Savior (My Hero Academia: Todoroki x OC)

Chapter 35: Another Makeover

I followed Shoto up to his room after we finally arrived back at the dorms. I had, somehow, never been up here before. My jaw dropped and my eyes went wide when he opened the door. "This is incredible, Shoto. Did you put in your own flooring?"

"Yeah," he said, rubbing the back of his neck in an uncharacteristically shy gesture. "This is how my room is at home, it didn't feel right not to have it."

"I like it. It feels....peaceful in here."

He smiled and pulled me over to sit on his bed. "I'm glad you like it," he said before laying back. Looking up at me he held his arms open, "c'mere." 

I laid down next to him and snuggled myself into his chest. His arms tightened around my shoulders and his chest fell as he exhaled deeply, finally allowing himself to relax.

"Do you want to talk about what happened today? Why did you let that guy get under your skin?"

His fingers combed through my hair. "It seems like every time I move forward, something pulls me back. When I entered UA, my focus was on being the best. And to do that using only my ice. I had pride in my strength without using fire. I thought I could do that, but I was forced to accept that I'm stronger when I'm using my full power. Then, I thought I had separated my use of flames from my father, that I had successfully removed all thoughts of him. But when he said I was just like Endeavor, something snapped." He sighed and twirled a lock of my hair around his finger. "He was referring to how harsh my personality can be. It wasn't until midway through the fight that I remembered who he was. We met at the entrance exam for recommended students. I was only concerned with getting into UA, not making friends or forming rivalries. I was rude and he remembered.  I realized he was right to compare me to him." 

He paused in his explanation and sat up, pulling me with him. He tucked my hair behind my ears with a sad expression on his face. "I haven't fully let go of my anger at my father. I still have a lot of built up resentment. I thought I had gotten past it, since I don't think about him at all anymore. But I realized the determination and drive I have to be nothing like him, is, in a way, exactly like him. I'm not willing to lose myself for the sake of being the best, but the ambition to be the best is there. That single-minded focus is exactly like Endeavor." He looked down at his hands before clenching them into fists. "I hate that I'm like him."

I placed my hands over his fists, prying them loose. "Being determined or having ambition is not a bad trait. It's how you go about it. And you are nothing like Endeavor in that regard. You said you had a single-minded focus, that's not true. We barely knew each other, but in the middle of the sports festival, when your drive was at its peak, you took the time to check on me. You heard that phone call with my father and worried I was being abused. If you were solely focused on being number one, you wouldn't have spared me a single thought. That aside, I can't picture your father being gentle or understanding. But you are. You're caring and thoughtful and sweet." I leaned forward and pecked his forehead since he was still looking down.

He pulled me into a tight hug, nearly squeezing the breath out of me. "Sometimes I feel like I don't deserve you, but you make me want to be better. I love you so much, Kana. You know that, right?"

I couldn't stop the smile from forming on my lips. "Yes, Shoto, I know." I felt him press a kiss to the top of my head before he sighed and pulled me back down to lay beside him. He pulled me close and buried his face into my neck, breathing deeply. I wanted to say it back. I really did, but something stopped me. Whether it was nerves or insecurity, I wasn't sure, but the words stayed stuck in my throat. But he knew, right? He had to know that I loved him too, even if I didn't say it.

"This might be my favorite thing," he said, pulling me fully into his embrace, "being so close to you. It's comforting after a day like today."

I laid in his arms, content, as his breathing deepened and he fell asleep. I carefully pulled myself away and sat up. I brushed the hair out of his eyes, and watched his sleeping face for a moment. He'd had a rough day. I knew he was disappointed in himself, on various levels. But I had complete faith that he would push through and overcome every obstacle in his way. I loved him, after all.