Momo's eyes completly widen as her body shot up from the bed's surface. Her whole body was trembling --

Heck, her irises seem to tremble in surprise too.

"W-What .. ?!" She murmured in a shaky voice as her eyes scanned the message over and over again.

Images of that purple haired guy appeared in her head, and with the message in front of the lit phone at the same moment, it just made the whole mood worse.

It meant two things for the young maiden.

One, it meant it could've been a different person all along.

Two, purple haired person was a girl the whole time.

That's messed up.

But that didn't really mean anything right after her phone vibrated for a second, indicating a message has been received.

---

< do you believe me though?
[Sent; 2:28 AM]

---

Momo's throat hitched once her dark eyes landed on the message. Did she really believe this person? This person with a hidden identity?

From the past experiences, she's fully aware this stranger is accustomed to lying, being sarcastic and sometimes quite strange.

This stranger loved to pour out jokes from time to time, and loved to play a few minor pranks (mostly simply lying and saying fake news). It is certainly clear that that's the personality of a person who wanted to be named "uwu" in their chatmate's contacts.

But other than that, it's easy to believe they could be a girl. Those certain qualities and habits just mentioned about the stranger could belong to a girl's character. It could be Ashido Mina or perhaps Hagakure Toru. It also has a chance of this 'girl' being in Class B, maybe Kendo Itsuka or it could be a someone from a higher level like Nejire Hado from the iconic Big Three.

From the perspective of Momo, she believes that the chances of these certain girls being her unknown chatmate is low. Why would they want to get to know her? They already had enough conversations in the past to get to know each other's personality, character and abilities.

Once those similar thoughts continued to stack up into a huge pile of theories and predictions, her mind began to become quite messy.

Despite those certain theories and statements having a chance being true, she refused to believe them.

Why would Mina and Toru ask questions they already know the answer? Why would they play this silly prank on her when they know their boundaries with their humorous acts?

Why would Kendo text her to get to know her? They're already close friends ever since their training. Why would she want to anyway? Why would she ask the most irrelevant questions that can't benefit her journey to become a hero?

Why would Nejire do this anyway? If she did do something like this, Momo is full aware Nejire would just be blabbing endlessly about Momo's incredible and fascinating quirk. And so far, Momo never received a question from the stranger regarding her quirk.

Thus, she picked up all her thoughts and came to a conclusion.

---

no, honestly >
[Sent; 2:31 AM]

---

Momo's face relaxed after brainstorming for a long period of time. All of her hope and excitement to learning this chatmate's identity slowly faded and died.

Yeah, sure, she could have easily believed it was a girl, but she didn't want to believe that.

And that's what made the whole scenario even more strange.

Why not just accept the fact that her chatmate was, well, a girl?

---

< i see
[Sent; 2:33 AM]

< i understand,
i've been lying
a lot in the past
[Sent; 2:34 AM]

< so it's understandable
you chose not to trust
me
[Sent; 2:34 AM]

---

Momo's eyes slowly widen. That's definitely not what she was trying to say.

Sure, their statement of them lying in the past was true to the eyes of the young maiden, but that didn't mean she did not trust them.

She did, she really did.

She knew when things get serious, their (the stranger) humorous and reckless persona is hidden for the moment's atmosphere, to show respect and not laugh at the most serious topics.

Their gender wasn't much big of a topic, that's for sure. But since it did involve their identity, it was a big deal between them, especially after establishing a deep bond.

Momo's furrowed her eyebrows slightly as her fingers gently tap her smartphone's surface repeatedly on different areas.

---

i trust you though. >
[Sent; 2:36 AM]

but, i still don't >
believe what
you said
[Sent; 2:36 AM]

< do you think
i am hiding
something
from you?
[Sent; 2:38 AM]

---

Momo couldn't help but feel .. unsafe.

After that call, her trust towards her father has certainly vanished from the conscience of Yaoyorozu Momo.

