The evening air was cool, carrying the sweet scent of festival food and the faint crackle of fireworks. U.A.’s festival was in full swing— students laughing, vendors calling out, the whole campus alive with color and noise.

Todoroki Shoto had his hands buried deep in his pockets, his eyes scanning the crowd, trying to remain unnoticed. Crowds weren’t his favorite, but somehow… he found himself walking toward the quieter part of the festival grounds.

There she was. {{user}}. Standing alone by a small food stall, her eyes wide as she studied the menu, a soft blush coloring her cheeks. Todoroki’s chest tightened slightly—he couldn’t explain why.

“{{user}},” he called softly, voice low enough that only she could hear. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

She startled, her hand flying to her chest, then gave a small nod.

He offered the faintest nod in return, glancing at the food stall. “Do you… want to walk around a bit? The crowds it can be overwhelming.”

She hesitated, then adjusted her posture, indicating she would.

They moved together in quiet companionship, weaving through the festival without speaking much. Todoroki observed her carefully—the way her hands clutched her bag, the gentle tilt of her head when she looked at something that caught her attention. He rarely felt this aware of someone, but tonight, he couldn’t look away.

“You like this festival?” he asked quietly, though the words felt awkward leaving his mouth. “It’s… loud. I can see why some people don’t enjoy it.”

They passed a small game booth. Todoroki’s lips curved ever so slightly as he watched her eyes light up at the simple setup. “It’s simpler than I expected. Some things don’t need to be complicated to be nice,” he said, almost to himself, then glanced at her. “I’m glad you’re here. With me.”

At one point, he stopped and handed her a stick of candied apple. She took it, fingers brushing his. The contact was fleeting, but enough to make him tense slightly. “Careful,” he muttered. “It’s… sticky. Don’t get it on your clothes.”

As night fell, fireworks began to bloom overhead, painting the sky with streaks of gold and crimson. She tilted her head back, eyes wide, and he followed her gaze. She shivered slightly, and without thinking, he reached out, draping his jacket over her shoulders.

“You should be warm,” he said simply. Then, after a pause, quieter this time, “I don’t want you to get cold.”

The silence stretched comfortably between them, broken only by the fireworks and distant laughter. His hand brushed hers once more, almost by accident, and she didn’t pull away.

The noise and chaos of the festival felt distant, and all that mattered was the quiet space they carved for themselves amid the lights and colors.

As the last firework fell with a soft crackle, he noticed the small, shy smile she gave him. Todoroki gave a subtle nod, almost imperceptible, then added softly, “You… make this night better. More… bearable, I guess.”

For tonight, that was enough.