U.A High School has changed to become a boarding school when Todoroki Shouto and Yaoyorozu Momo were in their 1st year. The boys and girls rooms in their dorm are separated by right and left wings, but the first floor is a common area. The students frequently gather there when they have free time to relax, chatting or playing games with each other, just like tonight.
In this Saturday night, there are 8 people that sit together in the lounge right now. Sato, Sero, and Ojiro sit on the left side, chomping on their foods. Iida, Todoroki, and Midoriya sit on the right side, chatting about their hero internship experience. Meanwhile, Kaminari talk about his latest misfortune in dating girl with Kirishima.
"It's already our 3rd year but I have no luck in romance. I wish I could have a girlfriend before we graduate," Kaminari said.
"You know why you have no luck with girls, Kaminari?"
All of the eyes turned towards the source of the voice. Jirou Kyouka and Ashido Mina have just arrived in the lounge together. With drinks in their hands, they walked towards the boys and sit in front of Kaminari and Kirishima.
With furrowed eyebrow, Kaminari asked, "Why?"
"Because you make moves to almost all pretty girls, they found you cheap and not serious", Kyouka replied.
"I still remember how after asking Ochako to go out, the next day you try to make a moves on Yaomomo", Mina added.
Upon hearing Mina's statement, a certain boy with half-white half-red hair give a cold sharp glance to the boy with blond hair. A green-haired boy suddenly butted in, "Kaminari-kun tried to ask Uraraka-san to go out?"
"You don't remember it, Midoriya? It's happened after your first battle training against Bakugou and Iida. When you back to the class after being treated by Recovery Girl," Mina replied.
Iida touch his chin, trying to remember if such thing happened on that day. "I remember Aizawa sensei asked Uraraka-kun and Kaminari-kun to get some books and deliver it to our class in the afternoon."
"Hey, it's a thing in the past. Don't brought it all again! It's embarrassing," Kaminari shout out in protest.
Kyouka fanned her right hand, "Don't worry Midoriya. He tried to ask Uraraka to go out and eat together with him, but as soon as she saw you she forget about what he said".
The remarks made Izuku's flustered, flailing his arms as he stammered, "Eh, I'm not worried or anything. Really."
He started mumbling to himself, "Uraraka-san is an amazing person. So it's unavoidable that she's attracting attention from many boys. Not only beautiful, she's also kind, bright, brave, smart, strong, determined, and brimming with cheer. Actually, the fact that even until now she hasn't had a boyfriend is surprising. Maybe there's many boys asking her out already but I never know since she never told me?"
"Izuku", Mina called out to make him stop his mumbling.
Izuku scratched the back of his head, "Ah, my bad."
All of his friends smile knowingly. Being a classmate for 3 years, they already familiar with his habit. It's truly Midoriya fashion.
Ojiro asked, "It's interesting. So girls hate it if we show interest to many girls? What if we just try to be friendly?"
Kyouka sipped her drink before answering. "Listen guys. Girls can be divided to 3 categories. Those who would have more interest with you if you show that she's special to you. Those who would have more interest with you if you show that you're not interested with her. And those who would not interested with you no matter what you do if you're not their type. Majority of girls fall into the 1st category."
"Girls like it when you are friendly, but if you're too friendly with anyone, she can't feel that she's special," Mina added.
Sero join the conversation. "I'm curious. So what kind of boy that girl usually like?"
"Hmmm... I think every girl has different type. Some of us like the cute type, the others like the sexy type, handsome type and so on. Some prefer sweet and kind boy, the others might be attracted to wild and naughty boy", Kyouka replied.
Kaminari glanced at her, shyly asked, "So who do you think is the most attractive boy in our class?"
She think for awhile before said, "If we talk about a guy who all the girls in our class will agree that he's attractive, I think it's Todoroki."
Hearing his name mentioned, Todoroki responded, "Me?"
Kyouka said all the girls in our class. Does it mean Momo also think I'm attractive? Todoroki can feel his heart racing at the possibility.
Mina replied, "Yup. Beside Todoroki, I think most of us also think highly of Kirishima."
