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The night is not less wonderful than the day, it is not less divine; at night the stars shine, and there are revelations that the day ignores.
(Nikolaj Berdjaev)
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The sun shines with deadly warmth high up in the bluish sky, the third year students get off the buses that have taken them to the mountain and mentally prepare themselves for the climbing that awaits them.
As soon as Todoroki gets off the bus, his eyes unconsciously search for the figure of his classmate Yaoyorozu.
Her black hair is tightly tied to her usual pointy ponytail and a rebellious lock slides out of it, the aura surrounding her is one filled with emotion and he cannot help the small smile that curls, almost invisibly, on his face.
She really is adorable.
A clump of green, curly and messy hair moves next to him and Todoroki has to force himself to stop looking at her to pay attention to his friend. Said friend looks at him with amusement and raised eyebrows, like someone who knows the immense infatuation he has and a laugh escapes him.
“It's not funny Midoriya.”
Todoroki says with a little annoyance as the freckled boy finishes laughing.
“Sorry, sorry...”
He says with a friendly smile and the two-color boy can't help but childishly add.
“I don't tease you with Uraraka ...”
“That's because she is my girlfriend!” Midoriya answer faster than necessary and then thinks out loud “Although in truth, you are not doing anything to go unnoticed, Todoroki-kun.”
It is there where his ears blush and he looks away, praying that his friend will catch the hint and change the subject.
“... You've been in love with her for almost two years ... I think you should tell her before someone else gets ahead of you.”
There is a serious tone in Midoriya's voice and Todoroki focuses on him, wanting to listen to the advice of the one who already has an established relationship.
“What do you mean with that?”
Instead of answering, he moves his head in a specific direction. Todoroki directs his gaze towards the place, where Momo and a black-haired boy with a bandana on his forehead,speak animatedly.
“I heard that Awase from class B plans to confess to her tomorrow.”
Something inside him twists with intensity at what was said and he stares at her, knowing well that he’s not willing to lose her. But Todoroki also can’t elude the confession that will happen tomorrow without feeling bad about it.
When Midoriya's green eyes meet his, they seem to speak telepathically, having the same idea.
« If I can't help it, then I'll just have to confess before him »
Although of course, it’s easier said than done.
To start with, they are in a camp full of 40 students, Momo is constantly surrounded by people and he doesn't see any opportunity to get close to her.
Not to mention that the idea of telling her how important it she is to him fills him with deep fear and anxiety.
« What if she rejects me? If I can't express myself well? What if I ruin our friendship? What if...? »
Countless questions go through his head, despite the fact that Todoroki has never really been someone who over-analyzed things, he is a little more impulsive in his actions, but somehow Yaoyorozu’s habits have stuck with him and he feels the need to think things through when it comes to her.
And in the end, all thought ends in a single answer.
Because Todoroki has given up so many things throughout his life.
His childhood, his happiness, his emotions in general, his mother, his brothers, having friends, having expectations in himself that are not based on hatred, the possibility of being himself and stop hearing the constant comparison with his father or his demands.
Although he has been recovered some things, he always remembers that he once lost them.
And that’s the only thing he can’t let happen, he can’t simply let it go away.
Although in the end the decision is only for Yaoyorozu to make, if she wants to be with him or not, Todoroki doesn’t want to give up the opportunity to at least try to be the one who is by her side.
With that mentality, once upon reaching the top of the mountain, Todoroki notices an opportunity to tell her of his feelings.
Somehow they are alone next to a sink hidden among the trees, both quenching their thirst and covered in sweat.
“It was tiring, wasn't it?”
Momo nods and drinks his water, a drop sliding down her cheek. Yaoyorozu would be lying if she said that she doesn't feel better about herself when she sees that even her friend, who has the best physique in the class, got tired with the climb.
She doesn't notice how Todoroki internally scrambles to carry on a conversation. It's weird, because talking to Yaoyorozu has never been a problem for him, but knowing that he is going to confess his feelings for her, right now, makes everything strange for him.
“I have something to tell you...”
At his words Momo looks at him interested. Well does he knows that her curiosity is insatiable and the fact that he warns her that he will say something, instead of going straight to the point as always, catches her attention.
