Chapter Text
Note: Italics are the past
Tenya Iida has been the only boy in my life since I was 11. I remember, the first day of middle school, seeing those piercing red eyes and your jet blue hair. I was drawn in instantly. He was yelling at some kid, the others around him laughing.
"This school is a public establishment and you should not be defiling it with such crude drawings!" he says, a powerful gleam in his eye. He wasn't that intimidating, pre-teen acne on his cheeks and red braces in his mouth, but it didn't matter. He was someone I knew I could get along with, someone with a passion, like me.
"What right do you guys have laughing at him?" I ask, putting my book down and looking over. "He has a point. You all think you're tough, laughing at someone just the same as you? Grow up, please. We aren't in the 3rd grade anymore." I see his back straighten and a smile grow on his face. "See! Someone in this classroom understands the importance of respecting the school! Thank you, I must know your name!" He walks over to me as he's talking, bowing with his eyes closed once he gets to my desk. "Get up, you look silly," I say with a small giggle. "I'm l/n f/n, but you can call me f/n if you'd like!" I give him a wide smile and outstretch my hand. He nods and happily takes it. "My name is Iida Tenya! I am pleased to have someone on the same maturity level as me in this class. I hope we may become friends!" He says, smiling back.
That's the day me and Tenya met. 6 years later, we're still attached at the hip. Now seniors in high school, we strive to be top of our class together. We aren't the goody-two-shoes, stitch on everyone people that we used to be, we've matured farther than that. Instead of yelling at others for small things, we simply keep eachother in check, working on AP work, meeting for homework, going out on weekends. Of course, it's not just me and him anymore. Our other friends at school, Todoroki, Ochaco, and Midoriya come hang out with us too. Todoroki is the only one who has the same classes as me and Tenya, though we still help out Ochaco and Midoriya when needed.
We met Midoriya and Todoroki in our homeroom class Freshman year. There was always such a drastic difference between their personalities, it was crazy to me how long they had been friends. They met in elementary school, the one thing that bonded them at first was their terrible past with parents. Midoriya's dad wasn't even fully in the picture, but the pain he caused when he was there was enough to be remembered even to this day. Todoroki's father was not only neglectful, but took their mother from him and his siblings. Midoriya and Todoroki often prayed together, taking Sundays to talk through anything happening in the Todoroki family. Midoriya's mom was always open to have people over and help as much as she can. Inko was one of the greatest parents I had seen.
While we had our separate people in the group, our 'go-to's for one-on-one time, there was always someone who bonded us together; Ochako.
Ochako had met us all at different points in our lives, bringing us all together in one way or another. Me and her have been friends since Pre-K, her always lending a helping and and being a smiling face nobody could stay upset around. She had to move around year 4, leading her to meet Tenya. Later down the line, we had all met in year 7. Finding out Ochako and Tenya, my two favorite people, knew each other had to be one of the best memories I have. Then, freshman year rolls around and we all have homeroom together. Izuku and Todoroki are talking in the corner, while another classmate, Bakugou goes over to them.
"I see you're still friends with half n half, Deku," I hear him say, a coldness in his voice. "Kacchan, stop. I'm not going to stop talking with him just because you think he's cold and emotionless." His voice is stern, fully turned towards Bakugou. "Not to mention that the whole reason me and him became friends is because you suck! You couldn't even find the decency to talk to me when I would come to school rough and ragged, and god forbit you stop your jokes about my dad. Just stop, Kacchan. You make me feel like you're a clingy boyfriend." I had never seen someone that innocent and kind looking stand their ground so firm. He turns back to Todoroki, continuing their conversation as I see Bakugou wind back for a punch.
Tenya looks at him, then me, as I get up to stop him. "You think you're all big and bad to try and fight someone because you won't let go? Be mature, for fucks sake. We are nearing adulthood, so act like you have at least some sense," I say, grabbing his arm and turning him around with force. I look to Midoriya and Todoroki, their eyes wide and Midoriya's glossy, starting to well up with tears. "Sorry if I bumped you, I didn't want to see you get hurt for a stupid reason," I say to him, smiling as I let go of Bakugou. He looks at me, regaining his footing with an embarrassed look on his face. "Maybe don't be a dick considering we're at one of the top schools in Japan. If you wanna be the best you can't act like an animal." Bakugou scoffs at my words, turning and sitting at his desk near the front.
I turn back around to Midoriya and Todoroki. "Don't think he's gonna bother you anymore after that one." I smile once more and give a light chuckle, Midoriya promptly bowing. "Thank you so much! Kacchan has been an issue ever since elementary school and I thought after his antics and the trouble he got in last year he'd stop, but I guess not! He though my dear friend Todoroki was his replacement, which technically it was, and then-" I give a small laugh, patting his shoulder. "You talk a lot, don't you? You really don't have to thank me, I'm just doing my job in order to be the best sense of justice Japan has ever seen!"
Even though I had been the first person in class 1A to talk to Midoriya and Todoroki, Ochako was the leading factor to us becoming friends. If it weren't for her, I don't think I would have ever talk to the two boys other than awkward interactions.
After our 2nd block, Ochako runs up to me and Tenya. "Guys guys I met these super cool guys in my environment studies class we should totally let them join us for lunch! They already seem to know you, f/n! Wonder what you did to spark their attention..." she says, making a thinking face at the end of her sentence. "Yeah, I kind of defended them in homeroom because of some dick thinking he's better than them. Pisses me off, people in our class at the same school thinking they're better than everyone else. We're all equal! They have no sense of justice." I say, trailing off at the end as I grit my teeth. Ochako pats my shoulder, smiling. "You did the right thing! Especially since they want to eat lunch with us now, maybe we can have an actual friend group instead of just the 3 of us!" I smile at her, nodding. I love how passionate she gets over helping people and kindness. She's oriented with a caring and kind spirit in the way I am with justice. I hope one day she will work by my side to help restore peace and justice in this world.
As we all walk to lunch, she's nearly vibrating with excitement. "I told them to meet us by the west stairs, close enough to the cafeteria but just far enough to where we won't have a crowd and not be able to see each other." I smile and nod at her, Tenya doing the same. "You're always thinking ahead, Uraraka," he says with a smile on his face. It always made me jealous when he smiled and talked sweet to her. I never realized why until our senior year. Seeing the kind look he gives me, the one I'm accustomed to see when he's talking to me, get used on someone else? It always brought a knot to my stomach. "That's our girl! Always thinking for the solutions that make the most logical sense. I'm surprised you didn't get into 1A with that mind!" I say, swallowing down the knot until it was nothing but a speck in the back of my mind. "Oh stop you guys I'm really not that special or great..." She turns red, burying her face in her hands.
"Uraraka! L/n! Blue hair?" I hear Midoriya say, a light chuckle erupting as I realized he was never made aware of Tenya's name. "I am Iida Tenya and these are my dearest friends L/N F/N and Uraraka Ochako! It is a pleasure to meet you and have you join us for lunch!" I see a puzzled look creep up onto Todoroki's face. "Isn't that a little much for a greeting? Isn't this supposed to be an introduction so we can become friends?" he looks at Midoriya and Ochako, Tenya straightening up. "I apologize, I'm very used to being formal. I take it you're Todoroki? And the green hair must be Midoriya. It is wonderful to have new faces in the group." He smiles at them, Midoriya smiling back brightly while Todoroki just gave a mere nod.
From that moment, I knew this was going to lead me somewhere new, somewhere exciting. I knew that this group would be my friends for life.