a/n: Where have I been? Well, doing this! This is my fic for the 2020 TodoMomo Mini-Bang! It's in the 2020 TodoMomo Mini-Bang collection on AO3 with all art attached within the fic, so if you'd like to read it there go find a link to my AO3 in my bio! The artist I got to work with is the incredible Krisschan or _krisschan on Twitter and she posted the FOUR pictures she did for this fic and let me tell you they are incredible! Go send some love!

Chapter One: Just Need you to Tell me We're Alright, Tell Me We're Okay

"I can't do this anymore, I'm going to break a window and run for it, I swear!"

"Toru, it's been two days."

If the invisible girl had an expression it would likely have been embarrassed.

Ever since Class 1A was told that the school was closing for the foreseeable future and all students were being sent home to be quarantined until the current pandemic threat had been neutralized, the close knit group of girl friends were anxiously doing everything they could to keep in touch and abate boredom. A daily video call was demanded by Mina before they even made it off campus and the rest exuberantly agreed.

It was only two days later when they made their very first venture into virtual friendship and it became obvious quickly that some people were handling quarantine better than others.

"Well…" Toru tried to defend herself, "It's just boring! I want to hang out with you guys again! This is the hardest thing that anyone has ever had to go through in the history of man!"

Momo laughed softly to herself at the utter exaggeration.

"Ugh, you're so right!" Mina agreed, "I wonder if the boys are having as hard a time as we are."

"I talked to Deku yesterday," Ochako shrugged, "He sounded like himself… But himself kind of sounds like a crazy person stuck in quarantine most of the time anyway, so…"

"Did you see Kaminari's story on instagram?" Mina laughed, grabbing for her phone to pull it up. When she had it, she turned the screen to her computer camera to show a screenshot of Kaminari and Mineta frozen in crazed motion over video chat, captioned "How's Quarantine Treating You?"

Laughter filtered through.

"Poor thing," Kyouka rolled her eyes.

"So I guess they're doing just as badly as the rest of us," Toru sighed, seeming oddly content.

"I would guess people like Koda and Tokoyami and Bakugou are probably doing alright, though," Tsu commented thoughtfully.

With that strangely obscure cast pointed out, Momo raised an eyebrow at the screen. "How so?"

"Koda is most happy with his pets," Tsu explained, "And most of them are at his home, so he's surrounded by them there. Tokoyami probably appreciates the solitude and dark nature of the time we're living in. But more than that I know he's actually a history buff and the idea of living through a part of history undoubtedly has him excited."

"And Bakugou?" Kyouka asked.

Tsu shrugged. "He doesn't like people."

"Based," Mina nodded along, eyes and thumbs moving on her phone.

"Well I don't know about the rest of you, but I want to hear from Momo, next," Ochako winked.

Momo's stomach was instantly in butterflies and her face went as red as Kirishima's hair. "There's nothing too special going on…"

Kyouka offered skepticism in her narrowed stare. "That's not what you were saying yesterday."

"Are you hiding something?" The black in Mina's eyes expanded and she leaned closer to her computer, "You have a secret, don't you?"

As embarrassing as it felt, it was also far too exciting to contain the big reveal for much longer and Momo's squirming finally came out verbalized through a grin.

"I sort of have a boyfriend now," she said and braced for the impact.

The audio became a jumbled mess of broken sound with multiple excited girls trying to speak at once. It was exactly the reaction she expected and she couldn't help giggling excitedly to herself over it.

"It's not a big deal, I'm not even sure if it's serious yet," Momo spoke over Ochako and Kyouka comparing how much they already knew, Tsu and Toru trying to congratulate her, and Mina to squeeze out more information.

"He seems to think it's pretty serious from what he's told us," Ochako chimed back in with a wink.

Momo blanched. "Wh-what did he say?"

"What did who say?" Mina practically screamed.

"Todoroki," Ochako clarified.

Momo clenched the fabric of her shirt when she said his name, hearing her not-so-secret secret hit the air like that.

"Aw!" Toru gushed.

Tsu tapped her lip thoughtfully. "It makes a lot of sense, actually. They would work well together, I think."

"When did this happen?" Mina sounded like she was trying to work out an impossible math equation in her head.

"Right before we got the news that we were being sent home actually," Momo couldn't hide the sadness in her voice, "I… I told him I liked him and he said he liked me too and we'd barely decided to go on a date before we all got called in to speak to sensei and had to pack up to go home."

"Oh no!" Mina shouted, thrilled and devastated and heart eyed, "It's a story of tragic love! Ripped apart at the height of affection! You're basically Romeo and Juliet!"

