"Oh, I shouldn't bother you and this…friend of yours," Todoroki said and stood up.

Todoroki had not the faintest inkling of what this was about. Nonetheless, he wasn't one to pry and he knew his manners. He left the table with a small smile that graced his lips directed at Momo and then the same friendly one at the stranger in front of him.

Dabi returned it, mouth crinkling upwards but said nothing.

Momo had a hard time keeping her eyes away from the departing guest.

"Have a seat, please," Momo finally said and she sucked up a big huff of air to fill her lungs as if that would provide her with just the right amount of encouragement.

Dabi seemed to like the way she greeted him, catching a glimpse of her tender yet nervous grin. He pushed the candles that sat flickering in the middle of the table next to the salt and pepper shakers in their little steel basket, and sat down after he shifted away from Todoroki who was retreating back to the bar.

Dabi shuffled over, hands on his side, then laced his fingers together on top of the menus.

"You look beautiful."

Momo gasped, unsure what to say next. The statement came out of him so naturally it made her wonder how many times he used the same line to start a conversation.

Thinking back, she had a long history of guys who never sat right with her or were too engaged with their own agendas. And so, tonight, she decided to break her no-dating streak and take the risk.

Being complimented right off the bat was definitely on her list of expectations, but knowing how to react to it appropriately was a skill Momo hadn't perfected yet.

Dabi tilted his head as if luring for an answer, a tuff of hair falling over his forehead.

"Thank…you," Momo finally replied, and her fingers wrapped around the edge of her seat.

She took a short 30 seconds to study his appearance as the man in front of him stretched his back onto the cushion of the booth.

He certainly welcomed it.

Momo took note of his eyes first. They were like distant oceans; hidden aquamarine and artic.

His tanned skin complimented them even more, making them conspicuous and inviting jealousy.

Her gaze travelled downwards; the shirt that hung on his broad shoulders was a plain shade of cobalt, and the v-neck hidden within was white-not too tight, but just enough to see the hard outlines of his muscles, which Momo found herself staring at for far too long.

Dabi may not be the most charming guy she had met, but there's an air of mystery to him that was begging her to find out more. And she's not certain if that was a good thing or not.

"I appreciate you studying me for so long but should we order first?" Dabi asked, and cleared his throat once, almost chuckling at how shy she became at an instant.

Momo looked down at her menu and opened onto a page titled 'Dessert' and quickly thumbed to the pages prior.

"Uh, yes of course! I think… I'll have tonight's special." She straightened herself, squirming to find the right spot, and tried not to tense up.

"Great choice, looks like we think alike. I'm going to get the same thing, like usual."

The girl flashed him a thin smile. People tend to agree with the others when they first meet to get their approval; to appease them. Dabi sounded much like that type of person, but a keen advice that her parents used to give her was to avoid assumptions.

Momo felt a jolt in her chest. She really shouldn't think about them in the middle of a date.

Just then, Dabi turned to grab a waitress' attention and she clanked her tray down at the counter and rushed over with a sway of her hips. While he was ordering for the both of them, Momo held her chin in her palm, legs crossing and uncrossing, just watching with a mild eye.

"And that's all for now, thanks."

The waitress nodded, shoved her teeny, spiral-spined memo pad into the pocket of her waist apron, and left them to their peace.

Dabi took a sip of the lemon water in front of him.

"I've heard some things about you from Jirou," He began, "but she didn't tell me exactly how gorgeous you are. And I mean it. I don't tend to throw compliments around, you know."

Momo felt uneasy, thoughts running through her head as Dabi took another swig. Jirou must have blabbed on and on about her, and it was sort of frightening what could have left her mouth.

Though, come to think of it, her best friend hadn't told her much about Dabi. She decided that she'd like to hear it from him. The primary source.

"So, Dabi, tell me a little about yourself. Jirou hadn't said much and told me just to meet here." The girl playfully wrapped a fallen piece of hair behind her ears and ignored his previous statement. "It'd be nice to know more about what you do and your hobbies. General stuff."

