My Hero Academia: Romanticise Like A Raven

CRUSH - Part 1

A hand knocked softly and politely at my door. I set down my book and rushed to it, having a distinct feeling of who could be behind, should I be so lucky.

And sure enough, there was Shoto Todoroki in all of his beauty. The second his face entered my vision my face started to heat up like it always did, my heart pummeling within my chest excitedly. Shoto took a footfall into my room, and looked at me in his coolest demeanour.

"How are you, Fumi?" he asked, beaming despite his usual lethargy.

"I'm doing well." I swooned.

There was a warm, quiet moment where we simply smiled at each other.

"You left something in class." Shoto notified me. How thoughtful of him...

"Oh, did I? What was it?" I asked as if I were innocent, but that flirtatious note in my voice told him I knew what was coming.

He then pulled me in and we started to kiss passionately...

I awoke from my dream with a start, my face sweltering and sweaty and my hair leaving me looking like a pom-pom. I flattened it down and tried to subdue my panting. I was alone. In my room, yes, but alone.

Dark Shadow, who was curled up on the edge of the bed, lifted their head up and eyed me, "You were dreaming about that Todoroki boy again, weren't you?"

In this moment, I was glad that Dark Shadow and I naturally were aware of each others' thoughts. It was easier to just know that to have to physically share, which Dark Shadow knew to be difficult for little old me. They looked at me expectantly, and I facepalmed before flopping back on my bed.

"It's been a week of dreams about him now, Fumi!" Dark Shadow twirled round in mid-air like a fairy, "That has to mean something!"

"I just need to go to the toilet and get a drink and I'll be fine!" I shot back, my heart fluttering weirdly.

Dark Shadow teased, "That'll definitely make your crush go away!"

My face heated up again. It couldn't be a crush because I didn't love him! It was as simple as that! Dark Shadow winked at me as I stood up.

I grumbled back, "Begone, Dark Shadow! We'll discuss this later!"

I shuffled quickly out of the room. I then hurried down the hall, trying my best to ignore my cold little legs in my greyscale pyjamas. The toilets were, in fact, shared, which made my stomach squirm but it was what I had to work with so that was that.

The first cubical's door was slightly ajar, and so was susceptible to me grabbing it and pulling it shut. I then got on with doing my business.

"Nothing's changed, you still looove him! OoOoOoO!" Dark Shadow teased again, rematerialising next to me as I flushed my insides into the toilet bowl. I appreciated that they spoke in a hushed tone in the public space.

"It doesn't matter if nothing's changed, because I'll never tell him anyway!" I shouted back regardless, "Then, it'll go away and we'll both be happy!"

"It won't go away." Dark Shadow argued, the teasing tone less obvious now.

"Y- you don't know that." I gulped, pulling my shorts up.

As if on queue, when I opened the door Shoto was stood at the sink and washing his hands. I felt my face do that heating up thing again and I started to fidget, not that I was aware that I was doing it.

"Let's test that theory." Dark Shadow winked, and then they left me to fend for myself.

Shoto turned to face me upon hearing Dark Shadow's snide remark. I made a tiny sound as he locked eyes with me.

His face didn't change as he asked, "What were you and Dark Shadow talking about in there? You seemed pretty angry..."

"Nothing important. I- I- I am quite alright." I mentally scolded myself for my unnecessary discomfort.

I hurried ahead and washed my own hands, trying to keep as cool as the water but knowing that I was failing.

"Why are you up so late?" Shoto asked, staring into space and leaning against the sink beside me.

"Thirsty." I uttered.

"What, were you drinking the toilet water?" Shoto asked drily.

There was a moment of silence where I appreciated his joke. I did a little nose laugh to show my appreciation.

"...That was a joke." Shoto specified.

"I'm aware. I just... laughed in my head." I blushed. My hair hid its ruby flush.

Shoto nodded in understanding before continuing his point, "Please tell Iida I'm funny next time you see him."

"Of course."

The conversation abruptly ended again. I racked my brain for something to say, but Shoto beat me there.

"Should I come get your drink with you?"

"No!" I stopped him quickly. Far, far too quickly, so I added, "I don't want to bother you."

"If you say so... goodnight." Shoto shrugged nonchalantly.

He swiftly left the toilets after that. I sighed like a dying person, and sunk against the wall of sinks and let my legs shake off their fear and exhaustion. I flattened my hair again, and sulked to myself as I dragged them down my face.

"That went really well!" Dark Shadow cooed.

I covered my face with my hands, on the verge of tears, "I'm so tired."

They could sense that they'd pushed me too far. As such, they spoke softly, "Yeah. Come on, let's go."

***

Momo gaped at me in disbelief. She couldn't believe that I hadn't slept at all and I couldn't blame her. After all, she didn't know the true reasons; only the weak excuses I gave.

"I just wasn't feeling great, is all." I felt the weight of gravity in full force as I shrugged.

"You should've told Aizawa Sensei! He would've let you have the day off!" Momo frowned, exasperated.

"I didn't want to bother him, especially after the other day." I told her. There was some truth in that statement but it was hard to find.

Momo looked guilty, "You need to consider your mental health, Fumi. This can't be good for you."

My voice rumbled like a stormcloud, "It's too late now."

"Let's just get to our seats."

"Yes..."

My chair was in the fourth row of the third column and Momoyao wasn't far behind in the fifth row of the fourth column. She always joked that she had her eye on me, which I thought was sweet because it certainly wasn't true. Too much note-taking to be doing.

The teacher who'd give her her knowledge finally arrived, and as he did everyone scurried to their seats. As I knew, this included Shoto. He was sat just behind me and his leg brushed past my arm as he scurried on by. I allowed myself to have a little smile and flattened my hair down again. He couldn't see that.

"Everyone, shut up. It's time to learn." Aizawa Sensei announced in his monotone grumble.

However, even though I should've been listening, I found that all my mind could think about was the boy sat directly behind me. I couldn't help but wonder: what did he think of me? Was it even... even worth feeling like this?

"Tokoyami." Sensei Aizawa called on me.

I snapped my gaze to him. Damn! I hadn't been listening to a word he'd been saying..!