Finding Me (Todoroki x Reader)

Chapter 95

Looking over my shoulder, I spotted Shoto walking at the back of the pack, head bowed and moving slower than Mineta's tiny brain did - and that was seriously slow. That same aura from before still clung to him, causing my eyebrows to furrow together in worry. What had suddenly gotten his pants in a twist?  I walked in the middle of my classmates, but surely Mr. Aizawa wouldn't notice me if I just... slipped back a little...

As subtly as I could, I slowed down my walking pace, letting the others pass me by until I was at the back of the pack - right beside Shoto. His head remained bowed as I slid in beside him, so I nudged him lightly, stirring him from his reverie.

"Hello. Earth to Shoto," I drawled.

"Y/N," he said, breathing a sigh of relief. "You startled me."

A soft giggle left my lips. "Sorry, I couldn't help it. Anyways, I just wanted to know if you were okay. You just look... really out of it, right now."

I didn't want to put him on the spot or force him to speak, but I didn't just want to let whatever this frustration was fester within him, either. The issue had to be tackled. Immediately.

Shoto just shrugged, head still bowed low as he replied, "It's nothing. Really."

"It's not? Then what's with the pouty face?"

"W-What pouty face? I don't have a pouty face-"

"Yeah you do, it's right there!"

"Y/N, stop-" Before Shoto could stop me, I reached out to cup his cheeks, and then used my thumbs to pinch the corners of his lips and stretch them into an awkward and pain-filled smile. His bottom and top teeth were exposed, and his eyes were wide with surprise. Looking at him from so close, I couldn't help myself from bursting into hysterical laughter.

"See?" I asked, amidst my cackling. "That's much better."

We both stopped walking, waiting at the bottom of the stairs whilst the rest of our classmates went on up to the classroom. Now, it was just us two, my hands on his cheeks and our faces mere centimetres apart. We were so close that I could smell his minty breath - how the hell did he have it smelling so fresh?

The mood dampened when I realised Shoto wasn't laughing with me; in fact, he wasn't even smiling, anymore. Normally, that would've gotten some sort of reaction out of him, but looking into his blue and grey eyes, I saw nothing. They were clouded over and unfocussed. He wasn't really here, with me, in the moment.

I stroked my thumbs gently over his pale cheeks, brushing over the rough skin of his scar. "Mind telling me now what's going on, Shoto?" I asked, voice soft and low, scared that if I spoke any louder he would run away.

But he didn't. Instead, Shoto lifted his eyes to finally meet mine, and the hurricane of emotions I saw in them took my breath away.

"I told you, it's nothing," he said, but his voice wasn't as strong as before, a sign that his resolve was slipping.

"If it's nothing, why do you feel so... frustrated?"

Shoto didn't say anything, only bringing his hands up to hold mine as he closed his eyes. The warm and cool sensations his touch brought sent pleasurable shivers down my spine, the contrast starch but nice. And still, Shoto said nothing, letting the silence of UA's lower hallways surround us.

Wait: UA. Hallways. Class. Now.

The sudden realisation that we still had class to be in came crashing in, and so I retracted my hands from Shoto's face to place them by my side. I didn't miss how he leaned after them for a second, slowly opening his eyes before standing back up right.