Todoroki frowned at the probability that Momo is also included in "most of us".
Kirishima grinned, "Really? Me too?"
"Wait. I understand about Todoroki, but what's the difference between me and Kirishima? Why the girls like him but not me?"
"Because Kirishima is a sweetheart, Chargebolt. On the other hand, you were frequently being the accomplice of Mineta's pervert activity. It's another big turn off," Kyouka teased Kaminari.
"Ah. It's so frustating", Kaminari throw his hands to rest at the back of his head.
Sato commented, "Handsome guy is indeed different. I wonder if girls found a plain guy like me attractive".
"Don't speak so negatively, Sato. Remember the girls choose you as our Room King? You also have sides that girl like," Kirishima gives his usual breezy grin to Sato and pat his back.
"What are things that girls found attractive from me?" Todoroki's sudden question make the room fall into brief silence.
Kaminari chuckled, "Are you fucking kidding me, Todoroki? Is that supposed to be sarcasm?"
Iida straightforwardly said, "I think I understand those girls. Even as a man I also have no end of respect for your strength and ability," made Todoroki slightly blushing
Kyouka smirked mischievously, "If you really curious, you can ask Yaomomo to explain it to you. She's a high-class girl and she's singing praise for you right and left."
Todoroki feels his face burning although he isn't activating his heat power. Momo praises me? Does it mean she likes me? He hope, more than a friend.
"What kind of praise?" He asked with usual deadpan manner, try not to show that his stomach actually tie in knots by the revelation.
Mina starts explaining, "For example, Yaomomo praise about what you did when our class went to onsen (hot spring) in our summer boot camp last month."
"When Todoroki use his ice power to stop Mineta who want to peek at the girl's bath? I see," Ojiro said.
Sero laughed, "That was hilarious. Although I think how Todoroki nearly frozen him is slightly go overboard. Poor Mineta."
With a goofy grin, Kaminari spout out, "I wonder why you go to such extreme though. Is there any girl in our class that you don't want Mineta to see naked?"
"Huh? It's not like that. I just want to prevent unnecessary problem in relationship between us and the girls." And to prevent a murder too. He would burn Mineta to crisp if he dares to look at Momo's naked body.
"Speaking of our summer boot camp, have you guys heard the latest gossip?" Kirishima's sudden question got everyone attention.
"What gossip?"
"I only heard this from Tetsutetsu, it seems Awase Yosetsu secretly confess to Yaoyorozu in the summer boot camp."
"What?" Todoroki's voice sounds louder than what he intended to.
Sato asked, "Awase? You mean the one who save Momo in our 1st year summer training?"
"Yup! Tetsutetsu accidentally heard when Yaomomo answered Awase in the library yesterday. Something like, 'Regarding what you said to me in summer boot camp, I accept it. Let's go out this Sunday'. I really shocked when I heard that from Tetsutetsu."
Todoroki's heart sank when he heard it.
"You mean Yaoyorozu is dating Awase? Man, I'm so jealous," Kaminari grouched.
"I can already pictured Monoma come to us, aggressively mocked us about how the most beautiful girl in A class fell into hand of boy from B class or something like that," Sero sighed.
"This Sunday? Tomorrow?" Ojiro asked.
"No way! It must be false! Maybe Tetsutetsu misheard it?" Kyouka stared at Kirishima, demanding more details.
"This is the first time we heard about this. You know, it's impossible." Mina commented at the news.
Kirishima replied, "Why do you think it's impossible?"
"Because Yaomomo like... Well, it's something that you guys don't need to know".
"Well, we will know the truth tomorrow. If Yaoyorozu go out together somewhere with Awase, we will notice it."
Todoroki always spend his free day to visit his mom in the hospital. For the past 3 years, their relationship has greatly improved. When he visits, Todoroki will usually tell her his stories about interesting things that happened to him over the past week. Sometimes he will tell her about his friends and their funny antics. Her mother will smile and laugh at his stories, feel relieved that now his boy had many friends.
