Saving Each Other (todoroki x oc)

Don't Blame Yourself

Looking at him, he had looked so genuinely concerned and lost in his thoughts that I had to do something to make him snap out of it.

And I knew exactly what to do.

I took a step closer raised my hands between his face, causing him to look up at me, confused. But before he could say anything, I slapped the sides of his face with my hands.

He flinched from my sudden touch. He looked at me, completely bewildered from my motion. It took all my might to bite back a giggle from this rare expression from the stoic boy.

"W-What was that for?" Shoto asked, still baffled as I returned my hands down to my sides. His cheeks were now tainted with a red handprint on each one.

"You know if you continue to frown like that, you'll ruin that face with some serious wrinkles."

Shoto blinked, completely dumbfounded from the words that had just come out my mouth. Then, a smile shone upon his lips and he burst out laughing. A giggle escaped my mouth, joining him in the fits of laughter. 

"That's what you have to say?" He questioned after finally settling down.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Don't waste your energy worrying about me, Shoto. You have your own exam to focus on," I said as I turned to walk away. "I know I said that you and Momo will find a way to defeat Aizawa, but I didn't say it would be easy. If I were you, I would come up with a plan with Momo. She's a smart girl and I know she's got some ideas."

"You always know what to say, don't you?" He asked, a hint of a smile showing on his lips.

"I have my moments," I said with a smug grin. "You better pass that exam, Shoto. Even if we are best friends, that doesn't mean I don't still see you as my rival," I half-jokingly warned him before turning my back fully to walk away.

"Best friend huh..."

I stopped again and turned around at his comment, noticing the odd change of tone. His smile was completely gone and he looked almost sad. Did I say something wrong?

"Yeah," I confirmed. "I mean I consider you my best friend," I rubbed the back of my head, suddenly feeling a little embarrassed. "Unless that's too weird to for you-"

"No," Shoto cut off my nervous rambling. "I'm honored just to be considered your friend, Sakura."

"Well, of course you're my friend, Shoto," I said, rolling my eyes as if stating the obvious.

Shoto gave me a smile, but I couldn't help but feel like it was a forced one.

"I'll see you later, Sakura," he said, turning his body to signal that he was leaving. "Good luck on your exam."

"Same to you, Shoto," I gave him a small wave. "I'll be watching!" I called out as I saw him walk back to his partner.

I turned to walk away myself, getting my concentration in tact as I tried to muster up a plan for my exam. Even though Izuku, Katsuki, and I were strong in each of our own ways, I knew we still didn't stand a chance against Toshinori if we fought him in close combat.

But that wasn't my main problem, remembering how Katsuki glared at Izuku when he tried to speak with him. I knew the true test of this exam for them was to see if they could toss their differences aside and work together and mine was to see if I could help them achieve this. 'But just how in hell was I going to get those two work together?'

"Ugh," I groaned as I rubbed my temples, leaning against the wall of the building.

"This exam might just be the death of me."