Archive of Our Own ^beta

The night train moved slowly through rows of city lights that had begun to dim. Izuku leaned back in his seat, his eyes heavy after a full day of teaching at the academy. The day had felt longer than usual—he had started the morning with a lecture for the first-year students on Hero History, then spent the afternoon leading a short seminar about team coordination during emergency missions.

As evening approached, he still had to review his students evaluation reports and leave additional notes for two interns who had just begun their training period. Even the last hour before going home was spent in discussion about the weekly patrol schedule.

Now his body was begging for rest. The messenger bag on his lap was slipping from his grasp; even his fingers had begun to lose their strength. He briefly considered closing his eyes for a moment before reaching his home station.

But just as his eyelids were about to shut, the glow from the digital screen above the train door caught his attention. For a split second, he saw a face he knew all too well displayed there.

Ochako.

For a moment, his tired mind snapped back to full alert. Oh—right. He remembered now. A few days ago, Ochako had mentioned it herself with a small laugh: her new commercial would start airing on the trains this week. Back then, Izuku had been genuinely happy to hear the news, smiling as he wondered if he'd get the chance to see it on the first day despite his packed schedule.

And now, by sheer coincidence, he had boarded the very train playing it on its debut day. How lucky of him.

The screen above the train door played a short, soundless video—just gentle, flowing visuals, the kind designed for commuter ads that wouldn’t disturb passengers.

Ochako appeared in her hero suit, her hair fluttering beautifully around her face, her expression bright and fresh with that familiar radiant smile. In the video, she floated effortlessly through a sunlit modern kitchen. With graceful movements—as if gravity itself bowed to her—Ochako lifted a bowl of fresh salad and set it gently atop her head.

She then turned toward the camera—her round eyes gleaming with energy—and playfully shifted the salad beside her cheek. Her smile widened before she closed one eye, giving a sweet little wink.

Good Food, Good Mood, so you can give it your all!

The line wrapped up the silent video perfectly, and with Ochako’s final smile, the entire clip felt flawless—even though it lasted only a few seconds.

Izuku remained frozen in his seat. His eyes didn’t move from the screen, not even when the video ended and started over again. He watched it—again and again—without realizing how many times it had already looped. Every movement, every expression felt as if he were seeing it for the very first time.

And when the screen briefly turned white before restarting once more, his awareness slowly returned. He blinked, took a quiet breath, and only then realized how long he’d been sitting there with that expression on his face.

Izuku tried to recall everything he had just seen—her gentle movements, her warm smile, and the look in her eyes… They made his chest feel both light and fluttery. And then, that little wink at the end—he instinctively drew in a quiet breath, his face instantly growing hot. He quickly looked down at the bag on his lap, trying to suppress the smile already tugging at his lips. But it was no use. His mouth curved wider, almost breaking into a small, stifled laugh.

He covered his mouth with one hand, his shoulders trembling slightly from the grin he couldn’t contain. Warmth spread all the way to his ears, making him want to hide his entire face. He really couldn’t stop smiling.

And in the middle of that flustered, giddy feeling, one simple thought crossed his mind—he wanted to go home. To arrive sooner, to see Ochako sooner, as if her presence alone could calm the flutter left behind by that little screen.

Oh, he was so in love. Hopelessly so.

The train rattled softly along the tracks, while Izuku remained bowed slightly, a faint smile still lingering on his face. But soon, the sound of voices from two seats away began to draw his attention. They weren’t loud, yet clear enough to be heard in the quiet of the late-night train.

"Bro, that was Uravity's ad just now, right?" one young man said excitedly. “Man, she's insanely pretty. I swear I only just realized it."

His friend chuckled. "Only just realized? Where have you been all this time? She’s always been pretty—she just looks even more radiant on screen now."

"True," the first one agreed. "She's got this kind of charm that's different from other female heroes. Like... sweet, but strong, you know? Not just pretty—she looks genuinely sincere."

"Yeah, she's totally perfect for a healthy food commercial," his friend added. "Her beauty's not the overly done kind—it's natural, clean, just nice to look at. Compared to Creati, they've got completely different vibes. Uravity's... warmer, more approachable."

Izuku didn't turn to look, but he caught every word clearly. He stayed silent, his eyes shifting to the floor as if trying to hold back something that was threatening to show on his face—something between pride and embarrassment.

His heart thumped softly; a part of him couldn't help but agree with every compliment they gave. A small smile escaped before he could stop it, and he quickly ducked his head even lower, this time unlocking his phone and pretending to busy himself with it

"To be honest," one of them continued casually, "my ideal type is someone like Uravity. Friendly, cheerful… It's so rare to find a girl with that kind of positive energy."

