There are laws to existence.
Every body of mass provides a gravitational pull. Every action has an equal but opposite reaction. Nothing can go faster than light.
"I'm pretty sure the laws of physics should be the last thing on Izuku's mind right now," Mina said with a light chuckle, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Mina, first of all, color me surprised that you actually understand what Izuku's counterpart is talking about. Honestly, I'm shocked you even know the word 'physics' exists," Jiro said, her tone thick with mock astonishment as one eyebrow arched in disbelief. Mina's grin faltered instantly, her eyes narrowing into a sharp glare as it clicked that Jiro had basically just called her stupid indirectly, only dressed it up with way too many words. Jiro, completely unfazed, smirked and nodded toward the screen. "And second, quiet down for a bit, will you? This part's actually serious."
And Izuku "Deku" Midoriya can not, in any circumstances, be loved romantically. It's not only impossible, it's against the laws of existence, of society, of everything. Logic cannot hold up to th-
"Ugh, this mindset again!" Setsuna groaned, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "Seriously, how long is it gonna take for Green's counterpart to finally get it through his head? He's been showered with affection for ages, and he's still stuck in the same damn loop! It's like watching someone run face-first into the same wall over and over again!"
"Well, unfortunately, it can't be helped," Momo said with a small sigh, giving a slow shake of her head. "Years of fears and insecurities don't just vanish because of one good day, no matter how much affection we pour into him. It takes time for someone to truly believe they're worthy of it."
"I get that," Setsuna muttered, frowning as she leaned forward, resting her chin on her palms. "I really do. But that doesn't mean I have to like it. Watching him trip over his own doubts every damn time is exhausting."
"I know," Momo replied softly. "Neither do I. But look at it this way, he's starting to change, even if it's just little by little. He's finally beginning to see how much he means to us, and honestly, that's huge. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before our counterparts help him realize it completely."
"Mina, you broke him!" Tooru almost screamed, pulling him out of the trance he had gone in with the shock. "You can't just- say that!"
"Fuck that, no regrets!" Mina declared, sloshing her way towards Izuku, eyes boring into his entire soul, her face flush with color. "You heard me, didn't you, Midori?"
"Fuck yeah, my counterpart! No regrets at all!" Mina cheered, pumping her fist in the air, relating to her counterpart's sentiment. ""Honestly, even I was getting sick of all the tiptoeing around the damn topic! It's about time someone did something instead of just dancing circles around it!" She grinned widely, clearly proud of her other self. "Besides, if none of us ever takes the initiative, how the hell is the plot supposed to move forward? Or would you rather we all end up like that pathetic Kazuya by the end of this?"
The second Kazuya's name left her mouth, a collective shiver rippled through the group. The mere thought of ending up like him was enough to make everyone's stomach turn. No one dared to speak at first, just a few uneasy glances traded between them, and then, in perfect, silent agreement, every girl gave a firm nod. Mina's counterpart, without question, had made the right call.
He blinked twice, body locked in place like a statue hearing words but not even registering the meaning they held "...love?" he repeated, the word feeling wrong, yet perfect, in his mouth.
Kendo was on him already, her hand slapping the back of his head hard enough to sting but soft enough to not really hurt him. "And I thought you were smart ," she teased, before the bite in her voice disappeared. "Wait-"
"You really... didn't think people could love you?"
"Wow, Prez, what a nice way to point out Izuku's predicament," Pony said sarcastically, giving the tangerine-haired girl a sharp side-eye. "Hell, while she's at it, why doesn't your counterpart just bash his skull in with your Quirk? That way, she can hurt his actual body right after she's done wrecking his heart!"
"Hey! There's no need to be that harsh on her!" Itsuka shot back, her cheeks tinged with red. "You know my counterpart's just like me, she can be a little blunt sometimes!" She crossed her arms with a mix of irritation and embarrassment, clearly trying to keep her composure. "And besides, you know how Izuku is," she added stubbornly, meeting Pony's gaze head-on. "A little bluntness might be exactly what he needs to finally get through that thick skull of his!"
