Stupid cupid
Chapter 3: Study date
"What to do, what to do, what to do…" Bella air paced in front of Todoroki ss her brain tried to process all the information she'd just uncovered.
"Is it really that serious?" Shoto asked with a puzzled expression. "Is the compatibility score really that important."
"Of course it's important. Compatibility is like the overall success rate of your relationship. The fact that he has at least three others in his class with scores the same or higher than you is jeopardizing the probability of you getting together." She sighed heavily and ruffled her own hair. "Ugh this is why I hate "moe" characters… too many damn love rivals to contend with."
"What's a "moe" character?" Shoto blinked with a puzzled expression.
"They're like your typical harem protagonist." She explained but got a blank expression in return. "They're… how do I explain this… they're characters who have a specific set of qualities that attracts a variety of different people, thus giving them a large selection of love interests."
"Oh...and Midoriya has those qualities?"
"Yes...here let me show you." Bella snapped her fingers, her outfit changing into a teacher-esque wardrobe. A white board then suddenly appeared behind her and she started to scribble down a list next to a picture of Izuku.
Shoto adjusted his sitting position to get more comfortable and prepared for the lecture he was to receive from his illusion.
"Ahem…" she cleared her throat and shifted a pointer to the list. "Quality number one… while not unattractive, "moe" characters have what most consider ordinary or plain looks with nothing particularly striking about them."
"That does describe Midoriya…" Shoto had to admit. "Still he's not-"
"Hush… no talking during the lecture please." She adjusted her pink rimmed glasses and went down the line. "Number two, they often struggle with some form of personal crisis or struggle with their own self-worth, usually making them very humble and passive in social conversations."
That fit too, Shoto agreed silently.
"Number three they're not really present in a day to day setting but put them in an extreme situation or pair them with an extreme personality and suddenly they garner a lot of attention."
Like the Hero Killer incident, and all the League of Villains attacks, Shoto thought.
"Number four they tend to keep people at arms length either physically or emotionally due to either personal choices, or a secret they've kept hidden."
"Secret…" Todoroki murmured thinking of Izuku's bond with All Might.
"Finally number five once one person takes a romantic interest, then multiple others start taking interest."
"Huh? Why's that?" Shoto questioned holding his chin.
"Curiosity, usually. They start to wonder why that one person likes him, then discover their own feelings through similar channels." She snapped her fingers and her clothes and such returned to normal. "Clear as mud?"
"I guess… but I still don't understand what exactly the problem is."
"The problem, oh oblivious one, is that because Izuku has so many other love interests, it's possible that his feelings could veer towards them and not you." She knocked him on the head. "Dumb Dumb!"
"Ow…" He flinched a little, rubbing the top of his head while his eyes cast down. "I see. It is possible that Midoriya likes someone else from our class."
"He's passive for now," She pulled out a cellphone looking device holding it in her palm. "I've activated and put a beacon on his response pheromones, so if he starts feeling attraction or anything beyond a friendly affection towards someone else, I'll hone in on it and put a stop to it."
"I don't want to interfere in his personal life, Bella. If Midoriya likes someone else then-" Todoroki rubbed the back of his neck, feeling frustrated over the entire situation.
"Ah, ah, ah! That's quitter talk Todoroki!" She waved a disapproving finger at him. "Love is a battlefield! It ain't over until it's over." She paced the air like a general. "Now then, your study date is today. When the others arrive back to the dorms I want you to go to Midoriya immediately and make sure he's coming. Even if he tells you not to worry about it, insist upon it. You need to get him alone so the two of you can bond."
"Alright… I suppose I can do that. What'll I do if someone else tries to tag along."
"Don't worry, leave the interfering to me." She rubbed her hands together maniacally. "Dealing with love rivals is my specialty."
~Later~
As per his request, Bella kept out of sight as he waited downstairs for the rest of his classmates to arrive. Sitting on the couch in the common room he casually flipped through a romance novel, hoping it would give him some ideas on how to talk to Midoriya, and approach him.
