Yaoyorozu proceeded into her classroom, only being greeted by what it looked like every day; Tenya Iida and Ochaco Uraraka hanging around Izuku Midoriya; Katsuki Bakugo with his usual irritated ‘I’m-silently-plotting-your-death’ expression as the group of students around his desk chat it up; and of course Shoto Todoroki sitting alone in the back corner with his usual stern, emotionless eyes. She walked in his direction, taking the seat to his left on the end and placing her bag on her desk.

The bell hadn’t rung yet, so Mr. Aizawa was not in class. Might as well try to make conversation, she thought. Maybe I could even get him to talk to me.

Todoroki had avoided interacting with her ever since he had burnt her that day in the alley. She tried multiple times to get ahold of him, to see how he was doing and how he was managing his presently unstable quirk. He never answered. She even told him her hospital room number, hoping he might stop by so they could talk. He never came. She didn’t want to seem desperate or clingy, but she wanted him to know she was okay. Maybe this could be her chance to tell him. After all, it was her first day back at school since it happened.

"Good morning," Yaoyorozu greeted casually.

"Morning," was his only reply, his deadpan expression not changing. That went well... he obviously doesn't want to conversate; I guess I'll leave him be. She turned to look back to the front of the room, gazing at each face as her classmates chatted about what they had been doing or what was going on in their lives. She noticed Todoroki glance in her direction, but she paid him no attention, acting as if she had not noticed him openly staring at her bandaged neck.

“How have you been handling your quirk?” She asked curiously, wanting to break the awkward and unwavering silence between them. They made eye contact for the first time in weeks, Todoroki turning to face her.

“It’s fine. It hasn’t done anything too jurassic again,” he answered, raising his right hand and peering down at it. His eyes darted back to her neck, and he pursed his lips. “How’s your neck?”

She raised a hand and tenderly traced where the bandage and her skin met, running her fingers along where the burn was hidden. “It’s fine. They just emitted me to the hospital because it was third degree, and it’s size. That and it’s location. I just have to keep it bandaged for a while.” His concerned expression didn’t flicker at her attempt to reassure him, and her gaze softened. “Really. I’m fine. It’s okay. I don’t blame you for this, you know that...right?”

He grunted, straightening in his seat. “But I still did it. That mark will always be there because of me. You said it yourself; it’s going to scar. I don’t care if you blame me or not, it’s still my fault and that’ll be apart of you forever now.”

“Then you’ll be apart of me, too.” His eyes swung up to meet hers as she said it, a confused look crossing his face. Yaoyorozu smiled. She reached out a hand and, surprised but glad, he took it. “Now you won’t be the only one in this class with a burn scar.”

“That’s different. My mother did this because of what my father did to her. He forced her through mental instability and caused her to throw boiling water at my face; my left side, because it represented him. I didn’t mean to do this to you.”
   
"Exactly. You didn’t mean to.” She squeezed his hand as he moved to let go. “But it means something to me. It’s a constant reminder that I did something for you.” He opened his mouth to respond when he was abruptly cut off.

“Yaomomo!” A voice chirped. They both turned to see Ochaco Uraraka, Kyoka Jiro, Toru Hagakure, Tsuyu Asui, and Mina Ashido approach. Yaoyorozu put on her best smile as all the girls circled her desk, releasing Todoroki’s hand.

“I see you’re back,” Jiro commented, placing a hand on her good shoulder. “How’re you healing?”

“I’m good. Just have to keep it covered for a little while.”

“I’m so glad you two are okay! Everyone was so worried when Todoroki ran off. Then they find that you found him and he burnt you? Everyone was even more worried than before,” Uraraka joined in, her big brown eyes glittering with both concern and relief. Todoroki hung his head down as she said it, and Yaoyorozu couldn’t help but notice the look of regret and pain in his eyes.

“He didn’t mean to burn me,” She defended him, staring right at him as she said it. “It wasn’t on purpose.”

“But he still did it,” Ashido commented quietly. “Now you’re gonna have a mark on your neck for the rest of your life.”

“And I’ll wear it with pride,” She snapped, straightening with fierce determination. “I hold no grudge against Todoroki. And I surely hope he doesn’t hold anything against me.”

“I don’t,” He jumped in. “I have no reason to. There’s nothing she’s ever done to me besides help me.” Yaoyorozu offered him a small smile, and he returned it. Hagakure giggled. “What’s so funny?” Todoroki questioned.

“Oh nothing. I’m just glad you two aren’t like, rivals now or something. That would be horrible! You two are so cute together!” Both Todoroki and Yaoyorozu flushed bright red at her comment.

