The Festivities


Aiko's eyes slowly fluttered opened. She slowly sat up and looked around her only to remember where she was. She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, she didn't remember falling asleep on the futon. She looked to her right and saw Shoto was sitting and writing on his table.

Shoto looked to his left, noticing someone staring at him.

"S-Sorry." She turned her head away to look at the paintings on his wall.

"Are you hungry?" He asked. She had been sleeping for 4 hours, it was well into night time now.

"N-No, I'm going to shower and probably head back to bed again. I-I start school tomorrow." She said meekly. Shoto only nodded and left her to do her own thing. She walked to the closet and grabbed her nightgown and undergarment before walking across the room to the restroom. She eyed Shoto's back as he continued writing. Biting her bottom lip, she hurried to the bathroom and closed the door.

As she bathed, she examined herself in the mirror. Her skin was pale, her long platinum hair covered her small breast and fell below her waist. She touched her face and looked at her emerald eyes in the mirror. She felt so terribly alone. She sighed again and rinsed herself. Looking to the bathtub, she opted to skip. She was in a horrible mood.

Drying her hair, she braided her long locks and walked out the bathroom. Shoto still sat and continued writing. She debated if she wanted small talk, but decided against it as he was still writing.

"G-Goodnight, Shoto-sama." Aiko slid under her covers and turned her back towards him. Shoto turned his head right as she pulled the covers over her shoulders.

"Goodnight."

She closed her eyes, tears threatening to spill again yet she held them in.

She could hear the small shuffled movements of Shoto as he tried to keep quiet. It had sounded like he was putting away his items.

She found the courage and decided to speak up.

"Shoto-sama," she paused, waiting for him to acknowledge her.

Shoto zipped up his school bag and looked at her. "Aiko, you don't have to call me that. Just Shoto is fine."

"Shoto-kun, then?" She asked back and sat up. She eyed him as he slipped in the covers next to her. He in his own futon.

He sighed and replied, "Sure."

He laid down next to her and reached to turn off the lights as he heard her settle back down. The two lay in darkness. Aiko's heart pounded before she spoke again.

"Am I allowed to speak to you at school?" She whispered softly, unsure if he had fallen asleep. She heard him shuffle towards her direction, though she couldn't tell . The moonlight peeked through the small crack behind the curtain, yet she could only see his silhouette.

Shoto thought for a moment as he turned. "Yes, why?"

"I-I just… I didn't know if you'd want me around you and y-your friends." She sputtered out.

He sighed before answering again, "We will be traveling to school together from now on. I usually keep to myself but if you can find me at lunch, feel free to sit with me and my classmates."

He paused and sighed at the timid girl. "You're free to do your own thing, Aiko."

"I've never had classmates before." She whispered back. "I've only ever been homeschooled."

Shoto eyed her silhouette in the dark.

"I-" her voice got caught in her throat. She felt like crying. She wanted to bawl up and just let everything go, but she couldn't. She was better than that.

"Goodnight…" She whispered and turned away from him. No reply came back from Todoroki as she laid there. It was a little painful for her.

Indifference.

She knew he didn't care about her. She hadn't meant to use her quirk but she wanted to see what he had been feeling. She felt his void emotion. Aiko bit her lips and pulled the covers over her shoulders.

He had only agreed to this arrangement because he wanted something from his father. Aiko let her thoughts consume her as sleep came over her.

Shoto thought silently to himself as he heard her breathing become quieter and knew she had fallen asleep. He thought to his mother, did she even know he had gotten engaged? His mind wandered to school, the sports festival was in a week. Before he drifted to sleep, his mind had wandered to Aiko.


A few days had gone by as Aiko tried to settle down. She had been attending class 1-C as she wasn't fit to be a hero. At least that is what her parents deemed. She had transferred so late in the semester, but it hadn't even mattered. Her parents were the main providers to U. A. High. Whatever the Sakamoto wanted, could be done in a snap of a finger. Besides, the principle had deemed it just fine. They would be receiving an extra 100 million in exchange for letting their daughter be transferred so late in the semester.

She glanced at her sensei, Ectoplasm. He had been writing on the chalkboard and lecturing about how everyone but one had failed the last math quiz. Everyone's head turned towards Aiko as he stared at her. Shinso gave her a small reassuring smile, or what she thought was reassuring, as she turned her head towards him. Aiko gave him a small smile back before pulling up the book to hide from everyone's gaze.

Aiko felt her face beating up, "why did he have to call me out like that?"

The students around her clapped in amazement. Ectoplasm was a steadfast and unrelenting teacher, the fact that she had even passed meant that she had already known the material. He had always given quizzes that included questions of the next lesson, to see who already knew the lesson and to give his students a hint that he'd like them to study harder.

"Good job, Sakamoto. Keep up the good work." He praised her before continuing the lesson. She nodded silently before going back to writing down her notes.

