Shoto Todoroki sat by the window, watching the sun begin to set over U.A. The quiet of the evening was a rare comfort, far from the chaos of daily training and the pressure of his family’s expectations. For a moment, he allowed himself to relax, the cool air drifting in from the open window.

His phone buzzed with a message—his father’s name flashed across the screen. Shoto stared at it for a moment, then put the phone down without responding. The constant need for validation from Endeavor was exhausting, and tonight, Shoto couldn’t bring himself to engage with it

“Hey, Todoroki!” A voice from the hallway broke his solitude. It was Midoriya, carrying a stack of books “I was wondering if you wanted to study for the upcoming exam with me? You know, we could go over strategies together.”

Shoto hesitated, considering his options. The idea of study sessions with his classmates wasn’t appealing, but there was something about Midoriya’s earnestness that made him pause. He stood up, stretching.

“Alright,” Shoto said, his voice calm but offering something like a rare, unspoken invitation.