His friend chuckled. "Wow, that's a tough one. You're aiming for a top pro-hero? Dream big, bro."

"Hey, who knows, right?" he replied lightly. "But seriously, her vibe in that ad was completely different. Her smile looked so genuine, not forced at all."

"Yeah, I felt that too," the other agreed. "It's like her energy actually reached through the screen—it wasn't just her selling a product. When she smiled and winked at the end—man, if I were the one standing in front of the screen, my heart would've stopped."

The two of them laughed softly, bumping shoulders as their conversation faded into the rhythmic sound of the wheels on the tracks.

Meanwhile, Izuku still sat with his head slightly lowered. His gaze drifted from the floor to the screen, which was now showing a different commercial. The smile on his face slowly faded, replaced by an expression hard to define—a mix of warmth and… something else.

He drew in a quiet breath, then let out a faint smile. She's amazing, he thought. Truly amazing. A gentle sense of pride filled his chest as he listened to others praise her—a warmth that settled beside something quieter, calmer.

It's only natural that so many people like her, he continued in his mind. Anyone who really knows her would fall for her kindness and her spirit.

He looked at the faint reflection of himself in the window, his smile still small but sincere. She really is incredible, he thought again. And I’m lucky… lucky to be walking beside someone as kind and strong as her.

"If Uravity weren't a pro-hero, she could totally be a model." one of the guys said—half whispering, but still loud enough to hear.

"A model?" his friend replied, sounding confused.

"Yeah! I mean, aside from her smile, did you see her figure? Seriously—that's what real body goals look like!" the first one burst out, his tone full of enthusiasm.

His friend immediately covered his mouth, trying to stifle a laugh that almost burst out. "Dude, seriously? You were just acting all wholesome a minute ago—talking about her smile and her aura—and now you end up talking about her body?"

"Exactly," the first one shot back, half joking but with a hint of sincerity. "That's why she's the ideal girlfriend, right?"

The two of them broke into laughter again, their voices ringing lightly against the steady rumble of the tracks.

Izuku stayed where he was, head lowered, pretending to focus on the phone screen he wasn’t actually looking at. The smile that had lingered on his face earlier was long gone; now there was something pressing in his chest, a faint feeling he couldn't quite name. From the outside, he looked calm—almost expressionless—but his fingers, still wrapped around his phone, had begun to tense, holding back something he didn’t understand.

He tried to take a deep breath, to steady himself. Maybe I'm just tired, he told himself, trying to believe it. It's been a long day, that’s all.

But the soft laughter of the two college students at the end of the row still reached him—light, yet sharp enough to slip through his thoughts. Without realizing it, the tip of his shoe began tapping against the floor in an uneven rhythm. He looked out the window, searching for a moment of calm, but all he found was his own reflection in the glass—tired, and somehow… a little pitiful.

A faint, bitter smile crossed his face, almost unconsciously. I should go home, he thought quietly. I need to go home. There was a trace of longing in his chest—gentle but insistent. I want to see Ochako. Right now.

***

It was rare for Ochako to come home this early. Her patrol schedule was light, and there were no surprise meetings or sponsor interviews today. The moment she got home, she took a shower, prepared a simple dinner to share with Izuku later, and eventually ended up sprawled on the living room sofa. Her hair was still half-dry, one hand holding her phone as she tapped on the screen, mumbling softly to herself.

"Hm, maybe like this… or—ah, wait, wait…" she murmured, her brows furrowed in concentration as if she were trying to solve a serious case.

A few seconds later, her eyes lit up. "Aha! Got it!" she said happily, pressing a button on the screen.

In the next instant, a familiar voice played from her phone.

"You've worked hard today. Don't forget to drink some water and get plenty of rest, okay? I know you can get through anything."

The tone was gentle, sincere—and so clearly Izuku.

Ochako froze for a split second, then a small laugh burst from her lips. "Hahaha! Oh my gosh, his voice really sounds like he's talking to me!" she said, covering her mouth as her shoulders bounced with restrained laughter.

She pressed the same button again.

"You've worked hard today. Don’t forget to drink some water and get plenty of rest, okay—"

Ochako laughed again, this time louder, until she grabbed the pillow next to her and hugged it tightly. "Ah, this is too funny," she murmured between her giggles.

The app—“HeroTalk: Assistant”—had only been released a few days ago. It was a schedule reminder and routine management app developed in collaboration with several pro heroes. The concept was simple: people tend to feel more motivated when their reminders come in the voice of a favorite hero. Each participating hero recorded a few common phrases for different situations: reminders to eat, rest, train, or even simple 'good morning' greetings.

