"Alright," the teacher insisted, "Somebody start talking."

Kirishima, Midoriya, and Iida shared flustered glances. The freckled boy nearly jumped out of his skin as Aizawa called his name.

"Midoriya."

Trembling, the green-haired boy walked toward his sensei's side. The tired teacher continued, staring into the flames as he spoke.

"Bakugo mentioned your name specifically. What do you know?"

Midoriya swallowed hard. What he wouldn't give for a glass of water right now.

"Uh," the young hero began, "Okay…"

He glanced at Todoroki as he spoke: not the flames, but his distressed expression.

"We were prepping for the party," Midoriya mumbled, "And we noticed Todoroki was gone. He'd gone out to get firewood—"

"Without permission," Aizawa intruded severely, "Evidently."

Midoriya shyly bobbed.

"Y-yes."

"Mhm," Aizawa grunted curtly, "Go on."

"A-around the time I went to fetch snacks—"

"Also without permission," the teacher snarked.

'Alright,' Midoriya thought, 'You made your point.'

"Well," the green-haired student continued, "When I got back, Todoroki was still gone. But Shoji found him in the courtyard. So, I went out to get him."

Aizawa nodded.

"What was he doing out there?"

Midoriya's brow furrowed. This would be a tough one to explain.

"…Nothing? A-at first. He was just… sitting out in the storm. But then, when I started asking him more questions, he got… defensive? Like, he wasn't quite like himself."

"How so?" Aizawa inquired. Even Iida and Kirishima leaned in closer to hear.

Midoriya paused. His stare was still locked on an unwell Todoroki.

'Do I tell them about what I saw you do? How you almost called me… No. No, that'd embarrass him. I can't do that, I—'

"Midoriya."

"Huh?!"

Aizawa's deadpan tone shook him back.

"How so?" he repeated, patience evaporating from his tone.

"H-he," Midoriya continued, "He was trying to use his fire quirk. It… looked like it was almost painful for him. Probably—"

"-Due to the prolonged exposure to the cold. Fine deduction, young Midoriya."

Midoriya turned around, as the voice did not belong to Aizawa. There, the blond-headed, professional hero, Yagi "All Might" Toshinori, greeted him with a clap on the shoulder. The other teens in the room couldn't help but cheer, "All Might!"

"Oh, great," Aizawa droned, "The celebrity's on the case. 'Thought you'd be gone on a winter vacation tour by now. How'd you end up here?"

Grinning, the former Number One hero jested.

"A good hero never reveals his secrets," he winked.

Aizawa blinked.

"That's magic."

Toshinori shrugged, "Good hero work is kind of like magic, isn't it?"

Aizawa sighed. He turned to the students.

"Common room. Now."

At Aizawa's word, the boys saluted.

"Yes, sir!"

Both Kirishima and Iida turned on their heels, leaving immediately. Midoriya, however, shuffled in place a bit. Aizawa took notice.

"Midoriya," the teacher stated, "You're sure you told us everything?"

Nervously, Izuku fumbled with his hands. They were shaking a bit. All Might's brow softened.

"Young Midoriya," his mentor added, "If we want to help Todoroki, we need all of the information we can get. If there's something you know, we promise to keep it secret."

Again, Midoriya looked at Todoroki. Then back at All Might.

"This might not help," the teen mentioned, "But… I think this might have to do with… Todoroki's family? I-I dunno. He really didn't get the chance to tell me much, but… But I think he's been through a lot."

Midoriya sniffled. His throat muscles ached as he choked back warm tears.

"He looked really out of it," Izuku whimpered, "P-please don't tell him I told you, but… I think he almost called me 'Mom'. I think… I think something bad happened to him. A-and, now he's sick, and—"

A few coughs trickled out of him as he lightly sobbed. All Might rummaged through his coat pocket for a handkerchief.

"Easy there," he hushed, handing him the tarnished cloth. He watched the teen clear his throat and blow his nose. By the look of Midoriya's own rosy complexion, All Might could tell his charge wasn't feeling so hot himself. His large, bony hand pressed against the freckled teen's forehead.

"Hmm," All Might hummed, "You're a bit warm yourself, young Midoriya… Y'know, I smelled some soup cooking when I came in. Why not grab yourself a bowl and hit the couch?"

The student attempted to look past his teachers to Todoroki.

"Midoriya," Aizawa insisted, raising a hand, "We'll take it from here. All Might's right. You need rest. We'll let everyone know how Todoroki's doing as soon as we can."

Ceasing his sniveling, Midoriya shook his head. He quickly bowed to his teachers as he left. Toshinori waited for the boy to leave before turning to his colleague.

"Well," the former Number One hero pondered, "What do you make of it?"

Aizawa continued to stare at the teen's flaming side.

"'Not sure, Toshinori. His flames aren't getting any higher."