The bath grew silent at that statement, women around him starting to place the pieces, how he had acted so far, how he reacted to their teasing up to that point.
"And it only took them, what... five episodes?" Mina said with heavy sarcasm, rolling her eyes. "Wow, they really caught on fast."
"And it took us watching this whole damn series to learn the same lessons our counterparts figured out just by taking a bold step," Jiro shot back, smirking as she crossed her arms. "Kinda says a lot about us, doesn't it?" she remarked while Mina immediately looked up at the ceiling and started whistling like she hadn't heard a damn thing.
Izuku didn't know what was going on as Kendo pulled him against her chest, softly hugging him close. "You big lovable idiot," she whispered, petting the back of his head, Izuku idly hearing other sounds coming from the other girls. "You don't know how wrong you are..."
Something in Izuku snapped, he felt the gears of his mind catch and grind and break against each other trying to process everything that was going on and it simply couldn't. His arms reacted on their own, hugging Itsuka back on their own accord as his vision blurred with tears.
"You know, I was going to say something about Prez weaponizing her assets or some other dumb shit," Setsuna began, her usual smirk faltering as her tone softened. "But after seeing that scene, I just feel... kinda sad," she admitted, letting out a small, weary sigh.
"I'm glad to see you're learning a little restraint," Itsuka said with a gentle smile, clearly trying to ease the heaviness that had settled in.
"No, no, it's not like that!" Setsuna waved her hands frantically, her expression a mix of panic and embarrassment. "Don't start expecting too much from me, okay? My brain just short-circuited seeing Izuku like that, that's all! Otherwise, I'd totally still be making fun of you guys right now."
"Of course," Itsuka sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose but smiling faintly all the same. "I should've known better than to think you'd gone soft."
Itsuka must've felt him shudder and sob, hugging him tighter against her frame, her strong limbs tethering him to reality. "Do you want me to let go?"
He hugged tighter in response, the woman giggling at his reaction.
"Guessed as much. Don't worry, none of us are going anywhere, Izuku," she cooed, resting her head on his, kissing his scalp.
"You know, you two look exactly like a mom and her kid right now," Pony said absentmindedly before she blinked, startled by her own words. "Wait. Did I actually just say that out loud? Well... guess it must be true, then."
"What the hell are you talking about, Pony!?" Itsuka yelped, her entire face igniting in bright red embarrassment. 'Why the hell am I even picturing something that weird!? Absolutely not. There is no way I have some kind of taboo fetish... right?' The more she tried to deny it, the redder she got, her imagination traitorously conjuring increasingly bizarre and mortifying scenarios.
While Itsuka spiraled into a full-blown identity crisis over preferences she definitely did not have (or so she desperately hoped), Pony let out a small snort, trying and failing to hide her laughter. Itsuka's flustered expression gave away every frantic thought running through her head, and Pony couldn't help but find it hilarious.
Izuku made an affirmative sound that sounded too broken even to his ears. All of the sudden, he was shocked by the sounds of sloshing water and more warm bodies almost slamming into him, rows of arms stretching and wrapping around his body, sounds of worry and happiness echoing in the wooden walls of the hot spring.
"This explains so much," Tsuyu said softly, her voice cutting through the festivities and the cuddle-pile Izuku found himself under. "No wonder you didn't realize Ochako's love towards you."
Ochako yelped and spluttered in response to that, everyone bursting out into laughter in return, pulling away from Izuku in the process. Izuku realized that he had joined into the laughter, and it felt... nice.
"You just had to drag attention back to me again, didn't you?" Ochako groaned, giving Tsu a tired, mildly betrayed side-eye.
"Well, your example is the easiest for Izuku to understand, since you've been pining for him for a long time, ribbit," Tsu replied matter-of-factly. Then her voice shifted into a subtle, amused tone. "Also, your counterpart's flustered expression was absolutely worth bringing up the topic again, to be honest."
