(12:45 AM)
Momo felt uncomfortable. Her skin was crawling and words were writhing on the tip of her tongue, longing to leap out. After half an hour of wordlessly walking with Todoroki, she couldn't help it. Momo was polite by both nature and nurture, and prolonged awkward silences made her tense. Todoroki, on the other hand, did not seem to care very much at all. Momo wished she had his easy nonchalance.
The looming structure of U.A cut through her thoughts. Normally, the sight of the prestigious school filled her heart with pride, but now it just made her feel a crawling, sick dread. She could not believe she was about to commit a crime! What if she got caught? What would happen to her? Would-
"Alright Yaoyorozu. We have to find a way into the building," Todoroki said, his gray and blue eyes scanning the site strategically. U.A was a tall, grand beast of a building. His eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Honestly, our task is going to be very difficult. The building is definitely locked and the principal's office is on the top floor. The only way we could get in would be by scaling the building and breaking the window, which would no doubt trigger alarms. Our chances of actually completing our task are slim to none," he finished.
"I know that, it's just…" Momo trailed off. She wanted to show her friends that she could be spontaneous and adventurous as well. "Can we check the front doors?"
Todoroki shrugged and walked up to the doors. They were as tall and imposing as they always were. He tugged at the doors, and to the duo's immense shock, they opened.
"How…?" Momo breathed, hardly daring to believe their luck.
"Maybe someone left the doors unlocked? But that would not make any sense. U.A is an elite high school. They can't afford to make such irresponsible mistakes," Todoroki said thoughtfully. His gaze turned hard. "Someone might be in the building."
Momo gulped. She did not feel prepared for a burglary. "We need to be quiet then, Todoroki." He nodded and slipped into the building. Momo walked in after him.
Their footsteps echoed on the marble floors of the high school. The hallways, which were usually filled with chatting students and warm sunlight during the day, were silent as a cemetery and dark as ink. Ghostly light trickled in from the glass windows, making shadows dance across the floor. Momo felt unease nibble at her nerves. She reached for Todoroki's hand, which was hardly visible, but looked very real and reassuring. She hastily stopped herself, letting her hand fall limply at her side. Her little meltdown was probably still fresh in his mind. She didn't want to stress him out with her weakness.
After climbing two flights of stairs, Momo and Todoroki finally made it to the principal's office. They stood outside of the simple gray door. It had a plaque that read "Principal Nedzu" on it. A sudden noise caught Momo's attention. It sounded like drawers being opened and it came from inside the office. Her pulse sped up. "Do you hear that?" she whispered to Todoroki. He nodded, worry flashing in his eyes. He gripped the doorknob.
"Ready? Three, two, one." Todoroki flung the door open and quickly turned on the lights. Momo ran into the room after him. The bright light shocked her senses and she had to blink a couple times. She heard a yell of surprise. She looked at the principal's desk, and her jaw dropped.
(1:00 AM)
To find a principal in his office was nothing out of the norm. To find a principal in his office at an ungodly hour in the morning holding an odd costume, however, was. The principal screamed, which cause Momo and Todoroki to scream as well. The three stood screaming in the illuminated office for a moment, before realizing that they were not in danger. The principal stopped and cleared his throat embarrassedly.
"What on earth are you two doing in the school at this hour?" demanded the principal. He was a man of small stature, with a receding hairline, little beady eyes and a generally calm disposition. He was clearly not feeling very calm at the moment. He was hastily trying to shove the weird costume back into his desk drawer. Momo squinted at it. It was white and looked… soft?
"We could ask you the same thing, Mr. Nedzu," Todoroki retorted.
"Well- I- That's none of your business!" Nedzu stuttered. "I could have you arrested for trespassing!"
"Technically, you are not supposed to be here either," Todoroki shot back, and the two continued to bicker. Momo just stared at the odd costume. She noticed two ears on the head. They looked like mouse ears. Cartoon eyes, complete with a black button nose were on it as well. And suddenly, everything clicked inside of her mind.
