They headed down the familiar road towards the hospital, opting to walk rather than getting the bus as it was really warm.
"Are you feeling better?"
He nodded. "Yeah."
"Are you gonna tell me why you weren't speaking to me? Or anyone else."
"They've seen my screen saver… for my cell."
"And?"
"Well…" He held his phone out to her.
She stared at the photo.
"I didn't really want you to know about it in case you took me for a weirdo." He sighed, slipping it back into his pocket.
"Nah… mines the one of all three of us." She grinned.
Shoto looked down at her. "Really?"
"Yeah, it's a precious memory."
"So… you don't mind?"
"Of course not."
He grinned uncontrollably, feeling a weight being lifted off his shoulders.
"You worry about silly things, Sho-chan." She teased, squeezing his cheek playfully.
He snorted. "Says you."
As they walked down the road, there was a huddle of teens at the bus stop across the road.
"Wow! What a cute couple!"
"Isn't that Todoroki? From UA?"
"If she wasn't so pretty, I'd be mad!"
"Damn! Is she a fairy or something?"
Kahoko's face turned red as she heard the girls' whispers. She promptly let go of Shoto's arm.
He frowned and looked at her face. "What's the matter?"
She shook her head and stared at the floor.
He stepped in front of her. Why did she let go of me so suddenly? She always links her arm with mine… heck she does it to everyone she's close to.
She bumped into him, since she wasn't paying attention. "Sho-chan?" She finally looked up at him.
"What's the matter?"
She bit her lip. "Nothing, c'mon!" She stepped around him.
He sighed and looked over the road to the huddle of teens, who were clearly watching them. "What are they saying?" He asked, continuing to walk beside her.
She met his gaze. "What do you mean?"
"Those guys over there… did they say something?"
"I just don't want people to get the wrong idea."
He raised a brow.
"I mean… you're really popular…"
"So? I don't care what they think." He shrugged.
"They think we're dating." She blurted out.
He blinked. I should be so lucky… "Is that bad?"
She felt her face get hotter. Why did he have to ask that?! "Well… no… but…"
He rolled his eyes. "Let them think and say whatever. I personally don't mind having a pretty girl like you holding onto my arm."
She let out a nervous giggle. For some reason, she found borderline flirty Shoto funny.
He smirked, happy with himself.
They got to the hospital doors.
"Ready?" Shoto held out his hand.
Kahoko laughed and took it. "Lead the way."
"Oh! Mr Todoroki! I see you've brought your girlfriend along again, Mrs Todoroki speaks fondly of you, Miss Sano." The receptionist cooed.
"How is she today?" Shoto asked, diverting her attention.
"It's one of her better days. She's excited to see you." She replied.
"Great." Shoto tugged at Kahoko's hand, leading the way down the corridor. He looked down to her. "Thank you for coming."
She met his gaze. "You only need to ask." She squeezed his hand.
He opened the door to his mother's room. "Hey, mom!" He said.
Mrs Todoroki turned and smiled widely. "You're finally here."
Shoto went up to her and placed a kiss on the forehead. "Sorry, we got held up at the mall."
"It's alright, I'm just happy that you're getting out more." She looked to Kahoko. "And how's my future daughter-in-law?"
Kahoko blinked at her. "Ummm… I'm fine, thanks." She shot a glance towards Shoto.
"Mom, we've been through this."
"I know… but a mother can dream." Mrs Todoroki waved her hand.
Kahoko sat down beside Shoto.
"Shoto told me that you were unwell last week, I'm glad to see that you seem to have recovered."
Kahoko nodded. "Yeah, it was just a cold."
"I hope Shoto took good care of you."
Kahoko giggled.
"Are you excited about the training camp?" She asked them.
Shoto shrugged. "As long as we're not attacked this time."
"I can't wait to train properly with you guys!" Kahoko remarked. "I wanna go all out with your class."
