Quirkless Isn't Hopeless (Complete)

Pretend

It was their first year at U.A. Asui was heading through the halls. She wanted to go to the support studio. "I wonder how Midoriya is getting along." She pondered. He had transferred to that department after losing his quirk. It was currently lunch period so everyone was at the dining hall.

The door slid open. Clutter, clang! She perked her eyes to the sound. The workshop was empty except for him. He also turned to the sound of the open door. "A-Asui!?" Quickly wiping his eyes and standing up. It looked like he had stumbled and fell from a commotion. He was trying to do more than he could again. She noticed his bloodshot eyes, red nose and salty trails that stained his cheeks. He was crying

"... Ribbit..."

"I, um, er, why are you here? Do you have a problem with your suit? I'm still learning but I can try."

She shook her head. "I just wanted to check on you?"

"Really?" He let out a laugh, rubbing the back of his head. "Why-, why would you do that?" His happy demeanor began to vanish as his hair covered his eyes. "Not even Uraraka bothers to..." He weakly dropped his arm to the side. "Hey, Asui?"

"Yes, Midoriya?"

"I'm, I'm still Deku, right?"

"Ribit?" Tsuyu had caught up to Uraraka. She was just standing in front of the door to Midoriya's and Hatsume's workshop.

"I've been standing here, the whole time. I... I can't even work up the nerve to open it." Uraraka began to speak, noticing her approach. "Hey, Tsuyu, why is that?"

"Ochaco..."

"Why can't I confront Deku with my honest emotions?" She begged with shadowed eyes.

Asui placed her hand on her shoulder. "We should probably talk somewhere else." She guided them to the closest restroom.

Tsuyu was by the sink while Uraraka was in a stall, drying her eyes. It was quiet until she spoke after blowing on a tissue. "Deku already told you about what happened last summer, didn't he?"

"Ochaco, maybe this isn't the best time to be asking."

"It's fine, after all, you're the only person he opens up to anymore, so I'm sure he told you."

Tsuyu sighed but admitted to it. "Yes, he did."

Uraraka let out an unheard gasp. "Hey, Tsuyu?"

"Yes, Ochaco?"

"Deku, has he told you anything? About me, I mean."

Tsuyu sighed again. "Don't do this to yourself."

"I just... I just miss him you know? We were always so..."

"I know... I know."

"But now you two are... And I don't know. I hate to say it but I'm jealous of you. Deku still treats you the same after all this time... I know I don't have the right to be angry, I avoided him, I can admit that but it just sucks..."

"Then be with him." She quickly interjected. Tsuyu herself was surprised by her words. "I mean, you can't keep wishing things were like back then. All you can do is be there for him." She let out the last sentence with barely a trace vulnerability.

But Uraraka heard it. Her lips parted. "Tsuyu... You don't like him, do you?"

Tsuyu's expression didn't change but she was quiet for a moment. "Ochaco, I'm his friend... Just like I'm yours." That's right, simply friends, to both of them.

"Then as your friend, can I ask one more thing?"

"Anything."

"Is there anything going on with him and Hatsume? I can't put my finger on it but he's been acting differently for a while now... He looks more tired lately and he's less focused, on me... I know it sounds insincere but he used to make the attempts but now."