"I can't ask Todoroki!" I said with wide eyes as we walked to the train station. We got out early so I didn't want to make Chinen drive to come get me.

"Sure you can." Kyoka insisted

"Kyoka! You know I-" I glanced around make sure no one we knew was listening before whispering, "like him..."

"Yeah, I know."

"Then you know I can't ask him! I don't know how!"

"You talk to him every day just go up to him and say 'Hi Todoroki! My family's having a banquet and I wanted to know if you would accompany me.'" Kyoka imitated my voice, "It's that easy."

"Okay, I want to point out a couple things: one, I don't talk like that-"

"Yes you do" she interrupted and I gave her a look.

"Two, it's not that easy!" I finished groaning.

"Why not? You like him and he likes you."

"Yeah, as a friend!"

"I'd say he likes you more than that." She smirked.

"You don't know that!"

"Okay, fine, but I have a good feeling that he does. You're just too oblivious to notice it."

There's no way Kyoka was right... Todoroki doesn't like me... Does he?

"My name is Shoto Todoroki." The boy spoke up before I could.

He talked to me first.

"Remember how you offered to tutor me?" He questioned and I nodded, "well.... what if you tutored me in grammar and I helped you with sparring?"

"Really? You'd do that?"

"You were willing to help me, I just want to return the favor."

"You don't have-"

"I want to." He insisted causing me to blush.

He wanted to help me.

"Do they treat you well?"

"The company?"

"Your parents."

...

"I'm glad they're not forcing you to be what they want you to be,"

He made sure my parents were good to me.

"You're a great tutor."

He complemented me.

"Yes, we are friends." He said, "Good luck to you too."

He considers me a friend.

"Shoto."

"Just your name? That's it?"

"Uh-huh." He said glancing at me

"Well, ok! Next up!" Midnight approved. Todoroki nodded and went back to his seat.

"Why'd you pick your name?" I asked him when he sat down.

"You said to pick something simple because it suited me. My name happens to be short and it's who I am." He told me and I blushed.

He respected my opinion.

[Hello Yaoyorozu. It's     
fine that Midoriya gave
you my number. I'm     
fine.                                  ]
Todoroki at 9:06 am

He texted me back.

"Yaoyorozu! You've got a plan, don't you? Sorry, I should have asked before and not told you what to do." Todoroki asked, "But you have an idea, right?"

He apologized for not working as a team.

"Spit it out already! I'm saying that you're the one who's better at this kinda stuff, not me!" Todoroki shouted, "When we were voting for class rep, you had two votes, remember? One of those votes was mine! Because I thought you would be best at leading our class!"

He voted for me.

"Thanks teammate."

He saw me as an equal and didn't think I was worthless.

"What's wrong? Do you feel sick?" Todoroki asked

"No, it's nothing! Really!" I reassured through sobs

"If you feel nauseous there's a pressure point you can press on to-"

"No, I told you, I'm fine!"

He worried about me.

Kyoka might be right... It's possible Todoroki has a crush on me. Have I really been that oblivious?

"Yaoyorozu. Are you ok?" Todoroki asked, "You've been acting strange since the exam."

I looked around, everyone else had left. I had zoned out after we made plans to go to the mall tomorrow.

"Oh! Yes! I'm fine. I was just-" I hesitated, "I was just wondering if you'd come to a banquet for my parent's company with me!"

- Todoroki -

Did she just... She did... She asked me out. That's not at all how I imagined it would happen.

"As friends of course..." she added nervously, "It's July twenty seventh and I really need to bring someone with me." As friends... I've never been so against being called her friend until right now. Maybe she didn't like me...

"Yaoyorozu, I'd like to, but..."

"But..." she repeated softly looking down. She looked really upset. Maybe she did like me after all.

"I don't know how to dance." I told her.

"Is that the only reason you couldn't come?" She asked peeking up at me and I nodded, "Oh, well if that's all, I could teach you to dance if you wanted."

"Really?"

"Well of course! You said it yourself that I'm a good tutor and you have good coordination, teaching you to dance will be easy!" She insisted instantly perking up, "Here, let's start now."

She grabbed my wrist and led me to the front of the classroom.

"There's more room up here. Now place your hand on my waist, here." She said placing my left hand on her waist. I felt my cheeks heat up, "I put one hand here and you take my other hand."

She placed one hand on my shoulder and slipped the other one into my right hand. The heat in my cheeks grew and it felt as though they were on fire. My hands started to feel all sweaty. I was so nervous. I stared straight ahead and tried to focus on staying calm.

"Todoroki?" Yaoyorozu asked. I looked down at her and she had a faint blush on her cheeks as well, "You don't have to be so stiff. Ease up a little. There is a thing as too stiff in ballroom dancing."

"Oh, sorry."

"Alright, now I'm going to tell you what to do and don't worry about what I'm doing. It'll just confuse you. Stand with you feet aligned with your hips."

"Ok."

"Now step forward with your left foot,"

"Won't I kick you?"

"No, and remember don't worry about me! I'll move with you."

"Ok," I said and took a step forward with my left foot. Momo had stepped back to avoid my foot. I suppose that would make sense.

"Now bring your right foot forward, but leave your feet about a foot apart. Very good! Now slide your left foot over to your right foot. Perfect. Now step back with you right foot. Just like that! Now bring the left foot back about a foot apart again. There you go! Now slide your right foot over to your foot.

"And that's it! Then you repeat it over and  over again for however long the dance is. Now you know a basic waltz! Let's try to do a few rounds slowly."

"That's a good idea..." I told her

"Ok, I'm going to count out a beat. Every number is a step. One is the step forward or backwards, two is bringing the other foot forward, and three is the slide."

"Makes sense"

"Let me do a couple for the pace and then we'll start. One.... Two.... Three.... One.... Two.... Three.... Ready? One.... Two.... Three.... One.... Two.... Three...."

And just like that we were dancing. I couldn't believe it was that easy. Yaoyorozu's counting faded out and all I could think of was her as we danced around the front of the classroom. She was smiling and slowly began to speed up the counting.

"One, two, three, one, two, three, one, two, three,"

I found myself keeping up well. There were a few hiccups every once and a while, but Yaoyorozu just kept smiling and would even chuckle between counts. I found myself smiling too, her happiness was contagious.

"I think you've got it down!" Yaoyorozu beamed as we slowed to a stop. She was so pretty when she was happy. She's been so worried recently that I haven't really been able to see her smile.

I didn't want this moment to end. I kept holding on to her waist and hand and looked into her eyes. I found myself leaning in and I think she was too.

"What are you two still doing here?" Aizawa questioned opening up the door Yaoyorozu and I jumped apart, "Class was dismissed almost an hour ago."

"Right! Sorry sir, we were about to leave!" Yaoyorozu scrambled while grabbing her things. Her face was bright red and she wouldn't look me in the eye. Did I mess up? Did she not want to kiss me? Does my breath stink? Yaoyorozu bowed to Aizawa and left the room. I guess I won't find out today.

"I'm sorry Mr. Aizawa. Yaoyorozu was just teaching me to dance." I explained

"Uh-huh, that sure looked like dancing." He muttered, "Just go home and enjoy your summer Todoroki."

"Yes sir." I said with a bow. I gathered up my things and left the classroom. I guess I'll have to wait even longer to see if Yaoyorozu likes me or not.