Aoi looked at the schedule board. It seems like Shouto won't have to wait too long, because her next enemy after Yaoyorozu is him. She watched him fight against a second year student and he defeated him easily.

The image Shouto's cold eyes is still messing her mind.

She shook her head. She must focus. Don't get distracted. He will accept her. Shouto will accept Aoi. He will...

Will he?..

Maybe Shin is right. Maybe this plan of hers will backfire. If she had listened to him and told the truth... Would it be different?

"I told ya didn't I?" A familiar voice stated. At the same time, a familiar arm rested itself on her shoulders. "Why so stubborn?"

She looked to her left and saw a black-haired guy with moonlight silver eyes. He was no longer wearing the UA sports attire, but a black shirt with gray jeans instead.

"I..." Her voice were still in monotone but it trailed off.

'I didn't realize. Shin gave her an advice but I didn't listen. It's my fault, me and my stupid brain.  My friend has the ability to see through everyone's minds. He has a vast amount of knowledge, but I didn't listen to someone as reliable as him. I'm really really stupid..!'

Shin patted her head.

"Calm down..."

He could see how she's becoming more unstable. Shin hid his anxiousness and smiled at her.

"I understand that you're afraid. But a hero must be strong to be able to stand for what they're fighting for. Look at me, Aoi."

She looked up at Shin's eyes. Those understanding eyes are as silver as the moonlight.

"Remember what you're fighting for."

~*~

"And now! The first round of Quarter Finals begins! Let's cheer for one of the strongest third year students, Todoroki Shouto!"

The crowd cheered for Shouto as he entered. However, his focus are on the young girl walking in from the other entrance.

"His opponent is the freshman who defeated two third years! Will she push through? Or will she be defeated? From Class 1-A, Kiseki Aoi!"

When she arrived inside the ring. Her eyes looked at Shouto's. Those heterochromatic eyes are still full of hatred. If Aoi wins, those eyes might change. They might show warmth towards her once again...

"Let the battle begin!"

The buzzer rang and as soon as a second passed, a large fiery explosion blowed at Aoi. She flew up unscathed. Her years of training with Endeavor made her almost invincible to fire. Shouto kicked the ground up. Aoi evaded a punch, then kick, but when she shielded against a massive rock of ice, her body landed towards the ground.

Her shield managed to lessen the pain of the fall but her back still hurts nonetheless. Her body started glowing to heal itself. She focused on healing but after merely two seconds, a large combination of fire and ice blasted towards her.

Aoi coughed and looked at the crater close to her. She then noticed the burn of her enter right arm that's trying to heal. It was luck that she managed to roll to the side before it hit her entire body.

"This is what you did with her right?" There was a voice behind Aoi. She stood up but he already grabbed her left arm.

"Making her run, helplessly. Leaving no room to counter attack. Lucky for me, I know you're weakness."

Shouto twisted her left arm and froze burn it as well.

Aoi bit her lip and didn't scream at the pain. She turned around and saw those cold eyes once again.

"You can't use telekinesis while healing at the same time." Then a spiky ice wall appeared between them with the same width as the ring. It started moving forward, pushing her to the edge of the ring.

'Is this it? Am I losing?' Aoi's thought. She couldn't push the ice away. Her arms are still healing.

'Heal quicker. Hurry up... Hurry up!' She screamed mentally but the ice wall is moving fast. 'I can't lose like this. I can't..!'

She could now move her arms but the burns aren't gone. She tried pushing the wall but it was useless.

"Stay away from me!" The voice of the little Shouto rang inside her head. Then she realized,

It was just like before. He's pushing her away just like before. Aoi bit her lip.

'Why..? Why do you keep pushing me away? What did I do wrong Shou-kun..?'

Her legs and burned hands are shaking from resisting the ice wall.

'Please stop...'

"Stop..." Her thoughts leaked through her voice. Then her body glowed immensely.

"Stop pushing me away!!"

Aoi screamed. Shouto's eyes widen as he saw the ice wall shatter into small ice crystals. Her hands aren't fully healed but she succeeded. She herself was even surprised at the feat. Shouto prepared himself for the counter attack.

But it never came.

Aoi was already falling at the edge of the ring.

Present Mic announced Shouto as the winner while Aoi fell down on the hard concrete. Her head is pounding like crazy.

Shouto, on the other hand, decided not to look at his opponent and left the ring quietly.

Some students who volunteer in helping the infirmary came rushing towards her but she stopped them by telling them that she's fine. She left the stadium. Her cold demeanor made the students wonder if she's the one who has ice powers or maybe if her veins are made of ice.

