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It's been fun for Ochako these past few weeks, but she wants to up her game, she's looking to unlock more of Katsuki's jealous reactions. Instead of just glares, she wants some action this time, preferably ones that you see in dramas and such. February 14 is fast approaching, it's an opportunity for sure, but she doesn't have a plan yet.
As she was trying to think of one, she was able to reflect as to why she's doing this, going to lengths to make Katsuki jealous, was it really just for fun? No(though it's one of the reasons), it's because Katsuki ticks her off, sure this never happened to her before, much less being in a relationship, but that doesn't matter to her, all that matters is letting Katsuki taste his own medicine (somewhat), realize his mistakes. After all, seeing a villain experience the same pain he did to others always gives you that refreshing feeling. Call it selfish or whatever, she doesn't care.
But what about Izuku? He's still in pain over his betrayal and breakup, even if Ochako were to reveal that Katsuki's being a jealous baby and all, it's more likely to do more harm than good, it would only confuse him.
In the end, Ochako decided that she shouldn't think about that for now, it's better to let Izuku recover himself first. Whatever he decides to do, she'll support him.
"I'm going then." She announced as she stood up from her chair, seeing the time nearing to lunch time.
"You've been eating out a lot these days. You're meeting someone, right~?" Her coworker from the cubicle beside her teased, but it didn't bother Ochako.
"Do you really have to state the obvious?" She answered back, picking up her bag in the process. She left, not even waiting for her coworker's response.
*****
"How to make Katsuki Bakugou jealous on Valentine's Day...?" Her mind keeps coming up with... nothing. Well, she'll think about it after a meal.
Upon entering the building, she immediately sensed that there's something different, looking around, she noticed a poster, a red themed one. She approached one to read it, and looks like she didn't need to think of a plan after all, this company gave it to her on a silver platter.
The poster was about the company's Valentine's event, stating that coworkers can bring their own date to the party. It's already obvious what's gonna go down. Excited, instead of waiting for Izuku in the lobby, she asked for a visitor's pass and went to tell him that she wants to go, hoping that Katsuki would also be there to witness it. And, viola, he really is there, in fact he's talking to Izuku right now, right outside the latter's cubicle.
Ochako immediately went over to him, chanting Izuku's name as she entered their hearing range, she even Katsuki saying to notify Shouto about something, but she didn't care about that right now.
"Izuku, Izuku" She stopped beside Katsuki. She saw that annoyed look Katsuki cast him from the side.
"I heard that you're having a Valentine's day event?" Her aura was excited.
"Yeah. I'm guessing you want to go?" Izuku's expression reminds Ochako of how a father looks at their daughter, too bad, Katsuki is too jealous to notice it.
"I forgot that nerds like you go to those kinds of parties." Katsuki bitterly commented. Ochako's shifted her attention to him.
"Why don't you go too? I'm sure Kirishima would like to go."
"So? Why should I care about that?" He walked away as he said that. Ochako turned to Izuku.
"Let's have a good time there, Izuku!" She cheered, Izuku smiled weakly back at her.
Though it made Ochako worry if Katsuki would show up or not.
*****
Today is the day. Ochako sure was curious whose idea it was to have this party, and how it was approved. The place looks like from those movies where they have a ball, like Cinderella and such, though littered with small tables.
"This is my first time... attending an event like this." Ochako said as she hooked her arm around Izuku's.
"Me too." Izuku smiled to himself as they walked further in, towards his other coworkers with their spouses or lovers, mingling with each other.
"Oh, Bakugou you came!" They both heard that. It was announced by a different blond. Ochako was glad, but upon seeing Eijirou there, she immediately looked at Izuku. And as expected, he was dejected. Ochako turned him to face her.
"Izuku, I'm here. You'll be fine. Show him you can be happy without him." She gave him a reassuring smile, and it really did cheer the greenette up.
