It's a long road...

ch. 2

622 words --

bakugo was pretty pissed off with the whole encounter as he recounted what had happened to his therapist a day later.

bakugo was tasked with meeting with ua's on-site therapist after he blew up a lunch table the tenth time in a row. it was either get expelled or go through anger management training. so, bakugo met with daitan ikeda two times a week to talk through his days and how and why he needs to be able to control his actions and his temple.

"the bastard just walked out after that!" bakugo yelled. "he didn't even say good-bye, the dumb arrogant prick! he thinks he's soo much better than me, be he isn't!"

"bakugo," ikeda said, very clearly deep in thought, "you said, todoroki was it, wasn't sick at all before lunch?"

"yeah." bakugo grunted. "seemed fuckin' fine after lunch, too."

ikeda hummed in response, her brows drawn together in thought.

the next day, ikeda sat in on bakugo's classes for the day. this wasn't too out of the ordinary, especially considering ikeda was working with other 3-a students, and she just liked to know how the students acted in their day to day lives.

bakugo honestly wouldn't have minded her presence all that much if ikeda hadn't insisted on the two of them sitting with deku and his little group during lunch.

"i don't wanna fuckin' sit with them!" bakugo yelled as he was dragged over to deku's table.

"bakugo, as a pro-hero and a functioning member of society, you need to be able to work with and be around people you don't like." ikeda reasoned. "call it exposure therapy, bakugo. we're sitting with them."

bakugo finally stopped pulling away, and willingly let himself be dragged to deku's table. he still complained the whole way, though.

bakugo and ikeda were sitting with deku, iida, ururaka, tsuyu, and 0vvtodoroki. bakugo had always assumed that todoroki took up a majority of his friends' attention, using his father and money and quirk to take the spotlight like the arrogant bastard he was. but, while the others talked and joked around, todoroki had melted into the background, silently picking at his food. bakugo probably wouldn't have even noticed todoroki at all if not for ikeda's constant glances at him.

"are you enjoying your food, todoroki?" ikeda asked, her tone very soft and kind. it was the tone of voice bakugo had only ever heard during the few times bakugo had cried in front of the woman.

todoroki's eyes widened slightly when he was asked that. bakugo noticed the way todoroki's hands slightly tensed, and he was sure ikeda had noticed too. the whole table went silent and turned towards todoroki to hear his answer.

todoroki looked down towards his lap, he fringe covering his eyes.

"it's fine." todoroki said. "is your lunch alright?"

"it is, thank you for asking!" ikeda said. "what do you like to do in your free time, todoroki?"

bakugo glanced at ikeda before looking back at todoroki. why did ikeda seem like she was evaluating todoroki the same way she had with bakugo their first session?

"um..." todoroki looked up slightly, his eyes flickering across the table at everyone's faces. he took a small sip if water before answering. "i like to run."

"you like exercising?" ikeda said, clearly prompting more of an answer out of todoroki.

"i guess." todoroki shrugged. "i like to read, too, so..." todoroki shrugged again, taking a small bite of his food as he peered at ikeda with a blank expression. ikeda nodded, and the conversation shifted away from todoroki.

around the end of lunch, todoroki walked away from the table with his bag, and threw away his half eaten at most lunch. he said he had to go to the bathroom.

after a few minutes, ikeda sent bakugo after todoroki to "just check on him, bakugo. make sure he's okay."

so, bakugo grabbed his own schoolbag, and went after todoroki.