It would be a long way down if he didn't make this jump, but there was no time to think of the danger. Time was running out, and the structure keeping Y/N above the bubbling pool of boiling lava was crumbling more and more with each fading second.

Shoto stepped back, preparing himself for a running leap.

"You're not gonna make it!" Y/N shouted from her decaying tower, "Just leave me, save yourself!"

"I'm not letting you go!" Shoto shouted back, sprinting to the edge. He leapt across the gorge, hurtling through the air wildly and screaming, "I will save you!"

The jump was just short.

Y/N's hand wrapped around Shoto's, using all her strength to keep him from falling to a fiery death. The tower she was trapped in finally gave way at the addition of weight. Shoto and Y/N fell, holding onto each other as they careened down into the flames below, screaming at the top of their lungs until-

"Kids!" A voice called from the kitchen.

The lava turned into hard wood floors, the collapsing tower into a falling pile of pillows.

Mrs. Todoroki entered the living room, setting a tray of tea down on the table and kneeling down to be eye level with the children.

"You have to be quiet if you want to keep playing. You know your father and Y/N's parents are having a very important meeting in the other room." She explained in a soothing voice.

"But I was rescuing Y/N from the tower!" Shoto whined with a pout.

Mrs. Todoroki smiled, giggling a little, "A little hero indeed. Are you Prince Charming? Saving the Princess?"

Shoto nodded enthusiastically, until Y/N elbowed him in the side, "If it weren't for me Prince Charming would be lost in lava! I'm the hero!" Y/N insisted, "I'm going to be a hero too, once I get my quirk!"

Mrs. Todoroki gave a soft smile, "Alright then. The heroic little princess and prince charming then." She held a finger to her mouth, "But you two must be quieter." She sighed, "If your father has a reason to stop your playdates, he will do so."

Shoto frowned and grabbed Y/N's hand, "He can't separate us. I won't let him."

- - - - -

Any hopes of becoming a hero were crushed by her parents when Y/N's quirk manifested. She was, quote, "Destined to follow her parents footsteps in the PR industry."

F/N L/N. Quirk: Charmspeak. Her spoken words are laced with the ability to convince people to do or believe whatever she says.

Her mother and father were public relation specialists for heroes. They were considered the best in the industry, and had practically founded an empire with all of the high up hero names on their roster.

They hadn't snagged the number one hero, All Might, into their scheme quite yet, but they did work for the number two, Endeavour, for quite some time. Some accident made him fire them though. Of course, this barely had any affect on their careers, as they were so good at covering the situation up.

As soon as Y/N's quirk came in, she was instantly put into voice lessons and lined up to enter the business program at UA, despite constant speeches she made about wanting to enter the hero track.

UA had a great program for business students, and Y/N was a star student in her classes, but still dreamed about being a true hero.

- - - - -

When the sports festival came to UA, it was explained to the business students that they did not have to sign up, as most of their quirks would not help them on the battlefield. It was a harsh reality, but a reality nonetheless.

So, as the students stretched and prepared themselves for the obstacle course, Y/N made her way to the stands. At least, until she saw a mop of red and white hair in the crowd of participating students.

Despite all of the quirks in the world, having perfectly split red and white hair was not common.

Y/N's parents hated the Todoroki family now. Their patriarch did fire them after all. Y/N didn't even see the family on TV, as she was forced to change the channel when her parents were around. But despite all of that, she did know that a Todoroki boy did attend UA. The business students talked about it alot, wondering if this son of the number two hero would be as good of a hero as his father. Some even were placing bets on the sports festival results. Y/N just hadn't given the possibility of this Todoroki boy being Shoto much thought. What were the odds?

"Hey Y/N! Hurry up, they're running out of good seats!" One of her classmates shouted, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"I'll... I'll be right back." Y/N replied, hurrying down the bleacher steps.

The participating students were squeezing all together, pushing each other to get a spot near the starting line for the obstacle course. Y/N practically shoved her way through the crowd, ignoring the protests of other students. She just wanted to check on him. It had been years since they last spoke. It had been years since she had such a close friend.

Pushing between some students, she finally made it. Reaching a hand out, she tapped his shoulder, her stomach full of butterflies.

Shoto turned around, shooting Y/N a glare.

Y/N stared in shock.

His eye... the scar.

"Who did this to you?" She said, practically in a whisper, her hand instinctively reaching up to his face.

Shoto slapped her hand away.

