Prologue: Rising

It was almost midnight on the 9th, and Rizusa decided against going to meet her secret admirer. She had long since decided against it. It was all too much for her to comprehend, she didn't want to just go meet someone who probably just saw her on TV or read about her online… she could barely stand interviews with news crews, new people were too much sometimes. All she wanted was to sleep, but it avoided her as it always did when she had too much on her mind. "Sorry." She told whoever it was that wrote her that letter. "But just because I like reading about corny things doesn't mean I'll go meet you…" she wasn't that brave. She wasn't that easily taken, either… getting to know people was better, she thought. She got up from bed, heading downstairs silently for a snack to keep herself occupied from her thoughts, pausing to see someone else downstairs. "Shoto…?"

"Rizusa-san?" he turned, pausing to stare for a second. "Wh-what is it?" He almost looked like a kid getting caught stealing cookies. That made Rizusa smile a little. He really was cute behind all that seriousness that was a top UA student.

"Just looking for a snack… find anything good?" she asked, smiling a little as she wandered over to him. He shook his head. "Ah… let's make something then." She stated. "I remember there being some stuff…" she pondered.

"Its late though…" even though he's been down here first. Rizusa tried not to laugh at how good a boy he was.

"Hehe, well if someone catches us then I'll take the blame… just say I came down first, okay?" she pats his head reassuringly, making his cheeks color the slightest bit. He couldn't refuse that smile.

"Okay… if you're sure." He nodded, helping her grab a couple of things before watching her put together something he hadn't seen made before in a home kitchen, only in restaurants. Toast, courtesy of her flame producing dragon doll Flamell, drizzled with honey and chocolate sauce, a little condensed milk, and cream that had air whipped into it by another doll of hers, Venta. A sprig of mint was produced by her herb growing doll, Tarra and the plate was done. "Wow…" It was Honey Toast, and she'd plated it in a way that made it look almost like it came from a pro's kitchen.

"Hope you like it." She offered him a fork first, sitting at the table with him and just sharing the snack, chatting softly about everyday stuff… they hadn't talked in a while, so Rizusa thought it would be nice to catch up. After the normal stuff like what was happening in Shoto's classes and how was Rizusa's Conglomerate planning going, she decided to ask about something that had been worrying her. "So… are you sure you're okay?" she asked. "Being an insomniac at your age isn't healthy, Shoto." She chuckled, taking a bite of the toast and trying to lighten the weight of her question for him.

"… Yes… and you?" he asked, making Rizusa look up at him. "You were pretty out of it yourself, weren't you?" Ah, he'd turned the tables so quickly… he was good at dodging her questions. She'd have to get used to that. She was so used to straight answers from Emiko and Minako… Ayumi was the only one who normally could turn around every question back on Rizusa.

"Haha, well… I guess getting attacked while I was trying to visit a place close to my heart rattled me a little… but I need to be stronger than that, don't I? I mean… I'm supposed to be a leader… I can't show weakness like that…" She was getting down on herself, something Shoto noticed her doing every time her own abilities came up. She didn't need to, he thought. She did a lot as it was… how much more did she expect herself to do? She was only one person, after all.

"I think… you should stop trying to do it all yourself." He stated, pushing the toast into the chocolate and milk sauces a little more before picking it up on his fork. "You have people to support you, right…?" he remembered what happened in Hosu with the Hero Killer, how Iida had just gone off on his own. He thought Rizusa must be doing the same thing, just not out of revenge. Instead it was out of an obligation.

"Yes, I suppose I do." She nodded, smiling at Shoto. That was what most people told her. Rely on the pillars more, that's what they're there for. But she didn't want to burden them more. They worried about her enough as it was because her stress showed so easily once she reached a certain point. She wanted to get better… stronger… she wanted to be a better leader. The way Rizusa saw it, as things stood, she was an awful leader. She was here at UA to figure out how to be a better one. She was here to improve. As she was thinking that, Shoto spoke up again.

"I'd like to help as well." The bluenette looked up at Shoto, meeting his gaze. Rizusa felt her cheeks color. He was so intent, and those eyes stared right through her. "I… don't think Rizusa-san should be doing all that work alone." He added, glancing away a little, his cheeks coloring as well. "Even if you're the leader… you must need some other sort of support… aside from your subordinates… a friend, if I'm allowed to call you my friend…" he wanted to add something else, but he didn't want to push anything on her that maybe neither one was ready for. Rizusa stared for a good minute, Shoto felt her staring right at him. What was she going to say? But when he decided to look back at her, she was smiling so sweetly he thought he'd melt.

"Thank you… Shoto."

((Congratulations, you have entered the Shoto Route

I'm hoping to do some more uplifting stuff for Rizusa in this route so if you like good feelings, this is the route for you!

As always reviews are loved and thanks again for reading~

-Winter Cheshire))