Another alert rang on her phone. Kairi's fingers flicked up her phone to catch a glimpse of another remark on the incident that occurred well over a week ago. The bulk of the noise from social media and the press had passed, one of the advantages of living in a society that quickly forgot current events. However, there were still a few and the curiosity had become too strong for her to avoid taking a peak. Secretly, she had been followed the QuirKey hashtag even though it was essentially poison to her mental state. The current venomous comment was a colorful remark on her actions, being so young and trying to undertake a more experienced hero's job. She slammed her phone down and wound her hands together so tightly, it was almost as if she was trying to strangle the other. A muffled fire rose in her gut.

"Stop looking at that hashtag," Shoto said. He popped a handful of popcorn into his mouth in the dim common area, as the screen before them flicked images of the movie they had all chosen to watch together with their friends and a few classmates. "I don't like the stuff they're saying about you any more than you do – and that's why you need to stop looking at it."

"I thought it died down," Momo whispered from Kairi's other side.

"It did, but there's still a few people... saying things..." she mumbled, slowly tucking the phone away.

"Shhh!" came Uraraka's harsh sound from where she sat on the far end of the long couch.

"It's easy for you to ignore," Kairi said, dropping her voice even quieter. "Anything about you is almost entirely 'Oh Shoto Todoroki, he's so great! He's just like his dad, so powerful and heroic! Oh what a man he is!'" She fluttered her eyelashes dramatically.

"You don't think that's an insult?" Shoto scoffed. "I'm nothing like my father."

"Well, I know that but they know nothing about your relationship with him and they meant it as a compliment. Sure, there were some posts early on where people defending me, talking my own strength and heroics and thinks like 'Oh what a queen!' and 'We stan strong female heroes!'" Shoto looked over to her with question. She waved it away. "But those were few and far between and the ratio of those comments towards hate-filled ones is... let's just say they're nowhere near yours."

"Wait, I don't understand?" Momo said, turning her body to listen in. "I thought Aizawa purposely left out of the report that you and Todoroki went in alone with no other back-up? I thought he twisted the story to make it sound as if the Pro Heroes and other back-up were coming all along and you just went on ahead." Kairi nodded. It had been true; without informing anyone he purposely twisted the story to sound as if they had a plan all along. No one had known he was going to answers questions without outing them in any way that would get them in trouble. The media treated them just as if they were heroes doing exactly as they were supposed to. That didn't stop the public from weighing in with their own opinions, as usual.

"People are still going to speculate," Shoto said. "We're always going to get some negativity based on our age."

"And the public knows about Kairi's quirk – and not everyone is fond of it," Yuga added from the other side of Momo. She was a lesser celebrity than them, for sure. And possibly not as well loved, but she was a name out there now. A name she didn't appreciate the world knowing, but there was no way around it. Everyone knew her quirk and it seemed for every one who supported her, another was against her and found her evil.

"She's also a girl, ribbit," Tsu said, also engaging in the conversation. Izuku looked over them, sounding mildly engaged in the conversation they were having together.

"Oh my god, oh my god, is she his mother?!" Uraraka gasped, still focused on the TV. Currently, the attention had drawn mostly back to Kairi's issue and only she and Iida were paying any attention.

"What does that have to do with it?" Izuku asked. Kairi picked up her phone from her lap and spun through the hashtag, wincing at the words she read. Shoto huffed before snatching the phone from her hands. He swiveled through the messages, jaw clenched as he scanned them over. He paused on one that made a vein in his temple tighten. He groaned before continuing on. Kairi raised a brow, curious about what he had seen.

"She's... right. Most of these messages boil down to her age, but hardly any of them mention me. They're all about her being young, and emotional."

"Well, to be fair as far as being emotional-" Kairi begin, but Shoto waved a hand to cut her off.

"No, these tweets are not about you being emotional because of your quirk. They're about you being emotional because you're a young girl, plain and simple. Some are more veiled than others, but a lot of these comments are rooted in plain sexism." Her chest flipped, aching. Of course she knew this was the world. And it wasn't as if it were the first time she received such treatment. In fact, it was rather common. "Girls are emotional", society said. And with her quirk being rooted in emotion, people were more than eager to latch onto that stereotype. And unless the world underwent a sudden massive miracle change (which was never going to happen of course) it was something she was going to have to deal with. If she ever became a Pro Hero, the sexism was only going to come at her harder and in full force. The only way she would ever be free of it was to become a hermit – which was becoming a much more appealing idea every day.