"You shouldn't come up to strangers with personal questions like that. Leave me alone." He replied, turning away.

Y/N blinked rapidly, strangers? Did he not... did he not remember her at all?

"Shoto- it's me-"

Shoto whipped his head around, grimacing, "Don't talk to me like we're friends. I don't know you. You don't know me. I have to focus and win this competition. Now leave."

Y/N narrowed her eyes. Despite everything, this was still Shoto. Prince Charming. She just had to make him remember.

"Just give me a second-"

"Unless I'm fighting you, I will not be giving you a second thought."

The announcers signaled for the participants to take their positions. Y/N looked up to see the pro heroes take their positions on the stage, and when she looked back, Shoto was gone.

Y/N cursed. She didn't want to use her quirk on him to make him talk to her, and even if she did she couldn't find him in the crowd now. He definitely wouldn't speak to her after the competition, he would be swarmed by PR agents or congratulatory students. She wouldn't get to speak to him, and he would probably avoid her now at school if they happened to pass each other....

'Unless I'm fighting you, I will not be giving you a second thought.'

Bolting over to the sign up table, Y/N slammed her hands on the table just as the operators were starting to break down the set up.

"I need to sign up for the competition!" Y/N insisted.

"I'm sorry, you're too late, they're about to start."

Y/N furrowed her eyebrows, grinding her teeth for a moment. Switching her face to a soft, delicate smile almost instantly, she activated her quirk.

"Are you sure?" She asked quietly, "I really think I could do well! If only there was a way I could join, I mean, they haven't started...." Y/N rubbed the back of her neck, pretending she didn't know that the operator was about to agree.

A few signed papers later, Y/N had a number attached to her shirt and was rushing back to the starting line.

Game plan. Her quirk wouldn't help her run fast or fight anything along the way. But with it, she would get a lot of help from other students with powerful quirks.

She just wanted to get to the battle round. She wouldn't last very long, but surely it would get enough attention to prove herself to Shoto, to get a few minutes of conversation, and make him remember.

- - - - -

Plenty of different tactics were used by all the students. One student had a plan similar to Y/N's, despite her not knowing his quirk they both were using other people to get them towards the battle rounds. For Y/N, this was exhausting work. She tried to use her quirk repeatedly on the same people, but once those students were putting themselves in danger for her, it was harder to convince them to work for her even more. Switching students was also difficult, as she had to introduce herself, act kind and helpless, and convince them she would get them to the next round without being a threat to their own victory. That was just her quirk issue. Physically, she was exhausted, and her throat was sore. They didn't exactly train for these types of things in business class.

Nevertheless, she had made it to the one on one brackets. She had hoped to be fighting Shoto, but had no luck there. She would have to defeat a kid named Sero if she wanted to fight Shoto directly.

After chugging a bottle of water, Y/N stretched her sore limbs and walked out onto the battlefield while Present Mic announced her from the booth:

"Only one student from the business course has made it this far in the competition, and here she is! F/N L/N is entering the battlefield, going up against Hanta Sero from class 1A! Will she be able to defeat the hero course student?! Let's find out folks!"

Y/N stood casually on her end of the battlefield as the Sero boy got into a battle position. Midnight counted down, and a horn blared as the battle began.

Sero whipped up his elbows and started shooting tape Y/N's way. She dodged quickly, acting as if she had almost been caught, pretending to be scared.

Then she fell to her knees.

"Please!" Y/N shouted, "Please, don't hurt me! I don't stand a chance against a hero student!"

Sero paused for a second, just as confused as the audience watching. Her quirk had taken effect, he was convinced she wasn't a threat anymore.

That's when she struck.

Grabbing the strip of tape that Sero was in the middle of launching, she stood and swung the tape that was attached to the boy, the momentum sending him over her and slamming him to the ground, judo flip style.

The crowd gasped, surprised the hero was overtaken, even though it was just for a moment.

Y/N attempted to pin Sero to the ground, but since her quirk's power over him had ended when she hurt him, he was ready to fight her for real now. Shooting up tape as she came close, Y/N was wrapped up like a mummy, and no matter how much she struggled she couldn't break free. Sero held up his elbow and flung her out of bounds, the tape cutting from his arm as Y/N got slammed into the stadium wall.

Sero was declared the winner, and once she was cut free, Y/N was sent to the nurses' office. She had a few scrapes and bruises, but they were all mainly concerned about the possibility of a concussion. Despite insisting she felt fine, she was held there for a while, and when she was finally permitted to leave, she had to keep an ice pack on the back of her head.

