The late afternoon sunlight spilled through the wide windows of Momo's mansion, casting soft golden streaks across the polished floors. Izuku had returned from training earlier, sweat still clinging to the back of his shirt, and the warmth of the day pressed gently against the skin of his arms. Ochaco sat at the edge of the lounge sofa, flipping through a small notebook, her face lit with concentration, but the faintest flush colored her cheeks as she glanced up at him.
"You're back early," she said softly, voice almost trembling with a mix of admiration and nervousness. "Did you…uh…finish the drills?"
Izuku nodded, adjusting the collar of his shirt. "Yeah…well, mostly. I—uh—I tried to practice some of the techniques the system suggested. Momo helped me a little earlier."
Her lips curved into a small smile, and she shifted closer, subconsciously brushing her thigh against his as she leaned forward. The system hummed faintly at the contact, noting the subtle rise in emotional and physical metrics. Ochaco's body seemed to respond automatically—a warmth spreading through her chest, heart racing.
"You're really…amazing, Izuku," she whispered, her voice slightly breathless. "Even when you get hurt, or you push yourself so hard…you just keep going. I—I admire that."
Izuku's chest tightened at her words. "Ochaco…you've always been brave too. You've seen the worst, and you still want to be a hero. That's…that's incredible."
Her eyes widened slightly, the blush deepening. She fidgeted, tugging at the edge of her sleeve nervously, and the faint scent of her shampoo and soap wafted into his senses. The system quietly recorded the emotional resonance—Ochaco's admiration and attraction now intertwined with her budding devotion.
A soft, accidental brush of her hand against his forearm sent a shiver up his spine. "Sorry," she murmured, looking away. "I—I didn't mean to…."
Izuku shook his head gently. "It's fine. I…like it. I like knowing you trust me."
Ochaco's lips parted in surprise, and her chest rose and fell quickly. The system detected her subtle hormonal response, mapping it to awakening potential for her Nami-inspired quirk. The warmth pooling in her body, the slight shiver that ran through her, the way her gaze lingered on him—all registered as signs of her system alignment progressing.
The chapter ended with them sitting quietly together, the soft hum of the system threading through the room, Ochaco curled slightly into herself, heart racing, body tingling, anticipation and admiration intermingling.