"Yeah, sure, of course that was the real reason behind all that bullshit," Ochako sighed, rolling her eyes at her best friend. Still, as her gaze drifted back to Izuku on the screen, her expression softened just a little. "But fine. Since it actually helped cheer Izuku up even a bit, I'll let it slide this time."
"Wait, that means..." Izuku muttered, his shoulders sagging a little as he realized something. "I'm sorry I ignored y-"
Ochako's lips were on his own before he could even finish the apology, her hands on the back of his head, not caring that she had negated his gravity as she kissed him deeper.
She pulled back and stared into his eyes. "Doesn't matter... in fact, I'm sorry I haven't said it sooner. Izuku, I love you."
"Well... she finally did it, huh? And this time she kissed him so properly there wasn't even a sliver of room for misunderstanding," Ochako breathed, her voice soft with awe as a gentle blush warmed her cheeks. She stared at her counterpart on the screen, eyes shining with quiet admiration. "Honestly, I thought I'd be absolutely mortified watching myself do something like that with Izuku, but... I'm really not," she murmured, sounding almost stunned by her own reaction.
"That's because you no longer have to hide behind that exaggerated embarrassment anymore," Momo replied softly, a warm smile on her face. "You've accepted how you feel about Izuku, so of course you feel a little freer now."
"Yeah... you're not wrong," Ochako admitted quietly, almost like she was talking to herself more than anyone else. "It feels like a huge weight's been lifted off my chest."
"Uraraka, are you sure that's the weight of your feelings and not your boobs?" Setsuna cut in with a wicked grin. Ochako's blush instantly deepened to nuclear red as she whipped her head around to glare daggers at her, while the rest of the girls burst into barely-contained laughter.
Izuku felt weightless in more ways than one in that moment; he spluttered, trying to deny it again to retain what little sense the world could have. But with her eyes in front of him, so full of love, her cheeks blushing so vibrantly...
Izuku found it harder and harder to think Ochako could be lying about that, about her loving him. Another paradox his brain was tripping over and over again.
Hearing the on-screen Izuku's thoughts, Ochako couldn't stop herself from rolling her eyes in pure irritation, wondering what more her counterpart had to do to finally get the point through his thick skull. In fact, she was starting to think that at this rate, nothing short of her counterpart physically pouncing on Izuku's counterpart would get the message across.
"I- I do too..." Momo mumbled from his side, her cheeks glowing red as well, Kyoka on her side caught between a smirk and an anxious expression, her face just as flush as her rich friend's. "I have since Kamino, I just noticed the little things I loved about you starting around then, and before I knew it, I was..."
Momo didn't finish the sentence, looking almost scared to finish the sentence.
"Sister, why are you getting flustered now of all times? Seriously, can't you take a page out of Ochako's counterpart's book and just go all-in with your feelings already?" Momo sighed, wearing a helpless smile as she watched her counterpart on the screen. "You were the one who kicked this whole thing off by removing his blindfold, and now you're falling behind the girl who couldn't even admit her own feelings to herself for the longest time."
"Okay, first of all, rude," Ochako scoffed, though a smile tugged at her lips. "And second, Momo, I think your counterpart just isn't as bold or as blunt about her feelings as you are."
"Yes, but to be fair, she doesn't exactly have the advantage of hindsight like we do," Momo replied quickly, stepping in to defend her flustered on-screen self. "For her, that entire situation in the bath just... came out of nowhere. Meanwhile, I've had all this time to watch from the outside, think things through, and actually sort out my feelings for him. So of course I'm handling it a little better."
"Izzy!" Pony burst in, hugging Izuku from behind with a soft giggle that sounded as American as she was, and whispered something in his ear that got him to freeze on the spot, his whole body shivering at the words. Japanese, but heavily accented, its own word at that point. But an 'I love you' nonetheless. And Izuku would come to admit he wouldn't have it any other way.
