Chapter 12: The Beat of My Heart

Kyoka Jiro lay in the darkness of her bedroom, the only light coming from the soft glow of her phone as she scrolled through a particular model's Snapgram feed. Each photo was more striking than the last—her laughing with friends, her hair perfectly in place, or even posing in casual outfits that made her look effortlessly beautiful. Kyoka’s thumb hesitated as she stared at a picture of the woman grinning at the camera, the sunlight illuminating her face.

‘Ochako Uraraka…’ Kyoka's heart twisted as she recalled the name of the woman who claimed a place in Izuku Midoriya’s heart right from under her nose.

It wasn’t hard to find out who she was. All she had to search online was ‘Uraraka’ and ‘Model’ for a plethora of articles to come pouring out. Apparently, the young woman started off in the youth sections of a few niche athletic magazines. As her beauty became more refined with age, so did the scope of her work. The second she became an adult, companies from around the world practically begged her to advertise and model their wares. Surprisingly, the woman seemed to be rather picky though. The only companies she worked with either had strong mental health programs or, oddly enough, space interests. Everything else she bluntly refused. The girl was beautiful and apparently altruistic.

‘Why would Izuku ever look at me when he has girls like her around?’ The thought settled like a heavy weight in Kyoka’s chest. She glanced at the mirror in the corner of her room, barely able to make out her reflection in the dim light. Her hair was messy, her clothes plain. She didn’t have Ochako’s brightness or Katsumi’s raw confidence. ‘What do I have…?’

A knock on the door broke the silence. “Kyoka, honey? Are you hungry? I made dinner,” her mother’s voice called from the hallway, soft with concern.

Kyoka stared at the door for a moment, her stomach twisting, but not from hunger. “I’m not hungry, Mom,” she replied, her voice quieter than usual.

“Okay. Just let me know if you change your mind,” her mother responded gently before walking away.

Kyoka sighed, her gaze drifting back to her phone. Her finger hovered over the screen, scrolling past more photos, each one making her feel smaller, more insignificant. Just as Kyoka was about to turn off her phone, it buzzed in her hand. Another message from Izuku.

AllQuirkedUp: “Hey! Just checking in! Call me when you get the chance!”

Kyoka winced as she read it. Her male friend had been texting her for days now, trying to check on her ever since the exams. Each time, she’d ignored him, not knowing what to say. She wasn’t ready to face him—not when all she could think about was how she wasn’t enough. To think that not long ago, all she wanted to do was show off how well she felt she did in the exam to him. The young man gave her so much help and provided her with so much advice that she truly felt as if she couldn’t have done it without him. Yet, now it just hurt even to see his username.

She stared at the message for a long moment before setting the phone down on her nightstand, face down. Her body felt heavy as she lay back on her bed, and the ceiling above her was a blur of shadows. ‘I can’t keep doing this,’ she thought, her heart aching in a way that had nothing to do with the exam stress.

Her eyes drifted to the corner of her room, where her guitar stood propped up against the wall. The familiar sight tugged at something deep inside her, something she had been pushing down for days. Reluctantly, Kyoka got up and grabbed the guitar, the smooth wood cool against her fingers.

She sat down on the edge of her bed and strummed a few chords, the sound filling the quiet room. The vibrations resonated in her chest, calming her just enough to clear her thoughts. As she played, words began to form in her head, unspoken feelings she hadn’t been able to put into words until now.

A small smile tugged at her lips as the melody came to her, the beginnings of a song she hadn’t known she needed to write. She grabbed a nearby notebook and began jotting down the lyrics, her heart guiding her hand. The song was about love—the love she wished she had, the love she dreamed about but couldn’t quite reach. ‘If only… If only I could say something…’

**********

On the other side of town, Izuku stared at his phone, the screen dimming as his message to Kyoka remained unanswered. His heart sank a little as he saw she had read it but still hadn’t responded. Part of him felt hurt, wondering why she was ignoring him, but mostly, he was just worried. Something was clearly bothering her, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that it was serious. He had to find out what was going on.

‘I’ll find her in person and talk to her tomorrow,’ he resolved, setting his phone down with a sigh. If she wouldn’t answer his texts, then he’d just have to go and see her in person. There had to be something he could do to help.

The next day, the final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day, and Izuku quickly learned that his plan would have to be delayed. It was his turn to have class cleaning duties. Forcing down his frustration, the aspiring hero worked in a frenzy, eager to finish up so he could set out to find Kyoka. His mind was already buzzing with possible places she might be—the music store, her favorite hangout spots, maybe even the park near the mall. He wasn’t sure yet, but he had to try.

