**Y/N POV**

I was sprinting down the street as fast as I could. I would've been flying had I not been crying my eyes out for the last 4 hours... I was completely drained.

Shit, Y/n! Why did you do that?! What the hell is your problem.

Shota has made it abundantly clear that he has no long-term interest or commitment to me. Not to mention Keigo, who I would end up having to face sooner or later.

What if he came back wanting to be with me? What would I do then? Awkwardly tell him I was back with Shota only a week after he left!?

Fuck.

I was panting hard but was still able to keep at full speed. This job really has done wonders for me physically. I think I'm faster than I ever have been before.

It didn't matter though, I still heard loud footsteps approaching me from behind.

He must be chasing me... Should I stop? It sounds like he'll be catching up to me soon anyway.

Damn it, Shota. Why chase after me now?

**Aizawa POV**

It's now or never.

I took off after Y/n. I wasn't going to let her get away from me this time. The only problem was she had quite a head start, and I had no idea if I'd be able to catch up to her.

Shit, she's so much faster than the last time we went running together.

I could barely make out her running figure in the dark as I followed her.

I'm going to tell you tonight, Y/n. I'm going to tell you everything.

"Y/n!" I yelled, hoping it would slow her down or maybe even convince her to stop running. "Y/n, please!"

I saw her body start to slow and eventually stop.

Finally.

I kept running at full speed until I caught up to her. I tried to speak but was completely out of breath, so I took a moment to gather myself and waited for her to face me.

After a moment of silence, with nothing but our heavy breaths to fill the void, she turned to me. Her face was once again covered in tears.

"What do you want, Shota?" she whispered, avoiding my eyes.

"You, Y/n. I want you."

She didn't respond, so I reached out to grab her hand. She jumped back at my touch, "No, you don't get to do this!"

She finally met my gaze and I saw the hurt and anger building up in her eyes. "Is it because of Hawks?" I asked.

"Ugh!" she let out a low grunt. "Are you that dense, Shota!? It has nothing to do with him! And everything to do with you and how you've treated me!"

She was yelling now, letting out all the pain she had held in for the past month.

"Y/n, please... You have every right to be angry. But please, let me try to explain."

"Don't you get it? It doesn't matter what you have to say now." She hesitated, "It's too late."

She uttered those words, but I could tell she didn't mean them... She hadn't even moved an inch after speaking them.

I took a deep breath, preparing myself for the worst. It didn't matter if it was too late, I still had to tell her.

"I...I love you, Y/n."

Her eyes widened and shot up, making contact with mine. She was frenzied, searching somewhere for an explanation. Gentle tears began to roll down her face.

"Don't say that," she breathed out between quiet sobs.

"Y/n, but it's true," I took a small step forward, trying to close the distance between us. "I loved you when I was 17. I knew I still loved you when we spent that night under the stars, our second date. And..and I love you now."

She was looking down again, slowly shaking her head. "But everything you said. Everything you did. You don't do that to people you love."

"I know, Y/n. And I am so sorry. I got in my own head. I fucked up!" I knew how desperate I sounded, but I didn't care, "I couldn't stop thinking about your bleeding, bruised body after USJ. Or your screams in the hospital. How I couldn't save you... I couldn't protect you."

I paused, trying to read her reaction, "I convinced myself I didn't deserve you. That you would be better off without me. Hell, maybe even that's true..."

"But, Y/n," I took another step and grabbed her hands in mine, "If you let me, I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to you. I promise. I'll be the man you needed me to be."

"I'll never fail you again." I ended in a soft whisper.

I saw a small flicker of hope in her eyes as she looked at me again, "you said the rest of your life..."

"And I mean it, Y/n. If you'll have me, I'll be yours forever."

She let go of my hands, but kept her eyes on me, cautiously.

"I don't know if I trust you," she muttered.

Those words broke my heart, but I deserved them. I've earned them.

"I know bu—"

She cut me off, "But Shota, I love you too."

Now it was my turn to look at her in shock... I never thought I would have the chance to hear those words leave her lips. I thought I had ruined everything.

You really are too good for me, Y/n.

"I-I need time to think," she whispered.

"Yea, of course."

Before I could even finish my sentence, she threw her arms around me and held me tightly. I gladly returned the gesture, snuggling my head into the crook of her neck.

I breathed in her scent and let her warmth rush through me. I felt so at peace, so whole. This woman was my whole world, and I was so stupid to have let her go.

"I love you so much, Shota. More than you'll ever even know." She confessed through her soft sobs. "Please don't ever leave me again."

I could barely breathe as she poured her heart out to me. Her hair was in her adorable messy bun, so I lightly caressed the back of her neck.

"Never," I whispered.

After a moment, she pulled away and I reluctantly let her go. She was staring at me intensely.

"I still need time. But, if you're being honest with me, then I want to love you for the rest of my life, too," her words barely audible.

"I promise I'm being honest. And I'll wait for as long as you need me to," I intertwined my fingers with hers.

"There's still a lot for us to talk about, but can we do that when it's not the middle of the night?" she laughed lightly.

I smiled, "Of course. Can I walk you home?"

She nodded her head, and I put my arm around her. We walked in silence the entire way to her apartment.

"I love you," I whispered when we reached her door, leaning my forehead against hers.

She bit her lip softly, "I love you too."

I gave her a light kiss on the head before she walked into her apartment and locked the door.

I walked home in pure bliss.

The woman I love feels the same way... I was completely shocked by how the night had gone. It was better than I ever could've hoped for.

There still was so much to talk about. I owed her a real explanation. I needed to tell her about my own insecurities.

I also wanted to ask her about Hawks. And what happened at the sports festival... I wonder if her nightmares ever stopped?

I hated myself for missing so much of her life, but for tonight, I wouldn't think about it. Because we truly felt the same way about each other.

I looked up at the sky before walking into my front door... I'm in love.