"Are you sure you can't stay longer (y/n) dear? Everyone would love for you to come back inside." Ranka questioned in a pouting tone.

"I'm sure." You sighed. "I gotta make sure my friend makes it back to the train station!"

"Just have him stay over at your place !" He chuckled with an eyebrow wiggle. "Problem solved!" The comment made you nearly choke on the air.

"Well, you do have hot chocolate..." Todoroki mumbled.

"OOOOOO (Y/N) HE'S CLEARLY INTERESTED!" Ranka winked.

"I DON'T THINK WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE HERE." You yelled in terror before wrapping your arm around Todoroki's. "LET'S GO TODO."

Ranka waved with a bright smile, watching you drag the poor confused boy off. When the two of you were out of sight, he sighed and leaned up against the door frame.

"Ai darling, you don't need to follow them."

"That boy..." Ai mumbled, coming out from around the alleyway corner. "It didn't register with me in my drunken stupor, but that's the son of Endeavor right?"

"Indeed it is."

"What's someone like him doing all the way out here..."

"It's obvious that (y/n) and Todochan are madly in love~"

"Ughk. That shit's gross Ranka." Ai spat. "But still... If people around here catch wind of that, he's gonna be in serious trouble."

Ranka gazed up into the starry sky, his voice becoming calmer and more natural.

"Her mother would be so happy she brought a friend home for once." He softly spoke. "That's why we will keep this to ourselves."

- - -

The train began to pull up to the station.

"I'm sorry it's so late." You sighed, releasing his arm finally. "You gonna be able to make it home alright?"

"Mhmm." Todoroki hummed. He seemed a bit distant, like he was lost in thought. You couldn't help but watch his face closely, wondering what exactly it was that was running through his mind.

"It was a lot to take in huh?" You smiled warmly. "Hope I didn't freak you out too much."

Todoroki's gaze shifted back towards you, his eyes soft.

"(Y/n) when you helped that man back there, you looked.... sad." He lowly said.

"Oh, that..." You averted your eyes from his. "Well you see, there's a bit of an after effect when I mess around in peoples heads like that."

"Do you feel sad?"

"No." You chuckled, expression soon turning serious once more. "It's a bit more complicated... You see, my father had a quirk that allowed him to stop mechanical circuits, while my mother had a quirk that could alter peoples memories. I can't alter memories at all, but if a person is thinking of a powerful past event while I'm connected to them, I can sometimes see flashes of their memories." Your eyes grew a bit darker. "You see that man... I saw through his eyes. He was looking down at a gravestone and I could hear him crying-"

"You should stop doing that." Todoroki stoically said. You snapped out of your thoughts and peeked back at him. "A persons pain is their own. There's no reason for you to shoulder that as well."

It took you a moment to process why it was he said what he did. Maybe to him, it seemed stupid for you to go out of your way for something so finite and temporary. Or maybe he was just worried about you. Either way, you couldn't help but relish in the concern he showed.

"Todoroki..." You spoke softly. "Isn't bearing the weight of the world the job of heroes?"

His face shifted from that, eyes widening, mouth falling slightly open. He was clearly taken aback by your words.

"I think I understand you a little better." He stated.

"Eh?" You perked up. "...That's a good thing right?"

"I believe so."

Short, sweet, and to the point. Shouto Todoroki was usually forward like that. It was one of the many things you appreciated about him. You glanced past your friend, noticing the last of the passengers taking their seats. There was a tightness in your chest.

I wish... He could stay and talk all night...

"Whelp, you should probably go now. They'll leave without you." You grinned.

Todoroki stood silently and watched you. It was as if he didn't register what you had said at all. You tilted your head at him curiously, leaning in a bit.

"Todoro-? AHH, THE DOOR'S SHUTTING." In a fit of panic, you shoved him through the doors of the train. He stumbled backward a bit, eyes jolting wider in confusion. "Sorry Todo!" You called through the closing doors. "Get home safely! I'll see you at school tomorrow!"

He didn't have a chance to say anything before the train had departed. You watched it trail off in the distance, releasing a heavy sigh as it faded from sight. As you stepped back to head home, you stumbled a bit over an object on the ground. It was Todoroki's bag that he didn't have a chance to grab before you had shoved him onto the train.

"Ughhhh..." You groaned, slapping your hand over your face.

"I'm an idiot through and through."