[NO WAY!! He was expecting maybe a confession and a hug, but they kissed, too??! Either way, it means that their feelings are out in the open now and judging by the excited emojis she's been sending him, it had gone as well as he'd thought it would. Izuku couldn't be more thrilled for her!!]
(((o(*゚▽゚*)o))) !!!!!!
[And he makes sure she knows it. Through emojis and exclamation marks, as one does.]
[...this is honestly the perfect opening to escape from the house, and Izuku would be a fool not to take it. Especially when he wants to hear what Uraraka has to say, too.]
[Deku is the curious sort, but this still seems a little strange? Not that she's complaining; she is, after all, always excited to see her friend, and if she doesn't tell someone about what's happened she's probably going to explode from too much pent-up excitement. It's just, you know... something she's definitely thinking about when she rushes downstairs to open the door for him.]
Deku-kun! [She gives him a quick once-over, one eyebrow raising the slightest bit.] Did you run the entire way?
Y-yeah! [Izuku laughs nervously. He probably should have realized how suspicious that would look, but he isn't exactly thinking clearly right now either.]
Um, anyway! I'm here! [Izuku grins at her, shifting from foot to foot.]
[Deku, Deku, Deku. She knows him well enough to instantly recognize that something is up, but she steps to the side and gestures for him to come right inside.]
We can go to my room, unless you need a glass of water. That was a long way to run!
[For storytime. HMM. How long will she have to smile knowingly at him before he cracks...]
[Ochako is determined to get to the bottom of this in a friendly, easygoing manner, even if it takes the rest of the day. So no worries, Deku! Up the stairs they go, and she motions him toward the desk chair as she plops down on the edge of her bed. He might note the, uh, huge stack of gold paper sitting on her nightstand, but it's fine. Doesn't everyone keep a book or two close at hand?]
I don't even know where to start, Deku-kun! I'll just... tell you everything, I guess? It won't take that long...
[She's still smiling, but ah— she tilts her head to the side as she studies him for the briefest of seconds.]
And then maybe you can catch me up on everything that's happened to you!
[You know, she isn't surprised by this at all? It's hard to disguise shiny golden paper, and he's already read the poem, so... oh, well. She heaves the tiniest of sighs.]
They all just showed up one morning? I think this is my reward for not stealing anything during the quest. [A beat, and then:] Th-They're all copies of the poem Okuyasu wrote for me...
[Go ahead, Deku. Pick one up. Halfway across town, Okuyasu is probably screaming.]
All of them? [Wow that's... a lot??? Izuku picks one up from the pile and it sure is that poem he remembers reading some time ago.]
This town's rewards are really something. [Izuku looks torn between amusement and just awe at the number of copies she got. And at how shiny those copies are, dang.] They made the paper all fancy, too.
[She nods, confirming that, yes, every single piece of paper is indeed a copy of Okuyasu's poem. It's not as embarrassing as it was, but there's something creepy about the fact that Mr. F knew just how important the poem is to her. Ugh. But hey, on the plus side— they're pretty!!]
The rewards are pretty crazy, but the punishments are worse.
[Far worse. Even Deku's was... uncomfortable, and she's still not sure what, exactly, it was; the only thing she does know is that she never wants to see her friend like that again. But, uh! Positivity!!]
I'm glad that it's all over, though! Everything is back to normal, so... I guess that I should find something to do with all of that paper?
[Spoiler alert: NOTHING, because Ochako loves her poems.]
[Izuku shudders at that.] I'm gonna have to agree with that. I don't know exactly what they did to me, but it felt like I didn't care about a lot of things. Gathering knowledge, analyzing things... I didn't want to do any of that for the whole week.
Nijimura-kun's was terrible, too. I'm glad it's all over, too. [For both Ochako and Okuyasu. Izuku forces himself to shake off that gloom, though. Yes! Positivity!]
Why don't you just keep them, Uraraka-san? The poem means a lot to you.
[Even hearing him describe his punishment is terrible? It's enough to elicit a wince of sympathy, because it's almost like the town took away everything that made Deku Deku for an entire week. That was too far, Mr. F! That was too far!
But hmm, yes—back to her pile of poems, which she's giving an awfully fond look.]
Maybe I will? They are pretty. [So shiny!] I'll count them all one day, just to see how many I have. Dave took one, so...
