Archive of Our Own

“He sure is working hard this time,” Tsuyu commented with narrow eyes. “I wonder why,” she added, raising her face away from the window. Her attention was now diverted to her other awestruck classmates whose eyes remained fixated below.

Beyond the window was no other than Class 1-A’s Izuku Midoriya — otherwise known as Deku. “Dunno,” Uraraka added softly enough that the window began to fog up from her breath.

Kirishima crossed his arms in slight annoyance. “Aww man, now I can’t see!” It was truly a spectacle, that is, to Kirishima. Tsuyu’s brow furrowed. “I think you’re being dramatic.”

In actuality, the sight below fazed all of the students watching, Tsuyu included. Tonight Midoriya had decided to train overtime — again — although this time it was different; it was almost 9 PM. Far beyond the normal hours for this.

Uraraka took the sleeve of her shirt and rapidly wiped away at the haze. “Sorry, sorry!” Though she meant well, her actions only caused the window to smear more. Unfortunately, this resulted in their view becoming much more obstructed than in moments prior.

“Oops!” She finally looked back, hearing multiple groans from a few classmates. She began wiping away even more frantically, but this made it worse. “Oh..”

Seeing this, Yaoyorouzu stepped forward and reached a hand toward the girl’s shoulder. “It’s okay,” she comforted, silencing their classmates’ whining. “I can take care of this!”

A sudden bright light and an array of colors came from her hand as a simple gray rag appeared. Yaoyorozo took the cloth and began rubbing away at the fog which had now nearly dissipated anyway. 

She slightly grinned at her success before throwing the rag somewhere behind her. Out of sight, out of mind; that quote seemed to serve her well. “There we go, all better!” The window was now squeaky clean, almost polished looking.

Immediately after she stepped away from the glass, the students snapped their heads back to the action below. Hagakure, who was pushed to the back, strained to see even on her tippy toes. 

Luckily, Kirishima easily noticed her spraining efforts through the corner of his trained eyes. “Get on my shoulders. I doubt you’ll be blocking anyone’s view anyway,” he joked. Hagakure obliged, giggling happily as she joined her friends’ stalking session.

“Hey..!” A low voice suddenly snapped in the distance. Although their backs were turned from whoever this was, it wasn’t exactly difficult to tell they were angry. 

Instead of acknowledging the voice, though, the students alternatively turned their attention back to the scene unfolding through the window. 

Iida placed a hand on his face before speaking up first. “I see. The forest may seem like an obvious spot to develop one’s quirk, but for Midoriya, he’s truly taken advantage of the open space.” 

“Mhm,” a few of them mumbled in agreement. It wasn’t often that they’d unanimously sided with Iida, although this time his observations were spot on. As always, there were a few students who were unimpressed by watching Midoriya train.

For one, there was Mineta. “So what? He’s just training. There’s nothing all that special about that,” he remarked out of jealousy as his eyes bore into the girls concentrated by the window. Well, nobody seemed to care about his disinterest. 

There was also Bakugou, unsurprisingly. “Who gives a damn what that extra does in his free time?” Similarly, there weren’t many others who were disheveled over his indifferences other than Kirishima, Ashido, Sero, and Kaminari. 

And then there was Todoroki. “I’m not interested,” he had stated flatly before heading toward the couches and propping up an old magazine. “…I guess when you’re a pretty boy like that, almost nothing can interest you,” Ashido whispered once Todoroki was out of auditory range. Everyone appeared to agree. Well, it was true for the most part, anyway.

Kaminari suddenly pointed to where Midoriya was standing some sixty meters away. “Guys, doesn’t he look tired?” 

“…Hey!” The voice behind the crowd of students came closer into earshot as a faint spark of explosions brewed in the background.

Iida nodded in agreement. “He does. I do sincerely hope Midoriya isn’t overworking himself. Maybe one of us should go down there and check on him,” he suggested. 

Immediately after he finished speaking, a harsh whish sounded throughout the air, effectively interrupting all existing conversation.

“Ow!” Uraraka yelped before diverting her body around, barely catching a gray fabric that had struck her head just moments prior. She snapped her head around in all directions, searching for the culprit. “Huh? What gives?”

Provoked, she flung the textile in a random direction before immediately regretting all of her life’s decisions up until that point. 

“You wanna go, pink cheeks?” A familiar voice barked as their silhouette edged closer into view. 

There stood Bakugou a few feet away from the group in an angry stance. His hand clenched the rag thrown at him, eyes wide and bulging. His other hand was balled into a fist and it seemed as though he would explode any moment, literally. Now this wasn’t who Uraraka was expecting.

Todoroki’s head perked up from his magazine, though he still lay uninterested on the couch. Just as quickly as he witnessed the exchange, he burrowed his head back into the literature. As the conflict did not concern him, he had no reason to willingly involve himself, he reasoned.