“Whoa, what exactly do you mean by together?” Yaoyorozu asked, holding her hands in front of her chest with her palms facing the group of girls.

“You know! You two make such a great team! You work well together. And someday in the near future you’d make a really cute ship!” Yaoyorozu was staring at the invisible girl in front of her with wide eyes, looking at her seemingly floating clothes like she was monstrous; as if what she had said was the most horrifying thing in the entire world.

“Ship…?” Todoroki asked, cocking an eyebrow at the girl.

“Yes! My OTP! My Shotomomo! My Todorozu!” She cried excitedly. “I almost like it as much as I do Jiranari!” Everyone looked to Jiro, and she waved her hands at them in dismissal.

“Uh, no. This isn’t about me. This is about Momo and Shoto, not me and Kaminari.”
   
"All right class, settle down.”

Everyone turned as Mr. Aizawa entered the classroom, looking as sleep deprived as always. He walked up to the front of the room, waiting for everyone to return to their seats. Once everyone was seated, he instructed them to take out their textbooks, which Yaoyorozu immediately did. She wanted to make up what she had missed for the few weeks she was in the hospital and at home quickly, so she wouldn’t be too behind.

“Hey.”

“Huh?” She looked up to see Todoroki looking at her. “What?”

He jerked a finger in Jiro’s direction, where the earphone-jack wielding girl leaned back in her chair, pointing to her phone. Yaoyorozu pulled her phone out from her desk, making sure it was on silent, then gave Jiro a nod. Moments later, a text came through from her:

Kyoka: [We still hanging out tonight?]

    Yaoyorozu looked up at her, and she met her eyes with a questioning look. She quickly replied.

Momo: [Of course. Why wouldn’t we be?]

Kyoka: [I was just asking because I didn’t know. With everything that happened, I didn’t want to just show up and interrupt something or disturb you in some way. You sure you’re okay with it?]

Momo: [Yes. Yeah, we can.]

Kyoka: [Your dorm, right?]

Momo: [Yes, if it’s all right with you.]

Kyoka: [Course. I’ll see you after class then?]

Momo: [See you after class.]

Yaoyorozu slid her phone back into her desk as Mr. Aizawa began discussing what they would be going over. The two girls had planned to hang out weeks before, but of course that was before the incident. She was grateful to Jiro for at least checking to make sure it was still all right for her to come over. Although, she wouldn’t have minded it if she hadn’t, either.