From what she had heard, the project was actually part of the national campaign “Hero for Daily Life”—a collaboration between the Hero Association and the Ministry of Health. The goal was straightforward: encourage people to maintain healthy routines and a positive mindset through messages from pro heroes.

It was no wonder the app went viral immediately. Not only was the concept adorable, but users could also choose the voice of their favorite hero for free while the campaign lasted.

Ochako only got the chance to try it tonight, after the small gathering at Yaomomo's house yesterday, where her friends had spent nearly half the night talking about the app. Mina had even enthusiastically shown her how to use it, telling Ochako to pick "the hero voice that motivates you the most."

Of course, when Ochako saw the list of names and spotted "Deku" the choice didn't take long at all.

And now, on the sofa in her own home, Ochako lay hugging a pillow, her cheeks flushed from laughing so much each time she pressed the same button.

She let out a small sigh, still smiling. "Good thing I tried this before Deku got home… would've been kind of embarrassing to do it in front of him." she murmured, though her smile only grew wider.

Still hugging the pillow to her chest, Ochako stared at her phone, curiosity far from satisfied. Her thumb scrolled slowly until she found a small menu labeled “Additional Voice Packs.” She paused for a moment, then her eyes widened with excitement—apparently, each pro-hero had more than one voice message available.

Her smile widened—she knew exactly what to do next. Quickly, she leaned forward and tapped the small speaker icon next to Deku's name.

"Remember, don't push yourself too hard. If you pass out on the way, I won't be able to carry you!"

The voice was gentle, yet carried that slightly panicked tone so typical of Izuku—it sounded far too real. Ochako immediately covered her mouth to stifle a laugh. "Oh gosh!" she giggled, her face turning warm.

She scrolled again and tapped the second message.

"If you're tired, take a rest. The world won't fall apart just because you sleep for five minutes!"

Ochako burst out laughing. "Hahaha! Oh gosh, who wrote these scripts?" Still not satisfied, she tried one more.

"Hey, when you're done with work today, don't forget to smile, okay? I like it better when you smile."

Ochako's hand froze mid-air.

She stayed frozen for a full three seconds before her face heated from cheeks to ears. "Haa?!" she whispered, quickly burying her mouth in the pillow, as if anyone could hear her reaction.

"Oh gosh…" she rolled on the sofa, laughing shyly while covering her face. "Who told them to make a version like this?!"

But instead of stopping, Ochako pressed the button once more—just to hear that last line again, this time with an expression she truly couldn't hide.

"—don’t forget to smile, okay? I like it better when you smile."

"Ugh, this is so unfair." she murmured, half-resigned but still grinning widely. She hugged her pillow tightly again, as if it could contain the overwhelming flutter inside her.

Still holding back a smile behind her pillow, Ochako suddenly remembered something. Her brows furrowed slightly, and the warm expression on her face shifted a little. She stared at the phone in her lap, as if weighing something important.

There was one thing she had forgotten—Mina had borrowed her phone yesterday, saying she wanted to help set up the app so it would be easier to use. The memory of that incident slowly resurfaced in her mind.

"All done!" Mina handed the phone back to Ochako, her expression proud, like a genius technician who'd just saved the world. "Now all you have to do is use it. I set up all the features so you won't have to dig around anymore."

Ochako took it with a hesitant look. "Uh, are you sure there’s nothing weird?"

Mina just chuckled, giving a thumbs-up to Ochako. "Don't worry! I just added a special feature for you. It wasn't easy to put in, you know. I had to adjust all sorts of settings, but hey, it's for you, so it's fine."

Ochako looked at her doubtfully, while Mina simply giggled and explained nothing further, just patting Ochako's shoulder with a satisfied smile.

Ochako eyed her phone warily. "What exactly did she add?" she wondered, tilting her head. Her fingers started moving again across the screen, trying to open the hidden menu she hadn't touched before.

But just a few seconds later, the familiar beep of the apartment's electronic door sounded from the front, followed by the soft scraping as it slid open. Ochako froze reflexively and quickly sat up from the sofa.

Familiar footsteps entered the room, followed by a low, tired voice, "I'm home…"

And sure enough—Izuku appeared in the doorway, his hair slightly tousled, his work tie still loose around his neck, his face tired yet gentle.

"Welcome home." Ochako greeted softly, her voice full of warmth.

She had intended to stand and meet him at the door, but before she could take a step, Izuku had already collapsed onto the sofa—right beside her—and without warning, wrapped her in a tight embrace.