She trusted him to come back, she trusted him as a father. She trusted the man with with raven hair, broad shoulders and fingers that touched the keys of a colossal piano gently, to make the family of hers happy.

But, no, he didn't do what he was tasked. He didn't come home with open arms and fingers intertwining cellophane bags with gifts inside. The man didn't come home with a smile, didn't yell a greeting to any of the family members and didn't meet their sad eyes. He didn't attend his wife's mother's burial, he didn't comfort his wife during their family company's state of bankrupt, he didn't help in Momo's slight trauma with her cousin's minor assault either. The worst of them all though, was he didn't even come home.

She contemplated for a long period of time after her little breakdown of the trust she established on this man, this man full of lies and sins. Why did she even trust him?

Due to all of this, she couldn't seem to trust people at the moment. Just this moment. Perhaps later on that new day she'll be okay.

---

no, not at all, >
i trust you
after all
[Sent; 2:41 AM]

< then tell me
[Sent; 2:41 AM]

< why does it
look like you're
the one who's
hiding something?
[Sent; 2:42 AM]

---

A punch, a mental sort of punch, an invisible one, came dashing to make contact with Momo's gut.

She felt scared for a second, but eventually, a perplexed look made it's way to Momo's facial features. Did she fail hiding her sort of broken state?

---

what are you >
talking about?
[Sent; 2:43 AM]

< from the start of this
conversation, you've
been acting strange
[Sent; 2:44 AM]

< are you ok?
[Sent; 2:45 AM]

< did i make you
uncomfortable
when that
gender thing
came up?
[Sent; 2:46 AM]

< did something
happen?
[Sent; 2:47 AM]

< did my problems
make you uneasy
at some point?
[Sent; 2:47 AM]

---

Momo backed away from the phone. The atmosphere was becoming very strange.

---

< sorry
[Sent; 2:48 AM]

< you just seem
strange today
[Sent; 2:49 AM]

< you constantly
sounded like
you were fine earlier.
you kept saying you
were just tired
and you were ok
[Sent; 2:50 AM]

< but i don't know
[Sent; 2:50 AM]

< maybe it was
just a hunch
[Sent; 2:51 AM]

---

Momo slumped herself on her bed. The urge to curse was unbearable, it felt like her mouth was gonna yell any moment now.

Not from her devastation, not from her non-existant raging feeling, it was due to her confusion.

They reveal their gender, ask if Momo believes for no reason, then suddenly ask some personal stuff.

All of these involved trust. There's certainly some kind of plan the stranger is plotting.

---

a hunch? >
[Sent; 2:52 AM]

you're suddenly >
worried after
such an odd
question
about me
believing you
[Sent; 2:52 AM]

i trust you, >
that's for
sure
[Sent; 2:53 AM]

but >
[Sent; 2:54 AM]

not right >
now
[Sent; 2:54 AM]

< did something
happen?
[Sent; 2:54 AM]

are you trying >
to get something
out of me?
[Sent; 2:54 AM]

< i'm just worried
[Sent; 2:55 AM]

you know >
something,
do you?
[Sent; 2:56 AM]

< no, nothing
[Sent; 2:56 AM]

< that's why i'm asking
[Sent; 2:56 AM]

< you know what,
forget it
[Sent; 2:57 AM]

forget what? >
[Sent; 2:57 AM]

< the questions
i asked or maybe
me
[Sent; 2:58 AM]

< i'm sorry again
[Sent; 2:58 AM]

---

Momo stared at her lit up screen in the dark room. A feeling of sorrow crept into her mind, specifically guilt.

She continued to think that this stranger was her father, she continued to keep the mindset of an unstable relationship between them, causing the vision to ruin her vision too.

She knocked herself back to reality, her brain insisting this is the stranger she is speaking to, not her father.