It was Momo's turn to quench her thirst. The noise level was getting a little bit louder now, and for a moment, she felt like someone was watching them.

Wrapping her fingers around the glass, condensation cooling her fingertips, she hoped that it was her coworker.

But that'd be very, very silly of her.

Still Momo became very self-conscious, lips touching the rim of her drink as the hipster, neon sign beside their table shining "It was all a dream", the word 'dream' designed in cursive, tainted Dabi's face with a cunning, red hue.

Dabi's voice intersected the clink of a fallen ice cube.

"Well," his voice was one notch above a raspy growl, low, "to tell you honestly, I was doing time in the slammer for the past few years and just got out."

He's been to jail? For what?

The girl opened her mouth, quickly accessing her inventory of vocabulary, but couldn't decide on the right string of words to respond with.

"HAH. I'm just joking with you," Dabi started to laugh, seeing her awkward pause, and Momo exhaled.

"Oh my gosh, I thought you were actually serious. You got me there!" The girl felt a bit sheepish at her guillable demeanor and watched as her date casually combed back his dark hair with his fingers.

She would've thought it was attractive if the arm he raised above his shoulder wasn't exposed, showing an array of scars.

As a nurse, Momo could tell anyone that those burns on his arm weren't normal.

Her eye traced one- a grotesque, gray-ish purple one that looked almost fresh, running three inches above the bend of his elbow.

"How'd you get those, if I may ask?" She questioned, eyes unmoving, "That looks very serious."

Dabi dropped his arm. "Oh, don't worry about it." He twisted his arm towards him and scrutinized his own skin as if he didn't know he ever had them.

"Did you get them recently?" She asked.

Perhaps this wasn't a great way to begin a date, she thought. She knew she could be obsessed with her work at times.

"Oh, no definitely not," he did another chuckle that sounded quite genuine, "I used to be a cook at a restaurant down South before I moved here, and I'd be lying if I said fryers don't get these on a daily basis! Let me tell ya, one time, my coworker got doused with hot oil 'cas he dropped a basket and the oil just ricochet onto his scalp, leaving him absolutely hideous. Like Deadpool. You know deadpool?"

The scowl on Momo's face appeared for a second. She didn't want to dwell on the details further.

"That sounds horrible," she said and was relieved to find their food arriving, though after hearing that anecdote, she wasn't sure if she still had the appetite.

The waitress tossed their plates haphazardly in front of them. Tonight's special was roasted lamb shank which was usually her favourite.

She chewed on her first bite of piping hot food, scents of cardamom and cumin entering her senses and Dabi continued his autobiography.

"So after I moved here, I took a break from the kitchen and just met a bunch of people and started my own gig. I play electric guitar and still do. That's how I met Jirou. And I'm glad too, she's famous in this part of town, isn't she?"

"Ya, she's my best friend, and I know just how hard she worked to get to this point of her career."

"Yeh, I commend her for that. Man, I wish I could go somewhere with my gig too, but I guess we'll see right?"

Momo swallowed her third piece of lamb, which was on the side of unchewed, and coughed at his comment.

Dabi seemed like a great guy, but people who just wander through life with no particular goal ahead of them really scare her.

Jirou and warned her that her high expectations for guys would be a hurdle but Momo had convinced herself that she had lowered them significantly, and righteously so, becoming more open-minded than before. Her upbringing had really influenced her choice in men; like looking through rose-coloured lenses, her mother used to say.

She gobbled up her water and thanked their attentive waitress for filling it up before smiling again.

"You're okay? Drink more water first," he said with a caring touch.

"No I'm fine, sorry, I guess this blind date thing got to me." She faked a giggle, which ended up more like a scoff but he didn't notice.

She could mentally feel Jirou scolding her already.

"Well enough about me then, princess," he said, a cross between tease and sly, and she winced at the stress of her new title, "Tell me about yourself. I heard you work at a hospital and you're apparently very clever. Jirou gave me deets, as I mentioned, but hearing it again would be nice."