"I wish your father wasn't going." Mrs Todoroki looked to her son. "I know how unbearable he can be."
"Me too, hopefully I don't have to interact with him much."
"Isn't he taking you to the camp?"
Shoto shook his head. "He offered… but no."
Mrs Todoroki sighed. She looked to Kahoko. "If his father becomes a nuisance you have my permission to give it to him."
Kahoko saluted. "Yes, ma'am."
"Are you going anywhere after this?" She asked.
"We're going to Yaoyorozu's for a sleep over." Shoto stated.
"Ooh! Well, I hope it's fun." Mrs Todoroki looked to Kahoko again. "Thank you."
Kahoko raised a brow.
"It's because of you that he's even getting out of the house."
Shoto stared at his hands. "Mom!"
She scratched her neck nervously. "It's not entirely because of me."
Mrs Todoroki laughed. "It's all because of you. It's funny what love can do to someone."
Shoto's cheeks burned.
Kahoko bit her lip.
"Well, what do you think of him? Isn't my Shoto handsome?"
"Of course, he is." Kahoko answered, maybe a little too quickly.
"Mom, you're making her uncomfortable."
"I think you should go and get us some drinks, let us girls chat." Mrs Todoroki smiled.
Shoto looked to Kahoko.
"I'll be fine. Make mine an iced tea." She added.
He sighed and did as he was told.
Once he was gone, Mrs Todoroki rounded on Kahoko. "You like him."
Kahoko opened her mouth, before closing it, not having a retort.
Mrs Todoroki smirked. "What's stopping the two of you? Kids these days." She sighed. "You do know that he thinks you like somebody else, right?"
Kahoko frowned. "Who?"
"Somebody in his class, he mentioned it last time you visited."
Kahoko bit her lip, trying to think of who else Shoto thought she had a crush on. When she first mentioned it, Kahoko thought Mrs Todoroki was talking about Hitoshi. But Shoto knew their situation.
"In any case, I'd much rather my son be with someone he truly likes than be like his father."
"With all respect, Sho-chan is nothing like his dad."
"Sho-chan?"
Kahoko looked down. Here we go again…
"Oh, goodness!" The older woman laughed. She took out her purse and pulled out a photograph. "Wanna see something?" She held it out to Kahoko.
Kahoko stared at the photograph of Mrs Todoroki's four children, noticing the distinctive dual coloured hair. "So cute!" She fawned.
"Wasn't he?!" She grinned with pride. "My children have all grown up into fine young adults. Shoto was the sweetest until his father broke him… but now… piece by piece, you and his classmates are bringing back my sweet boy."
She smiled. "Well… I think it's him and his classmates that are putting me back together again." She handed the photo back. "Before I met them… I was practically an empty shell since Tama-chan died."
Mrs Todoroki moved to sit beside her and took her hands. "Whatever happens… I want you two to keep building each other up. You're a good fit I think." She swallowed. "I am so sorry about what happened to your brother, but I am glad that it's brought you to my son."
Kahoko felt herself shake a little.
Mrs Todoroki encircled her arms around the girl. "I'll tell you this, if you ever need anything, even just an ear… come to me, okay? I know that boy better than anyone."
"Thank you." She mumbled, pulling away.
Shoto walked back in and frowned at the new seating arrangements. "Is everything alright?"
Mrs Todoroki looked to him and smiled. "We're good. I'll move so you can sit back here." She patted Kahoko's arm reassuringly, before moving back to her chair by the window.
Shoto handed Kahoko her bottle of iced tea. "Kaho?"
She met his gaze with a heart stopping smile. "Your mom was just showing me a baby photo."
He looked to his mother with a look of betrayal in his eyes. "Mom!"
"Awwh, Sho-chan is cute!" Kahoko pinched his cheek playfully.
He glared at her, blushing.
She stuck out her tongue before taking a drink.
"You two will have beautiful children!"
Kahoko choked on her tea and started coughing.
