𝔱𝔴𝔢𝔫𝔱𝔶

word count: 2258

Midoriya POV

I run my finger over the grain of the wood at my school desk as I try to work out the problem on the board. I think x equals...

Yaomomo raises her hand. "The answer is x equals twenty-three."

"Correct."

"Huh, I had forty-six. I must've missed the second step where I divide it..." I mutter to myself.

It's not the first time I've botched my work today. I just can't seem to concentrate, knowing that as soon as the bell rings, I'm going out with Kacchan. On a date.

I've never been on a date before... in fact I've never kissed anyone before the sports festival with Kacchan.

I'm relieved that we're going after school, so I'll be in my uniform instead of worrying about what I'm wearing.

But still. I've bitten my nails down to the beds, which I'm sure is unattractive. I can't help it — I am so apprehensive.

A folded square of paper lands on my desk. I open it to see a note from Ochaco.

ωαηт тσ gєт мσ¢нι αƒтєя ѕ¢нσσℓ ωιтн мє, тѕυуυ, тσкσуαмι, αη∂ ιι∂α? ♡

Refusing the urge to correct her grammar, I bite my lip and scribble regretfully,

I ᑕᗩᑎ'T TOᗪᗩY. ᔕOᖇᖇY! I'ᗰ ᕼᗩᑎGIᑎG OᑌT ᗯITᕼ Kᗩᑕᑕᕼᗩᑎ! ☃

I check that the teacher isn't looking, and flick the paper onto the floor by her foot. I watch as she reads it and her eyes widen. She whips her head to look over at me, her eyes full of question marks.

What? Really? she mouths.

Yeah, I mouth back

Is it a date?

I can't help the sheepish smile that tugs at the corners of my mouth as I nod. During camp, I told her and Tsuyu about what happened with Kacchan. They were both so supportive — I'm lucky to have them as friends.

She opens her mouth again, but then the bell finally rings.

Before I can even pack up my pencil case, Ochaco bounces over to me, leaning forward on the front of my desk, cheeks flushed even pinker than usual.

"I'm so happy for you!" she squeals.

I blush, embarrassed. "Um, please don't go telling everyone yet."

"Alright!" She draws a cross over her chest with her finger.

I stand up from my desk and pull my bag over my shoulder.

She pulls me into a hug and kisses my cheek. "Good luck."

"Thanks. You're such a good friend."

"Aww," she grins. "Okay, go! Go! But you have to tell me all the details later."

"You too; you're practically on a double date with Iida, since Tsuyu and Tokoyami are dating."

She shrugs. "I dunno. More like we're just third- and fourth-wheeling"

I laugh. "Anyway, I'll keep you updated. See you!"

"Bye!"

After a quick stop in the bathroom, I make my way out to the front of the school grounds, where I spot Kacchan waiting. He leans up against the gate, arms folded loosely across his chest.

I don't mean to go on and on about this, but he is so freaking attractive. His jawline is sharp enough to cut my finger if I touched it.

I walk over to him, hands behind my back. "H-hi, Kacchan." I really wish that I didn't stutter around him so much.

He stands up straighter and picks his book bag up off the floor. "Hey."

I stare down at my shoes awkwardly. My face is probably even redder than them.

"So," he starts casually, "I thought we could go see that new movie at the theatre around here. The popcorn there is pretty good..."

I realise by the lack of arrogant confidence in his voice that he's probably just as nervous as I am. The thought sets me at ease a little.

I offer him a wide smile. "That sounds great!"

"Alright, c'mon."

He takes off, swinging his bag over his strong shoulder. In this warm weather, he's wearing the uniform button-up t-shirt — sans tie, of course — and I can observe his toned arms.

I fall into step next to him. He speeds up his pace quickly.

"Hey, are you seriously making a walking competition?" I ask as I take larger steps to keep up.

He glances over his shoulder at me with a smirk. "Maybe."

Always so competitive. "Only you would do that," I smile as I say it so he knows I mean it harmlessly.

"Yeah, but it got us here quickly, didn't it?" he grins cockily.

"Okay," I concede. "Hey, what're we seeing?"

"It's called 'The Bot'. It's supposed to be good."

"Oh yeah, the trailers for it looked interesting."

We enter the air-conditioned bliss and make our way to the snack area after buying tickets. I spy a bar of chilli chocolate and wave it at Kacchan. "You like this, right?"

He takes it from me. "Yeah." Handing me a bag of gummy bears, he says, "Let's get a drink, too."

I'm touched that he remembers how much I love gummy bears. I follow him to the drink machine.

"They're out of fucking Fanta?" he mutters and lightly kicks the side of the machine.

"Hey, hey, they'll get mad if you do that," I fret.

He relaxes surprisingly easily. "I'll just get Sprite." He grabs a cup and pulls the lever to fill it. When he finishes, he asks, "Which one do you want?"

"Um," I scan the options. "A Coca Cola, please."

He fills my cup and we head for the popcorn stand. The guy working there looks familiar...

"Oh, Shinso-kun!" I wave at him. He's wearing a lilac turtleneck under the work apron — surely he'd get hot, though? "You have an after-school job?" He must've had to come really quickly from class to here.

"Yeah. What can I get for you?"

"Popcorn, obviously," retorts Kacchan.

"Don't be rude," I elbow him.

Shinso nods and says flatly, "Sweet or salty?"

Kacchan looks at me. "What do you want?"

"Um, I don't mind. "

"We'll have a mix," Kacchan tells Shinso.

"Coming right up." Shinso fills the large box and hands it to Kacchan. I guess we're sharing one... that's a boyfriend-y thing to do, right?

"See you around school, Shinso-kun!" I say.

"Okay. Enjoy your movie."

We go to pay for our candy, popcorn, and drinks. I fumble for my wallet in my bag but Kacchan places a hand on my arm to stop me.

