The wind was cool, the sky painted in soft hues of pink and orange as the sun began to set. You were walking along the UA campus after a long day of classes, your thoughts drifting when you noticed Shoto Todoroki sitting alone on one of the benches, his eyes cast downward. He looked deep in thought, as usual.

"Hey, Todoroki," you called, walking toward him. "You okay?"

Shoto's head turned slightly, his mismatched eyes meeting yours. "I'm fine," he said, his voice calm but distant. "Just... thinking."

You took a seat beside him, glancing at the empty training grounds ahead. The others had gone home, leaving you both in peaceful solitude.

"You sure?" you asked, nudging him gently. "You don't look fine. What's going on?"

Shoto hesitated for a moment before responding, his breath catching in the cool evening air. "Sometimes, I wonder if I’m doing enough. My father... my powers... they’re hard to control." His voice trailed off, the weight of his words hanging in the air.

You felt a pang of sympathy. Shoto’s dual quirk—the combination of ice and fire—was both a gift and a burden, and you knew all too well the pressure he must feel.

"Shoto," you begin, your tone gentle, "you don’t have to do everything on your own. You’ve come so far already, and you’re helping people every day. You’re not alone in this."

He turned to face you fully, his expression softening for a moment. “Thank you,” he murmured, though it was clear he didn’t fully believe it yet.

There was a long silence, the kind that felt comfortable in its stillness. The setting sun bathed the two of you in a warm glow, and for a moment, nothing else seemed to matter.

"You’re stronger than you think," you said softly, offering a reassuring smile. "And you’ve got people who care about you."

Shoto looked at you, his lips curving into a small, genuine smile—a rarity, but one that made your heart skip a beat. "I’ll keep that in mind."

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