Keeping You (Todoroki x Reader)

Chapter 16

'I'm really sorry.'

Everyone's attention switched to Eri, who held a hand up to the small horn poking through loose hair strands. She wore a sad expression I'd seen too much on her already. The remorse, the regret, the sadness and loathing for herself. It all reflected in her ruby eyes, in her energy signature of the same colour. It broke my heart to see her in such a way.

'You're having a lot of difficulty because of me,' she continued, eyes brimming with crystal-clear tears. 'It's always like that. I always cause everyone problems. I just wish... I didn't have this power.'

Her words cut through me, pierced my heart like a lance of icy fire. How many times had I thought that since I found out the truth? How many times had I wished for it all to go away, for All For One to go? That my parents had never gone to him for help.

The sadness and self-loathing? It wasn't all just hers.

'Don't be sad,' Togata said soothingly as we all stepped closer to her.

Midoriya replaced Monoma as he crouched in front of her, a bright smile stretching his freckled features. 'It doesn't always cause trouble, though,' he said, no trace of doubt in his voice. 'You can't forget - you saved my life with your Rewind quirk. Powers aren't good or bad. I know! Think of them like knives in the kitchen. They may be dangerous, but when you sharpen them and use them right, they make yummy food, huh?'

He seemed to be getting through to her despite his roundabout metaphor. As her eyes widened with realisation and awe, her sadness disappeared. I could swear a small amount of blush tinged her cheeks.

'That's why when you use your power for good, it's wonderful.'

Midoriya briefly looked at me, his eyes searching mine and nodding. I nodded back, understanding what he meant. Both of our quirks originated from All For One - his directly, mine in a twisted ownership kind of way. But these were our quirks now, our allies in this battle we'd found ourselves fighting, and we had to start trusting them.

Eri's lips split into a full blown smile, pumping her tiny fists in the air with joy. 'Okay, then. I'll get better at my quirk.'

As both Midoriya and Togata bombarded her with reassuring and encouraging words, I couldn't help a smile spreading my lips wide. If Eri wants to get better at her quirk, then so will I. I swear it.

The clock on the wall caught my attention and so I turned to it.

'We better head back, guys,' I said, pointing at the clock. 'Lunch is almost over. Lunch Rush will close the kitchen soon if we don't hurry.'

'Yes, sorry. You are free to go,' Mr. Aizawa said, gesturing to the front door. 'Midoriya and L/N, I'll see you in class this afternoon. Sorry for wasting your time, Monoma.'

'Bye Eri,' I called, waving to the little girl clinging to Togata's pants again. 'See you again soon.'

'Bye Nova, bye Deku,' she called back, a bright smile on her little face. 'Bye bad guy who isn't really so bad.'

'How dare you! Like I said before, I follow the path of peace and justice-'

'That's enough out of you, blondie,' I said dragging him outside before he could scare the girl even more. He struggled out of my grip as we descended the stairs and sent me a glare, but said no more as we walked back to school.

That was until we reached the main school building where the cafeteria was situated and Midoriya spoke up. 'Oh no! I forgot! I offered to tutor Ururaka and Tsu on Mathematics in the library. See you guys later!'

Monoma and I remained silent as we watched the green-haired boy run down the corridor and disappear around a corner. I couldn't help a small, sad smile again. That boy was going to run himself into the ground helping people.