Deets. Definitely not how people say the word 'detail' here in Kamino.

"Oh of course!" Her enthusiasm might have been overboard. "I've been a nurse at UA Hospital for the past few years and I guess you could say that I'm very, very in love with what I do. I'm a bookworm and Jirou probably told you about how I like yoga. I'm looking into learning calligraphy as well, just for fun."

Momo paused and stabbed at a roasted potato, it rolling off the fork before she tried again, and Dabi acknowledged with a few nods.

"Sounds like you're a very active person, Yaoyorozu."

"You could say that."

The bottom of her heels brushed against his leg just as he draped his forearm over his side of the table.

"And how are you with the patients? Are they really hard to deal with?"

Momo's laugh drowned with the r&b in the background, "Oh no, well, some are kinda crazy, but that's to be expected. Being a nurse really takes a toll on your emotional state."

Dabi seemed interested, lips pursed for a bit as he took what she said in thought as she picked up her last pea.

"Any patient you feel particularly connected with?"

His question prompted Momo to knit her brows, words stumbling a little, "Um, I won't use any names, but there was this grandpa who really reminded me of Santa and he would do the cutest chuckle," Her face brightened like the bulbs hanging above them as she continued, "Don't tell anyone but I particularly like to care for elders."

Dabi let out an awkward cough, "That's very nice." He didn't seem appeased, "Anything else special at work?"

Was he trying to enter the medical field as well?

The table shook again as she uncrossed her legs and she felt the stare of the table across from them. The curvy blond with the big curls and hoop earrings, clearly the head honcho of the group, began whispering to her friends, huddling together with palms cupping their mouths.

Nosy women on their monthly girls' night out she's guessing.

"Sorry, I really can't give much detail other than that. It's really nice that you're so intrigued by my job though," Momo said and she could hear the squeaky giggles of their neighbours, piercingly high-pitched, slicing through Rihanna's song blasting through the speakers. "Most guys I've dated before couldn't care less."

Truth be told, most men she had tried forming any kind of intimate relationship with complained that she was married to her job. Momo couldn't deny it and wouldn't deny it.

It was her dream to work in the Yuei hospital.

But in the back of her mind, the hazy image of her MCAT score pulsed painstakingly fast, like the heavy metronome on top of her piano, and she shut her mouth.

"Well, ain't that a shame," Dabi noted as though he had seen what was in her mind and gulped down the last bit of his water before throwing his used napkin to the side.

He swung a leg off the seat.

"The night's young and looks like we're both done." He stretched out his neck, muscles visible, and slid a 50 dollar bill from his pocket to the bottom of his glass. Momo eyed him curiously.

"Shall we hit the dance floor?" He asked, "Doctors did advise me to do more exercise."

"Really? Last I remembered, a recent patient got appendicitis from moving too vigorously after a meal."

"Well, I guess we gotta dance…slow then."

Dabi gave her a half-smile before standing up, offering an extended hand to her like a high school boy asking his overly shy friend out to prom.

She was still bothered by his arm, covered in discoloration, though at the moment that detail seemed monumentally unimportant.

Momo scooted over, remembering to step from heel to toe in her heels as advised from a YouTube beauty guru she watched months ago, and grabbed his hand.

Calloused, but very warm, she noted.

"I'm just warning you, I can't dance," She added, smoothing out the wrinkles of her dress, and he guffawed.

"Today's your lucky day then. Neither can I."

The mahogany in front of Todoroki was stained with pen marks, most likely permanent, and the usual splat of dark-colored liquor. The scribbles were barely readable but he could make out most, which were what he'd expect to be impulsive declaration of loves, random doodles and incoherent phrases with curses imbedded within.

He squinted at them, hoping that would entertain him until his companions arrived.

Just minutes earlier, Midoriya texted Todoroki that he had invited Kaminari along for the night as well. Kaminari attended the same mundane high school as they did, though Todoroki wasn't exactly sure what he was up to nowadays. He answered Midoriya rather hastily in agreement before waving a server over, giving a knowing gaze over at the missing bartender.

