A few days has passed since then. Midoriya returned to class and they were introduced to U.A.'s Big Three and along with that the system of work study. The next day after that, Bakugou also returned to class, which means he can continue his training with Todoroki. Right now, they're patching up after training before they go home.

Truthfully, Todoroki had been somewhat distracted for these past few days. Between the studies and training, he still had to take care of Yuki. Well, take care might be a stretch, it's more like he had to watch over her to make sure she doesn't break down again. Sure, she's not a little girl who needs constant supervising, but there's also an urge to just watch her, just in case.

Yuki has also been distracted by everything going on in her family life. Her focus has been shattered and her mind is all over the place. Some of her grades dropped even if not drastically. She made more mistakes in training than usual. She spaces out frequently, and she's been gloomy and distant from the class.

Todoroki wants to cheer her up, but what should he do? He's giving her space as she asked, but... it doesn't feel right. He knows Yuki is doing her best, yet not much improvement is seen, if there is any. She gets worse with each passing days, little by little.

"Stop spacing out and hurry and change, you bastard!" At Bakugou's scolding, Todoroki returned to reality to see the ever-permanent scowl of the explosive boy.

"Sorry." Todoroki apologizes and he picks up his pace. Then, and idea popped in his mind. He asked Midoriya and Iida for advice about Yuki, but why not Bakugou?

"Do you know what Shimokaze do when she's sad?"

"Hell if I know? She's never sad, she's always the one doing the cheering up." Bakugou grumbled. Ah, it's not very helpful in the end.

"Try taking her to a cat cafe. She's obsessed with those places." Oh, nevermind. That's new information. Helpful.

"Alright, thanks." "Just hurry up and get changed!"

()()()()()

"To be or not to be, that is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune."

In the dorm, Yuki, Tsuyu, and Yaoyorozu are together in the common room while the rest of their classmate has retreated to their own room. It was their turn to fold the laundry for the girls of the class. Yuki had the smallest pile compared to the other two, maybe in consideration of her burdened mind, so she finished earlier. Now, she is sitting down on an armchair with her head thrown back and an arm covering her eyes.

"Or to take arms against a Sea of Troubles, and by opposing, end them. To die, to sleep, no more. And by a sleep, to say we end the heart-ache, and the thousand natural shocks that flesh is heir to. 'Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished." Yaoyorozu finishes. Worried, she turned to her. "Are you alright, Shimokaze?"

"What was that?" Tsuyu asks, puzzled by the sudden English.

"That was part of a soliloquy by Prince Hamlet from Shakespeare's Hamlet. Act three, scene one." Yuki answers. "And I'm okay. I will be okay, anyway. I have to."

"I understand why you asked, but what does it have to do with the soliloquy?" Tsuyu asks.

""To be or not to be" is usually interpreted as "is it better to live or to die." Hamlet was not satisfied with life and its hardships, but he is also unsure of what death has in store." Yaoyorozu explained. "I'm very concerned, Shimokaze. What's troubling you?"

Yuki huffed. She removed her arm from her face and sat up straight. She turned to face Yaoyorozu. "Before you start having thoughts, I'm not gonna do anything crazy. I'm just... thinking."

"You should always tell someone if something is in your mind, especially if it's bothering you." Tsuyu tells her, ever so kind and supportive. Yaoyorozu nods in agreement. And while Yuki appreciates the gesture, she can't say anything. She can't tell them Aizawa is her foster father, she can't tell them Iroha is her mother. Though, nothing really stops her anymore.

"It's alright. Thanks." Yuki says. Just then, the front door opens and closes. Todoroki and Bakugou enters the room, face bruised and battered from training. And while the two girls are concerned, Yuki cringed inwardly. Just what are those band aid all over their faces?

"Did you two patch up on your own?" She asks.

"Yeah, it's part of the training." Todoroki answers.

"You two need more training." Yuki shakes her head, standing up and walking to the kitchen. "Sit down, Katsuki!"

"I don't need it!" Bakugou shouts as he walks away, but Todoroki drags him to the sofa, ignoring the violent and loud protests he was screaming out. In the end, he was sat down with arms crossed and teeth gritted. Todoroki sat down beside him, making sure he won't try to run away.

"What do you think?" "STOP ASKING ME!"

"Did something happen?" Tsuyu asks.

"I want to take Shimokaze out, to cheer her up." Todoroki answers, quite carelessly at that. Ignoring the baffled look the two girls are giving him, he continues, "I'm thinking of taking her to the pool. But Bakugou doesn't think it's a good idea."

"I have to say I agree. Did you forgot that Shimokaze can't swim, Todoroki?" Yaoyorozu asks. Todoroki shakes his head.

"I think that's great. You can teach her to swim. Swimming is fun." Tsuyu easily agrees. "And it would be very cute."

"What would be cute?" Yuki chimes in as she returned with a first-aid kit and ice packs in her hands.

"NOTHING!" All but Todoroki had shouted out. The pair blinked, caught off guard by the sudden loud exclamation. But Yuki shrugged it off easily. She sets down the first aid box on the coffee table. She gave the ice pack to Todoroki and goes to tend to Bakugou first.

"I think Lizzie with a bow collar would be cute. I don't know if she'll like it though." Yuki says. "What do you think?"

"I don't care, stop asking me for advice on stupid questions." Bakugou grumbled.

"That was a very serious question, mind you. Lizzie doesn't like just any types of collars on her."

"You and this half-and-half are literally no different."

"Well they say soulmates are one soul split apart. It's kind of sad when you think about it." Yuki shrugged. She finished dressing Bakugou's wounds and moved to Todoroki. While she tends to him, Tsuyu and Yaoyorozu can't help but giggle at them, loving how casual they are with each other. There's no awkwardness or shyness in the current moment.

"Girls, please, stop giggling for a minute. What got you all so giggly?" Yuki sighed, unable to focus at the task at hand. She left for two seconds and things already happened. It's not that she mind, it's just that she gets very curious.

"Why don't you ask Todoroki?" Tsuyu suggests.

"Me?" Yuki turns to Todoroki. The boy blinked, seemingly dumbfounded. "What do I know?"

"There's something you want to ask, right?" Tsuyu says suggestively. Yaoyorozu muttered under her breath, wondering if it's okay to ask her this fast. "Oh..." Todoroki mumbles, nodding.

"Ask me what?" Yuki tilts her head.

"If you want to go out with me." Todoroki answers.

And he was met with silence.

It was more of a statement than a question. Well, an answer, actually. Yuki who had just finished tending to Todoroki's wound completely froze at that. Even the other three was silent, watching carefully for her reaction. While Todoroki himself felt his stomach sink. Too soon. It's too soon. Definitely too soon.

"Go out... like... a date?" Yuki manages to say. And then, it was Todoroki's turn to space out.

"Is... is it a date?" He asks, looking around for help. And the only thing he gets in reply was a smack to the head by Bakugou who shouted, "YOU FUCKING IDIOT!"

"Stop being so violent, Katsuki!" Yuki says defensively, pinching at his thighs. "THAT HURTS, FREAK!" "Shut up or I'll make you shut up!"

"I only asked because that's what dating couples do..." Todoroki says to Yaoyorozu and Tsuyu, ignoring the bickering of Yuki and Bakugou. The two girls sighed simultaneously. Hopeless. He's hopeless.

"Are you two not dating?" Yaoyorozu asks, trying to help.

"Is there a need for us to be dating?" Yuki is the one to ask this time, now she's also ignoring Bakugou. "We are soulmates, after all."

Yeah... they're hopeless.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

heya! rica's here! just a bit of preview/intro for the next chapter! see you all, hopefully in the weekend!