chapter title: the best hot cocoa team

notes: hot cocoa prompt for 12/23 for shouchakochristmasweek2018! hahah this was pretty rushed and not really edited, cause its the holiday season and theres no time hahahah. I hope you have a great christmas and happy holidays to all of you! I hope you enjoyed this short fic and hopefully it wasn't as sugary sweet as hot cocoa is these days lol. also, this fic is inspired by this picture: pin/477944579194603915/?lp=true as well as horikoshi's christmas pic with tree!deku and turkey!toko LOOOOL hahahah

disclaimer: i do not own my hero academia.

summary: The story of the best hot cocoa team in the world.

Class 1-A always held a christmas party during the wintertime that was rather ostentatious. It was a big deal, as Mina would say. There was a fully decorated christmas tree, secret santa gift exchange, stockings, cookies, and of course—hot cocoa.

The hot cocoa was a crucial delicacy, mostly because Kirishima and Mina (the main planners of this event) were extremely critical of their hot chocolate.

The winter of their senior year in high school was highly anticipated; it was their last christmas party together, after all.

Todoroki remembered it fondly.

After school on December 18th, exactly a week before christmas, the class had been gathered together under Mina's instruction.

"Alright, so Midoriya's got the Christmas tree, and Tokoyami's got the turkey. Shoji and Kaminari are decorating with ornaments and lights, and Bakugou is in charge of the fireplace," Kirishima announced, looking over his detailed notes. He nodded in affirmation, turning toward his planning partner. They shared a pointed glance.

"Now the important part," Mina said in a serious, low voice, narrowing her eyes. "The hot cocoa."

Kirishima's head bobbed up and down enthusiastically next to her. "This year has to be perfect. We don't want a disaster like last year." His eyes slid to glare at Bakugou.

Bakugou scoffed and crossed his arms in a mildly embarrassed huff, choosing to turn his head away. "Not my problem that it couldn't handle me," he spat.

Momo smacked his shoulder lightly. "You exploded the hot chocolate," she chided. "And you ruined the marshmallows I made."

He deflated a bit, turning farther away from Momo. "I didn't mean to," he muttered under his breath.

"I know," there was a smile in her voice. "It couldn't handle you, King Explosion Murder," Momo teased gently. Bakugou sneered in response, but there was no malice in his expression.

"Anyway, we need a new hot cocoa team this year," Mina clapped her hands, pulling the attention back to the matter at hand. "Since Bakugou seems to be more fit for the fireplace, we need a different way to heat up and cook the marshmallows."

Todoroki was bemused to see the whole class immediately turn to him.

Right. He had his fire.

"I don't mind," he answered nonchalantly.

Mina cheered excitedly, jumping up and down. "Great! Thanks, Todoroki," she said happily. "Hm...who should help you?" She gazed around the classroom with a thoughtful expression on her face.

Iida shot his hand up, sitting up straighter. "Uraraka hasn't been assigned anything yet," he stated, gesturing wildly to the small pink girl next to him.

"Hm," Uraraka pursued her lips, tapping her chin, weighing the decision. "I guess I could do it," she responded meekly, her eyes wide and uncomfortable. "I hope it's up to par…"

"It'll be fine, Uraraka!" Mina reassured, patting the insecure girl in encouragement. "You got this!"

As Mina moved on to the next item on her agenda, Todoroki and Uraraka made steady eye contact. Todoroki nodded gently at his future partner, giving her his silent support.

She smiled, her apprehensive expression disappearing to be replaced by a steely determination in her eyes.

He had always liked her smile. Though they weren't especially close, he found himself looking forward to spending more time with her. They would make a good team.

Todoroki was pleasantly surprised to find that he really enjoyed spending most of the next week hanging out with Uraraka. They went shopping for the best brand of hot chocolate powder and a good conductive to pot to boil the milk in (which he paid for, of course. What was Endeavor's money for, if not this?).

Uraraka suggested a small bakery shop to buy homemade marshmallows for the extra oomph, which he found sort of adorable. (It was the way she said it—with arms flailing, cheeks flushed pink, and a childlike wonder in her eyes).

It was the week in which he remembered really getting to know her. The start of it all, maybe.

The day of the Christmas party came, and Uraraka had been extremely nervous, he remembered in amusement. They had gathered the materials and were getting ready as the party was just beginning. The hot cocoa was the staple of the party, and needed to be steamingly hot and ready as the party reached full swing, Uraraka had declared very seriously (which he also found rather charming).

The milk was heated easily, as his control of his fire had improved drastically over the years, and the hot chocolate powder was mixed in smoothly afterwards. The mixture was a gorgeous dark brown, and smelled delicious. Perks of buying an expensive brand, Todoroki guessed.

As the pair set upon cooking the marshmallows, they heard an audible gasp from behind them.

Todoroki turned around to see the shocked faces of Mina and Kirishima, their jaws dropped in amazement.

"Those marshmallows…" Mina paused dramatically, pointing to the space above Todoroki's left arm, which was raised horizontally above the ground. "This technique is superb! I have never seen anything like it!"

Kirishima inched closer to scrutinize the 6 marshmallows floating in a line above the flame engulfing Todoroki's arm. "These look amazing! They're perfectly golden, all around!" he exclaimed, whooping loudly.

Uraraka flushed at the praise, giggling shyly. "We decided this distance was the best way to cook the marshmallow evenly without risk of burning or undercooking it," she explained happily. "I hope it tastes as good as it looks…"

Todoroki relinquished his flames, grabbing a mug of freshly steamed hot cocoa, and Uraraka released one of the marshmallows to plop gracefully into his cup. He handed the mug to Mina, who was bouncing on her heels in poorly suppressed excitement. "Try it," he shrugged.

Mina observed her marshmallow floating in the dark liquid closely, taking a tentative bite and a subsequent sip of her hot cocoa.

Uraraka and Kirishima leaned in eagerly to watch her reaction.

"Mm, it's so good!" Mina moaned in delight and closed her eyes to savor the taste. "This is probably the best hot cocoa I've ever had!"

As the rest of the class gathered around the table to receive their hot cocoa in high anticipation, Todoroki couldn't help but feel strangely proud. They had made a good team, after all.

Later that night, Uraraka had looked up at him sleepily, her smile as sweet as the hot chocolate they made together earlier. "We're the best hot cocoa team, aren't we?" she asked.

"Mm," he responded. "We are."

She sighed, pleased, leaning lightly into him.

He didn't move away.

Now, 4 years later, making hot cocoa together was their favorite tradition.

"Shouto!" He heard Uraraka's voice floating from the hallway. "Marshmallow time!"

Todoroki let a small grin grace his mouth, shaking his head affectionately at the childishness of his girlfriend. She never failed to amuse him.

Uraraka appeared behind him, nudging him aside to place a bowl of marshmallows on the kitchen table. She tiptoed to kiss his cheek lightly, before leaning back to grab a fistful of the white sugary desserts.

Using her quirk, she floated the batch up in the air. She didn't notice Todoroki gazing at her with a teasing glint in his eye.

There was a feminine shriek echoing through their apartment.

"Shouto! Why did you use your ice?! You're going to ruin the marsh—oh my god! Was that a blue flame?! The marshmallows are melting together into a huge white marshmallow! SHOUTO!"

Todoroki snickered. They were definitely the best hot cocoa team.

fin.