Loud footsteps alert them too late that Endeavor is returning. Sheer panic draws itself over Sero's already pale face as Endeavor steps into the entryway and looks down the hall at Midoriya.

A dangerous expression overcomes his face, eyes tight and jaw clenched, "It's time for you two to leave. It's getting late, your parents must be missing you." He ushers Midoriya and Sero roughly out the door which slams shut behind them before they can fully register the thinly veiled threat.

Shock drags the boys' feet all the way back to the train station in silence. Midoriya's thoughts run ever more complex loops in his head and the ash still staining his fingers almost burns against his skin.

They wait for the train blankly until Sero spins abruptly, "We need to talk with the teachers, something's up." Midoriya nods numbly, thoughts still cycling through endless scenarios. The train ride back to UA is somber and silent, but both boys are buzzing with determination.

At his stop, Midoriya turns to Sero and says, "Tomorrow morning. Tomorrow morning we'll talk to Aizawa." Before stepping out into the evening shakily waving Sero off as the doors close.

Despite what he told Sero, the thought of waiting sits in Midoriya's stomach heavier than a bowling ball and sharper than knives. Needing to do something, anything, before tomorrow he takes out his phone and presses one of the first contacts to pop up.

"Hello, young Midoriya."

"Hi, yes, uh good evening Toshinori."

''You sound shaken, is everything all right?" He can hear the switch from Toshinori's normal voice to his more measured, calmer teaching voice.

"I'm not sure. Aizawa had Sero and I drop off work for Todoroki, and Endeavor was acting strangely." nervousness causes Midoriya to mutter. "He was abrupt and wouldn't let us see Shoto, which I guess isn't unusual given his normal unpleasantness, but then we found blood on the floor that had been covered up. But then he caught us and threw us out, I'm not sure if he threatened us or not. And given Todoroki and his father's relationship, I'm worried, but there's no proof so-"

"Slow down a moment, my boy. I agree Enji Todoroki has had his gruff moments, but he has called his son in sick. You are right that the history is worrisome. So how about we do this, I'll get in contact with Enji and ask about Todoroki as a teacher and former pro. Tomorrow after classes you and I will meet with Aizawa and form a plan from there, sound good?"

"Yes, sir"

"Good, I'll see you tomorrow, my boy. Now get some rest and some good food. You must look after yourself."

"Yes, Toshinori. I will."

"Promise?"

"Promise. Thank you for your help."

"It is my duty and honor to help in any way" Midoriya can almost hear his teacher pushing his shoulders back over the phone.

"Of course, Sir," said Midoriya with a salute before realizing there was no way for Toshinori to see him. They say goodbye as Midoriya walks through the dorm entrance, putting away his phone as he plods up the stairs to his room avoiding the elevators so no one asks him anything he's not sure he could keep himself from spilling everything.

As he gets ready for bed Midoriya scrubs the ash and blood from his fingers, disgusted and frantic as it takes three tries to get it all off, and does a quick review of his English notes before climbing into his bed. Despite his mentor's assurances, worries for Todoroki swirl in his head and keep him up late into the night.

The next morning, Midoriya's mind wanders as he gets ready for school. Trying to shake off sleep and stop yawning only helps a little. Down in the commons, he and Sero wander away from their respective groups, getting some curious looks from their classmates. In hushed voices, Midoriya explains his call with Toshinori and they go over the plan to talk to Aizawa after classes.

Sero groans, "The squad's going to the arcade after school, so I told them I had to stay late to get math help. Bakugou scoffed at me."

"Yeah, I feel bad lying to them but I told my friends I need to stay and go over my hero costume." Midoriya grimaces.

Silence stretches for a few beats, then Sero grimaces, "I mean Endeavor's a pro hero, so it was probably an accident or something, right?"

With a grim smile, Midoriya responds, "It's better safe than sorry, despite any odds."

"Yeah, Todoroki's strong though, and if he is sick, he'll be back real soon." A grin spreads over Sero's face as he watches Midoriya nod along with a soft smile on his face.

Suddenly a weight presses down on his shoulders and knocks him forward and causing him to stumble, he hears Midoriya squeak next to him.

"Whatcha talkin' about?" Sero looks over as he regains his balance to see Uraraka with an arm over each of their shoulders, using them as supports to lift her feet off the ground like a young child swinging from their parents. "Were you talking about Todoroki?"

"Uraraka! No, we were-"

Uraraka interrupts Midoriya with a dramatic gasp before putting her feet down and loudly whispering, "Is Sero in on, you know, the thing?" Sero cocks an eyebrow as Midoriya's face turns bright red, and he starts stuttering.

"What thing?" asks Sero. Uraraka unwraps her arms from their shoulders and glances uncertainly between Sero and the still blushing Midoriya. An only mostly malicious grin spreads over Sero's face, "The thing where Midoriya has a huge crush on Todoroki?"

