Kouji Kouda missed a lot about his home in Iwate.

He missed his mom. He missed his pets. But he especially missed his old school.

Maybe it wasn't as amazing a school as UA, but it was a lot calmer. There weren't so many people around. He didn't feel like he stood out so much.

And middle school English class was a lot easier , he thought. Whoever even invented English spelling, anyway? Why is 'tough' spelled a bit like 'through', but pronounced a completely different way?

He sunk his forehead into his textbook. It'll be a miracle if my test scores are in the middle of the class again .

He wasn't sure how long he had been begging the gods of English for mercy when there was a knock at the door.

Was I being too loud? As he got up, he remembered that Jirou's room was on the same floor, on the opposite side of the building. Her hearing can be very sensitive.

He cracked open the door to see Todoroki waiting on the other side. Oh my gosh, how noisy was I being if I managed to upset Todoroki?

"Ah, Kouda. Pardon the intrusion. Do you mind if I come in for just a moment?"

Kouda quickly looked behind himself to make certain the room was presentable, then nodded and opened the door a bit wider. Todoroki entered.

"Sorry to bother you. I was just wondering." He fidgeted a bit. "Is it true you have a rabbit? Here in the dorms, I mean."

Kouda nodded. Didn't you see it? You were in the room with everyone else that time.

"Could I see it?"

Kouda nodded again and made a clicking sound with his mouth. A small white rabbit hopped out from under his desk, towards him. Kouda knelt down on the ground, and the rabbit placed its front paws on Kouda's lap.

"Could I…" Todoroki flushed slightly. "Could I pet it?"

Once more, Kouda nodded, slower this time.

Todoroki squatted down, then carefully reached over with one hand, and stroked the back of the rabbit with a single finger. A phantom smile briefly crossed his face. "It's… soft."

Kouda nodded, even though Todoroki wasn't looking at him anymore, his entire attention being paid to the rabbit. Todoroki continued to pet the rabbit, first with one hand, then with both.

"Could I pick it up?"

Kouda shook his head this time.

Startled by the rebuff, Todoroki got to his feet. "Oh, then, sorry to bother you. I should be going."

A large hand landed on Todoroki's shoulder as he was turning back to the door. "N-no. You can stay."

"Kouda?"

Kouda willed himself to speak. "Rabbits don't like being picked up. If their feet can't touch the ground, they can sometimes panic."

"I didn't know that. I've never touched a rabbit before. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. You didn't do anything wrong."

"Can I… come back another time?"

Kouda nodded. "Yes. Any time."

Todoroki nodded in acknowledgment. "Oh, and if there's any favor I can do for you…"

Kouda was about to wave the offer away, when he remembered.

"Ah, Todoroki-kun. Are you any good at English?"

Todoroki smiled slightly. "A little bit."

Notes: My first BNHA story. I tend to like gentle giant characters, so I was immediately drawn to Kouda.

I could easily imagine Kouda's dorm room being turned into a pet therapy center for stressed students.

Title comes from the song "The Weight" by The Band.