Chapter 6: The Secret
It was morning, though not just any morning. It was the morning of the Sports Festival, with the cheers of the crowd being nearly too much for the Classes of 1-A.
"We're in the freaking locker room, how are we even able to hear them from here?!" Mineta exclaimed as Kaminari shrugged.
"I don't blame them in the slightest, I'm hyped!" Mina exclaimed as she jumped for joy.
Momo sighed as she looked at the still closed gates. Momo wasn't usually the one to be nervous or anything like that, but she was getting some pre-game shivers. Kyoka gave her a nudge along with a thumbs up causing her to breath easy.
Momo then caught sight of Katsuki putting a smile on her face as she approached him.
"Katsuki, I wish you the best of luck at the Sports Festival. I'll be right there in the finals with you." Momo said challengingly as Katsuki didn't even turn in her direction.
He walked over to his locker without a single word to her. Momo looked at the boy with a confused expression as Izuku walked over.
"He's as serious as ever right?" Izuku said as Momo looked toward the shorter boy, Izuku Midoriya he had a good quirk with massive drawbacks but a resolve not matched by many.
He must have some history with Katsuki, judging from his comment and their other interactions.
"O-oh I mean, I'm Izuku or Midoriya whatever you prefer!" Izuku said nervously as Momo chuckled.
"I'm Momo Yaoyorozu if you didn't already know." Momo said as she held a hand toward Izuku. Izuku shook her hand as Shoto walked over.
"Making alliances?" He said as both of them look at the boy. Katsuki also turned his head in their direction. "Now, All Might's got his eye on you. I won't pry into why that is but," Shoto said as his eyes narrowed into a glare.
"I will beat you." Shoto said as he nodded toward Momo as he walked toward the opening gate.
Momo looked toward Izuku as he clenched his fist. There was a weird smile on his face as if he was practicing a grin. Momo looked toward Katsuki again as he walked toward the gate without even sparing her a glance. Momo clenched her own fist as she walked toward the gate as well. Something was off about Katsuki today.
She was going to get to the bottom of it.
Katsuki hated the look on Shoto's face. So passive, as if this win was already his. It pissed him off, but not as much as when he was talking to Ponytail. Being so damn friendly, it was as if he was practically begging for an ass-kicking. She just went along with it too. Katsuki tried to shake off these thoughts but it made him feel a little sick and he hated every second of it. He would just crush them both, Deku too. Hell, he'll beat them all, that should take the feeling away.
Katsuki found his eyes going toward Momo.
Hopefully.
"Your class representative is… Katsuki Bakugo!" Midnight yells as Katsuki huffs.
He walks up to the podium as the students of the classes clamor.
"It's probably because he was number 1 in the entrance exams." Izuku said as another girl gave him a cross look. "You mean the hero course exam." The girl said sourly as Izuku just blinked at her.
Katsuki looked at the crowd before he leaned into the mic.
"As much as I would love to say it's crush or be crushed. I'll win!" Katsuki growls into the mic as the crowd groans.
"So solidly manly!" Kirishima exclaimed as Kaminari and Mina looked over at him. Midnight announced the obstacle course as the students got ready. Everyone had their goals and their drive to win. As Shoto stared at the gate, Katsuki glared at Shoto. Momo looked over at Katsuki.
"Begin!" Midnight yelled as Shoto dashed quickly ahead, Katsuki noticed this and jumped into the air as the ground froze beneath them.
Katsuki blasted ahead following Shoto with killer intent. He glanced to his side spotting Izuku, Kirishima, and Momo vaulting the ice as he did.
'Not bad Ponytail." Katsuki thought to himself as he shook his head.
"Oi Half and Half!" Katsuki called as the boy turned around.
"FUCK YOU!"
Katsuki roared as he made another blast soaring higher into the air. Shoto narrowed his eyes before he followed Katsuki speeding up using his ice.
"Wait." Shoto said as the zero pointer bots showed up.
"Robot Inferno!" Present Mic yelled as Shoto sighed.
"I wish these things were a bit more threatening." Shoto said as he froze them.
