My Healer Academia (Bakugo x OC x Todoroki)

In Each of Our Hearts

               After class 1-A had agreed for Tenya Iida to be their selected representative, they began getting ready for the first day of rescue training. All but Midoriya had changed into their costumes, since his was still recovering from their last battle. Outside of the school bus, everyone listened as Iida wholeheartedly played his role to get them onto the vehicle in two single file lines. As they were piling onto the bus, Midoriya had made eye contact with his childhood friend, whose warmth seemed to have been lost. He placed himself next to Asui, motioning Ai over with the wave of his hand. "Ai-chan!" His voice was welcoming but tense. "Why don't you sit here..." However, his invitation was foiled as soon as Rikido Sato claimed the seat on his right.

               "Thanks anyway," Ai responded, turning away just as Midoriya reached out for her again.

               His hand dropped onto his lap as he hung his head. "I say whatever comes to mind," Asui commented right as the bus began moving. She faced Midoriya and stated, "Midoriya-chan, you like Ai-chan." His face instantly flushed as he became a babbling mess.

               "Wh-What?! No, I don't see Ai-chan that way – I mean, it's not like I'm saying she's not likable or anything like that... I-It's just, we were childhood friends s-so that's why..." He barely took a breath as he spoke, suddenly feeling lightheaded about the misunderstanding. Asui merely croaked as she moved onto her next observation.

               "And, your quirk is like All Might's." This statement brought on a group conversation directly within the center of the bus.

               Man, I wanted to sit next to him too, Ai thought bitterly. Despite her and Midoriya not being on the best of terms at the moment, she would give anything to be able to mend the situation. Their bond wasn't made overnight, therefore it didn't take one night for it to fully break. As she looked around, the only seat left available was near the back, next to the familiar stranger and diagonally behind Bakugo. Just my luck... She plopped herself down only to see how the Ice King was fast asleep. She couldn't help but glance at him for a few seconds too long. Wow, he actually seems less douchey...

               "If we're talking about flashy and strong," Kirishima said, grabbing Ai's attention, "it's gotta be Todoroki and Bakugo though, huh?" Todoroki... Ai strained to try to put a face to the name, but no one was coming to mind. Hmm... I wonder who that is? She had become acquainted with most but not all of her classmates after the combat training incident, so her knowledge of everyone's names was still pretty slim. Then, there was a sudden shift in conversation from teasing Midoriya to teasing Bakugo, and it made the angry blond explode with threats. Ai had to hold her breath to keep from laughing.

               During the trip, the bus kept hitting small bumps in the road, making Bakugo lose his footing as he was screaming he'd kill everyone, and it eventually woke up Ai's seating partner. He was dazed as he looked around, disappointed at how there was still time until they would reach their destination. He noticed how there was someone on his left now, but he didn't care until her profile reached his peripheral. She was looking forward, one hand on her mouth as the other wrapped around her stomach to keep from giggling. "Shuzenji..."

               Ai jumped in her seat, arms up defensively as she faced him. "Ice King," she stammered, lowering her guard as she gave him a sheepish smile. "Y-You know my name?"

               "It was announced during combat training," he stated simply. Ai froze with embarrassment as she wracked her mind for the mention of his name. All she could remember was how he froze a building in under a minute. It was frustrating to watch.