Kyouka's quirk was a convenient one. If she wanted, she could use it to spy on her enemies, obtain the answers for upcoming tests, and get caught up on the latest school gossip. Despite the temptation, she knew that people had a right to privacy, so she refrained from using her quirk for her everyday whims and desires. However, when she saw her best friend tuck behind a wall in the courtyard after class—following a flash of red and white hair—she couldn't resist.
The two had been spending a lot of time together in the past couple weeks. Although few others noticed, the tiniest behavioral changes from her best friend were like sirens to Kyouka. She'd seen the two sneak off to gym practice almost daily, seen the two text back and forth when not together, and seen the ways they'd each unknowingly steal glances at each other during class. All these were telltale signs of an interaction becoming much more intimate than either had originally intended. Kyouka had been wanting to interrogate Momo about the exact nature of their relationship, but she'd never had the proper opportunity. When she saw the two furtively slip away yesterday, she didn't think twice about using her quirk. She had expected to hear some sort of romantic confession.
What she overheard was worse.
"Todoroki-san, I can't believe this."
"I know it sounds stupid, but i I guess I just got caught up in the heat of the moment. I wanted to scope out a possible route for me to sneak into the hospital and see her, and I did."
"Still, you won't be able to do this forever. We'll figure out a way to resolve this issue."
"You don't have to get involved. Besides, getting caught isn't my main concern right now. As I was slipping out back, I saw a couple of guys hanging around the corner. I got this weird vibe from them. At first, I thought I was just panicking about being caught red-handed, but the feeling didn't go away after I hightailed the scene. I know I might be overreacting, but it just felt a bit unnatural."
"No, you should listen to your gut instinct. If you thought of it as odd, then you should tell this nurse friend of your's, and she can report the incident."
"Yeah, you're right. I will. I'm a bit surprised, though. You're not scolding me, at least not as much as I thought you would. What gives?"
"Well, after everything you told me, let's say that I'm not quite sure what's 'right' or 'wrong' anymore."
Kyouka deliberated what she should say to the U.A. scholar walking beside her. They were on their way to the subway station since their internship offices were only two stops away from each other on the same line. As they sat on the bench, waiting for the metro, Momo noticed her friend's unusual silence. With a concerned look, she placed a hand on Kyouka's shoulder.
"Are you okay?"
"Yaomomo, what exactly are you getting into with Shouto?"
Momo lifted her hand away from Kyouka. She seemed taken aback by the sudden question. Kyouka could sense Momo's confusion, but she didn't hide the frustration in her voice. As her best friend, she had to look out for Momo's against villains and peers alike. Although she initially teased Momo about the possibility of her desire to "repay her debt" to him be out of some girlish crush, when that possibility became all too real, Kyouka couldn't help but feel protective of her best friend. Kyouka didn't deem half the U.A. boys worthy of Momo because she didn't believe that they would truly see Momo as a person rather than an object for their own hormonal desires. Until recently, she believed that Momo shared that same strain of common sense. Momo had never shown any interest in her male peers, which made her constant pastime with Shouto all the more perplexing to Kyouka. Now, her pastime with Shouto had gone far beyond and become borderline illicit accomplice activity.
"Your debt should be repaid by now, so why are you trying to help him sneak into the hospital?"
"You eavesdropped on us, didn't you?"
"Yaomomo, I don't like to breach your privacy either, but he's coming to you for advice on bypassing hospital security for God's sake."
"First off, he wasn't asking for my advice. I suggested to him that he go back to the hospital and just see if the receptionists would cut him some slack. It wasn't like I predicted he'd snoop around and try to figure out a way to sneak into the hospital."
"And you're just going to let him? What about the rules?"
"I don't like breaking them either, but when push comes to shove, I'm not afraid to get my hands a little dirty."
This stern comment hushed Kyouka, who realized that Momo was referencing the covert operation to rescue Katsuki, the one that Kyouka had known about but had been too timid to participate in. Kyouka chastised herself for lacking Momo's conviction. No matter who it was, Momo would always try to help anyone in any small way she could. When Shouto needed a confidant, of course, Momo wouldn't refuse him.
"Gomen'nasai, I just don't want to see you get roped into something that lands you in trouble," Kyouka explained, softening her tone.
"That's okay, I understand where you're coming from. Like I said, I don't want him to do things the illicit way if there are better alternatives. If I promise you that I won't let myself be negatively affected by any of this, will you feel a little better?"
"Think about yourself first."
"I am. You know I don't fight battles I don't think I can win. I'm trying to help him because I want to, not because I feel obligated."
"What about your 'debt' to him? If that's not it, then what is it?"
"There are no such things as debts when it comes to friendships."
Kyouka didn't respond. They waited in silence until they felt the breeze from the decelerating train blow by them. As they walked into the cart and took their seats, Kyouka struggled to find a proper response to Momo's answer earlier. Baka, she's trying to help Todoroki deal with his crap, the same way she would do for me, Kyouka admonished herself. How could she have not seen it earlier? What started off as a debt to repay turned into a genuine friendship, one marked by deep trust in each other. Shouto was willing to confide in Momo what he wasn't to others. While Kyouka had viewed that as a burden to Momo, Momo viewed it as a challenge they'd tackle head-on together. With this realization, Kyouka sighed, realizing that—unlike herself—Momo was a true hero.
"Jirou-chan, this is your stop."
Kyouka's thoughts were interrupted by the stopping of the train and Momo's reminder. She quickly collected her things, stood up from her seat, and got in line to exit. Despite the awkward silence that had enveloped them during the ride, Kyouka couldn't let this miniature confrontation go unresolved. With a newfound appreciation for Momo's care for her companions and understanding of her reasoning, she turned around to face Momo, softening her previously critical facial expression to a empathetic one.
"Yaomomo, you know I got your back, right?" She asked, earnestly.
Momo smiled with a knowing look and nodded. With this silent pact between them, Kyouka felt a small wave of relief wash over her as she slung her bag over her shoulder and waved Momo goodbye.
A/N: Next chapter, back to legit TodoMomo ft. Mineta, who's gonna get what he deserves when karma bites back XD
As always, please review!