They spent some time to interact with others, and eat some food as they waited for the others to arrive. Ochako was doing her best at accompanying Izuku, cracking jokes and whatnot, and yeah, she can feel something behind her from time to time... yep, Katsuki Bakugou giving the old death glare.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" A voice announced using a microphone, taking all of the attendees' attention.
"It's about time for us to start our first game. But I would like to thank everyone first for attending, it was a miracle that this idea of mine really came true. So, let's enjoy ourselves!" She cheered, making the brunette wonder if she has infinite energy.
"So it was her... Mina Ashido, I think..." Ochako thought as she observed the lady.
"Now, without further ado. Our first game would be to challenge you, if you're able to reunite with your date, it just might mean that you're connected by the red string of fate or whatever, this is just for fun anyway! So, what's going to happen? Simple, we'll be blindfolding each and everyone of you, we'll be scattering all of you too, to separate, plus we would also turn off the lights just to make sure." The lady said gesturing towards the lights.
"We'll give you 5 minutes to find your partner, using your voices are not allowed, you must be silent the entire time. Don't use this opportunity to grope someone!
"Are you nervous?" Ochako turned to Izuku.
"Of course! What if I don't find you?"
"You heard what she said, if you don't then we're not fated to be together." Ochako joked.
The staff did what the lady said, blindfolding them and separating them. Soon, the lights were turned off, and the timer began. Ochako didn't even try to do anything, just randomly walking anywhere unlike the ones around her, touching others, looking for a sign that it's their lover. Adding to the tension is the announcer, or more like the timer.
Less than 30 seconds left, Ochako thought that Izuku wouldn't find her, but seconds after thinking of that, she felt a familiar hand touch her arm, she smiled as she felt the hand relax on her arm.
"Okay! Time's up! Feel free to take off your blindfolds now!" They all took it off, their eyes adjusting to the light.
It wasn't long before the place started to become noisy, some are celebrating, some are laughing, and some were playfully hit by their partners for getting it wrong. But amidst to all that joyful atmosphere, an awkward one lies among it.
When Ochako took off her blindfold, she was right, it was Izuku who was holding onto her. But she saw a hand holding onto Izuku's other hand... Katsuki Bakugou's, not only that, the blond's other hand was being held by Eijirou Kirishima himself.
All of them were frozen, no one dared to let go, the crowd among them having no clue. Ochako, being the brave girl she is, broke the ice first. She reached for Izuku's other hand, one that was being held by Katsuki Bakugou. As she proceeded to take it from the other's hold, she was looking at Katsuki's eyes the whole time.
"Just let me get this..." She said as she slowly took it away from him, the blond having no choice but to slowly let go. As soon as the blond's other hand became available, Eijirou grabbed it, reminding Katsuki that he was there.
Izuku's hand that was holding onto Ochako's arm slowly slid down to hold her hand, so they ended up holding hands as they looked into each other's eyes,smiling. Katsuki and Eijirou just stood there as they looked at Izuku and Ochako, who can feel the aura Katsuki is emitting: disbelief.
*****
What happened at that game clearly did something to the three of them (Izuku, Katsuki, Eijirou), which ended up with them passing on the following games, and since Ochako is with Izuku, she passed too.
"Are you alright? Should we go?" Ochako asked Izuku.
"No, I'm fine. You should go and enjoy." Izuku reassured her but Ochako's not gonna fall for it.
"That's not important, if yo—"
"We'll be opening the dance now! And since we want to make it unique, we've not selected only one, but three pairs to dance first as an opening." Everyone clapped, awaiting those pairs.
"Those pairs are: Kyouka Jirou and Momo Yaoyorozu!" Everyone clapped.
"I was actually selected too, it says here: Mina Ashido and Eijirou Kirishima!" They crowd clapped to cheer them.
"And the last pair is: Katsuki Bakugou and Izuku Midoriya!" Izuku's blood ran cold, Ochako became nervous and immediately checked on Izuku.
