Keeping You (Todoroki x Reader)

Chapter 18

Kirishima pulled his chair closer to Midoriya, intrigue written all over his face. 'Yeah. Isn't Centipeder running the place now? It'd be cool to work with that guy again.'

Midoriya scratched at his face, a sad smile stretching his lips. 'I thought so, too. But turns out they're too busy to take on anyone at the time moment. Seems as though they're still trying to reorganise the agency since Sir has been gone.' He allowed a beat of silence after his words, eyes scanning the crowd for any painful reactions. His eyes locked with mine, and we held each other's gazes for a second that felt like eternity.

I could sense it in him, the pain and regret. The guilt. I had an odd feeling he could sense it in me, too. But I just nodded my head, urging him to continue. There was no use dwelling on the past, not when so many people sacrificed so much for us to still be here. And fighting.

He nodded back before continuing. 'I did my internship with Gran Torino, but he's also busy. So, right now, I'm stuck in limbo.

'That sucks,' Kirishima said.

'But unlike last time when they were optional,' I jumped in, 'this round is mandatory so there's no need to worry, Midoriya. I'm sure the school will find a place for you.'

'Still. Gotta feel weird, though,' Kirishima said. He suddenly turned around in his seat, calling out, 'Hey, Bakugou! You going back to Jeanist?'

We all turned to where our resident hot-headed hedgehog stood by himself, not wearing a Santa outfit. Or, at least, that was what Mina was trying amend, as she now stood in front of a aggravated Bakugou, a red Santa suit poorly hidden behind her back. No doubt she tried sneaking up on him and putting it on him.

'Huh?!' Bakugou whirled around to us, his face a perfect contortion of anger and confusion. That one moment gave Kaminari all the time he needed to run up behind Bakugou and slap a Santa hat with a spiky, red bauble on top of his head.

Bakugou barely acknowledged the act as he seemed to finely register what Kirishima asked. The anger dropped, his features contorting with annoyance and... was that worry? 'I haven't decided, yet,' he grumbled out, slowly taking the Santa hat off.

'But you had a tonne of people scouting you after the Sports festival,' Kirishima pointed out. 'You came in first! You can go wherever you want to.'

Bakugou turned and slowly walked away, draping his hat on the pile of Christmas presents we'd all brought down as he did. 'I'm not interested from learning anything from a second-tier wannabe.' He suddenly whirled around as Mina jumped up behind him, Santa coat open at the ready. 'You touch me and you die!'

I sweat-dropped. Damn, this guy has like some sixth sense or something.

'Oh come on,' Mina whined. 'Give in to peer pressure. It's Christmas! Where's your festive Spirit?'

'Hard time to do Work Studies,' Shoto said, walking up beside Kirishima.

He looked over at Bakugou, but not like the others. The others looked at the scene with amusement or entertainment. Contemplation coated his eyes. I could practically see the cogs of his mind turning in them. Now that he had his provisional license, Shoto would be probably snatched up by agencies everywhere.

But he'd gone with his dad on our first internship, and hadn't shown an interest in any other agency since he couldn't do the first round of Work Studies without a provisional license. His eyes flickered briefly from Bakugou to Midoriya, then back again.

My brow furrowed. What are you planning, Sho?

A nudge from Toru beside me pulled me back to reality. 'Sorry, what?'