Time Stamp: Shoto x Reader

Bad Kids, Better Ending

Once again I found myself waking up in that hospital bed about an hour before we were leaving. All I could do was sob and clutch the covers over me. Recovery Girl was sitting on the chair in the room and left as soon as she noticed I was awake. I didn't pay any attention to whomever opened my room door, I just kept crying. I failed to fix what I went back to fix, that was a first for me. Sure I learned something new I could do with my Time Warp, but that wasn't going to solve my problem.

The person in my room pulled a chair to the bed, they just sat there for a bit. They didn't say a word, neither did I. Eventually, I felt their cool hand touch my hair. "(L/n)... do you... want to talk about it?" Todoroki? What was he even doing here? He wasn't in the hospital the last time I was here.

Instead of pulling my head out from where I had it buried, I asked him a question. "What are you doing here, Todoroki? You weren't here last time we got back from the mission." His hand moved soothing my hair down a bit, my voice sounded hoarse and harsh. I wasn't surprised, after all, I had been screaming curses at Shigaraki. I didn't even know what I was going to do anymore.

Pulling his hand back, I opened my eyes to look at him. "Aizawa called. He thought you might need some company. Or someone to console you after what happened with the League of Villains and... the failure of the police plan. I saw the news a few hours ago and figured it out. You went back to try and save him, right?"

My eyes moved away from him as I sat up. "Yeah... I went back specifically to save him. If Sand Hero and the officers were saved in the process, then that was fine.... But I didn't care about them. Kai was the one who saved me... and I failed him in the end. How else am I supposed to feel other than like utter trash? I trusted Shigaraki, and he betrayed me. Though I guess that shouldn't be a surprise."

Pulling my legs up, I hugged them. My arms didn't feel heavy anymore, not like they had yesterday. "You did what you thought was right, that's all there is to be said about it. What you decide to do after this failure is what is going to define you. Whatever you chose to do, I will back you. We're friends after all."

Placing my head on my legs, I stared at him. "Are we? I'm not even sure I know what that means. Or if I'm worthy enough to be someone's friend. After all, I will just fail you in the end. I couldn't even protect someone close to me."

He placed his cool hand over mine staring me in the eye. "We are. And if you can't protect them, then I will help you. You don't have to fight on your own. You have not only my quirk, but Bakugou and Midoriya as well. We have your back. So tell me, what is it you want to do? Are you going to accept failure, or are you going to come back stronger?"

Clenching my free hand, my gaze hardened. "I won't accept failure, if I could, I would go back and try again. Unfortunately, I can't go back a second time. That was my one chance to save Kai from his fate. Now all I can do is hope that the people will let me help him using Rewind. As for what I am going to do now, I'm going to get my hero license so I can make Shigaraki pay."

Given those words, Todoroki left me in the room so I could change and meet the others who were waiting to return to the school. Once I changed into my uniform, I met everyone downstairs in the waiting room. Before I could leave with the others, I was taken to the station with Midoriya and Rock face to give a statement on the incidents that occured. Todoroki had already headed back for his provisional training course with Bakugou, I wished him the best of luck with that.

After all, it was Bakugou we were talking about. That crazy explosion headed guy was something else entirely. Of course, we didn't get back to the dorms until after dark. I stood outside the school gates for a while, just staring out into the woods beyond. Closing my eyes I thought about the last expression on Kai's face.