Weak [BNHA Fanfiction]

Chapter 27

Charlie woke up at 5 that morning; much earlier than usual and long before her alarm clock was set to go off. Regardless, she tore herself out of bed and stumbled through her morning routine. Instead of her backpack, Charlie slung a duffle bag over her shoulder. She would be staying in the accommodations prepared for her by Edgeshot's agency for the next week so she had packed her bag with the necessities the previous night.

She hadn't told her father about her trip yet so she grabbed a pen and notepad and headed to the kitchen to leave a note on the counter for him. She came to a stop right outside the kitchen doorframe and stared for a moment.

Strangely enough, her dad was awake and sitting at the table. He hadn't had a shift the night before so he usually would've been asleep at this time. The sun had just barely began to rise and filter through the window blinds—casting a ghostly light over him. He had an unopened can of beer in his hands and stared at it as he spoke. "I heard you placed third in your Sports Festival."

"Y-yeah." Charlie cursed herself for not being able to keep the stutter out of her voice.

"I came in first in both my second and third years so that's what I expect of you in the future."

Charlie felt her face flush. She tried to shove the surge of anger back into her stomach as it rose into her throat.

"But I didn't make the podium in my first year, so good job."

She blinked, her shoulders going slack as she stared at him, dumbfounded. She vaguely recognized him as the man she called her father as a child—a man who had been missing for many years.

Jackson glanced at her as the moments passed on of her silence. The sound of the beer can in his hands being opened rushed through her ears and her father took a long draught.

Finally finding her voice, Charlie spoke. "I'll be gone for the next week. I have an internship with Edgeshot."

Jackson did not acknowledge her again, only taking another sip and staring out the window with a look in his eyes that his daughter could not recognize. Charlie simply excused herself from the kitchen and left the house, locking the door behind her. Realizing that she still had the notepad and pen clutched in her hand, she slipped them into her duffle bag along with her key and went on her way.

As per usual, Charlie arrived much earlier than necessary. She was to meet her class in about an hour and she didn't have to board her train for another three. She just sat there in her own thoughts, very aware of what she had stuffed into her pencil case on impulse that morning.

"Morning."

Charlie startled slightly as Todoroki took a seat beside her. She pulled out her phone and glanced at the time. She had been spacing out for nearly 40 minutes.

"Morning."

"When did you get here?"

"Only a few moments ago," she fibbed. She bit her lip and gave him a hard stare for a moment.

His ears turned a little pink and he awkwardly scooted away a little. "What is it?"

"You going to be ok?"

His expression turned solemn suddenly. "Yeah, I'll be alright."

"Why did you pick him of all people? I'm sure you got so many better offers."