Notes: Why wait and post this when it's already written and I'm terribly impatient? This shit is so fluffy that ya'll are gonna need to go to a dentist after reading. I'm just saying. There might or might not be a third part. I'm tempted, but I can end it here. I do have a lot going on (and the Todochako Fantasy AU that I need to work on, oops), so we shall see. I could've split this chapter in half too, but decided to post it all in one go. Thank you for reading and enjoy!

Todoroki spent the next day focused on his training. He had grown stronger and more capable using both sides of his quirk at the same time, but it was still draining. Instead of focusing on the overwhelming power of his quirk, he'd started to figure out how to use it in more subtle ways. It had proven more difficult than he'd expected, but the sole focus of his training for so long had been on strength. His training was also an excellent distraction. He didn't even think about dinner until five o'clock rolled around, his stomach an even excellent reminder.

After showering and changing into black slacks and a casual, white button-up shirt, he meandered into the common area to do some light reading. A few of his other classmates were lounging in there as well. It was very rarely empty during the day on the weekends, at least one student occupying the space. None of them bothered him, which was fine with him. As he sat in a large chair, he held a book in one hand and twirled his father's black credit card absentmindedly in between the fingers of his other.

His father had told him to use it if he thought it necessary. Besides essentials, the last thing he'd used it for had been on fixing up his dorm to his liking. To be honest, his old man hadn't done anything awful, especially not when stacked up against the massive list of his past transgressions, but Todoroki was irritated just enough to want to do something to piss him off in return.

This was an entirely necessary expense.

"Oh, um- hey, Todoroki."

Midoriya's familiar voice cut through Todoroki's attention on the book, making him lower it and turn his gaze on his friend. "I thought you were visiting your mom this weekend."

"I did!" Midoriya responded cheerily. He was smiling, but it looked more anxious than anything. He'd gotten better about his anxiety over the past two years, but it seemed like it would always be a part of him. "I was just… Well, I was curious. You don't have to say anything, of course. I'm not trying to pry. Okay, I guess I am." Todoroki stared back at him and waited as he tried to gather his thoughts. He still had a habit of talking them out loud. "Are you...excited about tonight?"

Todoroki furrowed his brow. "Excited?"

"Yeah!" Midoriya said. "You know, about going out for dinner with Uraraka."

"I suppose so," Todoroki replied evenly. He didn't think excited was the right word. He was looking forward to it. The food was excellent and Uraraka was always good company. She was cheerful and never seemed to mind filling in the gaps of his silence, like they were there for a reason. Besides, they were good friends, but it'd be nice to get to know her more since the two of them were close with Midoriya.

"Oh." Midoriya scratched his head, but shrugged his shoulders. "Well, have fun!"

It wasn't long after he left when Uraraka showed up. As soon as she spotted him, she froze, her cheeks pinker than normal, but then walked in his direction. The smile on her face looked anxious too. It made him want to frown, but he didn't. He didn't think he was as intimidating as he'd been before. Maybe he wasn't the most open person in their class (and he never would be), but he had been trying not to shut people out as it tended to give them the wrong impression. Inasa had taught him that over a year ago.

"Hey there," Uraraka greeted, all warm and sweet. She waved a hand at herself. "This okay?"

Todoroki slipped the card in his wallet and set his book aside to give her a brief lookover. She was wearing an outfit similar to her school uniform in a way: a modest black skirt, black tights, and brown boots with a thin, snug brown sweater to match. "You look perfect."

Uraraka blushed even further and stammered out a, "Tha-thanks," before hastily adding, "You look great too!"

At the couch where Kirishima and Bakugou were playing video games, Bakugou snorted and lightly scoffed, "Fuck, could you get anymore awkward?" without looking away from the television. Uraraka whipped her head around to shoot him a glare that he must've seen out of the corner of his eyes from the way he smirked.

"Ah, don't mind him, Uraraka," Kirishima said, pounding his friend on the back. "He's just jealous."

That did pull Bakugou's attention away from the game as he indignantly responded, "I am not-"

"Go enjoy yourselves on this lovely evening!" Kirishima interrupted, somehow managing to wave at them even as Bakugou dropped his controller and moved to attack him.