The comparison made Momo want to hide under her bed, but the adoration from her friends over her new relationship was warming her inside and out.

"Not exactly," Kyouka shook her head, "Romantic, sure, but there's hardly feuding parents keeping them apart."

"No, just an entire pandemic!" Mina argued.

"Have you been in contact at all?" Tsu was the one asking the practical questions while Momo further hid her face.

"A little," Momo dropped her hands, "We talked for a bit last night and...well, it went well, but we ended up getting interrupted again. That problem seems to just be following us. But we did talk about what sort of a date we want to go on once this is over."

"Who interrupted, I thought your parents were stuck in the Philippines?" Ochako cocked her head at the camera.

"They are," Momo nodded, "It looks like it will be at least until next week too, but it wasn't them. Shoto has a bigger family than I realized and surprisingly they're pretty loud."

Kyouka laughed. "Hard to imagine someone related to Todoroki being loud."

"Well Endeavor has a pretty big presence if you think about it," Ochako threw in, "Maybe more scary and bold then loud, but still…"

"I think we're missing the point here," Toru waved the conversation away, "What kind of date did you decide on?"

Momo blushed and smiled to herself. "He said he wanted to plan the whole thing so I don't know actually, but he did ask what I liked. I'm sure it will be a surprise and I'm very excited! I did tell him I didn't want anything too fancy or complicated, though. I think that's too much pressure for a first date."

"I know he's really excited about it," Ochako giggled, "Not that he texts much, but he's been asking me and Deku for suggestions and I really think you're going to have so much fun."

Momo felt terrible like she was under a microscope. "You three talk about us?"

"I'll admit we sort of forced him into getting some help, but Momo, he's kind of clueless, we couldn't just sit by and do nothing," Ochako grit her teeth, "He needs coaching. You can blame Deku."

It was both exciting and terrifying to think that her friends were talking with her potential behind her back about their relationship. What was he saying about her? What were they telling him to do?

Before she got the chance to read more into it, the next question came and distracted her entirely.

"So are you guys actually together or just talking?"

Momo's mouth tightened and her chest got a little heavy. Everyone seemed to read her body language immediately.

"Well, we were going to wait until we'd actually been on a date, but now we have no idea when that's even going to happen so…"

"Do you have to wait for a date?" Tsu asked, "If you like each other then you should pursue the relationship."

"I don't know," Momo watched her hands closely, "I feel like I'd want us to have that conversation face to face, not over the phone."

"Then just do this with him!" Ochako suggested opening her arms around her, "Do a video call."

"Momo, please!" Mina turned pleading hands to the camera, "We could all use some good news and good tea if we're going to be stuck in this stupid quarantine forever. Let us live vicariously through your love life!"

"Stop putting so much pressure on her and just live your own life," Kyouka rolled her eyes, "If she isn't ready to make it official, she doesn't have to. Get your own quarantine boyfriend."

"No, that sounds terrible," Mina shook her pink head, "You'd never be able to see each other or hold hands or do anything together and it really just seems miserable and-"

Her mouth snapped shut as she noticed Momo holding herself close, her mouth turning down into a deep frown.

"Mina!" Ochako panicked, "Don't say things like that!"

Those words were exactly the fears and apprehensions plaguing Momo's heart since the day they had been sent home. How were they really supposed to start a relationship when they couldn't even be in the same city? It hadn't been so bad when they were first sent home and everyone thought it would only be two weeks, but since learning that the conclusion to the quarantine seemed more indefinite her heart had decided to reside somewhere down deep inside her stomach.

"Momo, I'm sure it won't be that bad," Toru tried to recover for Mina, "Just think how much you'll get to know each other since all you can really do is talk?"

"I suppose," Momo nodded slowly, "And maybe we can try talking over video. I'm sure that will make things a lot easier."

"That's it, Momo!" Kyouka threw up a thumb, "Just stay positive! It can't last forever. I'm sure all this will be over before you know it!"

"But seriously, we need daily updates either way," Mina demanded, "This is what I'm currently living for."

To have mercy on Momo, Kyouka changed the subject from there and the six girls chattered on until evening. It was relieving to have the subject shift, but while they talked on it left Momo racking her brain trying to decide what she should do about this Shoto situation.

The idea of waiting possibly months just to broach the topic sounded awful, but there were expectations she'd created when she finally got the gumption to admit her feelings and it was a struggle to shake them even now when the world was in chaos around them.

