Under Uraraka's friendly pressure, Midoriya went beyond being red-faced; he was bordering on a total nervous breakdown.
The boy has zero experience with women. Is this another side effect of his lack of success in life? At my age, it's not an issue, but looking at him... I'm worried for him in a different way.
"So it's a slur," I noted.
"Oh no! Really? I'm so sorry!" Uraraka looked mortified. Iida wore a deeply disapproving scowl, while Himiko was staring at Midoriya's healed finger with a strangely disappointed expression.
...You're always so free-spirited, Himiko.
Uraraka laughed nervously, then balled her fists with a bright grin.
"But... 'Deku'... it kind of feels like 'You can do it!' I actually like it!"
"I'm Deku!"
"Midoriya-kun!!" Iida barked, stunned by the instantaneous pivot.
"That was too fast! It's a slur, isn't it!?"
"A total paradigm shift..." I muttered.
Iida continued to interrogate him in shock, but Midoriya—clearly moved by her words—was covering his face, overwhelmed with emotion.
"Personally, I agree with Iida," I said. "But if he's happy with it, then I suppose it's fine."
"Ngh... I suppose you have a point!"
Uraraka, the one who had dropped the bombshell, just blinked in confusion at the words Midoriya was using. Himiko, meanwhile, was giggling to herself, clearly enjoying the chaos.
I decided it was time to move on. "Well, shall we head out?"
"Yes, agreed. We shouldn't overstay our welcome."
We walked out of the school together.
"Is everyone headed to the station?" Midoriya asked.
"Yep! You too, Uraraka-san?"
"Uh-huh!"
"What a coincidence, so am I," Iida added.
The three of them looked at us expectantly.
"Unfortunately, our path lies this way," I said.
"Oh, really?"
"Now that you mention it," Iida said, "Watari-kun mentioned that your homes were quite far away."
"Yes. That's why we're renting a room in a nearby apartment complex."
"We're roommates!" Himiko added cheerfully.
"Roommates?"
"Whoa, that sounds like so much fun!" Uraraka's eyes sparkled.
I wasn't so sure. Most of what we do at home is training; I doubt the general public would define it as "fun." Plus, Himiko periodically drinks my blood—I imagine most people would find that less than enjoyable.
"Hehe, it is fun," Himiko smiled. "Cooking together, studying... I love it."
She was being sincere. Though I suspect a large percentage of that "fun" came from the psychological bias of living with the person she loves, I had enough social awareness not to say that out loud.
"I see! So your excellent scores are a result of you two pushing each other to excel!" Iida concluded.
"Well... I suppose you could put it that way."
Iida's conclusion was technically off-mark, but since Himiko had worked herself to the bone in both studies and training just to stay by my side, it wasn't entirely a lie.
"I'm so jealous!"
"You're welcome to visit anytime, Ochaco-chan," Himiko said. "Actually, should we have a sleepover soon?"
"FOR REAL!? Yay!"
Uraraka's reaction was so pure. She was a girl with no hidden layers. But since our paths were diverging, it was time to part.
"May the Force be with you," I said. I had to give Iida and Uraraka the same explanation I gave Midoriya after they both tilted their heads in confusion.
Once the two of us were alone, I spoke my mind.
"You seemed happy, Himiko. I didn't expect you to be the one inviting people over."
"I am! They're all such good people. Ochaco-chan is so cuuuute. I'm glad I came here."
She let out a soft laugh, but the tone had shifted. A faint trace of the Dark Side began to leak out. Her words were normal, but her presence was beginning to hum with that familiar intensity.
Still, I was glad she was taking an interest in people other than me. "I'm glad to hear it."
"I especially like Izuku-kun. That smell of blood... and being all tattered and torn. He's a favorite already. He reminds me of Saito-kun."
I couldn't help but give a wry smile. So that was it. For Himiko, he fell into a category close to mine. That explains why she was staring at his injuries so intently. If his appearance reminded her of her old crush, it was only natural.
Come to think of it, whenever Anakin used to toss me around or I ended up tattered from overusing my Quirk, she always tended to be more aggressive with her blood-drinking than usual.
...I see. Everything was starting to click.
"You never change, do you?"
"Hey! You're supposed to be jealous right now!"
"I don't think that's how it works."
"It's okay, though! I'm a one-woman girl for Koto-chan!"
She wasn't even listening. Well, that was very "Himiko."
She linked her arm with mine, then interlaced our fingers, closing the distance between us until it was zero. Our shadows, stretching out into the alleyway, merged into a single silhouette.
I didn't pull away.