Saturday, 11:00

I-Island's shopping mall

The ceremony would begin at 18:30 at the I-Expo building. Meanwhile, the students were deciding what to wear and excited about the party, where they would have a memorable time with tons of fun, food, drink, music and I-Island people to meet. However, the girls had some shopping to do before, so they met Melissa at the entrance of the mall, as they waited for a third person that would join them.

"Do you think it was a good idea, Mina?" asked Jirou. "This is supposed to be a girls' plan".

"Oh, come on. We need some previous male opinion if we want to show we are the prettiest girls in UA" answered a smiley confident Mina.

"Don't ask. For some people parties are like a way of living, ribbit" Tsuyu told Melissa, who giggled.

"There is nothing wrong with a boy who can actually enjoy shopping joining us. I'm sure we'll have fun" the blonde girl said with all honesty.

"Well, this a guy who has waaaaay too much fun when it comes to fashion and style..." smiled a slightly embarrassed Uraraka.

"BONJOUR, MADEMOISELLES!" Aoyama announced himself with his typical mannerisms. "Congratulations for choosing moi to guide you! It proves you really want to get the spotlight for yourselves in the party!". Uraraka just hoped Melissa didn't take their androgynous friend's over the top attitude too seriously, but she was delighted to share some free time before the award ceremony with one of the new students she met the day before.

Melissa wasn't wrong. Aoyama was a weirdly fancy guy for sure, but none could argue his knowledge on the subject would put a supermodel to shame. After many ews and critics, the French rooted hero made sure all the girls had the best accesories and outfits. Momo could have created some thanks to her Quirk but that would have ruined all the fun of the activity.

"May I ask why Uraraka isn't trying any dress?" Aoyama asked to Momo, while Uraraka was giving her approval to Jirou's final choice of fingerless gloves in the distance.

"Oh, about that, we should have told you Ochako knew from the start she would wear the dress she borrowed from me the first time".

"Really? Mon Dieu, I must check that one too or all our efforts could have been in vain!" Aoyama cried.

"She wouldn't tell us, but we are sure she wants to wear it again because Midoriya told her she looked nice on it" Momo found it touching. "You know what I mean, right? She told us what happened during your fight against Thirteen."

"You bet I know! Then even my advice will be unnecessary! C'est l'amour!" he answered, carrying a hand to his chest.

The hours run fast and it was time for the girls and Aoyama to get ready at the hotel. Melissa had no problem telling she had had the best time with them all.

"Jeez, I hope I won't faint before you all. I still can't believe this ceremony is for me. But remember, the party is all yours, girls" she said.

"Ahem".

"Oh, yeah, of course, it's yours and Aoyama's. The one you owe the hearts you will steal tonight!" Melissa joked with her perfect smile.

"Thank you very much for your help, Aoyama" thanked Toru, who couldn't wait to be "seen" in her new party outfit.

"It's nothing really. I am always the most fabulous being in parties, but I can share my aura of glamour with some friends" he shrugged with false modesty. "Especially if one of them has someone's attention to earn tonight" he whispered, as he pointed to Uraraka, who was now talking with Melissa as they walked a little further.

"I'm glad you helped Deku yesterday, Ochako. I asked him this favour with so little time..." smiled Melissa. Uraraka still found a bit bothering that another girl called him Deku.

"Don't worry. Deku cares a lot about his friends. Somehow he always finds the way" Uraraka sighed, managing to smile.

"He cares, indeed. Speaking of which, he told me you are also one hell of a caring girl". The change of the course of the conversation made Uraraka's alarms activated. "Not to mention the first friend he ever really had and the kind of hero everyone would want to have near."

"D-did he?" she gasped louder than she would have wanted. The thought of the person she admired the most having her in such high esteem would make her heart melt. "W-well, we've known each other for long now. We eat together, train together, team up together..." Uraraka began to tell as long as her voice didn't betray her.

"Mina says you are really close. Deku is such a lucky guy" Melissa sweetly stated.

"O...oh...you are very kind. B-but actually all of us are lucky to have a friend like Deku by our side..."

She felt Melissa's sky blue eyes over her just behind her glasses. "Could it possibly be you don't understand me?" Melissa finally asked. Needless to say which colour turned Uraraka's face. Aoyama...the girls...and now Melissa too? How in the world could Melissa know...? She felt the anger tearing her apart. Was it really that fun to talk about her feelings?

"Seriously? How big is your mouth, Mina?" she snapped out, looking back at her. Her pink friend opened her mouth to reply, but Uraraka had had enough. "What about you, Aoyama? Was my reaction during the exam the evidence you needed to start spreading it? Does the whole class already know? And you, girls? Were you disappointed when Tsuyu told you I didn't propose to him when we were alone in the room?" she angrily asked, on the verge of crying. She started to wish she hadn't trusted any of them.