The rest of class was boring, the same material they’d been going over for weeks, even before she missed all those days. She kept catching Todoroki staring at her, and each time he either tried to play it off as looking at something else in the room near her, quickly returning his gaze to Mr. Aizawa, or staring fixedly at his textbook. She knew he was still worried, and that he still blamed himself. It didn’t matter how many times she forgave him; he would never forgive himself.

~~~~~

Later that day, Jiro and Yaoyorozu met up outside Class 1-A, making their way toward Yaoyorozu’s extravagant yet cramped dorm.

"So how are things going between you and Kaminari?” Yaoyorozu asked as they descended through somewhat empty hallways.

“Me and who now?” she replied, then scoffed. “What is with people asking me stuff like that? It’s not like we’re together. I don’t even like him.” she tilted her head at Jiro, and she frowned. “What?”

"It’s pretty obvious you do, Kyoka,” she replied, holding her book close to her. “You tease him whenever you get the chance.”

“That’s different! I do that to annoy him,” she defended herself. “So anyway, enough about Denki, how are things between you and Icy-Hot?”

Yaoyorozu blushed faintly at the floor, continuing on with her gaze fixed on her feet as she watched the tiles pass by. “Fine. We’re still friends...I hope.” she paused as Jiro stopped, turning to peer at her face. She gave her a worried look, and she sighed. “I mean, we are. I’d hope what happened between us won’t change that. But other than...you know...him burning me, everything’s been fine. Nothing out of the ordinary…”

She placed a hand on her left shoulder, carefully avoiding the burn. “Momo, are you okay? You look kinda...depressed. You know, more so than usual.”

Yaoyorozu pushed her hand away, urging her to keep going as she continued down the hall. “Of course. I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”

Jiro frowned. “Momo,” she growled.

“What? I’m just a little concerned that he’s gonna like, start avoiding me or something. He already is. I just-” she sighed again, rubbing her face. “I know why he’s being so hard on himself about this. This may seem small to me, but it’s a big thing to him. In his eyes, he hurt me; he caused me physical harm. I mean, you know how Todoroki is. He despises stuff like that because of what happened to him when he was young. I just want to convince him that I’m alright.”

“Are you?”

“Well, yes. Obviously. If I wasn’t alright I’d still be in the hospital. I wouldn’t even be talking to you right now.”

“No, I meant like...mentally. Are you alright mentally?” She explained. Yaoyorozu gave her an almost startled look, stopping in her tracks again as they reached her door.

“Why on earth would you ask me something like that?”

Jiro flashed a nervous smile. “I just meant...ugh. Look, Momo, what happened to you was a big deal. I don’t care if you see it that way or not, but it is. It may have caused some...mental scarring. Not only were you burnt, you were burnt by one of your closest friends and teammates. I just want to make sure you’re not gonna turn into like a villain or something against him.”

She opened the door, stepping in with Jiro close behind. “Of course not. I would never become a villain, no matter what happens. I’m still the same old Momo Yaoyorozu. I just look a little different on the outside.” She tossed her book bag onto the floor by her bed, and Jiro set her own down beside it, joining Yaoyorozu on the bed and sitting across from her.

“Does it hurt? I mean, I know it probably does, but, is it like, bad?” She asked curiously.

“No. Not really. The hospital gave me a couple prescriptions for pain, and this cream stuff I have to put on in every so often. I’ve been going down to Recovery Girl for daily sessions, which will hopefully help with the scarring. But other than my shirt and bra strap rubbing against it, I’m fine.”

Jiro smirked. “Why don’t you just make yourself a strapless bra or something? Just use Creation. Haven’t you done it before?”

“That was different. That was for a completely different reason. Besides, it doesn’t really rub against the burn too much; it’s mainly just tugging at the bandage whenever I turn my head so it makes the bandage itself rub against it.” Yaoyorozu pressed experimentally against the wound, wincing and squinting her eyes as she undid the collar of her shirt, removing it to display the black tank top she wore underneath. “See? I’ve usually just been wearing stuff like this. It’s more comfortable that way.”

“It makes you look badass,” Jiro remarked. “Even more badass than you already are.”
   
Yaoyorozu was grinning widely before she could help herself. “Thank you. I tried hard to earn that status,” she said, a little curtly. She laid out her shirt on her pillow, not wanting to get up and put it away.

“So how do you feel, being owned by Todoroki?” She teased, rocking back and forth on her knees.

Yaoyorozu rolled her eyes. “For your information, I belong to no one.”

“Um, for your information, he basically claimed you. Maybe he burnt you on purpose; marking you. He wanted everyone to know you were his.”

Yaoyorozu blushed from ear to ear. “I’m not his!” She whispered loudly, afraid someone may hear if she spoke too loud. Jiro’s smirk only intensified.

“Maybe he wanted his little Momo-chan all to himself. That burn was his way of marking you. You’ve been marked by the Todoroki!” She laughed in a haughty tone.

“Jiro-”

“Marked!” She cried again, triumphant.

