Chapter Text
"Do you want to be my girlfriend?"
It only took a full ten seconds before the words registered in your brain. Six words that formed a question, uttered by a man who you've barely ever talked to since your first year attending Yuuei. You were seated in the lecture room, aisle seat, while he stood towering beside you, and blocking the pathway. The class wasn't that full, considering there was still 45 minutes until lecture started, but those who were in the room very much heard what Todoroki had asked you, his words echoing in the large room. You felt anxiety creep inside you as the students started whispering and pointing in your direction. Most definitely eavesdropping on your conversation by now.
"Uh… what?"
He looked down at you with those soulless eyes of his, heterochromatic and dull. A prominent scar outlining his left eye. You would be lying to yourself if you didn’t think he was attractive.
"I said, do you want to be my girlfriend?" he repeated in that unfeeling voice of his.
You heard him just fine, the first time and the second time. But you couldn't help but ask him to repeat that question once more. After all, you'd barely talked to the man, never conversed except for that one group project you had with him in first year, which was a year ago. And so why in the world is he asking you to be his girlfriend?
"You're asking me to be your girlfriend? Why?"
It was a genuine question. And although you did find him attractive, you barely knew the guy, much less even went on a date with him. You thought back to your previous interactions with him. Only sharing a simple nod of the head every time you’d pass each other in the halls. You never kept in touch with him after your shared group last year, and he never showed any inclination to being interested in you during in.
His eyebrows rose a tad, seemingly surprised by your question. His eyes widening and returning to normal in a blink.
"Oh uhm," he muttered and looked anywhere but you. You could tell that he was embarrassed by the way he was fidgeting.
"I meant to ask if you wanted to be my fake girlfriend?"
Now it was your turn to stare back at him, your neck needing to bend upwards to meet his eyes. A fake girlfriend? You must be hearing things. Or this guy must have a weird sense of humour. You scanned the room for any of his friends, quite sure that they must’ve forced him to do this.
"Did you lose a bet or something?" you hissed angrily.
"Look, I don't know if your friends put you up to this or why, but the answer is no. If you're trying to get a reaction, you're better off asking one of those first years over there," you nodded to the doorway just as a group of girls entered loudly, laughing at who knows what.
Todoroki followed your gaze, staring at them as if contemplating what you just said, but immediately focusing his attention back to you.
"No, I’m serious!" he was panicking, you can tell from his expression. "I just… need a fake girlfriend, just for one night. Only a couple of hours."
"And why is that?" you questioned.
He was quiet for a moment, as if assessing your question.
"My parents. They're having a celebration at home. It's my mom's birthday soon and I need a girlfriend." The words tumbled out of his mouth in such cadence. As if having practiced the words in front of mirror.
Now you were even more confused than ever, he needs a girlfriend for his mom's birthday? You could feel your classmates' stares getting heavier, they seem to be enjoying the free entertainment.
"That still doesn't explain why you need a girlfriend. And why me of all people. You don't even know me." you emphasized the last sentence to him. If you were gonna ask someone to be your fake girlfriend, shouldn't you ask someone you know?
Todoroki shifted on his feet, looking uncomfortable. You contemplated shifting seats to give him yours but decided against it. You didn't want this conversation to prolong any further.
"You see, my parents have been pestering me to get a girlfriend since last year. So I've just been lying to them about having one for almost a year now," he sounded distressed as he told you his explanation. "I've been trying to put off having them meet my so called girlfriend, but this time, my mom is very adamant, she's not gonna take no for an answer."
You scrunched your eyebrows. You didn't know whether to feel bad or burst out laughing. Out of all the things he could've lied about, he lied about having a girlfriend? Hell, he could told his parents some bullshit about wanting to keep his studies a priority.
"You could just tell them you guys broke up," you offered your thoughts.
"No, absolutely not." His voice firm and solid.
"Okay… well I don't know what else to tell you then," you got up to gather your stuff, wanting to leave this awkward atmosphere. As you walked past him and down the steps, you felt a tug on your backpack. Leading to you almost loosing your balance, that is until warm (and cold?) hands gripped each of your arms to steady you. Turning around, you were met with the same dull, two-coloured eyes from before. This time though, his hands wrapped around you. You were about to push his off when he said,
"You don't understand. I.., I need you!" he yelled, and you were definitely sure the entire class had heard.
"I know it's stupid but, I've been lying to my mom for the past year about you. Telling her stories about made-up dates and stories. She'll be heartbroken, and she really wants to meet my 'girlfriend.'" His eyes begged for you to understand. You felt yourself growing hot upon the words 'I need you,' especially with the way his arms wrapped around you, but one specific sentence pulled your simple fluster away.
I've been lying to my mom about you.
"Excuse me," you pushed his arms away and moved a couple steps back, trying to put some distance between you two. "Did you just say you were lying about me? What exactly is that supposed to mean?" you stared at him with accusatory eyes. He met yours with uneasy ones.
"You know that group project we had last year?" you nodded. It was a research project between the first years. It was you, Todoroki, and two other students. The project only took about a month to complete.
Mostly because the gods were on your side and you were grouped with people who actually did their work. Getting an A had never been easier.
"Well, do you remember that we went to dinner together after? To celebrate our grades?" Todoroki stared into your eyes. You couldn't do anything but nod, not sure where he was getting at.
"And that we took a group picture together?"
"For fuck's sake get to the point," you were beyond frustrated.
"I may or may not have cropped us together and showed my mom as proof of us on a 'date.'" There, he said it. The words left his mouth as he examined you with sorrowful eyes.
Compared to earlier when he'd asked you to be his girlfriend, the initial shock had been easy to contain. But upon hearing his latest words, you were certain that your reaction had carried over as far as the arts & music building.