Honestly, Todoroki didn't know what all that was about, but he wasn't going to ask either. Bakugou was sometimes hard to understand and then incredibly simple to read. Glancing back to Uraraka, Todoroki asked, "You ready?" and she nodded. He left the book at the table. It wasn't like anyone was going to steal it and he wanted to read a little more after they got back from dinner.

They left without any fanfare, everyone distracted by Kirishima and Bakugou's rough-housing. He had made sure to get permission to go off campus beforehand, so leaving wasn't a problem. Uraraka did seem unusually quiet, but then she might still be tired from her extracurricular training. It was maybe a little uncomfortable, simply because of its strangeness, but he didn't mind the silence. By the time they reached the train station, neither one of them had said much. He got the feeling that something was on Uraraka's mind, but she was too distracted to notice that she wasn't talking.

"Are you sure you wanted to come?" Todoroki asked. He wasn't nervous about it. If she had said no or that she was busy, it wouldn't have upset him. It wasn't like she had to join him on this little, petty adventure. He supposed that it was an unusual and out of the blue request. Maybe she thought it was weird. She had a pretty loving and close relationship with her parents. He'd managed to rebuild his with his mother, but it wasn't the same as hers. "If you had other plans, I would've understood."

"Oh, no!" Uraraka jumped in to reassure him. "I wanted to come. I was just, um…" She rubbed the back of her head and chuckled. "I was surprised, is all - that you asked me to join you - for dinner, I mean." They had never really hung out one-on-one before so that was understandable. They'd been paired up before in groups and sat next to each other while eating, but they had always had their other friends around them. "Were, ah, Deku, Momo, or Iida busy?"

"I don't know," Todoroki responded honestly. "I asked you first."

Uraraka's face did a funny thing, like she didn't know whether to smile or look confused. In the end, she settled for neither, going with a pleasantly surprised expression. "Oh. Well - thank you."

"It's nothing." Todoroki turned his attention to the map, taking note of which stop they would have to get off. It had been a while since he'd eaten at this particular restaurant, but he remembered where it was well enough. This was the area he'd grown up in, after all. "I didn't want to eat by myself and I figured you would appreciate it the most."

"I do like to eat," Uraraka laughed.

"Besides, it's a bit like a 'thank you' for what you did this week in class. We would've lost without you."

"Nah, you would've pulled something out of the bag," Uraraka insisted, waving a hand at him. "You're way strong."

Holding onto the handle over his head, Todoroki gazed down at her. "You're a lot more incredible than you give yourself credit for. That win definitely belongs to you. Take it."

After gaping up at him with her lips parted and her eyebrows raised for a few seconds, Uraraka wiped the slightly stunned look from her face, replacing it with a decidedly much more determined one, and nodded. There, that was better. He liked it when she was more confident in herself. He knew that he was strong, but it felt good to help other people see that in themselves. Maybe her quirk wasn't as flashy as others, but it was hers and he knew that she was going to accomplish so much with it.

"So where are we going anyway?" Uraraka asked, her curiosity taking over. Just like that, any tension between them evaporated. Her grip on the pole she held to keep herself from falling loosened as she leaned against it.

"Just some place I used to go when I was younger," Todoroki told her.

Uraraka waggled her eyebrows. "Oo, a surprise then. How exciting!"

A faint smile quirked at Todoroki's lips in the face of her silliness. "I thought it'd be more fun."

"Aw, I knew you were hiding a more playful side under that calm veneer," Uraraka teased.

A few minutes later, their stop was called out and the train came to a stop. The two of them swayed with the other passengers, Todoroki bumping into her lightly despite his tight grip on the handle. He murmured an apology, but she pressed her lips together and shook her head. They waited for a few people to get off before pushing their way off the train. She followed him without question as they started to walk on the sidewalk.

"I've never been to this part of town before," Uraraka admitted, looking at the tall buildings around them. "How much further?

"We're almost there." They walked another block, took a left, and then Todoroki pointed at the restaurant a block down. "That's it."

