.o0o.

Todoroki sat in his room, looking at the text.

Nazumi Hanae (7:13 PM):

Yes im home sage. No need to call anyone

*Safe

Sorry for the delay. I was having dinner.

He didn't believe you for one second. He knew that you were a roundabout person. He knew that you didn't like revealing parts of yourself.

If you were abused, which was probable, he understood. He wouldn't pry.

So he responded.

Todoroki (7:14 PM):

Ok. Have a good evening.

He would figure things out a little bit more tomorrow. He would talk to you about it. See if there's a safer place for you to be, a safer way for you to live.

But he realized as he flopped onto his futon, that wouldn't be possible until they got married. And he was sure that you would love that idea.

Yes, he was being sarcastic.

One way or another, the situation was out of his control. Just like everything else in his life. Of course, there was control, it just didn't belong to him. He hated it. He hated being out of control, he hated not being able to help. Even if he wasn't the driving force or the leader, the fact that there was nothing he could do killed him.

But that was how it was. If you wouldn't let him help you, and he had no control over the situation, there was nothing he could do.

But, like he thought before, he would figure it out tomorrow. He would talk with you-search you down if he had to. He knew where your classroom was, he knew that you had the same lunch break as him. He would ask you to sit with him.

Yeah. That would work.

.o0o.

You were almost late to school this morning.

You woke up late, you didn't wash your first uniform so you would have to do that tonight, you couldn't find your second one or your concealer for your bruise, the Twins woke up early again and were ill because of how much food they ate the night before, Father was berating Shina about not doing the dishes correctly, and your hair ties were missing.

Everything was perfect.

Thankfully, Kenta was cooperative enough to assist you in finding your headband for you, so you could at least have that.

You were in the limo and going through your checklist. Homework, check. Backpack, check. Syllabus, check. Signed? Eh, you knew how to fake a signature. Hair tie?

Ugh...

You gasped. You remembered you had an ally. You grabbed your phone.

Hanae-Chan (7:37 AM):

Hey, Cataka! It's Hanae. I was wondering if you have a hair tie i can use today? I'll return it when i can find mine :)

To your surprise, she responded within seconds.

Cataka (7:37 AM):

Sure thing! One question tho

Hanae-Chan (7:37 AM):

Go for it

Cataka (7:37 AM):

Do you have fleas?

...

What?

Cataka (7:37 AM):

Uh, i mean lice

Or both

You know

Gotta be careful lol

You weren't really sure how to respond. Fleas? Why would anyone have fleas for any reason? Lice was understandable...

Either way, you shook your head.

Hanae-Chan (7:38 AM):

No for both

Cataka (7:38 AM):

Well then yeah! Ik it sounds weird, but soemthing crazy happened last summer that i DO NOT wantt o relive lol

Hanae-Chan (7:38 AM):

Sounds like it lol. Thanks so much! I owe you one!

Can you meet me at the girl's bathroom? The on ein the business wing?

*One in

Cataka (7:38 AM):

No problem! See you soon! =^..^=

Hanae-Chan (7:38 AM):

3

Oh, thank the Lord above. You would be okay. You wouldn't overheat.

She was a lifesaver.

You were able to rush your way to the gate, and make your way inside.

You speed-walked to the business hall, your hair still down. You felt so self-conscious...

You gathered it all in your hands and held it above your head. You caught sight of Cataka and she waved at you, ushering you into the bathroom.

"Man, this looks kind of urgent," she said casually. "Do you have something wrong with your hair?"

You looked at her. "Uh, no. My hair overheats me because of my quirk. I, uh...It also makes me self-conscious...It's a...religious thing, you know? Like...Hair is a more intimate feature than most people think it is. So I keep it up. I know it sounds strange, but it's what I believe."

"Oh."

She handed you the hair tie and you let your hair go down, brushing it back with your fingers

"If it's anything to you, you look good with your hair down."

You looked at her with a smile as you tied your hair back into a ponytail. No bun today...

"Thank you," you said.

You tied it up and redid your headband, adjusting yourself to your satisfaction in the mirror.

"Thank you so much for helping me today," you said genuinely. "I really appreciate it."

"Oh, no problem! I have a million hair ties, I just don't use them, haha!"

"So do I," you said with an amused smile, "But I also have six younger siblings."

"Ohhhhh... I getcha, I getcha."

"Yeah. I couldn't find a single one this morning. I'll find them tonight, and return this to you tomorrow."

"Nah, no need. Go ahead and keep it. Like I said, I have a million of them."

You looked at her. "Are you sure?"

"Oh, sure. Don't worry about it!"

You smiled again. "Thank you."

"Okay, now let's get to class."

"Right!"

.o0o.

Class started like normal. You turned in your homework, clarified a few things and was able to complete some more of the packet as class went on, while filling out another worksheet. Strangely enough, you were absorbing this information-not just filling the papers and absently turning it in. The way it was formatted made it interesting and allowed the information to be clearly seen and absorbed.

It was unlike any school you had ever been to.