Kirishima stepped in front of Ururaka, almost acting as a mediator. “Why don’t we all just… Call it a night? I mean, I don’t know if this is just me, but watching Deku train isn’t that fun,” he tried. 

Uraraka thanked her lucky stars at this; Kirishima was one of the few people in Class 1-A who Bakugou had genuinely considered an equal. As much as she hadn’t anticipated this to start in the first place, he, of all people, would be able to diffuse their quarrel.

His eyes narrowed, and for once Bakugou seemed conflicted. “…Tsk. Whatever,” he reluctantly gave in. “But I sure as hell am not staying here with,” he turned his head to take a glance at each of his classmates, “ any of you. You got that?” he criticized before storming off to his room. 

“Ah,” Uraraka let out a soft laugh before releasing her hold on the cloth. A faint voice scoffed in the distance. “I heard that!” Though that only sent the group into an explosion of laughter as Bakugou’s voice repeatedly echoed throughout the dormitory.

Ashido and Kaminari nearly fell to the floor, struggling to breathe as Bakugou’s yell echoed for the fifth time, and even more so the sixth time. They were a heaving mess as they stumbled to stand upright. Scrambling, they barely dodged falling on the rest of their amused classmates.

In sync, the students made their way toward the couches and collapsed abruptly. “What a day. I just can’t see how Deku can do all of that,” someone huffed. “Yeah..”

They lay there for a while longer; perhaps five minutes, or it could have been ten, or possibly fifteen. None of them really knew or cared for that matter. Todoroki eventually sighed and closed the same magazine he had ‘reread’ time and time again.

But the vague sound of footsteps caused him to pause mid-motion. “Deku?” Uraraka spoke up excitedly.

Todoroki allowed himself to stop, curious as to who was approaching them. His eyes narrowed as a voice responded.

“Um, hey guys,” Midoriya greeted as he trudged into view. “Sorry I’ve been gone all day again. You all seem exhausted.” They all slowly stirred from their obscure positions, some rubbing their eyes as if they’d just awoken from a deep coma.

Tsuyu sat up, voice steady as usual. “You’re one to talk, Midoriya. Ribbit .” She bluntly commented, pointing to the scuffs in his clothing and unbrushed hair. 

“Well I-,” he defended himself, before suddenly pausing. “W-wait, you guys were watching me… out there?” He questioned, voice shook.

He glanced at his classmates and stopped once his gaze met Todoroki’s. Could Todoroki, of all people, really have seen him train? There was no way. He seems unenthusiastic about being here anyway. Even if he had, it was no different from watching each other during class.

“No. I wasn’t,” he confirmed as if reading Midoriya’s mind. “Eh? But I didn’t say anything.” 

He shrugged. “Okay. I’m going to bed.” Standing up, he set his magazine down and left for his bedroom abruptly. It happened so fast that Midoriya couldn’t even manage a word back.

“He sure gave you the cold shoulder!” Iida joked, bumping his own shoulder against Midoriya’s while forcing a grin. “That was so unfunny,” Tsuyu blinked. “Yeah…” Uraraka agreed, smiling simply because it was unfunny.

Kirishima leaned back into his position on the couch. “Sorry man, they’re kinda right.” Midoriya gave a half grin, but only for appearances. In contrast, he shifted slightly uncomfortably from that exchange. 

“As Class Representative, I-“ he began in a self-justifying tone. 

“So, why are you dead set on training all of a sudden?” Yaoyorozu cut him off, though not intentionally. Iida squinted at this through his thick frames but remained quiet, fairly curious at hearing Midoriya’s answer. He could justify his humor later.

There were many ways in which he could answer this, but he was tired, and so his drowsy self had decided to answer simply. 

“I’m trying to become the number one hero, so…” he looked down, clenching his fists. “I need to do everything I can! If I have to work harder than everyone else to get there, then that’s what I’m going to do.” He looked up through his lashes, eyes suddenly beaming with determination.

And that was one of many things that had always amazed his peers: his sheer determination. Despite being so exhausted, it was clear Midoriya’s resolve was not a facade. Today showed that his actions were another layer of his clearly defined tenacity. 

In acceptance of this answer, Iida offered a genuine smile, standing up from the couch. “I understand. I’ll have to think over what you said. For now, I think I’m going to get some shut-eye!” He bowed, walking away in such a manner that always made Midoriya laugh. 

Kirishima reached a hand to the ceiling. “Me too,” he stretched. “I’m beat!” After a few more comments and goodnights were exchanged, eventually the only student left in the living room was Izuku Midoriya himself. 

He should have been so exhausted that he was unable to stand, legs shaking from fatigue. And while it was true that his lids fought to stay open, the pure adrenaline and intricate thoughts swarming his head were the only reason he had yet to collapse right where he was standing.

The boy knelt by the table, squinting to see. Most of the lights in the dormitory were turned off by this point, but Midoriya had not wanted to be a bother, so he decided to make do. Despite this, he’d memorized the dorm’s layout fairly easily, so it wasn’t particularly much of an inconvenience.

