"y/n, you can't just steal a curtain from a rented venue and tie it to the balcony to get down. what if the knot unties?"

"shoto, help me out here! you're the one who agreed to run away with me." you grumbled.

"there's a thing called the front door too, y/n."

"you want me to risk being seen leaving a party with you? i not attempting to make it to the front page newspaper headlines and be called a gold digger just yet." you chuckled.

"and you think climbing down a curtain tied to the balcony is less risky?" he cocked an eyebrow at you.

"one hundred percent. come on, you're my partner in crime, no backing out now!" you laughed and he, although reluctantly, helped you tie the knot securely before climbing down ahead of you to ensure it was safe.

you followed shortly after, smiling from ear to ear. "see? it's perfectly safe!"

"let's not do that again." shoto sighed, seeming a little concerned for you.

"what? but i thought the whole escaping the tower all rapunzel style was super cool." you protested to which he only shook his head with a soft smile.

"what did you have in mind when you asked me run away with you?"

"...i didn't actually have a plan, i just wanted to get out of there." you admitted. "but now, i have a pretty decent idea of what to do."

"and that is?"

"just trust me on this! let me show you what it's like to live like a middle class person for a day!" you beamed, and grabbed todoroki's hand before taking off in a jog, dragging him along with you. "come on, it'll be fun, i promise!"

~•~

"ow, ow, ow, ow, ow—"

"we can stop for a break you know?" todoroki reminded.

"what do you take me for, a weakling? sometimes, yes. right now? absolutely not." you insisted. "but i might take off my heels when running because they're a fucking pain in the ass."

"are they that bad?"

"wanna try them?" you offered.

"i'm pretty sure we don't have the same feet sizes." he pointed out.

"it's not the size of the heels sweetheart, it's the height of these things that make them unbearable. stilettos are a fucking weapon, i'm telling you."

"sure."

"wait, really?"

"yeah, i'll try them."

beaming, you took off your heels and placed them in front of him. he struggled a bit at first, but managed to walk around a few steps. "i feel like i'm going to fall." he mumbled, waddling awkwardly around the pavement.

you couldn't stop laughing at how concentrated he looked. "try running in those."

"no thank you. i think my respect for women who run in heels have just shot up." todoroki stated, but flailed his arms when he lost his balance.

"woah there princess shoto." you chuckled, stabilising him by holding his arm. "i think you should wear your shoes again."

"thank god." he sighed in relief, "y/n, you're amazing."

"they're just shoes, shoto. painful, yes, but they're still just shoes."

"they're a torture weapon." he insisted. "wear sneakers to your next party."

"you know what? i will."

~•~

"what's that?"

"i'm not even surprised anymore. we're at a food market shoto, we get food. what're you pointing at n—" you gawked at him when you saw what he was pointing it. "please tell me you're not pointing at cotton candy."

"cotton candy... can we try some?"

laughing, you took his hand in yours. "of course, make sure you eat everything you haven't tasted before!"

todoroki had the most bemused expression on his face as he watched you pick a chunk off the cotton candy stick and shove it into your mouth. "how do you eat so fast?"

"it melts in your mouth, try it."

he had the same reaction as the raccoon from that one video who tried to wash the cotton candy. "it- it just dissolves-"

"yes, that's how it works." you chuckled.

you proceeded to buy him crepes, onigiri and 10 packets of instant noodles to make at the dorms.

"isn't this unhealthy?" he asked, referring to the food he'd eaten all evening.

"yeah, but not everyone has the money to hire a personal dietitian or a chef, and we're lazy sometimes."

"you're so independent." he said, in awe.

"shoto, if you think making instant noodles is what makes someone independent we still have a long way to go."

"hey, y/n?"

"yeah?"

"can this be considered our second date?"

his sudden question caught you off guard, but you slowly nodded.

"then, can i kiss you again?"

"i— um, yes." you managed, although awkwardly.

todoroki leaned forward and pressed his lips to your cheek, before stepping back and smiling to himself. "i won't ruin your lipstick."

your heart was hammering against your ribcage, and you felt a wave of disappointment rush through you when his lips didn't make contact with yours.

"i don't mind." you said quietly.

"what was that?"

"i said i don't mind. my lipstick i mean."

before you could say another word, todoroki had closed the gap between the two of you. this time, unlike the last, you kissed him back.

"i really like you, y/n."

"shoto, i—"

"you don't have to say anything just yet." he told you softly. "take your time."

"...okay." you agreed, slightly breathless. "we should probably get back."

"can we stay here? just for a few more minutes."

you weren't exactly eager to get back to the party, you were simply anxious of getting caught up in the moment and doing something you'd regret. but if he asked you with such sincerity, you couldn't bring yourself to say no.

you nodded at todoroki with a gentle smile. "yeah, sure. take your time."

~•~

i kinda didn't update this for like 3 months heLP FJSJDJJS

once summer starts i promise this book will get constant updates but rn is not a great time but screw it

i'm procrastinating studying for a test tomorrow and started writing 😎😎 don't be like me kids