"I'll pay."

To have him pay for me... it's so romantic! The gesture sends my heart ricocheting. "Thank you! That's really nice of you!"

The tips of his ears turn pink. "Yeah, yeah, come on before we miss the damn movie."

I smile to myself as we walk into theatre number 7. Kacchan leads us to seats at the back row of the cinema. We settle into our seats just as the previews for upcoming movies end. Kacchan puts the popcorn on the armrest between our chairs.

The movie is a futuristic cyberpunk story about a robot girl wanted by the government for her superhuman brain. I try to pay attention, I really do, but my mind keeps drifting over to the situation I'm in. I can hardly believe it. A date. With Kacchan.

I sneak a look at him out of the corner of my eye and am surprised to see him already watching me. He looks away quickly, then glances back to me. That was really cute, I think as I reach for a sip of my drink.

I almost choke on the soda as Kacchan slides his arm around my shoulder. Smooth.

I'll admit that I wouldn't mind if he kissed me right now, in the dark back row of the theatre. In fact, I really want him to.

To my disappointment, the movie ends with my lips having only touched my snacks.

"What did you think of the movie?" Kacchan asks as we walk out of the theatre.

I wasn't paying much attention because I wanted to kiss you. "Pretty good. I can see why it's popular."

"Yeah."

We walk in comfortable silence for a moment, before I ask, "Are you taking the train from here?"

"Yep."

"Me too."

"Oh? I thought you didn't usually take it."

"I'm trying to get used to it."

"We'll be on the same train, then," he states, "since we're in the same neighbourhood."

"Yeah."

We return to silence, but it feels awkward. I'm searching for something to say when he suddenly blurts, "Did you like the date?" His eyes search my face anxiously and I realise how hard he's trying.

"I did!" I smile widely. "We should go out again!"

That seems to set him at ease, and he relaxes.

We arrive at the train station and stand side by side, waiting for our train. I feel Kacchan slide his hand into mine and I jump.

He looks hurt, retracting his hand.

"Sorry," I mumble. "This keeps happening."

"No— we need to get better at that," he says. "I've never touched you other than for a fight, so I can't blame you for being startled."

"We can work on it."

He offers his hand to me again. "Can I hold your hand?"

"Yes." I take his hand and we stand like that until the train comes.

After the short train ride, we step off at our stop together. It is dusk now, the sky a hazy grey.

"Well," I linger for a minute. "Um, goodnight."

He catches me off guard when he pulls me in by my badly-knotted tie. We're nose-to-nose, and I stare at him with wide, surprised eyes.

He gazes back. "I'm giving you a heads up," he murmurs. "I'm going to kiss you now."

I don't try to stop him.

"Close your eyes..." he whispers.

I let my eyelids flutter shut and I feel him lean in and kiss me softly. His free hand that isn't grasping my tie moves up to cup the back of my neck. I gasp against his lips as his slips his tongue inside my mouth gently. I feel something smooth and hard click softly on my teeth.

I pull back. "What's wrong?" he asks, forehead creased.

"Nothing, I just — when did you get a tongue piercing?"

"Oh. I've had it since we started at U.A."

"What? How did I not feel it before?" It's a rhetorical question.

He smirks and extends his tongue out, revealing a silver ball embedded in the centre of his tongue.

"That's kind of hot," the words slip out of my mouth before I can stop them.

He raises his eyebrows as I flush deep pink. Smirking, he leans back in. "Wanna feel it again?"

"Of course," I murmur in a way I hope is attractive. I push myself onto my tip toes and press my lips to his.

When we break away, I glance up at the sky and see the first stars coming out, twinkling silver dots against the hazy grey backdrop.

"I guess I should go home," I say. I wish he'd walk me home...

"Alright. See you at school, Deku."

I turn away and walk to my house. I let myself in with my key and see my mother waiting at the dining table.

"Hi, Mom," I greet.

"Izuku. Where were you, sweetie?"

Oops. It completely slipped my mind to tell her I'd be home later. "Sorry, Mom! I forgot to tell you that I went to the cinema after school."

She stands up and envelops me in a hug. "It's okay. I worried a little, but you're here, so it's all fine!"

I hug her back before stepping away and walking over to the fridge.

"So, sweetie, how was the movie?" she calls from the dining room.

"Good."

"You should bring your friends around one time. Uraraka and Iida, right?"

I scan the fridge for something to satisfy my mouth. "Uhh..."

I don't know if I'm ready to tell her I was on a date with the very same boy who made my later childhood years unbearable. And the fact that, well, he's a boy. "Actually, I went with Kacchan..."

"Oh, really?" she comes over to the kitchen. "Are you and Katsuki friends again?"

If you kiss your friends, sure. "Uh, sort of," I avoid looking at her, because I really don't want to lie to her. It's only half a lie, since I'm not sure where Kacchan and I stand right now. "He's been nicer lately, I guess."

"Just be careful, sweetie. I'm not sure if he's the best influence on you..."

"Mom, he gets straight A's and has a near perfect school record," I defend. I feel like I'll be having this conversation again if he becomes my boyfriend.

"Alright, then," she concedes. "Do you want any dinner?"

I shut the fridge. "I'm okay. I think I'll go to bed a little early."

"Okay. I love you, sweetie."

"Love you too."

I take off up the stairs to my bedroom, which is completely plastered in All Might merchandise. I shrug off my uniform and slip into comfortable boxers. Flopping on my bed, I stare up at the ceiling. I can feel a ridiculously wide smile stretching across my face as I recall each and every little moment of our date.

From my nightstand, my phone is vibrating with dozens of messages, probably all from Ochaco. I type a quick recap of my date to her then shut my phone off.

I adore this light-headed happiness that I'm feeling. I'm totally in love with him.