The theater was dim, bathed in the soft glow of the massive screen.
Midoriya sat rigid in his seat.
Uraraka was right beside him—close enough that their shoulders almost touched. Every small movement made him painfully aware of the distance… or lack of it.
The film had barely begun.
On-screen, the cityscape appeared, heroic music swelling as a familiar silhouette crossed the sky.
Midoriya's eyes narrowed instantly.
"…They got the costume wrong," he muttered.
"Hm?" Uraraka turned her head toward him. "What do you mean, Midoriya? It looks exactly like All Might's costume to me."
Midoriya leaned forward slightly, whispering with intensity.
"No—the cape is a shade too pale. And the way it moves in the wind, the angle is off. That means it's lighter than the real one. Also, All Might's boots don't reflect light like that during high-speed motion—"
"Midoriya," Uraraka cut in, staring at him.
He stopped.
"…You're kind of scary sometimes."
He froze.
"A-Ah—! Sorry!" he whispered quickly, shrinking back into his seat. "I didn't mean to—"
She smiled and shook her head gently.
"It's okay," she said. "Just… try to enjoy the movie, alright? Don't look that closely at every detail."
Midoriya nodded, cheeks warming.
"Y-Yeah… you're right."
He forced himself to relax.
To just watch.
…
A few rows back, Ren sat beside Momo.
The movie progressed smoothly—action, music, spectacle—until the tone shifted.
Chaos.
A villain attack.
Buildings collapsing.
On the screen, a mother screamed as debris rained down. She shielded her child with her own body, arms wrapped tight, refusing to move even as the rubble closed in.
Her scream wasn't dramatic.
It was desperate.
Raw.
Ren's breath caught.
His vision blurred.
He knew it wasn't real.
He knew it was acting.
But his body didn't care.
Drop.
A tear landed silently on the back of his hand.
Then another.
His fingers curled slowly, nails biting into his palm.
It's my fault…
If only I had been stronger—
A warm pressure interrupted his thoughts.
Ren stiffened slightly.
Momo's hand rested over his.
"Ren…" she whispered.
Her voice was soft—steady.
"Calm down."
His hair crackled faintly, tiny sparks dancing along a few strands.
Momo noticed.
Without hesitation, she lifted her other hand and gently brushed his cheek, wiping away the tear that was about to escape.
Ren turned to look at her.
She smiled.
And that brought old memories to Ren.
…
Ten years earlier.
"Ugh… she's so annoying."
A small Ren leapt effortlessly from one tree branch to another just outside the schoolyard, his movements quick and reckless.
Below him—
"W-Wait, Ren! Please!" a young Momo called out, struggling to keep up as she ran beneath the trees.
Ren clicked his tongue and jumped again.
"Please…" Momo panted, nearly out of breath. "I—I have to tell you something—!"
Ren stopped abruptly on a branch and glanced down at her.
"If you're here to confess again," he said bluntly, "you'll get the same answer as always. I don't like you. You're annoying."
He turned away, preparing to jump—
"No! It's not that!" Momo said desperately.
Ren scoffed.
"Yeah, right. Do you think I'm—"
His foot slipped.
"—!"
He fell.
"Ren!"
He hit the ground hard, pain shooting up his leg.
"Agh—!" Ren hissed, clutching his knee.
Skin scraped. Blood welled up.
Momo ran to him immediately, dropping to her knees.
"Are you alright?" she asked, worry clear in her voice.
"I'm fine," Ren snapped. "Go away—I don't need your help—"
"Ahi!" he yelped as she pressed near the wound.
"What are you doing?!" he shouted.
She frowned, then smiled stubbornly.
"It really doesn't look like you don't need help."
From her shoulder, light shimmered.
A small bottle of water formed.
She grabbed it, uncapped it, and carefully poured it over his scraped knee.
"Are you stupid?! That won't help!" Ren protested. "That's not even disinfectant—"
She pressed again, making him wince.
"At least I'm trying!" she shot back. "I haven't studied disinfectant's molecular structure yet! This is the best I can do!"
He fell silent.
"…Sorry," he muttered.
Momo smiled.
She created a strip of cloth, careful and precise, and wrapped it snugly around his knee.
Ren watched her hands move.
"You don't know disinfectant," he said quietly, "but you know cloth?"
"Yes," she replied simply.
She finished tying it… then leaned in slightly, smiling up at him.
Waiting for something.
Ren's heart did something strange. It skipped a beat.
He looked away quickly.
"T-Thanks," he said.
Momo giggled.
...
The warmth of the past faded.
The theater returned.
Ren exhaled softly and smiled.
"…Thank you," he said quietly.
Momo chuckled under her breath.
Then—slowly, almost hesitantly—Ren turned his hand over, palm up.
Their fingers brushed.
Ren closed his hand around hers.
Momo's breath hitched.
Heat rushed to her cheeks, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she laced her fingers with his and gently rested her head against his shoulder.
…
On the screen, a much younger All Might stood beneath a sky full of stars.
Beside him, a girl looked up at the same constellations, their silhouettes framed by quiet music.
A few rows ahead—
Midoriya wasn't watching the movie.
His eyes were locked onto Uraraka's hand.
Take Uraraka's hand…
Ren's words echoed mercilessly in his mind.
Should I really do it…?
His hand lifted—slow, uncertain.
It trembled.
Maybe… just for a moment—
"Midoriya?" Uraraka whispered, turning toward him. "Are you okay?"
He flinched.
"Y-Yes!" he squeaked, yanking his hand back like he'd been burned.
Uraraka blinked, surprised.
"Oh… okay," she said softly, turning back to the screen.
Midoriya slumped into his seat, face blazing.
A few rows behind them—
Ren, still holding Momo's hand, watched the whole thing through his Eagle Eyes.
He sighed.
You're a total disaster, Midoriya…
Momo smiled faintly against his shoulder, unaware of the silent commentary.
The movie continued.
To be continued...
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