The bell rung for lunch and she left with her classmates. She hadn't sat with Shoto ever since she started school. It felt weird to her if she was seen with Shoto. She had found out early throughout the week that he was quite the popular lad. She had been bombarded many times by angry female students, jabbing at her and asking why she was walking with him on her first day of school. When she used her quirk to calm down the raging girls, they would just pester her again after the effects wore off. Ever since that incident, she always left the house earlier than him to avoid the confrontation again. She hated conflict and had rather avoid it as much as possible.

She carried her lunch tray and passed by Shoto, their eyes met briefly before they gave each other a small nod in acknowledgment. This had been their exchange since school started. He had noticed she sat with a purple haired man during lunch, but he didn't question or ask why she didn't sit with him. If he remembered correctly, he had told her she was free to do whatever she wanted.

The days passed on quickly and now it was the day of the Sports Festival. Shoto stood in front of the mirror and eyed himself. He had been ignoring Aiko whenever he was home to focus on his training. He looked to his left side and touched his scar. He grit his teeth in anger before exiting the room and his house.

In the distance he saw Aiko walking ahead and began wondering why she didn't walk with him. Shaking his head, he refocused on the festival. His dearest father had told him to focus and become the best. He had only ignored the old man. He hated the man with a passion. He was going to reject everything about that man.


Aiko sat in the stands with the audience. Her parents had forbade her to participate in the sports festival, afraid her delicate face and body would be ruined. She fidgeted with her hands in her lap. She felt uncomfortable, she would have liked to participate. She glanced to her left, her future father-in-law sat beside her. She didn't even have to use her quirk to tell that his aura was emitting anger. It was so forceful that she felt uncomfortable sitting next to him.

Straying her eyes back to the students, the whistle blew and with it started the festival. Her eyes caught hold of a familiar white and red haired boy. Shoto ran out of the entrance first, using his ice he froze the ground underneath him and with it, the students who ran. Aiko held back a small smile as she watched him run forward. It was a little amusing watching the others get stuck and struggle to chase after him.

A small purple haired man flew up atop of Shoto. Aiko watched in amusement as he grabbed his purple ball to throw but was stopped when he had been hit by a robot. She couldn't help the smile that showed up on her face as she watched the short boy roll on the ground. Endeavor eyed the girl as she lifted her hands up to her face to cover her quiet laugh. He only arched his eyebrow up before returning his attention to the race.

Shoto used his right arm and froze the ground underneath him and swung his arm. An ice wall appeared before a robot arm could grab him. Aiko kept her gaze on Shoto, she felt mesmerized by his capabilities. Every time he used his ice, he always let out a frosty breath. She wouldn't admit it outloud but he looked quite handsome even with his cold stone eyes.

Present Mic's voice boomed with excitement and Aiko couldn't help but feel a little proud of her capable betrothed.

"The first one through the first barrier is Todoroki Shoto from class 1-A!"

Screams of the crowd could be heard as they cheered. Aiko sat in silence next to Endeavor, even if she had wanted to cheer out loud too, her quiet nature stopped her.

"And now, the leader of the pack is easily getting through first!" Aiko's gaze came back upon the lone figure running ahead of everyone.

She watched as a loud blonde used his explosions to propel himself to catch up with Shoto. Her attention focused entirely on Shoto as he continued to race forward. She bit her bottom lip and fidgeted with her skirt. Anticipation sat on her tongue as she watched the race intensely. If she was not able to participate, the least thing she could do was silently cheer on her betrothed and classmates.

She listened around her while she watched Shoto. The crowd murmured about Shoto and yet, she found herself drowning them out. It was like he was the only thing she was able to see.

Shoto found his speed slowing down as he reached the last obstacle course.

Mines.

He contemplated to see if he should use his ice before stepping out onto the mines. Shoto opted not to use it. If he had used his ice, it would only create an opportunity for others to use it too.

Aiko watched as the loud blonde propelled himself next to Shoto. The pair fighting as they ran through the course. Aiko couldn't help the edges of her mouth as they curled up in amusement at the two. It was like two children fighting over candy.

Present Mic continued to narrate loudly, "Even as they push and pull at each other, can the two at the top remain in the lead?"

Endeavor sat still beside the petite girl. His face an unreadable expression. Turning her attention back to the minefield, Aiko lifted her head up as she saw a lone figure holding onto a… robot piece? She tilted her head in confusion.

Her eyes widened in surprise as she saw the dark green haired male raise up his robot piece and slam onto the ground, activating the mines around him and propelling him up into the air. A small exhale escaped her lips in astonishment as she saw him fly through the air, catching up to Shoto and the loud blonde. Her eyebrows raised up in amazement at the clever idea of using the mines to further one's distance. She used her quirk to see what he had been feeling the moment he propelled himself.

Determination.

"Class A's Midoriya is in hot pursuit with that blast!" The crowd roared in excitement.

"Actually, he's in the lead now!" Aiko couldn't contain the grin on her face as she watched in complete awe. Containing herself, she kept her eye on Shoto. He used his ice to create a path for him to run on. Biting her lips again, she arched her eyebrows up as she saw Midoriya step on Shoto and Bakugou. The end of the obstacle race was a bewilderment to both Endeavor and Aiko as they watched Shoto place second.

Of course the way they had felt about it was different, but to each their own.