Hot-Headed (Now also a podfic on spotify!)

Chapter 27

Ochako looked at herself in front of the full length mirror in her bedroom.

She was wearing the dark blue dress she'd worn months ago in first term that had shown off her cleavage so well. It didn't hurt that it came just a couple inches above her knee too. She had remembered all the boys that had seen her in it that night had given pause for at least a second, even Katsuki.

This had to have been the first time she had ever cared so much about how she looked. She kept checking and rechecking her boobs and her legs, making sure they looked good but not so good that it was obvious she was putting so much effort in.

You're dumb. You're such an idiot, she kept warning herself. And yet, she kept on going, even going so far as to put on some makeup to punch up her eyes and stain her lips a deeper pink.

She was pinning her hair up into a bun as Nate walked by her open door and stopped when he spotted her, backing up a couple steps and peeking his head in.

"Oof," he said, taking her in with a grin, "You're not even gonna give him a fighting chance, girly. That's cruel."

Ochako blushed furiously, "Is it really that obvious? I should take it all off if it's obvious."

"Don't do that. It's not gonna be obvious if you make it seem like you're dolled up to impress the councillor," he advised, "Just bat your big brown eyes at him a couple times when we greet him and then you can make googly eyes at Ground Zero the rest of the night if you want."

"Uuuuggghhh, why do you have to make me sound so desperate?" she whined.

"To be fair," he said with authority, "I'm the king of desperation. I'd be desperate to hit that too."

"Oh my god, Nate, you are a pervert," she shrieked.

"You're just now realizing this?" he laughed, making a swift retreat before she could locate a pillow to chuck at him.

She went back to her reflection in the mirror, wondering to herself if it was enough. Wondering if she was being smart even letting hope grow in her again.

With one more check up and down her figure, she finally made the judgement that she was ready.

Meeting up with Nate, looking stunning as usual in a three piece suit, they began their trek down to the lobby.

Ochako's nerves were making her jittery the lower they went and she grabbed onto his arm for support, trying to keep herself from bouncing on the balls of her feet while they waited.

Finally, after what had to be hours, they reached the lobby and the elevator doors slid open.

She didn't immediately see Katsuki and her eyes searched the lobby, trying to pick out a head of spiky hair among the other guests. But he was nowhere to be found.

"What time is it?" she asked Nate, giving him a confused frown.

Nate fished out his phone from his pocket.

"6:35," he told her, then placed it back, "Don't worry. I can see you worrying."

He was right, she was already chewing at the inside of her cheek. Was he not coming after all? Had he changed his mind?

"We can wait for a few minutes," Nate told her calmly, pulling her toward the front of the lobby so they could be near the doors if Katsuki walked in.

Ochako just nodded, not trusting her voice to sound normal when a lump was starting to grow in her throat.

So they stood near the door for another five agonizing minutes. The whole time, she was doing her best not to search frantically and just kept her eyes on the door.