"Haha~, well of course, if everyone else is confessing, there's no way my counterpart is just sitting quietly on the sidelines!" Pony laughed, chest puffed out with pride as she tossed her hair over her shoulder.
"But... I am kind of curious about what your counterpart whispered in Izuku's ear..." Yui murmured, head tilting ever so slightly as she turned her stare towards Pony with quiet intrigue.
"Knowing myself?" Pony smirked and her eyes sparkled with mischief as she shot the quiet girl a cheeky wink. "I'm pretty damn sure whatever she whispered wasn't polite, innocent, or remotely appropriate for any of your delicate little ears."
"I'm- I'm- I'mmm..." Komori stammered, her first time speaking up in the hot springs since Izuku had gotten there. Honestly, with her smaller frame and just how quiet she was, Izuku was ashamed to admit he had forgotten about her entirely.
Izuku noticed just how much she was blushing, how she was trembling before him, hands clenched to her sides, towel covering her frame. He could see her beautiful eyes through her hair and he questioned how could he ever forget such a beautiful sight.
Kinoko's smile faltered for just a split second when she heard that her counterpart had been completely overlooked by the boy she liked, especially while sitting among other girls who liked the same boy and were boldly confessing, putting themselves out there, taking risks... while her counterpart simply faded into the background without a sound. It stung more than she wanted to admit, and for a moment, she felt painfully small, like she was already being left in the dust.
But before anyone could reach out or say anything, Kinoko drew in a soft breath and lifted her head, forcing a gentle smile back into place. "It's okay. I can't really blame Midoriya for not noticing me," she said, her voice steady even as her eyes flickered with that quiet vulnerability behind her brown bangs. "My counterpart hasn't done or said anything yet. She's basically been invisible this whole time." She gave a tiny, self-deprecating chuckle, more sad than amused. "Honestly, even I forgot to look for her on the screen until now. Guess there's not much mush-room for attention when you're just sitting there like a lonely little mushroom."
"I like you!" she spat out finally, bending down and heaving as if she dropped a heavy weight from her shoulders, "and your cute green hair! And your green eyes! I wanna keep looking at them forever! I hope you don't think it's weird!"
Izuku was at a loss for words, looking at the shorter woman. "I- you like them?" he muttered, hand subconsciously going to his head, Kinoko's response was a poof of smoke, mushrooms sprouting on her towel rapidly, and rushing away, hiding behind Yanagi.
"Well, there you go, Kinoko! Your counterpart already confessed, and she even complimented Broccoli-Head's green hair, which I wholeheartedly agree with!" Setsuna said enthusiastically, trying to lift up her shy, mushroom enthusiastic friend's mood. "And the best part? She did it before a bunch of those other girls who were practically crawling all over him the entire time."
"Yeah... that is nice," Kinoko said softly, a genuine smile blooming back onto her face. "I still kinda wish she talked more, y'know? Joined everyone, laughed with them, didn't stay tucked away like a background character... but when she finally opened her mouth, she spoke straight from the heart. And I'm really glad she did."
"You say that like they aren't breathtaking," Tsuyu croaked, voice monotone yet eyes full of something Izuku's brain was slowly starting to recognize after everything that had transpired up until that moment. "I love you too, if you couldn't tell," Tsuyu added without even missing a beat, answering the question his mind was about to pull. "Ever since USJ, I thought you saving me then was just a one off... but, well..."
Her cheeks flushed the tiniest amount. "You've proven me wrong, Izu-chan. Take responsibility."
"Huh, who knew even you could blush?" Jiro remarked, her eyebrow lifting as she gave Tsu a genuinely surprised look.
Tsu blinked once, slowly, then turned to face her. "What do you mean by that, ribbit?" she asked in an eerily calm voice, her gaze sharpening just a touch. "Are you implying I'm incapable of blushing or showing any other... feminine reactions?"