His hands frantically searched around the table in front of him until he found it. There . He felt a thick, paper-like object settle between his fingers. Since it was so dim, he wasn’t able to make out what exactly he was seeing, so he clutched the object tightly and made his way to his room.

He wasn’t sure why he was creeping around so quietly, but he was. It was a skill his teachers had taught them and as strange as it was, it was embedded deep within his mind; removing such muscle memory would be difficult. It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, though.

Once he arrived, he locked the door, feeling secure after hearing the familiar click . He proceeded to roll out his chair and snap his lamp on before placing the foreign item before him. This was what Todoroki was so intent on reading. This magazine.

In truth, Midoriya knew the magazine had barely been touched. Though their exchange was short, from the time he had arrived back at the dorms to the time Todoroki left, not once had a single page been flipped. If he was as uninterested as he claimed, why had he been listening to their conversation so intently?

No. He was thinking too closely about this . He suddenly felt as though he were intruding on something he shouldn’t have, an uneasy feeling infiltrating his stomach. It felt as though a sword had pierced his body and yanked out without trouble.

The magazine in particular was nothing special, but he held it as though its fragility would cause it to shatter with a single misstep. As he flipped through it, he found articles and shopping deals, but not anything his classmate would find too interesting. That must’ve been why he’d barely touched it.

“Right,” he murmured to himself. Guilty, Midoriya shamefully made his way downstairs to put the magazine back where it was left. A few minutes were spent frightfully trying to position the object exactly where it was before.

Midoriya stepped back several times trying to remember precisely where the sides stood with the table. Or if it was faced on its cover or its back. Once he felt somewhat satisfied, he left hoping his efforts were enough to keep his actions hidden.

Despite his exhaustion, he was unable to fall asleep that night.

 “I’m making some tea, would anyone like some?” Yaoyorozu yelled loud enough to be heard by most of the students in the vicinity. Although she grew up with personal chefs her entire life, she was still proficient at preparing meals, drinks included. 

Kaminari’s head immediately perked up. “Yaoyorozu‘s expensive tea? Hell yeah!” A few others shared similar reactions. “She makes me feel so poor,” Uraraka commented to Ashido. “Same, but at the same time, I want some!” She grinned wide, teeth visible. 

“Okay, that’s…” Yaoyorozu thought aloud. “Three, four, five. Todoroki, would you like some?” She diverted her attention to the boy who had been sitting at one of the tables in the common room who had yet to provide input of his own. 

He looked up at her with interest. “I’ll have some,” he responded. “Thank you.” She exchanged a smile upon hearing this and turned around to begin the brewing process. 

She took a double take as if searching the area. “Has anyone seen Midoriya today?” It was nearly three PM, yet they had not heard from him at all. True, it was Saturday, but this was rather unusual.

A few students exchanged glances, but it became increasingly obvious that, no, nobody knew of Midoriya’s location. “So what if that nerd isn’t here? All the better!” Bakugou snickered. 

“He’s our friend though,” Todoroki emphasized, somewhat unprovoked. Bakugou shot the other a deadly glare. “Fuck off, Icy-Hot. You and everyone here know damn well that Deku and I are not friends,” he snarled. Todoroki just huffed at this with no real desire to continue the conversation.

Yaoyorozu crossed her arms, conflicted. “Okay… Anyone else?” The room went silent as they each waited for someone to speak up, but nobody did. In the end, though, nobody had to.

It was distant, but it was there: faint, explosive-like noises coming from the forest. Again . Everyone snapped their necks around to face the direction of the window, and there he was, training on a weekend. “I’ll make him some, anyway.” Yaoyorozu sighed. 

“Hey, come look at this!” Kirishima motioned with his hands, prompting the others to look as well. A few students - Uraraka, Tsuyu, Kaminari, and Ashido - went over to see what he was pointing at. 

Ashido’s eyes widened. “Woah, he’s using that weird quirk from training earlier! I think he called it… black whip? Something like that,” she explained aloud to the students who remained where they were. 

Hesitantly, Todoroki got up from his seat and walked over to get a view as well. He watched silently as Midoriya released the energy from his hands, and although it was a relatively small amount, he seemed to be able to control it fairly well. 

Given that he had only been aware of this second quirk for a limited amount of time, the fact that he was making this much progress with a completely different power was not only surprising but commendable. 

Tsuyu turned around and gave him a confused look. “I thought you weren’t interested,” she reminded him. He exhaled a small puff of air. “I’m… not. I just wanted to see for myself, as are you.” She didn’t explain that he just contradicted his prior statement, so she simply turned back around to watch again. 

Two quirks. Just like him . It was truly an astonishing sight, much more than yesterday. Todoroki felt a surge of pain suddenly stirring within his chest. He vaguely winced, but otherwise showed no other signs of discomfort.

