Hanta's POV

I lost. Of course I did. There was never a chance for me to win against him anyways. God I'm so pathetic… The audience even felt so bad they started to cheer me on. "Good try. What a joke." I can't help but laugh at how it all unfolded.

He may have completely frozen me, but when he set me free from that ice… Todoroki seemed really sad… as if he was thinking about someone who he couldn't see anymore.

God, what am I doing?! Sitting in the waiting room and moping? How uncool… I even said that I didn't feel like winning… If I didn't feel like winning… then why did it hurt so much to lose?

Fuck. I'm crying. Get over yourself, Sero. You didn't even want to win! You have no right to be upset while your classmates are trying so hard!

And then the door to the waiting room opens, and the one person I didn't want to see waltzes in like he owns the place. Shoto Todoroki.

"Oh uhh.. Hi there Todoroki…! Funny seeing you here! What happened to your match with Midoriya?" Wow. Real smooth.

"I won." Todoroki spoke in a flat voice, like he couldn't care less about winning, but his face looked so pained…

"Were you crying? Your eyes look red." Great. Even Todoroki can recognize the fact that I was crying. What am I going to say…?

"Uhh yeah… Guess I was, huh? That's embarrassing." I do my best to let out a laugh but it just comes out as another choked sob. Now I'm crying in front of him. Dammit.

"I'm sorry." Huh? Why was he apologizing? He was just trying to win like everybody else, so what if he embarrassed one of his opponents on his way up to the top.

"I… I was thinking about somebody who I hate. I took out those emotions on you when I shouldn't have." Wow. That was probably the closest this guy has ever come to actually being able to display his emotions, and he's showing them to me.

"I forgive you, man. I might be upset right now… but I think I'm glad you were the one to beat me…" I give him a small smile, trying to calm my nerves.

"Why would you be glad to be beaten?"

"Well… if I lost to someone less powerful I'd seem like a total weakling, right?" Todoroki nods as I explain my reasoning.

"But if I lose to someone as strong as you, people will think of me as the guy who tried going up against Endeavor's son! There's at least some honor in that…" Todoroki looked strangely put off at the mention of his old man. Why?

"Yes… I understand. However, I do not want to be viewed as simply Endeavor's son. That man is not my father and he never will be." Oh. Fuck. I might have just uncovered something a lot more serious than what I thought.

"Uhh yeah! Totally, you're not anything like Endeavor anyways, he's angry all the time and you're like, totally chill." I laugh at my own small joke about the ice-user's quirk.

Todoroki's face seemed to brighten just a bit, I couldn't tell if it was because I said he wasn't like Endeavor or because of the ice pun I had made.

"Thank you, Sero. My match with Bakugou is coming up soon, may I talk to you after it's over?" And who was I to say no to something like that?

"Sure thing! I'll be cheering you on from the stands…!"

And that was how I ended up cheering for the boy who completely destroyed me in the sports festival.

The match between Todoroki and Bakugou was intense. But the whole time, he never once used his fire like he did in the match against Midoriya. And I feel like I'm beginning to put together a picture of why that is.

I stayed true to my word and cheered him on the entire match, even if I got a few strange looks from Kirishima and Mina next to me while I yelled.

"Yeah! You can do it Todoroki! Go!" I swear I saw the smallest of smiles on his lips when I cheered for him, and that made everything worth it.

But in the end, he still lost against Bakugou.

The awards ceremony certainly didn't make it seem that way though, with how the explosive boy had been restrained. It was almost comical how stoic Todoroki was in comparison to the first place winner.

And then, after All Might had put the medal in Bakugou's mouth to silence him like a dog, the sports festival ended.

I went out of the stadium and to the exit of U.A, waiting for Todoroki to show up and speak with me about whatever it was he wanted.

And speak of the devil, here he comes, walking out of the school with the same cold expression he's had since the first day. I can't help but think he'd look kind of cute if he smiled just a bit more. Shut up, brain! This is serious!

When Todoroki arrived he gave a light bow to me. "I'm sorry." Huh? What's he sorry for this time?

"Why're you apologizing? You didn't do anything wrong."

"Yes, I did. You cheered me on in the last match, and I still lost…" he looked strangely serious over this, something about that just made me grin at him.

"It's okay, I don't mind at all! You did great! I'm proud of you." And then Shoto Todoroki smiled at me. It was a small, hardly noteworthy smile, but it was definitely there.

And fuck had I been right about him being cute if he smiled. I feel like my chest is about to explode.

Quick, change the subject! "So uhh… What was it you wanted to talk about after the sports festival…?"

"Can we go somewhere private to discuss it, please? It's rather sensitive." Oh, okay. So it was going to be something serious then.

I nod my head and follow him out to an empty training ground behind the school, mostly everyone had already gone home and nobody was even remotely close to where we were.

