| Step in Time | 172732014

Happy Birthday | Trespassing Lightly

Shouto Todoroki strolled through Heights Alliance with a gift in hand, packaged perfectly with ribbon. Students passed by in hushed tones at the sight of him, many wondering what occasion he was attending. For Todoroki, he paid no mind, his focus towards the building known for Class 2-B. He approached the door with a sensible knock, being greeted by a few of the members of the class who, like the rest of the student body, was curious and confused for his presence. Until a certain blond spotted him from inside the building's foyer.

"How dare you step foot here?" exclaimed Monoma with a haughtiness in his step towards the front door. "What business do you have to warrant our attention?"

Todoroki blankly stared at Monoma, unperturbed by his flamboyant display.

"I'm here with a gift," he started, only to be interrupted once more.

"Ha! Come to surrender, have you?" announced Monoma with a taunt. "Or has the so-called Prince come to grovel at the feet of UA's most powerful elite–"

SMACK

The loud smack took Todoroki by slight surprise, finding Monoma keeled over in shock. The blond quivered from the aftermath, shaking a little while he tenderly held onto the crown of his head. Not long did a very disgruntled and disappointed Kendo appear by the door instead.

"Sorry for that Todoroki," she apologised kindly.

"It's no problem," reciprocated Todoroki, still unfazed by the shenanigans that were Class 2-B.

"They're in their dorm if you're wondering," she informed, her hands grabbing onto Monoma's collar, dragging him away from the front door.

"Thank you."

Granted access into 2-B's dorm, free from a certain blond in the way, Todoroki entered into the foyer and towards the elevator with the gift in hand. Still those eyes from fellow students still hovered on him, with not much help from the loud greeting by the double doors. He stood by the elevator having already pressed its button yet his eyes focused elsewhere, standing by the doors in thought.

"How could you let our enemy enter our abode?" questioned Monoma with a whine, his eyes on Kendo.

"Will you ever drop your crusade?" she queried back, still unable to fathom Monoma's want of acknowledgement. "He's been here before."

Still, the elevator doors rang open yet their Class 2-A guest stood by them. They stared at his stillness, watching the elevator doors shut in his face without a flinch. Todoroki turned to them, unperturbed at their loud exchange but held some form of concern and confusion in his stare.

"What level are they on?" he asked nonchalantly.

"How dare you!" exclaimed Monoma in offence.

—

Todoroki stood by your dorm door with his fingers still clutching onto his gift. Thanks to Kendo he received the answer he was looking for, but not without Monoma's interference every now and then. He wondered about your own frustrations with the blond. To be called an intruder was going a little too far, but you had explained that he was overly dramatic like that.

He sighed at the antics, knowing this wasn't his first visit to your dorm. Though his memory relapse was considered a bit of an embarrassment if he thought hard enough on the matter. He shrugged to himself before he plainly knocked on your dorm door.

"Todoroki?" you asked, surprised by his presence.

"May I come in?" he courteously asked in return.

You opened the door to allow him access, a little relieved that you decided to clean your dorm this weekend. The last thing you wanted was for him to walk into a war zone of a room after the week you had. Without a word, he handed over his gift to you. It wasn't difficult to discern what type of present it was, even with packaging.

"For next time so you're not caught in the rain," hinted Todoroki, confirming your guess.

You unwrapped the gift to find a shade of deep purple appear from within. A tall umbrella laid in your hands, simple and expected to be a functional tool. You held it by the crook of its handle, feeling its weight. Has it already been a year since you first bumped into each other?

"You never cease to amaze me," you mused. "Thank you."

A glimmer of a smile appeared on Todoroki's lips. Perhaps some relief as well. You've learnt he wasn't straightforward with birthdays, at least his own, and gift-giving hadn't been his strongest suit. Still the fact that he personally delivered a gift was a humble gesture, which begged to question—

"How did you get past Monoma this time?" you asked, curious, wondering what kind of ludicrous fiasco your classmate would have caused in his presence.

"A divine intervention," Todoroki calmly replied, and with not a sign of emotion on his face.

You couldn't help the little smirk that pulled at your lips, snickering. It made Todoroki confused at your glee, staring at you perplexed. A tear or two sprung from the corner of your eyes, attempting to calm yourself.

"... was that a joke?" you slowly asked through your laughing fit. "You're getting better at that."

Whatever the joke was, your smile made Todoroki smile in return. Infectious at best. He thought it best to keep a tally of Monoma's attempts to thwart his visits in the future.