"Don't worry, I'll tell them you can't dance. You're not feeling well." She proceeded to walk towards Mina, who was hurrying to join Eijirou. Izuku stopped her.
"...It's fine, you said that I should show him that I could be happy without him, then I should start with this." He said as he moved towards the dance floor.
Katsuki who was looking at them, to see if Izuku would participate or not, immediately went over to meet up with Izuku.
Even though they danced so well, making Ochako wonder if being able to dance foxtrot is required to be hired, she was still so worried about Izuku, moving about to see them, observing Izuku, to see if he's nervous or trembling. And since she was trying to observe them as closely as possible, she noticed how Katsuki was looking at Izuku, like he's been waiting for this moment, longing for it. The brunette could see it: Katsuki Bakugou is still in love with Izuku Midoriya. Then, just why did he cheat?
They looked good as a couple, Ochako would admit, but she's really feeling uneasy with Izuku, she could see doubt, and confusion. By the time it was over, Ochako felt like 5 decades were taken off her life. A couple of seconds after the dance ended, Izuku immediately went over Ochako.
He put his head on her shoulder as he held her hands, asking for support. Ochako squeezed back.
"It's hard... it... felt like I was being burned..." The greenette whispered, Ochako looked over to Katsuki: looking like he just lost something, but as his eyes landed on Ochako, he looked at her with... anger... not annoyance but anger.
*****
Izuku excused himself to go to the restroom.
"May I have this dance?" Ochako turned her head to the source, wondering who just spoke the stupid line. It was Katsuki. Ochako looked at him, as if skeptical.
"You're being asked politely and that's how you respond? Or is it that... you can't dance?" Katsuki said when he saw her expression.
Ochako smiled, in a way meant to be sarcastic, "Since I don't want you to lose face... I'll accept." She took his hand.
Her being asked by Katsuki to dance, after that look earlier... it made her worried, but she must be brave.
"What kind of girlfriend are you? You can't even take care of Deku properly." Katsuki started.
"What makes you think I don't take care of him properly? And besides, instead of focusing on Izuku's relationship, you should be focusing on yours." Ochako spat back.
"What do you mean?"
"To be honest, I didn't like what happened earlier, even if it was a mistake. You grabbing onto Izuku like that, and Kirishima was right beside you too." Ochako scoffed.
"Then, I'll be honest too. I don't like you being with Deku like that, I can tell that you're not exactly a good woman for him."
"Or maybe you just don't like Izuku being with someone that isn't you."
"No, it's because I'm worried for him. We grew up together, he's not exactly good at judging people."
"Then are you saying that you are? Bakugou, you're working adults already. Izuku can choose whoever he wants, and that's me. You totally don't have the right to decide for him." Ochako scolded.
"He's not some kind of object for you to decide his fate. He can think for himself."
"Then, do you think he made the right choice? Choosing you?"
"Is that some kind of insult? Why are you talking to me like I'm some kind of trash?" Ochako decided to push a little more harder.
"You talk about being his childhood friend, yet where were you when he was sad and depressed? When he was drinking himself to death? Where were you at that time?" Ochako shook her head, "You were nowhere. It was me, who was there for him, it was me who gave him warmth and comfort when no one did. So yeah, I'm saying that he made the right choice choosing me." Ochako feels like her acting might earn her an Oscar.
"If you're still uneasy," Ochako moved away from Katsuki, stopping their dance, "I swear to you, on my life. I'll make Izuku Midoriya happy, whoever was the bastard that made him cry, I'll make sure Izuku is so happy that he'll forget the bastard ever existed. I'll make sure that of all people, I'm the only one Izuku would need." And with that, she walked away.
After finding a corner to idle at, Ochako covered her mouth, stopping herself from laughing.
"Oh my God...! That face! That defeated look on his eyes! That was the best..." She finally calmed down.
"But I don't think, he would just stop here... it would be disappointing if he did..."