"They're uneven so anyone who follows is screwed." Shoto said as he rushed forward. Katsuki blasted into the air even higher to avoid the bots. There was a change in air pressure as he narrowly dodged a cannonball hitting one of the zero pointers.
Katsuki gave a quick glance as he spotted Momo with a cannon.
"Holy shit " Katsuki said mesmerized as he snapped out of it spotting Shoto again.
"Bastard!" Katsuki yelled blasting right next to him.
Shoto froze paths then destroyed them as he got to the pillars, Katsuki landed on one before Shoto destroyed it. Katsuki rushed to catch up with Shoto as he ran right behind him. They successfully made it over as Shoto blasted some ice at Katsuki who narrowly avoided it.
Then they reached the minefield.
Shoto hesitates as he notices the mines, "These must have been placed to slow down the lead." Shoto said as Katsuki blasted past him.
"Your declaration of war was to the wrong person!" Katsuki exclaimed as Shoto watched him shoot past.
Meanwhile, Momo and the others reached the pillars.
"These look like they go deep, I wonder just how deep?" Momo thought as Kyoka panted beside of her.
"Hey, has anyone realized that Tsuyu might be a little too op?"
Kyoka huffed as the frog girl crossed the ropes with ease. Momo licked her finger and put it into the air.
"Wind direction is the southeast, 11 mph…" Momo started as Kyoka perked up.
"Alright so what's the plan of attack? Maybe some springs or hey maybe even a jetpack?!" Kyoka said as a girl laughed spontaneously.
She turned her head back to spot a girl with pink dreads and goggles giggling madly.
"Did somebody say jetpack?!" The girl practically squealed as she slid over.
Kyoka groaned as Momo sat there analyzing.
"Well if you are really interested, swing by the support course and I'll see what I can do." Mei answered with a skip as she fell into the hole.
"Wait!" Kyoka reached out as Mei laughed maniacally.
"Alright corporations, come and see my babies!" Mei yelled as wires shot from the device she was wearing on her waist allowing her to maneuver through the abyss.
"That crazy chick! Momo we gotta go…" Kyoka trailed off as she spotted Momo looking at her with a grappling hook in her hands.
"How good are you with heights?" Momo asked as Kyoka sweatdropped.
Kyoka soon found herself dangling on for life itself as she clung to her taller friend as they swung.
Yes, swung.
Through the abyss with Momo fighting back her urge to cheer at the rush while Kyoka was screeching obscenities.
"GODDAMN IT YAOMOMO!"
Kyoka yelled as they continued swinging. Eventually, they made it to the other side with Momo grinning like a madwoman as she sighed.
"That was absolutely invigorating! I know I shouldn't be having this much fun but that was great!"
Momo exclaimed as she turned to where her friend was supposed to be.
"Right, Kyoka… Kyoka?" Momo asked as she spotted the small girl running at speeds someone her height shouldn't.
"YAOMOMO, I APPRECIATE IT BUT, YOU ARE INSANE!" Kyoka screeched as she left a dust cloud.
Momo sweatdropped as she sighed, "I guess I better get going as well." Momo said as she ran as well.
Momo had a decent pace eventually making it to the Minefield where she caught sight of Izuku in the front with Katsuki and Shoto behind him.
"He was able to get all the way up there so fast?! Momo exclaimed as she felt a twinge of nervousness, she quickly shrugged it off.
"If I place metal plates on the bottom of my feet I should be able to use the explosions to my advantage as well."
Momo said as she created the plates placing them on her feet.
"Let's go!"
Momo exclaimed as she jumped on to one of the mines allowing the explosion to send her flying. Momo then caught sight of Izuku making it through the gates before Katsuki and Shoto followed closely.
"They're all so amazing." Momo said as she felt the air rushing past her face as she descended.
Momo then felt a strange weight on her back.
She turned around to be greeted by class 1-A's resident pervert, Minoru Mineta hanging on to her for dear life.
"Hey Yaoyoroppai!" The boy yelled as Momo's face darkened.
'All I would have to do is turn and land on my back. It would be quick and no one would have to know… wait, what am I thinking?!'
Momo thought to herself as she grimaced. The pair finished 16th and 17th as such.