"Todoroki is also the son of a well-loved hero," Tsu said. "And if you'll permit me to say it, has something of an internet fan club. They're going to jump to his defense as well."

"And these are the same people who aren't fans of the fact that you were with Todoroki," Yuga also said.

"Yeah..." Shoto huffed, his annoyance channeling through his voice. He didn't seem particularly happy about having an "internet fan club." "It's ridiculous. They're all being superficial... shit, some of these comments are..." His eyes popped at what he saw on the screen and he slammed the phone down on the table beside the arm of the couch. "I'm done with that."

"Why... what did you see?"

"It's not important, and you don't need to see it. Trust me when I say it will only upset you." By the fury of red in his face, whatever he had seen had also greatly upset him. His lips were clenched together, as if holding back barbed information.

"Uh, okay..." Kairi asked.

"Just... don't look at them again," he said. "They'll forget about it soon."

And for a moment, the phone lay abandoned. The next half hour, they returned to the rest of their companions in watching their show. Until Kairi's phone buzzed again. Then twice. Then three times. Her ears pricking at the familiar pattern of being called, she leaned across Shoto and swiped it from the table – to see her mother's name.

"Uh, I... pause.. wait no! Don't pause it, I... I erm... I need to take this!" she yelled out, leaping from the end of the couch and scurrying halfway across the common area before answering the call. "M-mom!"

"Riri!" came the cheery sing song voice of her mother on the other end. "I hope I didn't catch you at a bad time!" Kairi looked back at the curious heads peering from further across the room. She waved at them, encouraging them to keep going.

"No I'm free!" she gasped, surprise having taken her breath. "Just... give me a second to head to my room!"

"Oh you weren't in your room?" her mother asked.

"No I was... I was just finishing up some food downstairs. In the kitchen. But I'm done now!" Powered legs began to leap up the steps, heading for her room.

Shoto could not help his eyes when she launched from the couch. He knew that move, the desperate act to run away and hide. Her mother had called. He hadn't seen the ID but based on previous instances he put his money on it. It had been a long time since she had called outside one of their usual predetermined times; and it was obvious it had been because of the incident that just happened. He tried to pay attention to the show they were watching – some fantasy murder mystery that Kairi had been dying to watch that was the current hot show. Considering how invested she got in shows, it had been worrying how little she paid attention to it and was more concerned about everything happening on her phone. He saw a chase through a forest, and then shook his head as he tried to follow a line of questioning within the mayor's office – but his attention was solely on Kairi. How desperate her voice sounded; proud her mother was called but also scared and terrified. His body clenched, crumbling just under his sternum. The contact she kept with her mother; how could he possibly deny her the relationship with her mother. Wasn't that what he had wanted for so long? Craved? Even after the things she had done... but his mother had her own ordeal that she suffered, that caused her to make the mistakes she did. Could he say that about Kairi's mother? Whereas his mother's intentions were clear in that she truly seemed like she wanted a relationship for the sake of being with her son, Kairi's mother was different. While he had not spoken with her, based on his observances and Kairi's talks about her, it seemed as if she kept ties with her for selfish reasons only. And as Kairi was mentioned repeatedly in the media, she seemed more interested in her daughter.

His insides twisted, thinking about how Kairi knew how selfish it all was and still was willing to take anything she could because she wanted to know her mother so much. Stretched with worry, he looked over to Momo. She was watching Shoto very closely, ignoring the show they had been watching.

"You're worried," she asked.

"About the stuff online?" he said, knowing exactly what she was talking about and choosing to ignore it. "Of course I am, I hate the way they're speaking about her."

"No, I mean I know you do but... it's more than that. Like you're worried about that phone call."

"I'm worried about her," Shoto restated, gesturing in her direction. "I have no idea who is on that phone call. I don't know who she's talking to. It's probably her father."

"She doesn't jump up that way when her dad calls," Momo said. "She would say 'It's my dad, I have to take this.' She wouldn't leave the room as quickly as she did. Besides that, she told us this morning her dad's been in a heavy work zone because he found a snag in the current kidnapping case that may have just broken it. It wouldn't be him." He drew back, defeated by Momo's correct analysis of Kairi and her actions. They had grown quite a bit closer throughout the preparation for the cultural festival. A part of him tightened, fearful of his best friend status being threatened.

"Another press call, maybe?"

"She would have hung up and then thrown her phone across the room."

"Another friend." Momo held her arms out in front on them, emphasizing the length of the couch."

"They're all literally right here." Words stiffened in him.

