Come Back to Me (Izuocha)

Chapter 2: Acceptance

**Ochako's POV**

Today we got a look at what a real fighter looks like.

Togata was a shock to fight. I mean, he managed to take out our entire class on his own! That's not something just anyone can do. I know that he also impressed Deku today. I could see the look in his eyes when Togata was talking about how he became a top UA student.

I smile a little to myself. Deku was so transfixed by his speech. It was kinda cute. Realizing the thoughts that had crossed my mind I mentally slapped myself.

"Stop it!" I thought to myself, "Deku wants to become a hero, you'd just get in the way of that."

Although I truly believe those words, it doesn't stop them from leaving some pain in my heart. "Besides I continue, it's not like he likes you back." Just then I notice Deku up ahead holding something in his hands.

Suddenly all the negative emotions I've been feeling vanish and are replaced with a sense of happiness. I start jogging in his direction, "Hey Deku," I saw as I fall into step next to him. I'm pretty sure I know what he's doing but I decide to ask anyway. "Whatcha doing?"

"Oh, hey, Uraraka." He says as he notices me. He then tells me that he was taking notes on Togata while gesturing towards the notebook in his left hand. I smile, he always does everything he can to be a hero. It's one of the things I admire most about him.

"Classic Deku," I reply. Just then I began to notice that Deku's face was turning several shades redder than it should be. I began to worry; was he sick?

"Deku, why's your face getting so red?" not even trying to mask the concern in my voice. Deku says something about still recovering from the fight but I don't totally buy it. Before I can question him further however Tsuyu appears next to me and pulls me into a conversation.

I felt a little bad about not paying more attention to Deku but he seemed all right for the most part and Tsuyu is a good friend of mine. We were talking about our plans for the weekend when I saw Deku start to make his way back where we just came from.

"Hey Deku, where are you going?" I ask.

"I, umm. I forgot something back at the facility! I'll see you guys later." I thought it odd but I didn't question it. It was then that I realized that Tsuyu had been calling my name a few times

"Huh, what was that?" I asked turning my attention away from Deku's receding back. Tsuyu gives me a knowing look and says

"You've really seemed to have your eye trained on Midoriya lately. Anything you feel like telling me?" I could feel a rush of heat as my face started to blush furiously

"What!" I yelped in surprise. "I have no idea what you're talking about!"

In response to that Tsuyu just says, "You know it's pretty obvious right?"

"What do you mean?" I ask defensively. Tsuyu smiles a bit. At this point, we've reached the dorms and decided to take this conversation to my room as not be eavesdropped on. Once we enter my room Tsuyu asks,

"Remember when we were making our ultimate moves and we asked you who it was that you liked. Iida, or Midoriya?"

"And I told you it wasn't like that!" I said incredulously.

"Well, I know you too well to believe that. So ever since then, I've been paying extra attention to the way you act around both of them individually, and I've noticed that you generally pay much more attention to Midoriya if he's with you."

At this point, I was internally panicking.

"That doesn't mean anything, we're just really good friends"

" Which I might believe," she retorted "if Midoriya wasn't the only person I've ever seen you blush around."

I just stared at her now wondering frantically how I could get out of this. But she'd won. She knew that she'd won.

"Alright," I said defeated "Maybe I like him, so what?"

"So you admit it?" asks Tsuyu.

"You haven't given me much choice," I reply.

"True," she says. "Listen Ochako, all I'm saying is that you shouldn't try to pretend you don't like him when you do. Besides, I think you two would be great together."

"But I'll just get in the way." I said with a tremor in my voice, "I don't want to keep Deku from becoming the hero he wants to be."

Tsuyu looked taken aback, "That's what you're worried about?" She asked somewhat shocked, "Ochako, you've helped him through his journey thus far not stalled him and if you two got together I don't think you would slow each other down, I think you would drive each other forward."

"I don't know Tsu I said in an empty tone. Tsuyu just sighed. "Well, at least think about it."

And with that she left, leaving me alone with my churning emotions.

Hey everyone, if you've read the first chapter before this was published then I should probably let you know I'm going to change the cover art soon. I want the cover to be something I did myself so hopefully, it isn't too bad.