"Maybe I should rent a movie instead…" he sighed and closed the book glancing up as the doors of the dorm opened. Yaoyorozu and Jirou were the first ones to enter.
"Todoroki-san!" Yaoyorozu jogged up smiling at him. "I'm glad to see you're up and looking well. Would you like me to make you some tea?"
"You don't have to go through the trouble Yaoyorozu." His eyes looked away as the others started to file in. There was still no sign of Midoriya.
"Nonsense, it will be my pleasure." She giggled and hurried off to the kitchen. Bella poked her head from behind a couch cushion and whispered to him.
"Wow, she's pretty… how come you're not interested in her?"
"I don't know…" Shoto admitted quietly so no one would overhear him talking to himself. "I just… don't feel that way for her."
"Oooh, Midoriya must be extra special then if he's the one spiking your radar." She giggled and gasped hiding again as Kamanari plopped onto the couch with Todoroki and hooked an arm around his shoulders.
"Yo, missed yah in class today. Feeling better?"
"Yes… Recovery Girl told me to just take it easy, and I should be back to normal tomorrow." He looked towards the door. "Where's Midoriya and Bakugo?"
"Hmm? Oh I think they stayed late. They've been renting out training rooms together… I guess they're helping each other out. It's good to see how far they've come since first year."
"Darn it…" Bella muttered. "I knew I should have stuck close to that Bakugo. He's gonna be a major interfer-BLAH!" Bella grunted as she was squished against the pillow, Ashido having plopped down on the opposite side of Todoroki.
"Ah, Ashido…" Todoroki held out his hand. "You're crushing her."
"Hmm? Crushing who?"
"My… erm… I mean the pillow." He stood up andgrabbed the couch pillow holding it to his chest, but making sure not to hurt Bella.
"Uh… I'm sorry." Ashido giggled. "I didn't realize you had a special attachment to that pillow."
"Well…" feeling embarrassed he averted his eyes. He felt bella move into his pocket and he slowly handed the pillow back to Mina. "Just be careful from now on."
"Okay…" She fluffed the pillow giving him a teasing smile. "What's her name?"
"Uhm… Bella…"
"Who's Bella?" Mineta questioned, popping the top of his canned milk.
"Todoroki named the couch cushions." Kaminari explained, his lips also spread in a teasing grin.
"Really?" Uraraka joined the conversation and picked up the other couch pillow. "What's this one called?"
"Erm…" Todoroki fidgeted, his friends staring in awe at this new and odd behavior. "Edward?" He chose the name of the love interest in the book he'd been reading.
"Awww!" Ashido and Uraraka squeed and pressed the pillows together as if they were kissing. "Bella and Edward!"
"Dude… you're so lame." Mineta snickered and gulped his milk down before walking away. Todoroki hung his head and let out a sigh of relief when he heard Midoriya walk through the doorway with Bakugou.
"Come on, Kacchan, there's no reason to be like that. I didn't know the rooms were booked."
"You've been going to this school for three years, haven't you learned by now that you have to reserve the damn room before training it?" Bakugou shouted and turned just in time to see Shoto come up looking flustered. "Well if it isn't Mr. Ditch Classes… the hell do you want?"
"Sorry, Bakugo, but I wanted to talk to Midoriya." He told him, and Bella peeked her head out of the pocket, eying Bakugo with a glare.
"Hah? Can't you see that's what we're doing? Come back later once I'm done beating his head in." He hooked Izuku's head under his arm digging his knuckles in.
"Ow, ow, ow! Kacchan that hurts! Knock it off!"
"Bakugo…" Todoroki grabbed Bakugo's arm and narrowly avoided a swipe, but at least it freed Midoriya. "Stop that. Midoriya doesn't like it."
"It's alright, Todoroki-kun. I know Kacchan means no real harm." Midoriya laughed rubbing his hair. "I'm just glad he's not resorting to explosions anymore."
