"Just as the deal goes, I will stop my endeavors. My fight for the engagement is over. That is all."

That was my last conversation with Aoi which happened after the Sports Festival Awarding Ceremony. Yaoyorozu and I felt relieved hearing that from her. Finally, this is all over.

She bowed deeply. When she straightend her back, her eyes remained looking down. They were still emotionless, but not like a still pool of water. They weren't also cold like ice.

Her golden eyes were just...empty.

Aoi turned her back on us and left. The relief that I'm feeling is now incorporated with something else... Is this guilt? I shouldn't be guilty. She knows I don't want the engagement. I shouldn't think much about her.

"Todoroki-san?" I looked at the girl beside me. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine." I smiled at her.

Right, I should focus at Yaoyorozu.

"Yaoyorozu."

"Yes?"

"Let's go somewhere."

She tilted her head in confusion then I held her hand and we left the school campus. We visited the nearest mall and went to the third floor where there is an ice skating rink.

"You know how to skate right?" I asked her.

"Certainly."

We paid for the entrance and wore the ice skating shoes. The cold air greeted us as we entered.

"Todoroki-san, let's race!" Yaoyorozu cheerfully challenged me. I agreed.

We both counted to three and then started skating. It didn't take long for me to reach the other side of the rink.

"It's my wi--" As I turned around, Yaoyorozu was skating too fast.

"T-todoroki-san, watch out!"

I reached out my arms when I realized that she couldn't stop. Her body crashed towards mine. My back hit the metal railing and the wooden wall behind hard.

"Yaoyorozu, are you okay?" I asked her. She looked at me with wide eyes.

"Are you serious!? I'm the one who should be asking that. Your back must've hurt!"

"I'm fine, really."

She punched my chest but it didn't hurt.

"Stop lying!"

"I'm not. I'm really fine."

"But I was skating too fast. Hero or not, you--why are you smiling at!?"

"Nothing. It's just that you look cute when you're mad."

Her eyes widen once again. Her face turned red. She looked down and her face turned redder.

"Ah Todoroki-san why are you so straight forward?..."

"What do you mean?"

"N-nothing!"

After ice skating, we had dinner in a fancy looking restaurant which Yaoyorozu said that it's her favorite. We enjoyed talking to each other. Being with her is really comfortable. I must really like Yaoyorozu. The sky is already a shade of light purple when we left the mall. We started walking at the side walk to the direction of the school campus.

"Todoroki-san." Yaoyorozu called. I looked at her.

"What is it?"

"We're dating, right? I mean...for real."

"Yes." I answered calmly.

"Well since this is for real, how about we decide to..."

"Decide?"

"Like how we..."

"Oh, you guys are here." I heard a familiar voice that irks me.

When I looked in front of us, a young man with an all black attire was there. His metallic silver eyes looked at me.

"Woah. You guys are for real now?" Then he laughed heartily.

Yaoyorozu held my hand tightly.

He clapped his hands while walking closer. "That's good news. Now you don't have to lie anymore."

Yaoyorozu face turned uncomfortable when she heard his comment.

"You know, honesty is the best policy. Although my bestfriend fails in that area." He shrugged.

I frowned.

"Fails? Is Aoi lying about something?"

"If you're concerned about her obsession for the engagement, don't worry. She meant what she said."

Then what is she hiding?

"Enough about my bestfriend. Let me share my real feelings as well."

Immediately, something hit the side of my face.

"Todoroki-san!"

"That's for pushing her away years ago."

Then another punch landed on the other side of my face.

"That's for pushing her away once more."

I was about to block his third punch but I received a kick in the stomach instead.

"Enough! Stop this, Kuroiwa-san!" Yaoyorozu stood up between us. I wiped the corner of my lip and saw the blood on my thumb.

"And that's for making Aoi cry."

I looked at his silver eyes. They were as serious as ever. Did Aoi really cry? I never saw her shed a tear for thirteen years.

"Enough of this. You had your payback. Now please stop..." Yaoyorozu stated.

"This is not enough." Kuroiwa said. "Remember this Shouto. One day, Aoi will be the one pushing you away."

~*~

A white ceiling greeted me as I opened my eyes.

Where am I?

I looked around.

Am I in the school clinic? What happened?

My mind tried recalling any recent memories.

I was at the testing ground specifically made for Aoi. Then we sparred. I pierced her shield--

The feeling when my body got stabbed by a number of blades resurfaced. The pain of it. Her betrayal. Those words...

"It's my win, Shouto."

Aoi!

I sat up from my bed, and I immediately felt dizzy.

"Oh, you shouldn't get up to quickly after waking up. You've lost so much blood after all."

"Recovery-sensei, did you.."

"No, it wasn't me. Just look at your body. I can't possibly recover someone that perfectly."

I looked at my hands. Then I unbuttoned this thin shirt for patients that I'm wearing. When I looked down at my chest, I was at loss for words.

It's completely healed. There was no sign that I was stabbed or injured during the sparring session. It was as if everything was just a dream.

"Apparently she wanted to test her ability to heal, as well. That girl has changed. Initially, I thought she's back to her cold demeanor but now her recklessness reminds me of that black-haired bestfriend of hers. It would take more than a day for you to wake up if her Quirk didn't work."

One day? I fell unconscious for a whole day?

"Aoi, where is she?"

"She finished her mental tests and now she's being interviewed about her memories. I suggest y--"

I got out of bed.

Recovery Girl sighed. "You stubborn brats. Go ahead then, do what you want. As if you can stop her."

I buttoned up my shirt again while wearing the white slip-on slippers near my bed.

"Thank you, Sensei."

Then I left the infirmary and started walking fast through the hallway.