When she walked through the dark hallway, it felt like she's walking on a quicksand. Her legs felt so heavy that she might collapse at any moment. Her head is still pounding nonstop. Then a hand held her. She looked at the man who's now gently pulling her somewhere. The black-haired young man led her to the door of the girl's dressing room.

"You need to take a bath and change."

Aoi has no strength to refuse. She entered the dressing room, took a short shower, and quickly changed into UA's school uniform. She find it too tiring to tie her hair up, let them dry or even comb them so she went outside the dressing room with her long wet hair. Shin grimaced at her look.

"At least dry your hair or comb them."

Aoi placed the fingers of his ring hand on her scalp and combed her hand down. The excess water in her hair followed her hand, drying her hair instantly. But they're still a little messy. Shin sighed and dragged Aoi again to his room at their dormitory.

Aoi obediently sat at his bed while her best friend behind her is combing her long hair. When he finished combing the back. He moved and sat at the part of black bed where Aoi could see him.

He stared at her golden eyes, space out, soulless, and flickering like a broken lamp.

"Aoi... Shouto must've hurt you a lot."

Aoi flinched. She hugged her arms while trembling. The items inside Shin's room started floating.

'Don't lose control. Don't lose control. Don't lose it. Don't--'

Aoi's thoughts went blank as Shin embraced her.

"Stop it... Don't hurt yourself any longer."

"B-but..."

"You can cry here. I know you won't hurt me. I believe in you."

Aoi's eyes started flickering more. The items started moving around.

"I will never push you away."

Aoi's eyes stopped flickering. The items fell down. Tears started trickling down her face.

She embraced Shin back.

"It was so quick! I lost so quickly. I can't believe it. I'm so weak. In the end, he pushed me away like before... just like... I... I did everything I could..! How could he do this to me... What did I do wrong? Shou-kun... Shou-kun always pushes me away... All I wanted is to protect him! I just don't want him to get hurt like before again..! I want to stay by his side. He told me we'll be together forever but he... He..."

Aoi then cried out like a little child.

For years, she finally let out her emotions without destroying anything or hurting anyone in the process. Her friend just listened, while patting her back in a circular motion. Letting her pain out.

Shin's eyes however, are cold, angry and full of bloodlust. A sentence kept repeating in his mind.

'You'll pay for this, Shouto.'

~*~

After the battle, Shouto immediately went to the infirmary. He pulled the curtains surrounding one of the beds and there he saw her, sitting up at the bed.

"Todoroki-san!" Yaoyorozu called out. Shouto couldn't control himself. He immediately hugged her.

"To-Todoroki-san what are you--"

"I'm so glad you're alright! I was so worried." He pulled out from the hug.

"I'm fine, Todoroki-san." She smiled elegantly.

Shouto smiled back warmly.

"Thank goodness"

The gentle and warm smile Shouto gave made Yaoyorozu widen her eyes in surprise. She looked away as she felt her face getting hot.

"Do you have a fever? You're face is turning red." Shouto placed his hand on her forehead. Then he placed the same hand at his forehead, checking the temperature.

"No, no no! I'm fine!" Yaoyorozu answered in a flustered manner. "I should be worried about you."

Shouto shook his head. "I'm alright.

"I can't believe you defeated her so quickly. You're really strong Todoroki-san."

"She's just inexperienced and.."

"And?"

"I made sure not to show her any mercy after what she did to you."

Yaoyorozu's eyes widen again.

"Yaoyorozu... After what happened, I realized something."

"What is it?"

"Let's end this."

"Huh?"  Yaoyorozu was dumbstruck.

"Let's end this pretending."

"O-oh... Yes. I guess Aoi would give up her thoughts about the engagement after what happened..." She answered but in truth Yaoyorozu felt sad.

The months she spent with Shouto made her closer to him. She got to know him more, and slowly she felt really happy being with him.

She's starting to like Shouto for real. It pains her to see it end...

"Yes, that's why," Shouto stated. "Let's make it real."

"Yes, let's...what?"

Shouto held Yaoyorozu's hand.

"Let's become a real couple."

Shouto has already noticed that he's feeling something different towards Yaoyorozu but he could not pinpoint what it is. When he saw her hurt, he was so guilty and furious and...hurt. He initially thought he was only angry at Aoi and guilty of himself but after Shin left, he went thought into this deeply and realized that there's something more.

He likes Yaoyorozu.

She placed her hand ontop of Shouto's, and smiled with joyful tears.

"Yes."