Finding Me (Todoroki x Reader)

Chapter 8

That afternoon, I met Todoroki, as planned, outside of UA High's gates. I bid farewell to Iida, Uraraka, and Midoriya - who had finally left Recovery Girl's medical wing, albeit still a little broken - and started walking with the white and red-haired boy home.

It was quiet, as expected, but I didn't mind. It had been a long day, and a little quiet time was just what I needed. 'I wonder how he's feeling after today.' I looked over at the boy in question and saw that same, dull expression he wore all of the time.

In the sunset, however, his eyes stood out even more than usual. The grey seemed to sparkle like a gem, and his blue eye had the light reflect on it in a way that made it seem that he had waves crashing in it. Even the obvious red raw mark over his left made everything stand out even more.

It was breathtaking.

"What are you looking at?"

I gasped in shock, realising I had been caught staring. Quickly turning away I muttered a reply.

"N-Nothing," I stuttered. "I-I was just looking at your eyes, and thinking how pretty they look in the sunset light."

He didn't respond for a moment, only continued walking as if I'd said nothing. Just when I thought he'd leave it at that, his low, gruff voice sounded in the air.

"They're not pretty. Not one bit."

Before I could respond, I noticed that we had reached the other side of the park, where we'd met yesterday. 'Wow, time does go quickly when you're occupied.' 

We had reached the steps on the other side of the park, just like we had yesterday. Todoroki started walking down them, and I quickly joined him, contemplating his words. 

'Why doesn't he like his eyes? Surely people tell him this all of the time,' I thought as we continued to walk in silence down the stairs together. I let him trail in front of me a little bit, just so I could get a good look at him again.

'It's not just his quirk and physical ability he detests,' I realised. 'He seems to hates every aspect of himself, even the small things.'

I didn't know what about that thought made me sad, but it did. Todoroki had so much potential and skill, that was clearly out of my - and everyone else's - league, but he went about it as if it were a crime to be who he was. 'I don't understand, but there's got to be a way I can make him understand...'

'That's it! '

"You know, that park back there was where I manifested my quirk."

Although he didn't stop walking or say a word in response, he gave a quick side glance that told me to continue on.

"My friend was being thrown around by this bully, Aiko. She had manifested a telekinetic quirk, and so she felt she had the right to make fun of everyone. That day, my friends and I were playing heroes, and when she came along, the relentless teasing that's always heard from her started again.

"Both my parents are quirkless, you see, and so is most of their lineage. So, statistically speaking, I shouldn't have gotten a quirk. Which is what Aiko teased me about. Yuki was just standing up for me, and so she started tormenting him, as well."

I stopped to see if he was even listening, but Todoroki gave me another side glance and a nod this time to say I could go on.

"My urge to help him and stop her torment was obviously too overwhelming for me to handle, and so I just... let go. My quirk appeared out of nowhere, and it's been the biggest blessing of my life, so far. I've always wanted to be a hero that helped people when they couldn't help themselves, even without a quirk. Now that I have this ability, though, I can make that dream a reality. That's why I am at UA. That's why I'm going to be a hero."