But Iida detected it right away. “Is something wrong, Todoroki?” A small drop of sweat ran down the side of his neck. How had he even noticed that? “No, I just feel a bit cold,” he fabricated. Though that was a rather pitiful lie, as he easily could have warmed himself with his quirk.

Some of the more observant students furrowed their eyebrows, having picked up on this but chose not to say anything. “That’s crazy! How did you know, Iida?” Kirishima beamed, curious rather than intent on his reply.

He smiled confidently, ready to go into the finer details. “As Class Representative, I-“ he began. Instead, Yaoyorozu’s voice replaced his easily. “Everyone! The tea is ready! It’s hot, so come get it before it goes cold,” she interjected. 

“This seriously cannot be coincidental anymore,” Iida huffed lamely. 

“Thanks, Momo!” Ashido giggled after Yaoyorozu handed her a cup of freshly brewed tea. “You’re welcome. Careful, it’s basically scolding!” She reminded, returning a warm smile. 

 “Yours is still on the counter, Todoroki,” she shouted loud enough to be heard. “Okay, thank you,” he replied kindly before making his way to the kitchen, away from the window. 

Yaoyorozu took a seat on the couch next to Ashido and Uraraka who had also just sat down. “They definitely have a thing for each other,” Ashido gossiped, resting her elbows on her knees in excitement. “Shh, he’ll hear you!” Uraraka hissed louder than Ashido.

Yaoyorozu leaned back, setting her tea down without taking even a single sip. “No, you’re right. Why don’t we just ask Todoroki himself?” She glanced in the other direction where the boy was mundanely scrolling through his phone. 

“That’s a horrible idea — wait no. It isn’t… bad. It’s a bit risky, though,” Uraraka considered. She too set down her expensive tea, though with careful precision as she noted how precious it was. “Okay then, I’ll ask him!” Ashido volunteered.

They all nodded their heads, practically brimming with interest. She cleared her throat before speaking up. “Todoroki! Could you come here?” Despite hearing a series of giggles follow, he agreed without hesitation. “Okay.”

He set his phone on a nearby table and walked over. “What is it, Ashido?” She spoke in a muffled voice, quiet enough to be heard by the four of them but not by anybody else. “What’s your type?”

The three exchanged looks, anticipating an answer. They each wore a smug look on their face for having asked such an unfiltered question.

 “My type? Er..” he paused in deep thought. “It’s O,” he remembered. 

“Ugh, not your blood type!” Ashido remarked. “Nevermind,” she groaned, conceding defeat. “Oh, okay?” He asked as he walked away, though to nobody in particular. 

Uraraka didn’t seem as quelled. “That was just one failed idea. Who said we can’t try again?” Both of them looked up at her with shining eyes. “What’d you got in mind?”

The rest of the day went by without any other eventful incidents occurring. By 9:30 PM, the cup of tea Yaoyorozu prepared for Midoriya lay cold from neglect on the counter. 

“Night,” Todoroki told Ashido later that evening. He didn’t bother to check the window, for he already knew that Midoriya was still outside training his heart out as usual. “Okay! Good night!” Ashido replied, yawning. “I might as well get some sleep myself.”

“Good night, then,” he said, checking his phone while walking away. Once he got to his room, he collapsed on his bed, somehow forgetting to close the door — a part of his routine engraved into his mind.  

Despite not having done any training that day, he was exhausted. And that was the problem. While Midoriya was outside training night and day for whatever reason he said, Todoroki spent his off days stress-free. He lifted his arm straight into the air, eyes boring into his hand.

He counted the cuts and other marks from countless battles and trainings as he listened to the reassuring noise of crickets chirping. Each mark was proof of his trials and errors, and yet it never felt like it was enough. His hands are probably more calloused, having worked harder, he figured.

He lay like this for several minutes, head full of thoughts though none of them holding any malice toward Midoriya - if anything, he directed the hostility to himself. After all, while Midoriya was getting stronger, he was at a still. 

There was no room to complain, either. They both had two quirks and despite having known of the two since birth, Midoriya was making more progress with black whip than Todoroki ever did with his fire. 

As he stood to turn off the lights in preparation for bed, a distant pair of muffled voices stopped him in his tracks. It took a moment for him to locate where the voices came from; only when he looked out of the window did the pieces of the puzzle come together.

Ah. It was just Midoriya outside. And… Was that Shinso? He squinted, trying to make sense of this but nothing immediately came to mind. In all honesty, he thought Midoriya and Shinso were nothing further than friends.

So why was it that Shinso — a General Studies student of Class 1-C -- was essentially in their backyard, talking to his supposed rival? He decided to watch further before making any conclusions. 

The two spoke for some time, and although it didn’t necessarily seem like they were interacting as friends, Todoroki could tell they weren’t exactly arguing either. He was too far away to hear their conversation, but he judged that their affairs were not for him to meddle about.

He finally clicked off the remaining lights, slumping deep into his bed. He buried his head in his pillow, hair messy and disheveled. Maybe Midoriya would tell them about this tomorrow. Perhaps he wouldn’t, but that was his choice.