[It's less that she offered him a copy and more that he insisted on a copy, but Dave is certified Cool™, so. She only looks a bit sheepish about this whole thing.]
I don't mind if you take one, Deku-kun! They're nice to look at, and you did help me.
[Giving him a copy of her personal poem is a little embarrassing, yes, but this Deku! He is, without a doubt, her best friend in this weird place, which is why she smiles and nods.]
Mm-hmm! If you really want one, then it's okay. Just put it somewhere... not out in the open?
[Deku reading it: fine. Shouto reading it: still fine. Other people reading it: can we not.]
[He's still stunned, but he'll take one of the poems and place it off to the side, separate from the huge pile.]
I'll make sure to keep it safe! [Izuku beams at her. Sure, the poem isn't for him, but Ochako trusts him with it and that's what makes this a big deal.]
Anyway, you still haven't told me how it happened! The... the kiss. [For all his earlier excitement, Izuku ends up stammering a little bashfully when he says those words.]
[And now... it is time. She is, understandably, quite nervous about sharing something so very special, but she focuses on smoothing her skirt as she tries to calm herself down. It's fine! Everything is fine!]
Well, you know that we couldn't talk! He was really worried about that...
[Which means that he crashed on her couch for a week and barely left her side! There's more to it, of course; she gives him a quick recap, making sure to highlight just how patient and attentive Okuyasu truly was, but she pauses midway through describing that last day of silence.]
I know it sounds silly, Deku-kun, but... I was starting to get scared? I didn't know if he'd ever be able to hear me again, and I kept thinking about Yaomomo, and Iida-kun, and how they both— [Disappeared? It's still a bit painful to think about, so she skips over it with a frown.] I didn't get to say goodbye to them, and I didn't want that to happen with Okuyasu, too. He's important to me! But I couldn't say anything, s-so...
[She takes a deep breath, feeling her cheeks warm up, but she's determined! To! Be Brave!]
So I kissed him!
[...Whoa, she said it! Now she can duck her face into her hands and try not to float away.]
I don't think it's silly, Uraraka-san. [He's been listening attentively the whole time, barely saying a word, though the way his expression softens is enough to show just what he thinks of the whole thing. Izuku had already known that Okuyasu cared for and appreciated his friend after seeing the sunflower and the poem. What Ochako's telling him now only cements it.
Izuku slips out of the chair and moves until he can crouch down in front of her and pull her hands away from her face. It's kind of incredible, if he thinks about it. Just a few months ago, he would have been too shy with her to even think about touching her so casually like this. Some of the things they've gone through together in this town were tough, to say the least, but if there's one thing he's grateful for, it's the new sense of familiarity he feels with his friends now.]
I feel the same about Iida-kun and Yaoyorozu-san, so I understand. You wanted to let Nijimura-kun know how you felt before you lost the chance--and you did! Your feelings got through to him, even though the town was messing around with you both.
[Smiling gently at her, Izuku shifts so that he's holding her hands in his.] I'm really happy for you, Uraraka-san.
no subject
(((o(*゚▽゚*)o))) !!!!!!
[And he makes sure she knows it. Through emojis and exclamation marks, as one does.]
no subject
[And then, once she's sure that she's, you know, calmed down enough to type actual words:]
i wanted to tell you FIRST!!!
no subject
You two talked as soon as the punishments were gone, didn't you?
no subject
thanks, deku-kun! you helped a lot, you know!!!
and we did! kind of? i'll try to tell you more the next time i see you
[The "If I don't float away in the process" part is implied.]
no subject
What if I head over to your place right now?
no subject
sure!!! i'm not busy, so come over any time!
forum --> action
I'll be right over!
[Aaand considering how eager he is to leave, Izuku gets to her place in barely any time at all. Knock, knock!!]
no subject
Deku-kun! [She gives him a quick once-over, one eyebrow raising the slightest bit.] Did you run the entire way?
[Dedication!]
no subject
Um, anyway! I'm here! [Izuku grins at her, shifting from foot to foot.]
no subject
We can go to my room, unless you need a glass of water. That was a long way to run!
[For storytime. HMM. How long will she have to smile knowingly at him before he cracks...]
no subject
I'm fine! [Izuku waves his hands emphatically.] Let's just go to your room. There's still a lot you haven't told me yet!
no subject
I don't even know where to start, Deku-kun! I'll just... tell you everything, I guess? It won't take that long...