"Well, that's fine and good," Toshinori replied, "But the boy's still got fire shooting out of him. It… It's quirk-activated, right? Can you—"

"Clever thought," Aizawa chimed, "But I already thought of that. My quirk only works with eye contact."

Again, Todoroki groaned and coughed unconsciously. His tearing eyes were still shut tight. Toshinori wince at the boy's uneasiness.

"Poor kid."

"You see the dilemma," Aizawa added, "Besides, it's not his quirk that's causing this. He's clearly got a fever. That's what's stoking the flames. My quirk won't be able to stop this, temporarily or otherwise, unless that fever comes down. And with Recovery Girl gone, I think—"

"Christmas in the hospital?"

Aizawa shut his own eyes.

"Only if we can't bring the fever down. Besides… I'm not sure how we can even move him, in this state."

"With him being so sick?"

"With the flames, you idiot," Shota snapped as he drew nearer to the teen, "Speaking of which… the flames have only burned through his clothes. His bed is untouched."

All Might quirked an eyebrow. Kneeling beside his fellow teacher, he got a closer look. He studied the opal cloth, rubbing the sheet with his thumb and forefinger.

"Hmph," he remarked, "The material. Fire retardant bedding?"

"This stuff ain't cheap," Aizawa added, "'Much too pricey for a high school student's allowance."

Grimly, Toshinori scrubbed his chin.

"Probably reasonable on a Pro Hero salary, though."

He looked to Shota.

"Especially a Number Two Pro…Who's moving to the Number One spot."

Aizawa squinted.

"You don't think—"

"I've got a phone call to make," All Might interjected, rising to his feet. Aizawa yanked at his sleeve before he could go. Aizawa's eyes were red and piercing.

"Don't bring him here," Shota barked.

All Might stared: blinking as a chuckle erupted.

"You really do think I'm an idiot."

Aizawa, with a contemplative look, groaned as Toshinori exited. Still grinning, the Symbol of Peace made his way through the common area. On his way to the door, he briefly overheard the students' jabbering: especially a burly Bakugo and high-strung Iida from the kitchenette.

"'Cuz, I knew you were all bein' a bunch of pansies, that's why!"

"Yes, but you could have told me you were getting the teachers!"

'Hmm,' Toshinori thought, 'Good thing there's a long table between 'em.'

"Sit," All Might bellowed. This forced the two scholars into a seat – bringing the rest of 1A to vocally sigh with relief as the bickering ended. Iida and Bakugo looked like bad puppies: scrunching their faces in dissatisfaction.

"Good," the teacher nodded, grinning again, "Stay just like that 'til I get back."

"What?!" Bakugo screeched, "I'm not a damn dog!"

"Yes, All Might," Iida agreed, "Even I think—"

"Hey!" All Might snapped, waggling a finger.

"Discipline," he urged, "It's part of hero-training. It's…y'know… Important."

'Wow,' he thought, 'Great practical teaching theory application there, Toshinori.'

The two students couldn't help but glare as the pro shimmied out the door.

"I won't be long," he stated, "Remember – 'til I get back'!"

The door lightly shut. There was a thick silence in the air. Bakugo eyed up Iida.

"You know I hate you, right?"

Iida sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Noted."

He didn't know the whole story, and part of him didn't want to. He was the Number One hero now, sure – but that doesn't change his past.

Toshinori, sitting against the hallway's wall, stared at the 'E' section of his cell phone's contact list. Truthfully, he wasn't even sure how he got the phone number in the first place. His thumb hovered over the green 'call' button. There wasn't even an image for him. Just a big 'E'.

The hero shook his head.

"Get it over with," he huffed.

His thumb slammed down – perhaps, a bit hastier than he would've liked. As he held the device to his ear, questions flooded his brain.

'Crap… what do I tell him? How much should I tell him?'

He knew the situation was delicate: just not exactly how delicate. Delicate enough that the boy struggled to even use his father's quirk, that's for sure. And Shoto's mother. What about—

"'The Hell do you want?"

'Too late,' All Might pondered, 'Let's do this.'

"Impressive," All Might commented, "Y'sound just as pleasant over the phone."

He could hear Enji Todoroki's hot breath seeping through the receiver.

"Get it out," Endeavor howled, "'M busy."

"Quick question, then. Simple, really."

"Out with it."

"Have you… ever had a fever?"

A staticky pause was broken by the Number One hero's bellowing.

"What the Hell kind of question is that? I don't have time—"

"Make time," Toshinori rivaled, "What happens? When you have a fever? Or overheat? How do you cool off?"

Again, radio silence. Enji hissed through the line.

"I'm not tellin' you a damn thing."

Toshinori was struggling to maintain the calm tenor of his voice.

"What if it's not for me?"

"Then, who? Cut the crap."

This time, All Might was the one to hesitate. He brought the phone's transmitter as close as he could to his mouth as he whispered, "Shoto."

Toshinori was shocked to hear a deep chortle come through the other end.