And those were his final thoughts before drifting off to sleep. 

“ Mmn ,” a muffled voice escaped his lips. He sluggishly turned over in bed, but that only caused a shiver to run down his spine. His teeth slightly chattered to the cold and a faint drop of sweat fermented on the back of his neck. Reaching around for something to provide momentary warmth, he paused when his hands felt an unfamiliar fabric grace his skin.

Blinking, the boy opened his eyes just to be met with complete darkness. He searched around for his night light but found that it was no longer there. Strange, considering he had yet to move the object at all since he moved in. 

As his eyes adjusted, he confirmed the small window of doubt pushed to the back of his mind. He almost refused to believe it, but the proof stood before him. Well, not exactly clearly , but prevalent enough to be unmistakable.

The room he was sleeping in was not his. Indeed, it was a dormitory room with a nearly identical layout to his own, but it certainly was not Midoriya’s. He looked below, hoping to uncover any clues, and let out an auditory gasp at what he saw.

Positioned below was Midoriya’s classmate laying on a makeshift bed on the floor. Thoughts immediately swarmed Midoriya’s mind. Why was he in Todoroki’s room at —  he stopped, foraging around for a clock and breathing a sigh of relief when he found it — 2:27 AM? 

Midoriya watched the sleeping boy shift uncomfortably. Feeling responsible, he gripped the bedsheet with a hitched breath. Above all else, he needed to figure out why he was there.

Scouring his mind, he desperately tried to remember a single thing about the previous night. Eyes shut and brows furrowed, he groaned when he realized his efforts were futile. He needed answers and he realized it was so easy to receive them. But thinking about what he was going to do was much easier than actually doing it.

What was he waiting for? It was so silent that the sound of his fists clenching the thin bed sheet blared like bells. He glanced at the clock again and audibly gasped when the numbers read, in blue bold numbers, 2:31 AM.

How much longer could he hesitate?

“…Hey. Uhm, Todoroki?” He muttered, quieter than intended. Intaking a sharp puff of air, he mentally prepared himself to try again.

Although there were few people — especially students — who knew of Todoroki’s childhood, Midoriya was an exception. If asked to, he could probably count on two hands the amount of people who truly knew. Memories of his youth are not something Todoroki took pride in, nor did he find comfort in confiding in others. 

“You’re awake.” He stated plainly. Midoriya cleared his throat, slightly shaken at how quickly he responded. Although he came to realize that his reaction time wasn’t farfetched. As a child, the boy’s father put him through rigorous training sessions to mold him into an unsurpassable hero.

Something that couldn’t be engraved out of Todoroki’s childhood was being bitterly stirred awake. Countless nights per week, he was subject to Endeavor’s cruel way of discipline. 

And that was, well, training him to awake at a minor cause of arousal. It was inescapable; failing to awaken quickly enough would result in a jarring beating. Even now, a simple pen hitting the ground could send him flying awake in a matter of seconds. It was both a blessing and a curse. 

Right now it was a curse.

“Right. So uhm, why am I in your room?” 

“You… Don’t remember?” He asked though it sounded more like a statement. Recalling the hours prior, he felt urged to blurt out a series of apologies, although Midoriya’s voice interrupted his thoughts. 

Midoriya crossed his arms, perplexed; if he knew, he wouldn’t be asking. “I-I don’t. And why are you sleeping on the floor?” He said weakly, gesturing to what he could only consider a feeble bed. “Right,” Todoroki answered, standing up and making his way toward him.

He kept his distance, sitting on the bed a few feet away. After clearing his throat, Todoroki began to explain what had caused this predicament. 

“A few hours ago,” he started, “You came stumbling in here. And I was awake. You seemed out of it and collapsed on my bed.” Though this was true, he made sure to leave out the part where Midoriya collapsed on his lap . He figured it’d likely embarrass him anyway. 

Midoriya’s eyes widened with mortification. “And then..?” He asked in an unorthodox tone, encouraging him to continue. Todoroki nodded, even though he was too dark to be seen. “And then I let you sleep here. I thought waking you would only be disruptful. So I let you stay on the bed while I slept on the floor. I apologize,” he expressed.

Upon hearing this, Midoriya turned away and let his head droop down. The sheet’s simple designs rubbed against the soft of his palm. “You did that for me?” His voice was higher than usual, words spewing out of his mouth that greatly defied what his brain told him. 

“I should have woken you and allowed you to rest in your own room.” Todoroki enunciated, voice regretful. “You… You can go.” With that, he stood up and waited for Midoriya to do the same. 

But he didn’t. “Is it okay if I stay here? For the night, I mean.”

The two sentences were rushed, almost as if he fought himself — and, albeit, won — to utter them. Looking back at him, Midoriya nearly hoped that, by some miracle, he hadn’t been heard. “What?” Todoroki paused. Damn it. 