He clearly remembered years ago when everyone was busy signing yearbooks that he would have a reunion with his high school mates, Midoriya and Kaminari included.

People always told each other that they'd 'keep in touch', but in reality that's euphemism for 'I'll look for you when I need to'.

The off-duty doctor ordered a whiskey neat, which was his go-to, when one of the servers trotted over. She uttered a 'thank you' and winked at him in a hopeless attempt to flirt, pen almost slipping out of her grasp when she shakily slipped it into her pocket.

Her conscious decision to embarrass herself was met with a stoic nod from Todoroki who was too used to these encounters. He shifted back to the liquor cabinet across from him, blue iridescence reflecting off the glass window of the display case, and glanced again at his phone.

7:49

Click. The screen faded back to black.

A heavy sigh notified Todoroki of the absent bartender's arrival. The middle-aged man had leapt back behind the counter, tugging and fidgeting with his striped, black-and-white tie before quickly whipping up the orders that had piled up, appearing apologetic.

His hands clasped together in front of him, and his eyes naturally glanced to the side at Momo's table as he awaited his order.

I should give her some privacy; the momentary thought crossed his mind.

A rather plump woman, not to mention drunk with tomato red cheeks, blocked his view, an obstacle he had not expect, and he found himself leaning back to get just the right angle.

Todoroki caught the exact moment when Momo was laughing about something, teeth flashing.

He didn't feel any different seeing her so carefree, but wondered out of sheer curiosity what her date had said that warranted such a delightful expression on her face.

He turned back around when he heard the ice cubes in his glass chime and if he hadn't mistaken, someone snickered right after, to his right.

It was the bartender, and his fingers held tightly around the bottom of the cylindrical glass.

"You want to go talk to a girl over there? I can look after your drink for you," he offered, voice heavy with a French accent.

Todoroki shook his head. "No, I just thought I saw someone I knew. It was a mistake."

The bartender shrugged. He pushed the coaster closer and darted away to his cocktail mixer, preparing the next order.

He picked up the glass with a light hand and took a sip, enjoying the smooth acidity coating his tongue before taking another mouthful of the malty liquid.

Often than not, he treasured the time he had in solitude.

"Yo, Todoroki!"

A hefty slap on the back startled him from reorganizing his thoughts, and he turned to the squeak beside him.

Kaminari had pulled up a stool, arm still draped over Todoroki's shoulder, emitting a radiance that he never lost from high school.

His hair was as yellow as Todoroki remembered; the lightning black streak caused by whatever DNA anomaly that possessed him was still sticking out like a sore thumb, and the wide, goofy smile cut his face in half. Todoroki stared at the superman-themed belt around Kaminari's waist and grimaced.

Sadly, his fashion sense was still as gaudy as ever.

"Kaminari, haven't seen you in a while," Todoroki uttered, voice ascending in tone, and he heard a sound behind him. Both of them turned around to find Midoriya arriving as well.

"Sorry, I'm late!" Midoriya jumped onto the seat next to Kaminari, pulling his leather crossbody bag over his head. The bag dropped with a thud in front of his feet. The green-haired man had on weary eyes, dark circles underneath crinkling as he attempted a grin.

Todoroki wasn't surprised though; such is the life of a doctor.

Kaminari let go of Todoroki and wrapped an arm over Midoriya.

"Hey, how's DOCTOR Midoriya doing, huh?"

"I'm fine," the man replied and directed a gaze behind his energetic friend, "Todoroki and the other doctors are really looking after me in the hospital. I really appreciate it. I mean, I was worried for a long while but you know how it is, especially my mom, she just won't-"

"Chill out dude, you're doing your mumbling thing again." Kaminari uttered and patted him twice, hard, aiming to knock the fatigue out of him, before waving the bartender over.