There was no bell, but at 9:15 AM, Ectoplasm opened the door, and Pro Hero Midnight walked in.

You knew about her. Who didn't know about the legendary R-Rated Hero? But that didn't matter. You still weren't prepared for her to walk in, hands above her head, wearing a skin-tight skin-tone suit that greatly complimented her breasts, a black corset cinching her waist. You couldn't stop yourself from blushing.

Rated R indeed...

"Well," she said, "I see you have a new member to your class. Well, let's welcome her with open arms. I'm Midnight, but just call me Kayama-sensei. It's nice to meet you, Miss..."

"N-Nazumi. Nazumi Hanae," You said.

"Nazumi. Ah, I see. Young and healthy, eh? Well, you'd better buckle up. It's going to be a wild ride from here on out."

You nodded.

"Now, let's get started with the lesson!"

.o0o.

You loved her class. You had been an artist since the day you turned three years old, and Midnight was very clearly passionate about her Modern Hero Arts subject as well.

For the business course, it was a curriculum and lesson plan based on marketing. What heroes want, how to keep track of trends in fashion, efficiency and technology, what they have been in the past, how to predict them, etc.

It was entertaining. She was humorous and engaging. It helped that the class was interactive as well. All of the kids there kind of clicked for no particular reason.

You had a partner project for Modern Arts class that would be taking up your Wednesday classes-Starting tomorrow. Your partner? The average looking guy that stood up for you before. You would be doing just this-predicting the fashion trend for both male and female heroes with basic strength emission quirks.

He looked at you and adjusted his glasses, flashing a smile and a nod. You returned the gesture.

Next was English class with Present Mic. You don't remember hearing the name 'Yamada Hizashi' on the list of people who knew about the situation.

Either way, he came to give you another packet. In fact, he gave you two. One of them was notes. The other was a bunch of worksheets.

He said to try to complete as much as possible, and annotate along the way, but not to worry about the grade. It was to show him what you knew or didn't know and for your own practice.

That really helped.

If you needed any help, he would be available after hours on Tuesdays and Fridays, because he had some clubs to direct after school the rest of the time.

You made a mental note about that. You knew English fairly well in written form from translating it for the captions on your videos, but you couldn't speak it too well. You may need his help sooner or later.

He went through the lesson, and you struggled to keep up just a bit. There were some extra notes that you had to copy down from Cataka, but besides that, you were doing fairly well.

The lunch bell rang, and you were putting your things in your backpack, grabbing a binder and a folder to keep working on the outline of your project.

Your partner came up to you.

"Hello."

You looked up at him. "Hello."

"I was wondering if we could talk together to try and figure out how we are going to tackle the project?" he said. "Over lunch?"

"Of course," you said. "I'll follow you."

He waited for you to stand and the two of you walked out together. "I think that we should start with researching what the trends are now and put a spin on it." he said, "That's the best way to do it. Otherwise, we'll be predicting the unpredictable. Fashion trends and go back and forth, so maybe we should try to take an idea from some of the old days and try to spin it with something modern?"

"Yeah, perhaps something like that... What if we went off the wall? Would that be a good approach to this? Kayama-Sensei seems to like 'exotic.' Perhaps catering to our instructor would work?"

"Hm...perhaps, but we would have to make it fit the criteria given us. And, theoretically, these would be manufactured and sent enmass. We could cater to her and risk her seeing through the strategy, or we could follow the criteria and come up with something else."

"Either way, we would be kind of going out of our comfort zone trying to make these," you said with a wry smile.

He chuckled. "Haha, yeah. I feel like you can do it, though. You're a pretty creative artist."

Your head snapped to him and you stopped by the side of the hallway.

You blinked. There was only one way he could know that unless he stole your sketchbook. "You...you watch my channel?"

He nodded. "Yeah. I'm sorry to hear about your situation," he said sincerely.

"Thank you," You said. "It means a lot to hear that."

"But," he said next, "I doubt that you need any more sympathy right now than you do from most other people, and school is school, and I don't plan on failing this project."

You smiled wider. "I don't plan on failing either. I'll make some designs tonight...Do you want to exchange numbers so we can share research and ideas?"

"We can use our school emails, too, right?" He said. "It's just that I don't have a phone, so..."

"Oh! Yeah, that works! What's your email? I'll contact you."

You exchanged your emails, and he flashed a casual smile to you.

"Oh! I didn't introduce myself," he said suddenly. He bowed to you, as was custom. "My name is Eto Daisuke. It is very nice to make your acquaintance."

You bowed as well. "Nazumi Hanae. But I assume you already knew that. It's truly an honor, Eto-San."

You stood, facing each other with neutral smiles. Eto-Kun's face dropped just a bit and nodded, his eyes looking just past you.

You were about to turn, when you heard a familiar voice.

"Nazumi."

You flinched, then turned.

"You started me, Todoroki-K-"

He was right in your face. You almost jumped back again, but this time kept your cool.

"May I speak with you?"

You looked at him, then at Eto-San.

He nodded. "We can talk tonight," he said.

"Alright... Thank you for your help and patience!"