And then Todoroki decided to drop the biggest metaphorical bomb ever.

"Have you heard of quirk marriages…?" Oh. Oh shit. Everything clicked almost instantly the moment he said that.

"Yeah… I know a bit about them… why?" I'm sure I'm going to regret asking that, but I have to know.

"My father, Endeavor, married my mom because of her quirk. She had an ice quirk. He could never truly become number one so he thought he would make a child who could." Oh, this is so much worse than I thought…

Todoroki sighed before continuing. "The day my quirk came I was no longer allowed to speak with any of my siblings, my father trained me day after day so that I could one day become the number one hero…"

His face darkened right before he said the most shocking thing. "My mother… she poured boiling water over my right eye, because it reminded her of him."

Okay. This was officially above my level. What the fuck?! I imagined it would be bad, but not this bad! What am I supposed to do in this situation?!

"I… Todoroki…" Take a breath, Sero. This is fine. You're not the one with an abusive dick for a father, be strong!

"Todoroki. You are not your father. And you never will be. You are so much more than he could ever hope to be." I said it, I actually said what I wanted to say without seeming like an idiot!

"But… if I become a hero… aren't I doing exactly what he wants me to? How am I supposed to get back at him without doing exactly what he wants…?" At that moment, the cold boy seemed so lost.

"You get back at him by doing what you want. Who cares what Endeavor wants you to do?! You're allowed to be yourself." I do my best to flash a reassuring smile at him.

"…" Todoroki stood in silence, as if taking in what I had just said. "Thank you… Hanta…" Oh my god. What?! I'm totally blushing right now, aren't I?

"Uhh it's no problem…" Deep breath. Just say it. "Shoto."

And with that, they both smiled.

Shoto's POV.

I have recently been feeling something towards one of my classmates. I tried to use the internet to find out what it is but it only said that I have some form of deadly illness.

I don't know what's happening. Whenever Hanta gets near me it's like… like I have a deadly illness. Maybe google was right.

My heart rate increases, My face starts to heat up and I feel my knees get weak everytime he smiles at me. Something is wrong.

I tried asking my sister, Fuyumi, what was wrong with me but she just laughed and said I would figure it out eventually. Whatever that means.

Recently, me and Hanta have been spending a lot of time together, it's something I would consider a friendship. I am currently eating lunch with him while he laughs about some show he was watching.

I don't honestly know what show it even is, I got distracted halfway through and started staring at his face. And it's too late for me to stop staring now. Eventually, Sero's voice snaps his attention back and he looks up.

"Did you hear what I asked?" Oh. I must have missed something important.

"Uhh… sorry. No." I feel heat rise to my face as he laughs. Why did his face have to look so… face-like. I hate how good it looks.

"I was just asking if you wanted to come over to my place this weekend and watch it? I have all the episodes recorded so we can totally binge them together!" Going to Hanta's house. The idea excites me. I don't know why though…

"Yes, I think I would like that a lot." I nod my head and he grins happily.

"Great! Come over at around eleven, tomorrow, okay? I'll text you my address"

"Okay."

It was exactly 10:58 A.M when I texted Hanta, telling him I'm outside his house. I researched online and they said that it's best to show up early to meetings like this. My sister had called it a "date". I decided that two minutes was early enough.

Shoto(10:58 AM): I am currently outside of your house.

Hanta(10:59 AM): That's not terrifying at all.

Hanta(10:59 AM): I'll be right there tho, give me ten sex.

Hanta(10:59 AM): secs*

And just as promised, approximately ten seconds later, Hanta opened the door to greet him.

"Come inside! My parents aren't home right now so there's no need to worry about being loud. Though you probably won't be very loud regardless." He knows me so well. So sweet.

"Yes, thank you for inviting me over." I bow and follow him up into his room, it's surprisingly plain inside, not much in terms of decoration, just a plain bed with a dresser at the other end, that has the TV on top.

"Sorry that it's not much to look at, I've never really been one to decorate" he chuckles and rubs the back of his neck, sitting down on his bed.

"It's fine. I like it. It smells like you." I sit down next to him on the bed and he stares at me like I just said something wrong. Did I? I don't know.

"Uhh… sure! Let's just watch the show…!" He seems nervous about something, a blush spreading across his face. I decide it would be best to pretend like I don't notice.

Hanta turns on the TV, putting on some really old sitcom he had been interested in. Honestly, I can't even hear the sound over how loud my heart is beating. Is it supposed to beat like this when you're with friends? I don't think so.

I suddenly became acutely aware of how close we are on the bed, we're sharing a blanket and we are literally rubbing shoulders with each other. My face is heating up. This is bad.

