Chapter One | Resolve

This day was going downhill fast. For someone like me, not at ease with change, I was taking the news of selection day like any other – with my breath held.

Class 3 – F, regarded as the least to be expected to succeed – my homeroom, was in constant debate. Where do we go from here? Ten months from now the entire 3rd year student body will be taking the entrance exams to our school of choice. For my peers, it was an easy decision. Most of them didn't have big dreams for the future. Others, including myself, were hitting the books early. My target is the national school, U.A. High.

I told myself that it wasn't impossible for me to become a hero. I am at the top of my class, have a decent quirk, and in a few tries, I even aced the mock exams. In the who's who of notable applicants for U.A., I am on that list. Even so, I am one of many that intend to apply. I'm content with my odds. But that's not what has my day in shambles. This matter is far more worrisome than whether I get into U.A. or not.

Will you tell him? I read over the message again, feeling more nervous than before. Yes, I want to say. Instead I opt to message Izuku back, and rest my eyes before the 'end of day' bell chimes. I had already decided last night that I would tell my boyfriend the truth, before otherwise, so no matter how scared I am, I will tell him. Just not today. Not with selection day around the corner.

Of course, my body didn't want to agree with me. By the time I left the classroom, bolting to class 3 – A down the hall, I had already loosened the ribbon on my uniform and counted backwards from ten to one. I was a nervous, trembling mess. But this didn't compare to what I was about to face.

The room to classroom A emptied out rather quickly this afternoon. Rumors of All Might in the city hit the alerts of every student in the building. I expect most of them were headed into Hamamatsu to see if they may well catch a glimpse of the 'symbol of peace.' I would be there too, if not for my promise to Izuku to meet with him first.

I owed him a trip to the ice cream shop, since he covered for me the last time. He suggested that we'd meet up in his homeroom and take the rail into the city, which is what I had intended to do. But as I opened the door and popped into the room, I staggered into the forward – facing body of a certain ash blond. He cussed when I bumped him, but otherwise narrowed his blood – colored eyes when he took notice of who I was.

"Afternoon, Katsuki!" My smile fell upon seeing him, but I did the best I could to put on another, in hopes that he didn't notice.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" He noticed. No surprise there.

I ignore his question at first, peeking over his shoulder and seeing the freckle – faced boy I was searching for. He was looking just as nervous as I felt, glancing at me beneath the shag of green bangs in his face. I gave him a gentle smile, and brought my attention back to the glaring eyes of the blond prude.

"Just surprised is all," I lie. Moving into the gap between us, I softly kiss his cheek – much to his annoyance. "I didn't think you'd still be here after hours."

Stepping back, I shot a glance at Izuku. "Hey, Izuku! Are you okay?" Even I could tell that before I walked through the door, an altercation took place between Katsuki and he. The wet gleam in his sad eyes clued me in on the level of verbal abuse the blond must have put him through. In addition, the cackling voices of the fools Katsuki associates himself with were amid all the drama, meaning whatever Katsuki did or said got a reaction out of Izuku that was in their opinion, quite entertaining.

I wonder if they realize how wrong they were about the poor boy? Being without a quirk didn't make him any less of a person. He was still the same nerdy, shy boy I remember from way back then.

Izuku gave me a quick nod, muttering a quiet 'yes' beneath his breath. I knew better, but I left it at that. If Izuku wanted to talk about it, he would. Patience was so hard to keep around this boy.

For the meantime, I decide to take another approach to this situation, one that should kill two birds with one stone. I'll feel bad about it later, but Izuku is right; I should tell Katsuki the truth while it's still possible.

"Let's take a rain check on that ice cream, Izuku. I have something I need to speak with Katsuki about first." My stomach feels turned upside down. All the 'bad nerves' are coming back, but the gentle smile Izuku gives me seems to soothe them into ease.

Surprisingly, Katsuki has managed to keep his cool this entire time. His lips are curved up to bare his teeth – probably from being ignored, but he seems level. I reach and touch his wrist, gentle at first, and when he doesn't make a move to pull himself from my reach, I cup my hand around his.

"Can we talk? Please. I won't take up much of your time."

His actions become rough, almost possessive as he rips his hand from mine and switches our positions; his calloused fingers taking ownership of my own. "Just stop babbling and come on. I'll walk you home."

I smile at the sight of red blush across his pale cheeks. Being agreeable was something Katsuki didn't do often, but despite his rude manner of expressing that he in general didn't think of me as a waste of space, he was still ill at ease with calling me his girlfriend. "Kay!"

As we leave, I give one more reassuring smile to Izuku and follow Katsuki into the hollows of the busy city. My only hope is that my resolve will remain strong enough to last this day. Already I am not so sure.