"Two sleeves of Asahi," Kaminari ordered right away and Todoroki cocked an eyebrow. Kaminari knowing exactly what Midoriya would order just proved how much time they must've spent together since they disbanded from high school, something Todoroki regretted in retrospect. But he doesn't say anything, and instead, wringed his brain for an effective conversation starter as he took yet another swig of his whiskey.

He recalled his performance review in the hospital stressing how much of an asset he was to the team, but what was written on top of a sinuous underline were the words: interpersonal skills need improvement.

It's hilarious. Years ago he would've made fun of himself for thinking that his future job would only entail saving people. Reality is, the art of talking to his coworkers was also a transferable skill that he needed to master.

Sucks being human.

Todoroki lowered his glass.

"So Kaminari, what are you doing nowadays."

"Oh, I'm a firefighter now! Just started a week ago."

A blink.

Todoroki knew what was coming next.

"I'm actually working with Bakugou! Isn't that funny?"

"Ah. Interesting," Todoroki said nonchalantly and cleanly severed the conversation.

He mentally slapped himself. This is exactly why he needed practice socializing.

Fortunately to Todoroki, Midoriya joined in as the bartender returned with their ice cold beverages. Kaminari looked thrilled, grabbing onto the glass like he hadn't had a beer for years.

"Todoroki says that Kacchan always shows up at our hospital. He gets hurt a lot, doesn't he?"

"Well, knowing him, I ain't surprised dude," Kaminari scoffed, "Gotta tell ya, he's super hardcore and he takes his job really seriously. He literally yelled at a trainee who was with me the other day 'cas we 'didn't run as fast as he did'."

Kaminari's fingers scratched imaginary quotations in the air, and continued, "I was already like, leaping! I was running so frickin' fast, I was worried I'd trip over the curb! And you know, the fire was at a luxurious neighbourhood, you know, like famous singers and actors, actresses, whoever, lived there, and I mean it! You name it, and they probably have a house there! I don't wanna be falling face flat on the sidewalk when the paparazzi comes man!"

Todoroki saw Midoriya force down a yawn, facial muscles tense as Kaminari went on and on. He wondered if the green-haired man was actually listening or sleeping with his eyes opened, and gradually, Todoroki craned his neck to the side.

The lingering gingery sensation of his whiskey collided with the sweetness of the aroma that dispersed from the glass under his nose, and he found his icy eyes jumping across the people that were bunching up near the dance floor, to his female coworker and her friend.

They weren't at the table now, he observed, still picking up slight bits here and there of Kaminari's longwinded speech, and was surprised that they had their hands interlaced, maneuvering themselves through the crowd.

Momo looked ecstatic, cheeks colouring a bit as the both of them found a comfortable spot, moving their bodies along with the rhythm of the music that was nearing its end.

The song changed after a few seconds— a slower paced rendition that one may consider romantic.

Todoroki watched as she hesitated to drape both of her arms around her friend's neck before the latter said something that softened her expression to bliss. Momo finally gave in and secured her arms around him.

Todoroki smiled. He was truly happy for her and hoped he would remember to congratulate her tomorrow if they were working in the same shift.

They had known each other for a period of time now, enough for him to grasp her personality and dare he say, understand most of the thoughts that ran through her head.

Momo was hired around a year after Todoroki had made his round in Yuei, and the two had started off with timid nods and eager words that never left the the tip of their tongues. Soon, however, they began to warm up to each other, the dialogues between them elongated minute by minute.

He recalled clearly the day when both of them had met. The girl accidentally spilled coffee on his shoes in the cafeteria, and she was so embarrassed, he thought she would've run out the door to buy him a new pair. It wasn't until Todoroki faked a laugh simply to calm her nerves had she stopped.

He never told her, but some of the doctors had started to make jokes about their relationship after that incident, for obvious reasons.

Someone tapped on his shoulder and Todoroki pursed his lips, thoughts never finished.

"Todoroki, can't believe I'm saying this but, are you checking a girl out?"

Of course that was Kaminari.