"That can easily change if you continue to annoy me, Deku." Bakugo huffed and flicked Midoriya on the forehead. In response he also felt a flick to the back of his head and he whirled around. "Hey! Who the hell did that?"
"Did what, Bakugo?" Kaminari asked from the couch and tensed up as Bakugo strut over.
"Don't toy with me, Dunce Face! One of you just flicked something at me!"
"I swear we didn't! You must have imagined it!" Kaminari held his hands up in defense even as Bakugo lifted him up by his collar. Bella floated mid air hissing out a laugh after giving Bakugo a swift kick to the back of the head.
"Serves yah right, explodey head."
"You alright, Midoriya?" Todoroki, unable to resist, reached up and stroked the top of Midoriya's head. In response Midoriya flushed and held his hands up.
"Y-yeah, I'm fine."
"Oooh! Good one, Shoto!" Bella made a gleeful sound as her pheromone device went off. "Midoriya's reacting to your advances."
"Hmmm?" Todoroki glanced up at her then back down at midoriya. He reached back up to pat Midoriya on the head. Midoriya flustered more and stammered.
"T-T-Todoroki-kun? What are you doing?"
"Just petting you… you seem to like it."
"EEP!" Midoriya went bright faced red.
"Was I wrong?" Todoroki slowly pulled back and tilted his head to the side.
"N-No… it was nice, just…" he crossed his arms over his face to hide his embarrassment. "Just a little surprising."
"Kya! Keep this up, Shoto! You're doing great!" Bella did a dance in the air as the meter started spiking all over.
"I see… would you mind if I do it more often then?" He offered with a warm smile, pleased that Midoriya was showing reaction to his touch.
"Uh… well… sure I guess, but can we not do it in front of other people. It's kinda embarrassing." Midoriya whimpered and glanced around Todoroki hoping none of their classmates had seen his reaction.
"Sure, if that's what you want." Todoroki looked at the time. "At any rate… if it's alright with you, can we still study together? I'd like to go over today's notes with you since I missed out."
"Ah, sure…" grateful to be on a more easier subject, Midoriya smiled at him. "That'd be great. Let me just go change and I'll meet you in your room. Sound Good?"
"Sure… would you like me to grab us some snacks? I heard that's what you bring for study dates."
"D-D-DATE!?" Midoriya squeaked at the phrasing and went bright red again. Bella let out another squeal of delight.
"Oh Shoto you're so bold! I love it!" She danced in the air holding the pheromone device out and waving it. "Just listen to those beeps… eh?" She paused when Todoroki sent her a withering glare and she cleared her throat. "Right… I'll just go over there for now." She hovered away.
"Anyway…" Shoto turned his attention back to Midoriya. "I'll meet you at my room in fifteen minutes, okay?"
"Y-yeah, okay…" Midoriya laughed and walked to the elevator. He'd never pegged Todoroki as the teasing type. Calling it a study date just because it was the two of them… how silly was that? Still, he wondered why Todoroki's touch, and words had caused his heart to beat so erratically. "Todoroki-kun... you're just full of surprises."
Todoroki went to the kitchen just as Yaoyorozu finished boiling the tea. She was setting up a small tray when she turned to face him and smiled.
"Oh, perfect timing, the tea just finished."
"Thank you… would you mind if I took that up stairs with me? Midoriya and I are gonna study together and I promised to bring snacks."
"Oh! Certainly!" Yaoyorozu clapped her hands together and reached into the cupboard. "I have these cookies too you guys can have. Mama sent them to me from Paris."
"That's very kind of you, Yaoyorozu." He took the cookies and eyed the Name brand. "Le goût de l'amour?"
"Yes, they're Valentine's Day themed. See they even come in cute little heart shapes." She pulled one out, the pretty pink cookie overtly feminine and dainty. "They're also very delicious from what Mama told me. Here…" She set them around the tray. "Voila!"
