Don't let me go. (Todoroki x oc)

Soba

Credit: Sobe on picrew

"I'd watch the whole world go up in flames just to see you smile."— Evil Ikari... guess who's she talking to

*warning: mention of death

POV – Hebinoya Ikari

Soba

Don't let me go.

I've never been attracted to someone romantically.

I've never had space in my life for love.

Father called it a nuisance, a distraction.

But sometimes I still wonder.

What does it feel like to fall for someone?

Don't let me go.

The walk home is quiet. Even though Todoroki walked me to and from home only a few times, I have already gotten used to his quiet presence. Even though I've already told him he doesn't have to take me home each day, he only gave me a few blunt answers and refused to budge.

I don't know what he is trying to accomplish— perhaps he wants to be friends like Midoriya, or he actually is concerned about my safety... or another reason that I just haven't thought up yet.

Either way, I suspect that he is trying to insert himself into my family situation. My stomach squirms every time I remind myself that Todoroki knows about Ryo. Even though he has already told me countless times that I am not in debt to him, he knows my secret— if he ever needs anything, he may turn it against me.

I picked up Ami from daycare just a few minutes ago. She skips along, one hand on mine and the other on Todoroki's as she chants a song the whole way. Today, the sun doesn't harshly shine on us like it usually does— rather, it beams gently through the trees. I feel around for my camera, pondering if I should take a picture as I stare at the sunlight filtering through the leaves.

Combined with the sun, the trees, and the weather, I manage to snap a few pictures I am satisfied with. I try to adjust some of the settings, squinting at the pictures to see what I need to fix. Through my lenses, Ami strays from the sidewalk. She is still as oblivious as ever as she unintentionally heads towards the road towards upcoming traffic.

My heart jumps up to my throat. I am ready to throw down the camera and jump towards her, but before she can do anything Todoroki's eyes widen and he hurries to scoop her up.

As Ami is swiped up from potential danger, she giggles something while pulling at Todoroki's hair. My heart returns back to my chest and I quietly snap a picture, a small smile plastered onto my face. None of them notice, but right after Todoroki sets Ami down, a coldness crawls up my back. I can feel my eyes widen with surprise, as I have only felt this once.

It was when Bird Man was following us.

The same dread I felt at the train station pulls at my guts and I instinctively place a hand on Todoroki's arm.

"Someone..."

I narrow my eyes and scan the trees, the sidewalk, and the road across from us, but I find nothing. The quiet click of a camera shutter reaches my ears. I snap my eyes in that direction, but nothing comes across as suspicious. I furrow my eyebrows as I try to find the source of the sound. My body is ready to fight at any notice, my shoulders tense with worry.

After a few seconds of tortured anticipation, the feeling slowly ebbs away. I am left with a cold feeling in my stomach, where the nervousness once was.