When I first met Midoriya Izuku, I was honestly surprised.
How did someone with so little confidence, and bare-bones knowledge of their own Quirk, enter into U.A. - one of the most prestigious schools in the world (concerning Quirks and Heroes) - and get into Class 1-A's Hero Course?
Though I myself had been accepted through recommendations, I had believed U.A.'s enrollment process to be far more... selective than others. If this was indeed the academy that decided society's future Pro Heroes - then how could it accept someone so depressingly inept with their own abilities, or someone that's obviously a danger to themselves and those around them?
That was all I could glean from Midoriya - no matter the angle I viewed him in.

If your very first meeting with someone could make you question the legitimacy of Japan's most influential school, then that says a lot about a first impression.

Later, as time in our classes passed, I came to realize the true strength that Midoriya held, in character and in Quirk. After seeing him in action and watching him interact with our peers, I happily concluded that my initial impressions of him were far off their mark.
The new Midoriya (Hero-named 'Deku') that I see these days, is someone truly admirable - and in his own way: astounding. Post-realization, I would not have been surprised to find if he had been recommended into U.A. through prime sponsors. And considering the awesome caliber of our classmates who had not entered with that privilege: this greatly shows just how much progress he has shown as a possible Pro Hero - to me, and to every one of his peers.
He's gone above and beyond all initial expectations. Smashing (pardon the pun) through all of our doubts and concerns.

With all that said... outside of his accomplishments, I still find Midoriya rather lacking.
His Quirk, while tremendous in its capabilities and shocking to behold, is still a work in progress - whereas the rest of the class have 'completed' Quirks, which we're only attempting to improve, rather than shaping up from scratch. And his personality... is still spineless and too wishy-washy for me to appreciate. He may have charmed the likes of Uraraka and Iida, and he doesn't seem to bother Tsuyu, but I honestly can't understand how anyone can put up with his fragile demeanor for lengthened periods.
It's really rude to say, and I don't mean it in spite, but... I kind of understand why Bakugo is always so upset with him. I tend to want to yell, "Just spit it out!" and "Say what you mean!" and "Stop stuttering! Stop slouching! Look people in the eye when they're talking to you!" at him - but it's not my place to do so.

I'm not a close friend, an invested partner, nor his elder. It's not my place to judge him.
No, my place is far elsewhere - not just in social position, but in expected careers. The Hero named 'Deku' would more likely grow to be an inspiration and an icon to many - a figurehead made by merit and undeniable charm. Whereas the Heroine 'Creati' would most likely end up in a supportive organization, if not in a managerial position within a Hero Agency of her own - a productive member of society that seeks to better humanity's united purpose, rather than stand out as a popular idol for gossip magazines. At least, that's what I'd hope to become and would hope to avoid.
Those future goals would place Midoriya and I in two completely different worlds and paths - incomparable in our aspects and intents. So I'd have no real weight in critiquing him.
Neither of us would benefit from meddling in each other's lives.
Because of that, I don't socialize with him much. We rarely ever talk, rarely have been teamed up, and only on dire occasions have we interacted with one another - in class, in class trips, or even in our extracurricular activities. We don't belong in the same cliques, we share very few friends, and have little interest in networking with each other. So why...

Why in the world am I on a date with him?

About two weeks ago, a study date was prepared for the students of 1-A and 1-B - to increase our chances of passing the general studies tests due later in the month.
I, Yaoyorozu Momo, along with my friend Jiro Kyoka, were the ones to spearhead this 'operation'.
We would call it an 'operation' in secret, as this so-called 'study date' was actually a mask for our true goal: To set up Asui Tsuyu and Midoriya Izuku on a date.
Jiro and I saw that the two worked really well together - and unlike Uraraka Ochaco, who obviously holds a crush on Midoriya, Tsuyu would not shirk away the chance to get closer to him.
With as much effort and funds we put into the plan, we were sure that this event would work. And as a bonus, the rest of us would be able to enjoy a pleasant study session separate from them, in a comfortable, homestyled restaurant.

