I do not own these characters or the world, that belongs to our lovely author of MHA, Kohei Horikoshi. Also, cover art was a commission by me from the artist Krumbs. Follow them on if you'd like! They are extremely talented!

A/N: Okay my TodoMomo fans, you're about to get some fan service. This chapter has a split POV and only a touch of TodoMomo, but would I leave you guys out to dry? No, I would not! So enjoy this chapter and await the next one which is ALL about them.
Thanks for any and all reviews/comments/favs/follows, etc. They really mean a lot and I'm so glad if most folks enjoy this story. It's been fun to write and I'll honestly be a little sad when it's over. Oh and, I lied, the story will be beyond 62 chapters. I'm just gonna stop guessing where it ends and say it'll end somewhere in the 60s…I hope.

Forty-Nine
How About a Slice of Awkward Pie?

Kirishima looked at the bizarre spectacle before him and wondered when it had gotten so out of control. Not even an hour before he'd just been wandering around the festival subtlety following Mineta and Mina at Bakugo's insistence. Why? Well no one apparently deemed it necessary to fill him in on the fine details. So what could he do? Just follow along and hope for a chance to confront Ashido or wait until Bakugo or Todoroki decided to share the what and the why.

The entire time they'd been keeping a watch on their classmate, both Todoroki and Bakugo had been casting furtive glances behind and around them. It was as if they were suspicious they were being followed or leery of something lurking in the shadows. Kirishima had looked around multiple times but hadn't seen anything that stuck out or struck him as odd. He noted that Todoroki's expression in particular had looked quite sour. An expression of anything other than neutrality was kind of disturbing to see on his classmates face.

After what Kirishima viewed as copious amounts of time of aimless wandering, or light stalking might be a more appropriate phrase, Bakugo had suddenly surged forward through the crowd and he'd lost sight of him. Todoroki had still been at Kirishima's side and the two followed much more slowly after the ashen blonde. When the two boys reached the edge of the crowd and a large torii gate, they found that Bakugo had apparently decided that just following Mineta was no longer the best course of action; pouncing on him was the logical next step. What? Why? Would someone please fill him in on the finer details?!

What is he even thinking? Kirishima had thought to himself as he'd seen his friend crouched over the much smaller boy like some sort of wild animal guarding its prey. His attention however, immediately fractured to Ashido who stood close by Mineta and Midoriya and Uraraka. Wait. Midoriya and Uraraka? Why were they here? He took a minute to look them over, saw their held hands and briefly wondered if they were on a date before thinking "nice," before deciding that lingering stares and making a big deal out of it would likely be unwelcome and diverted his attention back to Ashido.

"Ashido, what are you doing here and with him?" He'd blurted out quickly, his primary focus on why she was, specifically why she was here with Mineta of all people. She shifted awkwardly, her gaze flickering between him, Bakugo, and Mineta.

"Eijiro! I mean, Kirishima! I, er, I—" Ashido started but a wild and unhinged laugh from Bakugo cut her off. Kirishima refrained from letting out a sigh of irritation and started to move away from Todoroki and toward Ashido.

Bakugo had said something else and Mineta seemed to grunt in protest or perhaps just pain. Sero spoke then…wait, Sero? How many of their classmates were here? When had Sero gotten here? Who else was here that he'd managed to overlook?!

Looking beyond Midoriya and Uraraka he could also see Aoyama, Tokoyami, Yaoyorozu, Hagakure, Ida, and Asui. Perhaps Mina had been with them? But no, he'd literally been there when Ashido arrived to the festival…maybe she was supposed to meet up with them? He could guess all he wanted but that still brought him no closer to any actual answers.

At the mention of Todoroki's name, Hagakure started bouncing around excitedly in the group behind Midoriya and Uraraka. Kirishima was hard pressed not to stare at her as her ample breasts bounced around in what he thought was a dress that was a touch too form fitted.

Todoroki started talking then but paused and before Kirishima could blink, the taller boy had sent a tiny dagger like icicle off in the opposite direction of his outstretched hand. Kirishima watched in confusion as the little icicle impacted with something solid and then fell to the ground. What had Todoroki seen that he hadn't? Was this what had been bothering both of them earlier?

"Did birdbrain catch up to us? Fucking dumbass if he thinks that I wasn't aware of his creeping freak feathers this whole time," Bakugo said petulantly with a backward glance toward Todoroki. Kirishima blinked, not following who Bakugo was actually referring to.