Momo trudged through the gate doors as Mineta cheered.
"I can't believe I just let him hitch a ride like that." Momo said defeated as Mineta chuckled.
"Thanks for the ride! Damn, I probably should have gotten in a grope or two while we were in the air huh?" Mineta said as Momo glared at the boy.
"Oi grapefucker." Katsuki said peeling the boy off of her, Mineta whimpered as Katsuki growled.
"GO FUCK YOURSELF!"
Katsuki roared as he blasted the boy sending him flying. Momo smiled as she looked at the boy, she felt as if she hadn't seen him all day. It was actually quite relieving.
"Thank you Katsuki." Momo said as Katsuki huffed.
"You can fuck right off Ponytail, go thank Half and Half." Katsuki said as Momo gave him a confused look.
Katsuki didn't spare a second glance as Momo watched the boy walk away.
"What does that even mean?" Momo said to herself as Shoto approached her.
"Would you like to join my team?" Shoto said as Momo looked at Katsuki.
She knew she had to get through to him, there was something going on here and Momo planned to get the bottom of it.
Momo was off of her game, her match with Tokoyami was an absolute landslide. She had lost, in two simple hits. His attacks weren't even aggressive, he was just trying to push her out of bounds. So many things were plaguing her mind. The weight of the competition, the gaze of the pros, and Katsuki's sudden aloofness. He's been different ever since the other day, he didn't even show up to play chess. Now he wouldn't say a real word to her.
Momo's mood was basically rock bottom by the time the next round had come up. Shoto and Izuku were facing off while she was hiding away in the waiting area. She should go up with her friends, but Katsuki was there and she couldn't stand not being able to talk to him.
She would have been just fine, hiding where she was until she got her bravado to the point where she could at least pretend.
But the universe was a cruel place.
Katsuki swung the door open as he held his wrist, before catching sight of the girl. Her first instinct was to smile but she couldn't. Instead, she gazed at him weakly as he scoffed.
"The hell are you doing down here Ponytail?" Katsuki said as Momo said nothing before eyeing his wrist.
"What happened to your wrist?" Momo asked with slight concern as Katsuki huffed.
"Nothing." He said as he turned around.
Momo had enough of this, she quickly got up and whipped the boy around to face her. She grabbed his wrist to look at it as he winced, Katsuki's eyes softened when he saw her face.
She was pissed.
"Nothing. Is that all you have to say to me? What is going on with you?" Momo asked as Katsuki growled.
He was feeling it again, that lightness and increased heart rate as the girl held on to him.
"It's none of your fucking business!" Katsuki growled as Momo held her ground.
"Stop trying to block me out!" Momo yelled as Katsuki's eyes widened.
"That's your defense mechanism, isn't it? There are times you feel things you don't want to. Whenever you do, you try your hardest to block it out. What are you so afraid of with me to not want to be honest with me?!" Momo exclaimed as Katsuki growled.
"You want honesty?! I hate the way you look at that Icy Hot bastard!"
Katsuki yelled out as Momo's face softened.
"It pisses me off with how happy and giddy you two fuckers look when you are talking! In that damn hallway, you were having the time of your life! It just infuriates me watching." Katsuki growled as Momo's grip on his wrist softened.
"You make me feel so weak, I get dizzy, being anywhere near you makes my heart go crazy. My head gets all fuzzy." Katsuki continues as Momo stared at him.
"I hate it but I don't fucking hate you and it drives me insane!"
Katsuki finishes as he huffs, Momo looked down before she placed both hands on his face to look at him.
"Oh Katsuki, Shoto is… complicated but he's a friend. He's not you however." Momo said as Katsuki stared at her.
"Everything you feel, I also feel. It's disorienting, the way my breath hitches or my mind goes blank. It's kind of pleasant actually." Momo said as Katsuki chuckled.
"Something's wrong with you." Katsuki said as Momo smiled.
"Maybe, but I don't think I mind." Momo said as she stared right into Katsuki's ruby orbs as they shined.
"You can hate me all you want but I won't ever do the same to you." Momo said as Katsuki pulled her in closer.