“Oh, shut up. I am not Todoroki’s.” She rolled her eyes at her friend, but gave up with a sigh.

“Okay fine. But just so you know, you have been marked by him and I don’t care what you say about it,” Jiro replied, and Yaoyorozu scrunched up her brows.

“Did you only want to come over to tease me?” She questioned, laying her head back so it rested on her pillow. Jiro tilted her head from side to side, glancing up at the ceiling before laying beside her on her stomach, swinging her legs back and forth behind her.

“Maybe. Of course, not a couple weeks ago. I didn’t know this would happened. But now that it has, it is perfect teasing material.”

“I hate you,” Yaoyorozu muttered under her breath, rolling over to face her. Jiro poked her nose, making her grin. “Okay, maybe I don’t hate you. But you’re still annoying as hell sometimes.”

“That’s my job, Momo,” she replied.

“Annoying me is not your job, Jiro-san,” Yaoyorozu commented, sliding the strap of her tank top off her shoulder so it would no longer irritate the hidden burn. Jiro sat up slightly beside her, placed her chin in her hands, and planted her elbows on the mattress.

“Of course it is. That and helping my closest friend out. Is there anything I can do to ease the pain? Anything at all?” She asked, staring directly at the bandages. Yaoyorozu shook her head.

“No. It’s fine. Really. There’s really nothing you can do anyway. Besides,” She sat back up on the bed, sitting on the edge and flexing her shoulder experimentally. “I have to clean it before I go to bed anyway, so anything I put on it will just wash off.”

“Need any help with that? I could always do it for you,” Jiro offered. Yaoyorozu felt a brief flare of panic course through her, shaking her head vigorously.

“N-no need! No, it’s fine. I-I can do it myself. I might just put the stuff the hospital prescribed to me on it instead. I’m perfectly capable of doing it myself.” Jiro caught her wrist as she moved to stand, tugging her back with just the right amount of force to drag her down but not hurt her.

“I insist. Just let me help you. It’s the least I can do. Let your friend take care of it,”  Jiro proceeded to insist, rising up on the bed beside her. Yaoyorozu bit her tongue, exhaling slowly. Jiro’s only trying to help.

“I appreciate it, Jiro, I really do, but I honestly don’t think you’d want to see what it looks like. Honestly, at this point, it looks rather ugly. I wouldn’t want to gross you out.”

Jiro waved her hand in dismissal. “Nonsense! Just let me do it. I can care less about what it looks like. It’s a third degree burn; I’m pretty sure I’ve gotta pretty good idea of what it’s gonna look like.” Yaoyorozu stared at her for a moment, realizing she was being sincere. Finally, she gave in somewhat reluctantly.

“Okay…” she said softly. “Okay, okay, fine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.” She stood up and headed toward her desk, pulling out the small tube of cream and unused bandages and going back to the bed, where Jiro sat, waiting to help. “Can I at least unwrap it?” She asked. Jiro nodded.

“Of course. I don’t care. Just let me help you with something.”

Yaoyorozu nodded in return. She traced her fingers along the bandage as she searched for the end, and once she found it, she began to unwrap it from her neck. The more fabric left her skin, the more fresh air hit the wound, making it sting. She winced once the final wrap was removed, glancing anxiously at Jiro.

She paused before letting her hand drop, revealing what damage had been done, closing her eyes. When she let her hand fall to her side and opened her eyes again, Jiro was staring at it, wide-eyed. She refused to look down, and quickly held up a hand to cover the raw patches of skin on her neck.

“I told you it was ugly.”

Jiro watched her for a moment, then scoffed with a small laugh. “Are you kidding me? It makes you look awesome! So hardcore! Yes, it’s a little raw and pink right now, but it will flatten out and eventually it’ll start looking like the burn scar on Todoroki’s left side of his face, don’tcha think?” Jiro took the bottle out of her hands, squirting some onto her palm and rubbing her hands together. Before she even moved to touch her, she stopped. Yaoyorozu gently touched a finger to the edge of the burn, tracing the discoloration in her skin. She let out a slight whimper, and Jiro’s gaze turned worried.

"Are you okay?” She asked softly. Yaoyorozu swung her eyes up to meet her friend’s, then smiled faintly.

“I’m okay. It just hurts. I mean, why wouldn’t it? Considering its size and location, its bound to hurt more than usual.” Jiro set the bottle down, leaning forward to closely examine the burn. “I’m fine,” Yaoyorozu insisted.

"I know. I just want to see. How much do you think I should put on it?” Yaoyorozu shrugged.

“What you already have on your hands should be good enough,” She replied. Yaoyorozu jumped with a gasp as pain shot up her neck, Jiro’s hand coming in contact with her skin. Jiro recoiled, breaking the contact quickly with a startled and nervous look.

“Sorry! I’m sorry!” She cried, holding her hands close to her. Yaoyorozu sighed, closing her eyes with a painwritten expression as she pinched the ridge of her nose.

"No! No, it’s fine! You just startled me. It’s okay.” Jiro sighed, relief washing over her face.

"Thank god. Don’t do that! You scared the shit out of me! I thought I just like, killed you or something! Jesus, man!” She cried.

"I’m sorry,” Yaoyorozu apologized.