"Honestly? Yeah, pretty much." Jiro shrugged, completely unfazed by the pointed stare she was getting. "I mean, generally you are so stoic and no-nonsense kind of girl, I figured if you ever confessed, it would just be like—" She cleared her throat and put on the flattest voice she could manage. "'Izuku, I like you. From now on, you are my boyfriend, and I am your girlfriend. Ribbit.'"
Jiro suddenly felt a faint chill crawl down her spine, her smirk faltering. "...Wait. That sounded ominous. Tsu? Hey... Tsu?"
But Tsu had already turned away, humming lightly, and decided to wait for the right time to execute her revenge.
"You hear that, Izuku?" Itsuka whispered into his ear, hugging him from behind. An action he couldn't imagine the usually big-sister figure of their classes doing. But he couldn't imagine the rest of today happening either before now. "And while everyone else is doing it too..."
Her mouth found a spot on his neck, leaving a gentle kiss that got his heart pumping in a rhythm Izuku couldn't recognise, shooting fire through his veins. "I love you too, hot stuff."
Izuku didn't know when it happened, but he was certain he had died and gone to heaven.
"Color me surprised, class president. I didn't realize you'd been personally appointed by the Lord Himself to shepherd lost souls into heaven," Ibara said, a playful grin tugging at her lips.
"Seriously, I never imagined you, of all people, would be the one teasing me," Itsuka sighed, a faint blush warming her cheeks as she rubbed the back of her neck. "But honestly, Ibara, this whole series has really brought out a new side of you. In a good way, of course," she added, offering the vine-haired girl a warm grin. "You feel so much more relaxed and light-hearted now, compared to the strict, stiff, holier-than-thou vibe you used to carry around before.
"Yeah, I noticed that too. It's kind of hard not to, right?" Ibara chuckled, fingers nervously twining together as if out of old habit. "Sometimes it's like I can feel my old self in the back of my head, frowning and shaking her head in disappointment at everything I'm doing now. But honestly? That old version of me would've never let me chase the happiness I actually want. So, between the two of us, I guess the current me outweighs my old self heavily when it comes to what I want out of life."
"Well, Ibara, I am truly glad that you have begun to understand yourself and that you stand with confidence in who you are becoming," Reiko said sincerely. "However, do remember this: none of us ever harbored dislike for the person you once were. Yes, you were strict and, on occasion, something of a vexation, but that never implied that we wished for you to change solely to suit us."
"I mean, I was definitely annoyed with her," Setsuna muttered under her breath, only to yelp when Itsuka smacked her arm without hesitation, shooting her a warning look. "Alright, alright, jokes aside, Reiko's right. You're great the way you were, and you're great the way you are now. We're with you either way."
"Thank you," Ibara said quietly, warmth blooming in her chest as she took in their expressions. "Really. Hearing all of that just... it gives me even more reason to keep embracing this calmer, more relaxed version of myself. So I can keep growing as a person and keep getting along with all of you."
Izuku felt the base of Kyoka's jack brush against his cheek. It pressed insistently, urging the man to turn his head to look at the musician. The moment the two locked eyes, Kyoka offered Izuku a shy smile, a heavy blush already adorning her cheeks. "Once we get back to the dorms, I'll sing you what I wrote, Green. Sound good?" Izuku could do nothing but nod.
"Well, well, well, someone's getting a private concert from our resident rock star. How tragic for the rest of us peasants," Mina declared with an over-the-top pout, leaning in as she shot a dramatic look toward Jiro. "Seriously, Kyoka, isn't this a little unfair? What about your friends, huh? Are we just some forgotten, moldy sandwich in the back of your fridge now?"
"Mina, how the hell could you possibly compare yourself to a sandwich?" Jiro shot back, clutching her chest in dramatic shock, eyes wide like Mina had just committed some unforgivable sin. Then she added with a smug little smirk, "...I would never neglect a well-made sandwich," making Mina's eye twitch in outrage.
"And as for that so-called private concert..." Jiro continued, her voice dripping with exaggerated superiority. "I hate to pop your cute little bubble of delusion, but my performances are invite-only, and darling, you absolutely cannot afford an artist of my caliber." She flipped her hair with mock arrogance, earning a visibly annoyed twitch from Mina.
