Chapter Text
A faint yellow glow of a nearby street lamp filters in through Hitoshi’s dorm window, casting a beam of light across the otherwise dark room. Shinsou lays on his side, staring at the illuminated papers scattered across his desk. Papers that he should have been hashing over in a dead sprint to complete, but instead they stayed bone white and blank. He’s a dedicated student— always putting forth his best effort into any assignments, no matter if they’re only worth point two percent of his total grade or fifty. However, tonight, his head is simply too full of thoughts to keep focus on calculus.
Izuku Midoriya, the classmate sticking to his mind, thunking around like a shoe in a washing machine. Around and around with a jarring clash.
With heavy eyelids and an exasperated huff, he attempts to muffle the memories that slam into him like waves on the harbor.
Tears that gleamed against the setting sun's rays, tremor-ridden hands, lips bit raw to keep the sobs inside— it was a juxtaposition sight to the bright eyes and determined smile Midoriya usually dawns. It perverses the mental image that Shinsou made of the boy. But after their rooftop conversation, it shook out the Polaroid and the new image fills out.
A pang of guilt rattles in his chest. But Shinsou wonders how he was supposed to know that they shared that gnarled piece of identity. That the other boy’s requests and awkward attempts at small talk were anything more than trying to keep a watchful eye on him or as a way to make fun of him?
That the friendliness wouldn’t be harnessed as a ploy for a cruel joke, to pretend to be his friend just to laugh behind his back. It wouldn’t be the first time.
Shinsou never remembers exactly what age he was when he first fell for that rouse, but the words were seared into him, one of the first dents in that soft and squishy facet called trust, ‘I can’t believe you thought I was serious, why would I want to hang out with someone like you?’.
It was the first of many, and from that memory onwards, there was worse to come, but for reasons he can’t understand, that particular moment is drawn to the forefront of his thoughts like a moth to flames.
Am I being jaded and bitter, or am I being realistic?
The thought keeps spiraling around.
He knows he reacted with cold indifference because that’s what the world has taught him, everything that was delicate was wrapped up away from anyone else’s view. The walls he built around him stand sturdy and tall, no one can simply bust in and break off another piece of him.
Nobody can get in, nobody can get to him.
But now, after that exchange, he’s beginning to realize the double-edged sword it has become. Up on that rooftop, for the first time in years, he felt seen.
Somehow, just knowing that someone else understands, it’s a balm on some of those old bruises, the burden on his shoulders lessens. It feels good, really good. Though Shinsou knows he can’t just get rid of his tough exterior, he’ll get hurt.. but maintaining his solitude, and being alone also hurts.
So, what do I do? Shinsou’s been untangling this mess since he got back to his dorm at eight, it’s now half past three.
There is a reason a turtle has a shell, without it all its soft bits will be torn into, but..
‘but I’m not a turtle. Jesus Christ, I’m comparing myself to a reptile, if that’s not a sign I need to shut the fuck up and go to sleep, I don’t know what is.’ With a deary exhale, Shinsou rolled over in his bed. He clenched his eyes shut like he could force sleep to come if he pressed his eyelids closed hard enough.
‘… should I try? Is the potential of being hurt worth the feeling of being understood? Is he worth the risk?’
Shinsou doesn’t get much sleep that night, and as a result, he doesn’t pay much attention to Aizawa’s lecture the next morning.
‘I need to sort my emo shit before my grades start slipping’ he laments, though realizing that doesn’t do much to zip his focus into place.
But, after the bell for lunch rings, when Izuku turns and asks the same question he’s been asking for a month, Shinsou finally agrees.
Izuku is positively beaming, smile stretched from ear to ear as he leads them out of the classroom and into the hallway. His cluster of friends is already waiting for him a few paces away from the door. Shinsou lags a step behind as they approach the group, nerves rising a degree with each step closer.
While Shinsou has minimal— and mostly negative— encounters with Izuku, he has just about none with Iida, Uraraka, or Todoroki.
Still, he’s not going to turn tails now, it feels cruel to retract his agreement with how hard Midoriya has been trying to eat lunch with him.
