The next morning, Yaoyorozu woke bright and early, leaving Jiro to sleep on her humongous bed. She got ready for the day in the bathroom, changing into a clean school uniform and putting her hair back up into it’s usual spiky ponytail. When she exited the bathroom, she found Jiro still asleep, sprawled out across the bed. She smirked, taking a pillow and throwing it at the girl’s face.

“What the-” Her head bounced up, glancing around with squinted eyes. Yaoyorozu couldn’t help but laugh at her friend. “What the hell was that for?!” She cried, suddenly furious once her mind came to. Yaoyorozu shrugged.

"Get up, Earphone Jack. Time for school.”

She groaned, burying her head under the pillow that had just been thrown at her. “Five more minutes.”

"Nope. I gave you about ten. I let you sleep while I got ready. Get up, let’s go.” Yaoyorozu grabbed hold of her wrist, tugging at her arm. Jiro’s body went limp, growing heavy as she attempted to pull her upright. “Kyoka Jiro, get up! Come on, you’re gonna make me late! I am not letting you make me late for something again.”

"That was different; I didn’t want to wear a dress,” Jiro replied, finally looking up to meet her onyx colored eyes. “Why do you want me up so badly anyway?”

"Because I’m not leaving you alone in my room and we need to go. We need to get to Yuuei in thirty minutes. Up! Now!” She smacked Jiro on the head, making her wince.

“Hey! Watch it! I’m up, I’m up!” Jiro swatted her hands away from her head, her face flushed. “Are you always like this?”

"Like what?” Yaoyorozu questioned.

"Chipper at six in the morning?” She grumbled, her grumpiness only half-invented.

“It’s almost eight. Let’s. Go-!” She finally managed to yank her off the bed, Jiro landing on top of her as they both tumbled to the ground. Yaoyorozu laughed as Jiro sat up, her face redder than a cherry, obviously flustered at their current position. “You look like a tomato,” Yaoyorozu giggled. It only make Jiro’s blush darken. She hurriedly pulled herself to her feet, offering her hand to her friend to help her up. Yaoyorozu straightened her uniform, smoothing out her skirt.

"Okay, you need to hurry! Go on, out! I’ll come with you to your dorm to get your uniform. I would lend you one of mine, but I don’t think it would...um...fit right.” She gestured to her chest, Jiro glancing down at her own.

