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‑ˏˋ 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 ˊˎ‑
𝐈 𝐃𝐎𝐍❜𝐓 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖 how athletes can run so much in their lives and at their top speed, but I was beginning to understand a fraction of their pain. My entire body ― inside and out ― was on fire as I sped back down the road. I had scrapes all over me, though none of it mattered. At this moment, all I wanted was to tell Ochako everything that had happened.
How could it be that my entire life changed within a single day? I have a great friendship that has me excited. I fixed my bond with my dad and got over my fear. I skipped a little as I ran. It was exactly like Yagi had said.
"It'll change when you're ready to change it."
Ironically, that's all it took; I had to remember to thank Yagi next time I saw him, but right now, I had to see Ochako. I had to tell her everything and thank her, too. I doubt she's realized how much she's helped me, so even if she doesn't understand, I have to tell her just grateful I was.
Just like the first time seeing the house, I stopped short at the gate. Although, I wasn't awestricken by the size of the building. There, on the doorsteps, sat Ochako with the blanket around her shoulders, the front door wide open. I unlocked the gate and hurried towards her.
"Ochako, what are you doing out here?" I put my hand on her shoulder, turning her in my direction.
She looked up at me innocently. "Waiting for you."
I faltered. "B-But how could you know I was coming back?"
I had sat beside her, which allowed her to rest her head on my shoulder. If it were anyone else, I would have done one of two things: either shy away or stiffen. But I laid my cheek against the top of her head. It felt natural to be here next to her, surrounded by the cricket's music and in the mild heat of the night.
"Do you ever get the feeling that something's going to happen?" I looked at her, waiting for her to continue. She had her hand on mine, but it seemed as though she was hesitating. "I got the feeling that you would come back. And even if you didn't come back tonight, I knew you'd come back." She smiled up at me. "Someone as caring as you would always come back."
"Well, I wanted to thank you," I said, looking into her eyes. I brushed away a stray piece of hair that was stuck to her cheek. "I wouldn't be who I am now if it weren't for you."
She ducked her head in embarrassment, her cheeks brightening in color. "I highly doubt that."
"It's true. Remember how I told you that people had always called me Deku ― along with other colorful names."
She nodded once.
"My father was the very first one to start calling me that." I tried to ignore her gasp and kept going. "I was only nine when he was arrested for assaulting a police officer, and for all these years, I thought that's where he would stay. But I guess he was released today, and I was convinced everything had gone down the drain." When I turned down to look at her, her fingers instantly intertwined with mine. My face began to warm. "But I was wrong. I still had Yagi and you. You weren't taken away from me, and while my dad was, he eventually came back."
"What are you trying to say, Izuku?"
I smiled, taking a strand of her chestnut hair between my fingers. "What I'm saying is that people may leave you, but it isn't the end of the world. When someone leaves, it just leaves you weak enough to think you're falling, but you can still stand. You can still move forward and find someone who won't leave you."
Ochako had put the blanket around my shoulders as I spoke, bringing us closer. Because of this, Ochako was able to snuggle up against my chest, her hands clutching two small fistfuls of my shirt. Her eyes were open, but they weren't blank like they normally were: they were filled with wonder.
"I like the sound of that." She smiled. I placed an arm around her shoulders, secure and unmoving. She was quiet for a few moments before she lifted her eyes to stare at empty space. "I saw it. I saw the butterflies dancing."
My smile grew again. "I'm glad."
"And I want to see you."
I faltered; then it dawned on me that she was right. When I was with Ochako, it was extremely hard to keep a smile off my face ― because it was already back.
Ochako lowered her gaze, but I didn't miss the pink dusting her cheeks. "I know you have messy hair ― like, really messy hair. But that's all. What color eyes do you have?"
Rather than answering, I tentatively put my hand over her eyes. She closed them without a moment's hesitation; just like I thought. "I have green eyes and green hair, and yes, my hair is naturally messy." I jokingly poked her in the side, earning a squeal of laughter. "And I have four identical freckles on each cheek."
She rose her eyebrows under my hand. "Seriously? You're lying."
"And what makes you think I'm lying?" I poked her in the side again, the widest grin on my face when she tried to slap my hand away, but missed entirely. I chuckled. "You missed."
Huffing, she crossed her and turned away from me. "And what makes you think I wouldn't?"
I didn't say anything, too focused on how cold I felt when she was away from me. The night was only cooler by a few degrees, but I was freezing. Like I needed Ochako for everything ― warmth, oxygen, comfort. I've never experienced anything like this, but there was a time when Yagi told me about someone he loved. He described being with them like they were his life-force ― his warmth, his oxygen, his comfort. And that's what Ochako was to me.
"Ochako," I said. "Is it possible for someone... to fall in love in just a day?"
At this, Ochako whirled around to stare in my direction, her eyes wide. It had gotten eerily quiet between and around us. The crickets were silenced, the wind had stopped its faint whistling, the trees had stilled. The only sound was our hearts, beating rapidly to the point where you didn't have to right next to us to hear them.
Even time had halted. And all that was left was us. Me and Ochako ― alone in the stilled world.
Eons had passed before Ochako smiled shyly. "Anything's possible. Right?"
At those three words, my arms reached out to pull her right where I wanted her to be ― beside me. Time was still held in place, but I preferred it that way. It meant no one could interrupt us, no one could trouble us, and no one could get in between us. That's how I wanted it, and as I cupped Ochako's face in my hands, I could tell by her radiant brown eyes that she wanted it that way too.
Her fingers were wrapped loosely around my wrists, her eyes hooded in an emotion I longed to see from her ― meant only for me. We had been close to each other before, but this was different. Our hearts had beat separate from each other all this time, but now, our hearts beat in sync.
"When you think you're alone in this world, when your fear is holding you back, just remember that everyone has a heartbeat. Everyone has a purpose in life, and everyone will have a different way of achieving it. You just haven't found your purpose yet, kiddo, but it'll come to you when the time's right."
This was my purpose ― to stay with Ochako, to make her happy, and to live my life with her by my side. I wanted everything with Ochako, and there was no way I would let anyone take her away from me. And I knew there was only one way to seal that promise.
Leaning down, I kissed her with no intention of breaking it.