Shoto patted her back. "Mom!"
His mother smiled widely.
Shoto made sure that Kahoko was okay. "Sorry about her."
Kahoko waved her hand. "It's fine." She checked her watch. "Visiting is over soon. I'll wait for you outside and give you some time with your mom." She stood. "Nice seeing you again, Ma'am." She bowed her head.
Mrs Todoroki nodded. "Please, come again soon. I enjoy your company."
"And I yours, ma'am, take care." With that Kahoko walked out of the room and headed outside.
Kahoko patiently waited outside, trying to cool her burning cheeks. She sat upon a low wall, sipping at her drink, thinking about what Shoto's mother had said.
A couple of girls walked passed her.
"Isn't that Todoroki's girlfriend… you know, from UA?"
"She is pretty, no wonder he likes her."
"I bet those two will marry…"
"They'd make the best-looking hero team!"
Kahoko sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Hey, cutie!"
She blinked and looked up, seeing about four older teens standing nearby her.
"Is your quirk sex magnet or what?"
She scowled. "Excuse me?"
"I mean, look at you!"
Creeps. She stood straight. "Please, leave me alone." She said in a flat voice, casually walking away.
One of the guys grabbed her arm. "Hey, I just wanna talk to you."
"Why do you think she has that scarf covering her face?" One of the others cackled.
"A scar or something?" Another sneered.
"Let go of me…" She warned.
"Nah, c'mon, let's show you some fun!" He pulled at her.
"Kahoko is so kind." Mrs Todoroki said fondly.
Shoto sighed and stretched. "Yeah..."
His mother looked at him. "You two seem to have gotten closer since your last visit. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were a couple."
His face heated up.
"I think that you don't have to worry about the other boy in your class." She chuckled.
He blinked.
"I mentioned it... she seemed confused, as if trying to work out who it was you thought she liked."
He looked at his hands. "Well... we have been spending a lot of time together."
"I see your face when she's smiling at you. You've softened a lot." She looked out of her window and gasped. "Oh, my! Shoto!"
Her son followed her gaze and saw Kahoko getting grabbed by a guy. "Bastards!" He looked to his mother. "I'll see you when I get back next week."
"Yes, now go and help her!" His mother waved him away before turning to look out of the window. "Oh, my, she is holding her own though."
Kahoko roundhouse kicked one of her attackers in the stomach, before elbowing one who approached her from behind in the chin.
"Hey!" One of the attackers growled.
Kahoko felt, what could only be described as, spider's web, wrap around her. What happened to security around here?! "Let go, you creep!" She growled, struggling against the sticky ties.
That's when she felt it… the air freeze around them.
"Get your filthy hands off her!"
She felt a warm arm wrap around her and pull her into the owner's chest.
"She's mine!" Shoto's anger came off in waves.
She felt her heart nearly jump out of her chest. She pulled away to look at his thunderous expression then to the spider guy, who was frozen completely. "Sho-chan…" She breathed.
He met her eyes, and his softened. "Are you alright?" Clouds of condensation leaving his lips.
She nodded. "I'm fine."
He looked around to see two out of four knocked unconscious, thanks to Kahoko, and the fourth must have ran away. "Scum."
"Sho-chan?"
He exhaled and pulled her into him again, burying his face into her shoulder. "You…"
She brought her arms up and hugged him back. "Don't worry. I'm tough."
"I know. But doesn't mean that I can't protect you."
She pulled away. "C'mon." She took his hand. "Please unfreeze him, I don't want him to actually freeze to death."
He sighed and defrosted the guy.
"What the heck dude?!" The spider guy shivered
Shoto merely glared at the guy and he legged it. "Should've called the police." He grumbled.
Kahoko tugged him into motion. "Just forget about it. I'm fine, you're fine."
He tightened his grip on her hand. "I… just looked out of my mom's window to see you being grabbed."