Things did not go according to plan, however... Ashido Mina, a friend we had put in charge of sending out the invitation texts, had accidentally sent the restaurant address to everyone in a group message. The messages were meant to be sent individually, so that Tsuyu and Midoriya would end up in a chosen restaurant far away from ours.
In the ensuing panic, we reworked the plan so that they would go to the restaurant we had chosen for us, and we would go to the restaurant chosen for them. But considering that a two-week efforted plan was upended and rebuilt overnight - there was a high risk of miscommunication.
And miscommunicate we did. By the end of the confusion (still unknown in how or why), Tsuyu and I somehow switched places in the plans. Which means that while Tsuyu was enjoying a wonderful time studying with friends and peers in a fanciful restaurant, I found myself sharing a quiet table for two with the boy named Midoriya Izuku...

My phone is vibrating relentlessly. I had stopped checking it over an hour ago, as the messages seemed to repeat a disheartening pattern: Apologies - Checking Up - New Plan - New Plan Failure - Counter-Plan - Counter-Plan Failure - Teasing Joke - Casual Chat - Repeat. It's become painfully obvious to me that there's no real way we could reverse the situation within an afternoon's time.
Plus, reading my friends' heartful comments and silly antics just puts me in a sour mood.
I'm jealous. While they're over there having the time of their lives sharing notes... I'm stuck having to play the awkward tutor for Midoriya.

Midoriya didn't have his notes with him. It was part of our plan to keep his notes from him so that he would focus all his time on conversing with Tsuyu, but now that part is a bane for my situation. He's sitting right next to me, practically rubbing elbows, just so he can look over my notebook. He still thinks we're having a study session, thankfully. But that assumption doesn't stop him from his usual overly-shy reactions.
More than once he's slid himself away from me just because he accidentally touched me. More than twice he's become childishly red-cheeked whenever he's realized that we're alone together. And more than thrice he's apologized stupidly for saying something that could be taken out of context.
I'm sure the way he acts now might make some giddy girls' hearts race... but I just find myself inwardly disappointed in him. Not because I'm cold to romantic possibilities (I have a small collection of romance novels that I adore), but because I'm not really swayed by these teen 'rom-com' moments. I prefer a more forward and mature approach to love... with hints of drama and betrayal, but mostly with the kind of affection that's ripened through experience. And Midoriya Izuku is far from what one would call 'ripened'.
He's like a boy fresh out of elementary - so unused to personal interactions of the opposite sex, and having a naive view of how relationships should blossom. I don't really want to spend an effort to teach him how these things play out realistically. In fact, I have very little patience for his immature outlook overall.

"Stop inching away, Midoriya." I say just below a shouting volume. I'm rubbing my fingers against my forehead to better communicate my irritation. "You should stop minding your closeness with me and more mind what I'm trying to teach you."

"Y-Yes! I'm sorry!" he apologizes for the seventh time today.

"If you're truly sorry then please take this study session seriously."

"I know. It's just..."

"It's just what." I look at him directly. He's not giving me eye contact again. My left eye is twitching. "Don't run away from your point again. Tell me what's bothering you."

"Okay. Um... How do I put this... I... Um." He stiffens the instant he sees the glare in my eyes. "Um! Yaoyorozu... are we... are we on a date?"

"NO! OF COURSE NOT!" I realize that I just screamed that. That's embarrassing. I look around... some of the other patrons are glancing over at me, but they immediately return to their own conversations. Now I'm glad that we ended up in the rural family restaurant for this - where loud voices aren't unwelcome, otherwise I'd probably shrink away from embarrassment.

"Of course not." I say again after clearing my throat, "What makes you think that?"

"N-Nothing. I was just..." He's doing it again.

"Midoriya, speak up. What made you think this was a date?"

His face turns an absolute red. He shakily brings out his phone. Unlocking it and flipping its screen towards me, he shows me a large wall of text.
So he's been receiving messages too.
But rather than texts from friends trying to reconfigure failed plans, it's from fellow classmates who are... congratulating him f-for... taking... me out on a date.