Although she has apologized, but she still can't forgive herself from giving that burn scar on his son's handsome face. She thought the reason why her son never comes to see her after the accident is because he hate her. If that's the case, she couldn't blame him. She let her hatred towards her husband consume her mental stability, causing her to snap and unconsciously hurting people whom dear to her.
Sometimes she feared what kind of damage he'd develop from his father's cruel training and the traumatic incident that happened in the past. Will he grow up into a man with cold and distant personality? Or will he grow up with so much anger and loath pent up inside of him, burning the people around? Will he be able to having companionship in his life? It turns out her Shouto is forever the Shouto that she know -gentle, sweet and kind-.
Today, her son visit her like usual. Bring her a banquet of fresh flowers, asking about her condition and talk about the stories in home, in his school and his internship. But today it's slightly different. Despite how hard he try to look as calm as usual, she can sense that Shouto is distraught.
"Did perhaps something unpleasant happen to you recently?" Her mom stared at him attentively.
"Nothing. There's no such thing, mom. It's true that the internship is tiring though".
There's no such unpleasant thing happen to him. There's nothing, except the fact that Yaoyorozu is really go out with that Awase bastard today. She told the others that she goes out with him to help him with something. Well, after what Kirishima told yesterday he concluded that she's most probably lying.
Her mother smiles at him. "You're a bad liar, Shouto. Is this something that you're too shy to tell to anyone? For that's why there's mom here. You don't have to feel embarrassed to pour out what was burdening you".
Todoroki is silent for a moment. Wondering whether it's okay to tell his mom about his silly shenanigans.
"Mom, do you remember when I told you about my classmate, Yaoyorozu Momo?"
"The beautiful and intelligence girl? Yes."
"Well, actually... I think I like her. Sometimes I think she likes me too. Both of us strive to be the top heroes, so I thought both of us never put too much thought about romance before. We always concentrated with our training. But it seems now she's already dating someone else."
"Just because she's already dating someone, it doesn't mean the door has been closed for you. Who knows she shortly broke up with him? If you really like this girl, keep send signal to her, Shouto. Make her feel that she's special."
"But mom, whenever I imagine seeing her fall in love with someone else, it's hurt and I didn't know how to handle it."
"Whenever you imagine? Have you seen it with your own eyes? How do you know that she's already fall in love with someone else?"
"Well, I know it from gossip."
His mother let out a little laugh. Todoroki is amused as well as embarrassed to see her mom laugh so easily.
"Mom. It's not funny," Todoroki pouted.
"Sorry. But seriously, Shouto. If it's a gossip, there's still chance that it isn't true. You said earlier that you think she likes you back, right?"
"I'm not sure, mom. She's awfully kind to me, but she always kind to others so I don't know. I heard from her friends that she found me attractive and frequently praises me. Sometimes when I steal a glance at her, I caught her staring at me too. It never occurred to me that she might like someone else. Well, until yesterday."
His phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket. Todoroki pull it and check it out. He got a new message. His eyes widen when he read it.
"What happen?"
"Mom. Yaoyorozu, she texted me."
"Yaoyorozu? What did she said?"
"She asked me what time I will return from the hospital."
Her mom smile. Todoroki reply her text, said he will be back to dorm soon. Not long after, his phone vibrates again.
"She said she's nearby and asked me whether I can meet her in the park near train station when I return from the hospital. She wants to discuss something secretly with me. I wonder why she wants to meet me there. She can discuss anything with me in the dorm."
Her mom grinned, "Maybe she want to say something that she doesn't want your classmate know because it's embarrassing. Like a love confession".
"Mom! She really goes on a date with other boy today."
"Then, why did she texted you at this hour if she really go on a date? Not to mention she asked to meet you."
Todoroki let the meaning sink in.
"Good luck, Shouto"
Todoroki made a little run to Yaoyorozu when he saw her sitting on a bench under the big tree. It's 4 pm but the summer sun is still scorching hot. He carefully took place beside her on the bench. The wind breeze chase away some heat from the atmosphere, cooling them down. But it's done nothing about the heat inside Todoroki's body.