“I don’t think you were wrong at all. I’m sure I would have done the same to you,” he admitted. “Much to my confusion, I’m here already. And my room is kinda far away.” His words were now slower, almost begging to be heard. Besides, now that Todoroki had acknowledged him, it would now be near impossible to back out of this.

Todoroki remained stationary but was now looking straight into Midoriya’s eyes. Or at least in the general area where he thought the other was. It was still poorly lit, but that somehow made it easier to say words he’d never once considered saying. “I see. I suppose you can stay,” Todoroki finally said.

Immediately after he finished speaking, he started making his way back to the floor.

 “Wait,” Midoriya suddenly intervened. Todoroki let out a small sigh. “What is it? I’m tired,” he voiced, raising a hand to his head and brushing a swoop of red and white hair from his eyes.

Midoriya turned his gaze below again. “Are you really going to sleep on that?” The poorly constructed bed was nothing special. Other than a couple of blankets, it offered no additional support or layers. In all honesty, his back felt sore at the thought of being pressed against the hardwood all night.

“Yeah. Why?” He said with a deadpan expression, unaware of what Midoriya was implying. “I feel bad for forcing you to sleep there,” he crossed his arms, a wave of guilt pooling in his chest. “I mean, It’s your room after all. You should be able to choose where you want to sleep,” he explained, fidgeting with his hands.

The moon illuminated the area where Midoriya was situated, so when Todoroki’s figure suddenly came into view, it felt as though he was being towered over. “Then,” he said, looking down, “I’ll sleep here .” What ? Surely Midoriya couldn’t be hearing that right. 

“R-right. So then I’ll take the floor,” he dodged. Even now, the backbreaking ground seemed preferable to what Todoroki was suggesting. 

Todoroki’s brows furrowed. “I meant next to you ,” he corrected bluntly. “Unless you don’t want to?” Now Midoriya really was conflicted. If he chose to sleep on the floor, tomorrow’s aches could prevent him from training to some extent.

On the other hand, if he complied with what Todoroki was insinuating, then… No . He shook the complex thoughts off just as fast as they came. If anything, he was doing Midoriya a favor by allowing him to stay here.

Midoriya scooted over, allotting space on the bed designated for the other boy. “I… No. You can,” he reassured. Todoroki obliged, slipping in easily as if he’d done this a thousand times before. 

Midoriya hadn’t realized it until now, but he was cold. Shivering almost. His teeth continued to chatter, but the raw temperature helped distract him from the other, well, current situation. “You’re cold, aren’t you?” Nope. He took that back.

By now, although their faces were only dimly lit, they were able to see each other without any real difficulty. It was a combination between the moonlight casting visible illuminations and the fact that their eyes had now fully adjusted.

He faintly nodded and wondered if his breath would be visible whenever he breathed. It was still too dark to tell, but the thought lingered in the back of his mind. 

“Come here,” Todoroki urged. “I’ll warm you up.” A hint of blush emerged on his face after realizing how that could be interpreted. “I can use my quirk to raise your body temperature,” he corrected. 

Smiling, Midoriya happily moved over until their faces were less than a foot apart. “Right. I don’t know why, but it’s so cold here.” It wasn’t until then that he fully recognized the thick tension in the air, causing him to swallow harshly. 

“I like to keep my room cool,” he explained. “I like it better this way. It’s gradual, but this helped me become accustomed to my ice.” With that, he reached his hand several inches toward Midoriya’s. “Your hand.”

While undeniably nervous, Midoriya obeyed, interlocking their fingers together. Their hands weren’t terribly indifferent, though Todoroki’s was noticeably larger.

Just from touching Midoriya’s hand, he concluded that they were indeed not as callous as he initially thought. In fact, they felt strangely well-kept and soft. 

Those were the thoughts that entered his head as he activated his fire. 

“…Ah, ah !” Midoriya cried. “It’s too hot!” He immediately pulled away, their hold abandoning too soon. He frantically shook his hand, but that only caused the heat to rush to the rest of his body faster. “I’m so sorry,” Todoroki rushed. “I think I can fix it.”

This time, Todoroki didn’t hesitate to clasp their hands together again. If the temperature dramatically increased, it would only cause more complications. A steady flow of ice began to form on the palm of Midoriya’s hand, causing him to shiver.

“D-Don’t you have any other blankets,” he grumbled, body trembling. “No. I only have very thin ones, but I don’t think they’d be of much help.” Great . The ice was now making its way up Midoriya’s forearm, and his nose was starting to redden. 

Midoriya tightened his grip on Todoroki’s wrist. “Can’t you warm me up again?” He simply shook his head. “Multiple abrupt changes in temperature can interfere with your internal body heat. It’s dangerous.” 

In the end, Todoroki decided to pull a thin white blanket over his numb body, hoping it would at least fasten the process. “I-it’s not helping.” Midoriya stammered.

