Perfectly Imperfect (Shoto Todoroki x Reader)

holy crap it's happening guys it's happening code red CODE RED

OHHH MY GOD, OH MY GOD YOU GUYS-

My head was going to explode if I looked at him. I was sure of it. It would explode, and then gray matter would be everywhere. And he'd be grossed out. He probably was already grossed out. Why hadn't I been able to keep my mouth shut? And I'd probably just made everything worse by running off. What if it made him think I didn't mean it? I did. So much. So much it hurt my heart, and my head. Or maybe that was because I wasn't breathing. Maybe I should've been breathing. Or maybe it would be better if I just died of suffocation so I never had to look at him, or explode, or-

A tiny white crane crashed into the side of my desk, effectively drawing me out of my spiraling thoughts as it flopped to the floor. What was-

I heard a short, quiet mutter to my left. Shoto. This was his?

I reached down and carefully snagged it off the ground by its neck, careful not to crush the little bird. It sat on my desk, elegant and slightly rumpled from its failed landing. Little smoothed-out creases, slightly deviant from the main folds, made me wonder how much effort Shoto put into it. Was this meant as an offering? Or token? Of what? Forgiveness? Was this his way of saying he liked me back? Or maybe he wanted to convey that he didn't, but was still willing to be my friend? What if it wasn't, though? I was his best friend in this class, and his others were mine as well. If he didn't like me and distanced himself, would he go back to being antisocial, or would we awkwardly share friends? He would never hate me.

Another paper landed on my desk as I stared at the crane, rubbing its beak. I risked the tiniest glance at Shoto; his left hand was covering the side of his face, head down. I looked at the second paper. No fancy origami; it was folded in a plain square. A note?

I picked it up and unfolded it. In small, familiar handwriting:

Unfold the crane, Y/n. I can refold it later if you want.

I blanched. The crane! I picked it up and slowly undid the careful creases. There was writing in the middle that I hadn't noticed.

Do you want to meet up after school? Garden on the side of the building?

Rabid butterflies started eating my organs. I tried to refold the crane into its original shape, failing miserably. Then I dared to look fully to my left.

Shoto was watching me and the crane, hand still covering his face but fingers parted, allowing his eye to peek through the top. When our eyes met, both of us blushed and locked gazes with our desks.

I grabbed a pen and my own sticky note.

Absolutely!

Shoto's long fingers carefully refolded the crane, and he handed it back to me, looking at the origami instead of me- though I did see his eyes dart to mine's before looking down again.

I shifted on the bench we shared, smiling at the white paper. "Thanks."

Shoto nodded. "Of course."

Another pause slowly stretched between us, and I felt like I'd swallowed the paper crane and had it come to life in my stomach. Shoto's fingers squeezed and twisted together, the tip of his pinky finger turning red, then purple. I wanted to say something, but Shoto had been the one to invite me out here, and he had that look on his face that meant he was very specifically choosing what to say.

"So, um-" Shoto finally released his suffering pinky and rearranged his hands. "Ah. So-" he squeezed harder, then just opened his hands. "Before I start, can you..." he gestured something with his hands that, if I looked close enough, were trembling slightly. Probably my imagination. But the tension in his posture and voice clearly wasn't. He swallowed.