"No way," Momo breathed. She quickly took a picture of the principal and his suit.
"What are you doing?" squawked the principal.
"Principal Nedzu, I didn't know you were a furry!" Momo said in a faux-casual tone, turning her phone and giving the principal a view of the photo she had just taken. Todoroki's eyes widened and he whipped his head around to take a better look at the costume.
"Haha, no, what? Don't be silly," the principal stammered. He was sweating profusely. "I demand that you delete that photo! It was taken without my permission!"
"Oh, absolutely! In fact, Todoroki and I will never speak of this incident again," Momo smiled. The principal looked visibly relieved. "IF," Momo continued, and the principal tensed, "you give us something from this office. It can be anything, preferably small. Let's see…" Momo scanned the room. Her eyes caught sight of a black ink pen, one that was lazily abandoned atop his oak desk. "We would like the pen."
Todoroki's jaw was dropped. He was gazing at Momo with surprise and admiration, and it made her heart swell.
"Oh, is that all? Take the pen, I don't need it. It was a gift from my bitch of an ex-wife, anyways," Nedzu finished bitterly. Momo laughed uncomfortably. The principal clearly had many issues, but Momo just wanted to take the pen and get the hell out.
She plucked the pen from his fingers and deleted the photo. The principal gave the two a wide, threatening smile. "Alright kids, we'll never speak of this again, right?"
"Never speak of this again," Todoroki agreed. He and Momo left the office.
(1:30 AM)
Momo walked down the familiar hallways of her school in a haze, Todoroki looking equally distant beside her. They both needed a moment. Momo was twirling the ink pen between her fingers. Her principal's pen. Her principal, who was a furry.
Todoroki opened the front door for Momo and she walked out. They stood outside of the building, listening to nothing but the faint rustling of trees in the wind. And then, Momo began to laugh.
Once it started, she couldn't stop. She was doubled over, the force of her chuckles preventing her from standing up straight. Todoroki began to laugh as well, a soft and sweet sound that just added to her merriment.
"Oh my- Todoroki- We just- Oh my goodness!" Momo wheezed. "Our principal is a furry!"
"I know."
"Our principal- the principal of a renowned honour school- is a furry!"
"I know."
Momo continued to laugh. Maybe it was the relief of not being arrested, the adrenaline pumping through her veins or the sheer absurdity of the situation. Either way, she simply couldn't stop.
Todoroki was still smiling lightly. "Should we tell anyone?" he wondered.
"No, it would cause more trouble than it's worth. Honestly, I kind of just want to let this fade from my mind," Momo said, finally allowing her laughter to die.
Todoroki nodded in agreement and fished the two beers Jiro had given them out of his bag. "I think we need this. To Nedzu," he toasted ironically.
"To Nedzu," Momo agreed, and they drank.
The awkwardness that they had experienced around each other just an hour before faded like morning mist. The two strolled down a residential street, drinking and talking. Momo appreciated how his dizzying eyes flashed when he quipped, and how he ran a his hand through his hair every five minutes like clockwork. She felt light and happy, and just a bit drunk.
"Here Todoroki, close your eyes," Momo commanded. He shot her a perplexed look. "Just do it!" Momo insisted.
"Sure, sure," he agreed, a carefree smile adorning his fine features. Momo grinned slyly and uncapped the pen. She leaned in close. His face was open and trusting. Beautiful, she thought softly. Momo quickly drew a small heart on his nose. "Wha-?" he started but stopped as he stared at her. His cheeks turned a faint pink.
Momo laughed again as he went slightly cross-eyed while trying to decipher what was on his nose. "I gave you a tattoo! What will society think?" she gasped melodramatically.
"My turn," he growled. He delicately snatched the pen from her hands and began to write on her exposed collarbone. His breath tickled her and the cool touch of the pen made her gasp slightly. He leaned in almost intimately, his hair brushing her skin and one hand lazily draped on her shoulder. Momo's breath hitched. He finished writing and pulled back, and Momo immediately missed his warmth. There was a satisfied smirk on his face.
