With exam season just around the corner, you took your books and pencil case out of your bag, and placed them on the library's wooden table. As much as you would rather train for the practical part of the exams, you had made a bet with Todoroki. Whoever got the best grades out of the two of you would receive a prize from the loser.

Hence why it surprised you to see him join your solo study session. As Todoroki pulled out a chair and sat next to you, you raised an eyebrow. "Shoto, how come you're here? Aren't you meant to go home after school?"

The half-and-half boy put a finger to his lips, giving a sideways glance to the ancient librarian. She carried on sorting out her paperwork, stamping a book for a student from the general studies course.

"We don't want the hero courses to get a worse rep, do we?" he whispered.

You shrugged your shoulders and burrowed your nose in your Japanese History textbook. You made some notes in light pencil. Almost as if you had planned it, Todoroki reached out for your rubber at the same time as you. His and your hands met, making you look up to him.

He politely pulled his hand away. "May I borrow it?"

"Yeah, go for it." You had a peek at his work, recognising that he was doing some English homework you had recently completed. You noticed he had made a few grammar errors. While you debated whether you should tell him or not, Todoroki tightened his grip on the rubber as he erased yet another sentence of his composition.

You made your mind up as you read through his tidy handwriting once again. "Shoto, how about we make a deal?"

You examined Todoroki's vacant expression, finding it hard to guess what was going through his mind. He rested his head on his hand. "Another bet?"

"No, not a bet. A deal. Plus, I haven't decided what my prize will be yet."

He stared deep into your (e/c) eyes. "Your prize? I'm not going to lose to you."

"We'll see." You grinned with a spark of competitive spirit. You then looked down at your notes. "I was hoping that we could help each other. I could teach you English and you could teach me Maths. It's just a thought," you said.

"Huh. I guess that would keep things fair. Please, let me--" Todoroki was interrupted by the librarian as she shushed him across the room. Todoroki shuffled his chair closer to yours.

You spoke softly as you helped him with the English homework. He nodded in understanding. "I see. I wouldn't have thought of it that way."

"Yeah. English is such a weird language."

Once both of you realised that the school library would soon be closing, you packed your belongings. You adjusted your heavy bag up your shoulder as you and Todoroki walked down the corridor. The first two things you noticed when Todoroki opened the door for you were the tar-black sky and the murmuring of the rain.

Todoroki's lips parted in amazement as you fished an umbrella out of your bag.

You signalled him to get under it with you. "We can walk to the dorms together, and then I'll let you use my umbrella for the way home."

"Thanks, (y/n). Can you tell what the weather's going to be like or something?"

You laughed. "I wish. I checked the forecast this morning."

The corners of his mouth turned into a reserved grin. "I see. I guess I can be forgetful, sometimes."

Walking by your side, Todoroki took note of the gap between both of you. He thought about putting his arm over your shoulder but soon abandoned the idea. "Isn't your blazer getting wet?"

"Just a little. It's fine, though." You gave him a sweet smile, which made it difficult for him to hold back.

He put his arm over your shoulder and brought you closer to him. While you heard your heart beating, you treasured this moment. The smell of the murky summer rain, the sound of your footsteps on the gravel path and the warmth of Todoroki's arm as you held on to the umbrella... It all made you feel at ease.

---

You quickly zipped up your new hero costume. You didn't have a chance to check yourself out, but you didn't mind that too much. As you rushed outside to meet your classmates, you could tell that this costume fitted your body far better than your previous one. Nevertheless, you had not expected the stir you would cause amongst your classmates.

Kaminari's jaw dropped when he saw you. Your costume hugged your body around the right places and the colour you had chosen made you stand out. Even the 'tree of life' designs on the sleeves and on your legs matched flawlessly. "Damn, (y/n)! You look hot," the electric boy said.

"Yeah, I like the vibe it gives. It's cool." Kirishima flashed you a wide smile.

"Huh? You too, shitty hair?" Bakugo cracked his knuckles as he sauntered towards you, joining the rest of your classmates who gathered around you.

You thanked them as you rubbed the back of your neck with a modest smile. All the girls but Ochaco admired your flashy hero costume, which reminded you that you still had an unresolved issue with her. You didn't know what you had done wrong, but you missed hanging out with her as you used to.

Noticing that your chin dipped to your chest, Todoroki approached you. He struggled to accept that there was no reason for him to feel annoyed that the other boys showered you with compliments.

From when he chatted with you at the school's rooftop to when you studied together in the library; there probably would be an opportunity to tell you later, though the right moment existed only now.

Thus, he chose to take his chance before the hero training class began. "Hey, (y/n)."

"Yeah?" You turned towards him as you adjusted the cuffs.

"I think you look attractive in your new hero costume."

"Um, thanks," you said. But internally you strangled on a scream out of sheer disbelief.

Todoroki furrowed his eyebrows as he neared you, worrying that he had made you feel uncomfortable because you only got this embarrassed when he spoke. "You're blushing to your ears, (y/n)."

You threw your hands over your face. "D-don't look at me so closely."

He backed off and ran a hand through his dual-coloured hair, puzzled by your reaction. As you watched him move away from you, you clenched your fists. I don't know what I'm supposed to do when he behaves this way. Maybe, I should tell him? He doesn't have to respond to my feelings, but I'd like him to hear me out.

---

You fidgeted with your pen. Even though you had already started studying, you looked across the school library every so often to check if Todoroki was coming today. You shook your head, trying to dismiss the fact that he seemed colder since your exchange at the start of your afternoon lessons.

As you scribbled on your notebook, you pondered whether you shouldn't have pushed him away when he commented on your appearance. In all fairness, it was unlike him to do so, which had caught you by surprise. However, you felt like this misunderstanding had been brewing for quite some time.

You continued revising for your exams, unaware of the U.A. staff meeting that had been called because of you. You had informed Mr Aizawa of your suspicions about your uncle earlier that week. As your homeroom teacher, he had learnt that you would keep a lot of your problems to yourself. Therefore, he believed that this after school meeting was justified. Though Hound Dog was U.A.'s Lifestyle Guidance Counselor, he didn't agree with Aizawa.

Hound Dog's scruffy blond hair shook as he let out a loud sigh. "So what, Eraserhead? The girl's uncle has a drug problem. That's not for us to deal with."

While Principal Nezu stirred his tea, All Might, Midnight and Recovery Girl all searched through their memories, wary about what they should do in a situation such as this.

"Personally, I would not dismiss this matter," Recovery Girl said, adjusting her purple-tinted visor. She was especially concerned as she had grown fond of you over your one-to-one training at lunchtimes.

Nezu took a sip of his herbal tea. "Yes, I agree with you, Recovery Girl. Hound Dog, I suspect this might be something more than that, given that it is coming from a student such as young (y/n). I will be disclosing this information to the police. All I can ask of all of you for the moment is for you keep a close eye."