I felt light tonight. All the thoughts I internalized for these two years were gone. They didn't affect as much anymore. I went home and slept peacefully that night.
—
I woke up refreshed. I took a bath and had breakfast with my mom, and kissed her cheek before leaving. I made my way through the city, getting to UA earlier than I usually did. I arrived at class and noticed Aizawa sensei huddled behind his desk, sleeping in his sleeping bag. I stifled my giggles and sat down at my desk. I looked outside, waiting for my classmates to roll in.
Maybe 10 minutes after people started entering. Of course, Iida was here before everyone. Then...Kacchan. We made eye contact, but I broke it looking outside. It was nice out. My world's colors seemed so bright.
"What's got you so happy Deku?" My friend Uraraka asked.
"Nothing, I just made a friend last night." I smiled, remembering that man's eyes.
I never had someone accept me for who I am, and he was the first to know my secondary gender. His scent, even though it was faint, tickled my nose. I almost released my pheromones, daydreaming of him.
"Deku!" Uraraka yelled, trying to get his attention.
"Y-yes!"
"You were daydreaming." She pouted, leaning closer to my face.
She's too close. I backed away.
Iida stood up, scolding Uraraka. She covered her ears as she went to her seat. I shake my head at my classmate's antics. We did our basic training with Aizawa sensei. We had mock battles. I was against Kacchan.
"You have been arrogant lately, Deku." He said, snarling.
I sighed, not even bothering with him. I think he noticed and took offense at my lack of rebuttal. We clashed. He was physically stronger, but I was more agile. Every punch he made, I doubled what he did. He ended up using his quirk, and Aizawa stopped our fight.
After lunch, everyone made their way to the lockers and headed to the showers. I always hung back, waiting until the others had gone ahead and the locker room quieted down. I hated showering with everyone else; most of the students here were alphas or betas, their confidence radiating in the way they chatted or strutted around. The thought of exposing myself, of someone catching even a glimpse of me naked, always made my skin crawl with unease.
That discomfort painted most of my first year. I got into fights with a few classmates.
Mineta was one of the first. I remember sending that grape-headed nuisance flying, making sure he'd think twice before messing with me again. Others followed: Kacchan, with his explosive temper; Todoroki, ever stoic; and Denki, always getting himself into trouble. Kacchan especially seemed to evoke my anger more than the rest.
I remember I was getting ready to take a bath, about to remove the towel wrapped around my body. Suddenly, he walked in, clearly surprised, and let out a grumble. He moved closer to the water, but I firmly told him to leave. Instead of listening, he shot me a heated glare.
"Get out."
"We're all dudes here Deku. I don't get why you're complaining." He said.
"I'm not comfortable taking a shower with anyone but my future partner."
"You sound like an omega." He scoffed.
That made my head turn dark. All Might was one thing, but Kacchan was another. I refuse to be insulted by him.
"I'm not asking. Katsuki." I said my voice laced with venom.
I tightened my towel around my body and pushed him out, and that was the start of the fight. Punches, kicks, and our quirks raged out in a massive storm. It was blood on us both. Our friends are trying to tear us apart, but we didn't stop. I didn't stop until he was tired. His pheromones raged, but he gave up. I punched him in the face one more time before getting off his stomach.
Aizawa scolded us, but that didn't stop the shower fights for a while. I never gave up, regardless of how many times we fought. It may have hurt, but that was me setting strict boundaries with all of my classmates. They understood and acknowledged my wish after 3 weeks.
I am proud I stood up for myself the way I did.
I enjoyed the warm shower as it loosened my aching muscles. I hummed, remembering that man. He just wouldn't leave my head. He didn't judge me and listened to my problems without wanting anything in return.
"Hey Midoryia," Denki yelled behind the curtain.
"Yeah, what's wrong?" I asked while turning off the water.
"Everyone is going out this weekend to hang out, are you coming?"
"Umm... what time?"
"Everyone is going to meet up here Saturday at 12."
That'd give me a couple of hours before training one-on-one with All Might.
"Sure!"
"Great! See you at lunch!" He said I heard him walk away.
He went away, and I got out of the shower, got dressed, and joined my friends.
I grabbed food and sat with my friends. We talk about everything, and suddenly their focus turned towards me.
"So Midoryia, what were you daydreaming about so intently. You weren't doing customary hero rambles, so what is it?" Uraraka asked curiously.
Our friends echoed as well.
I sighed, "I told you I made a friend."
"You didn't smile subconsciously when we became your friends," Tsuyu said.
"Guys, you're thinking too deeply into it. Our interaction was just unique."
"Unique? Huh." Iida teased.
"What happened to being respectful for others' business?" I exasperated.
"What were they like?" Jiro asked, fed up with diversions.
"They were scary...but kind?" I said, trying to be vague.
I remembered his eyes, the way he looked at me, beckoning me to continue talking.
"You're blushing!" Momo yelled out, shaking poor Todoroki.
"I am not!!!" I said it too loudly.
People from other tables looked our way.
"Enough. Stop pressuring me to tell you something I clearly don't want to.
They eased off and shifted the conversation. I sighed, regretting blowing up like that.
"Guys I—" they cut me off.
"We know, sorry for pushing you like that, Midoryia."
"Sorry anyway." I smiled.