Todoroki almost panicked when he woke up in a bed he didn't recognize.

Then he remembered what happened.

Hosu. Midoriya. Alleyway. Iida. Stain.

He blinked against the light leaking into the room. Was that all only last night?

He sat up slowly, looking around the room, seeing both Midoriya and Iida still sleeping in their own hospital beds.

He cringed at the smell of the room. It wasn't bad, it was just…a bit much.

He wondered how you were going to react to this. If you watched the news last night or this morning–

You were probably worried sick.

A heavy feeling sunk into his chest. He hadn't texted or called you this entire week. What day was it now? Thursday?

You must be worried sick.

He groaned as he looked at the nightstand next to him. Oh, thank God, his phone was there. Even if there was a giant crack in the screen, it was there.

He pressed the power button on the side and looked at the time–

There was no way it was 2:00 PM. No way in hell.

He has never slept that long. Ever.

Wait, what time did he get checked into the hospital?

He didn't know; he would figure it out later.

He opened your contact, debating what way would be best to contact you. He wasn't sure if you were going to respond to texts in the middle of the day, but you did tend to call him more than text him. You almost preferred it– at least that's what it seemed like to him.

His thumb hovered over the call button. He searched his thoughts. Why was he thinking about you? Why were you the first person that came to mind when he woke up? Why did he want to call you and not Fuyumi or Natsuo and tell them he was okay? It's not that you cared more or less than they did…

He had the distinct feeling that he knew why, but he didn't know why. It was the strangest feeling and it was something he never experienced before. All he knew was that he wanted to be with you. He wanted to let you know that he was okay.

He pressed dial and brought the phone to his ear.

.o0o.

You and Eto-San laughed as you stirred the udon noodles in broth.

As a celebration of you and Eto-San's internship with Hawks, Mother invited him over for dinner and conversation. It shocked you as much as it shocked him, if not more so.

But since school (for the business course) was excused early today, it became more of a late lunch rather than a dinner.

You were concerned if Todoroki would mind having another man in your home besides him, but you didn't want to bother him while he was at his internship.

So you just texted him. Last night.

Nazumi Hanae (8:46 P.M.):

This may be foolish but I hope you don't mind. but mother invited Eto-San for lunch. I just wanted to check with you that you were okay with it.

He didn't respond, so you assumed that he either didn't see it or didn't mind. Some of your instructors didn't respond to you when you asked a question where it didn't matter to specify the answer.

As far as Father went, Mother said that what he didn't know wouldn't hurt him. It would, however, make Eto's visit much shorter than other visits, but Eto was fine with that.

So here you were, wearing a cream-colored, knitted, turtle-neck sweater with a peach skirt that reached your ankles, your hair in a bun atop your head. You were cooking some udon for yourself and Eto-San, talking merrily about nothing in particular, and celebrating your awarded internship with Hawks.

"I still can't get over the fact that we're actually interning with Hawks tomorrow!" he said. "It's so surreal!"

"You're telling me," you laughed. "I've idolized him for the longest time."

"Oh, of course! I'm just…so honored to have this business opportunity. And just to be working in the same vicinity as him anyway is just…so awesome!"

You laughed again, nodding.

"On a different note, I've been wanting to bring this up with you, but haven't been able to," he continued, and you looked at him as he adjusted his glasses.

"Yes?" you prodded tentatively. Please don't confess your feelings toward me if you have any, please please please–

"About your…engagement," he said.

You visibly relaxed. "Ah, yes."

"You're actually going to marry Todoroki Shoto? Like, the most famous kid in Japan since he was born?"

You nodded. "I am. The process and all the dates are all still…on the down-low, so I can't say much more than that, but, yes. I am engaged to him."

"That's crazy. As if you needed any more publicity," he scoffed in a teasing way.

"Ha!" You covered your mouth the moment after that loud laugh rang out. "I mean, it certainly wasn't harmful to my career."

"No such thing as bad publicity, I suppose," he shrugged.

"A fantastic philosophy," you agreed.

"Your response to the backlash was…really good though," he said. "I don't know if you've heard the commentary community's response to that video, but it's phenomenal."

You shook your head, scooping some noodles into two seperate bowls. Mother was in the other room, since she couldn't stand the smell of the broth.

"I haven't looked at the commentary since posting the video," you confessed, taking the bowls over to the table where Eto sat. "I've found it's not great for my mental health and I get caught up in other people's opinions of me. It's fine for them to have them, but when I step away from them, I realize that they don't define me."

"Fair enough," he said. "Would you like to know the gist of what public opinion of you is now that you posted it? It's kind of insane. I wouldn't have thought that video would have elicited that response."

You were intrigued and sat down for a moment. "What happened?"

"Well, most people have kind of….shrugged and gone, 'well, fair enough' to your 'I'm not sorry,' response, because what else can you do? Others have applauded you for standing up for what you believe, and been grateful for clearing things up so others don't have the opportunity to slander you…there's always the mob that's like 'why aren't you sorry, you horrible human being who doesn't understand anything,' as if they're helping the situation, or any situation."