---

< like i said
i was just
worried
[Sent; 2:59 AM]

i'm sorry too anyway >
[Sent; 3:00 AM]

i didn't want to >
tell you anything
because i was
scared
[Sent; 3:00 AM]

< scared?
[Sent; 3:01 AM]

scared of trusting >
people
[Sent; 3:01 AM]

it's unfair though >
[Sent; 3:02 AM]

you trusted me enough >
to tell me your problems
in life
[Sent; 3:03 AM]

and somehow, i'm >
not reciprocating
and telling you
mine
[Sent; 3:03 AM]

< i did it to answer
your question, and
also for myself
[Sent; 3:03 AM]

< you don't have
to force yourself
[Sent; 3:04 AM]

i wont >
[Sent; 3:05 AM]

i'll tell you what >
happened
[Sent; 3:06 AM]

because i want to >
[Sent; 3:06 AM]

---

Momo began to type away. She wasn't used to spilling her stories, so she felt quite hesitant. But she was definitely not forcing herself, she just simply thinks doing this can help her open up more, like some kind of training.

Despite that, she still felt like her feelings were bottled up.

---

my father who rarely came back >
home contacted me by accident.
we had an awkward conversation
and eventually i opened up about
my thoughts about his distance
in a very rude manner. i ended
up tearing up, telling him stuff
that he never understood and
asking him things i couldn't.
[Sent; 3:11 AM]

i think i made my unstable >
family bond even worse.
what makes me even
more of a bad person
than i am now
though is the fact i
never attempted
to fix our bond from
the start either
[Sent; 3:15 AM]

but i doubt our bond >
would change even
if i did help though
honestly
[Sent; 3:16 AM]

---

Momo sighed and let the device slip from her fingers onto the cushions of her cozy bed.

Tears weren't building up this time. For some apparent reason, she felt so calm and relaxed. Her breathing was stable and her eyes did not express any sign of sorrow.

The only emotion she seemed to be feeling right now was just guilt. Guilty of the fact she continued to think the stranger was her father. The call must've really impacted the young maiden's mindset, due to the clear fact fear and sorrow filled and swam in her mind. It was so frustrating.

Despite that, she knew she had the right to not tell the stranger her personal life's conflicts, but after that thought of the stranger being, well, the person she was talking to, she was able to gather herself up, and continue to be Yaoyorozu Momo.

And after all that, despite the guilt she was feeling, she felt a heavy weight on her chest rise a little, as if it was preparing to leave the young maiden and leave her from the burden they give her.

The soft surface beneath her vibrated a little, perhaps from the device right beside her hips. It continued vibrate a few times, indicating the stranger was sending plenty and plenty of messages.

With a groan she picked the phone up, switched it on, entered her password, and stared with wide eyes at the screen before her.

---

< you didn't have tell
me all this but
[Sent; 3:18 AM]

< i'm quite glad you
did
[Sent; 3:19 AM]

< i'm happy i can
now find more
ways to make
you happier
[Sent; 3:19 AM]

< i want to tell
you though that
it's not your
fault your life
is this way
[Sent; 3:19 AM]

< you did nothing
absolutely wrong
[Sent; 3:20 AM]

< you're allowed
to do anything
you want, feel
anything you
want and tell
me anything
you want to
say
[Sent; 3:20 AM]

< i'll be here if you
need me, i guess
is something i'm
trying to say
[Sent; 3:21 AM]

< i can stay up
all night and
listen to what
you have to
say if you
want
[Sent; 3:21 AM]

< it is your birthday
after all
[Sent; 3:21 AM]

< well, i mean it
is pass your
birthday now
since it's 3 am
and all
[Sent; 3:21 AM]

< but i guess you
can say i can
listen to you
everyday if
you want
[Sent; 3:21 AM]

< you're a great person
and you're someone
who i'm willing to stay
up til daybreak for. don't
doubt yourself, you're
incredible, brilliant and
amazing and i don't see
why you should think
you're a disgrace when
you're really not. you've
done so much for the
people around you including
me, why do you think they
surprised you with a surprise
party so stop thinking you're
someone who's made to
destroy lives
[Sent; 3:24 AM]

< sorry if that
sounded weird
[Sent; 3:25 AM]

< and sorry if
i made you
uncomfortable
[Sent; 3:26 AM]

---

Her eyes glistened from the bright light from the device's screen. Her heart was wrapped with such a warm atmosphere, it felt so .. thrilling.

