"So... She opted to drop out huh?" The shrouded man scoffed at the television.

He turned away and peered at the blue sky above. He found no comfort in it, almost annoyed by how bright it was. The man shoved his hands in his pockets and walked off.

"That sounds just like you (y/n)."

- - -

"I see... So you really can't remember anything from the Calvary battle." Izuku muttered.

You nodded your head.

"That's right." You sighed and leaned against your hands with your elbows resting on the table. "Honestly I'm still not positive what exactly Shinsou's quirk is."

"Mind control?" Izuku suggested.

"Holy crap, that's so OP..." You gasped in terror.

"But it only activates after you answer his question."

"I think so, WHICH MEANS IZUKU!" You announced. "DON'T LET HIM GET UNDER YOUR SKIN AND MAKE YOU TALK!"

"UWAHHH, R-RIGHT!" He panicked at the sudden rise in voice.

"Well, I suppose I should leave you alone so you can get ready for your match." You smiled softly.

"Wait (y/n)..." Izuku insisted. "Is there something you else on your mind?"

Your face contorted subconsciously at the question. There was no point to drag him into it. What could he do? What could you do?

"Did something happened with Todoroki?"

Kiss.

A blush exploded across your cheeks.

"N-N-NO! WHATEVER WOULD MAKE YOU SAY SUCH A THING!" You frantically waved your hands as if they would distract the boy from your expression.

"Oh, so it was something like that..." He shyly mumbled, instantly understanding what could potentially have caused your embarrassment.

"DON'T GET ANY FUNNY IDEAS IN YOUR HEAD, THE BLOOD'S JUST PUMPING TO MY FACE FROM STRESS!"

What are you lying for?

The frantic movements stopped and you calmly lowered yourself back into your seat.

"He did say some things that bothered me though..." Your eyes flashed up at the boy whose curiosity has been peeqed.

Is it really my secret to share?

But the sincerity of Izuku Midoriya's eyes left no room in your heart for doubt. He wasn't the kind of person to twist a persons truth and use it for his own gain.

"Shouto Todoroki... He refuses to use his left side out of resentment for his father..." You sighed. "He's driven himself into a corner and pushed away his fellow peers and classmates. There were times when he pushed me away as well." You twiddled with your thumbs in an attempt to dissipate the tense air. "His own mother was forced into marriage with Endeavor, and the abuse of that relationship drove her mad... She even..." You gulped, the glimpse of Todoroki's past coming to mind once more. The glint of despair in her eyes tortured you. "She poured boiling water on him... His left side."

Izuku's face twisted.

"In the calvary battle... Todoroki used his fire only briefly." Izuku shuttered. "But he looked so disturbed afterward."

"Sorry for dumping all this on you. I just feel like if I could tell anyone it could be you." You smiled softly. "Plus, since you may  be facing him in the second round, I thought you had a right to know."

"No, don't apologize... It's just, I don't even know what to do about it."

"You don't have to do anything. I think just having somebody else who understands is helpful. Thank you Izuku."

"O-Of course!" The shy boy stuttered. "And thank you for letting me know about Shinsou."

"You're more than welcome." You said, getting up from your chair. "I'll go find a seat in the stands and give you some time to prepare for your first match. Good luck!"

You held your hand out expectingly towards him. Izuku quickly returned the gesture with a smile.

- - -

"IZUKU COME ON! I LITERALLY JUST TOLD YOU A FEW MINUTES AGO TO NOT ANSWER HIM!" You groaned loudly from the stands.

"HEY! HEY! WHAT'S THE MATTER?!" Present Mic announced. "LIVEN THINGS UP A LITTLE!"

"If you go out of bounds, then you'll lose the match!" Iida frantically called down to his friend.

You watched the spectacle unfold before you in disbelief. Izuku was heading towards the out of bounds line, just as Shinsou had instructed him to.

Unbelievable, that quirk is unbelievable... He's in general studies?!

Your attention shifted back to the purple haired boy who had used you in the cavalry battle.

No... That makes sense. He wouldn't have been able to get any points during the entrance exam, and using me and the others was his best strategy he had to make it this far... In the end, I can't really blame him-

A surge of energy erupted from the battlefield.

Izuku?!

