Absence

Five - Visits

A/N - Hi all! I apologize for such a delayed upload, finals and the holiday season kept me busy. However, now that the next semester is beginning, I am looking forward to continuing this story and uploading as often as I can! As always, comments and votes are much appreciated. Feel free to let me know what your thoughts and predictions are, I love to hear feedback :)

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How does one even go about finding a member of the Yaoyorozu family? They were a well-off family, quite high in the social ranks. The only times Todoroki had ever seen Momo's parents were from afar at hero conventions or other obligations that his father sent him to in his stead. He could perhaps sort through any and all news regarding her family, and somewhere buried deep in the tabloids and articles, there might be something of use to him. But Todoroki knew he didn't have time to spare. There would be too much information for any one person to sort through, and he didn't even know which cousin of Momo's lent her the Greek mythology book, if he found any. The quickest way to figure out who would have to be through a relative of Momo's or someone who knew her really well... A sudden thought occurred to him.

Todoroki arrived at the nearby hospital and approached the front desk. The receptionist recognized him and gave him a friendly smile, though she knew he never returned it.

"Back so soon? You're a very sweet son to always visit your mother."

"I'm here to see Kyoka Jirou." The receptionist was surprised, but she handed Todoroki the form that needed his signature and gave him a visitor's pass.

"Okay, she's in room 308." The receptionist's eyes followed Todoroki as he pressed the up elevator button. The last time he'd had this look in his eyes, she thought, was the day before the UA Festival. But it was different this time.

One elevator ride later, Todoroki arrived in front of Jirou's door. He peered inside. She looked relaxed, her eyes closed. But her beaten body was wrapped in bandages, and even they couldn't mask the pain she'd had to endure. Todoroki slowly opened the door so as to not surprise her. He then sat down next to her bed. As pressed for time as he was, he hesitated to awaken Jirou. But then she suddenly fluttered her eyes open.

"Oh, Todoroki. What are you doing here?" She took out earbuds, which were blaring loud rock music. "I was just listening to my relaxing playlist."

"I wanted to ask you a question. And see how you're doing."

"Any news of Yao-momo?" She sat up stiffly, in noticeable pain.

"Don't hurt yourself." Todoroki looked down, letting out a small sigh, wishing he didn't have to be the one to tell her. "There's no sign of her yet."

Jirou's eyes glistened. "I... I wish I'd never asked her to go to that stupid concert. She didn't even want to go in the first place! She only agreed so that I had someone with me." Her fists clenched the bed sheets and she grimaced. "I don't deserve a friend like her."

Todoroki looked up. "Don't blame yourself. It's not your fault. And don't worry, I'm going to find her. I promise."

Jirou looked up at Todoroki with puffy eyes, biting her lip to avoid crying. She nodded as much as she could without hurting herself. "Please do find her."

"I have a few questions to ask you."

"Sure, anything to help!"

"Do you know who took you?"

Jirou shook her head. "It's all a blur. Whoever they were, they were fast. They didn't even ask me anything, they just beat me up. I think it was to upset Yao-momo." Jirou glanced off to the side, as if looking away to avoid reliving the painful experience.