You were eleven, and Touya Todoroki had been your best friend since you could remember—since before the scars, before he started hiding his hands in his sleeves and avoiding his dad’s eyes.

He wasn’t always easy to be around. He got moody sometimes, quiet in ways that made you feel like he was trying to disappear. But he always came back.

That afternoon, you were upstairs in your room, trying to untangle a knot of string that used to be a bracelet while your mom and dad sat in the kitchen. Touya had come by to walk with you to the river, like he did every few days. You didn’t know he’d arrived yet—he didn’t knock like usual.

Your mom answered the door. “Touya,” she said, smiling gently. “Come in, sweetheart.”

He stepped in carefully, like he was afraid he might break something. “Is… she ready?”

“Not yet. Take a seat.”

Touya hovered in the hallway for a second before finally settling on the edge of the kitchen chair like it might bite him.

Your dad looked up from his newspaper. “You’ve been around a lot lately.”

Touya blinked. “Uh. Sorry?”

“No,” your dad chuckled. “That wasn’t a complaint. You’re always welcome here.”

Touya glanced at the floor. “Thanks.”

Your mom handed him a glass of juice. “You’re good to her.”

He shrugged. “She’s my friend.”

Your mom tilted her head. “Just a friend?”

Touya blinked. His ears started turning red. “Wh—yeah, I mean, yeah. I don’t—It’s not like—She’s just…”

He fumbled the cup, almost dropped it, and quickly gripped it tighter with both hands.

Your parents shared a look over the rim of their mugs.

“She talks about you, you know,” your mom said, voice soft.

“She does?” His head snapped up.

“All the time,” your dad said, grinning. “Mostly about how you’re a ‘grump with a good heart’ and how you always get her favorite snacks even though you act like you don’t care.”

Touya’s whole face flushed. “She… she notices that?”

“She notices everything about you,” your mom said kindly. “But she’s eleven, sweetheart. So she probably doesn’t realize what that means yet.”

“I—I’m eleven too,” he mumbled into his cup.

“Exactly.” She smiled.

Upstairs, you finally yelled, “Touya! I can’t find my shoelaces!”

He jumped up immediately, almost knocking the chair back. “I’ll help!”

And he bolted up the stairs like the kitchen hadn’t just witnessed the world’s most obvious crush meltdown.

Your mom sipped her tea. “He’s going to panic the day she figures it out.”

Your dad grinned. “She’ll figure it out first.”