“Right. Gotcha. Come on.” With that, the two girls left the room, heading for Jiro’s dorm down the hall.

~~~~~

“Can’t believe we’re actually early,” Jiro said as they entered the classroom, being met by their chatting classmates, who seemed not to notice them enter.

"You can say that again. I honestly didn’t think I could get you out of bed,” Yaoyorozu replied. Jiro grinned.

"What can I say? I was tired. I didn’t even want to come to school today.” Her eyes briefly skimmed her neck, and she let out a gasp. “Momo, your neck!” She whispered loudly. In that moment, sharp pain ran down her shoulder, and she held a hand up to the burn. Instead of the soft feel of the bandages, she felt the raw patch of skin on her neck. She quickly clapped a hand over the burn, glancing around.

"Shoot! I completely forgot to put the fresh bandages on after I cleaned it!” She whispered frantically. “How did I not notice it before we left?”

"I dunno! We don’t have enough time to go back to the dorms.”

Yaoyorozu kept her hand over her neck, pressing a little too hard and making herself wince. Then an idea sparked in her mind. “Oh! Hang on a sec!” Sparks of blue and pink emitted from her hand as she extended it out, the end of a bandage forming seemingly right from her skin. She looked up, meeting Jiro’s eyes, who nodded. Jiro followed Yaoyorozu to her desk, allowing her to sit so she could stand in front to cover her. She undid to collar of her shirt, carefully avoiding scratching the burn, and began to clumsily bind her neck in the bandages, ripping the end of the bandage from her hand and tucking it neatly into place. Once finished, she exhaled and fixed the collar of her shirt, motioning for Jiro to move aside.

"Thank you,” she said immediately.

“No problem. I didn’t even realize it until we got through the doors. Thank god for Creation, huh?” Yaoyorozu nodded vigorously.

“Yes. I don’t know where I’d be without it.”

“Hey, Momo-chan. Hey, Jiro-san,” Uraraka greeted warmly, walking toward them with a bright smile.

“Hey, Uraraka,” they both said in unison.

"Haven’t seen you in a while. Yesterday we didn’t really get to talk much. How have you been?” She asked, stepping up next to them.

“Good. Just been hangin’ out with Yaomomo.” Jiro wrapped an arm around Yaoyorozu’s shoulder, leaning into her. “We had a little sleepover last night.”

"Sounds fun. You should’ve called us girls over. We could’ve had another girls’ night!” Uraraka pumped her fists into the air enthusiastically as she spoke, a wide grin on her face.

"We could’ve, but we were kind of just...having a little alone time to talk. It really wasn’t much of a party or anything. We just talked about some things and slept.” Yaoyorozu leaned her chin into her palms as she planted her elbows on the desk, closing her eyes.

"So how long do you have to keep the bandages on?”

"About another week or so. After that it’s pretty much an optional thing. I’ll still probably keep it covered while at school though because of, you know, training and my uniform’s collar rubbing against it.”

"Speaking of uniforms and collars, what’s gonna happen with your hero costume? Wasn’t it all burnt?” Jiro asked, leaning forward on her desk.

“I... I didn’t think about that. I might have to get a new one. Or I could just remake one myself. I liked the design of my costume.”

"I sure like it, too,” a little voice spoke from in front of her. Jiro and Uraraka turned to see Minoru Mineta facing forward, a smirk on his face. Yaoyorozu created a small throwing knife and Jiro pulled out her earphone jacks.

“What was that, short stack?” Jiro hissed. He chuckled.

“What? I’m just being honest.” He shrugged.

Yaoyorozu threw the knife down, stabbing the space between his fingers on his desk, while Jiro stuck him with her earphone jacks, electrocuting him as he shrieked. “Should’ve hit him,” Jiro muttered as she jerked her thumb back toward the knife. She shrugged a shoulder at her.

"Wouldn’t want to cause any unnecessary injuries.”

"Unnecessary? Grape Boy has been asking for it for a while now,” Uraraka chimed in.

"More like Rape Boy," Jiro muttered. "That idiot’s been making moves on every girl he’s seen for who knows how long. He’s a dirty little pervert who needs to be taught a lesson.”

"Perhaps. But I’m not one for acts of vulgarity.”

"Still. He deserves it."

"Hey Uraraka." Midoriya stepped up to join the little group around Yaoyorozu's desk, gaining the girls' attention. "Oh, Yaoyorozu! You're back."
   
"Came back yesterday, actually," she replied. His eyes immediately fell on her neck; she covered it with her hand. He cleared his throat, glancing away again. "So what has everyone been up to? I'd like to catch up a little in my classes."
  
Midoriya's smile returned and he happily went along with the change in subject. "Oh, we've just been going through some more training exercises. Nothing too serious or anything. With your high intellect, you should be able to catch up no problem!"

“Yeah. And if you have any trouble, I’m sure there are people who’ll be glad to help you out. You’ve helped all of us out with our studying and exams, so it’s only fair that we return the favor,” Jiro knelt down beside her and slung an around around her neck carefully, smiling. Yaoyorozu leaned her head against her’s.

“Thanks.”

“I’ve got an idea,” Midoriya turned to peer over at the opposite side of the classroom. “Hey, Iida!”

The boy looked up from his own activity, smiling once he saw Midoriya and Uraraka. “Good morning, Midoriya. Uraraka.” He walked over, his smile widening as he noticed the other two behind his friends. “Yaoyorozu, I see you’re doing well. How’s that burn doing?”

“It’s fine. Like I’ve practically told everyone at this point, I just have to keep it covered,” she replied, beginning to grow annoyed with everyone’s concern and curiosity.
   
“Good to hear. Well, anyway, what did you need, Midoriya?”

“Since Yaoyorozu was missing for a few weeks, she fell behind in a few of her classes. Would you be willing to help her with her studies?” Midoriya asked. Yaoyorozu’s eyes widened.

“I-it’s not really necessary. I can catch up on my own. You probably have your own work and stuff to do; you don’t need to fret over helping me with mine,” she said quickly, waving her hands in the air. Iida placed his hands on his hips, smiling brilliantly.

“I don’t mind any. I’m caught up in all of my work; I don’t mind helping you with yours. It’s perfectly fine with me. Would today after school be a good time to begin?”

Everyone looked to Yaoyorozu, waiting for her response. She swallowed hard, but then she remembered something that settled her. “Actually, tonight I’m meeting up with someone after my classes are over.”

Jiro’s face lit up. “Oh yeah! I almost forgot about that!” Yaoyorozu elbowed her in the stomach, making her wince and wrap her arms around herself.

“About what?” Midoriya asked curiously.

“It’s nothing. I’m just doing something with family later. I’m meeting up with a...an old friend of the family. Apologies, Iida-san,” She bowed her head. “Perhaps some other time?”

He looked crestfallen for a moment, maybe even a little confused, but he cleared his throat and smiled once more, fixing his glasses. “Of course. I understand. Maybe tomorrow after school?”

Yaoyorozu nodded quickly. “Yes. That’d be perfect..”

“Great. Well it’s all settled then, Yaomomo,” Jiro said, nudging her arm.

“Well, I’ll see you then, Yaoyorozu?” Iida said as he began walking backwards toward his desk.

“See you then.”
   
"Glad to hear that you have plans now, Yaoyorozu,” Midoriya stated, then him and Uraraka went their separate ways as well to meet Iida by his desk. Jiro looked to Yaoyorozu.

“What was all that about?”

“I don’t want to say anything about it,” She hissed through gritted teeth. “Going by what you said yesterday, it could be anyone in this class or any other class with someone who’s name starts with the letter T. Iida’s first name is Tenya. It could very well be him, and I would like to refrain from saying anything.”

Jiro pouted her lips as she closed her eyes. “I still think it’s ol’ Icy Hot.”

“Icy Hot? What, are you Bakugo now?”

“Nah, it’s just kinda fun to use nicknames.”

Yaoyorozu pulled out another one of her books and flipped it opened to a bookmarked page. “Bakugo calls people those weird names because he can’t remember our actual names for some reason.”

“I know. I just think it’s kinda funny. Like Soy-Sauce Face, Raccoon Eyes, Icy Hot, Pink Cheeks, etc. Even you have one, Ponytail,” Jiro smirked at her, and the girl rolled her eyes.

“Okay, fine. Ear Chick.” Jiro frowned and it was now Yaoyorozu’s turn to grin. “See? How do you like it?”

“Okay, point taken.”

Yaoyorozu pulled the note from the front pocket of her bag, unfolding it carefully and skimming over the words once more, as if to make sure it hadn’t changed overnight. Jiro leaned over her shoulder again. “So who do you think it is?” She asked curiously.

“I don’t know,” she stated, refolding it and placing it on her desk. “But it’s bugging me.”

“Well, today at four-thirty you’ll find out. Unless it was just a prank. If that’s the case, I’ll find out who did it and beat the crap outta them for you, kay?”

Yaoyorozu chuckled. “Whatever you say, Earphones.”

“Stop calling me those weird names!” She groaned.

“Then stop calling me Ponytail and stop calling Todoroki Icy Hot,” she replied, her chin held high. Jiro narrowed her eyes.

“Fine.” The bell rang, interrupting their conversation. “Well, I’ll see you after, Yaomomo.”

“See you after class.”