"Umm… Shoto? Are you doing okay, you look kind of… freaked out right now? Did I say something to trigger you, I'm sorry if I did!" Hanta, the perfect human he is, turns and looks him straight in the eyes.

He has pretty eyes. That's the only thought in my mind as my heart beats out of control. What should I do?! Without thinking, I reach out my arms and wrap them around him, embracing him.

"Hugs are supposed to help reduce stress…" I had read that online, and it seems to be working. I press my head against Hanta's chest and take deep breaths, my heartbeat returning back to normal as I hold him.

Perfect. I slowly pull back and look up at Sero, his face is bright red. Why? Did I not hug him enough to also reduce his stress? I'll try again.

I reach my arms back out around him and hug him again, he lets out a small squeak as I squeeze him. Cute.

"U-Umm… Shoto? Why are you hugging me again…?"

"You seemed stressed. Duh." It's honestly adorable how dense he can be sometimes. I mean, why else would I hug him? It's not like I just enjoy the feeling of having my arms wrapped around him or anything.

Well maybe I do… Just a bit.

Hanta's POV

Shoto Todoroki was still hugging me. It had long since passed the point where it would be considered normal. He's been wrapped around me for at least ten minutes now…

Could he possibly…? No. There's no way. Shoto is just dense. That's all. And so what if I'm starting to enjoy this hug? He's the one hugging me, there's nothing wrong with that. Yeah.

"Hey, Sho'? You can let go of me now." I figured it's been long enough. However, I don't get a response from him. I look down next to me…

And he had fallen asleep. Shoto was hugging me while sleeping. This has to be the cutest thing that's ever happened to me.

I desperately reach for my phone, snapping a quick picture of the boy and smiling down at it on my phone. He was so soft. I reach down and pat his head when a realization dawns on my dense brain.

Oh. I have a crush on Shoto Todoroki. Fuck.

I stayed like that for awhile, Shoto had eventually shifted and fallen into my lap, where he's currently snoring and dreaming of who knows what.

I've spent the past half hour coming to terms with my newfound crush. I guess there are worse people to fall for… what do I do though? Do I confess? Rip the bandaid off quick? That's probably the best option.

I don't want to be dishonest and stay friends with him while knowing this. I can do it. I just need to wake him up and confess! Easy! Got it!

I spent longer than I'd like to admit sitting on my bed with Shoto in my lap. But eventually, I shake him, letting him wake up.

"Oh… Hanta? Did I fall asleep…? Sorry…" He rubs the sleep from his eyes. And Jesus Christ, what the hell?! How can one person be so cute! I'm fucked!

"Oh, it's fine! I didn't mind. Though… there is something I need to talk with you about." I take a deep breath and look into his heterochromatic eyes.

Shoto's POV

I woke up to the smell of Hanta's room, it felt great… he's so comfortable. I wish I could do that more often, it's difficult to sleep at home without having nightmares…

Wait, Hanta had said he wanted to talk about something. It sounded serious. I should respond.

"Okay. You can talk to me about anything at all, I promise." And I was being honest, Hanta could probably tell me the world is ending and I wouldn't be awfully upset if he was the one telling me.

"Okay so uhhh… this is awkward, god." he sighs and starts over. "Shoto. I like you."

I tilt my head. That's it?

"Huh? Why're you being so serious about that? I like you too."

He sighs at me, I must have misunderstood something. "I didn't mean it like that… I like you. Romantically. I have romantic feelings for you. There. Fuck." he groans, holding his head in his hands.

Oh.

That was what the deadly illness was. I get it now. Is this what love is…? Did Hanta actually like me? Was this a dream?

I reach a hand up and pinch my cheek to confirm that everything happening is in fact real. It is.

"Hanta…" Why is this so hard to say…? "I think… I feel the same way. I like you. As more than a friend. You make me happy."

Hanta does a double take, looking up at me like I just killed his parents. "Uhh are you sure? Like really?"

"Yes, I am sure."

"Okay… good. That's good… what do we do?"

"Want to hug again…?" I can't stop the blush spreading across my face as I ask the question. He just nods his head and happily wraps his arms around me.

"Sho'. Will you be my boyfriend…?" He whispers into my ear and my entire body shivers.

I nod my head, wrapping my arms around him as well, holding him closely. "Yes. Please."

And then I do something I'd only ever seen in movies. I reach my head up so that it can meet his… and I press our lips together.

It felt surreal. Nothing could take away from how amazing that moment was. After a second that felt like an eternity I pulled away.

"I apologize if that was too sudden…"

"Wow… there's no need to worry. That was fine…"

They fall into a comfortable silence.

Shoto Todoroki has been hurt, he has been beaten, bruised, and burnt. But right now in this moment, none of that mattered.

When he was in Hanta's arms, he felt whole.

END.