"Thanks… I think." He looked down at the tray. Would this be a bit too obvious, he wondered. Then again the entire dorm was being decorated for the holiday so he supposed it wouldn't be that strange.
"You're quite welcome, Todoroki-kun." Yaoyorozu turned him around and ushered him toward the elevator. "Now go on… I'm sure Midoriya-kun is waiting for you."
"Yeah… thanks again." He glanced over his shoulder and then to Bella who sat on the tea kettle. "What was that about?"
"Hmmm? Oh, don't worry about her. She's just a guru."
"Guru?" he raised a curious brow.
"Yep… there are three types of women that come out during valentine's day. The Romantic, the cynic, and the guru… The romantic is all about finding love, the cynic is biased and doesn't care for the holiday at all, and the guru is someone who seeks to make other people happy for the holiday."
"Huh… I pegged her as more of the romantic type." He walked onto the elevator and pushed the button for his floor.
"You would think so, but the girl's gorgeous, popular, and an heiress. She can have her pick of any boy she wants so she has little to complain about during this time of year. She probably just enjoys helping others find love rather than finding it herself."
"I see… well that does sound like her." He grunted when he realized he couldn't open his own door. "Hey Bella would you-"
"Oh sure!" Bella scrambled into his pocket and pulled out the keycard. She scanned it over and helped push the door open before closing it behind him. Todoroki set the tea and cookies on his desk, then started preparing the study area. He pulled out the foldable table from his closet and set it out in the center of the room, and fluffed up pillows on either side. He then set the tea and cookies down on it and pulled out his school books.
"Everything's looking great…" Bella rubbed her hands together and squeals again at the knock on the door. "That must be him. Answer it, answer it."
"Mmmm…" Shoto got to his feet, and felt his heart shake a bit. It would be the first time in a long time since he and Midoriya had studied alone together. He slowly opened the door and welcomed him in.
"Pardon the intrusion…" Midoriya murmured out of habit and carried his books and stuff to the study table. "Oh… those are cute." He motioned to the cookies.
"Yaoyorozu gave them to me." He said simply and didn't catch the slight flinch on Midoriya's face.
"Ah… Yaoyorozu-san huh? She was pretty worried about you today." He sat down and fidgeted nervously. "So was I."
"You don't have to be…" Shoto told him and sat across from him. "There's nothing physically wrong with me."
"Really? That's a relief." He smiled warmly and then pulled out his notes from the day. "Shall we get started?"
"Sure… why don't we start with the Math? I know it's the subject you struggle most with."
"Yeah, Kacchan's been helping me, and I was able to pass my test thanks to him… though he really likes to call me out for my mistakes." He grimaced at the memory of their study time.
"You don't have to go to Bakugou if you don't want to Midoriya…" Shoto leaned forward. "I'm always happy to help where I can."
"I really appreciate that, Todoroki-kun." Midoriya smiled at him and Shoto couldn't help but return the warm smile. From the desk Bella watched with a lovely sigh as the two put their heads together and bonded over academics.
A couple of hours passed, and Todoroki took what openings Bella motioned him towards. Every chance he got Todoroki let his hand brush over Midoriya, giving them physical contact with each other. The sparks were rising high, and Bella was positively giddy at how well Midoriya was responding to the intimacy.
"I think I've finally got the dates memorized…" Midoriya told him, munching on a cookie, a few crumbs lingering on his lips. Todoroki eyed it, an urge to kiss him coming over him.
"Midoriya… you've got something…" he tapped a finger to his lips and Midoriya blinked and rubbed at them.
"Oh.. sorry… how about now, is it still there?"
"No, you just moved it… now it's…" he motioned to the other side and Midoriya wiped again with a small grunt.
"How about n-"
"Here… why don't you let me-" he reached over his thumb brushing over and around his lips and then he pulled the crumb to his own. "There, got it."
