𝐇𝐨𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐲𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐬||𝐈𝐙𝐔𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐀

a long-needed talk.

That whole morning Mina felt anxious. After careful consideration and consultation from Toru, she decided to try and rekindle her relationship with Midoriya. They were drifting, and this time it was no one's fault. She wasn't going to lose Midoriya for the second time.

However, it was easier said than done. Ways to talk to him today plagued her mind while she ran. The reason why she ran and why she pulled Kirishima along was for a welcome distraction.

They were resting now, but a certain freckled hair boy couldn't leave her mind. She stared aimlessly at his contact photo, thinking of what to say.

"Mina?" Kirishima called. "You ready to head back?" He had finished stretching and peered over her shoulder. She quickly shut the phone off.

"Yeah, yeah, of course," She mumbled. "Give me a second." She turned away from her friend, which only made him worry more.

"Hey, are you alright? You don't seem the same since the break. Even yesterday felt a bit off," He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You can talk to me, you know,"

She needed this.

"Can I rant for a bit?" She asked. He nodded.

She started rambling. Most of the conversation was about what happened that weekend. She talked about the restaurant, leaving, the talk with Izuku, the confession, all of it. Kiri stood quiet the entire time, listening intently. Then she talked about where they are now.

"I'm sorry for ranting like this," She rubbed the side of her elbow awkwardly. "I would have never imagined that I would be pouring my secrets out to you."

"Don't sweat it," He shrugged. "It's the manly thing to do, be there for someone in need."

"I just," She said at once. She stared at Izuku's photo again before turning to Kirishima. "I know I can't have him. I accepted that, I think. I'm not avoiding him. I don't think he's avoiding me. So why does it feel like we're farther apart from when we started?"

"Hmm," Kirishima hummed. "Let me put myself in Deku's shoes."

He paused for a moment. "I would have trouble trying to talk to you since I got a girlfriend now, and I know you aren't over me. He probably doesn't want to hurt you."

"We're back to square one," she sighed as she folded her arms across her chest. "I'm over it, I think. I don't want it to seem like I'm trying to butt in their relationship. I don't want to be the crazy ex. I don't know how to be there without things being awkward."

"Well," Kirishima yawned. "The way I see it, you both care a lot for Ochaco. So much so, you put her happiness over yours. Have you stopped to consider how Uraraka even feels about all this? Does she even know you have feelings for Izuku?"

"I mean- no," Mina started. "It was pretty obvious, though." Mina kicked a rock at the base of her shoe. She was telling the truth. Mina's feelings for Midoriya were as plain as day.

"If it was so blatant that you had feelings for him, how come noone pointed it out?" He added. "Everyone seemed to be rooting for Uraraka and Deku to get together. Why weren't you in the mix?"

"Because I told everyone we were friends," She paused. Then it hit her. She caused this.

It was always Izuku. Since day 1. She was in denial every time her friends brought it up and egged her own. In a way, she was helping Ochaco get with Midoriya the entire time. Was it fair for her to be mad she pushed everyone away?

"I didn't realize I liked him the whole time until the last day of the semester last year." Her voice has grown small, and she stared down at her sneakers as she tried to process the epiphany.