~~~~~

4:29.

Yaoyorozu waited by the gates of Yuuei as her fellow classmates and other students filed out and took their separate ways home or to the Heights Alliance. She glanced at her phone impatiently. Never in her life had a day gone by so slowly. It always seemed to work that way. When the world knows you want to get to a certain time, it slows down, but when you would rather avoid something, it speeds up. That’s just how it worked.

4:30. It’s time.

She felt a tap on her right shoulder, causing her to spin around quickly. She was met by the same face of which she saw everyday in class whenever she glanced to her right. And part of her was not surprised.

“Todoroki-san?”

“Yaoyorozu. You came.” He sounded surprised to see her, almost as surprised as she was.

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I?” She replied. Yaoyorozu clasped her hands in front of her, staring down at them. “Why didn’t you just ask to meet with me? Rather than send an anonymous note? It kind of scared me, if we’re being honest. I thought for a moment that it could be a set up.”

"Apologies. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I just... I wanted to talk to you without all of our classmates around. So I can actually talk with you without being interrupted and afraid someone else may hear. I signed it with T, hoping you may figure it out,” he apologized.

“Well, for all I knew, it couldn’t been Tomura Shigaraki,” she responded, pushing her hair behind her ear.

Todoroki scratched the back of his neck nervously. “Sorry. I didn’t quite think about all of the other T names you may know.”

"It’s okay.” Silence crept into the conversation, sending the two into an awkward state. Yaoyorozu nervously glanced down at her shoes. “So what did you wish to discuss, Todoroki? You made it sound kind of serious.”

He cleared his throat. “It’s nothing too serious. In fact, it really isn’t serious at all. I just.... I wanted to...” he exhaled, breathing deeply. “How are you?”