Kirishima kept looking in the direction of Todoroki's fallen icicle and suddenly became aware of three imposing figures trying and failing at blending into the crowd. He stared in shock as he realized that those three figures were none other than Endeavor, Hawks, and Mirko. What were they doing here?! "Did birdbrain catch up to us", he thought over Bakugo's words and he realized that that was who he'd been referring to. How long had they been being followed? Were the suspicious looks by both Todoroki and Bakugo prior to this moment because they were aware of Hawks' feathers following them? Could Hawks' use his feathers like listening devices or tracking tools? Could he really do that?!

Several of his peers had spoken up while Kirishima had been lost in thought before he too spoke up to voice his disbelief that they'd been followed this whole time. "Wait, have we been being followed this whole time? How come I didn't know?"

Bakugo was quick to answer his question. "Because you're fucking dense, duh, but yeah, pretty sure we've been tailed by birdbrain since we first got here. Shady little shit feathers," Bakugo had growled as he cast a particularly vicious look in the pro heroes direction. Kirishima watched as he turned his gaze back to Mineta. "Whatever. I don't care about them; I came here foryou." The fist on Mineta's back tightened.

"Get off of me Bakugo! Jeez! I didn't do anything! All I'm guilty of is being at a festival…with a total hottie!" Mineta said in a huff. Kirishima's eyes widened at that statement. Had they actually been here together? No, he'd seen Ashido arrive and meet up with Mineta sure, but it hadn't looked like it was a very nice visit. Ashido had even slapped him; there was no way there were here on some sort of date. Regardless of that knowledge though, he still had to know what was going on.

He edged closer to the pink girl and gave her an imploring look. "Ashido? What's going on?"

Ashido shifted uncomfortably. "Look Kirishima, it isn't what you think. Mineta had this whole stupid idea about following Mi—" she was interrupted by a wild hissing from Mineta.

"Don't spill the beans!" Mineta fussed as the fist pressed into his back pressed harder. "Ouch! Quit it!"

"Can it you little creep!" Bakugo snarled.

He heard Todoroki speak then but honestly, he didn't hear whatever he said, his attention was now totally focused on Ashido. It's not what you think. That was all he needed to know. He trusted Ashido and if she said that it wasn't what it looked like—if he was being honest with himself, he wasn't entirely sure what it did look like—then he would take her at face value. I trust you, he had thought to himself.

Of course, from there things had only gotten weirder. Bakugo had continued to terrorize Mineta for reasons that were still unclear to him, Todoroki seemed to be about to have an awkward standoff with Endeavor and Mirko had looked like a dog about to get a meal. Somehow in all of that confusion, Midoriya and Uraraka had vanished into the crowd with no one the wiser.

Mineta, who was now free since Bakugo had leapt from him to get into the face of the rabbit hero—either he was just in a really bad mood or the rabbit hero made his blood boil extra hot—was looking around wildly. "Where'd they go? Ashido! Did you see where Midoriya and Uraraka went?! We gotta know!"

"What is your fixation on them?" Kirishima asked with a raised eyebrow. He looked at Mineta with narrowed eyes, the wheels slowly beginning to turn in his head. Had…had Bakugo dragged he and Todoroki here because he knew that Mineta had some strange obsession with Midoriya? Or with Uraraka? Or with both of them? That seemed…odd. Why would he care about that? Why bother to intervene at all? Mineta hadn't done anything bad, at least not that he'd seen. It did seem like the second that Mineta made physical contact with Midoriya and Uraraka though, that that had spurred Bakugo into action. Memories of the Pocky challenge resurfaced then and he vaguely recalled Bakugo's intervention then and the little chat he dragged him off to have. What had Bakugo learned during that conversation? Kirishima had just assumed it'd been about Mineta throwing himself into Asui's lap, but maybe there was more to it.

"Kinda weird, dude," Sero echoed, his voice interrupting Kirishima's thoughts.

The crowd that had been behind Midoriya and Uraraka previously, had now passed under the torii gate and stood gathered around Bakugo and Mirko with Todoroki, Endeavor, and Hawks slightly outside the group. There were enough of them present that this could've counted as a group class outing! Weird sort of encounter but I guess we could call it that, a class outing, sort of…

"Why are you so hung up on them, ribbit? Shouldn't you be more focused on the fact that Bakugo had you pinned to the ground just minutes ago?" Tsu asked, her eyebrows knitted together in a frown.

