Climbing the Ladder {Currently Discontinued}

Chapter 16 - Little Bunny Kacchan

Todoroki flipped through the pages of the newspaper with caution. He had locked himself in his room to avoid being disturbed.

Various newspapers were scattered around his room. He was holding his head in his fingers, lost in thought. Kaminari didn't remember Shell Shock. Why is that?

He looked at the drawn picture of the villain. He was stuck.

Every time he read through one line, he felt like he was being drawn in. Like several chains were locking to him and pulling him into the abyss of the unknown. Before it could, he was forced to push it away, regaining his sense of reality.

He needed to find a way to-

Knock knock

The sound startled him. He took a sigh before answering. "Yes?"

"Todoroki..?" He heard a calm voice.

"Yaoyorozu?"

"Y-yes. It's lunch time, you haven't eaten anything today. Can you please come down to eat?"

"Uh, in a minute." He replied.

"You said that three times already."

He blinked. "I have?"

"Yes. Once to Midoriya, once to Asui, and the last one to Iida." She sighed. "I don't know what you're doing in there, but it shouldn't be more important than eating a healthy meal. I'm not going back down there without you." She spoke as kindly as she could.

He was silent for a moment. He'd been in there for more than two hours, just staring at paper. It only felt like 5 minutes to him. Was it really the paper doing this to him or his drive of curiosity?

His stomach churned and yelled at the thought of a cold bowl of soba. His eyes widened as he looked at his stomach. He heard her chuckle on the other side of the door.

"Is that a yes?" She asked.

"Uh," He cleared his throat. "One second, I need to put a shirt on."

He heard her gasp and clear her throat.

"What's the matter? Are you choking on something??" He got on his feet. "Yaoyoro-!"

"I'm fine!!" She replied rather quickly. "Please dress yourself and come out when you're ready!"

He didn't seem convinced but he got dressed anyway, putting on his gym jacket over a white tank top.

He opened the door to find her waiting with a worried smile on her reddened face. "What's the matter?"

"I thought you were sick so I began to feel worried..." Her eyes widened at his state. "You're sweating! Are you sure you're alright?"

He couldn't help but smile at her thoughtfulness. "I'm perfectly fine."

They walk into the elevator and Todoroki pushes the button and they ride down to the common room. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure! What's on your mind?"

"Have you read on any of the latest news?"

"Uhm.." She thought about it. "Mina was able to snatch a copy of the latest. She said that once she's done reading it-."

"Who else was able to grab a copy?"

She was taken back by his sudden interruption. "Um, only Mina. I don't know where she put it but you'll have to ask her."

"Yaoyorozu," He looked her straight in the eyes. "Promise me you won't read a word of it."

"I promise, but.." She was grateful he was asking calmly, but was still confused as to why he was asking this. "Todoroki, you're scaring me.." She looked at him. "Can you tell me what's going on?"