"Sadly, I could never do that. You are one of the only people I can actually stand being around." Katsuki said as Momo inched closer pinching Katsuki's cheek.
"Then don't avoid me. Next time I might have to fight you." Momo says with a small smile as Katsuki chuckled.
"Threatening me with a good time?" Katsuki said as Momo wrapped her arms around the back of his neck.
"No." Momo said as Katsuki took in her features.
She was intoxicating, his heart was going nuts again but this time it didn't matter. He just couldn't find the strength to break away.
"Katsuki…"
Momo said as she inched closer to him. He could feel her heat radiating on to his skin as he leaned toward her as well.
"Can I..?"
Momo asked as Katsuki pulled her in the rest of the way. Pressing her lips against his as the area around them lit up with the bright orange of the clash outside.
The two of them didn't mind the illumination as they shared in a passion they had never felt before. Katsuki held her tighter as Momo kissed him harder. It was the first time either of them had ever done anything like this. Momo had no clue how she went from being intimidated by the street punk to kissing him in a waiting room while their classmates sat above watching awe as an explosion rocked their worlds.
Momo loved every second of it, the exhilaration, the warmth, Katsuki had meant more than to her then she thought. They broke away from each other as Katsuki looked at the face of the breathless girl in his arms. Her hair slightly disarrayed, her eyes were bright. She looked like an angel in his arms.
"I fucking hate you." Katsuki said as Momo chuckled.
"Seriously?" Momo asked sarcastically as Katsuki smirked.
"You look way too damn happy." Katsuki said as he tried to turn away only for Momo to cup his face again, holding it in place.
"Are you?" Momo asked as Katsuki reddened.
"Probably." Katsuki said as Momo smiled.
"So, if I'm reading the situation properly. You are as enamored with me as I am with you." Momo said as Katsuki rolled his eyes.
"I never said that." Katsuki said with a smirk as Momo rolled her eyes.
"I believe this is the part where I ask you to be my boyfriend." Momo said as Katsuki chuckled.
"Fuck that." Katsuki said as he kissed her again briefly before pulling back to look at her shocked face.
"You're mine. End of story." Katsuki said as Momo smiled with a nod.
"Should we tell the others?" Momo said as Katsuki shook his head.
"Nah, it'll just be a pain in the ass hearing them tease. Besides Aizawa sensei might get all bias and keep us separate." Katsuki said as Momo nodded.
"Fair." Momo said as Katsuki held her close.
"Does this mean our chess meetups are dates now?" Momo said as Katsuki scoffed.
"Hell no, I am strictly trying to destroy you at those times." Katsuki said as Momo giggled.
"Then when will we go on a date?" Momo said as Katsuki looked off to the side.
"After I win. I'll take you somewhere and some shit." Katsuki said as Momo reddened at his sudden bashfulness.
"You're adorable." Momo said as Katsuki growled.
"Fuck off." Katsuki said as his name was called for the next match.
"That's me, how do you like your chicken? Fried or Baked?" Katsuki said as he made a small explosion in his hand. Momo rolled her eyes at him.
"You aren't cooking Tokoyami, that's wrong on multiple levels." Momo said sternly as Katsuki huffed.
"Whatever, I guess I'll see you in a minute." Katsuki said as he started walking off.
"When you get back you are telling me what happened to your wrist." Momo said as Katsuki smirked as he rotated his hand.
Katsuki then disappeared out the door. Momo felt the strength leave her body as she collapsed with a smile on her face. She still felt like she was flying.
They were definitely going to have to do that again.
Momo eventually made her way back up to the bleachers where her friends immediately started to interrogate her.
"Where were you? I was a little concerned." Kyoka asked as Momo looked toward her with a smile.
"I was feeling a little winded so I took a minute to catch my breath." Momo lied as Kyoka smiled.
"Good, I thought you were being all depressed about something." Kyoka said as Momo chuckled.
"No, I'm fine. Thank you for your concern." Momo said as she smiled even brighter at the smaller girl.
Kyoka narrowed her eyes as Kaminari looked over at the two of them.
"Hey, Yaomomo-! Ah, my eyes!" Kaminari said as he averted his gaze.
