Chapter 73: A Gentle Knock

The door creaks open, and Ochaco's smiling face peeks in. Her eyes are lined with concern, and her usually bright expression is softened. She takes one look at me and quickly enters the room, shutting the door behind her. "Katsuki's been looking all over for you," she says gently, approaching me. "He wants to talk to you." My heart sinks at the mention of Bakugo's name. I had been dreading this moment, wondering how I would face him after what happened in the common room. Ochaco notices my reaction and quickly adds, "But I told him I needed to check on you first. He said it could wait." She sits down beside me on the bed, putting a gentle hand on my shoulder. I appreciate the comforting gesture, and for a moment, I feel a little better. "Hey, what's going on?" she asks softly. "You seemed really upset back there. Did something happen?" I hesitate, unsure of how much to reveal. But something about Ochaco's kind eyes and gentle tone puts me at ease. I take a deep breath and try to explain. "I don't know, Ochaco. It just feels like everything is falling apart. Bakugo and I...we didn't exactly see eye-to-eye, and now everyone seems so angry and hurt." Ochaco listens attentively, her expression sympathetic. "You didn't do anything wrong, Midoriya," she says firmly. "You know that, right?" I nod, feeling a lump form in my throat. "I know, intellectually. But it's hard to shake off the feeling that I'm the one who's caused all this trouble." Ochaco squeezes my shoulder reassuringly. "You're not alone, Midoriya. We're all in this together. And we'll figure it out, okay?" As she speaks, I feel a sense of calm wash over me. Maybe, just maybe, things will be okay after all. Just then, there's another knock at the door. Ochaco gets up to answer it, and I hear her whispering with whoever is on the other side. A moment later, she returns with a tray of steaming hot tea and two cups. "Tenya brought this over," she says, setting the tray down on my desk. "He said it's 'good for the soul'." I smile, feeling a little grateful for my friends' kindness. As Ochaco pours us each a cup of tea, I realize that maybe this is exactly what I needed – a gentle reminder that I'm not alone, and that with my friends by my side, I can face whatever challenges come my way. As we sit there sipping our tea, I hear a faint knock at the door again. This time, it's a little louder, and a little more insistent. Ochaco looks at me curiously, and I know that eventually, I'll have to face whoever is on the other side of that door.