"No, I'm not." Todoroki snapped his neck back to his drink, ignoring the heated stare of his friends.

Kaminari didn't give up, however, and traced a finger along the side of his beer before leaning forward, eyes narrowing for better focus.

"You looking at the blonde over there?"

Todoroki knew he meant the girl that was flaunting her assets in a tight black number, and rolled his eyes.

"Or…Oh, hey, the super cute one in the red dress with the jet black hair! I remember seeing her!"

The doctor swallowed hard, and turned to see Midoriya scratching his head and tilting over the counter to get a better view.

"Todoroki, isn't that the nurse I met? Yaoyorozu?"

Guess the secret's out.

"Yeah! I'm sure she was the one outside the fire I was talking about! She left quite an impression, running outside in a lace silkie. That thing was short, I tell ya."

Kaminari sounded awfully proud as if that was the most valuable thing he had said all night, and Todoroki shot him a look of disapproval that made the former felt like a slap on the face.

Todoroki twirled the glass in hand after Kaminari settled with a gulp, and was glad she was safe albeit the revelation dawning on him that she had never mentioned anything to him about a fire.

Well, to be fair, they weren't that close to be disclosing everything about each other's day.

He did notice that, similar to him, she was quite reserved in her demeanor as well.

Perhaps that was why he felt so uncharacteristic of her to be willing to hold someone else's hand and sandwiching their bodies on what appeared to be a first date.

It was none of his business though.

Midoriya wiped his lips with the back of his hand and leaned his cheek lazily against it; his face was beginning to heat up, as expected of a lightweight, and if it were possible, the fatigue that pooled under his dull eyes seemed to have grown.

It's shocking that he still had the energy to talk, Todoroki thought.

"It's good that she got out safe!" Midoriya was probably exerting his body just saying that one sentence.

Kaminari followed with a heavy, "MM" as he chugged the rest of his beer.

"I know dude! I heard," the yellow-haired man set the glass down and gestured for the two to come in closer, "I heard from Bakugou that someone sneaked into the house and cut off the gas pipes before setting it on fire! The owner of the house had most of the house fire proofed though, luckily, so it was basically only the kitchen that got totally destroyed."

Todoroki and Midoriya exchanged glances.

"That sounds pretty serious doesn't it? Why isn't the news all over this?" Midoriya questioned.

"Well, like I told you, a lot of wealthy people live there, the case isn't closed, but police is suspecting that it's another lunatic celebrity stalker that probably went cray. Come to think of it, that hot nurse must be pretty rich to live there."

Todoroki shrugged. "I don't know, she's pretty humble."

He mentally took another note to ask her about this tomorrow and frowned when Kaminari sneered slyly, tapping his foot against Todoroki's stool.

"Do me a favour and introduce her to me?"

"No."

The way Todoroki deadpanned caused Midoriya to scoff out in amusement and Kaminari pouted childishly before the bartender walked over to offer another round of drinks.

The usual Chainsmoker song that Todoroki recognized was on repeat everywhere, came on, muffling the voice he had in his head.

When did Yaoyorozu become so popular with men? Or perhaps he just never noticed?

He peered over, the girl still dancing with the taller man.

Todoroki shifted back, noticing his friends' comical expression as the bartender cracked a joke. But he wasn't listening.

The questions he had from last night continued to dawdle in his mind, as if sprouting legs and taking a stroll in circles, and when Momo bumped into him in the hallway right before he was on his lunch break, the questions became even more pressing.

The clipboard in his hand stopped its annoying clacking sound, standing an inch or two over her as she granted him a wave, her lustrous ponytail swinging a bit as if it had a life of its own.

Momo radiated a luminous glow that proved to be quite contagious and Todoroki returned her grinning face with one of his own.

" , how was last night? Had fun with your friends?"

Even when she spoke, she sounded unusually joyous.

He wondered if she saw him with Kaminari and Midoriya, or was she so concentrated on that she had just said it to make small talk. Todoroki opted with the latter.