“No. It’s okay. Just don’t do that again.” Jiro extended her hand out, lightly touching where the burn started on her shoulder. Yaoyorozu kept her muscles tense, her eyes screwed shut as she bit her lips together. Jiro continued to put the cream on the burn, earning multiple winces and protests against it. “Will you hold still? I understand that it hurts, but the more you move the harder it is to apply this stuff onto it.”

Yaoyorozu took a deep breath, resettling herself and letting her tensed muscles relax a little. “Okay. Sorry.”

As Jiro finished rubbing the white substance onto her neck, Yaoyorozu focused her eyes on her bookbag, something catching her attention instantly, but waited to say anything. “Finished,” Jiro announced. Yaoyorozu produced a small towel from her arm for Jiro to wipe her hands on, placing it along with the bottle back on the desk. She flashed a small smile.

“Thanks.”

"Don’t mention it. It’s really nothing.” Jiro held up the roll of bandages, and Yaoyorozu gratefully accepted them. She bound her neck in the fabric once more, tossing the old ones in the trash. After she secured the bandages, she rose to her feet again, kneeling beside her bag and taking a small slip of paper attached to the pocket. “What is it?” Jiro asked.

“I’m not sure.” Disentangling the paper without tearing it, Yaoyorozu stood back up, holding it up to see. “It’s...a note.”

 “What? From who?” Jiro was now on the edge of the bed, eager to know what her friend had received.

"She hesitated before unfolding it, but eventually her curiosity got the better of her, and she opened it up. It was a small note, simple and plain, not really anything flashy or appealing to the eye. What it said was this:

Yaoyorozu,

        Meet me at the school gates at 4:50 p.m. tomorrow. You don’t have to bring anything, just yourself. I want to talk to you.

T.

“Momo, tell me. What does it say?” Jiro whined, wanting to know.

Yaoyorozu glanced up from the paper, handing it to the girl. Jiro snatched it from her hands, reading it over. Once finished, she looked up to see her face, her eyes twinkling.

“What?” she questioned.

Jiro squealed, a sound she never usually made. “Momo! You’ve got a secret admirer!” She exclaimed happily. “Someone’s totally got their eyes on you.”

“What? Just because someone wants me to meet them at Yuuei’s gates doesn’t mean it’s a love confession or something. Maybe they just want to talk. Maybe it was someone’s way of wanting to know if I’m all right.” Jiro shook her head hard.

“No! Did you not see the initial? It’s signed with the letter “T”. Maybe it’s Todoroki!” She gasped as she said it, her smile only growing. “Maybe he is confessing his undying love for you!”

Every blood cell in her body decided to migrate to her face once it was said. “No he isn’t!” She automatically denied. “In all logic, it could also be Tenya, Tsuyu, Tokoyami, or Toru. It could be anyone. Just because it was signed with “T” doesn’t mean it’s Todoroki.”

"But it doesn’t mean it can’t be!” Jiro groaned exaggeratedly, leaning back on the bed. “He’s finally telling you!”

"No, no, NO!” Yaoyorozu almost shouted, flailing her arms. “No, he isn’t. He isn’t telling me anything. It may not even be him. And if it is him, he may just want to talk about what happened. He probably just wants to apologize again for what he had done to me.” She gestured vaguely to her neck.

"Well, maybe. But still. Momo, you’ve gotta be at least a little excited, right? Even if he isn’t confessing, he still wants to talk to you. And may I just add alone? He could always talk to you in class, but he wants you alone. That’s still got to mean something, right?”

"Maybe…” she replied quietly, then immediately began to deny again.

"Nope, I don’t want to hear it,” Jiro cut her off before she could continue. “You are clearly in denial, and you need to learn to accept it. Whatever happens, you can - and will - come find me and tell me all about it afterward.” Jiro took her hands, holding them close and giving her friend the brightest smile possible, her earphone jacks suspended in the air. Yaoyorozu returned her smile, pulling her into a hug.

 "Okay. I’ll be sure to tell you.”

“Yeah you will. You better. I will find you if you don’t come to find me.”

“Oh really? Is that a threat?” She leaned over the side of the bed, getting close to Jiro’s face. Jiro simply smirked.

“Maybe it is. I know where you live, Momo-chan.”

"Uh huh. Who says I didn’t move?” Yaoyorozu cocked an eyebrow at her.

“I’m pretty sure you haven’t moved. Your house is humongous compared to literally everyone I know, including myself among them.” While she was talking, Yaoyorozu began inching her way toward the door, managing to get it open in the process. She thought she’d get by unnoticed, until Jiro suddenly stopped. “Momo Yaoyorozu, don’t you walk away from me! I’m still talking to you! Get your ass back in here!”

"Sorry Kyoka! I’ll tell you all about it when I get back!” She called over her shoulder. “I’ll be right back! I promise!”

"Nuh uh, Momo get back in here! I’m still-” She continued on with her mini rant as Yaoyorozu closed the door, leaving her friend alone. She sighed, pressing her back against the door and closing her eyes. Thank god.

She walked down the hall, heading toward the lounge area. She just needed some alone time. She rubbed her aching neck, tenderly running her fingers along her jawline. The pain was still horrible, yet manageable.

“What if she’s right?” She asked herself quietly, glancing around as if to check and make sure she was alone. “Maybe it was Todoroki…”