"Ochako, we..." Toru started.

"Leave me alone! Go and tell Class 1B too if you please!" she got away from them as the first tears began to form.

"Stop looking at me, Round Face. Your taste is too poor for that" she remembered. So that was what Bakugou meant.

Yes, she was in love with Deku, they could say it again, and she felt no shame. Even if he had still to fulfill his dream of becoming the best hero, to her, he was already the epitome of the word. But Uraraka had her own goal in her life. She loved her parents and could never forget about their need for an easier life, and the feelings she hadn't chosen to have and she had done her best to ignore would eventually delay her. "What do they know about how I feel..." Uraraka thought as she sat on a bench not far from there, when she thought she had lost them.

"Ochako, please, listen to me. It's not like that" Melissa had reached her. She quickly wiped away her tears.

"I'm sorry, Melissa. This has nothing to do with you..." Uraraka apologized. This was not Melissa's fault at all.

"As I was saying, Deku and I were talking yesterday and...let's say I noticed a few things" she sat next to her.

************

Deku: "...and when I was falling with most of my limbs broken, Uraraka used her Quirk before I reached the ground."

Melissa: "That's impressive! Even before entering the U.A. you risked your life to save hers. No wonder why you became friends so quickly.

Deku: "Not really. That was an exam and teachers wouldn't have let the robot hurt her. She is actually the one that saved me after I recklessly used my power for the first time".

Melissa: "You saw her in danger and protected her without giving a second thought. Isn't that what Uncle All Might taught you?"

Deku: "Well...in any case, she was kind to me at the entrance. I just...would do that again".

Melissa: "I see...she's special, right?

Deku: "Absolutely. I MEAN...everyone here is special in his own way. I guess what I'm trying to say is that...we share a special bond? (his face was pink bright and the confidence he was talking with went away).

Melissa: "Ok, ok, say no more..." (she smirked) "About that special bond..."

**************

"They never actually told me a thing. But when I saw you all left as soon as Deku and I were about to talk, I guessed there was something" Melissa had affectionally put her hands on Uraraka's shoulders. "And then Deku started to talk about how close you are."

"I'm sorry about what happened yesterday. My reaction was even worse than the others'" Uraraka said, lowering her head. "Deku is my friend before anything else. And if he likes another girl...I won't let that change".

"I'm a teenage girl too, Ochako. I know what it is like to feel attracted to classmates. But I can tell you there is no love triangle here" Melissa continued.

"But you share a lot in common...and you are a hero with no need of a Quirk. That makes you a girl among millions".

Melissa just smiled to the sincere words she just said. "Thanks to all of you I know that only makes me a girl who wasn't lucky when she was born. What makes me what I am is my hard work and how much I value people like my father and you. I knew it when Deku made the best use of Full Gauntlet. And after what Deku told me, I realised you are one of the main reasons that made Deku what he is."

"I...I don't know what to say, Melissa. Thank you. I have behaved terribly...they weren't guilty at all..." Uraraka said in a defeated tone.

"There, there. Your feelings must be strong if this is the best you can hide them" Melissa slightly hugged her.

"Come on, I have to apologize to them. They don't understand me, but they have done their best to help me" Uraraka stood up after returning the hug.

"Agreed. They are such great friends and will be worried. Tonight you have to look awesome. And remember what you said: Deku is also your friend before anything else. He will accept how you feel" Melissa answered, keeping her supportive nature.

Uraraka took a deep breath and walked towards her friends trying to find the best words to express how she regretted her behaviour. But before she uttered a word all of them came quickly and hugged her, happy she was alright again.

"Now it's time to face the Final Boss, young lady" said Jirou, once they were back in the hotel.

"And whatever happens we are in this together" Momo declared.

"All our crushes are going to be there too..." said Toru, with an almost visible blush. Uraraka was shocked.

"We'll tell you while we get ready" added Tsuyu, who was the least familiarized with parties.

"And for the record: even in a love battle against the blonde goddess, you would have the upper hand" said Mina as she teasingly held Uraraka and rubbed her cheek against hers, making her laugh. "Look at you, such a cutie..."

"See you at the party, mes amies! Make me feel proud!" Aoyama said, blinking an eye.

End of chapter 9.

My imagination: AAAAAAAAARGH!!!

Me: IT'S ALIVEEEEEEEE!!!

I know the chapter is a bit long but I think it was important. The next chapter will be the moment of truth.

A climax can be the best of the story or what it ruins it, but I feel ready. We will have it as soon as possible.

Hello everyone, this is Honest Fiction, thinking of the best way of giving my readers the entertainment they deserve. Feel free to make comments, critics and suggestions.

Happy to share my time with you. Have a nice day.