Finding Me (Todoroki x Reader)

Chapter 81

I yawned for what felt like the millionth time that morning, stumbling off the school bus we'd been travelling on. 'Damnit, it's only nine in the morning and I'm already regretting staying up until early this morning...'

Well, actually, I didn't regret staying up until early this morning. I didn't regret hanging with Shoto on the roof, holding hands and eating sweets and watching the stars fall. No, I didn't regret any of it... but I really did want to go back to sleep, and the bus ride didn't help at all.

As I stepped off the bus, my eyes scaled the building before us, noting how the National Dagoba Arena resembled a big top tent, like the ones in the circus. 'So this was where are to take our exam, huh? ' I couldn't help but begin to feel nervous, watching students from every corner of Japan walking together towards the arena.

This was really happening. My classmates and I were about to fight our places amongst the hero community. Today.

"Ughhh," Kyoka groaned beside me, going a shade paler than usual. "I'm getting kind of nervous."

"I wonder what they're going to make us do," Mineta added, jumping from foot to foot nervously. "Aw... what if I can't get my license?"

"Mineta," Mr. Aizawa said, bending himself in half to stoop to the grape gremlin's eye level. I couldn't help but chuckle inwardly at that. "Don't ask if you can. Say that you will."

"R-Right! Sure! I've so got this!"

Standing upright again, Mr. Aizawa looked at us all with his droopy - yet somehow peircing - eyes. They used to send shivers down my spine, but today they didn't. Guess I'd grown accustomed to them, or something.

"If you can past this test and get your provisional licenses," he said, "then you novice eggs will hatch into chicks. You'll be Semi-Pros. I expect your best."

'That last bit felt more of a threat than encouragement,' I thought, but quickly brushed it off as everyone grew excited.

"All right," Kaminari called, shouldering his costume pack. "I can't wait to be a heroic chicken!"

"Let's pull out the usual, you guys!" Kirishima added on, pumping the air with a raised fist. "On my mark. Go Plus..."

"ULTRA!"

I yelped at the sudden voice, clinging onto Shoto's arm for a brief moment to stabilise myself. Just behind Kirishima, a new guy had arrived; wearing a white button-up t-shirt, navy blue dress trousers, fancy shoes, and a sailor's cap with an 'S' insignia. He was tall and slightly tanned, muscular but also lean; and from what I could tell he had a buzzcut, based on the shaved sideburns he had poking out from underneath his cap.

Overall, though, I had no idea who he was.

Shoto tensed beneath my grip, and his aura turned wary. Anxious, even, which was still new to me when it came to Shoto. Following his surprised gaze, I trailed them back to the new arrival. Why was Shoto looking at the new guy like that? Did he know him, or something?

"You know, it's rude to barge into other people's huddles like that, Inasa." I switched my gaze from the tall guy to a short guy, one with the same uniform, but had lilac hair flopping over the left side of his face. He stopped next to a girl with long, strawberry-blonde hair, and navy skirt paired with her white shirt.

"What? Pardon me," the tall guy - I assumed was Inasa - said, suddenly standing very upright. "I am. So. Very. Extremely. Sorry!"

With each word, he clamped another body part closer to his body, full on slamming his head into the ground in a low bow. We all jumped back in surprise, not expecting that much enthusiasm from... well, anyone. Was he okay? How did he have so much... energy?