Todoroki-kun to Koi no Yamai

[8]

Focused and ambitious: those were the two words that Shouto would use to describe himself if he ever had to. It was not just because of the intense, ostracizing training that his father put him through. It was because his objective was to become his generation's number-one hero using only his mother's quirk. Part of the path involved using Endeavor as a stepping stone.

Shouto was self-assured but he was no fool. He was painfully aware that Endeavor was an obstacle far greater than a pebble on his path. No. That monster of a man was the highest hurdle that he'd have to leap over.

Not surpassing Endeavor with his mother's quirk wasn't an option for Shouto.

Those two ambitions had to be realized together.

It was a steep hill to climb but Shouto would come out victorious.

Therefore, for now, he had to focus all of his attention and energy on his schooling and hero training. U.A.'s staff may have become professors but they were all formidable predecessors whom he knew could learn a great deal from.

That was why Shouto was always punctual for class. That was why Shouto's gaze was razor sharp and ears honed in during every lesson. Despite where his dedication lay, he was not oblivious to the world around him. He saw the way other students formed friendships and cliques. It was typical human being behavior. Humans naturally sought comfort and solace in congregations with like-minded individuals.

When Shouto began attending U.A., it was without intentions to make friends as such relationships were not a necessity at this point in his career. He could save fraternizing until he was an established hero with a need for alliances.

Consequentially, because he had no interest in such relationships, he was unbothered by the way others steered clear of him. He was content with not being interacted with until it was necessary, like for team training exercises. He spent so much time alone and focused on training during his childhood so this was no different.

Of course, there was one exception to this normality.

The exception came in the form of Kagome Higurashi.

Initially, he didn't think much of her or her presence. She was the one person who made a point of greeting him in the morning, but she did so with every other classmate. Because Kagome seemed to have a naturally sunny disposition and friendly nature, Shouto never paid her greetings any mind. They were passed out so often and indiscriminately that he felt no need to return them.

The acknowledgment that she gave him daily was fleeting.

So for a while, Shouto was under the impression that their shared history meant nothing. And he was content with that.

That impression was shattered on that fateful day.

When the back of Kagome's knees screeched her chair across the floor, Shouto's eyes subtly shifted. He was interested in observing the talents of a newer generation.

[ "My greatest secret is how much I want to hold Todoroki-kun!" ]

It turned out that Shouto's first interpretation of her words was inaccurate. Initially, Shouto thought that it was an odd confession of wanting to impede his progress as a hero. In hindsight, Shouto could admit to himself that it was an egocentric deduction. With nothing but rising to the top and putting Endeavor in his place on his mind, Shouto's mind couldn't fathom that another fledging hero felt anything but rivalry towards him.

It was only after he was accosted and roped into eating lunch with classmates that he considered that he was wrong. Shouto couldn't fathom how Kagome could tolerate being the center of attention for extensive periods of time. Being surrounded and assaulted by a barrage of voices was mentally taxing and physically exhausting.

When asked how he would respond to Kagome's confession, Shouto answered as straightly as usual. He informed his classmates that he would rise to her challenge and wouldn't let anyone hold him back. They looked at him as if he had grown a second head. Shouto didn't vocalize it, but he was befuddled by their bemusement.

Kagome Higurashi may have displayed a cordial, unassuming demeanor, but Shouto would not underestimate it. It would be foolhardy to not take her seriously. She always scored in the top 10 of their class in written and physical exams. Additionally, she exhibited great control of the wind manipulation quirk that she inherited from her father.

With all of those factors, Shouto thought it was natural to perceive her as a threat.

—that was until his classmates became adamant that Kagome's words were not a declaration of war, but a confession of affection. Shouto didn't show it, but he was genuinely surprised. It was so unbelievable that he wasn't entirely convinced that his classmates' interpretation of Kagome's words was legitimate.

It didn't seem real.

Moreover, even if they were correct, Shouto had no interest in such relationships. In fact, he never considered such things. Such attachments weren't necessary for his ambitions, so after that long, mostly one-sided conversation, Shouto didn't put any further thought into it.

—until the frequency of Kagome's presence drastically increased. Immediately after her ambiguous confession, she began appearing before him in places and at times that she didn't before. Furthermore, their interactions were no longer limited to her brief morning greetings.

It seemed that Kagome was suddenly making a point of engaging him. Shouto did note that she never displayed a hostile demeanor during their interactions. He definitely noticed that he was seeing her more often and hearing her voice more and more frequently.

But it wasn't unpleasant, so he allowed it.

Shouto didn't see any merit in needless antagonism.

And because Kagome seemed to be seeking him out, it only felt natural to return her greetings.

Shouto wasn't an expert on social interactions but she didn't seem to mind that he was a man of few words, and that was a plus.

Suddenly, there was a morning when Kagome did not show up at his locker. Shouto expected her morning cheer to start his school day. But after he slipped into his school shoes, she didn't appear before him as she had been. It was odd, but not unsettling. Kagome had no obligation to see him or walk with him to class.

With his bag slung over his shoulder, Shouto began his usual trek towards his classroom. His eyes did a side glance towards the entrance and the other lockers. Again, Kagome was nowhere in sight today.

This was an abnormality, as Kagome had flawless attendance.

There was nothing that Shouto could or would do.

It wasn't his business.

But at the very least, he was a bit curious.