The U.A. campus was a kaleidoscope of colors. Banners in every shade imaginable hung from the rooftops, and students were decked out in spirit wear, a vibrant tribute to the week's celebration. It was a sight to behold, a testament to the energy and enthusiasm that pulsed through the halls. I spotted Momo near the main entrance, her brow slightly furrowed in concentration as she orchestrated the final touches of the decorations. Her dedication, that meticulous attention to detail, always made my chest swell with pride. I grinned, a genuine, unrestrained smile, and jogged toward her.
"Hey, beautiful," I said, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her into a kiss. She blushed a delicate shade of pink, her dark eyes sparkling with amusement, and kissed me back. It was a sweet, stolen moment, and I felt that familiar warmth bloom in my stomach. Eliza and Hannah, leaning against a nearby wall, were smirking and whispering to each other, their eyes dancing with teasing delight. I rolled my eyes, a fond smile still gracing my lips, and Momo just giggled, pushing me playfully away.
"Go on, you have practice," she said, her voice a soft melody. "I'll see you later, my Superman."
"Always," I replied, winking at her. With another quick kiss, and a wave to my friends, I headed with Eliza and Hannah towards the gym where the others probably were. I could still feel Momo's lingering warmth on my lips and it made my heart flutter.
The gym was buzzing with activity. Anix, Katsume, Marcus, Alex, and Ryan were already there, stretching and gearing up for practice. We were preparing for Friday's football game, a heated competition between the first and second years, with the winner facing the third years. It was a big deal, and a chance to show off all the hard work we'd been putting in. We all exchanged high fives and laughter, the camaraderie tangible as we headed into the locker rooms to change. It was during this time, as we were all taking off our shirts, getting into our uniforms, that I saw Katsume's face turn completely red, his eyes wide with a near panicked expression as he laid his eyes on Marcus' bare chest.
I found my brow furrowing with concern. "Hey, you okay?" I asked, nudging him playfully.
He shook his head, still staring at Marcus who was oblivious to his discomfort. "I can't be near him…" he mumbled.
I sighed, knowing exactly what he was talking about. "I know, Katsu…" I pulled him into a corner for a moment's privacy.
"He's just so…" he couldn't even finish the sentence, his face glowing a fiery shade of red.
I chuckled, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I know, but you got this, Katsu. Just tell him."
"I can't," he whispered, his eyes darting nervously around the room. "I still haven't come to terms with it…"
I nodded, my heart going out to him. It was a difficult situation, filled with the confusing tangle of early feelings. "Yeah, I get it."
After we finished changing, we headed out to the field where the other students were waiting. There were some of my other friends too, Tensei Iida, James, Hyujun, Jin, and El, among others. We got into formations and began practice. It was rigorous, we spent hours on the field, pushing ourselves to the limits, striving for perfection. As I ran with the ball, dodging and weaving, I caught sight of Momo on the sidelines, clicking away with her camera. Tsuyu, Mina, and Ochako were beside her, cheering, their voices echoing across the field. The support of all my friends meant the world to me, but my eyes always found their way back to her.
But then, as Katsume passed me the ball and I sprinted for the end zone, Marcus, playing on the opposing team, tackled Katsume. They were on the ground in an odd sort of position, it could have been a scene of a romeo and juliet play. While the rest of our team cheered, I immediately noticed Katsume's flush and ran over to help him up. I saw Marcus give a smirk, before a pout as he realized their team lost. After I helped him up I asked if they were okay and they just nodded. After that, Marcus joined his team, and I stayed behind with Katsume.
"Are you going to be okay for the game?" I asked, a flicker of concern coloring my voice.
He shook his head, his face almost purple with embarrassment. "Anos, I can't be like this. It's too much. What if…"
"Hey," I interrupted him softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Come over after school, and we can talk, okay?"
He nodded, a small, grateful smile gracing his lips. He then headed to the locker rooms with everyone else while I walked towards Momo, who had now rushed over to me.
"Hey lovely," I said, my smile mirroring the one she gave me. She looked amazing, the setting sun painting her features in a warm glow.
She blushed, her cheeks a pale rose. "Hi," she said, her fingers tracing a pattern on my arm. It sent a shiver up my spine.
I told her I was going to shower, and she said she was heading home. After a quick hug and kiss, I made my way to the locker rooms.
But when I went in, what I saw shocked me. Marcus was pinning Katsume against the wall and kissing him, I made sure they didn't see me as they were lost in their own world. I waited for Marcus to leave and ran to Katsume, "I'll be 10 minutes". After my shower, I found Katsume waiting at the door. We walked to my house in comfortable silence.
My mom, Inko, greeted us with her usual gentle smile. Izuku was already sprawled on the couch, immersed in some hero manga. "Dad's working extra hours," She explained. "He won't be home until late."
Me and Katsume went straight to my room. I closed the door behind us, the air thick with unspoken words. We sat in silence for a moment. He fiddled with his hands, staring blankly ahead.
"He kissed me," Katsume said, his voice barely above a whisper. "He just…did it." I nodded, understanding the shock, the confusion. The whirlwind of feelings that were harder to explain than even the most powerful of quirks. I listened as he described his confusion, his fears, the way his heart pounded against his ribs when Marcus looked at him. I get it – feelings were a complicated mess, a minefield that had thrown me for a loop too in my past life. We talked for hours, our voices growing hoarse with the weight of our confessions. I let Katsu vent. By the time we were done, the clock was inching closer to one in the morning.
"You can stay here," I told him, noting the weariness in his eyes, "I think you need it." He thankfully had a bag with clothes in it, his mom was always that type of person who prepped him for every scenario. After he showered, he headed to the futon, exhaustion pulling him under quickly. I walked over to my bed and grabbed my journal again. Another night, another entry filled with messy thoughts and feelings. My past life had a habit of creeping back in, a ghost that whispered of other worlds, of other battles. I didn't usually write this frequently, but tonight was like a dam had broken. I finished my thoughts and the feeling of sleep hit me and I closed my eyes ready for another day. Another battle. Another chance to protect the people I loved.