The next morning at school, both Katsuki Bakugo and Shoto Todoroki seemed distracted. One looked irritated, the other tense. Both clearly had something they wanted to ask Izuku.
"That's it for today's math class," the teacher said. "After lunch, you'll all begin your work-study placements. It will last one week. I hope you make the most of it. See you all next week."
"A whole week…" Denki Kaminari groaned, slumping over his desk. "I hope nothing goes wrong."
"Yeah, and we won't get to see anyone like Midoriya's sister again," he added.
"Hey, Midoriya," someone said, "can we borrow those photos of your sister again?"
"You two have no shame," Kyoka Jiro snapped, teaming up with Ochaco Uraraka to shut them down.
"Absolutely not," Izuku said firmly. "I'm not taking those out again."
"Um… Midoriya," Uraraka said, lowering her voice as she restrained the two. "Could we borrow your sister's books instead?"
"Sure," Izuku said with a small smile.
He reached into his bag and pulled out two books.
"One of these just arrived yesterday," he explained. "The other one is one I was planning to reread. You can borrow them, but please return them."
"Thank you!" Uraraka said, looking at the cover. "Let's see… Snow and the Curved Blade. It sounds like a story set in western China."
"Glad you like it," Izuku said.
"I'll head out and get ready. See you all in a week."
He had just picked up his bag when a cold hand grabbed his wrist.
"Midoriya, come with me for a moment," Todoroki said.
Without waiting, Todoroki pulled him out of the classroom.
A wave of curiosity spread instantly through Class 1-A.
"This feels like something big," Uraraka said, turning to Toru Hagakure and handing her a phone. "Go follow them."
"Got it!" Hagakure replied, hurrying after them.
"If you want to watch, use this site," Uraraka told the class.
Even Tenya Iida opened the link along with everyone else.
Todoroki led Izuku all the way up to the rooftop.
"Todoroki, what's going on?" Izuku asked.
"…In your sister's letter yesterday," Todoroki said slowly, "she mentioned a half-photo. Is that right?"
"Yeah," Izuku replied. "It's from a childhood friend. We split it before they left."
He took out his wallet and carefully removed the half-photo.
Watching from afar, the class held their breath.
"I… have the other half," Todoroki said, his voice trembling slightly.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his own piece.
Izuku stared at it, his mind going blank.
Todoroki's hand shook as he held the photo out.
Slowly, the two pieces moved closer.
No one spoke.
Izuku stopped breathing.
The edges met—
—and the two halves fit together perfectly.
Silence filled the rooftop.
From the hidden livestream, the entire class watched without blinking.
"Say something already, I can't take this silence!" Eijiro Kirishima blurted out.
Everyone immediately glared at him.
Back on the rooftop, Izuku lowered his head. He raised a hand and wiped at the tears gathering in his eyes.
Then he looked up at Todoroki.