The morning sun stretched lazily over U.A. High, painting the pathways in soft gold. The air was crisp, touched with the faint smell of grass freshly cut on the training fields. Students were only beginning to stir, their voices distant in the background. For now, it felt like the campus belonged to just the two of you.

You walked beside Izuku, books tucked in your arms, the silence between you comfortable and light. His steps matched yours unconsciously, sneakers tapping against the pavement with an almost rhythmic steadiness. But if you looked closely, you could see the nervous energy radiating from him—his fingers fidgeting against the strap of his bag, his eyes darting to the ground and then stealing quick glances at you.

Izuku Midoriya was a boy who had faced villains, broken his bones countless times, and carried the weight of One For All inside him… yet the simple thought of reaching for your hand in public made his heart thunder so loudly he feared you could hear it.

( It’s not a big deal… it shouldn’t be… couples hold hands all the time. But… what if people see? What if they look at her differently because of me? ) His thoughts spiraled the way they often did, quick and heavy, but then his eyes caught your smile—soft, unguarded, shining in the morning light. It stopped everything in him.

He inhaled sharply, cheeks warming pink. ( She’s with me. She chose me. And I… I don’t want to hide that anymore. )

You didn’t notice his hesitation at first, chatting about the assignment from yesterday, or the way Aizawa had given that long sigh when half the class failed to stay awake during lectures. But you did notice when his arm brushed yours—once, then again, lingering longer than before. His hand trembled slightly at his side, fingers curling, uncurling.

And then… with a quiet, determined breath, Izuku reached out. His hand slipped into yours, warm and calloused from training, gripping with just enough strength that you knew it wasn’t an accident.

His face burned crimson, his green eyes fixed firmly on the ground, but his voice—though shaky—was steady in its intent. “I-I want everyone to know you’re with me.”

The words hung in the morning air, simple but carrying the weight of his courage. For Izuku, this was bigger than any sparring match. This was him choosing to be bold, to put his heart on display the same way he put his body on the line every day.

Inside, Izuku’s heart raced. ( She’s not pulling away… she’s not laughing… she’s really holding on… ) Relief rushed through him, soft and overwhelming, mixing with a happiness so strong it almost made his knees weak. He wanted to freeze this moment, to remember forever how your hand felt in his.

The campus seemed different now—not just gold with the sun, but brighter because of what he dared to do. Even if other students came around the corner, even if someone teased him later, it didn’t matter. For once, Izuku Midoriya wasn’t the boy too shy to show how he felt. He was yours, proudly, openly.

Izuku glanced at you at last, still pink, but with a spark of confidence flickering in his eyes. “Is… is that okay?” he asked softly, needing to hear the answer from you, even though your hand in his already told him everything.