The sunny smile might have been enough to fool Shoto, even with the stumbling of Uraraka’s words, but her voice is markedly less cheery than he usually hears it. On top of his observations throughout the day — how Uraraka would try to concentrate in class but sometimes zone out, how she would look like she was ruminating on something while the rest of them chatted during lunch and their breaks in class (just MIdoriya and Iida actually, he didn’t talk much, but the point still stands) — he can tell something is off with her.
Usually he doesn’t choose to pry; usually he prefers to allow people to come to him about their troubles; but Shoto realizes that many of the kids in his class are rather reluctant to voice their concerns, all of the mind that it’s better to keep to themselves so they don’t bring each other down. But it’s not good to bottle things up, he has personal experience backing that life lesson, and being a hero is sometimes about offering help even when it’s not asked for.
Not to say he thinks he’s a hero saving Uraraka… but all the same: he’d like to help if he can.
“…You seem quiet today,” he remarks, voice lowered so Midoriya and Iida nearby don’t hear. He’s not sure if they have noticed Uraraka’s change in mood, but if she’s trying to hide it then it’s better to keep the space as comfortable as possible and avoid bringing extra attention to them. “I’m not very good at talking, but I can listen. If you want.” Belatedly he realizes he hasn’t conversed much with Uraraka at all, despite being part of their friend group. If possible, he’d like to remedy that.
she’s paused in surprise, a falter as her hand was reaching up to eat. she almost lost her grip on it before she managed to rescue it, taking a big bite to try and save face. perhaps it was also to stall a little bit, because she was honestly a little...panicked? not quite the right word (a little extreme ) -- but still, she didn’t think anyone would really notice -- iida and deku certainly hadn’t, and out of their little lunch group they were the ones she was probably closest to.
so when todoroki picked up on it, she was honestly a little surprised. she supposed, maybe, that was because he was quieter than the others ; took more notice. she’s not sure, but she finds herself stuttering a little, trying to force out a quiet laugh to dismiss his worries, try to save face and seem a little more like herself.
“ a-ah, am i ? i never noticed. ” she spoke, but she kept her voice low -- not wanting to pull iida and deku’s attention to them, because then it would be even harder. but she feels a little bad, after that -- her eyes dropping to the lunchbox sitting in her lap. because he sounds genuinely worried, and seems like he wants to help, and it hurts to think she’s lying to a friend who’s reaching out -- even when she’s only holding it back for the sake of them; she doesn’t want her stress and worries to be one more thing on their backs -- when she’s sure they already have so many.
but she finds herself biting her lip, and holding her tongue, as she goes to thank him, but decline. finds something in herself that’s pushing her to talk to someone -- because maybe that’s what she needs, someone to listen and take a little weight off her shoulders. she’s been on the other side of that so many times ; perhaps it was her turn to take the invitation she’s usually giving.
“ actually, um -- that would be nice, todoroki.” and she lifts her head to shoot him a small smile, a little dimmer than her usual but more genuine. “ i guess i’ve just had a lot on my mind recently, and it’s been making things hard to focus on.”
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