Your Hand in Mine ((TOGATA X MIDORIYA X OC))

7

Rin and Togata made it back to the 1-A dorms just before curfew struck, and once they arrived, Rin finally turned to look up a him.

"Thanks for taking me," she said, and offered him the most genuine smile she could muster. "And for finding this shell. I think Zuku will like it."

"Mhm, me too!" Togata grinned. "But seriously, if you ever need anything — food, a shoulder to cry on, to get away, or to give Midoriya a swift kick in the butt — just shoot me a text! I'll be over in a flash, got it?"

"You really are too nice to me."

"Hey, it's like I said. Any friend of Midoriya's is a friend of mine," he smiled again and finally nodded toward the dorm building. "You better hurry on in though before that Debby Downer hits the sack! Let me know what happens, 'kay?"

"I will," Rin curtsied before turning to walk inside. "Goodnight Mirio. See you soon."

"See ya!"

He waved just as Rin shut the door behind her, but before she was able to scurry into the elevator unnoticed, Mina came barreling in through the common room entrance and nearly tackled her to the floor.

"There you are!" She said. "I've been waiting for days. What did you guys talk about for so long? Why is your hair wet? What are you holding?"

"He took me to the beach to pick out a shell for Zuku," Rin summarized briefly. "I thought it might make him feel better... to y'know, get him to open up and talk to me."

"Oh! Good idea," Mina nodded in acceptance. "He headed straight to his room when he got back a little while ago. I think he still might be awake."

"I'll go give this to him now, then." Rin decided, and turned back toward the elevator.

"Good luck, Rinny," Mina called after her. "I'll be in my dorm room in a minute if things go south!"

Rin pursed her lips at that, but decided to go along with her plan nonetheless. She was sure that giving him a simple shell wouldn't end in a fight, and semi-confidently walked down the hall toward his bedroom. She rose her hand to knock on the door, but doubled back as it opened instead.

"Oh, Rin." Deku said, nearly jumping out of his skin once he noticed she was there.

"Hi, Zuku," she replied whilst taking a small step back. "Are... you feeling okay?"

"Huh? Yeah... I guess," he scratched the back of his head. "You weren't here when I got back. Where did you go?"

"That's what I came up here to tell you," she said, and revealed the small shell that she had been holding close to her chest. "You've been acting off since... what happened. So I thought this might make you feel better. At least a little bit."

Deku's green eyes fell down to the delicate shell that sat in Rin's palms, and smiled instantly at the sight of it.

"Why don't you come in?" He asked, and moved to the side to allow her entrance. She gratefully complied.

Once the door was shut behind him, he took the shell she had brought for him and placed it gently within the cluster of her former gifts that sat on the shelf just above his bed. He moved to sit on the mattress, and motioned that Rin do the same.

"I'm sorry," he began, and took both of her hands in his. "I know I haven't been myself, but... I just can't get Eri out of my head. I can't help but dwell on what must be happening to her right now."