Tokoyami who stood at Asui's side nodded as if he were agreeing with her. "The darkness of night can bring out the best and the worst in some people. I sense that it may be the latter for you."

"Oh shove it with the darkness crap Tokoyami!" Mineta snapped and crossed his arms angrily.

Kirishima moved a step closer to Ashido, his hand reaching out to brush her elbow. Her gaze had been split between Mineta and their classmates, but now it focused fully on him. There was something like guilt and apology in her gaze that worried him. What did she feel guilty for? He trusted her that this wasn't what it looked like, whatever that was, but he really wanted to know what was going on or at the very least, know why she was here with Mineta.

"Shoto," Endeavor said in a breathy voice, drawing Kirishima's gaze toward the number one hero. For the first time he took in Endeavors strange ensemble. Had he gotten dressed in the dark? Or was this like his out and about personal style? No, that couldn't be it, could it? There was no way that the number one hero dressed like that when he wasn't doing hero things. Kirishima could imagine fancy formal kimono or suave three-piece suits, but this? No.

"I told you I'm not interested. I don't care about whatever you have to say. Can't I go to a festival with my friends without you running interference?" Todoroki said, his voice icy.

"Number one, I hate to say it, but…your kid may be right. I'm all for whatever makes you happy but maybe spying wasn't the best way to show fatherly love, yeah? Maybe we should just go back to the festival and enjoy it together?" Hawks suggested and attempted to pat Endeavor on one of his enormous shoulders but he was thwarted by Endeavor angrily shrugging him off.

"As I said before, you aren't helping!" The number one hero said through clenched teeth.

"You're one to talk. You assisted him with spying on me and my friends. You two seem like you're made for each other," Todoroki said with a frown and turned away from his father. Kirishima watched the family drama play out before him like he was watching a movie. They clearly had…issues.

"Hey Ashido I—" Kirishima started quietly but a loud snarl from Bakugo interrupted him and drew his gaze toward the ashen blonde and the rabbit hero who stood nose to nose. Oh yeah, there'd been some other little exchanges between them that he'd not really paid that much attention to. Why did the number five hero irritate him so much? Kirishima asked himself as he looked over at the pro and his friend.

"Fuck off rabbit! And don't call us friends icy hot!" Growled Bakugo. Kirishima wasn't certain but thought he could hear the beginnings of soft pops and crackles and started to move away from his friend. He did not want to be on the receiving end of whatever explosive murder Bakugo was about to execute.

"Such a mouth on you! Haha!" The rabbit hero said in rebuttal, her tone somehow caught between a growl and a purr.

"Um…sorry to interject Mister Endeavor, but uh, you would you like to join us Todoroki?" The quiet and soft voice to Yaoyorozu suddenly cut through the tension between father and son like a buttered knife.

Todoroki's gaze shifted in the direction of Yaoyorozu before finding her and getting stuck there. Kirishima thought that it looked like his eyes had softened a little at the sight of her and was that the hint of a blush in his cheeks? Yaoyorozu did look pretty good he had to admit. She was wearing a scarlet red kimono that was covered in pale pink cherry blossom clusters and lined with a blue ribbon that spanned the torso and sleeves of the gown. She even had some cute little flower ornaments in her hair that was done up in a way that he'd never seen it before. Maybe seeing the coolness of her was enough to calm him to some extent?

"Shoto," Endeavor started again, taking a step closer to his estranged son, his hand outstretched as if to touch him. Just before he could reach out and touch him though, Todoroki took a step away from the number one hero, closer toward where Yaoyorozu and the rest of their peers were.

"I'll see you tomorrow for our work studies. Goodbye, Endeavor." His response was icy and he didn't even look at his father who admittedly looked pretty pitiful. Todoroki then moved completely away from Endeavor and stood by Yaoyorozu and the others.

"Fucking family drama, I have had enough!" Bakugo suddenly roared and turned away from Mirko to face Mineta, his eyes blazing like fiery beams of destruction. "You and me small fry. Come on. I told you to stay away from them and you just couldn't help yourself, could you? Set this whole little scheme up, didn't you? Fucking idiot. Thought you had it all planned out perfect? Corner 'em, make 'em confess or whatever shady shit you had planned. Wrong."

Mineta blanched and shrunk away from the volatile boy. "N-n-no! I'm innocent here, I definitely didn't have that sort of thing planned—definitely not! I just happened to run into them! Oopsie!" Mineta's voice had risen an entire octave, his eyes were wide with terror as he desperately tried to put more distance between himself and the imminent volcanic eruption.