Yaoyorozu raised an eyebrow at the boy. “Is that all you wanted to ask me?”

Todoroki shook his head. “No. But I’d like us to at least have a normal conversation again.” Yaoyorozu stared at him for a long moment before answering.

“I’ve been good. I’ve seen better days, but I’m doing alright.” He nodded to her response, as if accepting it. She reached forward and took his hand, holding it close to her chest. “How are you doing?”
  
He faltered before he even said anything, pulling his hand back. “I’ve been okay.”

“Okay? What does okay mean to you?” Yaoyorozu questioned further, pressing the matter. Todoroki sighed once more.

"It means okay. I’ve just been worried. Worried about you.” He lifted a hand and placed it on her neck, the opposite side where the burn was not so he wouldn’t hurt her any more than he already had. “I really didn’t mean to do it. You know that. I would never purposely hurt you, Yaoyorozu.”

"I know. I’ve known that for a while now.” She waited, wanting more.

“Ever since that day in the alley, it hasn’t done anything else. My quirk, it’s been normal. I may occasionally feel heat in my right side, but that’s just normal for the body to function. It hasn’t done anything too bad again. I’ve been avoiding you because I didn’t want to risk the chance of hurting you again in any way. I was just trying to keep you safe.”

“Oh, Todoroki...” she gave him a gentle looking smile. “I appreciate your concern, but there’s no need for protection. I don’t need to be protected from someone I care about. You didn’t mean to and I understand that. I can live with that. I care too much about you to really care about the mark on my neck.”

"I care about you, Yaoyorozu,” Todoroki announced suddenly, keeping his eyes low as to not meet her gaze.

"You’ve said that, and I care about you, too, Todoroki. I just said I did.”

“No, I mean that... That I...care about you.” His eyes squeezed shut, his hands clenched and arms stiff at his sides, desperate for her to understand what he was so awkwardly trying to say. Yaoyorozu gave him a blank look.

“What are you saying?” She asked slowly, trying to piece it together.

 Todoroki sighed, his shoulders sagging. “I’ve fallen for you.”

Yaoyorozu blinked at the boy, her eyes wide with a pink coloration dusting her cheeks. “Wh-what...?” She managed in her shocked state.

"You told me a while back that you liked me, and I had thanked you for that. Simply the knowledge of someone such as yourself liking me for who I am made my day. No. It made my life.” He was still refusing to share eye contact, avoiding looking in her general directly as he spoke because he knew that if he looked at her, he would not be able to finish. “You had shared with me such personal and private information, but all I gave in return was a ‘thank you.’ I think it’s time I return those feelings.”

The girl clutched a hand in front of her chest, feeling the beating of her heart as it thumped repetitively against her ribcage, so hard she thought it may burst from her very core. “Todoroki...”

“I’m sorry if I’ve made you uncomfortable. I don’t mean to put you on the spot. I just thought you should know that I feel the same way you feel toward me.”

Yaoyorozu shook her head, stepping closer to him and placing her hand near the burn scar on his cheek. She gently caressed his face as she looked him in the eyes. Without warning, Yaoyorozu tilted her head forward, bringing her lips to his own and causing him to literally flinch, but he didn’t pull away. Todoroki brought his hand to her shoulder, holding her arm as he returned the loving motion.

That’s when he felt the heat surging through his veins, his right side beginning to heat up...

Todoroki had never shoved someone away so quickly in his life, pushing her back by the shoulders and retracting his hands, holding them in the air and away from his own clothing. Yaoyorozu stumbled backward, but caught herself before she had the chance to fall. She gave him a questioning, searching look.

Did I do something wrong?

“Todoroki, I-I’m sorry-”

"No,” he cut her off, taking a step back. It felt as if a hellfire had been set ablaze within him, and his skin began smoking. “It’s not you.” He glanced back up at Yaoyorozu, his eyes fearful and terrified. She sensed his distress, straightening and taking a step closer to him as he let out labored breaths.

"It’s happening again...isn’t it?” she asked, noting the smoke beginning to emit from the exposed skin of his arms, followed by small embers that radiated from his arms as he glared down at them, as if they were betraying him. Todoroki flinched as she took another step, earning a stiff response as she held up her own hands. “It’s okay, Todoroki. You can control it. Just stay calm and we can sort this out together, okay?”

Before Yaoyorozu could get any closer, he darted from the school gates, leaving her alone. Yaoyorozu’s eyes widened.

“Todoroki!”