Keeping You (Todoroki x Reader)

Chapter 18

I walked over to the clothes and picked up the matching hat. Its design was reminiscent of the classic Santa hat, though mine was green and the bauble on the end of it wasn't a ball of fluff like usual. 'You really did have us in mind when you designed these, didn't you Momo,' I murmured to myself as I played with the clear bauble attached to the end of my hat. Inside the bauble was a lightbulb.

I giggled like an excitable school girl as I placed it on my head and went over to my mirror to have a look. As I suspected, the lightbulb turned on, its soft glow reminding me of a candle.

'Go and have some fun. It is Christmas, after all...'

My mother was right. This was not a time to be sad. So I raced back over to the pile of clothes I'd left on my desk, a new sense of excitement fuelling my movements.

I couldn't keep my friends waiting any longer.

~

'One... two... three...' Kirishima counted down, then popped a confetti gun above us all.

'Merry Christmas, everyone!' we chimed in together.

'Wow,' Ochaco said, her wide eyes somehow widening more as she looked at the food, a little drool escaping her mouth. 'Looks so good...'

This caused Tsu and I to giggle. 'If you're hungry, just dig in,' I said, reaching for a small takoyaki ball. As I chewed on it, I tried to recall if anything had ever tasted this good before. Maybe it was just the Christmas spirit, or maybe Sato had outdone himself this time that all the food tasted like how I imagine heaven would. Honestly, if Shoto and I weren't together, Sato would definitely have my heart on his cooking skills alone.

The next hour we just sat and ate with one another, and chatting between it all of what we were looking forward to on the winter break. Usually winter break is a time for people to go on a trip with their families, or just stay in town and relax, as the weather that came with winter was usually wild and unsafe to travel far.

But this winter break was going to be different. We'd all be staying in the dorms because the school had just dropped a major bomb on us.

Kirishima let out a loud belch before leaning back in the chair he'd procured from the dining table. 'The work studies are back on,' he said, his shark-tooth grin wide with impending thrill. 'I'm so pumped!'

Mr. Aizawa, as well as the other teachers across all grades in the Hero Course, had announced the recommencement of the program the day after Mount Lady's visit. At first, we'd all been shocked to hear of it considering what went down with the Shie Hassaikai. But there was undoubtedly much excitement and anticipation that came with the news, too.

And, this time, everyone would be completing one.

Kirishima continued. 'We must be the busiest first years in history!'

Kyoka had joined Tsu, Ochaco and I on the couch alongside Toru. She looked to my other two friends first, saying, 'Are the two of you going back to join Ryukyu?'

'Yep, we are,' Ochaco answered, the excitable bob of her head causing the planet bauble on her hat to jingle. 'What about you?'

Kyoka shrugged, taking another sip of her hot chocolate. 'Don't know, yet. There are several options, but maybe I'll just go back to my first internship agency.'

'Midoriya,' Iida announced suddenly, the fake beard he wore moving as he spoke. It took me all of my will power not to burst out laughing at the sight. He wore a red suit, and with the hat, beard and the glasses, he could pass for a solid Santa Clause. 'What do you have planned? Tell us. Going back to the Nighteye Agency?'