.o0o.

You didn't know what to interpret him as. Was he observing you? Was he testing the waters? Was he just amusing you?

You honestly couldn't see through him this time. It seemed like a lot was going through his mind. Perhaps he was thinking about you.

He resumed eating his food, and you decided to do the same.

"I'll take you home tonight," he said simply.

You almost choked.

"Excuse me?" you said after a moment.

"I won't walk in, but I will make sure you get there safely, so you don't have to worry about texting me, or forgetting to text me."

Your smile was laced with spite. You had to put it that way, didn't you?

Well, at least he was honest. That was something you appreciated, at least.

"Meet me at the front gate when your class gets out," he said. "It shouldn't be too long, right?"

"Uh," you started nervously, "To be completely honest, I might get lost..."

You were ashamed of it, but it was only your second day. You were following everyone else as of right now.

He sighed. "Fine. I'll meet you outside your classroom. If you are dismissed before me, you can wait for me there."

"Alright," you said with a nod. "I'll meet you there."

The lunch bell rang.

.o0o.

You headed back to your classes, and he headed back to his without so much as a goodbye from either of you.

Which was fine.

There wasn't too much happening after that. Ectoplasm came back to teach some math-basic math, just part of the requirements-and you had a...decent-ish time figuring it out. Math was something you were good at, but good Lord, what was this? This wasn't math! This was torment!

Anyway, you knew that you only had a certain amount of things to do once you got home to catch up. Oi, this was not fun.

Why were you doing this again?

Oh, yeah.

You waited by your classroom door for your fiancé to pick you up and walk you home. You lived in the same neighborhood kind of...same stretch of road, more like, so you hoped desperately that it really wasn't too much trouble for him to help you. If it was, you hoped he would say something.

You saw him walking in your direction, holding a briefcase.

He stood in front of you, just a little too close for comfort.

"Shall we go?"

"Yes," you said simply. He nodded, gesturing for you to follow him outside.

Thankfully, he didn't leave you behind. He simply walked with you, directing the way out. You found at least three new exits on your way, committing them to memory.

"Do you walk home everyday?" He asked.

"I walk to the nearest taxi or bus station, sometimes to the train station, if I'm in a hurry." you said, walking out of the gates of U.A. "I like the quiet. And the time to myself, sometimes."

"Time away from your father." It was more of a statement than an inquiry.

"W-" You cut yourself off, not particularly sure what to say. "I just like peace," is what you decided on. "The monotonous sounds of the cars on the road, watching people as they walk by, catching up with myself, no worries...even just for a few moments. Then I go back to caring for everyone."

"What happened to your mother? Is she around to help?"

You paused. "She is, but I help her. We have a few young kids, so she cares for them, and I care for everyone else."

He went quiet. "Is she abused?"

You sucked in a harsh breath. "That's rather personal," you said quietly.

"You're right," he said. "I apologize for prying where I shouldn't have."

"It's alright," you said quietly, almost rushed.

You kept walking. It was quiet and kind of awkward. You looked at the buildings, the people, the cars, the streetlights, the shops you passed in silence.

Your face lit up at the art gallery and glass blowing station. Your steps slowed as you looked at the new items in the window.

You shook your head, when you realized you were staring at the items as someone was waiting on you.

You walked ahead. You couldn't be selfish. He could still call this thing off.

His eyes were on you. Searching. You felt like an open book to him. And you hated it. He didn't need to know what was going on in your life, in your mind. None of it.

You looked away and cleared your throat. "My apologies."

He didn't say anything. He just kept walking, and you stepped in time with him.

That was embarrassing...

You watched the sky bleed into a beautiful array of oranges, peaches and pinks, the sky behind the clouds contrasting the beautiful colors.

It was so serene...

"You like the sunsets?" He asked.

"Yeah," you said with a sigh. "It's so...peaceful."

"You seem to like peace."

"Who doesn't?" You asked. "Think about it. All anyone wants is to live their life the way they want it, and that gives them peace. True, inner peace. Even adrenaline junkies find peace in doing crazy things. That's why they do it. Even villains. They are misguided and going about things the most wrong way possible, but all they want is for their lives to be better-and they will then have peace. Their goals, whether it be a change in society, the death of someone, what will it get them? The thing they want. When someone gets what they want, there is peace.

"I think of it this way," you continued, almost mindlessly. "If a child doesn't have a toy, there is chaos. If they have their toy, then, there is peace. The child sleeps, or continues about their day without a fuss."

"Is that why you are marrying me?"

Your head snapped to him.

"So there can be peace where you live?"

You looked down, thinking about that.

You nodded slowly. "Yes," you said quietly. "Perhaps that is why..."

That...kind of revealed a lot about what you had been feeling. You were so...opposed to this proposition, because it meant turmoil for you, but peace for your family. You wanted peace for you, but were willing to sacrifice it for peace for your mother, your siblings.

It made so much more sense.

"I suppose that makes sense," he said after a moment. "But, comparing villains to small children seems a bit inappropriate."

"How so?" You were genuinely intrigued.

