Melting an Icy Heart ( TodoMomo ) | *Main bnha Series*

Chapter 11 | Hibiscus

Momo's Pov.

  "Yaoyorozu, finally you're awake," Iida acknowledged her existence. He was talking to Todoroki at the moment, but Todoroki didn't say anything. He didn't show any emotion. He kind of just stared...

  "Yes, what do you need me for?" Yaoyorozu asked.

  "We need you to make a few large pots so we can gather water and boil it so that we can start purifying water, and then after that you could make a microporous sieves to strain the water through," Iida instructed.

  "Okay," she nodded. She was feeling better after sleeping. She wasn't sure she could make the waterproof material for the tents yet, but making a pots and a microporous sieves would be fairly easy. 

  They just stared at her for a moment and she felt blush creep up her cheeks.

  "Er... Um... Could you turn away for a minute?" she asked nervously. She would have to lift up her shirt so that it didn't cover her lower back to make a pot like Iida described. Out of her back might be the best place to create it, and then she could make handles so she could catch it before it falls. It's not that she was afraid of exposing her stomach... It's that she had embarrassed herself in front of Todoroki enough for a little while. 

  They nodded and turned their backs. Meanwhile, she started creating the object and then felt for the handles when she knew she created them. Before it fell, she caught it, but it was kind of heavy so she had a little trouble holding it once it was made.

  "How many of these do you want?" she questioned the Class Representative.

  "How many do you think you could make along with the sieves?" Iida responded with a question.

  "I'm not sure... I could create the sieve now... But it would be nice to have something to eat so that I don't run out of energy," Momo created a sieve out of her arm and then felt her stomach rumble. It wasn't the most fun to be hungry after using her quirk, so she usually consumed a lot of food, so this was different and she probably had to get used to eating less than normal.

  "We collected berries yesterday and there are a few left over," Todoroki told her, "I could give them to you."

  She blinked at him in surprise. Not only had he helped her out earlier, but now he was offering to get her food... Had he been helping her out this much all along but she hadn't noticed? She felt confusion squirm in her stomach and her heartbeat sped up a little. 

  "Thank you," she smiled at him.

  The sun started shining brighter, and now the air was getting warmer. Freezing at night and hot during the day... No wonder UA chose this spot. 

  She ate the food swiftly and then continued to make two other pots with sieves.

  "This is enough for now, Yaoyorozu," Iida stopped her, "Rest for today and I will tell you if we require more."

Todoroki's Pov.

  He hoped that Iida didn't overwork her. She already did more than enough to help everyone. Iida stopped her from making more pots and sieves eventually.

  "Thank you," Yaoyorozu nodded. Then Iida walked away, leaving them alone.

  Yaoyorozu turned to him.

  "Oh yeah! And thanks for getting me food today! I feel much better," Yaoyorozu told him.

  He couldn't help but feel good when she said that. He wondered if he should do little things to help her more often... Would that be weird?

 "I-" he coughed once, and then realized that there was something caught in his throat, "Excuse me."

  He left her there and walked away quickly, disappearing into the woods. He didn't go too far through it though. 

  Todoroki consciously coughed to get the stuck object out of his throat. It took more than that though... He coughed harder and then two huge, red petals came out of his mouth. The same species at the petal that was in his mouth yesterday... It didn't hurt to cough up these petals, it was just bothersome for him. Also, the petals were immense for a flower. He started wondering what kind of flower this was... The petals were sort of familiar, but he couldn't place it.

  "Todoroki, are you okay?" a voice behind him asked. He turned around to realize it was Yaoyorozu, "I was walking around this way and then I heard coughing. Are you sick?"

  "No," he assured her, "I'm fine." 

  A strong breeze blew through and then carried the petals up and away. Yaoyorozu must have saw them, because she pointed at them and said, "Are there any hibiscus around here?"

  'Hibiscus... Huh?'

  He knew exactly what kind of flower it was now.

  "I don't know," Todoroki glanced at her, but then felt heat creep up his cheeks. She was kind of close... She smiled at him but then he looked away. Why couldn't he just leave her alone..?

  "That's a shame..." she sighed, "They're my favorite flower."

  Then she walked away from him to leave him alone.

  He leaned against the tree and sighed, wanting to know what was going on... Why were these petals stuck in his throat? What caused this to happen? It's not a normal thing that happens... You don't normally start coughing up petals... Coughing up petals... Where had he heard about this before? He wished that this would go away, he wished his feelings for Yaoyorozu would go away, he wished his father would go away, he wished most things would go away...

  "What is happening to me..?" he whispered. 

  He wasn't sure... 

  Todoroki left the forest. 

  He went to find Ashido this time. Maybe she could help him get over his feelings for Yaoyorozu..? Maybe not. Probably not. It was worth a shot.

  "Ashido," he said her name to catch her attention and she turned around.

  "Look what the cat dragged in," she laughed, "Trying to get over your feelings for Momo still, huh?"

  "Yes... How are you aware of this..?" Todoroki wondered.