"What does it say?" Momo asked innocently.
"Shoto," Todoroki said proudly. His eyes gleamed, and Momo's heart skipped a beat. "That way everyone will know that you're my Momo now."
Momo's eyes widened and her face darkened to an unflattering shade of crimson. He had called her by her first name! He had called her his Momo! "Todoroki-" she started but was cut off by the loud growl of an engine. A police car was driving down the street, swerving chaotically down the road.
Momo gawked at the car. What was it doing in a quiet, residential street at one in the morning? Why was it driving so weirdly? Her blood froze as it pulled up next to Todoroki and her unsteadily.
The window of the car rolled down, revealing a group of police officers. "Hey kiddos. Are you drinking?" the driver asked suspiciously. Momo gulped. Maybe they could pass as legal age somehow? They needed to play it cool.
"Yes, we were just having a small beer," Momo said politely, offering him a sweet smile.
"Give it to us," the officer said.
"...What?" Momo asked uncertainly. She couldn't believe her ears.
"Give us the beer!" he repeated. The cops in the back seat cheered. Momo realized that they were all piss drunk. Unbelievable.
"Should you be drinking?" she asked. Todoroki shot her a warning glance. The officers were clearly not in a state to be argued with.
"Should you be drinking?" he countered. "You may have nice tits but hey, they make 'em bustier these days. Who knows how old you are." He gave her a lecherous grin. Momo felt sick.
"Here sir, have the beer," Todoroki said coldly, pushing the alcohol into the car. His eyes were hard as steel. Momo recalled the convenience store incident. Two perverts in a night. How disgusting.
"Thanks kids. Here, have a hat girly!" The officer took of his hat and shoved it on Momo's head. She began to protest but they were already driving off. "STAY SAFE!" the driver hollered from down the street.
The irony made Momo laugh. "Says the drunk driver," she muttered.
"Nice hat, Yaoyorozu," Todoroki snorted. Although his tone was amused, he was looking at her with concern. "Are you ok?"
"Oh, I'm fine. I can't believe this. He gave me his hat! Those policemen were trashed!" she seethed. "We should have taken a picture of their license plate and reported them or something."
"We were taken by surprise, but yes, we should have. I hope they don't hurt anyone," Todoroki added pensively. Momo hummed in agreement. She felt tired. The events of the night had started to wear away at her stamina and she knew that she needed rest.
"Todoroki, I think I want to go home," she yawned, putting a hand over her mouth. Exhaustion was no excuse for impoliteness, she reminded herself.
"What about Jiro and everyone else? Aren't they expecting evidence or whatever?" was his curious reply. Momo couldn't bring herself to care much about the dare.
"You can bring the pen for me, right?" she asked hopefully. Todoroki looked hesitant, but his expression softened.
"Ok, I can do that."
"Thank you, Todoroki. Now, let's see when the next bus is coming," she muttered under her breath, taking out her phone.
"How long is the bus ride?" Todoroki asked.
"Oh, around half an hour?" Momo said distractedly, typing on her phone. "I live far from the school."
"I can't let you go on a bus for half an hour alone at night," Todoroki said automatically. Momo looked up and frowned.
"No, I couldn't possibly inconvenience you like that. Jiro's house is a thirty minute walk from mine," Momo said. Todoroki payed her words no heed.
"I'm coming with you, Yaoyorozu. I'm not arguing this point."
Momo begged to differ, but the determined look in his eyes stopped her. She supposed he could let him flaunt his masculine pride. Besides, she wanted to stay with him as long as possible. "Ok, fine," she conceded. Todoroki gave her a lovely smile that made her choice worth it.
"How far away is the bus stop?" Todoroki questioned.
"About five minutes. Come on," Momo replied, and the two started walking.
(1:45 AM)
"How come you take the bus? You're rich enough to be chauffeured around town," Todoroki asked in a casual drawl. Had anyone else dared to ask that question, Momo would have been angered, but she knew that Todoroki meant no disrespect.