Midoriya squawks as a grin to match Sero's splits Uraraka's face, and she nods frantically. "Of course I'm in! If Midoriya admits it, then Kaminari owes me lunch."

Midoriya balks indignantly, "There're bets?" Realization dawns on Midoriya's face as his eyes bug out, "People know!"

"Dude, you know you aren't subtle, right?" Sero laughs. "Kaminari will so owe me lunch."

With that, Sero wanders back to his group. Uraraka draws a still muttering Midoriya back towards Iida and Tsuyu. Sero can still hear her cackling as they walk into the school.

The day goes by with no more surprises than any other day at U.A. The English test is, in fact, on sentence structures as Midorya thought, not vocab as Sero predicted. As he turns in his test Sero shoots Midorya a thumbs up and mouths "Thank you" before walking back to his desk. Classes and notes occupy Midoriya's brain until lunch.

When he puts his tray down next to Uraraka's she says, "I haven't seen Todoroki all day. He must be really sick to keep him from coming back to the dorms, let alone to class."

Iida nods, "It is very unlike him to miss classes." He looks at Midoriya, "You went to deliver work to him yesterday, right Midoriya?"

"Mhm." hums Midoriya around his straw.

"How'd he look?" her eyes glint, "Like he needed his hero to come and save him?" asks Uraraka as she flings herself over Midoriya's shoulder, draping her hand against her temple.

"I, uh, didn't actually see him." Uraraka cocks her head and Iida's eyebrows pinch dramatically, "Endeavor just kinda took the papers and sent us on our way"

"Unfortunate" mumbles Iida concern further scrunching his brow.

"Yeah, whenever I'm sick I always miss my friends something awful!" Chimes Uraraka before her eyes droop and she looks down, "Has he not even tried to contact any of us?"

"I'm sure Todoroki considers all of us good friends," reassures Midoriya laying a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Bakugou drags their attention back to the lunchroom as he rages at someone who bumped into Kirishima. They give a collective sigh and return to their lunches as Tsuyu approaches with her lunch in hand. Though after the reminder, worries for Todoroki derails his thoughts for the next three hours.

Seventh period ends and Midoriya is dead tired, his feet hurt, he's sweat so much he could double as a salt lick. Despite the discomfort, he drags himself back to homeroom. When he opens the door Aizawa is sat behind his desk and Toshinori is leaning against the student desk across from him.

Both his teachers look up as he closes the door behind him. Toshinori leans over and pats on the desk next to him. Midoriya walks over and plops himself on the desk, groaning as he takes his weight off his feet. Iida would be so disappointed in him.

Aizawa clears his throat. "Midoriya, you've expressed some concerns to both Toshinori and myself."

"Yes, sensei." jumps Midoriya.

Aizawa crooks an eyebrow as an invitation to continue, Midoriya's eyes jump from Aizawa to Toshinori, who nods.

Midoriya sighs and looks down as his fingers fidget, trying to think of how to explain. "Well, Todoroki and his father aren't on the best terms" he flinched, oh boy is that an understatement. "And, well, Endeavor's always been Endeavor." Toshinori raises his eyebrows. This isn't working.

As he grasps for the right words, his teachers say nothing. Then everything just bursts forth with a flood of slightly panicked rambling. His teachers glance at each other every few sentences, concern growing. "-and I'm worried and I, just. "I need to make sure Todoroki's okay."

His teachers share a glance that looks knowing, before Aizawa grumbles, "something like this could become a very serious scandal." Midoriya's heartbeat spikes and his skin feels sour until Aizawa continues, "But it is an investigation we are prepared to pursue."

Relief floods Midoriya as his shoulders sag and he lets out a sigh he didn't know he'd been holding.

"If pros can't be held accountable, then justice has lost. Even so, the serious nature of this means that the school and the pro heroes will handle it."

Aizawa rests his arms on his desk and hunches over them, "We know from past experience," He rubs a hand over his face "dear god, so much past experience, that there is no way to get you to just stay out of it, so if you promise not to do anything rash or stupid, we will keep you in the loop. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Aizawa sensei sir" blurts Midoriya as his back goes ramrod straight.

"Nothing rash or stupid."

"Of cour- "

"Say it."

"Aizawa." Toshinori chides from next to Midoriya.

Aizawa glares for a split second before turning back to Midoriya, "Say it."

"Nothing rash or stupid" replies Midoriya sheepishly.

"Great, now get out I want to sleep," says Aizawa with an air of finality. As Midoriya stands, so does Toshinori. They walk towards the door silently.

"We'll let you know when we find anything, my boy," Toshinori glances back at Aizawa before whispering "and you keep us in the loop too if you could." Midoriya nods and starts staggering back to the dorms for a hot shower.