Chapter Text
Chapter 1: The Beer and the Truth
The city skyline glowed amber beneath the setting sun as Izuku Midoriya leaned against the balcony railing of the pro-hero agency’s rooftop lounge. The hum of distant traffic mixed with the low murmur of evening crowds below. In his hand, a cold bottle of beer sweated in the warm air.
Across from him, Ochako Uraraka tilted her head, studying him with a teasing smile.
“You don’t usually drink this early,” she said, voice soft but playful.
Izuku chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “I guess tonight’s different.”
She set her own glass down and shifted to lean on the railing next to him. The breeze tossed her hair, and for a moment, all the years between them—U.A. training, rookie hero days, near misses and close calls—felt suspended, like they were back in high school again, just two kids dreaming of making a difference.
“I saw something today,” Izuku said, voice low.
Ochako raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Enlighten me.”
He took a slow sip, then nodded toward the street below where a young family crossed the intersection. The mother cradled a baby in one arm while the father held the hand of a small boy, all of them laughing under the city lights.
“That kid was caught in a villain fight earlier,” Izuku explained. “I helped get them out safe.”
He smiled, almost wistfully. “Watching that… it hit me. I’ve been on dates, casual stuff. But I realized I don’t want just that anymore. I want a family someday. A real one.”
Ochako’s smile faltered. She looked away toward the horizon, heart suddenly heavier than the summer air.
“You’re… serious,” she said quietly.
Izuku nodded. “Yeah. I mean, it’s not like I’ve found the right person yet. But I’m ready. I want to find someone to build that with.”
For a long moment, silence wrapped around them.
Then Ochako forced a laugh, bitter and sharp.
“Well, that’s… good to hear.”
Izuku glanced at her, concern flickering in his eyes.
“Hey, are you okay?”
She met his gaze, eyes suddenly glassy. “Yeah. I’m fine.”
But she wasn’t.
Because while Izuku spoke of futures and families, she felt like she was standing on the edge of a cliff, realizing the ground beneath her was shifting.
She had a boyfriend, yes—a steady, caring man who made her laugh and supported her dreams. But hearing Izuku say those words—the desire for something more, something real—woke something inside her she hadn’t dared touch for years.
A question, heavy and impossible:
What if I still want that too?