Tenya Iida was not the jealous type.

He didn’t see the point in possessiveness. It implied a lack of trust, and he trusted you. Trusted you completely. You were capable, smart, level-headed, and not someone who needed him to puff his chest out and ward off every disrespectful fool in the room.

That being said, when Minoru Mineta made a crude comment about your figure, something about how your pants "should be illegal", Iida found himself frozen mid-bite, fork paused halfway to his mouth.

He didn’t speak. Not yet. Just watched Mineta laugh at his own joke, elbowing Kaminari like he expected applause.

He felt it then. That unfamiliar tightness under his ribs. Not quite rage, not quite disgust, something sharper. A silent insult curling itself around his spine.

He inhaled. Tried to focus on his food again.

Beside him, you struggled with the lid of your drink. It squeaked as you twisted it, knuckles whitening. You didn’t ask for help. He reached over without thinking, took the bottle from your hands, opened it easily, and placed it back in front of you with a quiet clink. His thumb brushed yours, briefly.

Still, he didn’t say anything. Until Mineta laughed again.

This time, Iida stood. Straightened his back, adjusted his glasses, and rolled down his sleeves like he was preparing for a meeting.

“I will be right back,” he said calmly.

He left his tray behind. Walked across the cafeteria with purpose, no dramatic flourish, no scowl on his face. Just that same formal calm he wore like a second skin.

When he returned a minute later, Mineta was gone. Kaminari looked like he wanted to melt into his chair. Sero was chewing very slowly and avoiding eye contact.

Iida sat back down beside you. Smoothed his pant leg. Adjusted his posture. Reached for his water like nothing had happened.

He glanced at you, briefly.

“I apologize for the delay,” he said, voice quiet. “I found myself…needing to respond to something inappropriate.”