"Yeah, it was great catching up with some people." He answered and jabbed a finger to the corridor in front of them, "You heading over to the cafeteria too?"

"Yes! I'm looking forward to the apple curry they have today, Dr. Todoroki."

The two walked beside each other at arm's length in the hushed hallway, him only walking behind her when colleagues were scampering by. Todoroki loosened his shoulders and slanted a gaze at the reticent nurse who was casually humming away Canon in D, if his knowledge in classical music did not fail him. He hadn't seen her this lively ever since the time at the staff gathering months ago when they ended up the night chugging someone's homemade mulled wine and dancing to the Macarena.

He was just a spectator though. He wouldn't be caught dead anywhere near a dance floor.

Within a minute or two, the cafeteria's sign was in sight, people's chattering riding on a faint breeze that entered from the AC unit. Todoroki rehearsed the questions that was poking at him like a thin needle to soft flesh and figured that the best time would be when they were more stationary.

Which reminded him.

"Yaoyorozu, you want to sit together?"

The girl was occupied with the drink menu as they turned around the corner; it was normally very busy but today, it was somewhat subdued.

She skimmed over the choices quick, dodging around a nurse that bolted past, and said, "Yeah, sure, of course. But I don't think we need to save seats. It's a quiet Friday."

"Mm, okay."

He gulped.

"Actually, Yaoyorozu, I have a question."

More than one actually, he thought, but didn't bother to clarify, seeing her smile at him, welcoming what he had to inquire.

Right when he opened his mouth again, the irritable cafeteria lady ushered them forward and they both shuffled a step over, and she tilted her head.

"Yes?"

"This might sound like it's coming out of nowhere, but do you live somewhere close to a recent fire that happened?" Todoroki knew he sounded like a stalker at the moment, but he cared for her as a friend so his dignity will have to wait.

"Yeah, I do, how'd you know?" She was totally confused.

"My friend, uh," He paused for a second, rewording what he wanted to say lest he came off creepy again, "well one of my friends work as a firefighter and he –"

"Oh, is it Bakugou?"

"No. It's not him. Someone else –"

"Dr. Todoroki, you have quite a lot of friends in the brigade –"

"Yeah, it's ironic, but, listen –"

"It must be interesting to hear about their stories huh? I wonder if -"

"Yaoyorozu."

His voice was stern and louder than usual. The surrounding people spun at him with unwanted eyes for a second and he saw the colour leave her face. The cafeteria lady didn't care, however, hands still juggling ladles and spoons while pestering the people in the queue.

His eyes widened at his own sudden outburst and mumbled an apology before continuing.

"Well the fire wasn't caused by the people in the house, it was from someone outside." He saw her looking at him skeptically. Todoroki didn't want to bring up Kaminari's full story; it will either frighten her if the arsonist was really just targeting point blank or it will make her worry for her neighbor if the suspect does have a motive.

Momo held her response and waited until both of them gathered their utensil, picked up their curry and rice, spilling over the plate, before ensconcing in her seat.

She had a habit of straw-biting since young and so she did this for a bit over her carton of orange juice while Todoroki chewed on a carrot.

"That's…quite some information," She finally muttered and the pricks of her fork pierce a tender chunk of apple, "Don't worry about me, , I can take care of myself, but I really appreciate it."

"Well, if you and your family need a place to stay for a bit until the investigation is done, just let me know."

His offer came out a bit empty, the last words twisted with an accidental indifference, but she was used to this and knew it was just how he talked.

By now, Momo could see his emotions through the way his pupils moved; Todoroki was one to barely speak and whenever he does, the message holds heavy the intention.

Though the beauty of his irises never ceased to stun her, and she thought then that she'd never get used to them.

And maybe right now she had stared for too long.

Momo proceeded to lower her head. "I'm staying at a close friend of mine right now, so it's all good."

There was something else she wasn't saying; the way she was twirling her spoon—he could just sense it.

"Glad to hear it. But really, don't need to tiptoe around me. If you have a problem, let me know."

