✓ | TO PROTECT YOU . izuocha

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"Midoriya, I think the plan's working!"

          Izuku glanced behind him when Kirishima called, indeed seeing the three villains splitting up into opposite directions. And they weren't following their small group.

          "Now we just have to hope that the others will be okay," Mina added breathlessly.

          The three just proceeded to run forward, their footsteps pounding in the silence. Inside their heads, though, the gears were spinning nonstop, especially Izuku's. He clenched his teeth, reminding himself―ordering himself―to keep moving forward, but he couldn't do that without breaking his promise.

          It was his plan, so he should be all for making sure it was completed, but still. He tried telling himself that it was to protect Ochako by separating. However, back when he had suggested which groups were best, in the depths of his mind and soul, he believed Posiongrip would somehow follow his group. And he didn't want Ochako to be anywhere near danger if that was the case.

          "Deku?"

          His jawbone tightened more than before when their earlier conversation resurfaced to the front of his brain.

          "Yeah? What is it, Ochako?"

          Uraraka shuffled her feet nervously, watching as her close friend clasped the black cloak around his neck. "I―I need to tell you something.."

          Izuku rose his gaze towards her, seeing her struggle with what she was trying to say. "Is this about your promise?"

          Ochako stopped, staring at him with wide eyes. "How―"

          "I woke up just as you promised you wouldn't leave me," he stated, rubbing the back of his neck, his cheeks a light pink. "I never thought you would make a promise to me, though, of all people."

     "Well, i-it's the l-least I could d-do," Uravity stuttered, taking a step forward. Her ankle sent a jolt up her leg when she put weight on it, causing her to fall forward. Deku closed the distance between them within seconds, his arm wrapping around her to rest his hand on her elbow. Ochako just melted into his embrace, Izuku not caring in the least if the others saw them. "Y-You know.. since you p-promised me you w-would protect me..."

          Izuku smiled warmly, taking a deep breath of peony. "And I'll be sure to keep that promise.. Ochako..."

          A shout made Izuku stop in his tracks, Mina and Kirishima doing the same to avoid colliding into him. Since they were climbing the Landslide Zone, they could view the Shipwreck Zone perfectly. They could also see Posiongrip advancing on Iida, Tsu, Ojiro, and Ochako.

          Midoriya's gaze quickly turned into a glare when he noticed the villain was dangerously close to Ochako. He began retracing his steps back down the slope, but was stopped by Kirishima grabbing his cloak. He whirled around. "Let go of me, Kirishima."

          "Midoriya, think about this. I understand they're our classmates, but we're close to the exit. Then we can go get help."

          "Fine, then. Change of plans," Izuku unclasped the cloak, now running towards the wide expanse of water. "You go get help and I'll buy you some time!"

          "Midoriya!" Kirishima called, holding the cloak in a hand. He turned to Ashido reluctantly. "Well, I guess we're gonna have―"

          He was cut off abruptly the second Mina took off after the One-For-All user, kicking up a dust cloud that entered the young man's lungs. He began to cough rapidly, his hand forming a fist to hit his chest repeatedly. Faintly, he heard Mina shout in the distance, "I'm not missing an IzuOcha moment!"