“Okay,” he started, his voice in a different tone than before. “You might not like this, but you’re going to have to,” Todoroki paused, mentally preparing himself for what he was going to say next. “Confide in me for body heat.”

Midoriya’s breath hitched. “What?” Surely he misheard.

“You need to cuddle me.”

What. Huh? Of course, Midoriya understood why , but did Todoroki even know what he was saying — what exactly that would initiate? He thought against it, but a sudden rush of coldness brushing over his body immediately dismissed his objections. 

Midoriya wasted no time moving closer until they were facing each other, only inches apart. He couldn’t tell whether the pink dusting his cheeks and nose was from the frost or his own turmoil. Perhaps it was both.

“C-closer,” Midoriya quivered. “Can I move closer?” To this, Todoroki reached until he found Midoriya’s back and pulled him in. It was stiff at first. He shifted until he settled in, choosing to rest his face deep within the crook of Todoroki’s neck. 

Through chattering teeth, he allowed himself to calm down until his breathing slowed. They lay like this for a few minutes, enjoying the comfortable silence. 

Eventually, a hand found itself brushing Midoriya’s bangs away from his eyes.

He secretly allowed himself to smile, face still buried. “I don’t understand how you force yourself to train every day like that,” Todoroki said promptly. “Even I want to become stronger — strong enough to compete against you — but I feel like I’m falling behind.”

A quick frown flashed across Midoriya’s face. “You aren’t falling behind at all! If anything, I’m the one struggling to keep up. With you, Kacchan, Iida…” He trailed off. 

Midoriya pulled back, allowing their eyes to finally meet. “ I mean it .”  He pressed. An urge voiced him to look away, but he simply couldn’t. Not now.

“I just really admire you, that’s all,” Todoroki said effortlessly. He… admired him? Before today, Midoriya would have claimed that it was the exact opposite. But strangely, he realized he felt the same.

Midoriya felt his stomach flutter. “Do you like me?” 

Oh no.

Just as those words left his mouth, he immediately regretted them. Of course, he wanted Todoroki to like him, but bluntly uttering that single sentence held such a heavy burden Midoriya feared to carry. Just what possessed him to say these words? 

For a moment, he wished that an undo button truly existed. If it did, he’d have frantically pressed it dozens of times to undo all of this. Instead, he forced himself to keep his gaze as he awaited an answer.

“I do,” he replied. Midoriya’s heart dropped. 

“Er. I mean… Not as friends but,” Midoriya corrected. “But more than that.” He heaved, feeling as though a boulder was finally lifted from his shoulders.

Around Todoroki, it was difficult to beat around the bush. The best approach was to be honest and speak without any underlying meaning, but that didn’t make it easy. 

The worst he could say is no , Midoriya always thought. For a while now, he’d considered each possibility and factor — when, where, and how — if this moment ever went down. But never did he imagine that it would take place in Todoroki’s bed, and for that matter, at two in the morning.  

“That’s what I meant. I,” he paused, similarly conflicted. “ I do too . In the way you said,” he admitted, swallowing. The thick tension in the air somehow grew even thicker, making it difficult for either of them to breathe.

Midoriya’s heart skipped a beat, pounding so loudly that he wondered if Todoroki could hear it too. “But I didn’t think you were interested in men like that,” Midoriya muttered. He slightly suspected it in the past, but it wasn’t like he could just ask. That was practically a confession in itself.

A mild wave of confusion set in. “What? Why?” Todoroki asked. Lord. How could he explain this without sounding like a stalker? “Th-that magazine,” he stuttered from the cold. “You didn’t look all that interested in the ads about male models. So I just thought..” 

Todoroki let out a small sigh. “Because I wasn’t. I wasn’t interested in them because they weren’t you .” Midoriya’s breath hitched. At least he didn’t ask how he knew of the magazine’s contents. 

After allowing the words to sink in, Todoroki moved in to further close the distance. “And you?” He asked. 

“Huh?”

“I’m assuming you’re also…” Midoriya’s eyes widened at what was being implied. He immediately understood what he was trying to get at. “Yes. I mean, obviously yes .” 

“I know,” was all Todoroki could muster before he subsequently pulled the other’s lips against his own. Midoriya writhed under his touch, stomach feeling as though it would cave in any second. 

There were so many questions he had, but he didn’t want this to stop. He kissed back, allowing himself to be caught up in the feeling. His eyes fluttered closed, mind turning into mush. Midoriya searched for the other’s hand and happily interlocked their fingers once he found it. “Izuku,” he swooned, name tasting foreign.

This time he wouldn't allow their hold to vanish.

Todoroki kept their grip tight, not wanting to lose him again. He brushed his own lips against Midoriya’s, kissing first the top then the bottom one. And it was all done as if they could be ripped apart from each other at any moment.

“Lay there,” Todoroki breathed as he pulled away for air, releasing his hold on their hands. Midoriya missed the feeling, almost wishing they could have stayed like that forever. But he allowed himself to gasp some much-needed air as well. 