The girl thanked him again, but doesn't utter another syllable after that.

When the sun set and the clouds dissipated across the horizon, Momo came home and could only taste metallic and see orange that lapped over the sky in layers like the oil painting her mother had purchased from an auction when she was 8.

She pushed the key into its lock and after a twist, realized that Jirou had not come home yet. Her feet felt cold on the marble tiles and pondered whether she should take a quick nap before showering.

Her talk with Jirou the night before went well; Dabi was a nice guy. He took her home and for the short time before she slept, all she did was slump lazily on Jirou's bed while the latter drilled her about the date.

Momo concluded that she wanted to see him again, and so they were to meet the following Sunday.

She hadn't felt thrilled about anyone for a while.

At least, not since last year.

The door to the guest room that Jirou had prepared for her was left ajar and she pushed it with her back, opening it slightly and fell face first on her cotton pillow.

"Should I…?" She found herself saying it out loud to herself, pulling her phone out from her pocket. As if in a trance, she scrolled with her thumb to her coworker's name on the contact list and hovered over it.

Todoroki Shouto.

Momo's eyelids fluttered to a close, fingers rubbing circles on her temples. Like travelling back in time, she saw images and scenes, like a film, passing in front of her eyes.

Her science project in Grade 8. The trophy cabinet. Her family's first house. The house she had now. Full scholarship and acceptance letter from one of the finest Universities in the country. Her dad smiling. Her MCAT that she had failed.

The crash.

Her mom crying.

And it ends there. At least, she forced herself to end it there.

Momo sat up, thrusted the window open for fresh air as if she needed oxygen and felt the cool air flowing through her lungs. Freshening.

She took a deep breath and leaned back against the wall, refusing to let go the blanket under her trembling finger tips and realized for the first time in months, that she was choking in tears again.

Momo thought she had accepted it, but the turmoil still brewing inside her made her freeze up. Muscles recontracting, nerves tense.

She had to talk to someone.

Without a second thought, she pressed firmly on Todoroki's name and the other side of the phone rang.

Click.

"Hello? Yaoyorozu?"

Her throat was knotted but she managed.

"Doc-doctor Todoroki. Are-Are you off?"

His was clearly concerned, "Yeah. Yaoyorozu, what's wrong?"

"I just-" She paused, hand clutching onto her shirt to relieve herself, "I just need to tell you. Today, at lunch, when-"

Momo sniffed and heaved once, but was glad that her voice was less rocky now.

"When you asked whether my family and I had a place to stay-"

"Is your friend kicking you out?"

"No, definitely not."

"Then what is it?"

If she knew him well enough, he was probably doing his usual habit of pulling his bangs back whenever he was impatient.

She wiped a tear that was threatening to fall.

I can do this.

"My parents died last year. Both of them."

Todoroki didn't say a word as if knowing she wasn't done. And she wasn't.

"It bothered me, and knowing that I've never told you this before, I just really had to tell you. Today when you brought them up, it all came rushing back again," Momo knew she was rambling but didn't even try to stop, "The thing that occurred to me, and affected me the most, was that you actually cared about me. I felt so alone after they passed away. Jirou was the only one I had left, and even then, I-I-"

"Yaoyorozu, that's enough. Take a breath."

She followed his advice and heard him do it too.

"I understand. I mean, it's complicated." He blurted. "I'm always here, Yaoyorozu. I know full well how a person in grief from family affairs would feel."

The twinge of comfort settled into her and for a brief moment, she wanted to pour everything out.

"Thank you, again, I'm really grateful," she smiled into the phone and replied, "I won't bother you now, sorry for the sudden call."

"Ah, no problem." Todoroki's tone descended. "I'll see you soon. Get good rest."

"Yeah, see you. Thanks again for listening. Bye."

Momo ended the call, and hunched over her bent knees, focusing onto the specks of dust that was drifting through the last golden rays that went through the window.

She wondered whether he wanted to talk to her again as much as she wanted to talk to him.