"T-This is?!" Present Mic stuttered. "Midoriya stopped!"

"MIDORIYA!" Iida cheered with flailed arms.

"I'm so glad." Ochaco sighed in relief.

"Alright!" You added.

From there, it was a straight-up physical tug of war. Izuku didn't answer any more of Shinsou's questions, rendering the boy powerless against him. It ended with a final toss from Izuku as he slammed Shinsou down and across the boundary line.

"Shinsou is out of bounds!" Midnight announced. "Midoriya advances to round two!"

You couldn't hear the discussion that ensued between the two of them after it was over, but the disappointment on Shinsou's face was obvious.

I guess... It's probably frustrating for him huh?

You stood from your seat and started towards the stairs.

"Where are you going (y/n)?" Tsuyu questioned

"Eh? Oh, I'm gonna go talk to Shinsou."

"You two paired up during the calvary battle right" Iida inquired.

"Yeah, I guess you could call it that..." You scoffed quietly.

- - -

You eventually managed to meander your way down to the stadium exit hallway.

"Ah, there you are!" You exclaimed upon spotting the purple haired boy.

He turned, a bit confused as to what the sudden commotion was about.

"Oh, if you're looking for Midoriya, he's on the other side..." He nearly mumbled.

"I was looking for you actually." You ran up to him gleefully.

"Why?"

"Well to congratulate you of course!"

"...But I lost..."

"Yeah but Izuku's super strong so some things can't be helped. You still did amazingly against him!" You grinned.

Shinsou wasn't sure what came over him, but at that moment he found your giddiness endearing.

"Are you an idiot? Aren't you mad at me for how I used you in the cavalry battle?" He huffed in disbelief.

"I mean I'm a little bit salty still in all honesty." You sighed. "But you know, I think how I yelled at you afterward was uncalled for. Sorry about that."

He was confused, to say the least. But Shinsou did find himself giving into your charm and forwardness.

"I'm uh... Sorry too..." He shyly ruffled the back of his hair. "It wasn't cool of me to do that to you."

"Apology gladly accepted!"

"Eh? Just like that?"

"Yup!" You insisted. "I mean you were just trying to use every tool at your disposal. I can't really blame you for that. And besides..." Your smile softened and your voice became quieter. "You have such a powerful quirk but I guess how UA functions put you at a disadvantage... It must be frustrating..."

Shinsou's jaw dropped slightly at your words.

"It is..." He spoke softly.

You noticed that. You noticed a lot of little things about people. Placing your hands on his shoulders snapped him out of his trance and jolted him back to reality.

"Keep at it! I can see it now, you're gonna be a hero!" You encouraged.

He found himself speechless for a few seconds.

"...You're very forward, you know that?" He couldn't help but chuckle.

"Yup! I get it from my mom!"

That made him laugh. Shinsou removed your hands from his shoulders and turned back the way he was going.

"Well then, thanks for the encouragement. I'll make sure to steal your spot in the hero course right out from under your nose."

- - -

"Ah (y/n)! Welcome back!" Izuku waved over to you. "You're just in time for Todoroki's match."

"Thank- god..." You panted. "I sprinted back so I could make it in time and LEMME TELL YA, THESE THIGHS WERE NOT MADE FOR RUNNING!"

You took your seat next to Izuku and congratulate him on his win.

And then it was time to start.

Sero vs. Todoroki huh? I want to believe in Sero but Todo's quirk is just too strong.

You watched on as Present Mic announced the match, noticing the way Todoroki's face was cast downward, shrouded by his hair.

Something's not right... I don't understand, he seemed alright when I saw him last.

"Ready... STAAAAAART!"

Sero struck first, encasing Todoroki quickly with his tape in an attempt to drag him out of bounds.

Alright! Nice start Sero-

BOOM.

It was over in a flash. Todoroki's power was so overwhelming in that moment that you questioned why he wasn't a pro yet. Sero was completely immobilized, his body encased in ice with an entire splay of ice behind him.

It was sheer overkill.

You wondered how many other people noticed the sadness in the air as Todoroki slowly thawed out his classmate. You knew. Izuku knew. But no one else.

Todoroki...

It hurt you.

I'm such a fool...

Your brows scrunched together at the sight of him like that.

Something so painful cannot be so easily undone.