"Hey man, maybe ease off a litt—" Kirishima's voice was cut off by a sudden shriek from somewhere in the crowd, drawing every one's attention.

"Help! Purse snatcher! He's going to get away!" A woman some ten to fifteen feet away was shouting and pointing at a shadowed man running through the crowd.

Before either Endeavor or Hawks or the students for that matter, could react, Mirko suddenly leapt into action. "I'm on it!" Kirishima watched as she effortlessly jumped and wove her way through the crowd and after the purse snatcher.

Kirishima opened his mouth to speak but a furious growl silenced him. He looked away from swiftly disappearing Mirko and toward the sound only to see Bakugo no longer squaring off with Mineta but facing the the same direction that Mirko had gone. Dude's gonna give me whiplash if he keeps changing his priorities like that, Kirishima thought to himself. He took a tentative step forward to try and quell some of the rampage that he saw building in his friends face but didn't make it to him in time before the blonde launched himself into the air with an impressive leap and rocketed himself forward with a small explosion.

"The fuck you are! I'll get it done before you can! Goddamn rabbit!" Roared Bakugo as he flew in the direction that Mirko had gone.

"Oh fuck me," Hawks, who had been relatively quiet muttered under his breath and gave an imploring look at Endeavor. "Endeavor, come on, we should go do something about that. Mirko is, well, you know, and that one of yours is sort of cut from the same cloth. Property damage big guy, think about it."

Endeavor didn't say anything right away but just looked down, the epitome of deflated. "I think I will return to patrol. I imagine Mirko can handle a single purse snatcher."

"But, uh, she's got one of your students tailing her in a violent fashion. Not that I don't think she can handle it, just that, well, that particular student of yours and her are well, well they're a bit on the loud side…again, property damage," Hawks countered. There was an air of desperation in his voice that clashed with the cool flyboy persona he projected.

"Bakugo is an exemplary student and upcoming hero, albeit foul mouthed and temperamental. I have the utmost faith that they will take care in capturing that villain and doing so in a manner that mitigates any collateral damage. Mirko is a bit of a wild card, yes, but you know her better than that—she won't cause that much damage to surroundings," Endeavor explained, his tone flat and empty. That said, he looked up toward his son who still stood by Yaoyorozu and the others. "I will see you and the others at the work studies. Shoto…I'm sorry and…enjoy the festival." The number one hero gave the slightest of head nods and then despite his horribly conspicuous attire, melted into the crowd. Kirishima almost felt sorry for him. Sometime he was going to have to get the full details from Bakugo or Midoriya about what exactly the family drama in the Todoroki family was.

Kirishima gave Ashido's sleeve a tug and slowly inclined his head away from their classmates. She looked at him tentatively, a blush coloring her cheeks. Come with me, he willed with his pointed look at her.

"Phew, after a change of underwear I think we'll be good to go! Ashido now that our murdery classmate is off chasing tail—haha tail—come on we've gotta go find Midoriya and Uraraka!" Urged Mineta apparently spurred back into whatever his shady plans were now that Bakugo was gone.

"Mineta why are you so preoccupied with finding Midoriya and Uraraka?" Yaoyorozu said in response to Mineta's outburst. Kirishima looked away from Ashido and toward the group of Yaoyorozu, Asui, Tokoyami, Sero, Hagakure, Aoyama, Ida and now Todoroki. The group—aside from Todoroki—were all giving perplexed looks in the small boys direction.

"Er, uh, not any of your business! Ashido's and my business only! So it was great seeing you all—nice kimono Yaoyorozu, Hagakure oh and Asui, hot," Mineta said with hooded eyes and a thumbs up before turning toward where Midoriya and Uraraka had last been. He gave a tug on Ashido's pantleg and said, "come on!" Kirishima looked to Mineta and back to Ashido. What would she do?

For a moment she moved in the direction that Mineta was tugging her but then she tore away from him before boldly stepping closer to Kirishima and taking his hand in hers. Mineta stood speechless, his gaze moving wildly between Kirishima and Ashido.

"Oh my gosh! Mina! Does this mean, does this like mean that you guys are a couple? Together, together?!" Exclaimed Hagakure who was clearly excited by this new development.

"What a surprise," murmured Yaoyorozu who lowered her eyes, her cheeks scarlet.