"Why, 's he sick?" Endeavor replied nonchalantly, "'Need me to come down to—"

"Nope," Toshinori rebuked quickly, his own nerves firing up, "No, just looking for some advice here. Not sure why I called, to be honest."

Nearly clicking the red "end" button himself, All Might could hear a husky "Wait", shooting from the phone.

"What?" Toshinori snapped, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

The murmur of a reply came through.

"Wet towels."

The former Number One hero's nose crinkled.

"Did I hear you say—"

"Wet. Towels. And lots of 'em. Suffocates the flames… Brings the fever down."

Toshinori nodded in earnest.

"Any other tips?"

"That's all I got. His mother might have more, though."

"Mhm," Toshinori grunted, "Yep. Got it."

He half-expected Endeavor to hang up right then. Still, he stayed on the call.

"'He got the sheets?"

All Might's mouth drew in a straight line.

"He did."

"All Might," Endeavor croaked, "You…Uh…"

Toshinori wasn't sure if it was static or stammering he was hearing. He rolled his eyes.

"Look, I'll call if we… need anything else."

Another pause burned the line. A sure sign that Endeavor had heard him. Then, the click of an ended phone call. Toshinori let out a deep breath.

"Wow, what an exhausting man."

Hopping up from the floor, All Might jogged back to 1A's common room with a mission in mind.

'Towels,' he kept saying, 'Wet towels. Well, if that's what the doctor ordered…'

Toshinori panted as he ran up to the entrance. The moment he walked in, it wasn't long before he heard—

"God, you think you're so damn mature—"

"Well, I'm certainly behaving more maturely than you at this juncture!"

"'Juncture' my ass!"

"That is highly inappropriate!"

The hero groaned. Still in their seats, Bakugo and Iida were red in the face: at each other's jugulars as if he'd never left. Toshinori knew the tactical approach to this situation.

"OW!" Bakugo cried as All Might pinched his ear.

"H-hey!" Iida yelped, receiving the same treatment.

"'Got a job for you boys," the teacher instructed, dragging the two with his stride, "Where's your shower room and towels?"

The two fiends glanced up at the smiling hero dumbfoundedly.

"What?!" they yelled simultaneously.

He knew he wasn't supposed to, but he couldn't help himself. Quieter than he'd been all day, Midoriya snuck through the common room to the dormitory halls – undetected by All Might, thanks to Iida and Bakugo. One slipper slid in front of the other, creeping carefully all the way.

'Finally,' Izuku thought, wiping sweat from his brow, 'Made it.'

Todoroki's door was a mere foot away. Midoriya's precision had to be completely accurate so not to be spotted by Aizawa. His movements couldn't be too quick – that would alert him. Nor could they be too slow – he'd get caught. First move: the head.

'Easy now… Just a peak.'

Lucky for Midoriya, the door to Todoroki's room was wide open. His moss-green hair brushed the door frame before he could see anything. Then, with green eyes peering in, he'd made it.

'Yes!'

Though, to his dismay, he still caught the flickering of flames coming from the room.

'No.'

Aizawa's back was turned to the doorway. Midoriya had hoped he'd keep it that way. Unfortunately, the teacher was also blocking Izuku's vision.

'Hard to tell what's happening in… Uh oh…'

Midoriya scrunched up his nose as it prickled.

'Gah, c'mon, not now! Don't sneeze, don't snee-'

"h'Hi'xgt'sh!"

Barely able to stifle it, Midoriya sighed.

'Still in the—'

"Gesundheit," Aizawa called.

'…Clear.'

Pointless to hide now, Midoriya poked his head in.

"Uh," the teen sniffed, "Th-thank you."

Aizawa continued to watch Todoroki as he spoke with his pupil.

"What did I tell you, problem child?"

"I know," Midoriya gulped, coming into the room, "But I—"

"You're worried. I get it. But that's not gonna do him any good. Or yourself."

Midoriya lowered his head.

"You're right."

For the first time that night, Aizawa peered away from Todoroki. Midoriya looked rough, and not too different from his classmate: nose and cheeks were reddened, his eyes were bloodshot and bag-ridden. The kid needed a nap. Even his voice sounded fatigued.

"He's usually so strong. It's hard seeing him like this."

The professor looked back to Todoroki.

Aizawa assented, "Heroes see this kind of thing all the time."

Midoriya looked up at his sensei.

"Does it get easier?"

Aizawa blinked.

"No."

"h'H'Ri'isshu!"

Todoroki's sneeze was the first noise they'd heard out of him in hours. Unfortunately, this brought with it much more trouble.

"G'raaah! N'yaaah!"

Tossing in his bed, Todoroki began to wail as he thrashed about. Several flames shot up about three feet – raging with intensity and color. And they were not lowering.

This brought both Aizawa and Midoriya to their feet. The green-haired teen's eyes expanded.

"Wh-what's going on?!"

"Not sure," Aizawa replied, forcing Midoriya behind him, "But it can't be good…"