"Todoroki, thank you for agreeing to my selfish request to meet here."
"No problem. I frequently pass this park on my way to the dorm."
He hesitated, but decided to ask her anyway. "I thought you have a date today."
"A date?" She lets out a small giggle. "It seems so many people still misunderstand it although I already explain that I go out with him to help him with something."
She continued, "You know the class president of Class B?"
"Kendo-san?"
"Yup. Awase like her."
Todoroki stunned. Yaoyorozu turned her face to her right to look at Todoroki's face.
"Last month, Awase told me he intended to confess on Itsuka Kendo's birthday and request my help to purchase jewelry with specific design for the birthday present. The jeweler has already sent the jewelry to my house, so I accompany Awase to take it and also to buy other things."
"Oh." Momo is single. The girl that he likes is still single. Todoroki felt a surge of relieve crash in him.
"So, what do you want to discuss about?"
Yaoyorozu stared at her feet. "I asked you to meet here so the others can't bother us. This is a secret that I only told some of the girls and I don't want the other boys to know."
Todoroki's heart is threatening to burst forth from his ribcage. Is this what I think is this? His mom word's all of sudden echoed in his head. 'Maybe she want to say something that she doesn't want your classmate know because it's embarrassing. Like a love confession'. He tries to calm his heart down by taking a deep breath.
"So, what is this secret?" Todoroki secretly practicing to say "I love you too" in his head.
"Me and the girls has devised a plan that we called #SeduceIzuku. Basically, it's a plan to make Izuku Midoriya and Uraraka Ochako -our utterly hopeless almost couple- to get together. For that, we need your help, Todoroki"
"Huh?" What Yaoyorozu said never crossed his mind before so it caught him off-guard.
"I have considered asking help of the other boys like Iida since he's the closest friend of Midoriya and Uraraka, but considering his nature I think it's better to ask for your help."
"So you want to match make Midoriya and Uraraka? Why do you want to do that?"
Yaoyorozu raise her eyes from looking at her feet to looking at Todoroki's face. His face full of questions.
"Because we know Uraraka love Midoriya and from how Midoriya always blush whenever Uraraka is near him, we know that Midoriya love Uraraka too. Since both of them are shy and probably because they're bestfriend, their relationship hasn't really progress to romance. So we feel like giving them a slight nudge."
"How do you guys know that what they feel for each other is love? They might really like each other as bestfriend."
"Todoroki, we can know whether someone is in love or not from their behaviour. When people are in love, they exhibit particular behaviour."
"Such as? If we talk about behaviour, don't you think there's also the possibility that Midoriya like Bakugou?"
"What? Bakugou? But I heard Bakugou made fun of Midoriya since they were still a child. Why would Midoriya love him?" Yaoyorozu surprised at Todoroki's suggestion.
"Well. Love has reasons which reason cannot understand. I just pointed out one of the probability. Don't you think Bakugou is the only one who can incite such powerful emotion from Midoriya?"
There's a brief silent in the air. Yaoyorozu cleared her throat. "If you talk about inciting such powerful emotion, then don't you think there's also a possibility that Midoriya love you?" And the possibility that you like Midoriya too. Yaoyorozu said in her head.
"Huh?" Todoroki caught off-guard for the 2nd time.
"How's your mom?" Yaoyorozu try to change topic from the awkward conversation.
"She's doing fine" Todoroki slightly smile but it's enough to blind Yaoyorozu. She stared at her feet again.
"Okay. I think I will inform the other girls that we will put plan #SeduceIzuku on hold for a moment. Can I still request your help, Todoroki?"
"What kind of help?"
"Would you mind to help us find out about Midoriya's true feeling towards Uraraka?"
"How could I know whether Midoriya think of Uraraka as a friend or more than a friend?"
"Well. I understand that sometimes we are not sure if we really like someone or if we are just really good friends. But there are certain sign that happened when you have a crush or love someone."
Yaoyorozu continue, "Do they seem to occupy your thoughts and your mind a lot?"
I think about you a lot. I daydream about you, thinking about how attractive you are.