I feel dead. I am dead.
I'm sure my face went pale and lifeless.
It should be. I should be.
My reputation has just gone down the drain. How my peers look at me from now on will change drastically, permanently. How my friends treat me onward will be based on underlying rumors surrounding me. This is like getting a criminal charge in your permanent records: you can't wipe it out, you can't wash it clean, and try as you might to ignore it and pretend it never happened - no one will ever forget it.
That's what happens when you date someone these days: it becomes a part of your history, a color of your background. And now the records will forever show that Yaoyorozu Momo's first date... was with Midoriya Izuku. Of all people...

"A-Are you okay, Yaoyorozu?" Just what I need from him, pity.

"No, I'm not." I breathed out more than spoke. My stronger tone has fallen away like a summer leaf, and all that's left are the whispering creaks of a decaying tree. "I'm dead. Just dead."

Midoriya's saying something to me, possibly trying to comfort me, but there's no way I can recover from this. My hand reaches down for my phone and weakly opens the texts that I had been ignoring for the past hour.

++Ashi [AH! (o-o) Cat spilled out the bag! They know you're with Midoriya!]

++Haga [Mina's the one who said it! XD]

++Ashi [Q.Q I didn mean to! I swear!]

++Jiro [You so did. Shut up.]

++Ashi [(Q-Q;;) Well - they don't know it's a date yet!]

++Sero [EH? Midoriya and Yaoyorozu's on a date?]

++Haga [:| Um... Why's Sero in the chat?]

++Ashi [They're not on a date-date! He was supposed to be on a date with Tsuyu!]

++Asui [excuse me ( . .) what]

++Haga [WHY IS EVERYONE IN THE CHAT]

++Jiro [Mina, you idiot! This is the 1-A chat!]

++Ashi [... WHAT]

++Asui [no really. Mina. what do you mean i was supposed to be on a date with him]

++Jiro [Oh dang, Mina. You're on your own.]

++Haga [XDDD]

++Kiri [Yoooo what]

++Aoya [*(0o0)* Scandalous!]

++Asui [Mina answer my question]

++Ashi [I AM SO SORRY MOMO]

++Sero [Woo! Go Yaoyorozu! Haha]

Just the last twenty texts is enough to tell me... Just the last two texts was enough to tell me... Enough to tell me that my respectable life among my peers is over. I'm now the center subject of gossip and unnecessary interests. I'll be plagued with expectations I never earned, and burdened with perceptions I will never be able to sway. This is it. This is the end of my normal high school life.

++Mido [Guys quit it]

++Mido [You're making Yaoyorozu upset]

I look up. Midoriya's on his phone, tapping and sliding his thumbs furiously. I look back down.

++Kami [Midoriya's stepping his game UP. Dating the hottest girl in our class!]

++Mine [GO DIE]

++Mido [We're not dating]

++Sero [Eh? Private lunch sounds like a date to me.]

++Mido [Yaoyorozu and I have just been studying this entire time]

++Sero [How? I have your notes.]

++Mido [Yaoyorozu's been letting me share her notes]

++Aoya [(~u*)+ Nice Moves!]

++Mido [It's not like that. We're just studying]

++Mido [Every time I would worry if this was a date, she's yelled at me]

++Kiri [Man up, Midoriya.]

++Mido [All we've been doing is eating and studying, that's all]

++Mido [Yaoyorozu is making sure that's all we do. And that I stay focused on it]

++Mido [And thanks to her I'm catching up on some lessons I missed]

++Mido [So really, I'm thankful that I get this time to study with her]

++Mido [And I don't appreciate all of you who are making this out to be something it isn't]

++Mido [If Yaoyorozu and I don't think this is a date, then it's not a date]

++Mido [Please apologize to her. She's really upset]

(04:45 pm)

++Sero [Sorry, Yaoyorozu. I was only teasing.]

++Mine [Friendzoned yourself, Midoriya? That's sad.]

++Kiri [Yeah, I didn't mean to upset you. That's really irresponsible of me. I'm sorry.]

++Ashi [I'M SO SORRY MOMO SORRY SORRY SORRY]

++Kami [Whoops. Sorry on my part. Really.]

++Aoya [+(*n*)+ Truly unrefined of me. Apologies from my heart.]

