Slushie 2

As they took their seats, he stared off into the distance. If Olivia's parents had been able to marry and raise a child while still rising to the top… Was it possible for him and Momo? Was it possible that he would not only be able to prove to his father he didn't need his right side, but also that Momo didn't need to fit into the role his father had in mind when he chose her?

As All Might burst through the door, he was reminded again of his father's dream for him, and his eyes narrowed before looking away. He didn't concern himself with the gasps and chattering around him. He was only concerned about the assignment, knowing it was a new opportunity to prove to himself and everyone else that he didn't need his old man's power. To prove to Momo that he wasn't his father. That he wouldn't take away her dreams like the number two hero had taken away his mother's. He tightened his fist determinedly as the details were listed.

Two villains, two heros. Villains hide a fake bomb. Heros catch the villains or touch the bomb. Villains capture the heros or let time run out. Shoto could already hear Momo in his head as he remembered all the times they had talked about indoor battles. Protect your teammate, immobilize the villains, and don't compromise the bomb in any way. Not that he needed a teammate, he thought to himself, so it didn't matter who he was paired with.

As the teams were called out, Shoto had barely registered that the focus of their lunch conversation was his partner, when Momo's partner was announced. He internally fumed as he watched Mineta's greedy eyes turn to Momo, and she winced by his side. He already knew what her hero costume was supposed to look like since they filled them out together, and dreaded the idea of Mineta drooling over it, or looking for an excuse to touch her.

As they were excused to grab their costumes and change, Momo briefly put her hand on his. She smiled reassuringly before walking towards the women's locker room, and Shoto walked the opposite direction with his own costume. He knew she could handle herself, but that did not mean he couldn't make sure... just in case.

He looked in the mirror, lips turning upwards at the ice that covered even his red hair. For a second, he was able to forget about his old man, and instead see only himself in his reflection. As the men all walked towards the training grounds, he looked around to ensure the girls were not there yet, before brushing past the little purple man.

"Touch her, and I'll ensure your fingers fall off from frostbite…" He darkly said over his shoulder as he passed. Mineta's teeth started chattering as the temperature around them both dropped, and Shoto smirked as he heard him audibly gulp.

As the women walked up, Shoto felt his own temperature rise as he looked at the incredible woman leading them. He was used to seeing her skin when they trained their quirks, but… there was something about how she glowed with determination that made it stand out even more. Her eyes found his and she beamed, walking over. There was something about seeing her looking like a true hero, like he knew she dreamed of being, that made his entire being warm. She came to his side and complimented his costume, touching the ice on his face before she put her arms around herself, shivering.

"W-why is it so cold? W-why is M-mineta shivering t-too?" She asked pointedly, leaning into him. He looked away guiltily, before shrugging and putting his left arm around her and warming her up.

"Yaoyorozu!" A female voice called from behind them. They both turned around and saw Olivia running up to them, waving her arms excitedly. She had on simple adventurers clothing, littered with weapons. She also had headphones on, as if listening to music, and the glove on her left hand had controls on the back. Shoto also noticed the small hydration pack on her shoulders, and wondered what she needed it for since Momo said her quirk wasn't physical.

"You look great! So perfect for your quirk! Is this the guy you mentioned?! Hi, I'm Olivia!" She excitedly stuck her hand out, bouncing on the balls of her feet. He considered ignoring it, but remembered that Momo used to be friends with the girl, and seemed to still want to be. He shook her hand quickly before returning them to his pockets.

"Todoroki." Was all he said.

She scrunched her eyes together before sheepishly looking up at him. "Do you have a hero name yet?"

"I do not." He frowned, wondering why she was asking.

"Oooooookaaaaaay, got it!" She said with false confidence.

He and Momo exchanged a look, and he was 90% sure she had already forgotten how to say his name.

"Have you seen Mashirao by chance?"

Momo shook her head.

"Damn, he grabbed his partner and ran before I could get to them, what a cheater." Olivia frowned, but then looked at Shoto and brightened, "I was meaning to talk to you anyway though, do you mind if I borrow him for a sec?"

"Of course not, by all means! It is important to strategize with your teammate before the battle! Teamwork is important to any mission's success!" Momo directed a pointed look at him that he pretended to miss, "I should head over to the control room anyway, the first battle is starting." She gave him a smile and walked off, leaving him and Olivia alone.

She had the mouthpiece from the hydration pack in her mouth, and was taking a sip when he turned to her. Whatever she was drinking looked purple or dark red, and he frowned.

"You aren't drinking, are you? I don't want a liability as a teammate."

She chewed on the plastic end of the mouthpiece before answering. "I am, but not with the intention of being a liability. You wouldn't understand if I told you though."

"Try me." He bit out, annoyed that she already made assumptions about him, just like everyone else.

She looked at him for a second longer, as if searching for something, before responding, "I was wrong, I suppose you would. I'm sorry for assuming."

He looked away from her, annoyance gone, but deciding this was a waste of time.

"We do not need to strategize. As long as you stay out of my way, we will win." He said coldly, starting to walk away. She grabbed his arm and shook her head, taking the piece of plastic out of her mouth.

"That's not what I wanted to talk to you about, although that would be nice…" She trailed off, looking more nervous than before. As Shoto crossed his arms, she removed her hand, fiddling with a strand of her hair.

"I know it's none of my business, but when you said my name I couldn't really help overhearing, I'm not able to drink as much today because of hero training so I can't exactly control it so I wasn't exactly eavesdropping but…" She sighed as she noticed his confused look. She was making absolutely no sense, he thought.

She rolled her eyes and tried again. "I heard you thinking about my parents, and about you and Yaoyorozu." She finally got out.

Shoto's eyes widened, and the air dropped a degree or two.

Her eyes widened as well, "No no no I'm not going to tell anyone or anything, I just wanted to say that it's possible. Not because my parents did it though, but because of Yaoyorozu."

His eyes narrowed, but he kept still, allowing her to continue.

"My parents rose to fame, but not the way heros do here in Japan. It's different in America, they are treated more as celebrities than as heroes. They didn't use only hard work to get to where they are, they also used other people." She explained, taking another drink. "They didn't have time to raise me, and I don't even know if they love each other. I've known Yaoyorozu since I was young, and I know her mind better than most of the people here except Mashirao. You're lucky to have a mind like that supporting you. You're different from my parents, but in the best way, and that's why it'll work out."

He was quiet for a few seconds before nodding, unable to respond to the transparently honest girl. Or maybe he didn't want to.

He was not here to make friends... but just like Momo had come into his life without his permission, he knew others would too.