“Mkay.” He obeyed, remaining still yet curious. Todoroki then pulled him into a position where they were laying in the same direction, with Midoriya’s back pressed against his torso. Were they going to..?

Todoroki rested his hand on the other’s waist. “You don’t mind being little spoon, right?”

He practically melted.

Iida was positioned at the front of the bedroom, posture straight and tone serious. “I’m sure you all know why you’re here,” he announced. A rush of anger ran through Bakugou’s veins. “ I for one fucking don’t,” he cursed, temper sparking. “I’m leaving.”

Kirishima stood up, immediately coming to the rescue. “Hear us out for a second, Katsuki. C’mon. I promise it’ll be real fast,” he reassured. Multiple eyes found themselves staring at the two. Bakugou twitched. “Just what in hell are you looking at?” 

Accustomed to this, his classmates shook off the casual warning. Although he wasn’t all bark and no bite, Bakugou probably wouldn’t lash out here. Probably . After Kirishima motioned him to sit back down, the two stayed together, much to his annoyance. Mostly to keep him from yelling bloody murder though. 

“I’ll get to the point then,” Iida redirected. “This morning, Kirishima and I were walking back from the kitchen.” Kirishima flashed his pearly whites as a few glances were sent in his direction. “When we passed Todoroki’s room, though, we saw Midoriya leaving.”

Kirishima nodded in agreement. “This brings us to the question. Why was he there? Being the kind friends we are, we hid ourselves for a little while to find out. But then,” he paused to let his words sink in. “We saw Todoroki hug Midoriya before he left.”

A few audible gasps were let out by multiple students. “W-wait a minute,” Kaminari asserted. “We shouldn’t assume anything yet. At least before they say something first.” Nods in several directions followed. Jirou was one of them. “As much as I don’t want to agree with him , I must admit he’s sorta right,” she said, crossing her arms.

Gossip filled the room, voices interrupting others, and arguments beginning to brew. It went from a simple discussion to a full-blown panic in a matter of seconds.

Simultaneously, on the other side of the door, a certain pair of students curiously walked up. “Hey, Tsuyu,” Todoroki greeted. “What’s going on in Kirishima’s room?” Having noticed the rather empty rooms, he and Midoriya had been wondering where their classmates were. 

“Sorry guys. I was told not to let you in,” she responded, but not in an apologetic tone. They exchanged a glance, both thinking the same thing: Have they gone insane?

Faint voices could be heard from beyond the door, but neither of them could make out what was being said. How Midoriya wished then that his quirk was like Jirou’s or Shoji’s. Even Hagakure’s invisibility might have allowed them to slip in unnoticed. 

Midoriya nodded. “It’s okay, Tsu. But do you mind telling us why?” She lifted a finger to her face, deliberating how much she would tell them. “…I don’t know much about it. All I was told is that you cannot come inside. Ribbit .” She pressed, body firmly blocking the doorway. It wasn’t likely she’d budge.

Oh well. There were clearly private matters being discussed, but they couldn’t discern why the discussion could involve the entirety of 1-A except for them. 

“Let’s all quiet down,” Yaoyorozu’s voice echoed throughout the room, effectively silencing the chaotic chatter. “I think what Jirou and Kaminari said should be taken into consideration. Let’s wait for them to say something about it first. For now, though, we mustn’t say anything of this to them.”

Many heads nodded in agreement. Success; the girl’s leadership was well received. “That was well said, Momo!” Ashido gushed, sending a hug her way. Having had prior difficulties with self-esteem, this simple action almost caused her to tear up. “I… Thank you.”

Bakugou’s teeth were no longer chattering nor were his veins bulging. But he stood up in mild annoyance. “Is nobody gonna talk about why the hell that damn idiot is here?” Snarled Bakugou, pointing to a rather familiar face sitting by Yaoyorozu, Ashido, and Uraraka.

Ashido let out a gasp. “Shinso has a name, you know!” She defended. It didn’t matter though, since throughout all of this, Shinso looked unbothered. He just let out a small shrug. “I’ll be switching to the hero course soon anyway. Shouldn’t I get familiar with my soon-to-be classmates?”

“No.”

Well damn. “We’re done now, right? I think I’m gonna head out,” Ashido leaned back from her spot on the floor. “Me too,” Ururaka and Yaoyorozu nodded with the “ If she’s going, I’m going with her" mindset . They turned to Shinso and giggled in unison. “Well?”

A few students — namely those close to Kirishima such as Kaminari, Bakugou, and Sero — decided to stay. Otherwise, the rest of the class opted to leave as well.

Ashido’s group left first. The second the door slammed open, their gazes immediately fixated on the pair of students who were coincidentally left out of the discussion. 

They all let out a knowing grin as they walked by. In victory, they each gave Shinso a high five. “We — no,” Uraraka corrected herself, averting her attention to him “ You did a good job.”

“We were behind the scenes, though!” Ashido chimed in, walking with a spring in her step.