Y/N sighed as she made her way down the hallway. She still hadn't gotten a chance to run into Shoto while waiting for the fights. It was fun doing heroic battles, it was what she truly wanted to do at school, but at this point it would all be for nothing.

She was about to turn in the hall to make her way to the bleachers, but a wall of ice suddenly rose and blocked her path.

Over the sound system, she heard that Shoto Todoroki had been declared the winner in his match against Hanta Sero.

Y/N stood in the hallway, watching an ice covered Sero be wheeled off on a stretcher. Apparently it was a very quick fight. As the ice started to melt, Todoroki walked into the hallway, heading to the locker rooms to prepare for his next match, a frown on his face.

"A little harsh, don't you think Prince Charming?" Y/N called out to him, chuckling a little.

Shoto froze in his spot, then glared at Y/N, "Only one person is allowed to call me that." He hissed, then walked away.

Y/N shook her head with a sigh, watching him walk off. All that work and he still didn't remember. Well, at least she got to show off a little. Maybe this would prove to her parents that her quirk wasn't only useful to their PR empire. She could prove she could be a hero too.

- - - - -

The amount of press events Y/N was required to attend after the sports festival was insane. Her parents usually made her stay home, mainly because her 'youthful outbursts against the industry' embarrassed them in front of their PR friends and hero clients. But ever since she made it to the fighting rounds at UA, Y/N's parents have been taking her to events to show her off, and make people recognize her. Not for the hero she wanted to be, but for the possibilities her quirk offered to agencies.

The most important event of the year for PR agencies was next. A very formal event, plenty of heroes would be there along with their families. It was a gala to exchange business cards and make allies, as well as hear plenty of gossip. This would be the first time Y/N was dragged along to such an event.

The formal wear was as flashy as it was restricting. Y/N kept adjusting the bodice, despite her mother reminding her not to fidget. Y/N felt like a doll, dressed up and being shown off at a tea party.

The limousine pulled up to the front of the hall. As the doors opened hundreds of cameras started flashing, almost blinding Y/N. Her and her family stepped out onto the red carpet, her father reminded Y/N to smile through gritted teeth.

Once the last limousine pulled off, the gala officially began. All of the heroes and their agents were gliding around the ballroom, taking drinks and tiny hors d'oeuvres from waiters in full black tie.

Hours went by. As her parents talked to their friends in the most stuck up tones, Y/N excused herself to go get some punch, milling about the room and trying not to be perceived.

Practically dissociating, a scream from the entrance woke Y/N out of her trance. Whipping her head around, she couldn't see over the crowd, but could hear a deep voice shouting commands.

"Just move to the side and put your jewels in the bag, let us destroy those wannabe heroes and we'll be on our way!"

The room was then filled by chaos, the PR agents and wait staff ran into closets, those who couldn't were forced to follow the burglars' directions, standing to the side as the villains slinked forward to the center of the ballroom, surrounding the heroes.

Y/N was stuck. She couldn't find her parents, and couldn't break the barricade of villains to get to them. She looked around rapidly for a way out, but nothing. She was at the front lines as the heroes ran forward, starting to fight.

Trying to push through the battle, Y/N got behind the heroes. Everything was happening so quickly. She wasn't trained for this, no matter how much she wanted to be. She sincerely didn't know what to do.

That's when she saw it. A villain had come through the skylight. Using a serrated hand (strange quirk), they were cutting the chain holding the gigantic chandelier above the battle.

"ABOVE YOU! MOVE!" Y/N Shouted as loud as she could, her quirk lacing her voice. Most people followed her direction, but one person blasting ice still remained, tangled up in battle with a leading villain.

Instinctively, Y/N ran towards it. The crowd thinned, and it was clear that Shoto was the one fighting, trying to escape the grasp of the leader who was holding him from behind.

"Here it comes!" The villain shouted with a cackle from the roof. The leader released Shoto and dove to the side.

Just as Shoto looked up, the chandelier came plummeting down.

He had seconds, maybe, to dodge.

Despite all feelings of self preservation, Y/N bolted towards the boy, tackling him just out of reach of the crash. The pair rolled across the floor as glass shattered around them. As they landed, Shoto held Y/N with one hand, and held up the other defensively, creating a small curve of ice to protect them from the shards of glass.