"Dude! Kirshima! Why didn't you tell us!" Sero said with a laugh and gave a playful shove to him.

Kirishima felt anxiety prickle at his brow. Ashido had taken his hand in public sure, but that didn't necessarily mean that she was ready to have them outed. He nervously looked from Ashido to the group of his classmates and struggled to find the right words. "It's uh, well it's er—" he felt Ashido squeeze his hand and he stopped, glancing at her to see her smiling at him.

"It's exactly what it looks like. I was just too chicken to admit to it before. We're together, we're a couple, we're dating, whatever you want to call it," Ashido explained proudly. Kirishima could only stare at her in response, his chest tightening while simultaneously warming from the inside out. He felt like he wanted to cry tears of joy at her admission. She made us public, he thought to himself warmly.

"Yeah! Ashi—Mina is right! We're together, together!" Kirishima seconded proudly.

"WHAT? You kept it from me! I suspected but—Ashido! What the heck!?" Mineta asked, his voice angry, brow furrowed in disbelief.

"My private life isn't any of your business, and now you and everyone else know, so there. Come on Kirishima, let's go enjoy the festival," the pink haired girl said as she looked down at the still shocked Mineta.

"You got it," Kirishima said emphatically as the two walked hand in hand away from their classmates.

Once they had a little bit of distance between them and their classmates, Kirishima decided he wanted to know the full extent of what had been going on with Mineta. "Okay Mina, let me first just say that I am so happy that you said what you said back there, but I still really want to know what was going on with Mineta."

Ashido moved them over toward one of the food vendors and then faced Kirishima. "Okay but don't hate me…so a while back Mineta approached me about well, I guess, spying on Uraraka and Midoriya."

"You…were spying on them? Why?! That is totally not cool or manly at all!" He practically shouted, not wanting to believe that she had agreed to spy on their friends.

"I know, I know, and yeah I don't feel great about it. I feel pretty awful about it, actually. I guess Mineta thought there was something going on with them and so he asked me to help find out what that was. I was kind of intrigued by it because I've always wondered and suspected that Uraraka had feelings for Midoriya, for like a long time, so him asking me to help kind of fed into that. Plus, Bakugo got added to the mix and I started to think that there was something going on with Uraraka and him but yeah…that was kind of a dumb idea…" her voice trailed off and she lowered her eyes.

Kirishima wasn't sure if he should sigh in disappointment at her sneaky behavior or laugh at the prospect of Bakugo and Uraraka having some sort of love affair, or wait, had she thought that Bakugo and Midoriya were having the love affair? No, never mind—those details didn't really matter…

"I'm assuming you're referring to Bakugo and Uraraka, but really Ashido? You thought that they had something going on? That's funny. Pretty sure he would've told me or made it clear if that was something he was interested in. He's just, well," Kirishima paused as he struggled to find the right words to describe his friend. "He's just not really interested in girls or the romance stuff, really."

"…are you saying that he's interested in boys?" Mina suggested, her head tilted to the side in question. Maybe Mina had been referring to Midoriya and Bakugo but that didn't change anything; it was still a no.

"Ha! No, well I don't know, but I think probably no. He's more like an asexual person, I think. Romance with girls or boys is just not something that's even on his radar. Maybe in like ten years but certainly not now. Just because he's a teenage boy doesn't mean he has to follow the norm and be like sexually attracted to anyone. In fact, he's probably better off for being asexual-ish—it lets him focus more on being a hero," he paused and gave Ashido a serious look. "But seriously Mina, you spying on Midoriya and Uraraka is not cool. It makes sense for someone like Mineta to do that—dudes like an overcooked nympho wannabe—but I don't think you should help or spy for him anymore. If Midoriya and Uraraka have something going on that's their business and if they want others to know about it, well that's their choice to make. Just like you made us official tonight—if they're together and want that, then that's for them to decide and no one else."

Lowering her head in shame Ashido nodded. "I know. It was not something a person who wants to be a hero would do. I just got kind of caught up in the school drama, I guess and the possibility of me being right about Uraraka liking Midoriya and then the possibility of Bakugo liking Uraraka. It was a little like a fun soap opera playing in my head that I was a part of but it was sneaky and deceptive and I'm not proud of that. I won't help him anymore. I barely agreed to play along with him tonight but that doesn't make any of what I've already done okay. I guess this is the final push I needed to stop playing spy gams with Mineta."

