A Whirlwind of Feelings [Todobaku fanfiction] ✔️

20. The Heart's Canvas

Chapter 20: The Heart's Canvas

The quiet hum of the art room was disturbed by the creak of the door. Midoriya, tiptoeing in, found Uraraka engrossed in her artwork, her face illuminated by the soft sunlight filtering through the windows. The picture she was crafting was intricate and emotional, a beautiful representation of resilience and hope.

Seeing her so focused, an impish grin crossed Midoriya's face as he stealthily moved behind her. Gently, he said, "Boo!" startling Uraraka, causing her brush to jerk across the canvas. She whipped around, her heart racing, only to see Midoriya, trying to stifle his laughter. With a mock glare, she lightly hit his arm, but the corners of her mouth twitched upwards. "Izuku! Look what you made me do!"

Guilt instantly washed over him as he noted the smear of paint. "I'm so sorry, Ochaco. I shouldn't have..." he started, but she waved him off.

Uraraka looked back at her artwork, her eyes softening. "I like to draw. It's a way to escape reality, to create something beautiful from a blank canvas."

As he gazed at the sketches, Midoriya noticed a pattern. The theme seemed to revolve around powerful, uplifting moments, and it struck a chord deep within him.

Uraraka noticed his scrutiny and explained, "I draw what I want in my life, what I wish to be. It's my way of staying hopeful."

Midoriya smiled at her, admiring her resilience and spirit. "You're amazing, Uraraka. So brave."

She sighed, her fingers lightly tracing the lines of a drawing. "Well, I wasn't always this way. When I first came to this school, it was overwhelming. Many people were rude, even Bakugou."

His eyebrows furrowed in concern as he asked, "Bakugou bullied you?"

Uraraka shook her head. "No, he never bullied me, but he was harsh and loud. Whenever I tried to talk to him, he'd yell at me. Shoto joined the school after me, so I never really got to know him."

She paused, then continued with a small smile, "But then there were those boys who started to bully me. I felt so helpless. And then, one day, Momo approached me. She offered to protect me from the bullies if I agreed to draw for her."

Midoriya listened intently as Uraraka shared her story. It was a side of her he had never known, a testament to her resilience. He gently squeezed her hand as an unspoken sign of support.

"I needed to come to this school, and my parents had invested so much in my education. I didn't want to waste their money," Uraraka confessed. "I started to price my art, but no one would buy it. So, I agreed to Momo's offer. She helped me, and I felt indebted to her. But it wasn't right."

The warmth of his gaze never wavered as she continued. "That's when I told Momo to stop. I'd been so afraid of the bullies, and I didn't want to be controlled by fear. But even after that, I still felt like a coward."

Midoriya could sense the depth of her feelings. "Uraraka, you're not a coward. You're one of the bravest people I know. You stood up against Bakugou, and you have your own dreams."

She looked up at him, her eyes shining with gratitude. "That day when you, Shoto, and Bakugou helped me... it was one of the best days of my life. It made me believe that I can be strong."

He couldn't help but smile at her. "You can always count on us. And I believe in you, Uraraka. You'll achieve all your dreams."

With a faint blush tinting her cheeks, Uraraka leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on his cheek, their fingers still interlocked. "Thank you, Midoriya."

His heart raced, and he brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "You're welcome, Uraraka. Anytime."