He nodded as you walked with Todoroki-Kun.

.o0o.

Todoroki grabbed your arm firmly and led you away. He didn't like the idea of you hanging around anyone other than him, if not for you own safety. It was risky being in a position such as this with someone such as him.

"Who was he?" he asked once the other boy was out of earshot.

"He's my partner for a project," you said, being polite, but he didn't miss the slight forced edge to your tone. "We were just talking about ideas on how to approach it, if you were wondering."

He glared at you out of the corner of his eye, saying nothing.

"I have to speak with you." He said, "About your situation."

He felt you stiffen, then relax.

"What about it?" you asked.

"I want to see if there is anything that can be done to help it."

He watched you purse your lips into a tight smile.

"You need to be kept safe," he implored, "And you aren't safe. There has to be something that has to be-"

"And if I'm safe? What then?" you asked as you faced him. "The rest of my family is at risk. My mother and siblings would be targets. If I don't take it, everyone else will."

"That is unacceptable behavior toward my fiancee," he said determinedly.

"Can you get him arrested?" you snapped quitely. "Can you move us away from him? Can you get a restraining order on him? No? Then let me protect my family, as is my duty."

"What if I said that I could?"

Your face dropped.

Todoroki took a deep breath. "Do you think...that if I decided to spend more time with you at your residence, it would make a difference?"

You seemed to contemplate his words, your stormy grey eyes searching. Painfully, thoroughly.

"I..." you said slowly next, "I don't know. He may use it as an opportunity to humiliate me and Mother in front of company, but...if you make a big enough statement, he could back down a little bit..."

He thought of that. It could be a possible answer to their problem-your problem.

"But, I...I did tell him that...someone saw the bruises. I didn't say it was you," you said, "but I think that discouraged him as well. I fear that you confronting him may only make things worse for my siblings."

Todoroki and you kept walking, waiting in the lunch line.

"You are very brave," he said, "in my opinion, to stand up to your father in that way. And smart, to come to that conclusion."

You merely nodded, going quiet.

"Should I take you home tonight? Your house and mine aren't too far apart. It shouldn't be a problem."

"I..." you said slowly, "I don't know. It may not be a spectacular idea in the end. He might catch on."

"That might be a good thing."

Your head snapped up to his. He was determined, angered, and protective. No one would lay a hand on you again, as far as he was concerned.

"If he knows I'm on your side, he would be wise to lay low. We can cut the deal and I can still marry you, if push comes to shove."

You swallowed.

"Of course, that would be a last resort, but who knows what is going to happen once this is announced," He said, looking up to the front of the line. He was greatly anticipating his lunch.

He saw you slowly turn your gaze as well, tapping his hand that still was on your arm.

He silently lowered it, and nodded when you whispered a simple thanks.

He and you walked through the lunch line in silence. You seemed hesitant to get some food at first, but eventually relented.

He led you to a table near the corner of the cafeteria where the table was mostly empty.

Todoroki didn't particularly care for the meal in front of him, but he did recognize its nutrition and value. You didn't seem too inclined to care about it either. You just snapped your chopsticks, settled them in your hands delicately, then took a small bite of the chicken in the bowl.

"Are you going to participate in the Sports Festival?" He asked.

You looked up at him, then bowed your head as you finished your bite. "My homeroom teacher is requiring it. He wants a good, decent representation of the business course. I'm willing to take the challenge."

He nodded. You were interesting indeed. You were polite, but strong willed. You were willing to stand up to him, and had the audacity to walk away from him after offering his protection to you, and tell him exactly what you thought of him, then regretted it immediately.

You were gentle, but determined. You were protective, but felt you were still inferior.

There was something you were hiding in your innermost parts. He could see it. And he would release it. Somehow, some way. But for now, there was something in its way. Something bigger than he could see. You proved it time and time again every time your father was brought into the conversation.

Perhaps that's what it was? Or was it all a mask? Were you plotting something?

To him, you were very interesting.

"You confuse me," he said.

You looked up at him again. "Pardon?"

"You are much more than what you come off as." He said, "and it confuses me."

You looked to the side then back at him.

"You aren't what I expected. And thus, you confuse me."

You set your chopsticks down with a neutral smile, straightening your posture.

"What, pray tell," you said slowly, "did you expect from me?"

"I expected you to be..." he paused, searching for the words. "More...stuck up."

It looked like he hit some kind of nerve. Her eyebrow twitched.

"I see."

She went back to eating her meal.

"But it's not a bad thing."

She merely glanced at him.

"In fact, it is quite intriguing...you are quite intriguing."

She softened. Just a little bit.

"And bad at hiding your emotions."

Her face dropped.

"Well," she said defensively after she swallowed, "Perhaps birds of a feather flock together."

He watched her silver eyes stare into his. That's what this was. A challenge. She was challenging him to try and tame her, tame the storm inside of her soul, inside her eyes that she hid so well. She was smart, creative, determined. She would not lose. Not to him, not today.

He huffed, amused. "Perhaps you are correct."

.o0o.