"You know I'm pretty good at defending myself, right? But thank you for saving me." She stepped up and kissed his cheek.
He grinned a little. "No problem."
Kahoko's mind wondered to what he said when he saved her. 'She's mine' She blushed. Nah, he just said that to make them think… "Let's keep that incident to ourselves. I don't wanna freak Hitoshi out." She tried to subtly itch her arm, then her side. Why am I so itchy?!
He nodded. "Sure."
"D'you know where Yaomomo lives?" Itch, itch…
"I know the general area."
"I'll ask Hitoshi to send us a location." She took out our phone and sent a text to her best friend.
He bit his lip. "What did my mom talk to you about?"
She almost tripped. "Uh… nothing much… just how she was happy that you're opening up more." It wasn't a total lie.
He nodded, thinking. So... she doesn't have a crush on Bakugo? He looked to their intertwined hands. He loosened his grip a little, he didn't realise how tense he was.
"Hmm?" She looked up at him.
"Oh... um..." He stammered. "Sorry... if I was hurting you."
She looked to their hands too and felt her face heat up a little. "I'm okay." She mumbled.
Shoto blinked. Is she...
Kahoko's eyes wondered around before she spotted something. "Oooh… those are cute!" She let go of his hand and took out her coin purse. What is wrong with me?!
Shoto flexed his fingers, staring at his hand for a few moments. Cold... He followed her. "Kaho?"
She knelt at a phone strap lottery. She put in two coins and twisted the handle; two balls came out of the opening. She stood straight and held out the spheres. "Pick one."
He raised a brow but did as he was told. He twisted it open and pulled out the charm.
Kahoko did the same and showed her charm.
In the whole of the random selection they both drawn crowns, with different colour gem hanging off it.
Kahoko's was purple, Shoto's was white.
"It's your colour." He chuckled, holding his charm to her.
"No, no! It's for you, silly." She giggled. "What will I do with two?"
He blushed. "Uhm… thank you."
"I mean, you've fed my cat plush obsession, so I thought I'd get you something. I'm sorry it isn't much."
He stepped up and hugged her. "Thank you." He pulled away and looked at the charm in his hand.
She gently attached her own to her phone and checked Hitoshi's message. She showed it to Shoto. "Do you remember where this street is?" She itched her leg.
"I think it's safer getting the bus, so we don't get lost." He suggested.
She pouted a little. "Maybe."
He caught her expression. "What?"
She sighed. "I dunno…"
He read the signs. "I like these moments too, y'know."
She looked to him with a frown.
"These moments, when it's just you and me." He looked to the ground. Just say something damn it…
"Kinda feels like a date…" She mused; she itched her arm again. Seriously… what is it?!
His heart almost stopped. "Sorta… apart from… if it were a date, it wouldn't start off with shopping with my class and meeting my mom."
She pursed her lips. "I dunno… it was all part of the fun. Dates are supposed to be fun and unexpected."
They got to the bus stop and leaned against the wall.
Shoto checked his watch. "We've been gone almost two hours." He looked to see her scratching at her stomach, she had zipped up her jacket. Is she okay?
Her eyes widened. "Really? I hope Natsu is okay."
"Shinso is there, he'll be fine." He assured her. "Are you alright?"
She nodded. "Fine." She itched her leg again.
He frowned. Is it just me or has she been scratching since we came outside?
She tried to reach her back to scratch. "It's just one of those itches that seem to travel and not go away." She laughed it off.
He sighed and put a cooling hand against her back and scratched the middle gently.
She sighed in relief. "Thank you!"
The bus pulled up and they jumped on.
Kahoko tried her hardest not to itch anymore. Was it something in the hospital? Or was it something to do with that sticky stuff?! She huffed a little. Just my luck! Get over a cold and then catch something a day later. Her vision started to go hazy. Poison?!
Shoto was concerned. "Maybe it's the heat?"
She gave a small nod. "Maybe." She didn't want to panic him on the bus.