[She's still smiling, but ah— she tilts her head to the side as she studies him for the briefest of seconds.]
And then maybe you can catch me up on everything that's happened to you!
[It's only fair.]
no subject
Um, g-great! Just start from the beginning! Or from wherever you want!
[Actually, what's up with that stack of gold paper? Izuku leeaaaans over to take a closer look at it.] What's this?
no subject
They all just showed up one morning? I think this is my reward for not stealing anything during the quest. [A beat, and then:] Th-They're all copies of the poem Okuyasu wrote for me...
[Go ahead, Deku. Pick one up. Halfway across town, Okuyasu is probably screaming.]
no subject
This town's rewards are really something. [Izuku looks torn between amusement and just awe at the number of copies she got. And at how shiny those copies are, dang.] They made the paper all fancy, too.
no subject
The rewards are pretty crazy, but the punishments are worse.
[Far worse. Even Deku's was... uncomfortable, and she's still not sure what, exactly, it was; the only thing she does know is that she never wants to see her friend like that again. But, uh! Positivity!!]
I'm glad that it's all over, though! Everything is back to normal, so... I guess that I should find something to do with all of that paper?
[Spoiler alert: NOTHING, because Ochako loves her poems.]
no subject
Nijimura-kun's was terrible, too. I'm glad it's all over, too. [For both Ochako and Okuyasu. Izuku forces himself to shake off that gloom, though. Yes! Positivity!]
Why don't you just keep them, Uraraka-san? The poem means a lot to you.
kami, he looks so cute in that icon? i'm dead
But hmm, yes—back to her pile of poems, which she's giving an awfully fond look.]
Maybe I will? They are pretty. [So shiny!] I'll count them all one day, just to see how many I have. Dave took one, so...
[Just grab one, Deku. It's fine.]
nooo don't die!!
You gave Strider-kun a copy of the poem? If you're just handing them out, maybe I should take one for myself.
[He's kidding...probably??]
i am revived
[It's less that she offered him a copy and more that he insisted on a copy, but Dave is certified Cool™, so. She only looks a bit sheepish about this whole thing.]
I don't mind if you take one, Deku-kun! They're nice to look at, and you did help me.
good!!!
[Izuku looks surprised, then strangely touched. It's Important, after all, even if she does have like a million copies of it.]
no subject
Mm-hmm! If you really want one, then it's okay. Just put it somewhere... not out in the open?
[Deku reading it: fine. Shouto reading it: still fine. Other people reading it: can we not.]
no subject
I'll make sure to keep it safe! [Izuku beams at her. Sure, the poem isn't for him, but Ochako trusts him with it and that's what makes this a big deal.]
Anyway, you still haven't told me how it happened! The... the kiss. [For all his earlier excitement, Izuku ends up stammering a little bashfully when he says those words.]
no subject
Well, you know that we couldn't talk! He was really worried about that...
[Which means that he crashed on her couch for a week and barely left her side! There's more to it, of course; she gives him a quick recap, making sure to highlight just how patient and attentive Okuyasu truly was, but she pauses midway through describing that last day of silence.]
I know it sounds silly, Deku-kun, but... I was starting to get scared? I didn't know if he'd ever be able to hear me again, and I kept thinking about Yaomomo, and Iida-kun, and how they both— [Disappeared? It's still a bit painful to think about, so she skips over it with a frown.] I didn't get to say goodbye to them, and I didn't want that to happen with Okuyasu, too. He's important to me! But I couldn't say anything, s-so...
[She takes a deep breath, feeling her cheeks warm up, but she's determined! To! Be Brave!]
So I kissed him!
[...Whoa, she said it! Now she can duck her face into her hands and try not to float away.]
no subject
Izuku slips out of the chair and moves until he can crouch down in front of her and pull her hands away from her face. It's kind of incredible, if he thinks about it. Just a few months ago, he would have been too shy with her to even think about touching her so casually like this. Some of the things they've gone through together in this town were tough, to say the least, but if there's one thing he's grateful for, it's the new sense of familiarity he feels with his friends now.]
I feel the same about Iida-kun and Yaoyorozu-san, so I understand. You wanted to let Nijimura-kun know how you felt before you lost the chance--and you did! Your feelings got through to him, even though the town was messing around with you both.
[Smiling gently at her, Izuku shifts so that he's holding her hands in his.] I'm really happy for you, Uraraka-san.
(no subject)
(no subject)