Finding Me (Todoroki x Reader)

Chapter 133

"Well, you see, L/N... You're gonna be the ninth competitor in the beauty pageant, today."

My stomach dropped to my feet and through the floor along with my slacked jaw. I blinked at her one, twice, three times, then- "WHAT?!"

"I thought I was pretty clear, L/N," Hado said, her evil smile lingering. "I said: you're going to be in the beauty pageant. Tamaki and I signed you up this morning. We were able to convince the school to allow one more person in. That just so happened to be you, how great is that?"

Damning. Her words were damning as I continued to gawk at her like some frozen monkey. My fingers trembled; my legs were lead, weighing me down on the ground. I wanted to tell her she was insane, but the words didn't come. In fact, I couldn't even gulp in a substantial amount of oxygen to form one word let alone a sentence. All could I do was stare incredulously at her.

Hado's enthusiasm dropped at my prolonged silence, her eyebrows furrowing together. "Well there's no need to thank me or anything," she said. "What's with the terrified look? I thought you would be thrilled?"

"T-Thrilled?" I said, pushing that one word past the gates of my quivering resolve and into the open. "Hado, I can't go out there; I can't do what you do. I'll be a laughing stock!"

"Oh, come on now. It's not that big of a deal. It's just a bit of fun, you know. Now, hurry up. You're the first one out there, and we need to get you ready."

"I'm WHAT, NOW?!"   

Hado suddenly burst into hysterical giggles, keeling over in uncontrollable fits of laughter whilst I continued to stare bug-eyed at her. I'm glad she found this all amusing, because I certainly didn't. Not. At. All. "Oh my gosh!" She cried, clutching to her stomach, pinpricks of tears in her eyes. "You should see your face right now. Priceless! Hahaha!"

My trembling body froze in place, my previous terror seeping out of me as I stared in confusion back at the periwinkle-haired girl. "What's so funny?"

Her laughter dissipated but her cheeky smile remained. "What's funny? Oh sweetie, what's funny is that you actually thought I was being serious. I didn't think I was that convincing, but my skills as an actress have obviously improved."

I tilted my head at her, confusion still rattling my brain. "So... I'm not participating in the beauty pageant?"

"Not entirely, no." When I didn't respond - my silence asking without words what she meant - she walked up to take my hands into her own, eyes sparkling bright. "Pageants may be all about the girls competing in them, but they're not the only ones who partake in them. Every competitor is lead out onto the stage at the beginning and the end of the pageant by an escort."

Still confused, I asked, "Okaaay... But what does any of this have to do with me, sorry?"

Her laugh chimed like bells as she giggled at me - as if I'd just said the dumbest thing in the world. "Silly! What I'm trying to say that I would like you to be my escort."

My eyes widened at her question, my mouth opening and closing like a fish searching for water in silence. Her escort? Neijire Hado - the best girl of the Big Three - wanted me to be her escort? "B-But don't you have to have a guy escort you?" I said, grasping at straws, now. "Most pageants do-"

"There are no rules surrounding what gender your escort has to be. The only rules for this pageant is that they have to be a fellow student. Which means you're perfect for the role! So, what do you say?"

"What are you talking about? You're incredible."

Perfect? Me? I bit my lip, dropping my gaze to the ground in thought. "I'm flattered, Hado. Really, I am. But... Why me?" Her grip on my hands loosened in shock, allowing me to slip them out and back to my side. My fingers fidgeted with the hem of my school skirt, unable to raise my gaze to Hado. "Of all people, why would you want me as your escort? You have Togata and Tamaki to choose from; heck, what about Ochaco and Tsu who you did your work study with? I shouldn't be your first pick for this kind of stuff. I don't deser-"