As he scrubbed the last desk, he felt a presence behind him. Arms wrapped around him, and hot breath tingled his right ear. “What’s got you all worked up, dork?” The sultry voice spoke before he felt the warm mouth nibble at his earlobe.

“Kacchan…” Izuku sighed, more than used to the sensual love and affection his first girlfriend loved to give him, even in public. Even now, there were other students in the room with them, staring with blushing faces as the blonde’s wanding hands began groping his butt. “Not now. Later…”

“I’ll hold you to it.” Katsumi all but moaned as she released her hold. Several male students in the room all of a sudden had a critical need to carry a book or bag in front of themselves. The tomboy reveled in it, knowing her man was the target of such raw envy. It fueled her to do it more. Regardless, Izuku wasn’t having it right now, so she crossed her arms and watched as he wrapped up his cleaning with a playful grin on her face. “Is it about Earphones? Still ghosting you, huh?”

Izuku paused, looking back at her with a sigh. “Yeah… she still hasn’t said anything, and I’m just… concerned, you know?”

Katsumi’s grin widened, something mischievous glinting in her eyes. “Concerned, huh?” she said, her voice dripping with amusement. “Even though you’re the cause of it?”

Izuku blinked, confused. “What? What do you mean?”

Katsumi chuckled, walking over to him. “You wouldn’t get it. Women are confusing like that,” she said, her tone almost cryptic, as if she knew something he didn’t. She leaned in and planted a quick kiss on his lips, her familiar scent filling his senses as she pulled away. “Good luck with your little quest, hero,” she teased, waving over her shoulder as she headed for the door.

Izuku stood there for a moment, still not entirely sure what she was talking about. But Katsumi was right about one thing—he wasn’t going to figure it out by standing around. He grabbed his bag, took a deep breath, and headed out, determined to find Kyoka and finally get to the bottom of what was bothering her.

From school, Izuku rushed toward the mall, remembering that today was one of the few days a week she had her part-time job at the music store. His heart pounded in his chest as he dashed through the mall, praying his memory was correct. The moment he entered the music store, he was greeted by the relievable sound of someone playing guitar and singing. The voice was unmistakable—Kyoka's.

He carefully made his way through the aisles, trying to stay unnoticed as he approached the source of the music. When he finally peered around the corner, he saw Kyoka sitting in the small performance area, her eyes closed as she sang with deep emotion.

The song was soft and melodic, filled with heartfelt lyrics that would typically have tugged at his heartstrings. The problem was that the lyrics were far from what he had expected.

"In a world so vast and wide, I found someone by my side,

With green hair and eyes so bright, you light up my darkest night.

A passion for being a hero, brave and true,

I never thought I'd fall for someone like you."

'W-Wait, Green hair, and eyes? I-Is this song about me? No way, right?' Izuku's heart raced as he listened, the words sinking in. The realization hit him like a tidal wave. 'She's confessing through her song,' he realized, his eyes widening. His cheeks flushed with warmth as he continued to listen, mesmerized by the sincerity in her voice.

As the song's last notes faded away, Kyoka opened her eyes and met Izuku's gaze. She froze, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red. She fumbled with her guitar, nearly dropping it in her shock.

"G-Green! How much did you hear?" she demanded, her voice a mix of panic and dread. The words she put on paper were cringy and embarrassing. No one was ever meant to actually hear them, especially him.

Izuku rubbed the back of his neck, feeling equally awkward. "Enough, I think. I'm sorry, Kyoka, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop."

Kyoka’s face turned even redder if that were possible. She immediately shot up from her seat, her guitar almost toppling over as she scrambled to escape. “Y-You didn’t hear anything!” she blurted, trying to rush past him.

But Izuku stepped into her path, blocking her escape. “Kyoka, wait!” he said, his voice gentle but insistent. “Can we just… talk about this? I just want to understand.”

Her eyes darted around, looking for any means of escape. "I-I don't know what you're talking about," she stammered, but her voice lacked conviction. "Sorry, Izuku, I have to go," she muttered. In a **** move, she jabbed her headphone jacks into him, using her quirk to send a disruptive soundwave through his body. Not harmful in any way, but enough to disorient him.

Izuku's vision blurred, and he stumbled, giving Kyoka the chance to slip past him. By the time he regained his balance, she was already out of the store and disappearing into the crowded mall.

