The Emerald Prince

Chapter 29: Playing games

Izuku watched Todoroki's brief match with Sero, beside Shinsou with the rest of class 1A, then observed with keen interest as Ibara completely outmatched Kaminari. When their match ended, and Izuku realised who was next, he turned away to catch sight of Uraraka leaving.

He rose and followed her.

"You're facing Kaachan." He said softly, touching her arm gently - the girl was so lost in thought he knew she needed the warning.
She turned to look at him, and he watch as she beamed, hiding her nerves. "I remember what you told us in training. I'm prepared!"

He was both concerned and impressed by how easily the reassuring fake smile rose to her lips, but he let it be. "Let me join you in the waiting room anyway, all the next matches are more or less foregone conclusions."

She started in surprise and sent him a quizzical look.
"Iida and Hatsume?"
"They'll both win." Said Izuku with a slight smirk.

She tilted her head in confusion. The greenette didn't elaborate though, just shrugging.
"You'll learn about it later."

She sighed, but reminded of Iida's new feelings and this Todoroki's obvious ones, she decided to probe a little.
"Hey, Izu, you have a crush?"
The greenette looked over and cocked his head to the side, "a...crush?"
She paused, taken aback that he didn't know what she meant, "do you like someone?"
Izuku chuckled, "Ochako if you are fishing for advice, you can ask me directly."
He knew it didn't answer the question but it made her turn red as a tomato, so he knew she wouldn't keep questioning.

Thankfully a grumpy Iida chose that moment to stomp into the waiting room.
"Congratulations." Commented Izuku with a grin.
"Hatsume made a fool of me, Izuku!" He exclaimed, arms darting about.
"But you both got what you wanted, right? That's the best outcome of any fight."

Izuku's expression was open and kind and Iida felt the frustration melt away. "...True. Prepared Ochako?"
Having recovered for the greenette's earlier words, she smiled. "I'm ready! But I'm still nervous!"
"Well...as your a girl-"
The glare Izuku shot him would have made All Might squeal.

Uraraka cocked her head in confusion.

"If anyone in our class can truly be relied upon not to discriminate on gender," said Izuku calmly, "it is Bakugou Katsuki. Please don't join Kirishima, correcting his manliness obsession is already a full time job, and I've half a mind to set Jiro on the pair of you."

Iida bowed to Uraraka in apology, just as her name was called over the tannoy.
Izuku gave her a hug and the pair waved her off before returning to the stands.

———

Izuku watched the match very quietly, his eyes not leaving the two figures.
With Ochako's collapse, he rose immediately and disappeared without a word to his concerned class.

He passed Bakugou and rolled his eyes. "Though I appreciate you treating her with the respect a formidable enemy deserves, I know perfectly well you could have done that with a bit more elegance."
Bakugou snorted. "You know I don't go in for that shit. You're the dancer."

Izuku smiled slightly, "I'll go to her now I think. This fight...was very important to her."
Izuku was pleasantly surprised by the sudden concern that flickered across those crimson eyes. Seeing as Bakugou wasn't going to express it, he gave in. "Don't worry, Kaachan, she got what she needed out of it."
"I wasn't worried about bubbly bitch, sh- Deku." Growled Bakugou.
"Sure, Kaachan."

Izuku gave the blond a light wave as he passed and approached RG's headquarters but then he met Asui at the door. He smiled slightly and shared a look of understanding with his fellow greenette, giving a thumbs up before turning back the way he came.