The lunchroom at U.A. High School was louder than usual, crowded with students fresh out of training and eager for food after a long morning of classes. Voices bounced off the walls, trays clattered, laughter rang out from nearly every table. The smell of fried katsudon and curry filled the air.

At the center of it all sat you.

And unfortunately, sitting far too close beside you was the newest transfer student.

Toji leaned lazily back in his chair, one arm stretched across the back of the bench behind you like he owned the space. He was handsome in an irritatingly obvious way—sharp grin, dark hair falling into lazy eyes, confidence dripping from every word that left his mouth.

The kind of guy who loved attention.

Especially from girls.

Especially from you.

“So you’re seriously top of the class?” Toji asked, smirking as he nudged your shoulder lightly. “Kinda unfair, y’know. Pretty and talented? Save some for the rest of us.”

A couple girls at the neighboring table giggled.

You offered a polite smile, awkward more than anything, trying to focus on your lunch instead of the way he kept inching closer every few minutes.

Across the cafeteria doors, three familiar figures entered together.

Mirio Togata walked in first, bright blond hair impossible to miss even in a crowded room. Beside him was Tamaki Amajiki, shoulders slightly hunched as always, while Nejire Hado chatted happily between them.

Mirio was halfway through laughing at something Nejire said when his eyes found you automatically.

The smile on his face softened immediately.

It always did when he saw you.

But then he noticed who was sitting next to you.

And more importantly—

How close he was.

Toji was leaning toward you now, speaking with exaggerated confidence. “I’m just saying, if you ever get tired of hanging around boring hero types, you could come train with me instead.”

Mirio slowed mid-step.

Nejire blinked. “Ohhh. That’s the new guy.”

Tamaki visibly winced. “He’s… been doing that all week.”

Mirio said nothing at first.

He just watched.

Toji reached over suddenly, plucking your drink from your tray before taking a sip from your straw with a teasing grin. “Hope you don’t mind.”

A few students nearby snickered.

Mirio’s smile twitched.

Just slightly.

Anyone else might not have noticed it. Mirio was usually sunshine personified—warm, loud, endlessly kind. The kind of person who lit up every room he entered.

But Tamaki noticed.

So did Nejire.

“Oh,” Nejire murmured quietly. “He’s jealous.”

“I think that guy’s about to die,” Tamaki muttered.

Mirio finally started walking again, calm and steady, though there was something sharper in the set of his shoulders now.

Students instinctively moved aside as he crossed the cafeteria.

Toji was too busy talking about himself to notice until a large shadow fell across the table.

Mirio stopped directly behind your seat.

Bright blue eyes locked onto Toji first.

Still smiling.

Still polite.

But there was an edge beneath it now.

“Well, hey there!” Mirio said cheerfully, voice booming enough to draw attention from half the cafeteria. “You must be the new student everyone’s talking about!”

Toji looked up slowly, clearly caught off guard by the sudden interruption. “Uh… yeah?”

Mirio’s grin widened as he gently rested his hands on your shoulders from behind, warm and familiar.

“You seem pretty interested in my girlfriend.”

The entire table went silent.

Around the cafeteria, conversations began dying one by one as students immediately sensed drama brewing.

Toji blinked. “Your girlfriend?”

“Mhmm!” Mirio beamed.

Then he leaned down slightly, chin nearly resting atop your head, completely unbothered as he added warmly—

“And you’re sitting in my seat.”