So heartwarming.

Momo couldn't help but smile as she felt her heart flutter at the messages. This stranger, certainly made Momo's days into something more extraordinary. The feeling was so fleeting, it felt like she was flying. A rush of something sweet in her veins flowed through her delicate body.

She was so happy, so, so happy. So happy she finally gathered the courage to free herself from bottling her emotions up. She felt like she was free from being imprisoned for so long, trapped and hidden from the world, and losing the ability to speak up. That heavy weight finally rose and left. This sweet feeling englufed her bit by bit, her senses feeling so oddly clear and she felt so hyper

She giggled at her own state as more messages came piling up in her phone.

---

< actually, do you still
recall the
deal we made?
[Sent; 3:26 AM]

< that if i get all
the info i need
from you, i'll
stop talking
to you?
[Sent; 3:27 AM]

< well now is your
chance. i got all
the info i need
from you
[Sent; 3:27 AM]

< i've done a lot
of odd things
today
[Sent; 3:27 AM]

< asking very strange
odd questions, saying
uncomfortable things
very obliviously, and
just setting a very
unsettling atmosphere
in our conversation
[Sent; 3:29 AM]

< you have the right
to end our bond,
you've been through
enough
[Sent; 3:29 AM]

< you'll still be
a good person
to me even if
you do. i
understand
[Sent; 3:30 AM]

< either way, you'll
live a good life
with or without me,
i can listen to you
talk and spill your
thoughts or leave
you be and not
cause any problems
for you
[Sent; 3:32 AM]

< your choice
[Sent; 3:33 AM]

---

Momo slightly squinted her eyes. That feeling, that pleasing, gratifying, and charming feeling, slowly, very slowly faded just a little.

A perplexed look crept on to her face. She rose from her bed and leaned against the pile of pillows behind her back. Leaning against them, she scanned the letters on her screen.

Her eyes slightly widen, before a little smile crept on her face.

She finally realized it. She definitely saw the stranger as someone more than a person who makes her smile grow wider than before, makes her eyes glisten with excitement and happiness constantly, makes her feel so thrilled and joyous every moment in her life and makes her mind feel at ease.

The stranger was more than that.

---

well, do you recall >
what i said a while
ago?
[Sent; 3:35 AM]

i trust you >
[Sent; 3:35 AM]

and please do >
[Sent; 3:35 AM]

< please do?
[Sent; 3:36 AM]

please stay >
[Sent; 3:37 AM]

---

The stranger was someone who makes her heart flutter.

In a different, special way.

◇

NOTES (in a nutshell sort of thing) :

1. momo is confused by the message

2. momo becomes more confused by the next message ("do you believe me though?")

3. momo replies with hesitance to the stranger's odd questions, clearly
trying to convince them she's not hiding anything.

4. stranger apologizes for their behavior (asking odd questions) and momo becomes suspicious and finally argues back to the stranger's statements. her brain is still adapting to the new atmosphere, momo's head still thinks it's her untrustworthy father.

5. momo apologizes for her behavior as soon as she picks herself back up (emotionally)

6. after collecting herself, she tells them what happened. she may have been hesitant, but she still did it, for the sake of herself, so she can adapt to opening up

7. the stranger comforts her

8. momo listens well and feels safe and happy now

9. stranger give her the oppurtunity she's wanted from the first day of their bond, to end their conversation

10. momo rejects it and realizes her feelings for the stranger

( yee im back )

☆