"And we'll dance the sideways tango to the beat, how does that sound?" Tokage teased, shooting a look at Izuku that was positively sensual. Izuku heard Itsuka face-palm audibly behind him.
"Prez, I appreciate you always looking out for me, I really do, but for fuck's sake, can't you and your other self hold your commentary for like a moment or two before giving out your opinion?" Setsuna snapped, throwing her hands up in exasperation at the tangerine-haired girl. "Let us actually finish what we're saying or doing before you start judging us!"
"Sorry, Set, but can you really blame me?" Itsuka said with a helpless little smile, palms raised as if in surrender. "Your glorious track record speaks for itself, doesn't it?"
"I mean, yeah, okay, fair, but still!" Setsuna shot back, cheeks puffing out in an annoyed pout that made it very hard to take her indignation seriously.
Then something he didn't expect happened, the smirk on Setsuna calmed down, her eyes growing more serious. "And no, I'm not just joking when I say this..." She scratched the back of her head, looking away with a soft huff. "I kinda love you too, you're too fun to tease."
"Oh, so that's why you told us to wait and watch your next move, huh?" Itsuka teased, a knowing smirk curling at the corner of her lips as she looked at Setsuna. "I owe you an apology, Setsuna. I wasn't really familiar with your game."
"I mean, I wasn't talking about this specifically," Setsuna admitted, scratching the back of her head as a rosy blush crept across her cheeks. "Even I didn't expect my counterpart to drop a heartfelt confession like that." She cleared her throat, trying to sound nonchalant despite her flustered expression. "But look, you realized your mistake, so great, let's just move on already." She flapped her hand dismissively and turned toward the screen, determined to escape the topic. Unfortunately for her, someone had no intention of letting her off that easily.
"No, no, no! We are not moving past this yet!" Mina cut in immediately, practically leaping into the conversation before either of them could pretend it was over. Setsuna groaned audibly. "Set~, that was a pretty adorable confession your counterpart gave. And that expression she made? She looked so soft in that moment. Don't you think, my lizardy sister?"
"Wow! So rich coming for a girl whose counterpart helped Green get off with her horns!" Setsuna shot back, crossing her arms as she glared daggers.
However, instead of getting embarrassed or flustered like Setsuna expected, Mina only grinned back—sharper and far more mischievous. "Oh? Are you sure you wanna go down that road, sweetheart?" she asked, eyes sparkling with wicked delight. "Because think about it, if my horns, which aren't even part of my quirk, can be used that effectively by him, then what do you think he could do with your quirk? I'm pretty sure Lizard Tail Splitter's ability to split any and all body parts could lead to some... very unique and exciting possibilities."
The moment the words left her mouth, the room went dead silent. Every girl froze, eyes widening in unison as their traitorous, curious brains, visually filled in the blanks. Slowly, as if magnetically drawn, they all turned to stare at Setsuna.
Setsuna, meanwhile, looked like she wanted to crawl under the couch and live there forever. Her face turned a shade redder than Kirishima's hair as she glared murderously at Mina, who was smiling triumphantly back at her.
"And so, our temptress is honest in the eyes of the people," Ibara muttered, hands in a praying motion, eyes screwed shut, earning a little sound of surprise from the fellow green-head. Before the holy woman opened an eye to shoot a smug glance, her lips twitching and forming a soft smile. "As she should," she finished before looking at Izuku. "I, too, find myself feeling affectionate for you, Midoriya," she muttered out.
"Of course. Just when I thought we were finally getting along, your counterpart decides to take a shot at mine," Setsuna muttered, giving Ibara a side-eye.
"Do not worry, Setsuna, we are getting along just fine, there's no doubt about that," Ibara assured her, lips curling into a mischievous little smile. "However, considering how much you've teased and embarrassed me over the last two years, a little revenge on my part feels less like cruelty and more like justice, don't you think?"