"I've faced those b...guys," he said with incredible restraint. You figured he was trying to be decent in front of you. "They were powerful. They had a goal in mind and were not going to back down, at any cost, even if it meant killing us to get to what they wanted. Comparing them to children is foolish. They are much more powerful than children."

You paused. "Do you have any siblings?"

"Yes."

"Older or younger?"

"Older."

That explains it. He was a youngest child. He had no real experience with small children like you did. So, you explained it to him. "Well, most children-small, spoiled children-are very much that way. They may not have the power to enact it, but that is how they think. They want what they want, and throw a tantrum when they don't get it, as any child would."

"I'm afraid I've never had that luxury," he spat bitterly.

You went quiet for a moment. "Neither did I. And I am truly sorry for that."

He glanced at you. You glanced back.

"Either way," You decided to continue, "It seems that those villains were just...hurt, frustrated children in a very powerful, grown man's body. And that was my point."

He nodded. "I see... I suppose your argument is valid. How many siblings do you have?" he asked.

"Six."

He stopped dead in his tracks, looking you in the face.

"Six?"

"Yes," you smiled neutrally. "I'm the oldest."

He blinked. He looked ahead, still not moving. You let out a small chuckle.

"I suppose you know more of what you're talking about then I do, then."

You giggled.

"I only have three. One of them...passed away, though."

Your heart panged for him. "Todoroki-Kun...I am so sorry."

He shrugged. "It happened a long time ago. My father, he..."

He fell silent. It seemed like a very touchy subject.

You nodded, attempting to shut down the conversation for his sake, in the case that he didn't want to speak of it anymore, while being polite and consoling. "I understand," you said meaningfully.

He looked over at you, hint of distaste in his glare. You knew that look. You don't understand.

But you did. You smiled sadly, softly. But I do.

His gaze lightened and he looked you over, then swallowed discreetly, continuing the walk.

Your gaze lingered on him, and you watched him search his mind and memory for some kind of answer for her response.

Silence overtook you two, and it was comfortable. You were okay with the peace between you. Because it truly was peace.

"So..." Todoroki broke the silence. "Six siblings?"

You chuckled, borderline nervously. "Yes...six siblings. Two of them are a twin set, so we didn't ask for one of them," you laughed.

He huffed. "What about the other five?"

"My mother doesn't believe in birth control, mostly."

"Hm. Religious?"

"Very."

"Are you?"

"I try to be."

"What religion?"

"You know the girl's school near our neighborhood?"

"The Hubai one?"

"Yes. I attended there from when I was seven years old to fourteen years old."

"So you are Hubai?"

"Yes."

"Is that why you keep your hair up?"

You looked at him. He seemed fairly knowledgeable about the religion.

"Yes..."

"And the heels also?"

You laughed. "Yes, in fact. A professionality and modest appearance is most desirable," you quoted. "May I ask how you know these things? Not many non-Hubai people know about the details of the religion."

"My father."

"Ah." That made sense.

"So do Hubai not believe in birth control?"

You tilted your head, sucking a breath through your teeth. "Not typically...Some people still use it, but Mother especially believes to let whatever is going to happen to happen, and not intervene on her own will, especially in that area. I think it's a good idea personally, just...not necessarily for...me."

You faltered at the end, explaining your belief in the subject of birth control, realizing that you're talking to your future husband that you don't want to take birth control once married inferring that if you were to ever have sex, you would become pregnant sooner or later.

You tried desperately to hide the blush you had on your cheeks.

He paused, seemingly getting the same vibe as you were reacting to, and simply hummed.

"And...how old are they? Your siblings, I mean."

He changed the subject after a moment. Oh, thank the gods.

You straightened out, ignoring the tail end of your embarrassment. you would never let your mouth get ahead of your mind ever again. "Fourteen, twelve, the twins are six, three, and eighteen months."

"And you all are close? the ages seem to be...irregular."

You tried not to tense. "The younger ones are, yes, but, we are still very close. I-we, my mother and I-try to keep the family together as much as possible. We all watch each other's backs."

He nodded. "I'm glad."

You let yourself half-smile not sure how to respond. you didn't want to address the topic of children or your opinion of them (you loved all babies with a severe passion and wanted a decently sized family of your own one day) to avoid a repeat of the birth control conversation. You didn't want to press him to think one way or give him the impression you had big plans for him once you tied the knot.

You didn't.

At least not yet. And you didn't plan on it.

"So what about you?" you asked him. "How old are your siblings?"

"Fuyumi is 22, and Natsuo is 18."

"I see," you said. "I've always wondered what it was like to have older siblings."

"It's...decent," he answered. you turned your attention to him. "I know my situation isn't normal, but when they could, they would try and care for me. I've never really had to worry about their well-being."

You let out a humorless laugh. "Must be nice," you said in jest.

You made it to the bus stop, and heard Todoroki-Kun-but didn't see him-let out a small laugh.

And, as you boarded the evening bus, you could have sworn you saw him smile at you.

.o0o.

A/N: Hubai is a religion I made up, more details will be revealed as the story continues :)