You stifled a laugh at that. You agreed with him, but you wouldn't admit it.

"I'm glad," you said. "Thank you for telling me. It helps me feel a lot better."

"For sure," he smiled. "From what I've seen, I figured that people were going to go all over you and swarm you like the plague to try and cancel you more and more, but it seems you got more positive feedback than I anticipated."

You stood, grabbing the toppings for the udon. None of the children liked the same things on their udon, so you've lived with topping your own. When you told Eto, he seemed to be fine with that.

"And just for the record, I think your ring is pretty."

You smiled again, admiring your silver engagement ring. Every time you looked at it, your heart fluttered.

"Thank you," you said. "I quite like it myself."

Just as you were about to sit, your phone rang.

"Please excuse me," you said, embarrassed. You reached for it, and looked at the contact.

"What…" Your mind drifted to the worst outcome. You answered the phone. "Hello?"

He could have just seen the text you sent him, and was going to be so unhappy–

No, he wasn't like Father. Todoroki wasn't like Father, almost at all.

"Hi," Todoroki said. His voice sounded groggy and hushed, like he just woke up. There wasn't any shortness in his tone.

"Is everything alright?" you inquired. "Is this about the text?"

"Um, what text?"

So he didn't see it.

"Nothing, I'll tell you later. What's up?"

"Uh…" he started, "I'm in the Hospital, in Hosu."

"What?" you raised your voice a bit, mostly out of shock. "Wh–What happened?"

"Can you come here?" He asked. "To Hosu? I'll explain everything there, I just…can't over the phone."

"Why not? Are you alright?" Panic was rising in you, you didn't know what to do. Go to Hosu–?

"I…I just want you here," he said. You startled. "I'll tell you everything…unless you're busy or something and can't come."

"Well–" you looked at Eto-San who had started eating. You were so conflicted. You had a guest to care for, and then you had your fiance who needed your assistance.

Eto looked at you. "I can go early, you don't have to worry about me."

"That's not very appropriate," you said, covering your microphone, "You're my guest–"

"No, really," Eto said. "I'll finish this and then I'll go, so you don't have to worry. He needs you–"

"Hanae?"

"Uhm, hold on one second," you said to the phone. You looked back to Eto. "Eto–"

"Please, Nazumi-San," he said. "It's alright, really."

You smiled and mouthed 'Thank you' to him.

You turned back to the phone, allowing Eto to do as he pleased. "Well, I am busy, but I can make it to you."

"If you're busy, then don't come. Forget what I said."

"Todoroki, what would you like me to do?" you bit, not quite angry with him, but not pleased either.

"Don't inconvenience yourself on my behalf. I'm fine."

The rest of the conversation finally clicked in your head. "Wait, are you in the hospital? As in, you're hurt?"

"..."

You sighed. "Please answer my question."

"I had a run in with a villain," he murmured.

"What!?" you exclaimed.

"I'm fine, I promise. I just…wanted some company, but if you're busy, then don't worry about me, okay?"

"Well, I am," you scoffed, leaning against the counter. "I think I can make it there in…" you looked at the clock. "An hour. I'll have to leave tomorrow morning at around….six to make it back in time," you were muttering to yourself by that time, sifting through cabinets and working things out in your head.

"I don't want you to have to make all these big changes in your schedule," he said. "I'm not sure what I was thinking. I'll just–"

"Todoroki-Kun, I'm coming over to Hosu. That's the end of it. If you don't want me to come, be comforted in the fact that I'm not coming over for you. I'm doing it for me." You grabbed a granola bar from the cabinet and walked out of the room.

Todoroki went quiet. You realized you hadn't called him 'Todoroki-Kun' in a while. It just slipped out.

"Okay," he said. "Just…be careful. I don't want you to get hurt."

"I will be," you promised, your tone gentle. "I'll see you in a bit, okay?"

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye."

He and you hung up just as Eto-San finished his meal. He thanked you and you walked him out. As soon as he left and began to walk home, you ran upstairs to your room.

"Mother!" you shouted, snagging your coat and purse–suddenly you remembered your head scarf, that might come in handy– "I have to go to Hosu! May I use your car?"

"Why are you going?" she shouted back.

"Todoroki needs something from me," you said, running into her at the bottom of the stairs. "He just called me."

She took in a deep breath, looking at the clock and then back at you. "Alright. Be very careful–my keys are hanging up."

"Thank you, Mother," you said, grabbing the keys.

"I'll be back tomorrow," you said. "Have Shina do my prayers at dinner for me–goodbye, Shigeru," you kissed your youngest brother's head.

"Goodbye. I'll let the officers know where you're going," Mother said.

You thanked her again and nodded to Lee as you ran into the garage and started Mother's car. You'd had your license for almost 9 months, but have had a year's worth of driving experience. At this point, you could only transport family from one place to another, but in less than a month that would change.

You drove out of your garage once the door opened, and started your navigation app to Hosu's City Hospital.

.o0o.