Because of you {Tododeku/kiribaku}

Chapter 5

Todoroki carefully massaged Midoriya's neck, using his dual quirk to bring down the swelling and then relax the muscles repeatedly until the teen could talk again, though he figured his voice would remain raspy and quiet for the rest of the day. He kept his eyes down now, having learned in the first few minutes that Izuku was content staring at him as he worked.

"Why do you keep looking at me like that?" he eventually asked, partially to test how much the boy's voice had healed, but also out of embarrassed curiosity.

Midoriya blushed heavily, and shrugged, finally averting his gaze. "Thank you, Todoroki. I really appreciate everything you've done for me... especially last night. I... I'm sorry for how I acted."

The elder boy got up and began making another cup of tea for his friend, the irritation that had temporarily been stifled flaring again. "How can he say that? Bakugo choked him and then left him in an alley for who knows how long. Just what kind of connection could lead to such a terrible dynamic?"

Todoroki didn't say any of what he was thinking, however. His revelations from the night before were still at the forefront of his mind, causing him to hesitate before he dug too deeply into Midoriya's feelings for the arrogant blonde.

"What were you doing before he attacked you?" he finally asked.

Midoriya's face went red again, a sheepish grin breaking across his lips. "I uh... I was actually coming to the room to see if you'd eaten yet. I'd lost track of time in the library studying and had told Uraraka and Iida to go on ahead without me. They'd sent a text saying you weren't there so I figured you'd done the same thing."

"I don't need someone to babysit me, Midoriya. I'm fully capable of going to the cafeteria on my own." As soon as the words left his lips his face flushed, remembering why he'd been out so late to begin with. Maybe he did need someone to help him get through everyday tasks after all. He cleared his throat before turning around to hand his crush the beverage, hoping the pink hue had left his skin.

As if Midoriya had been able to sense what he was thinking, his face scrunched in confusion. "Actually, what were you doing out that late anyway? When you woke me up it was clearly dark out. Did something happen?"

"I felt like going out to get something to eat..." Todoroki explained, silently praying that the teen wouldn't realize just how desperate he'd been to hang out with him again.

"Oh! I'm so sorry" Midoriya exclaimed, his voice straining with the louder volume, "then you must be really hungry, you should go get something to eat. I'll uh... I'll just hang out in the room for now; I don't really feel like seeing anyone."

Todoroki gave a blank, unreadable stare before answering. "Are you opposed to going somewhere off campus with me?"

Midoriya bit his lip and looked away, but not in sadness. Another gentle smile softened his tired features, "thanks... you really are the coolest."

This place has great soup" Todoroki stated, holding the door open for Midoriya to enter with a slight smirk.

The green haired teen flashed an embarrassed smile, realizing this was the same place he'd taken Todoroki when he'd been worried about him. "Thank you" he whispered, doing his best not to stress his vocal chords out too much. "This time one of us might actually get the soup..."

A silence stretched over them soon, however, just like it had last time only their positions were reversed. Unfortunately for Midoriya, the dual quirk user's usual patience was wearing thin.

"I expect you to tell me what happened eventually you know," Todoroki stated, glancing over the top of his menu with an intense seriousness.

Midoriya shifted uncomfortably, "I started it... it was my fault."