"Do you look forward to meet with them again? If you have a crush on someone, generally you want to look your best around them. You want them to have good thoughts of you."
I always wonder what you think of me.
"If you can see someone's faults but it looks so minor to you that you think they are just perfect."
I think you're absolutely wonderful.
"If you tend to get nervous before you see them. If you get flustered, had trouble sleeping, and feel like an emotional roller coaster whenever you think about them, then it's confirmed that you think that person as more than a friend."
My heart feels fluttery. I feel nervousness right in the pit of my stomach when you're near me. Like right now.
"I'm sorry if my question seems weird to you. It's just...I never see an example of loving relationship up close so I don't really understand about romance." Todoroki tried to keep his voice natural. "Since my father is so cruel and abusive to my mother."
Yaoyorozu shocked at Todoroki's statement. She has been hearing that Endeavour had a very violent temper but she never thought that it went this far.
"I despise my father. He only see my mother and me as nothing more than a tool to fulfill his ambition. That's why I swear I wouldn't be a man like him." Todoroki turned his face to his left to look at Yaoyorozu's face. She looked at him with such concern and a strange emotion gathered in his heart. "That's why I told myself. If I ever meet a girl that I love, I would treat her like a queen."
Yaoyorozu's eyes stared at the burn scar over his left eyes and a dread realization hit her. Her right hand moved itself, fondling the burn mark on Todoroki's face. Tears started to form in her eyes as she asked, "Did your father did this to you?"
"No. My father abuses my mother to the point she went through mental instability. She threw boiling water over my left side that resembles my father while crying. That's why he sent my mother to the hospital."
Can't restraint her feelings anymore, Yaoyorozu throw her arms around Todoroki and hug him hard. His back and shoulders is stilled, his arms were held out awkwardly. He could feel Yaoyorozu's body shaking as she cried. Todoroki hug her back and put his hand over her raven hair.
"It must be terrible for you. I'm so sorry to hear that. I can't imagine what it feels like to be in your situation."
"Yaoyorozu.."
Todoroki's voice make her realize what she has done and she quickly let go her hands from his body.
"I'm sorry. My body move without thinking." She wiped out the tears over her eyes.
Todoroki looked at the sight in front of him. There's a little bit of red on Yaoyorozu's eyes and the tip of her nose; her cheeks flushed and there's trail of tears on it. She looks absolutely gorgeous.
"Would you.." He hesitated, take a deep breath. "Would you be my queen?"
Yaoyorozu's eyes widen in surprised. He saw her face turn bright red.
"Sorry I'm nervous, it came out weird. I mean, would you be my girlfriend? When you recite all those signs of people in love, I think it match me. I've liked you for a long time. More than as a friend"
"Todoroki.." She answered him with an innocent peck on his cheeks, "I've liked you for a long time too".
He tilted his head and move forward to kiss her, to feel the sensation when their lips crashed and connected together. She took a sharp inhale and he quickly broke the contact of their lips.
"I'm sorry, that's too fast!" Todoroki gently push her slightly away so he could see her face. He worried if he causes her discomfort with his first attempt to kiss her.
She let out a nervous giggle, "It's okay. I've wanted this for so long."
She cupped his cheeks. He hold her in his arm and went for a deeper kiss, their mouths opened, their tongues meet. She moved her hand to the back of his neck.
He's brushing his tongue against her. Yaoyorozu could feel her heart start racing and she gripped his neck a little tighter. Todoroki's drowning in the warm, wet heat of her mouth.
When they had to pull apart to catch their breath, Yaoyorozu asked while still panting. "Are you experienced?"
"Why do you ask that?" He stared at her red, swollen lips.
"Because all of this seems so natural to you." She whispered.
He kissed her again, this time a little rougher.
"Well.. Let's just said I got a lot of practice... in my dreams"
Yaoyorozu raised one of her eyebrows, "Dreams?"
"Don't mind me", he continued to kiss her under the tree that protects them from the scorching sun.
Yaoyorozu Momo doesn't need to know about his dreams. Not yet.