'I don't know how the hell she's doing it but she's actually shining.' Kyoka sweatdropped as Mina looked over with sunglasses.
"Dang Yaomomo, what's got you so happy?" Mina asked as Kirishima looked at her.
"Where did you even get those?" Kirishima asked as Mina looked toward him.
"I always have these on hand." Mina said as Kaminari started rubbing his chin.
"Wait… Bakubro was also gone for a little while too." Kaminari said as Momo's smile faltered.
'Did I… just get us caught?' Momo thought to herself as Kaminari pointed at her.
"You and Bakubro were probably getting into some sexy times-" Kaminari started as he got punched in the head.
"I walk away for 5 minutes and you fuckers already have a death wish!" Katsuki said as he sat down next to Momo.
"But-" Kaminari said as Katsuki cut him off.
"We made up. She was being stupid and I was being an ass. End of story." Katsuki said as Kyoka smirked.
"That sounded like Bakubro admitting to a fault. Damn Yaomomo, you really did a number on him." Kyoka said as Momo and Katsuki blushed.
"Shut up Long Ears or I'll send you to keep Uraraka company in the med bay! You too Thunderdolt!" Katsuki yelled as the others began laughing.
Momo looked puzzled for a second as she tilted her head.
"Uraraka?" Momo asked as the others were too distracted to hear her.
-‐-
The finals were a sight to behold. Katsuki and Shoto had shown that they were powerhouses. With Katsuki ultimately taking the victory, a very unsatisfying one at that. It was bad enough that they had to restrain him to give him his medal. Momo had taken out the time to find Shoto afterward. Momo approached the door before taking a breath, she walked into the med bay to find Shoto resting.
He was sitting up on his bed, it seemed like he was lost in thought. Momo cleared her throat getting his attention. Shoto looked up at her before looking away.
"Yaoyorozu." He said simply as Momo walked toward him.
"How are you?" Momo asked as Shoto shrugged.
"Sore." Shoto said as Momo chuckled. Shoto did his best to not make eye contact as Momo sat next to him on the bed.
"What are you even doing here, Yaoyorozu?" Shoto asked as Momo got up and bowed causing Shoto to raise an eyebrow.
"You lost, so I'm here to finish our agreement." Momo said as Shoto finally looked at her.
"You seriously still intend on being friends with me?" Shoto asked as Momo nodded.
"Yes, despite your shortcomings. I believe we could be fine friends." Momo said with a hand extended.
Shoto looked at her hand before looking back at her. Momo had been serious, there were no ulterior motives. Shoto must have smiled truly for one of the first times in a while.
"Sure. Let's be friends Yaoyorozu." Shoto said as Momo nodded.
"Now then, I must be off. Apparently Bakugo is in need of restrainment." Momo chuckled as she bowed leaving the boy behind.
Shoto watched her leave as he sighed. Thinking about Izuku's words as well as Momo's.
"Things couldn't have just been easy huh?" Shoto said as he stared at the ceiling. The Sports Festival came to an end as the students filed out talking about the events.
"Wait." Kyoka said as Kirishima, Kaminari, and Mina stopped as Kyoka looked around.
"Where did Yaomomo and Bakugo go?" Kyoka asked as Kirishima started looking around.
"Knowing Bakugo, Yaomomo is probably scolding him for being so rowdy." Mina giggled as Kaminari nodded.
"Yeah, Bakubro looked pissed. Yaomomo took him to the side earlier." Kaminari said as Kyoka raised an eyebrow.
"I just hope they don't kill each other." Kyoka said as they walked forward.
"Nah, I think they are exactly as they should be. I think Bakubro actually likes having her around." Kirishima said with a laugh.
Meanwhile, Katsuki and Momo were indulging in their newfound relationship with another passionate kiss. Katsuki took his hand with the bandaged wrist and placed it on the back of Momo's head bringing her in closer. Momo, on the other hand, cupped Katsuki's face in her hands as she deepened the kiss even further.
Not the most common thing to happen in a locker room, but hey teens will be teens.
For these two it was a temporary haven, for their relationship had just blossomed. Now keeping it a secret.
That's the hard part.