the day it stopped raining | midoriya izuku

11 | mist-veiled stars

TOKYO
24°C
LIGHT RAIN

On most rainy nights, Masuyo has imaginative temptations of what she could and could've been.

The temptation to step off her career track and become a shepherd in the mountains, following her flock between pastures with a sheepdog and a rifle, watching storms at dusk from the doorway of a small cabin, just the kind of hypnotic diversion that allows her thoughts to make a break for it and wander back to their cubicles in the city.

An extraordinary theory of the Butterfly Effect; the smallest and insignificant choices that have the ability to change your whole life—career, relationships and yourself. Thinking constant what-ifs and late-wishes that'll result in a totally different you, the kind of you that would be either healthy and happy, or downright unstable and tragic.

Masuyo feels as if she was in between both because she doesn't know if keeping a distance away from the people who broke her was a healthy choice when on the downside, all she had was herself to lean to in the lonely apartment.

So maybe, she was glad that for some utter reason—for some utterly stupid reason that made her sit under the rain like an abandoned puppy; she got to meet someone as amazing as Midoriya Izuku who fills her bubble with his blithe smile and voice. If anything, his presence alone made her feel at ease. The girl had lost track on how many times he dropped by her balcony with different gifts—sometimes spicy ramen and take-outs to balance healthy and junk foods. They exchanged numbers along the way, exchanged rare smiles along the way, but most importantly—Masuyo's gotten used to his visits that she leaves her balcony door unlocked; the first solid sign of trusting someone for the first time in so many months. She has old friends she trusts to heart even when she's never seen them in so long, but they're not here in the present. Not with her.

All she's got now was just Izuku. Midoriya Izuku.

"It's okay if you fall asleep. It's not like I'm gonna kick you out for hogging the couch or anything. Feel free to take the bed in the guest room." Masuyo offers, watching Midoriya doze off as a different All Might documentary plays in the late night. He was hugging the blanket she gave him in the middle of their session, the tv light reflecting off their surroundings and his features.

"It's—" Another tearful yawn leaves his mouth. "...fine. I gotta get back to Miruko-san's dorms in an hour anyway. I'm used to this."

"Sure," she drags out in a sarcastic tone, a hint of a small smile in her voice.

Masuyo turns back to the tv, pretending to pay attention to whatever's showing on the screen. Her instincts were racing in the back of her mind; listening to the muffled, static rain outside the high-rise windows, the way the living room vicinity glows and flickers from the light of the tv screen, the warm presence exuding from the green boy beside her.

It probably took a while, but within less than ten minutes, Masuyo already turned to see Midoriya dozed off with the back of his head leaning on the couch's headrest with his mouth wide open, snoring softly.

The girl lightly laughs at this, shaking her head. Deep down, she was pondering whether she should take a picture, but then, it's a rare sight worth relishing.

"Used to this, huh?" A soft smile forms on her lips, staring at his sleeping face. "You're an upcoming hero yet you make time to see someone like me. You cook for me. Even watch movies with me until you have to go back. Sounds too exhausting to get used to, Izuku." She says in a soft voice, barely whispering as she runs her fingers through his forest-green curls—so fluffy and silky.

"...I don't deserve this. I don't deserve you." She says, to both him and herself.

She picks up the remote from the coffee table, instantly turning off the tv in which caused the entire apartment to blackout from the lack of light. However, the city lights and misty moon were exuding enough to let her vision see through the darkness, letting her guide Midoriya's head to her lap, lifting and placing him gently to avoid him from waking up. She took the opportunity to pat and soothe his soft curly hair, thinking and thinking about the blatant fact that Midoriya Izuku was a miracle she shamelessly took advantage of.

Took advantage of his kindness, his company and his smile. Was she greedy? Was she going too fast? Too fast at accepting him into her lonely life? Too fast in being comforted by him?

It feels as if she has known him forever, but they were friends. Masuyo has never thought and will never think about anything beyond that. Because her heart has expectations that shot through heaven, and heartaches that drilled through hell. All she could afford was to cherish Midoriya for as long as she can.

His pallid features entranced her eyes, the rainy light and shadows of water droplets adorning the faint freckles on his cheeks. His breath was as steady as the ocean, his rising and falling body as rocky as a boat drifting on smooth seas. Everything about him was tangled with the static noise of their surroundings, along with the constant and gentle stroke of his lush hair. Masuyo's eyes were starting to get heavy, taking it as a cue to lift herself into a lower position for her back, lying down on the L-shaped side of her couch while keeping his head in place.

She got up on her elbows for the last time to bring the blanket further up onto Midoriya's chest, making sure it was effective enough to keep him warm from the rainy weather. Lying back down, his head ends up resting on side of her stomach, acting as a pillow. First thing in the morning, he would probably wake up and freak out about how he didn't go back to the dorms in time and get scolded, but the boy looked too tired to face that. Doing this would be worth the price.

Her eyes get heavier and her breathing gets slower. Upon reaching the brink of sleep, Masuyo smiles knowingly at the warmth in her chest.

After all, she didn't want to wake up in her cold bed alone for once.

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i have so many angst ready to write but I'm tryna develop their friendship and upcoming romance ya know