"Yeah, yeah, karma's chewing my ass, I get it," Setsuna grumbled, slumping in her seat, realizing that her own sins had finally caught up to her. "By the way, your counterpart literally just confessed, in case you missed it while savoring my suffering."
"I noticed it too, but what's there to be surprised about?" Ibara asked, tilting her head slightly. "It's only natural for her to confess her feelings after coming so far."
"Damn it, I hate this calm, composed version of you," Setsuna groaned, throwing her head back in defeat as Ibara giggled softly at her reaction.
"My turn!~" Tooru's bubbly voice echoed slightly as she demanded attention. Izuku could almost see Tooru squeezing her way between the women surrounding him as she hurried toward him. Before he could even think about protesting, Tooru ducked underneath his right arm and shot up his chest. When the invisible woman buried her face in his shoulder, Izuku was quick to close his arm around her, completing the hug. "I have always liked you, but I didn't know if you would date someone you couldn't even see." Izuku felt Tooru lift her head and press her lips against his cheek. "I love you, Izuku."
"There she goes!" Toru said, cheering for her counterpart who just confessed to Izuku on the screen. 'Nice job, other me. And since you had the guts to take that step, I promise I won't keep hiding behind my insecurities anymore. I'll find my chance and make my move too.'
"Allow me to speak bluntly about my infatuation as well, if I may," Reiko declared, drawing Izuku's attention. He could hardly breathe when he noticed the warm smile on the usually lifeless woman's face. "I speak truthfully when I say that my heart soars into the sky when I dare but think of you, Izuku."
"You know, that was a really beautiful confession your counterpart gave, Reiko," Pony said, still looking a little dizzy as she tried to recover from the poetic bombardment on the screen. "But when you confess in real life... maybe try toning down the vocabulary a little? Like, use words that Izuku can actually process without needing a dictionary. Just a thought."
"Your concern is appreciated, Pony, truly, but I do not believe it will be necessary," Reiko replied, turning down the advice as gently as she could. "Words, in my view, merely serve to bridge the spaces between hearts; it is the quiet, shared sentiment and the affection that flows unspoken between individuals that hold true significance," she added with a soft smile. "For if that were not so, then even the most illustrious poets, armed with all the eloquence mortal language can offer, would not falter in love, nor leave behind verses born from heartbreak rather than happiness."
As though they had rehearsed the entire evening, all eyes turned towards the last woman to speak up. The sudden attention only served to make Kodai shrink into herself, not unlike Kinoko had minutes before. The silent woman opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. Instead, her eyes danced between each of the women observing her, and a faint blush colored her cheeks. Some of the others made sounds of reassurance, but Kodai remained quiet. Is it finished? Izuku thought to himself.
'Is it?' Yui echoed quietly in her mind at the same moment the on-screen Izuku asked the question, a nervous flutter tightening in her chest. Her stomach twisted as she worried her counterpart might freeze now, right at the finish line, right when every other girl had already managed to confess properly. She knew, logically, that Izuku's counterpart would never judge her or think less of her if she couldn't get the words out. He'd be patient. He'd understand. But that didn't make the frustration any weaker. The idea of her on-screen self offering nothing but shy eye contact as a confession left jealousy bubbling under her ribs, because she knew she'd hate it if that was all she ever managed to express in the real world too.
Not quite, as the shy woman finally gathered up her courage and approached the man. Tooru slipped from his arms quietly and Yui swiftly replaced her, almost instantly melting against his chest when Izuku wrapped an arm around her as well. When Yui finally spoke, Izuku had to concentrate in order to hear what she was saying at all. "I'm sorry I can't confess as loud as the others, but I'm also in love with you." Izuku felt her hug tighten, desperate to convey her feelings.
Yui let out a small, quiet breath of relief the moment her counterpart finally spoke her feelings aloud instead of hiding behind silence. 'Okay... yes. This is so much better than that awkward silent confession from before,' she thought, warmth spreading in her chest as pride and satisfaction settled in. But right behind that relief, a tiny spark of jealousy flickered as she watched her on-screen self melt so comfortably into Izuku's arms, looking completely at peace in a moment Yui wished she could already have for herself.