Her infatuation with him wasn't new and she had been aware of her affections towards him for a while now, but through the time they'd spent together at UA, she had begun to think he'd never reciprocate those feelings, especially with his naturally distant demeanor. She'd watched him grow a lot since their first fateful week at UA, but he'd only gone from illusive to oblivious and she had convinced herself that he didn't even remember she existed when she left the room. It had been eating her up inside to live with the uncertainty of the thing and, since she was convinced that he'd never come around to ever saying anything himself, no matter his feelings, she'd taken the plunge and put it all on the line. To hear him say he felt the same was like glass shattering and suddenly everything she'd wondered and fantasized about seemed possible; the hopeless romantic in her was living to its fullest.

Their first date and the moment where they would make their relationship official didn't need to be extravagant, but she desired there to be heart in it. She wanted to be swept off her feet and treated nicely and all the regular ideations girls her age had; romantic gestures and the like. But all of that was no longer a possibility for her near future. She wanted to have their first date be the day where they really got to know each other and held hands for the first time and all the incredibly sappy things she loved. Even if it was a bit shallow, it was important to her.

But more important than any of that, was the overarching fear that, rather than just ruin a first date, this forced distance could affect the drive of their desired relationship itself. If becoming official was put off indefinitely, would it ever come around at all before Shoto realized he'd made a mistake and called the whole thing off? Perhaps she was just thinking too little of him, but it was hard to imagine that he wouldn't start to lose interest if they never saw each other. She couldn't even pinpoint why he was interested in her in the first place.

If she wanted to keep him in her life she would have to do something.

When the call ended with the girls, she checked her phone for the first time in hours and found a handful of missed messages. One was from Iida, suggesting they formulate a curriculum to keep their classmates engaged and active in their academics while in quarantine; one from Kyouka asking if she wanted to chat later and the other three were from Shoto.

Her heart fluttered as she opened the messages.

[Todoroki Shoto] 11:15AM: I'm sorry I had to hang up on you last night. I'll do my best to make it up to you.

[Todoroki Shoto] 12:32PM: Do you want to try again tonight?

[Todoroki Shoto] 2:30PM: I apologize for sending so many messages. I will restrain myself in the future.

Momo giggled into her hand. Was two messages, sent over an hour apart, blowing up someone's phone to him? Part of her wanted to think it silly, but overall she was just enchanted by how conscientious and incredibly thoughtful he was, even if he was still somewhat unsuspecting.

She texted back in a hurry, already feeling guilty for accidentally ignoring him for so long.

[Momo]: Don't apologize, you can send as many messages as you want! Sorry I didn't text back sooner. I was on the phone with the girls. I'd love to talk tonight.

She hit send and then immediately opened another message.

[Momo]: Or. could we video chat instead?

There was a long wait after that message and Momo experienced that tiny panic that came from seeing that a message was read and not responded to.

After two minutes without a reply, she felt like her nerves were going to twist her inside into a knot. To distract herself she finally left her room and went downstairs to the kitchen to make tea. The serving staff was down to only the most essential personnel, so the extensive halls of her mansion home felt hauntingly vacant. There was no one giving little head bows as she passed by or greeting her with the fondness that she had grown accustomed to from the good people her parents employed to run their household. It was like walking through a ghost town on the edge of limbo.

That unsettling feeling slipped away the moment she had a teacup in hand and inhaled the fine green leaf aroma. Which then almost spilled across her face as her phone buzzed while she was taking her first delicate sip.

The message was from Ochako.

[Ochako]: WUT DID U SAY TO HIM? HE JUST ASKED US HOW TO MAKE A VIDEO CALL

The cup went down immediately as her heart raced in her chest. She quickly messaged back that she'd simply suggested they try talking over video, but hadn't gotten a response yet.

Message from: Todoroki Shoto

That was one heartbeat missed.

[Todoroki Shoto]: I would like that. Are you available in twenty minutes?

A hurried "yes" was sent and then she was texting Ochako and Kyouka excitedly. It really wasn't like her to be so braggadocious, but now that they were all in on it she needed their moral support, especially since Ochako was apparently working with Midoriya and possibly unknown others to advise Shoto on what to do and say to her. And Kyouka had such a level head on her shoulders that she could keep Momo grounded in reality; it was why she was the only one she'd told about it.

Or, at least she expected Kyouka to say something practical, but instead her reply was: Be sure to look cute.

By the time those extremely long twenty minutes had passed, Momo had gotten her laptop from her room and brought it down into the living room on the Northern Wing, the more casual of the multiple sitting areas. Taking her tea with her, she settled onto the couch, computer set up in front of her and ready for the moment the call would start.

All the preparation in the world couldn't have stopped her from jumping with nervousness when the call came up on the screen. She took a deep breath and one more sip of tea and then answered it.