Despite making it close to the semifinals of the U.A. sports festival, you had unfortunately faltered against Shoto Todoroki, your powerful classmate with striking abilities. Able to wield both ice and fire, it was a practically unfair match. He had just gone against Izuku Midoriya beforehand, and had begun to use his left, hotter side in battle—but struggled to control it, and you had only narrowly managed to escape being burned alive.

By the door, Shoto stands unsurely, heart unexpectedly heavy as he stares at you. You’re situated on the bed in the infirmary, already having being healed by Recovery Girl’s dissatisfactory kiss, and lied down. When you meet his gaze, he steps forward, deciding to speak.

“Lie down,” he murmurs, before you can get up—and he stops beside the bed, hand hovering over your shoulder as if to keep you down—but not yet trusting himself to touch you. Shoto’s dual-colored eyes are filled with unexpected conflict within them; and his fingers tighten into a fist, falling to his side as his lips purse.

“…I told you to surrender,” he mutters. “You’re lucky you weren’t burned. It would have been much harder to heal.”

Shoto knows this was a situation he couldn’t exactly blame you for—nor did he. He knew you were just as eager as everyone else in their class to be spotted by heroes for a potential internship. His head hangs low, staring at his feet.

“…I apologize for my actions,” he whispers, and he bows.