++Asui [Mina answer my question]

My phone's screen flickers. A drop-down window appears, warning me of an incoming call from Mina. I swipe to answer.

"MOMO! I'M REALLY SORRY!" Mina's already desperately yelling for me the instant the call goes through. I hear people shushing her in the background - as they should be, as they're in a proper restaurant. Mina's voice whimpers into a quieter volume, "Sorry, Momo... I didn't mean to make you cry."

"Wh-Who said I was crying?" I ask, confused.

"Don't be like that, Momo. We know you're crying." I can hear Jiro say in the back.

I wipe my wrist against my eye and sniffle. My friends know me almost too well. "I'm pretty pathetic to get so upset over something as silly as this."

"Don't say that. It's not silly for you. It was silly of us not to take this mess-up seriously." Mina answers.

"What do you mean 'us'? You're the one who did it." Toru's voice chimes in.

Mina shushes her and returns her attention to the phone, "We already cleared up the misunderstanding with everyone at the table. So no one's spreading rumors about you, okay?"

"Okay..."

"No one thinks you're on a date-date. Right guys?"

I hear everyone reply loudly in the background - each of them acknowledging that they knew this was all just a blunder. Even the students from 1-B are adding their defenses for me. Some teasings and jokes are said, some unrelated comments are thrown around, and overall it sounds like everyone there is taking this situation with a kind heart. It even sounds like this crazy mix-up has them laughing and enjoying their time there more. I'm really glad for that.
Most of all, hearing each of their calling supports for me... touches my heart dearly. To think that they cared that much for me - to be willing to hear out my case, even if it would benefit them more to ignore me... These people - my peers - my classmates and associates - my friends... are all people I can rely on.

"See? There's nothing to worry about, Momo." Mina adds as a final echo of everyone's response, "So dry those tears."

"O-Okay..." I sniffle. "You guys..."

"We know. We know. Calm your waterworks."

"Get back to studying, slacker!" I hear Jiro shout. She's shushed immediately.

I laugh a little. "I will. I will... Thank you, everyone."

"No problem." Mina answers for everyone, "We'll leave you to your studying now, okay?"

"Okay... Thank you."

"Yeah yeah. Bye for now. Call ya' later?"

"Of course. Bye for now."

"Mina, answer my question." I hear Tsuyu's voice faintly in the background just before the call ends.

The light of my phone fades to black, and I quietly return it to my purse. I pat my eyes and nose down with a table napkin, trying to return myself to a respectable composure.
After I confirm that I'm well enough to be presentable, I look back up to Midoriya. He's facing me now, with a caring smile. No blush, no nervous shaking, no dodging stares. It's a good look for him.

"Th-Thank you..." I say to him. My eyes look down from his. It's more of a gesture of a respect, than a hypocritically shy response. "You didn't have to do that for me."

"Of course I did." he answers me, "You were scared, right?"

"That's-!" I lock eyes with him, ready to deny the words, but seeing him stare back at me with that innocent, friendly grin... I drop my guard a little. "... Yes. I was scared. Though that's a very plain way of putting it."

"Then I'm glad I could help."

The words of a true Hero. There's a reason why I could see 'Deku' becoming an inspirational icon in his Pro Hero days. Because, every now and then, he does things like this - and says things like this. Saving people from troubles they never asked to be freed from... He'll grow into the classic idea of what it means to be a Hero, while the rest of us will be defined by more superficial values.
It's what makes him stand out among our class. And it might be what makes him so incompatible with me.

"Hey Midoriya..." I say, brushing a strand of hair to the back of my ear, "Would you mind if we keep going with this day?"

"Hm?"

"Would you mind if we go somewhere else after lunch?"

"Like meet up with the others in the study group?"

"No... As in... just you and I. Somewhere. For a date."

Midoriya's calm expression shatters entirely. Eyes wide, red-faced, and needlessly shaking. He's about to exclaim something in shock. I stop him by placing my hand over his mouth.

"Yes or no?" I ask him plainly.

He stares at me in complete confusion. And after a short while, he slowly moves his head into a nod.

"Then it's a date." I pull away from him and return to eating the rest of my food.