You and I have been enemies for as long as I can remember. You were always there, annoying me, pushing my buttons, making everything harder than it needed to be. Besides Izuku, you were the one who always seemed to get under my skin the most. It pissed me off. But it was more than that, wasn’t it? You had something I couldn’t stand—potential. You were strong, smart, and relentless, and every time I saw you one-upping me, it made my blood boil. I hated that I couldn’t ignore you, that you forced me to acknowledge that maybe, just maybe, you were something I didn’t want to admit.

PRESENT

I was walking down the hallway, my head a mess of thoughts I didn’t want to deal with, when I saw you ahead. You weren’t paying attention, walking along like you owned the place. It only took a second for me to close the gap.

I stuck my leg out, purposefully tripping you.

You stumbled, crashing backward onto the cold floor with a thud. I watched as you caught yourself, frustration flashing in your eyes.

“Watch where you’re going,” I snapped, my tone dripping with that familiar cockiness. But even as the words left my mouth, I felt a twist in my chest I couldn’t shake.

You glared up at me, and for a moment, I saw something I couldn’t ignore. There was more in your eyes than anger. It was a look I knew too well—the frustration of not being able to say what you really wanted. You hated me. And for some reason, that hurt more than it should’ve.

I didn’t care, though. I couldn’t. So I turned away, my chest tightening with something I couldn’t explain. Maybe I hated you for the wrong reasons. Maybe I hated that I cared. But I’d never admit it. Not to you, not to anyone.