He stood there, still processing what had just happened. 'Kyoka… likes me?' he thought, his mind a whirlwind of emotions. He knew he couldn't leave things like this. He had to find her and clear the air, but for now, he was left alone in the music store, trying to make sense of it all.

As Izuku darted out of the music store, still reeling from Kyoka’s sudden escape, he collided with someone near the entrance. He stumbled back, quickly regaining his balance before his eyes landed on a young man with a black bird’s head. Izuku immediately apologized, looking flustered. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to-”

The young man raised a hand, his tone calm and polite. “No harm done, Stranger.”

Relieved, Izuku asked quickly, “Did you see a girl with dark purple hair run by? I need to catch up with her.”

The bird-headed man regarded him with a knowing look as if he understood the situation better than he did. He pointed in the direction Kyoka had gone. “She went that way. Good luck with your fair maiden,” he added, his voice carrying a hint of amusement.

"Thank you!" Izuku called out as he sprinted in the direction the young man indicated, the words of good luck echoing in his mind. He weaved through the crowd in such a hurry that he was worried that security might have thought of him as a shoplifter. But that misunderstanding can be cleared up later. Kyoka was far more important.

Now outside the mall, Izuku’s eyes darted around the crowded streets until he spotted Kyoka off in the distance, heading toward the mall’s park he knew she liked to visit. The rocker was always quick on her feet, but Izuku was faster. Just like in his training, he activated a small burst of One for All, his legs surging with energy as he raced after her, closing the distance in a matter of seconds.

"Kyoka!" he shouted, his voice carrying across the park's open space.

Kyoka stumbled, her shoulders stiffening before she slowly turned around, her expression one of shock and frustration. “Why are you following me? Just leave me alone!” she yelled, her voice cracking slightly.

Izuku’s heart sank, but he wasn’t going to back down. “I can’t leave you alone. Not until I understand what’s going on,” he said, his voice steady but full of concern.

Kyoka's pace faltered, but she kept moving, tears welling in her eyes. “There’s nothing to understand!” she shouted. “Just forget what you heard!”

But Izuku shook his head, his expression pleading. “I can’t. I need to know the truth, Kyoka. Please… tell me.”

Kyoka’s feet finally stopped as they reached the massive tree in the park's center. Even after being staggered by her soundwaves, the heroic green hunk still easily caught up with her. There was no more running. Her only hope was that she could get him to drop the subject himself.

The rocker clenched her fists and turned to face her crush. Her voice trembled as she demanded an answer. "Why does it matter so much to you?"

"Because I care about you!" Izuku replied earnestly. "And I can't stand seeing you this upset.”

Kyoka bit her lip, her emotions swirling within her. Finally, she couldn't hold it back any longer. "Fine!" she screamed, her voice echoing through the park. "I'm in love with you, okay? There, I said it!"

The words hung in the air like a bombshell, and for a moment, everything around them seemed to freeze. Izuku’s eyes widened, his heart pounding in his chest, but he stayed quiet, letting her continue.

“You just had to be this… this sweet, caring, supportive jerk! Inspiring me and pulling me along, helping me to be the hero I want to be.” The girl cried out her feelings, her heart wanting to burst out of her chest. “How could I not fall in love with you!?”

The words hung in the air, heavy and charged with emotion. Izuku took a step closer, his expression still confused. "But then why the ghosting?"

Kyoka’s breaths were heavy as she spoke, her voice trembling. “Before… I thought you and Katsumi were traditional. The way you look at her… It’s like you were made for each other.” Her voice broke as she looked down at the ground. “But then Katsumi told us about Uraraka. About how she’s your second girlfriend." She paused for a breath before continuing, "For a split second, I thought that this was it, the green light I needed. I didn’t need to be jealous of Katsumi anymore. That I had a chance too.”

Izuku’s heart clenched as he watched her bear her feelings. He wanted to say something… anything, but the words weren’t forming. Kyoka, on the other hand, still had more to say.

“But then I read that she was a model. A freaking model?" Her voice was rising as her words continued to pour out of her. "Your second girlfriend is a fucking model, Green! A hot, sexy model who fundraises for the mentally ill. How the fuck am I supposed to compete with that!?"

“Kyoka-” Izuku tried to cut in.

