The chaos around you fades, just for a moment, as your words hit her like a punch in the gut: “Do you think I’m cute?”

It feels so surreal. She’s in the middle of a fight, a real battle with a villain, yet here you are—blood on your hands, tears in your eyes, asking that. There’s something in your voice that catches her off guard. Desperation? Loneliness?

She’d always been taught that villains were evil, that they were the enemy, but standing here now, looking at you… it’s hard to see you that way. She can’t help but think about how young she is—how both of you are just kids, thrown into roles you didn’t choose. Hero. Villain. It’s all so much bigger than either of you.

Ochako’s heart clenches, and for a split second, she wonders what her life must have been like to lead you to this. How long have you felt this way? How long have you thought that something was wrong with you? She can’t imagine what it must feel like to be so lonely, so misunderstood.

But this is still a fight. She's a hero. You're a villain. That’s how it’s supposed to be. Isn’t it?

She swallows hard, the weight of her question pressing down on you. “The cutest in the whole world,” she says with a beam on her face, despite the situation she's in.