Keeping You (Todoroki x Reader)

Two mornings after Endeavour's fight was full of excitement, my classmates talking amongst themselves about the fight that stopped the whole country. It wasn't quite like the fight All Might had with All For One, but it served as a signal that things were changing. Quickly, and maybe not for the best.

'Geez,' Kaminari breathed out, slouched over the back of his desk chair. 'Endeavour was incredible yesterday, don't ya think?'

'Yeah!' Kirishima exclaimed in agreement, punching the air with vigour. 'Though, gotta admit, I was scared stiff when that nomu knocked him down.'

The image of Endeavour's motionless body, seemingly drained of life upon the rubble, sent shivers down my spine. It was an unearthly sight to bear witness to, one that would send any fan of Heroes into a state of panic.

'Aren't there...any other stronger heroes around? Is he best?'

That one moment, that one statement, was a challenge to superhero society worldwide. For a split second, even I questioned if victory was possible. For a split second, Heroes were doubted. But then that kid - he stepped out of the crowd to defend Endeavour, fearless in the face of death itself.

'His flames are still burning! Endeavour is still alive and fighting for us! Don't say there's no symbol just 'cause All Might's not here!'

And he won. By all means, it was a close call. He tumbled back down to earth after burning the nomu in the sky, and he stood up, a fist of victory held high above his hanging head. He was damaged, broken, probably exhausted beyond compare. But he won.

'Talk about guts,' Kirishima continued. 'And the way he stood proud when he won...' Tears welled in his eyes though his smile remained in tact, raising his own fist above his head in replication of Endeavour. 'It was so manly!'

I chuckled softly as I passed my red-headed classmate, giving him a pat on the shoulder as I squeezed past him towards my own desk. 'Don't break down on us before Mr. Aizawa even enters the room now, Kirishima.'

My classmates laughed with me as I sat down, prompting Kirishima to wipe away his tears, but he couldn't wipe away the pink flush staining his cheeks. Ever since our time together at Fatgum's Agency, Kirishima and I had grown closer and more comfortable, our friendship morphing into something with more depth. We were almost like siblings with the amount of teasing we gave one another, but also in how we supported each other unconditionally.

Once the laughter died down, Ojiro spoke up. 'Yeah, well, that's why he's the Number One Hero now, I guess.'

'Don't forget Hawks was amazing!' Ochaco said.

'Not to mention dreamy,' Toru added with a mesmerised sigh at the end.

I rolled my eyes playfully. 'Toru, the guy literally could've died.'

The shoulders of her uniform blazer shrugged up and down nonchalantly. 'You're point being?' she asked in a tone that told me this fight wasn't worth pursuing. So I rolled my eyes again, flashing her an amused smile as my only response, and left her to her fangirling.

'Yeah,' Sero started, 'but there's a reason people say he's too fast for his own good.'

Before anyone could continue, the classroom door slid open. Shoto Todoroki stepped through the doorway without greeting, closing it promptly once he stepped through. His bi-coloured eyes locked with mine for a second. I was a little in shock; I hadn't expected him to be back at school so quickly. Yesterday, the morning after our whole class sleepover event, Mr. Aizawa and All Might came in to escort Shoto to the hospital where his dad was being kept for further treatments. He hadn't come back last night, so I figured he would be with his family for a few days.