“Even if you were open to having another girl… Who am I?” Kyoka interrupted him, tears trickling from her eyes. “I’m just some wannabe punk who plays guitar at the mall.” Her voice was laced with bitterness and insecurity, the vulnerability in her words cutting deep. “I can’t even confess my feelings right. I don’t stand a chance.”

Izuku listened in silence, letting her pour her heart out. When she finally finished, her chest was heaving from the weight of her emotions. He stepped forward and, without thinking, wrapped his arms around her. Kyoka tensed at first, but slowly, she relaxed into the embrace, her face buried in his chest.

“You don’t have to compete with anyone,” Izuku said softly, his voice full of warmth. “Kyoka, you’re amazing. You’re talented, smart, and beautiful in your own way. Even if you don’t see that, I do.”

Kyoka’s eyes widened slightly, her breath hitching as his words sank in. She stayed quiet, her hands gripping his shirt tightly.

“I… I can’t just accept your love right now,” Izuku said, his tone sincere. “Not without talking to Katsumi and Ochako first. I owe them to be honest about how I feel, too.”

Kyoka nodded against his chest, her emotions still swirling inside her, but she understood. She had already expected this. “I get it,” she whispered, though doubt still lingered in her heart. “But… what if…?”

Izuku gently pulled back, looking into her eyes with determination. “Then we’ll figure it out together. I care about you, Kyoka. A lot. I’m not going to let you go through this alone.”

Kyoka’s lips trembled as a small smile broke through her uncertainty. “You’re such a dork,” she muttered, her voice soft but full of affection.

Izuku smiled back. “I’ve been called worse.”

After the emotional conversation under the tree, Izuku stepped back, giving Kyoka some space to collect herself, trusting that she wouldn’t run away again. He quickly messaged Katsumi and Ochako, filling them in on the situation. The girls responded almost immediately, agreeing that a "meeting" was necessary, but it would be just between the girls.

Izuku glanced at Kyoka, who hesitated for a moment before nodding, her newfound confidence still shaky but present. “Okay,” she said softly, her voice steadier now. “Let’s do it.”

A short while later, Katsumi arrived at the park, her usual confident stride unwavering as she approached them. The tomboy shot her boyfriend a knowing smirk as if she predicted this whole thing, then turned toward the target of conversation. Izuku gave Kyoka a reassuring nod before Katsumi grabbed her by the arm, pulling her away from him. “You wait right there, Deku,” she called back to Izuku with a grin. “We’ll take it from here.”

As they moved farther from Izuku, Katsumi pulled out her phone and called Ochako, placing it on speaker, so all three girls could talk. Kyoka stood awkwardly for a moment before Katsumi gestured for her to sit on a nearby bench.

"Alright, Earphones, let's hear it," Katsumi said, crossing her arms and watching Kyoka with scrutiny.

Kyoka swallowed, her nerves returning in full **** under Katsumi’s intense gaze. As she hesitated to speak, Ochako’s voice came through the phone, soft and encouraging. “Hi, I know you don’t really know me… but just be honest with yourself and speak from your heart, Jiro. We’re all here to listen.”

'I have to be honest. I owe it to myself and to them,' Kyoka thought. She took a deep breath, feeling the weight of both girls' expectations. "I... I have feelings for Izuku. I've… had them for a while, but I didn't know how to tell him. But then, he overheard me playing a song I wrote about him. I-I didn’t know what to do, so I ran."

Katsumi's expression remained stern, and Kyoka could feel her heart pounding. 'Stay strong, Kyoka. You can do this,' she reminded herself. "But Izuku chased me down and helped me confront my feelings headfirst. The truth is… I really, really like him, and I want to be with him."

There was a pause, and then Katsumi shook her head. "You’re not ready yet.”

Kyoka’s heart sank. “W-What?”

Katsumi leaned forward, her tone firm and unforgiving. "You only admitted your feelings when **** into a corner. Deku deserves someone who knows what they want and goes for it, not someone who only speaks up when there's no other option. You didn’t confront your feelings. You were pressured until you gave in."

“I…” Kyoka's heart sank, but she nodded, understanding Katsumi's perspective. She admitted to herself. 'She's right. I wasn't brave enough to say anything until now. And even then…'

“The same goes for your so-called hero training.” Katsumi continued, her expression morphing into a frown. “He told me about how you felt before he started dragging you along with him. You said you wanted to be a hero to save people, but I’m not seeing your heart in it at all. It took Deku nearly forcing you to practice and train for any sort of progress, am I right? Even if you do get into UA, which you better if you want any real chance, did you plan on still coasting off his efforts? Izuku needs girls to stand beside him, not behind.”

