I should've stopped at telling them.
That was my mistake.
Because apparently—
Nezu, All Might, and even Shota Aizawa decided they were going to "help."
That word?
"Help?"
Yeah.
No.
Back in the Office
"Now then," Nezu said, folding his paws together neatly, eyes gleaming with interest. "This is clearly a unique situation."
"…It's a problem," I corrected.
"Of course," he nodded cheerfully. "A very interesting problem."
Aizawa leaned back against the wall, arms crossed.
"…You need boundaries."
"…I tried that," I said. "She doesn't care."
All Might stepped forward, smiling—way too confidently.
"Fear not, young Ren! We will guide you through this!"
"…I don't trust that sentence."
Advice #1 (Already Bad)
"All you need," All Might continued, pointing dramatically, "is to firmly declare your stance!"
"…My stance?" I repeated.
"Yes!" he said. "A clear, heroic declaration! Something like—"
He struck a pose.
"'I do not reciprocate your feelings!'"
Silence.
"…I'm not saying that out loud," I said flatly.
Kaito nodded.
"…Yeah, that would make it worse."
Mina leaned in.
"…WAY worse."
Advice #2 (Even Worse)
Nezu tapped his chin thoughtfully.
"…Perhaps a strategic approach would be more effective."
I narrowed my eyes.
"…I don't like where this is going."
"Have you considered…" Nezu smiled slightly.
"…studying her behavior and responding in kind?"
"…You want me to act like her?"
"…Adapt to her," Nezu corrected.
"…Absolutely not."
Advice #3 (Disaster Incoming)
Aizawa sighed.
"…You're overthinking it."
I blinked.
"…I am?"
"…Yeah," he said. "You fight villains all the time. This isn't different."
"…She kissed me mid-fight."
"…Still a distraction," he replied. "Ignore it."
"…I TRIED THAT."
The Question
Everything paused for just a second.
Then—
All Might tilted his head slightly.
"…Young Ren."
"…What."
"…Do you like her back?"
System Overload
Silence.
Absolute.
Complete.
Silence.
My brain stopped.
Again.
"…What."
Mina's eyes widened instantly.
"WAIT—"
Denki gasped dramatically.
"OH THIS JUST GOT INTERESTING—"
Midoriya froze, pen mid-air.
"…That is… a variable we have not yet considered…"
Kaito slowly turned to look at me.
"…Ren?"
"…No."
Immediate Chaos
"THAT WAS TOO FAST," Mina said instantly.
"I DON'T NEED TIME TO THINK—"
"YOU DEFINITELY DO," Denki added.
Kirishima nodded.
"…Yeah, that was a reflex answer."
"…BECAUSE IT'S OBVIOUS—"
"Is it though?" Mina grinned.
"…YES."
They Make It Worse
Nezu leaned forward slightly, intrigued.
"…Fascinating."
Aizawa sighed.
"…This is getting off track."
All Might, however, was fully invested now.
"But consider this, young Ren—!"
"No—don't—"
"What if her actions are not purely antagonistic, but instead—"
"ALL MIGHT—"
"—a form of emotional expression?"
"…I'm leaving."
No Escape
I turned—
Only for Kaito to grab my shoulder.
"…Nope. You're staying."
"…I hate you."
Mina clasped her hands together dramatically.
"Ren~ just admit it~ do you like her a little?"
"…No."
Denki leaned in.
"…What about a tiny bit?"
"…No."
Kirishima:
"…Not even a little?"
"…NO."
Midoriya (quietly):
"…Statistically unlikely given repeated close-contact interactions—"
"MIDORIYA STOP ANALYZING MY LIFE—"
Final Blow
Aizawa rubbed his temples.
"…This is pointless."
"…THANK YOU."
"…But," he added.
"…Oh no."
"…you should figure that out sooner rather than later."
"…Figure what out."
He looked at me.
Deadpan.
"…Your answer."
Aftermath
I stood there.
Staring at all of them.
"…I regret everything."
Mina giggled.
"…You didn't answer properly~"
"…I DID—"
"Nope," Denki said. "You deflected."
"I DID NOT DEFLECT—"
Kaito smirked slightly.
"…You kinda did."
"…I'm done talking."
As we left the office again—
I was quieter this time.
Not because I didn't have anything to say.
But because that question—
Stuck.
"…Do you like her back?"
I shook my head.
"…No."
But for some reason—
It didn't feel as simple as it did before.
And that made everything—
A lot more complicated.