Uraraka's jaw dropped. "Todoroki! You can't be serious!" She spun on him, eyes blown wide with panic. To be honest, that was one of the last reactions he'd been expecting. Maybe shock or excitement, but not full-blown panic like she might start hyperventilating at any second. "You're joking, right? We're going somewhere else. You can't possibly be taking me there."

"Why not?" Todoroki didn't see a problem. "I used to eat there like once a month when I was younger."

"Because it's incredibly expensive!" Uraraka burst, waving her hands frantically before pressing them against his chest and shoving him back around the corner. He was surprised by her action, but didn't stop her, not even as she held him there. It was like she was embarrassed to be seen by the restaurant. "I've never even been to a one michelin star place. But two stars? Oh my god, Todoroki, this is insane. I'm so underdressed. I look practically homeless compared to their usual clients."

She did not. It was an absolutely absurd statement and overreaction. "You look fine."

Uraraka shook her head. "They won't even let me in."

"They'll let you in," Todoroki reassured her.

Biting her lip, Uraraka peered up at him. There was nothing slight about the anxiety on her face now. "How do you know?"

"Because you're with me," Todoroki said before taking one of her hands from his chest and pulling her back around the corner and toward the restaurant.

Maybe she believed him or she simply didn't have it in her to fight him, too stunned to do anything but let him guide her to the front door. She made a quiet half whimper half groan sound when the doorman eyed them strangely but let them inside anyway. By the time they made it to the host stand, she was practically hiding behind him, using him as a shield even as she gawked at everything.

The maître d raised an eyebrow at them and politely said, "I believe you have the wrong establishment."

"No, we don't," Todoroki responded evenly.

That politeness took a sharp turn, even as he smiled. "I'm afraid this is not a...teen friendly place. I can recommend somewhere more in your price range for a date."

"I'm well aware of the prices."

"Then you must also be aware you need a reservation in order to eat here."

"Yes, hence why I made one yesterday."

The maître d actually laughed. "You made one yesterday? It takes weeks to get in."

"It should be under the name Todoroki."

He went from laughing to pale and shocked in less than a second. As much as he hated the fact that his name was irrevocably tied to his father's, Todoroki couldn't deny that it came in handy sometimes. He very rarely used it, if ever, but he hadn't even tried when making the reservation here. When he had called and asked if it was possible, even though he knew it was on such short notice, the person on the phone had practically tripped in trying to help him, even asking him if he had a specific table, server, or special that he wanted.

"I- I'm sorry. Yes, of course, here you are. Follow me, please." The maître d was flushed as he shakily gathered two menus. He couldn't even look Todoroki in the eyes, his own darting to the side whenever he tried. Behind Todoroki, Uraraka was gripping his shirt as they made their way through the restaurant to their table, but there was a much less nervous energy about her. She wasn't acting like she had to hide from everyone.

"It's fine, just a misunderstanding." Todoroki didn't particularly care about the mix-up. Two teens walking in here was a strange occurrence. Not many kids ate here. He'd been one of the very few to frequent here and only because he was with his father. None of his siblings had been here, as far as he knew. His mom had come once or twice, but that was it. He barely listened as the maître d explained the special, eyes flickering to Uraraka when she mumbled that she'd like a water when asked what she wanted to drink.

With that ordeal over, Uraraka picked up the menu and outright gaped. "This is insane." She shook her head and set the menu down. "You can't pay for this. I can't let you do that. I'm not…" Her cheeks seemed to have taken a permanent red tinge, hiding her typical pink spots. "Todoroki, some of these meals are almost much as my rent."

"Like I said, I'm not paying for this." Todoroki pulled the black credit card out of his wallet and set it down on the white linen table. "My father is."

Uraraka gawked at the card like it was some ancient artifact that might be cursed, but slowly, her expression began to mellow out. She was still staring at it when she asked, "So this is to just get back at your dad, right?"

"Yes, and to hang out with you."

The smile on her face was strange, almost tremulous as she bit her lip and looked up at him, but then she nodded and picked up the menu again. From all the blushing she'd been doing, her face had to be as warm as his left side felt after using his quirk. "Okay."

"Is it?" Todoroki asked, wanting to make sure that she truly was okay with this. Maybe he should have told her where he was taking her first, but it hadn't seemed like a big deal to him, not when the whole plan was to spend a boat load of his father's money anyway.