"Eh?"Ochako froze for a moment, her eyes blinking rapidly. Izuku's body felt heavy and warm against her as his face pressed into her shoulder. "Deku? Are you okay?" she asked softly, gently rubbing his back.

"Yeah…" Izuku replied shortly, his voice slightly hoarse. He didn't let go immediately; instead, he tightened his embrace and leaned down slightly, faintly nuzzling against Ochako's neck.

Ochako tensed instinctively. The warmth of his breath against her skin made her neck tingle—and a little hot. "H-hey…" she said nervously, though her tone remained soft. "Are you really sure you're okay?"

Izuku nodded slightly in her embrace. "I'm fine. Just a little tired."

He then lifted his face, his gaze still calm but carrying something behind it—whether admiration or some other feeling he couldn't quite name. "I just saw your commercial on the train," he said suddenly, his voice brighter. "You're amazing, Ochako. And… beautiful."

Ochako paused for a moment, then her face flushed instantly. "O-oh! It's already airing, huh?" She laughed softly, scratching her reddened cheek. "I felt a bit awkward during filming, you know. I had to redo a few takes because I kept smiling the wrong way."

Izuku smiled gently. "But the result was really great. You looked… confident, and amazing. It was like—" He paused briefly, his voice dropping softer. "—like you were truly shining there."

The look he gave made Ochako's chest feel warm and fluttery. She wanted to return his smile, but for a moment, she caught something on Izuku's face—a fleeting, subtle change he quickly hid.

Before she could think further, the memory of Izuku's voice from the app flashed in her mind: the same gentle tone, the same sweet words—only this time, the person was right in front of her. Her cheeks turned as red as an apple.

Izuku noticed her expression, his face shifting to concern. "Ochako, are you okay?" he asked anxiously.

"A-Ah…" she quickly turned her face away. "I'm fine!"

Ochako hurriedly stood up, patting her own cheeks to hide her awkwardness. "It's just, uh, I'm happy to hear you compliment the commercial. But…" She looked at Izuku again, a small trace of worry in her eyes. "You're really okay, right? You look like… like you're hiding something."

Izuku was silent for a moment, his gaze softening. Ochako watched him with gentle but cautious eyes—a mix of concern and curiosity.

"…I felt, strange." he said quietly. "Back on the train earlier."

Ochako tilted her head slightly but didn't interrupt. She just waited.

Izuku looked down, his fingers gripping the edge of Ochako's shirt. "I know I should be happy. You're admired by so many people, and that's only natural. You… you're amazing, Ochako. Kind, brave, sincere—and everyone can see that.” He let out a soft breath, his voice growing quieter. "I'm just lucky I get to be by your side."

Ochako remained silent, her gaze gentle. There was warmth in her chest, but also curiosity. She simply watched Izuku's hesitant expression, waiting for him to continue.

"But…" Izuku's voice dropped, "the way those two guys on the train talked about you… it somehow made me annoyed." He frowned as he continued, "They said you're beautiful—yeah, you really are, especially in that commercial. But then they started talking about your body, like… it was way too casual to discuss that."

His tone grew slightly tense. "I still had to wait for two more stations, listening to them giggle. And—" He took a breath, trying to calm himself, "—I don't understand why I ended up feeling annoyed."

He looked down, muttering softly, as if to no one in particular. "I know it's silly. I know I should just be proud. But why does it feel—"

"—like you're jealous?" Ochako interjected gently.

Izuku turned toward her on instinct. His eyes widened, and his face immediately flushed bright red. "W-what?"

Ochako looked at him with an amused smile, her lips trembling as she tried to stifle her laughter. "Izuku, that's jealousy, isn't it?"

"I, n-no!" he said quickly, but his voice wavered. He ducked his head again, eyes shifting nervously. "I'm just, uh, just feeling weird. Maybe tired…"

Ochako couldn't hold it in anymore. She let out a soft laugh, her shoulders rising and falling. "Haha, it's fine. Being jealous is normal." She leaned her head against Izuku's shoulder. "And your jealousy is really cute, you know."

"Ugh…" Izuku covered his face with his hands, his face turning even redder. "Don't say that…"

"Why? It's cute!" Ochako continued to giggle, laughing even harder when Izuku buried his face in her neck again, as if trying to disappear from the world.

Ochako smiled softly, her hand gently rubbing Izuku’s back as he still hid in the crook of her neck. "It's okay," she whispered. "It's fine to feel jealous sometimes. It just means you care, right?"

Izuku only let out a small hum, something that sounded like "mmh." His breath was warm and a little shaky against her skin, and Ochako could almost feel the shy smile hidden behind her shoulder.