"My parents were really against it, but I wanted to build some independence, you know? I've always been bad with directions, but taking the bus has really helped me out. I know my way around town and it's only been a year!" she finished proudly.
"I still prefer to be driven around, but I've always been good with directions so it's not much of an issue," Todoroki commented. Momo rolled her eyes. Classic Todoroki, never flawed and unafraid to admit it.
"You, good sir, are a paragon of humility," Momo said in mock reverence.
"I'm not being arrogant, I'm just stating the truth," he shrugged.
"Please stop, your modesty is overwhelming me."
"And your very honest praise is making me blush."
Momo laughed. Todoroki never failed to provide interesting company. The way he easily bantered with her warmed her heart
"Hey Yaoyorozu, is that the bus?" he asked suddenly, pointing ahead. Indeed, it was, and it started to pull away from the bus stop. Momo's blood froze in horror. It was the final bus of the night. She couldn't let it leave. She began to run after it, her long legs carrying her swiftly across the pavement. Old Momo would never dare to do this. She would quietly allow the bus to slip past her like a phantom. Not new Momo. She was better than that. She had to be.
"Yaoyorozu!" Todoroki shouted from behind her, dashing to catch up. She didn't look back. Instead, she ran faster. She wouldn't let it get away.
"HEY!" she yelled, waving her arms madly above her head. "WAIT FOR US, PLEASE!"
The bus driver looked at her with wide eyes and stopped the bus next to them. Panting heavily, Momo and Todoroki boarded the vehicle and paid their fares.
"You kids are lucky, this is the last bus of the night," the man chuckled, a sort of whimsical kindliness in his voice.
"Thank you so much for letting us on!" Momo breathed. Todoroki nodded.
"No problem, it's not very crowded anyways. Go on, take a seat," he replied. Momo and Todoroki sat down at the back of the bus.
"That was something else," Todoroki told her, one red eyebrow arched.
"I didn't want to miss the bus. I did what I needed to do," Momo said.
"Yeah, you did, it's just…" Todoroki trailed off. He was staring into her eyes, an undecipherable look on his face. It made her skin prickle.
"What?" Momo asked, anxiety clawing like a beast at her heart. Did he not like the way she was trying to be? She was doing it for him.
"No, it's nothing," Todoroki said in an infuriating monotone. Momo huffed. Fine, be that way, she thought grumpily.
Ten minutes passed without a word. Momo crossed her legs and perched her hands on her knee. Another awkward silence. Great.
"Yaoyorozu," Todoroki started, making Momo blink at him in surprise. She hadn't expected him to break the silence. "You're a really unique person, you know?" He sounded awkward, stilted. Momo couldn't tell what he was trying to say.
"Ok…? And?" she pressed encouragingly.
"That's it." Straight and blunt. What was the point of that?
"Th-thank you?" Momo replied, flustered. Todoroki was an enigma in the truest sense of the word. He just nodded. The silence fell again, thick as fog, but Momo didn't mind. It was a contemplative silence, a gentle one.
A touch threw her from her daze. Todoroki's pinky finger brushed against her's, the rest of his hand resting comfortably on her thigh. If he noticed or cared, he did not let on. Momo's cheeks began to glow, but she avoided making a sound. She smiled slightly, and softened under his touch. Shoto Todoroki was an odd man, Momo thought, but she wouldn't have him any other way.
They spent the rest of their ride in amicable silence, each lost in the vast expanses of their own minds, but still connected by a small, tender touch.
A.N: I'm going to burn in hell for what I did to poor Principal Nedzu. Do I regret it though? No, not one bit. I know the content of this chapter is highly unrealistic, but hey, this was never intended to be a very serious, real fic. It's light and fun, and hopefully, it made you smile! The ending of this chapter was originally going to be kind of angsty, but I decided against it. I think it turned out better, anyways. Leave a review to tell me what you think! Constructive criticism is always appreciated.
Love,
night