Love.
For the longest time, Izuku never thought he would ever find it. Of course, he knew his mother loved him. Todoroki still hadn't stopped going on about All Might loving Izuku as a father, even after all this time.
"I mean, Todoroki isn't exactly wrong," Momo said, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "I doubt anyone who's seen All Might and Izuku interact would claim they don't resemble a father and child."
"Resemble? Please, they are father and son," Ochako snorted, shaking her head with absolute conviction. "And look, it's not like I'm Todoroki-level unhinged with an hour-long PowerPoint and red string on a corkboard or anything, but I've spent enough time around Izuku to know he sees All Might as his dad. And honestly? All Might treats him exactly the way a dad treats his kid."
He had heard the women say that they loved their friends countless times before, after sharing feminine supplies or homework answers or snacks they had hoarded a long time ago. They loved each other as friends, as close as one could get without becoming romantic.
"Izuku's totally spiraling into his own head right now, isn't he?" Mina asked, chewing her lip nervously as the rapid-fire thoughts flashed through the on-screen Izuku's mind like a storm.
"Yes, he is, but it's not entirely a bad thing," Momo replied, her voice calm and reassuring. "We all know Izuku overthinks everything, and right now he's just trying to process all the confessions he received by analyzing and rationalizing the situation the only way he knows how." She paused, watching the screen with a sympathetic smile. "Sure, it's not the ideal reaction, but at least he isn't spiraling into that negative, self-deprecating territory he used to fall into."
Izuku had heard some of the friendlier women even direct the same love towards him, on rare occasions. He had explained to himself, at the time, that it was merely platonic, not to get his hopes up again, or they were messing with him. There had to be a perfectly rational explanation for everything they did to grow close to the green haired man.
Love.
"Who exactly hurt him?" Setsuna asked, her lips pressed into a thin line, and none of her usual humor in her voice. "Why does he keep convincing himself that any girl would only get close to him platonically, or just to mess with him? Why is he so resistant to the idea that a girl could genuinely be romantically interested in him?"
Her questions hung in the air like a blade, but none of them could provide an answer, not when they knew so little about Izuku's past. Mina, however, silently reaffirmed her determination to corner Bakugo and get answers out of him.
In a way, it should have been obvious: how Ochako grew so flustered so quickly, how often Setsuna and Mina chose him as their target for intimate teasing, how Itsuka would come find him whenever she needed a second pair of strong hands, how often he would look over to where he knew one of the heroines were and found them already looking at him.
Love.
They loved him.
They all loved Izuku.
A wave of happiness swept through the room, smiles spreading across the girls' faces as they listened to Izuku's thoughts. It was one thing to feel satisfied seeing their counterparts finally confess to the boy they loved, but hearing Izuku admit to himself that they truly loved him after all the mental gymnastics he'd put himself through trying to deny it brought an entirely different warmth. It settled deep, a powerful sense of fulfillment knowing that, at last, his doubts had crumbled beneath the weight of their genuine feelings.
Finally, all too late and all too quickly, the truth of that evening crashed down upon him. He was loved by thirteen women, and every single one of them was proud of this fact.
Izuku felt his eyes water at this new realization. The new reality he was forced to accept grasped his lungs and squeezed . He tried to draw in a full breath, but it shook too much to be held for long and stabbed at his throat, desperate to escape him again.
He was loved.
'Finally!' all the girls thought in unison, warmth and satisfaction swelling inside them along with a fierce sense of pride, both for Izuku finally realizing the truth and for their counterparts who helped him get there. Watching the on-screen Izuku tell himself that 'he was loved' filled them with relief and joy. It might have taken him a while, but seeing him reach the conclusion they had all been waiting for made their hearts feel light, full, and genuinely happy.
To be continued...