She lowered her head slightly, her gaze tender as she looked at his messy green hair. "I'm glad you told me about it," she continued gently. "Even if it feels small or silly to you, I still want to know. Next time if something's bothering you—no matter what it is—don't keep it to yourself, okay? Just tell me."

There was still no verbal reply, but Ochako could feel Izuku's hand gripping hers tightly.

She smiled. "I want to know everything you’re thinking, Izuku." she added sincerely.

Ochako didn't hear any response from him, only his soft, steady breathing against her neck. Yet in that quiet moment, she could sense something even clearer—a small, warm smile from Izuku, real and gentle, brushing against her skin.

Several seconds passed in silence, until finally, a quiet voice spoke.

"…Thank you," Izuku murmured, his voice trembling slightly in Ochako's ear. "For always understanding me."

His head was still resting against Ochako's neck, but this time he turned slightly, eyes looking up to meet her face from so close. "I'm really lucky to be with you." he continued, almost a whisper, yet with a sincerity that made Ochako's chest flutter.

Ochako just smiled, her cheeks warm from Izuku's words. She hadn't had a chance to reply when Izuku suddenly moved—slowly, but enough to make her hold her breath.

A soft kiss landed on her neck. Once. Then again. Ochako flinched slightly. “D-Deku…” she whispered, a mix of laughter and nervousness in her voice. But Izuku didn't reply—he just let out a soft laugh between warm breaths.

He continued tracing Ochako's neck with soft, lingering kisses, gentle yet repeated, as if each pause made it harder for him to pull away. His warm breath tickled her skin, making her squirm slightly and laugh.

"Deku, that tickles…" she said between giggles, but her hands gripped his shoulders instead of pushing him away.

Izuku let out a low, soft murmur in response, his voice warm against her skin. "Ochako…" he whispered gently, almost like a secret meant only for her. "Do you want to hear what I’m thinking right now?"

The words made Ochako catch her breath. She could feel them whispered right against her neck, and her whole face flushed red. "O-oh, really?" she replied nervously, glancing at Izuku still leaning in her embrace. "W-what, what is it?"

Izuku slowly lifted his head from her shoulder. His movements were calm, but in his eyes was something deep—a mix of longing, affection, and something that made time in the room feel like it had slowed down.

Their gazes met.

Izuku gazed at her so closely that Ochako could feel every breath he took. He said nothing, yet his eyes spoke more than any words could. Slowly, Izuku's head inched closer—little by little—and Ochako leaned in too, as if an invisible pull was guiding them.

The space between them grew smaller. Their noses touched, their breaths blending in the same rhythm. Ochako could feel her heart pounding so loudly that she was sure Izuku could hear it too.

And just as her eyes began to close—

"Rest well, my hero! You've worked hard today—but I still wanna hold you a little longer."

The voice came from the phone on the table, loud enough to fill the entire living room.

Both of them froze instantly.

Ochako stiffened, her face tense, while Izuku stared ahead without blinking. Silence. Only the ticking of the clock and their breathing filled the room.

Slowly, Ochako shifted her gaze to the phone on the table. Its screen was lit, showing the hero app icon that had just activated on its own. Her face went pale immediately. Then, as a second passed… it flushed bright red all the way to her ears.

Izuku, finally realizing that the voice had been his own, looked at Ochako in confusion. “O-Ochako… that just—”

“MINA ASHIDO!!” Ochako shouted reflexively, her voice loud and full of embarrassment.

It took Izuku a few seconds to process everything, but once it clicked, he too flushed bright red all the way to his ears.

At that moment, the two of them were utterly died.

Credit Scene 

Elsewhere, a girl alien in appearance sat on the sofa, her hair tied up haphazardly, face covered with a green mask that was starting to dry along her jawline. In front of her, the TV played a late-night variety show—heroes scrambling for seats on a talk show.

"Ahaha, this is so funny!" Mina clapped her knees, giggling. Suddenly, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. A cold breeze, coming from nowhere, brushed past her, making her laughter falter.

"…Huh? Why am I suddenly getting goosebumps?" she muttered, glancing suspiciously to her right and left. There was nothing there.

The next second, the sensation grew stronger—like someone was watching her from far away. Very far… yet with an intensity that was almost palpable. Mina jumped up immediately, patting the mask on her face in a panic.

"Okay, okay, enough with the skincare. I need to sleep now." she said quickly, shutting off the TV without a second thought.

Within three seconds, the room went dark, and Mina curled up under the blanket, whispering, "Whoever was just thinking about me… please stop, that energy feels so wrong!"