"Momo, I-"

"Kairi is a private person, and she has her secrets. That's fine, I don't care that she has them. But, judging by your expression you know who's on that call and you're concerned about it. That makes me worried as well." Shoto nodded in response, looking back over at the steps.

"I can't believe my little girl took down an illegal medical practice!" Tabitha shouted happily again. Kairi drummed her fingers nervously across her desk.

"Yeah..." she chuckled. "Though I'm not so sure you can call it much of a medical practice when some of their methods were... well malpractice. And I had help, remember. In fact, we were really screwed til the others showed up."

"Still, I'm not too happy that school allowed just you kids into the building. They didn't even send one with you?" Kairi gulped.

"It was... best for the plan. They underestimated us." She parroted the same thing Aizawa had told her to say.

"Now tell me, this boy that was with you, that's the... Todoroki kid, right? Your friend?"

"Yes..." Kairi crawled onto her bed, pulling into her lap the green teddy bear Shoto had won for her at the festival. Her spirit warmed remembering it.

"He's quite handsome!"

"Mom, seriously..."

"I'm just saying if there's anything between you, I mean..." Her voice held too much peppy playfulness. She was far too enthusiastic about the idea. Embarrassment fluttered through her. Then sadness took her down, clearing her mind as she thought about how badly her mother seemed to want her to date someone. Because that's what the normal thing would be. That's what normal girls do. She poked at the ear of the bear. "That would be great, right? Dating someone in your own class with your own goals? Someone who is already aware of your strengths and weaknesses, who can work beside you and be your partner not just in life but also in heroics?"

"I mean, I guess..."

"And dating someone who is essentially hero royalty! Those are some great connections to have!" Her mind snapped, mind flashing with her mother's true intentions behind all the question.

"Mom, we're not dating! He is my best friend and I care about him very much but there's nothing between us and there will never be!" she spat.

"Uh... okay, I just thought that maybe you might... I mean it would give you so many opportunities." Legs shook as the anger flowed through her – the poor teddy's head twisted in her fist.

"Do you realize you just gave yourself away with that sentence?"

"What... do you mean?" Kairi smirked. Playing dumb.

"First of all, what makes you think that by remaining his best friend wouldn't give me the same opportunities as dating him?"

"I guess it does, but..." There was a gentle tap at her door.

"Kairi?" came Shoto's familiar voice from beyond the door.

"In a minute!" she shouted, covering the phone quickly. "Second, is my dating him really about connections and network?! So it's transactional and meant as a means to an end?! Not about two people genuinely caring about each other and instead you just want me to use him?!"

"Of course not, honey, I am pointing out-"

"And third, and most importantly, you said he was hero royalty, right? Let's talk about what that means for you. You only call me when something big happens and I'm involved. Are you finally telling people in jolly old England that you have a daughter in Japan just because I'm famous? If your daughter was dating the famous and well-loved Shoto Todoroki, what would that mean for you? You would become a celebrity by proxy, correct? You want me to date him, because of what it would mean for you! You're already loving the attention I'm getting, but imagine the attention if I was with Shoto Todoroki!"

"Kairi, do not jump to conclusions!"

"You don't need to have a quirk to be perceptive, Mom!" Kairi screamed.

"You know, I called you to tell you how proud I was of you, but I guess even if you're a hero you still act like a hero."

"Mom, I-"

Click. The door tapped again and Kairi pressed her phone to the top of her bed. She slid off the covers and moved slowly towards the door, pulling it open. Before her stood Shoto, as she expected. And beside him was Momo, looking over his shoulder with a concerned expression.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"'I'm sorry she really wanted to come with..." Shoto said. Kairi opened the door wide, stepping aside to allow them inside.

"Yeah it's... no, actually..." Kairi began. Momo sat in her desk chair and elegantly crossed her legs. Shoto casually sat on her bed, fidgeting with the ear on her stuffed elephant. Kairi sputtered as she paced across the room. Her conscience grew heavy on her, pleading that it was time to be honest. She looked over to Momo, patient and concerned eyes staring back at her. She pursed her lips before breathing.

"Okay. You deserve to know."

"To know what?"

"Momo... I... still talk to... my mother." She waited. Momo blinked, quickly.

"I'm listening." Kairi walked back across her room. She sat on the edge of the bed, right next to Shoto. She looked over to him, as if asking for some encouragement. He placed a warm hand against her back. It tingled and flowed through her, as if he had given her some power of confidence. Another breath, and Kairi finally told Momo everything