Todoroki nearly lit his math notebook on fire at the sight before him. Before his worksheets on derivatives could completely go up in flames, he took a deep breath and tightened his hold on the girl next to him.
He saw the way her pupils dilated-just the tiniest bit-and tried to mutter an apology at the thin layer of ice secreting from his fingers. It was all he could do to barely keep his Quirk under control upon seeing the #2 Hero waiting at the front gates of U.A.
For a moment, he thought he saw something like fire flick across Yaoyorozu's eyes, but it must have been the reflection of flames against them.
"Endeavor," he choked out, forcing his voice not to shake.
"So this is your girlfriend," the man said instead. He barely spared his son a glance as he examined the girl in question. Flames raged around his eyes-the ones that had always towered above Todoroki, and an urge to hide, to encase them in ice, to do something to shield them sprang up within him, but his arms remained rooted in place. "You're the heir to the Yaoyorozu corporation, aren't you?"
"Yes, sir," Momo replied evenly-her face and voice completely blank. If only Todoroki could say the same for himself. He braced himself for the onslaught of accusations that his ears had grown accustomed to.
"At least, you have a respectable bloodline and good business ties." Here it comes, Todoroki thought to himself. The strategic analysis that had broken him down over the years, split him in half, labeled every inch of his body with a purpose and a number. These were not his fingers before him, but outlets for his Quirk, labeled #1 in dexterity and #3 in strength. And now Endeavor was about to strip apart and inventory his girlfriend in the same exact manner. "But your demonstration at the Sports Festival was less than exemplary. During the Cavalry Battle, you did nothing but follow Shoto's instructions, and in your own fight, you got pushed out of the ring immediately by a bird."
There, hanging in the air, outlined with fire were the very insecurities that Todoroki had spent the past couple months coaxing out of Momo. And the two had spent months refining each other, enduring trial after trial that the school had thrown at them to claw their way to the ring in which they now stood.
On the edge of his vision, he saw tears drip down her face and that was it for his loose hold on sixteen years of anger. His entire left side lit on fire, burning straight through his polished and perfect uniform, though he could hardly care less.
"You have no right to say that!" His vision wavered as he watched his father's figure become a blur of red. "We would have failed the final exam if not for her strategy and quick thinking. She was the one who created the plan to not just escape, but capture and immobilize a pro hero."
"I'm not entirely surprised that you were incapable of passing the exam on your own," Endeavor said instead, arms folded across his chest. "You still have no control over your fire." He paused to gesture at the flames wildly dancing across Shoto's arms. "And your ice alone is too weak to provide a proper offense or defense. I suppose I'll have to wait for my grandchildren, and hope they're at least half as disappointing as their parents."
He was turning back to leave when Momo spoke.
"Endeavor," she said and the words were eerily calm. The tears were still fresh on her cheeks but Shoto realized that the expression on her face was completely unfamiliar to him. The look in her eyes was one of… rage? She was crying from pure anger, and he was sure now that there was fire in her pupils.
Momo had seen her fair share of ridiculous and indifferent adults. She'd grown up with the names and faces of corporation owners branded onto her mind, and a smile forever plastered on her face. Yet nowhere in that sea of dressed-up, careless adults had she ever met anyone as incapable of… feeling. The man before her seemed unable to even fake human decency.
"You have no right to intrude on Shoto's private life like that. The only time you ever bothered to watch your son's progress was at a national event where your absence would have stained your reputation. Perhaps if you spared him just a second of your time, you would see what a capable hero your son is growing into, and at least give him the respect he deserves if you cannot afford love." Both Todorokis seemed taken aback by her words, but she held herself tall with her mouth drawn into a firm line. She picked up Shoto's discarded hand from its limp position at his side and gave it a tight squeeze.
There's silence for a few moments and then slowly, Endeavor started to clap, laughing under his breath. Momo stared him down for a few more moments before he eventually folded his hands and gave her an eerie smile.
"I used to be like that." Somewhere in his eyes she saw the glimmer of an emotion. "You'll learn." And then he walked back to the entrance, a blur of blinding red as he faded into the distance.
"Shoto, are you okay?" she asked earnestly, eyes wide as she tightened her grip on his hand. He's still frozen in shock by the way she fended off the monster that had haunted him his entire childhood. He licked his lips as he tried to regain control and pulled her into a clumsy hug.
"Now I am."