“I ... You ... There is something ... It could be that you ... No, I mean ... Ugh.”
Todoroki runs a hand through his hair, exasperated, and the surprise Yaoyorozu feels doesn’t fit within her body, for this is the first time she has seen him stumble on his words. A sympathetic and friendly smile adorns her pale face, black eyes filling with kindness.
“It’s alright Todoroki-san, you can tell me without any shame. And if you can't now, we can talk on another time, so don't worry.”
At her words he looks at her with a small, but discernible despair in his eyes of different colors, blue and gray hypnotizing her with the intensity in which he sees her. When Todoroki slowly approaches her, she unconsciously holds her breath.
“I just have to tell you now, Yaoyorozu I ...”
“YaomomooOO! COULD YOU ALSO FILL MY WATER BOTTLE PLZZZ!!
Mina's loud voice interrupts whatever he was going to say and Momo thinks she hears Todoroki growl as the pink girl approaches her with bottle in hand, the big smile on her face showing that she has no idea that she just interrupted something.
Yaoyorozu accepts the bottle with a smile anyway and when Mina retires, the dark-haired woman looks askance at Todoroki, who seems to have cowed at whatever he was going to say.
“See you later, Yaoyorozu.”
With that, he retires. Leaving her alone with a bottle, that is not even hers, but which she will fill anyway and the unceasing doubt of what his words might have been.
A particular scenario slips through her mind and she blushes, thanking the trees for being her only company, and then she sighs and shakes her head.
There's no way Todoroki feels like that about her.
The "See you later" proved to be true. The later happening when the night was already adorning the sky and when everyone was asleep. Todoroki left his tent almost at midnight to look for something to drink, when he discerned the figure of the girl who was driving him crazy in front of the firelight. He did not hesitate to approach her.
“What are you doing up Yaoyorozu?”
Todoroki's monotonous voice surprises her from behind and her shoulders do a small jump before she turns in his direction and offers him a slight smile.
“I couldn’t sleep.”
The boy nods and takes a seat next to her.
“I see. I couldn't either.”
A pleasant silence surrounds them as they look at the bonfire glowing in the center.
The orange flames of it swing from side to side, almost like waves gliding through the air for just a second before disappearing and others taking their place. Small lights from this fire escape from the campfire and die out before touching the ground. The cold of the night is insignificant compared to the heat that the burning wood offers them and more than anything, calms them down.
Observing it in silence, the warm colors that contrast so well with the bluish blackness of the sky around them are relaxing and pleasing to the eye.
A yawn escapes her before Todoroki's voice reminds her of his presence.
“Yaoyorozu.”
The called one slightly turns her head to look directly at Todoroki. His different colored eyes look at her with intensity and one can tell by the way they constantly move that he’s nervous. It reminds her of when he stuttered and a small blush sits on her cheeks.
“What’s the matter Todoroki-san?”
Her voice is surrounded by a sweet tone of understanding and some concern.
« How do I tell her? »
It wasn't a secret that he wasn't especially good with words.
Yaoyorozu notices how he opens his mouth and closes it, how a hand moves behind his neck and his cheeks blush, and she knows that whatever he has to say is important.
“I .... To tell the truth...”
He cannot do it. There is no way he can tell her, even when they are alone, even when all of her attention is on him.
Todoroki looks forward, towards the slowly burning fire and thinks that the same fire is now inside him, somehow he has to do it before instead of gently heating, it consumes it completely.
Todoroki's hand finds Momo's and rests lightly on top of hers; trying to be as relaxed as possible, in case she wants to pull her hand away.
She looks at him with wide eyes, as if she can't believe what's happening.
But the strong blush on his serious face, the way he sweats and the way he tries to glance at her sideways is enough for Momo to understand.
Shouto doesn't need to say anything, but a clear expression of relief forms on his face when Yaoyorozu, with a face equal to or redder than his, intertwines her fingers with him.
Her other hand goes up to her own face, trying in vain to calm the fire with which it burns. Todoroki looks away, unable to contain the tender curves of his lips that appear on his face and the warmth that shakes his body.
The stars shine above them, the cold night wind caresses them from time to time, but the fire in front of them and their holding hands are more than enough to provide them with everything they need.