on the mattress. A hope chest sat at the foot of the bed with a large unicorn stuffed animal placed on top. A single desk sat on the opposite wall, everything put away neatly where it belonged. But that wasn't what had me stopping. It was the bookshelves filled with binders, each one with a label on its binding.
"Wow," was the only thing that came to mind.
That wasn't how Ochako took it. "Oh, no! My room's an absolute mess, isn't it? I always try to put things away after using them, but sometimes it just doesn't work out ― "
I smiled. "Ochako."
" ― I'm so, so sorry! And now that I'm thinking about it, there are probably boxes that aren't unpacked! I had even checked and double-checked that everything was taken of ― "
My smile grew. "Ochako."
" ― We could go sit in the living room if you want. I would feel a lot better if we did, to be honest ― "
I took a step towards her, grabbing her arms and pulling her closer to me. I hadn't met to put my face right in front of her's, but our noses bumped. I tensed up when she fell quiet, her brown eyes startled and confused. Ignoring the warmth spreading all over my body, I whispered, "Your room's not a mess."
I was so close to her that I heard her gulp. She must have realized just how close I was, because instead of nodding, she whispered back, "Okay."
To be completely honest, I didn't want to back away from where I was. It was like there was something between us, trying to pull us closer to each other until there wasn't a space left. Oddly enough, that's what I wanted, too. Instead of leaving, I wanted to stay right there. Next to Ochako. And my pounding heart agreed without hesitation.