Shoto looked down at her, his face lighting up with shock, "You!" he said, looking like he was about to continue but the screaming across the room caused him to stop. He tore down the ice wall with a swipe of his hand and picked himself and Y/N up, "Make a run for the exit, I'll cover you." He said.

"No, I'm fighting too." Y/N protested, seeing the villains surrounding them.

"You don't have to do this, I can handle them."

"Like you handled that chandelier? Yeah no. I'm afraid you're stuck with me, Prince Charming."

Shoto scoffed a little, but stood back to back with Y/N. ready to fight. A group of villains came closer, mocking the school children attempting to fight them.

Y/N held an arm in front of Shoto, signaling for him to hold his fire. She stepped forward slowly, hands up, breathing heavily until she broke out into sobs.

"P-Please..." she said through short breaths, "I'm so scared, please you don't need to do this! You must have a family at home, friends, a pet, anyone, you don't want to make them feel this way! I'm begging you, please surrender, you don't want to make this your life!"

Within a few words, villains started to cry, dropping to their knees until they collapsed into full sobs. Those who didn't looked confused, some even afraid. Y/N's quirk had taken a good group down.

She signaled Shoto, but when nothing came she turned around, seeing him wipe a small tear from his eye.

"Shoto, now!" She hissed.

Snapping out of it, he shook his head and started freezing the villains whole, ready for arrest when the police came.

The gala of pro heroes was just finishing up taking care of the rest of the gang when the police lights came into view.

Y/N stepped out of the ring of frozen villains as the police came through and started cuffing the villains. Seeing her parents on the other side of the ballroom, she hurried towards them, and started to talk about how she fought, but was interrupted by instant scolding for leaving them during the gala. She could feel eyes on her as she was guided away back to the limousine, the gala being cut short due to the battle.

- - - - -

Once the weekend was up, Y/N went back to school as if nothing had happened. It was disappointing really, no matter how many times she proved herself in her own eyes, her parents would only ever see her as a marketing tool.

She was eating lunch in the cafeteria when a hand slammed on the table in front of her lunch tray.

Shoto Todoroki stood above her, "Only one person has ever called me that." He said.

Y/N looked him over with a smirk, "Oh?" She took a sip of her tea, "And who's that?"

Shoto looked around before slowly sitting down across from her, hands folded awkwardly.

"What made you remember?" Y/N asked.

"Seeing you with your parents made it click." He replied.

Y/N nodded, taking another sip of tea, relishing making the boy feel awkward after what he had said to her the previous days.

After a pause, Shoto straightened, "Why aren't you in the hero course?"

"Robots, parents, quirk discrimination? Take your pick."

"Be serious!" Shoto insisted.

With a sigh, Y/N answered: "When my quirk came in my parents realized I would be perfect for their little PR campaigns. So they signed me up for the business course. I tried to get through the hero entrance exam myself, but my charmspeak doesn't exactly work on giant robots."

"Your parents are forcing you then?" Shoto asked quietly.

Y/N nodded, and looked up at him, her hand inching across the table. "So... is that how you got your scar? Your dad I assume, with training? I mean, sorry it just looks like-"

Shoto shook his head, "No, he didn't actively do it. Technically... technically it was my mother."

Y/N was shocked, "I'm sorry, it must be a bad topic-"

"Believe me, it's fine." Shoto added, "It's my old man's fault, him and his hubris. He thinks I'm his perfect creation, but I'm far from it."

"I know how that feels...." Y/N said with a small chuckle.

"Do you still want to be a hero?" Shoto asked.

"Of course I do!" Y/N quickly replied, "I wish I could but-"

Shoto stood up, grabbing Y/N's hand, pulling her up, "Come on." He said with no other explanation, pulling her along out of the cafeteria.

"Wh-where are you taking me?" Y/N laughed nervously.

"The teacher's lounge. We're talking to my sensei."

Y/N was still a little stuck on the fact that he was holding her hand so gently but so intently, but she refocused, "We can't just burst into the teacher's lounge, Shoto."

"After all those things I said to you earlier this week, I have to at least try to convince them. You can fight. Really fight. I think you could do this."

Y/N blushed intensely as the pair entered the teachers' lounge, still holding hands.

- - - - -

Standing in front of the door labeled 1A, Y/N just... stared.

She never thought this day would come.

A hand interlaced in hers, and Shoto looked at her with a rare encouraging smile.

"Come along Princess." He said, "It's time to enter your hero academia."