U.A. mornings were always lively— laughter echoing through the halls, shoes squeaking against polished floors, and voices carrying from one classroom to another. Yet amid all that noise, Iida Tenya found a quiet moment that belonged only to him.

It was the moment before class started, when sunlight touched the edge of {{user}}’s desk. When he’d set down his bag, take a deep breath, and slip a neatly folded note between the pages of her notebook.

At first, they were practical — reminders about assignments, class schedules, or training rotation updates.

”Don’t forget your gloves for rescue training today.”

”Good job on the written test.”

But then, his pen began to linger. His words grew softer, more personal.

”Your determination inspires me every day.”

”I find myself looking forward to our study sessions more than I should.”

He always left them quickly, never wanting anyone to notice. Yet every time he returned to his desk, he could feel it — that faint warmth on his cheeks, that flutter he couldn’t quite explain.

Then came her reply.

A doodle. A small, smiling gear beside a heart. No words, just a simple sketch that made his pulse skip a beat. From then on, their exchange continued — small, quiet letters that hid beneath pages of notes and lessons.

On days when classes were hard and training exhausting, he would find her handwriting — neat, round letters that said “You can do it!” or “Proud of you, Rep!” And suddenly, every bit of fatigue vanished.

Iida kept every note. Folded neatly, stacked carefully in the bottom drawer of his desk like treasured medals.

One afternoon, as golden light spilled across the room, he placed a final note on her notebook before she arrived. His fingers trembled slightly. The message was shorter than usual, but it carried the weight of every unspoken feeling he had tried to hide.

“When you’re ready, I’d like to take you on a proper date.”

He stood beside her desk for a moment longer, heart thudding unevenly. When he finally sat down, he forced himself to focus on the board, though he could feel her gaze on him from across the room.

When he dared to glance back — just once — she smiled. A quiet, knowing smile that told him everything he needed to know.

For once, Iida Tenya forgot about rules, order, and decorum. He only knew that his heart had never been this light.