"Eh… ah…" Midoriya flushed and dropped his pencil at the intimacy. His tongue instinctively came out running over his bottom lip and tasting the salt from Todoroki's finger. "Thanks."
"You're welcome."
"KYA! I CAN'T TAKE IT! YOU'RE SO SURPRISINGLY GOOD AT THIS SHOTO!" Bella rolled around on his desk squealing like the hopeless fangirl she was.
"I um… it's getting late." Midoriya brushed hair behind his ear. "I should probably go."
"Alright, I'll walk you out." He got to his feet and followed Izuku to his door, but then took Izuku's arm preventing him from leaving just yet. "Midoriya…"
"Eh? Yes? What is it, Todoroki-kun?" He turned to face him.
"I know I'm skipping some steps but… I want to tell you that I-"
"GAH WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Bella shoved Shoto, forcing him to stumble and both he and Midoriya fell to the floor.
"Ooof! What the h-" He started to curse Bella but then noticed Midoriya laying under him. The two of them locking eyes and their breathing intermixing. "Midoriya?"
"T-T-Todoroki… K-K-Kun…" He stammered back, his eyes showing both attraction, and confusion. "Ar-ar-are y-y-you okay?"
"Yeah… you?" He stroked his hand over his head and through his hair. "Did you bump your head?"
"N-No… I'm f-f-fine." He shifted a little. "C-could you get off me?"
"Yeah… sorry." He slowly shifted his weight off so that they sat together, still face to face. "Midoriya, what I was saying…" He glanced above Midoriya's head where Bella was giving him the X symbols with her arms. He sighed heavily and put on a smile. "I enjoyed spending time with you today."
"Oh… yeah…" Midoriya laughed nervously. "Me too. I always have fun when I'm with you, Todoroki-kun."
"I'm glad…" To satisfy his need to touch him, Shoto reached up and pat his head. "See you tomorrow?"
"Yeah…" Midoriya got to his feet and waited for Shoto to do the same before walking out and away. "See yah."
Shoto sighed as his door closed behind Midoriya and he pulled his legs together and glared at Bella.
"What was that about?"
"You never want to confess your feelings on the first date! It's a guaranteed entrance into the friend zone!" Bella shoved the scroll at him. "Stick to the plan!"
"Ooof! Damn it!" He pulled the scroll off and glared at the list. "... but it felt right to me."
"I know it does, at first, but midoriya's attraction is still on the iffy side. He's alerted to the attraction, but he's confused by it. You need to spend more time together than just one study date. That's why the list exists. You gotta take these things slow and easy and plan your confession just right or it could just scare Midoriya off." She sighed and crossed her arms. "Who's the expert here."
"I suppose you are…" Shoto set the scroll aside. "I really wanted to kiss him just now."
"I know you did… hmmm…" Bella looked at the pheromone meter. "So did he, actually… perhaps I could tweak the plan a bit. We can probably sneak in a kiss on the cheek as just a test to see where his feelings lie… but please try not confess your feelings until the time is right."
Shoto sighed heavily and wondered just how long his patience in that area would have to last. He wanted to tell Midoriya his feelings right away… but Bella knew more about love than he did, and so far she'd been right.
"Okay… I trust you."
"Good…"
"Bella?"
"Yeah? What is it, Shoto-kun?"
"Would you mind leaving my room for about an hour… there's something I need to do." He turned his head away, fidgeting a little. Bella also blushed and she laughed a bit.
"Ah, yeah, sure, I'll just go down to the kitchen and help myself to some of those cookies." She slipped through the cracks of the door and went downstairs holding her blushing cheeks. "Oh man… the guy has such a fluffy sweet atmosphere about him. Who knew he could have such a strong libido? I hope he's had the talk… condoms, next chance we're going to buy condoms!"
~Ask Briry~
Briry: Sorry I haven't been updating this fic as often as others, but with a slow burn like TodoDeku I really wanted to cross my T's and dot my I's. Hope it was worth the wait.