"Well, I mean, I am super hungry and we're sitting down already," Uraraka joked. He opened his mouth, but then she jumped in to continue before he could say anything, "It's not like I'm ever going to get this chance again. Thank you for asking to help you with this. If this is you being passive aggressive, I could get used to it."

"We can go somewhere else next week then," Todoroki suggested, a restaurant down the street coming to mind. Or maybe they could go to the mall. She hadn't bought anything there when they had all gone last time, even though he'd seen her eyeing a dress forlornly after trying it on.

Uraraka laughed and teased, "Slow down there, cowboy. We haven't even ordered from here yet."

Once their server appeared with their drinks, Todoroki ordered a few aperitifs. Uraraka had giggled over the fancy word for appetizers, which had made their server raise her eyebrow, but she hadn't hesitated over the price at least. It was the meal that he was more concerned about. When he'd asked her what she was thinking about getting, she brought up the least expensive meal on there, which admittedly was still far out of her normal price range.

"Ignore the prices," Todoroki told her and she sighed. It was easier said than done. "Think of it this way: the more money you spend, the happier I'll be."

"When you put it that…" Uraraka mumbled, hiding behind the menu again.

With the arrival of their aperitifs, all of which Uraraka nearly drooled over, they ordered their main courses. Well, Uraraka was stuck choosing between three different meals, so Todoroki just ordered all three. Problem solved. Both the server and Uraraka had gawked at him, but the server said nothing as Uraraka sputtered incoherently. It wasn't that big of a deal. His father might blow a gasket after he got his company credit card bill at the end of the month, but just seeing the way Uraraka's eyes lit up after trying the food made it worth it.

"Is it good?" Todoroki asked.

"Good?" Uraraka repeated with a mouthful of food. She swallowed. "I'm pretty sure this is what they serve in heaven. Did I die in our last hero class? Are you an angel?"

"I don't think so," Todoroki told her, a faint but amused smile appearing on his face.

"Honestly, you're my hero," Uraraka told him before she tried something different. He knew it was a joke, but she sounded so earnest that it almost made him blush. He didn't know how to react to that, but her pure joy was infectious and it wasn't long before he was happily eating the food as well.

By the time the plates were empty and cleared, she'd stopped paying attention to anyone staring at them, be it rudely or subtlety. The conversation flowed effortlessly throughout the entire dinner. As usual, Uraraka carried it for the most part, her friendly nature overpowering his reticent one, but when she asked him questions, he responded without hesitation, even asking a few of his own.

He explained to her how he knew this restaurant and why he'd picked it, but he also told her about why he was angry with his father and wanted to get back at him. She was sympathetic, but didn't pry when it was obvious that he was leaving some details out of the story. Some of the others in their class might be pushy, but Uraraka seemed content with whatever he decided to tell her. She was easy to talk with, her brown eyes warm with understanding but her words never too presumptuous. It helped that she was so happy and excited. When their food arrived, she insisted on sharing everything so they could enjoy it all.

"Don't forget about dessert," he reminded.

Uraraka gave him a mock-offended look, laying a hand over her heart, and told him in a very serious tone, "Todoroki, I never forget about dessert."

The food was as incredible as he remembered, if not more. Perhaps the different company made it better. Uraraka was a much more pleasant person to eat dinner with than his father or his agency sidekicks. Her laugh was warmer than the food sitting in his belly, her smiles brighter than the crystal glasses they drank from. Somehow, by the end of the meal, their chairs had scooted closer together as they picked their way through the food. Whatever they didn't finish, they could take back to the dorms. Uraraka was a waste-not type. She was already excited about leftovers, which he found silly since they hadn't even finished eating yet.

Before he could even order the dessert, however, their server appeared at their table and set it down in front of them, proclaiming, "Compliments of the chef."

Todoroki shook his head. "I can't take this for free. Put it on the ticket."

"He insists," the server said.

"I insist more," Todoroki countered in a cool tone. "I want to pay for the hard work you all have done in making this an enjoyable experience for us."

When the server left, admittedly awkward, Uraraka burst into muffled laughter, hiding her face on his shoulder so that no one else in the restaurant would see. "You're not even paying for this."

