Perseverance

Perseverance Part 4

The days leading up until the start of the fall semester at U.A. were filled with giddy excitement for both Izuku and Ochako. The two of them communicated happily between each other, growing more and more comfortable in their unannounced relationship as the days passed them by.

The day before the fall term was to begin, Izuku and Ochako were spending time together in her apartment. Izuku had returned the day after the move to help her move things around her small home, arranging them to her liking, a process that took far longer than it needed to due to her indecisiveness. Izuku didn't mind though, with his strength and stamina it was difficult to tire him out unless you were Bang, so moving around relatively heavy furniture was no problem at all for the young man. This brought them to their current setting, enjoying the afternoon together as they awaited the arrival of the following day. The anticipation was palpable in the air as they chatted with each other, an activity that they never failed to lose time to.

"What do you think tomorrow is gonna be like?" Ochako asked, knowing full well by now that Izuku was a hero fanatic. If anyone had any outsider insight into the inner machinations of the prestigious U.A. high school, it was him.

"I expect it to be eventful. Our homeroom teacher is Aizawa, also known as Eraserhead. There's no telling what he has in store for us. We should be on our best behavior, he has quite a reputation of expelling students." Izuku recollected, a grim expression forming on his face.

"Geez, really? Why'd we have to end up with that guy then?" Ochako asked, a shudder running its way down her spine at the thought of being expelled before she could even make any headway towards her dream. She had come so far, sacrificed so much and invested a whole lot . . too much to fail now. Far too much.

"Well studying under him also has its perks. If he's a strict teacher, he'll whip us into shape in no time at all, and he'll be very clear on his expectations for us going forward in the school year." Izuku told her, trying his best to comfort the girl that he had made nervous.

"It doesn't sound so bad when you put it that way. No matter what I'm still super excited about tomorrow." Ochako said in a far more cheerful tone in comparison to the dejected one she had used previously.

"Me too! This is the first big step, and we're gonna do great. We made it in for a reason, we were accepted because we have the potential to become great heroes, and we're gonna do just that. Plus Ultra!" Izuku shouted while raising his fist into the air, an action that caused Ochako to giggle.

"What's so funny?" Izuku asked, quirking an inquisitive eyebrow at his companion's mirth.

"You're just so cute when you act all silly like that." Ochako managed through her laughter, much to Izuku's amusement.

"So I'm cute am I? Well I've got news for you then. You're cuter." Izuku told her with a devilish smile on his face while he pointed at the girl.

Ochako's cheeks visibly darkened, her permanently rosy cheeks becoming even more red in response to his compliment. "Let's agree to disagree." She responded after a brief moment of preparing herself.

Izuku smiled at his friend. A friend that in such a short time he had already become unimaginably close to, a friend he had already been on a date with and had already kissed him . . .

"Hey Uraraka." Izuku asked, deciding to directly address his thoughts. His tone had slightly changed, not in a very noticeable way but Ochako still managed to pick up on it.

"What?" She responded, hoping that he wasn't upset for some reason about her teasing earlier.

"Are we a couple now? I mean we hang out all the time and we've gone on a date. We're even working on planning a second one." He asked as calmly as he could. He may have been maintaining a steely facade in the face of their relationship, but addressing it directly like this still made him slightly jittery.