Those words shocked the aspiring hero. Had she really made no efforts to improve herself for her own sake? Were all the hours she put in training not for her dream, but to spend time with her crush? After the exam, when she felt confident in her performance, was she looking more forward to being one step closer to being a hero, or was she more excited to see Izuku’s face when she told him the news? Kyoka frowned in shame. ‘Had I really been so off?’

Ochako's voice came through the phone, soft but firm. "I understand where Katsumi is coming from, Jiro. It's important to be sure of your feelings and to be able to express them confidently. Maybe you do need to take some time to figure out what you want. For yourself. Izuku cares about you, but you have to care about yourself, too. You got this girl!"

Kyoka lowered her head, her fingers trembling as she gripped her knees. She felt a lump in her throat, the sting of rejection settling deep in her chest. But as the silence hung in the air, something inside her clicked. She thought back to why she wanted to be a hero in the first place—the passion that had driven her to pursue this path. It wasn’t for anyone else. It was for her. She wanted to make her own mark on the world, to help and save others, just like Izuku. Somewhere along the way, she had forgotten that.

A soft sigh escaped her lips, and she nodded slowly. “You’re right,” she admitted, her voice quiet but resolute. “I have been holding myself back. Not just with Izuku, but with everything. I need to step up.”

Katsumi raised an eyebrow, surprised at Kyoka’s sudden realization. “Hmph. About time you figured that out.”

Kyoka managed a weak smile, her confidence still shaky but now built on something real. “Thanks, Katsumi. Uraraka. I… I needed that kick.”

Ochako’s voice came through the phone, warm and encouraging. “We’re rooting for you, Jiro. We all want the best for you.”

Katsumi smirked, crossing her arms again. “Just don’t waste this chance. If you really want to be with him, then prove it. Not to us, but to yourself.”

Kyoka stood up, her heart a little lighter despite the tough conversation. She had a long way to go, but now, at least, she knew where to start. Katsumi grinned as she saw her words strike something within her companion. ‘Good. That’s a good look in your eyes.’

With a new sense of purpose burning inside her, Kyoka made her way back to where Izuku was waiting. Her heart still fluttered with nerves, but the conversation with Katsumi and Ochako had given her the clarity she desperately needed. As she approached him, she felt a new fire within—a drive to prove herself to others and herself. "Green… Thank you for giving me a chance, but… I'm not ready yet.”

Izuku blinked, not expecting that response. Before he could comment, however, Kyoka continued. “That’s not to say I’m done with you yet. I will be your girlfriend! But not until I show you and everyone else just how rockin’ I can be! As a Hero.”

The verdette listened to her speech with a massive grin. This was the side of her he admired. He knew she had a fire in her, and it would seem his girlfriends helped her find it again. “I look forward to it, Kyoka. Don’t keep me waiting.”

“I won’t.” Kyoka smiled, poking him in the chest with her earphones. “One day, I’ll rock your world!”

“Rather bold way to announce that you’ll fuck him one day.” Katsumi snickered from the side, arms crossed under her bust.

Both Izuku and the musician’s faces went beet red. She stammered and waved her arms, **** to defend herself. “T-T-Thats not what I meant!”

The blonde rubbed her chin. “So you don’t want to fuck him?”

“Thats-I…Uhhhhhhgggg.” Kyoka succumbed to the teasing. Izuku watched on, chuckled, and smiled, knowing that although this didn’t go quite how he expected, something was gained here today. Kyoka would be a great hero one day. He was sure of it.

As the group parted ways, Kyoka felt a sense of clarity for the first time in a long while. 'I have to prove myself, not just to them but to myself. I need to become the best version of myself before I can claim my place in his heart.'

**********

AN: Howdy, Howdy! I hope you aren't too mad by this development. I foreshadowed it quite a bit in recent chapters, but Kyoka needs to get her head on straight and fight off the evils of comparison. She's amazing on her own, and she needs to prove it to herself! I loved getting into her headspace here and fleshing out the new background Ochako has as a model. It makes sense that she would have some sort of internet presence after all! Anyway, next time will be the last chapter before we finally get to UA. Get excited! If I don't get blown away by a hurricane in the meantime...

As always, thank you all for reading, and be sure to check us out on my Discord for behind-the-scenes looks at all my writing. Lastly, a special thanks to Zephyr0F8 for beta-ing this chapter!