It was an unusually warm autumn day. The calm breeze transported a few golden leaves from the trees, the cloudless sky hosted a cheerful sun, and the streets of the city were still half-empty. Overall, there was a sensation of calm and peace that Iida Tenya, letting out what must've been his fifth sigh in ten minutes, wished he could bask in.

Any other day he would be by now finishing what he considered to be his normal morning routine, which consisted of waking up early, have breakfast, and go for a run. Then he showered and headed out to classes, making a short stop at a small coffee shop beforehand.

A normal, completely uninteresting routine. So uninteresting that he had never particularly told anyone about it, because why would he? But his two friends had somehow caught wind of it and even made the effort to wake up earlier than usual to accompany him on his way to the coffee shop. How? Well, he had a slight idea…

“So, are you ever going to tell us what’s so interesting about this shop?” Came Ochako’s cheery voice, her Chesire grin as wide as it had been since Tenya found both of them waiting for him near his home.

“It must be big,” Shinsou said in his usual drawl, smirk never leaving his lips. “It made uncle Tensei rant at Pops and Dad about how his little brother suddenly changed the routine he’d been religiously following since he was fifteen and refused to tell him why. I can still hear him. ‘It’s been three months, Shouta, and he still refuses to tell me! When did my little Tenya stop telling me everything?’”

Tensei. Of course it was him. Tenya sighed again, completely unimpressed by the information.

“Oh, and talking about uncle Tensei, I casually met him the other day. Do you know what he told me, Ochako-chan?”

“What did he tell you, Hitoshi-kun?”

“He said he suspected the reason wasn’t a what but a who.”

“Oooh, that sounds interesting. Seems like it was worth waking up earlier, huh?”

“Seems like it. What do you think about the theory, Tenya-kun~?”

Tenya just stared at the pair of Chesire-cat lookalikes his friends had turned into with a tired look.

“Like I told Tensei, the idea is ridiculous. I go here because I like their food, nothing more. Why must he make a big deal about this...”

“Oh, is that really all~? Then why come to a coffee-shop that forces you to go so out of your way, I wonder?”

“Hmm, that's a good point. Also, since when were you a fan of sweets?”

“Look, we’re finally here,” Tenya said, walking faster to avoid answering their questions. “Let’s just get in so you can see for yourselves.”

Ochako and Hitoshi followed the blue-haired young man while snickering all the while. Honestly, they also thought Tensei was exaggerating a bit. Having been neighbors their whole lives, they’ve known Tenya their whole lives and they’ve never seen him ever look at others in a romantic way. But it was fun to finally be able to tease him about it, even slightly, and they weren't going to waste this opportunity.

***

Standing in line, Tenya surreptitiously looked around, feeling both relieved and slightly disappointed at not seeing that person around. Not because Tensei's accusations were right, but because at this point he suspected that even being seen on friendly terms with another person would just add more fuel to the fire.

Seriously, Tensei just made a big thing out of nothing. Tenya had just bumped into this person one morning while distracted and made him drop what he was carrying. As an apology, he helped him carry his things the rest of the way to the coffee-shop he worked in, and as a thank you, he insisted on gifting him some pastries. He liked them, which was why he returned every day. Not to see him, but for the pastries- and Tenya better stop now before even himself though he was just making excuses. Which he wasn't, but still.

"Oh, good morning Iida-kun!"

"Good morning Midoriya-san!" Tenya greeted, snapping out f his thoughts to greet the green-haired woman with a smile.

"Your usual, right? Oh, and if you have time to wait five minutes you'll be able to greet Izuku," she added with a small grin while handing him the order. "He's just attending something in the kitchen and should be out by then."

"Thank you Midoriya-san! And yes, I have enough time to greet Midoriya-kun, so I'll wait." Tenya really liked Midoriya Inko. She was a sweet woman, and she always insisted he waited for Izuku whenever he came when he was in the kitchen. He didn't really understand why, and why she always smiled so mischievously when she did, but he was glad Midoriya-san liked him enough to not mind him distracting her son while he was working.

"So, Izuku huh?"

Tenya glanced at his two friends, whose grins had somehow widened.

"He's Midoriya-san's son," Tenya defended himself. "I met him accidentally one day and made friends with him. There's still nothing that implies I have a c-"

"Oh, hello Iida-kun!"

Tenya turned around, a smile already forming as he greeted the greenette that came from behind the bar.

Midoriya Izuku looked a great deal like his mother. Fluffy green hair, wide green eyes, and a sweet smile. Smile he was directing at him that moment, and Tenya wondered if Midoriya-san had turned on the heating because suddenly, the light jacket he was wearing was slightly uncomfortable.

"How did that exam you told me about go?" Izuku asked, leaning on the bar while crossing his arms. Tenya took slight notice of how firm those arms looked before answering, immersing himself in his conversation with Izuku.

***

If Hitoshi and Ochako weren't witnessing this with their own eyes, they would never have believed it.

At first sight, there was nothing abnormal about what was happening. Tenya didn't look red or nervous like one usually did when talking to their crush. But they weren't his childhood friends for nothing, and the subtle signs they could see were all but screaming at them.

It was how his smile was warmer and softer than usual, as were his eyes. How he stumbled slightly over his words while recounting something about his classes. How his usual gestures were less frantic. And most importantly, how he seemed to have completely forgotten about their existence, seemingly in his own shared universe with Midoriya Izuku.

"It's a sight, huh?" Midoriya Inko's voice startled them slightly from behind the bar. "It's been like this for a few weeks now," she continued with a grin, looking fondly at the two young adults. "It's the first time I've seen Izuku like this."

"Us too. I mean, we've known Tenya for forever, and this is the first time we've seen him look like... that." Ochako knew she sounded amazed, but she still couldn't believe it. Tenya, her straight-laced, rule-abiding, not-really-interested-in-that Iida tenya, with a crush? Unthinkable.

And yet, there it was.

The two made a really peaceful picture, conversing animatedly in a near-empty coffee-shop while golden leaves floated on the other side of the glass wall behind them.

"Oh, then you wouldn't mind lending me a hand, right?" Inko asked with a mischievous smile, making both of them sense a kindred spirit and mirror her smile, which increased in size as Inko talked.

***

"By the way, Iida-kun, are they friends of yours?" Izuku suddenly asked.

Tenya startled, suddenly remembering he'd come with his two friends. Turning around, he found himself faced with three sets of grins, which made him blush slightly for some reason.

"A-ah, yes, they are," Tenya answered, clearing his throat slightly. "They're-"

"Hi! I'm Uraraka Ochako, and he's Shinsou Hitoshi!" Ochako interrupted him, waving at the greenette alongside Shinsou. "We're Tenya-kun's childhood friends!"

"Oh, so you are the friends Iida-kun talks so much about!" Izuku said with a smile. "I'm Midoriya Izuku, nice to meet you!"