"Good," Kirishima gave her hand a squeeze and actually looked at the food vendor they'd stopped at and smiled as he took in what they sold. "You want to share a crepe together?"

Smiling now and with a slight blush coloring her cheeks, Mina said, "of course!"

Todoroki stood by Yaoyorozu and watched in mild surprise as Ashido and Kirishima walked off together, hand in hand. It was a bold declaration on both of their parts and he was slightly impressed by such a confession. He glanced briefly at the tall, dark-haired girl by his side and couldn't help but smile a little. She looked very pretty in her kimono and he absently wondered if it was something she'd bought or if it was in fact something that she had made herself. His trip to this festival might be marred with Endeavor's unwanted interference, but it could at least end on a nice note that he got to attend the festival with friends…something he'd never actually done before.

"You really should cut your dad a break, kid. I know he's difficult, but he really is trying," Hawks' voice interrupted Todoroki's inner monologue. He turned his gaze toward the winged hero, surprised that he was still here.

"I don't think you've got any right to pass judgement since you do not know our family history. Until he chooses to enlighten you of said history, I suggest you refrain from helpful suggestions," Shoto said, his voice detached but icy, eyes narrowed.

Pro you may be, you know nothing of Endeavor's true colors or the fact that he killed my big brother, drove my mother insane, and abused my surviving siblings and I, Shoto thought to himself bitterly. Hawks' hero worship of his father was something that rattled him to his very bones. If only you knew; if you knew then you would not act like a schoolgirl with a crush; you would see him for the monster he truly was…he may try to make amends but it doesn't change the past, a past written in blood, ash, and tears.

Hawks raised both his hands in defense and gave an apologetic smile. "True, I don't know your history. Just thought I'd add my two cents."

"Noted," he said, his voice emotionless, expression flat.

"Hey guys, anybody else feel like some festival games or some festival food? I'm thinking taiyaki!" Interrupted Sero.

"Yes, maybe something like yakisoba—you like soba Todoroki, do you like yakisoba as well?" Ida asked.

The interruption from his tumultuous inner thoughts was a welcome one. "I like most versions of soba, though I already ate some soba earlier in the evening. I've never had fair food before, so it was a nice experience."

"Never had fair food?! Mon dieu! How tragic!" Aoyama exclaimed, his hand on his brow as he leaned back in dramatic fashion.

"Ribbit. What do you think Tokoyami?" Tsu asked, her head leaning in the direction of their classmate.

"I was think—" he started but was interrupted by Mineta practically yowling like a cat.

"What is wrong with everyone? Are we just going to forget about the fact that we saw a legit love admission from Kirishima and Ashido or the fact that Uraraka and Midoriya were here holding freakin' hands!? Shut up about food! Come on guys, let's get to the bottom of this!"

Tsu's tongue abruptly shot out and slapped Mineta across the face, causing the smaller boy to yelp in alarm and stumble to the ground. "Whatever either of those couples has going on is their business, ribbit. Leave it alone, Mineta."

"I agree with Asui. Whatever either Kirishima and Ashido or Midoriya and Uraraka were doing here or have going on is none of our business. You should respect their privacy," Yaoyorozu agreed, her voice carrying a slight accusatory tone in it.

"Yeah, not cool Mineta!" Hagakure added, crossing her arms over her chest. Shoto felt certain that if they were able to see her face that she'd be frowning.

"Now that that's sorted, can we like go get food or what?" Sero asked, clearly hopeful to move things along to more entertaining and appetizing avenues.

"Yes, I think that would be a good idea. Mineta—" her voice suddenly trailed off, causing Todoroki to look at her and then follow her gaze toward the crowd. Following her gaze he realized what it was that she'd seen that had made her pause: Aizawa, Present Mic, Hado, Amajiki, Togata, and Eri were standing in the crowd looking at them.

"Fantastic timing! Eraser! I think you should take this one—" Hawks spoke before anyone else could and gestured toward Mineta before continuing, "—under your watchful eye. He's gotten up to some trouble it would seem and I, well I've got to go track Mirko down before she causes too much property damage or destroys that kimono." With that said he gave everyone a cool guy wave and took to the air.

"I didn't realize so many of my students had been granted leave from their weekend work studies," Aizawa said dryly. He looked on at the group with a barely interested gaze.

