Running With The Wolves (Shoto Todoroki X Izuku Midoriya)

Chapter 25: Enter The Castle Dungeons

With the night eventually coming to an end, the softly glowing moon paired with the dark night skies was replaced by the golden shining sun along with the clear bright morning skies. Back inside the castle, there young Shoto strolled through the halls with both his hands tucked behind his back. He may not know the irish words of the song, but that didn't mean he couldn't whistle the familiar tune of 'Dulaman', which echoed across the quiet halls.

Then all of a sudden, the boy stopped the moment he heard what he could only describe was the sound of faint music. Out of curiosity perhaps, he decided to follow it towards it's very source. The music the then led him around a corner and into another hallway that was lined with open windows, which made the hall appear brighter than the last.

But the first thing the boy actually took notice of though was a lone figure standing before one of the open windows. Specifically, a certain scullery maid. With her head leaned against her palm, supported by her elbow on the window sill, all her attention seems to be focused on what  she sees outside the window.

Too focused in fact, she barely even noticed the young scullion approaching her.

"Yaoyorozu!"

Hearing the sudden voice made the girl yelp and jolt before whipping her head to see who said her name. The shock and panic soon died down into relief the moment she realizes that it was just a familiar boy.

"Todoroki?! You startled me...again!" She breathily exclaimed as she rested a hand on her chest.

"Sorry!" The boy apologized with a nervous laugh while rubbing the back of his neck.

"It's fine!" She reassuringly sighed. "After all, I prefer you rather than Lord Protector catching me slacking on the job!"

"Y-Yeah!" Shoto agreed nervously, the mere mention of that unnerving man sending shivers down his spine. "Anyway, I've been looking for you!"

The moment the scullion's words had processed inside her head, it actually surprised the scullery maid. And for some reason, her onyx eyes were sparkling brightly, and the skin on both of her cheeks turned into a soft hue of pink.

"Y-You were looking for me?" She stammered, lifting her index finger to point at herself for more emphasis. "W-Why?"

"I don't mean to be a bother to you, but I really need to ask you something" Shoto shyly asked as he rubbed the back of his neck. "It's really important!"

"Oh, not at all!" She replied almost immediately with a wave of her graceful hand, a sweet smile etched across her pretty lips.

"Alright, then do you happen to know where the castle dungeons are?"

And just like that, both the spark in her eyes and the pinkness on her cheeks suddenly vanished in an instant. With the sweetness in her smile replaced by an awkward one, her comically widened eyes needed to blink a couple of times, just enough for her to comprehend whether her ears were playing tricks on her or not.

"Huh?! Come again?!"

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"Yaoyorozu, are you sure we're going the right way?"

Because what Shoto least expected was for her to lead him through hallways with complicated twists and turns, soon reaching one of four towers that made up the four corners of Kilkenny castle.

"Why do you sound like you're doubting me? Of course I am sure! " Momo retorted firmly. "Were you really expecting a staircase leading down to the deep dark dirty basement?"

"Isn't that what dungeons usually are?" Shoto quietly commented matter-of-factly, but it was still loud enough for anyone within his vicinity to hear.

"I don't mean to pry, but why do need to go to the dungeons anyway? Visiting someone perhaps?"