"I'm not going to use my father to take advantage of this establishment," Todoroki pointed out. She laughed even harder and he managed a little grin.

When the two of them dug into the dessert, it was just as Todoroki expected. Not only was it delicious, but Uraraka nearly melted into a puddle when she took the first bite. If they hadn't been in such a fancy place, she probably would've moaned a little from how much she loved it, but she promised that she would contain herself. Instead of shoveling it in their mouths, they ate the dessert slowly, savoring every bite until finally the plate was empty.

Having eaten a ridiculous amount of food, the two of them slumped in their seats and rested their arms over their stomachs. Todoroki couldn't remember ever eating so much all at once in his life. His father had kept him on a strict diet growing up so that he was in tip top shape. The food here was so rich though and not just price-wise. Uraraka wore the most content expression he'd ever seen, eyes closed with a pink face and her lips tilted up in a dazed smile, resting her head against his arm. He had the strange urge to wrap his arm around her, but he kept still and soaked in the warmth of the physical contact.

"Todoroki?"

"Hm?"

"I said it before, but… Thank you. This has been one of the best moments of my life."

He glanced down at her at a loss of what to say. She didn't seem to mind his sudden movement, still leaning against him. A powerful warm feeling surged inside of him, almost like an adrenaline rush. Indeed, she looked incredibly pleased. She was a happy person, but the fact that he'd done something that made her this happy struck him as special. It was different than complimenting someone or saving them. It was kind of addicting if he was honest. Could he do it again? Could he repeat this feeling for others? For her? For him?

Would she go out to dinner with him again if he asked her?

"I'll take the check, please," Todoroki told the server when she came to clear the very empty plate. Uraraka jumped when she realized that they weren't alone, scooting away from him and clearing her throat. Before she could look at the check, which he knew she would try to do, he plucked it from the server and slid the black credit card inside without even looking at the total. Endeavor's pro hero agency could cover this expense. He owed it to his youngest son and more.

Upon getting the receipt back, he made sure to edge away so that Uraraka couldn't see it. He had a feeling that she had calculated the total in her head anyway, judging from the way she was chewing on her nails. After making sure to put down a ridiculous tip, he waited for the server to come by before handing the black book. He knew how badly she wanted to look at the ticket, but he wouldn't let her. It wasn't about that.

Okay, that was kind of a lie. It had started out as spending a shit ton of his father's money, but it turned into something more. It wasn't just about blowing money; it was about making Uraraka smile too.

Standing up from the table, he helped pull her chair back and held out a hand to help her out of the chair, even though she didn't really need it. After all, it was the polite thing to do, especially in an establishment like this. She didn't blush or flail about in embarrassment. Maybe he should've noticed that neither one of them let go of each other's hands, but it simply slipped his mind, the feel of her small hand and padded fingers in his almost natural.

Their server swung by one more time to thank them, tears in her eyes, and the maître d apologized once more and bid them a goodnight on their way out. This time, Uraraka wasn't hiding. She waved pleasantly to all the employees, thanking them and asking if they could tell the kitchen what an amazing job they did. Even though they'd been scoffed at, she wasn't insulted at all and was still friendly. She was a good person like that.

It made him feel warm in a pleasant way, not the kind he felt if he overused the fire side of his quirk, to the point where the cool early spring air barely bothered him. Still, he made sure to switch their leftovers to his other hand so Uraraka was walking at his left. He reached down to grab her hand again and pulled her in close so she could stay warm. The sweater and leggings provided her warmth, but it was easier to gently use his quirk. With the sun having set, it had gotten dramatically colder. She smiled up at him and leaned in, like it was entirely normal for him to allow people this close to him on a regular basis. It wasn't, but he found that he didn't mind.

His heart content, mind settled, and stomach full, Todoroki couldn't find much to complain about. He'd made the right decision when he had invited her. His father would get pissed. Uraraka got a great meal. He was able to strengthen their relationship. It was the best use of his free time by far. He could get used to this feeling. Hopefully she would want to do something like this again. He wouldn't mind spending more time with her. It was...nice, very nice indeed.