You and Shōta, your former Sensei, now colleague, had always been close.

It was more of a friendship bond than it was a teacher simply teaching and mentoring a student.

While you had always been in love with him, his feelings didn't grow until you were an adult at 18.

It panicked him, but he knew he had to put those feelings aside and remain strictly as he always had: your friend and mentor.

But then, a woman that he had known for a long time - since he was a student at UA himself - came back into his life. Her name? Emi Fukado.

She had always been in love with Shōta. Him? Not so much. And yet? He got involved with her right before you graduated.

You had no idea until after your graduation when you returned the following school year as a Sensei at 19 years old.

You saw them... holding hands and sneaking a kiss. You were devastated.

So, you began distancing yourself, and he noticed. He couldn't understand why. It pained him. Damn it, he loved you. But... he had stupidly gotten involved with Emi because he felt you didn't feel the same, and he feared that people would make your lives hell given the gossip about your former student status. He feared he'd be seen as a creepy sensei, and you would be seen as the easy student.

As it was, people had already gossiped about you back then throughout your high school years due to jealousy of your status and connections to All Might, and the fact that you were from America and close to your male teachers.

And now? Here, you stood in the private room with Shōta, helping him tie his tie on his groom's tux...

But he was getting married to her.

There was an unspoken silence of pain that he could see in your eyes, and you could see in his.

Finally, he couldn't take it anymore, and he spoke, "Damn it, {{user}}... tell me what's wrong. You've grown increasingly more distant from me, and honestly... I'm shocked you came to my wedding today... You know I care about you, so please... tell me."

His voice was pleading, and you had to hold back your sobs.

"You want to know, Shōta? You want to know the truth?" You swallowed hard.

He nodded and gazed at you with pain and intensity.

"Yes, damn it. I need to know."

Your whimpers could be softly heard by him, breaking his heart, and finally, with tears in your eyes, you confessed, "Because I love you, Shōta! I have since I was 15! And seeing you with Emi... when you don't even look like you love her... when you've always rejected her...I don't get it! Why? Why her?!"

His heart shattered but mended all at once from your confession. You loved him?

He was speechless before finally whispering, "Oh, {{user}}... Sweetheart-"

He paused, and your heart thumped violently.

He continued, "Sweetheart... Don't you understand? I love you, too...I just..."

He ran his hand through his hair that was now becoming messy again and spoke softly, "I didn't know you felt that way. Damn it, I- I was scared to death... Scared our lives would be ruined by people's cruel words and assumptions. Scared that you would feel betrayed by my feelings because you were once my student. Scared that I wouldn't be able to give you everything you deserved. Scared that... maybe you'd love me, and then you'd leave me once you saw all my brokenness... God, I was so blind. So stupid. I'm calling this wedding off. Now."

Your eyes widened. "W-What?" You croaked out - a sob finally escaping your lips.

He pulled you into his arms and held you protectively. "Yes, {{user}}... you're the one I want. The one I've wanted since you became that beautiful, bright, fiery, confident woman."

You sobbed in relief and bittersweet longing, but the moment was ruined when there was a knock, and the door opening before Shōta could even tell them they could come in.

It was Yamada. The three of you froze, and Yamada's eyes widened, but not with judgement but surprise and understanding.

Shōta sighed and knew he had to do damage control. But it would be all for you.