"Wow! Super cool that you all got the go ahead to come out here! Pretty cool festival, huh?" Togata exclaimed excitedly. Shoto looked over to the taller boy and saw that Eri sat atop his shoulders, her crimson gaze looking curiously at the group.

"Oh this is embarrassing," Amajiki's quiet and dejected voice drew Shoto's gaze and he took in the sight of the chimera hero dressed in an ill fitting men's kimono. It wasn't so much the poorly fitted kimono that made his gaze linger however, but rather that he had locked arms with Hado. Hado looked lovely in an orange kimono that was pristine in the way it was fitted to her, a stark contrast to Amajiki's almost disheveled looking appearance.

"Hey hey! It's the class pervert from 1-A! Oh! And Froppy! Where's Uravity? Oh! Are you guys having a fun time?" Exclaimed the older girl brightly.

"Hey, hey now, class pervert? What?!" Mineta repeated angrily.

"Ribbit, it's not like it's not true," Asui murmured which made Mineta whip his head in her direction, a pained expression on his face.

"Class pervert? Ha! Don't think we had a class pervert…well, maybe Midnight," Present Mic spoke this time, he gave a playful jab in the ribs to Eraser who looked more annoyed for it.

"What's a pervert?" Eri asked curiously.

"Not something you need to worry about little doll! Come on, let's go get some festival prizes!" Togata answered cheerfully before he began sauntering off with the little girl.

"Are we ever going to go get something to eat?" Sero whined.

"Oh yes," Yaoyorozu said before bowing slightly to Mr. Aizawa. "Pardon us, Mr. Aizawa and Present Mic. We'll leave you with, er, Mineta, if that's okay." She gestured toward the small boy.

"Ooof, what'd he do that you're sending him to tag along with us?" Present Mic asked, smirking.

"Let's just say that he and the darkness of night aren't compatible," Tokoyami explained mysteriously.

Amajiki started to move forward, tugging Hado along with him. "He's too cool, it hurts," he muttered as he shuffled forward.

"That's fine. I'll escort him back to UA when we head back," Eraser Head said with a shrug. "Come on Mineta, and keep your hands to yourself."

"But, but," he stopped when Aizawa shot him a particularly nasty glare. "Oh fine," Mineta said with a huff and begrudgingly moved to join Aizawa and Present Mic.

"Finally. Come on let's go get some food!" Sero exclaimed excitedly and started to head off in the direction of the nearest food booth. The others followed after him, though Shoto followed a bit more slowly, hanging closer to the rear. Yaoyorozu kept pace with him rather than the rest of the group.

Shoto watched absently as his peers stopped at a nearby vendor for candied apples, his mind caught between his frustration with his father and with the pretty girl at his side. What a curious development. Was it possible that his turbulent thoughts about his father could be eclipsed by someone else? Only one other person he knew of was capable of such a thing and that was Midoriya and it was most certainly not Midoriya at his side. He looked tentatively in her direction before looking away. Was he…nervous? Was that what this strange and light fluttery sensation in the pit of his stomach was? Nerves; anxiety; excitement? Why would he feel nervous let alone excited?

He paused a little ways behind the others, Yaoyorozu moving past him as his mind raced with possibilities for why he was feeling what he was feeling. Am I feeling a bit nervous because of residual agitation associated with Endeavors unwanted presence? Is it because Hawks seemed to be irritatingly forgiving to a man who deserves no forgiveness? Am I restless because Mineta's energy has rubbed off on me? Or…could it be Yaoyorozu herself…his thoughts trailed off and he looked ahead where Yaoyorozu had stopped and was looking back at him, a perfectly sculpted eyebrow raised in question.

"Todoroki?" She asked.

She looks really pretty in her kimono; I'd like to tell her that. It was the only thought in his head as he looked at her. His mother's face flashed in his minds eye briefly and he remembered her asking him if he still wanted to be a hero…what kind of hero do I want to be, who do I want to be?

"Yaoyorozu…you," his voice wavered for just a moment before he regained composure, "you look beautiful in that kimono."

The scarlet blush that colored Yaoyorozu's cheeks rivaled the red of her kimono and briefly made Shoto wonder if he'd said something that was particularly embarrassing or somehow offensive. "Is that okay?"

With her cheeks still red and her eyes darting between her feet and his face she said softly, "yes, that's okay. It's…nice. Thank you." She smiled then and he felt like his heart might've skipped a beat which he found perplexing before she motioned toward the others with a head nod. "Shall we join them?"

He nodded, "Yes. I'd like that."