Hey guys, sorry it took me so long. Easter vacation xD Please review and let me know what you think. As I go on the chapters will be longer. Thanks again ;)

7.

Friendship

That day, not only did Aizawa have them choose their superhero names, but also told them about their upcoming internships. Those who hadn't been recruited were to choose from a list of pro heroes who were open to interns.
At first, Jen believed she would be one of these until Shouta took her to the side after class and declared she had been recruited.

"What? How?"

The diabolical smile he wore made her uncomfortable. Usually when he made that face it was because he found something extremely amusing.

"Because I suggested it."

The girl went pale and started looking left and right as though she could escape whatever he was going to say next.

"I signed you up with Best Jeanist."

"You bastard..."

Aizawa was still smiling, taking delight in Jen's much expected reaction.

"He immediately consented. I told him everything. He said he would whip you right into shape."

The girl backed away horrified. The first time she had met Best Jeanist, he had tried to put her in Jean clad clothing and had made her sit down in a corner and write a paper of apologies to every pro hero she had disrespected because of her obstinate rebellion. Never would she forget that long weekend where she had been forced to dress appropriately and learn good manners by the book.

"I won't go! I refuse! You said I could choose from a list!"

Her teacher only smiled wider.

"Oh, but you did choose! I submitted the form in your name."

Terrified and disgusted at the same time, she kept backing away as though she were in a horror movie.

"You are the worst, you know that?"

Her adoptive father smiled, eyes closed, as she clasped the terrible form in his hands, giving up to her fate.
Then she walked away, insulting him on her way to the cafeteria.
After a few steps she was surprised to find Todoroki propped up against the wall waiting diligently for her.

"Took you a while."

It was strange, having someone to wait for her, to talk to her and to genuinely want her presence. In her mind and heart, she was exploding with joy and excitement, but outwardly she seemed passive as always.

"You were waiting for me?"

Pushing off of the wall he approached her and stood at her side, pointing to the cafeteria.

"Lunch?"

They had to wait in line for a few minutes since they were late, then they took their trays and finally sat down at an empty table. Lunch time was almost over, so most of the other students had already returned to class, giving them more space to talk.

"Takahashi-Chan, what is your situation with Aizawa-Sensei?"

Direct as always.

True, she had only met him yesterday, still for some reason she believed that it was in his character to ask questions without thinking. It seemed as though he cared little to nothing about what impressions others could have of him. It a question needed to be asked, he would not hesitate.

"I suppose you could say he's my adoptive father."

This stunned him slightly for a moment.

"But he isn't?"

"Not in an official way, but he's always been by my side, so I see no difference."

Jen reached for one of her salmon nigiri, famished. The last time she had been in the cafeteria she hadn't eaten at all and having been in a coma for the past few days, it felt like a long time since she had last had a real meal.

"And what about the other heroes? Why are you so intimate with them?"

Truth be told, the girl was a bit confused about his questions. She had been sure that Shouta would have explained everything beforehand but telling by the look on her new friend's face, it was quite the opposite.

"I lived with a lot of them, at least once. They would take me in when Aizawa was away on a mission or on a field trip or business. I got to know them a lot that way. When he became an official teacher here and was given housing, I came to live here with him and so I found myself spending time with a lot of the teachers here: Mic, Midnight, Ectoplasm, Cementos, Number Thirteen and so on. But before that I was moved around quite a lot. There was also a trial period, where I would spend more months at a time with each hero. I even lived at your house for a while. "

Todoroki nearly chocked on his soba he was so shocked. What on earth was she talking about? He surely had never met her before a few days ago; he would have remembered.

"What are you talking about?"

The girl set down her chopsticks and stared the boy in the eyes, dead serious.

"It was when I was still only seven years old. Eraserhead had to leave on a mission and your father was the only hero available to take care of me at the time. It didn't last long, and it's not a very happy memory, but it's true."

Todoroki was destressed; he wanted to believe her but it seemed impossible that she could have lived there without his knowledge.

"If it makes you feel any better, I don't remember you either. In fact, I don't think I ever even saw you. Your brother, Toya, mentioned that they had another little brother, but that they never saw him but on very rare occasions. I suppose that must have been you, but like I said, I didn't stay long, only a week or so. "

His chopsticks fell from his hand looking conflicted. It was a dark look on him.

" Toya... " he whispered, as though the mere name gave him great pain.
Jen watched as he processed the information and then returned back to normal.

"He was actually the only one I got along with. Your other brother and sister avoided me a lot, so he kept me company. I only saw your father a few times while staying there, even if I had the impression that he was somehow always watching me."

"Toya left."

The bitterness in his words left no doubt about his feelings towards the elder brother, so even if she was curious as to why, she held her tongue. It never felt good to be asked something too uncomfortable.

"Why the heroes? Why weren't you simply adopted if you were alone?"

The girl sighed and her lower lip trembled with frustration as she clenched her teeth and fists.

"I don't know. I was an orphan, but no one ever told me why I was put in the care of the heroes. I always just assumed it was because of my fucking quirk."

It wasn't entirely a lie, but just as he had withheld information about his brother, she preferred to do so with certain aspects of her past, glad he hadn't asked the only question that actually bothered her.

A few moments of awkward silence passed; neither of them knew what to say. They had obviously both touched arguments that made them uncomfortable. The only way to get out of it was to talk about something else.

"What superhero name did you choose in the end?"

Jen examined her rice.

"I don't know yet, because honestly I'm not sure it's worth it. Not until I gain complete control over my powers. Until then, I'm not sure I even qualify as a hero."

Todoroki nodded.

"I understand what you mean. I've decided to work with my father for the internship. Even if I still hate him, I'm conscious of the fact that with his help I can better learn to use my powers. Both of them."

It was comforting in a way to see him struggle with the same problems she had, even if not identical. A smile crept upon her face as warmth filled her heart.

" Why are you smiling? "

He asked with that passive look that made him so endearing to others.

"I just feel... Happy."

That was all she said before the bell rang, indicating the end of lunch hour.
The two picked up their trays and left, talking as they made their way to class.

"Have you decided where to do your internship?"

Jen shook her head, a bit sullen, though she knew it was a lie. For a moment her thoughts went to best Jeanist and a shiver of disgust went down her spine. Maybe pretending it wasn't true for a few minutes would help.

"I'm not sure I should leave school grounds just yet. If I had the choice, I would stay and train with Shouta, but I don't think I can. It makes me nervous to think about leaving his side."

Smiling at the demonstration of intimacy she had with Aizawa Sensei without even noticing it, he turned to her.

"We could train together in the next few days, before the internship so you can get a better grip on your quirk."

Jen stopped in her tracks, a bit taken aback. They had known each other only a few days and now he was offering to help her In such a way.

What is his problem?

It was inconceivable that anyone should want to even be near her, let alone when she was in that…form. It wasn't safe. SHE wasn't safe, why couldn't they understand that?

"Ohi."

Todoroki was staring at her, two different colored eyes bearing into her soul. They spoke to her. He was there to comfort her, to be her friend and to aid her when needed. That's what being a friend meant and he had chosen that path, no matter how hard it would seemingly be. It was incredible how much he could communicate with those eyes. Jen found herself wondering whether the others could see as much as well. Could they read that gaze?

The girl shook her head in surrender.

"Fine. But the minute things get too ugly, you're out."

Shouto nodded and then grabbing her arm, contact which made her blush slightly and pull away indignant, not because she was a girl but because she hated people man handling her, he pulled her into the classroom.