I watched as Tadoka was escorted off the arena by a couple nurses. What most people would see as a good match, even after my pep talk, I could see her drowning in her own lack of self-esteem. She put up a good fight, and if she would have put her shield down, she could have fought longer. It should have been us that fought in the final.

I made my way to the infirmary, Tadoka was sitting up in her bed getting her vitals checked. Todoroki didn't even touch her. I guess I could always be grateful for that. "Bakugo, were you worried?" She stuck her togue out at me.

I clenched my teeth, "No! I came to tell you what a loser you were!" I plopped myself at the end of her bed. She swung her legs over the side.

"Did I do alright?" She balled up her fist and pressed them into her thighs.

"You seemed scared the whole time. You kept your shield up and that was a stupid move." Looking over at her, she was shaking. Crap, she already wasn't feeling so hot about herself. I don't know if I can fix this. Maybe some honesty? "I guess…I don't understand. I watched all your matches. You took risks, showed your power and skill. Then, the second you faced Todoroki; you lost every bit of confidence. How is Todoroki different than the rest of us?"

What I craved to know was what made him so different than me? Why did I care so much? These thoughts I have been having, they are so damn stupid I want to kick my own ass. "I have to get going though, my match against Todoroki is up next. When you are good to leave, come watch me wipe the floor with his face."

"Uuhh.."

"I'm stronger than he is! Today, I am going to prove it to you!"

Tadoka needs to know that she needs to be just as worried about me, as she is him.

I technically won the match, but Todoroki didn't use his flame the way he did with Tadoka and Deku. I was pissed. How could he hold out on me like that? These pro bastards chained me up because I completely lost my cool about how I won this match. Tadoka stood in third place with Tokoyami. She looked proud. Pfft. Third place wasn't anything special.

"Congrats on third place Aiya. You really put up a good fight." Todoroki approached her. What the hell was he doing?!

"Todoroki! You moron! Why would you congratulate a third-place weakling!"

He continued to ignore me, but Tadoka heard me and her eyes looked hurt. Crap. I didn't mean to hurt her. She walked away with him. Leaving me behind. Not like I had a choice anyways. I couldn't go after her even if I wanted too. Not that I would want too.

The sports festival was over. Tadoka and I didn't even walk home together. Todoroki probably walked her, he normally did even though he didn't live in the area. It made no sense. I approached the gate to see Tadoka waiting outside, by herself. "Shall we go in and show your parents together?" She smiled at me holding up her dull bronze medal. I wanted to tell her no. I didn't earn my gold, but she held so much pride in her eyes.

"Yeah."

My parents gushed over Tadoka and her medal. Like she was their own daughter. I placed my cheek into my palm. I didn't care for the validation from my parents. I already know I am the best even with this fake win.

My parents went off to bed. Tadoka and I sat on the couch watching MMA in silence. MMA normally pumps me up, but so much has been on my mind. I could hear her little giggles as she peeked at her phone. Who the hell was she talking too? Its not even my business. Todoroki? Crap! ITS NOT MY BUSINESS! She giggled again. "Hey."

She looked up from her phone.

"Tomorrow after school, I'll wait for you, and walk you home."

She blushed. "Are you sure? I have work tomorrow too."

My heart skipped a beat. "Y-Yeah. Just the two of us. I'll walk you to work too."

She put her hands in front of her face. "Okay, Thank you. I think I'm going to bed now."

I laid down in my bed with my hand on my chest. What the hell was that? That wasn't the first time she has blushed. She always does. Resting my arm over my eyes. My mind would not slow down, and it was seriously pissing me off. I felt weak. So, I couldn't even ask anyone about it if I wanted too.

I waited for her right outside our classroom door so I didn't miss her. I heard her from inside "No, Thanks. Bakugo said he would walk me home today!" I couldn't help but smile to myself. I bet it was Todoroki.

She stepped out of the room adjusting her backpack. "You ready?" I nodded and started walking. She said she had to work tonight; I wonder if she will need to be walked home from there too. She always gets in trouble if someone isn't around, and she attracts the creepiest dudes. I looked down at her at my side. She was going on about some adventure she went on with her sister as a kid. She was so animated. Throwing her hands around, smiling, making sound effects.

"You are so different than when I first met you." She froze in her tracks looking at me shocked.

"What do you mean?"

"You used to be quiet. Monotoned even. Now look you, you have so much life now."

She brought her arms up to her chest and avoided my gaze. "Thank you."

BU-DUMP!

"Don't ever change Tadoka."

We finally got to her work. She ran to her boss, and gave him a hug. He's been really cool about her schedule since the sports festival. Tadoka came back out changed into her uniform. "I get off at 10:30 tonight…" She looked away with a little blush on her cheeks.

"I will be here to pick you up."

"Don't forget an umbrella. It is supposed to rain tonight!"

I stuck up a hand and waved goodbye. Why does it always rain every time I drop her off at that place?

I got home and immediately laid down in my bed. Running my fingers through my hair. Why was this so hard for me. I liked Tadoka. But I also like Kirishima, and Kaminari is alright. When I think about how I like Tadoka, it makes my chest hurt. What the fuck is this feeling….

I woke up. 10:25pm. Shit I was going to be late. I ran out the door as fast as I could. She's never going to trust me to pick her up again. Halfway there I realized that I forgot the umbrella she asked for. It was already a downpour.

I finally got to her. Sopping wet. She was waiting outside against the building to avoid the rain. "Tadoka, I…."

"Thank you for coming to get me." She smiled. Shouldn't she be mad at me? I overslept. I'm twenty minutes late. "You look out of breath." She held up her to go cup from work. "It's coke, but its better than nothing."

I took a sip of it. She ran her fingers through my hair. BA-DUMP. "Man you are soaked. So you forgot the umbrella?"

"LOOK! I WAS IN A RUSH!"

She gave me a sweet smile that instantly calmed me. Her hand still rested on top of my head even though she was so much shorter than me…it was almost…cute. "That's okay, I did want to try something."

She stepped away from me and stuck her hand into the rain. The drops fell around her hand. Was she using her shield to avoid the rain? No, that I can't be it. She would have used it all the times before. She stepped out into the rain. The rain moved around her. She wasn't even missing a drop. "I wanted to try my hand at element manipulation. How about I keep us dry on the way home." She held out her hand and I took it.

I have never held her hand before. It was so warm. I kept my hand loose in hers, but she kept her hand firm in mine. Did she hold Todoroki's hand like this too? It made me mad thinking about this. I dropped my hand away from hers. I don't want to be just another hand for her.

"Are you okay?" She looked down at my hand. "Are you catching a cold?"

"I am just not a hand holder, okay? Save that for someone else."

We got home not long after. She was fine with not holding my hand. "Thank you, for picking me up." She kicked off her shoes at the door and plopped down on the couch. I sat down next to her and turned on the TV. She was sitting on her knees facing towards me.

"What?" I peeked over at her. She was starring at me.

"I also want to tell you, thank you."

"You said that already."

"Well, thank you for being my best friend."

I was caught off guard. I never really thought about her as a friend before. Let alone a best friend. I just thought we were always together by chance. In reality, it is because we have always chosen each other. My chest started to hurt again. She was searching my eyes for some type of response.

"Thank you Tadoka, for being mine." My best friend. There's a title to it. An explanation, and yet, it doesn't seem like enough. I wanted more, but of what?