‘I’d told myself I’d try, not that it would go well’ he sighs internally as he stops in front of the group
Three pairs of eyes fall on him and he can feel his palms start to sweat, luckily he’s not forced to say anything as Izuku pipes up, seemingly unable to hold back his excitement anymore.
“Shinsou-san said he’s down to join us for lunch today!” He exclaims.
Shinsou knows he can overthink things, but the hesitance radiating from Uraraka and Iida is clear as day. Their eyes are slightly narrowed, brows twisted down, they aren’t trying to hide their expressions.
Todoroki though, his cold demeanor stays the same, as flat as always. Shinsou wonders if he’s legitimately as ice cold as his quirk, or if he’s one of those people you have to know the micro-expressions of to understand.
“Um... Deku I-“ Uraraka starts with an unsure tone, but it seems that Midoriya’s smile works akin to puppy dog eyes, “- sounds great! It’s nice to see you, Shinsou.” She says with a slight bow.
“Let’s go eat!” With a slight fist pump to the air, she turns and starts down to the hall.
‘I’ll… try’
Lunch is an awkward affair, his presence seems to stifle the conversation. The wary glances he gets from the other occupants of the table certainly won’t ease the tension either. Even through his bubble of enthusiasm, the green-haired boy beside him picked up on the awkwardness that sat in the silence. With that, his hands start to twist together, which Shinsou has seen the boy do enough time to catalog as a nervous tick.
“So, I heard we are doing a hero’s verse villains group exercise after lunch! Same as we did during our first heroics class. I wonder if we’ll get the same pairings, it would be a great way to showcase everyone’s progress, don’t you think?” Izuku says, obviously trying to fill —what Shinsou’s assuming is unusual— silence.
There is a beat before Iida replies, “Hm? Oh yes, I’m sure it will be.”
That… certainly didn’t add much to the conversation.
The awkward silence returns with amazing speed. Along with it, Izuku’s nervous fiddling.
A flash of indignation starts in his chest at the sight, the boy lost his confidence so quickly. For some reason, shinsou really dislikes seeing him defeated.
‘Goddammit, I guess it’s up to me.’ he huffs before interjecting, “…what’s that exercise about? I wasn’t here during the beginning of class and all, so I’d like some heads up on what I’m getting into.” Shinsou can guess pretty easily what their heroics class will entail, but with how relieved Midoirya looks at the prospect of conversation, Shinsou doesn’t mind an over-explanation.
Their idle chatter about past class lessons and the harshness of Aizawa’s curriculum smooths over the jagged edges of tension.
While Shinsou is a bit on edge over the story about the expulsion threats on their first day, the air around the group of much less distilled. It’s mainly him and Izuku talking, but he does notice the other three chime in on occasion.
By the end of lunch, while the hesitation in their actions is still palpable, it’s an improvement from before. ‘I tried, and you know what, I’ll give that a solid b-‘ Shinsou concludes.
However, Shinsou wonders why his classmates are acting this way toward him. ‘Not like they’re being dicks, but it wouldn’t call that friendly’, with a grimace the purple-haired teen is aware that he’s spent the last month trying his best not to interact with anyone, so his actions today must be pretty polarizing in comparison.
‘Or…’, he knows his mind finds the worst-case scenario like a heat-seeking missile, but, ‘well there is an obvious other answer. I mean, Midoriya kept his dad's situation under wraps from them, maybe he did it for a reason, maybe-‘, As if shaking off the thought, Shinsou swishes his head, stopping the speculation there. After all, he has classes he really needs to pay more attention to.
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
“All righty, little listeners! That’s all I got for you today! Remember the homework assignment is due Monday. I expect to hear some totally awesome stories in totally awesome english. Have a wild weekend, cool cats!” Present Mic said a touch too loud, finishing up his lecture.
Shinsou put away his notebook and packed up a few minutes prior, ready to lay cocooned in his blankets doom scrolling social media till the early morning, or as he calls it: recharging.
With a huff, he leveraged himself out of his seat, peaking a glance at Midoriya as he stood. The green-haired boy seemed to be finishing up his notes, pencil scratching furiously across the lined paper in his haste to mark it all down before he forgot any important pieces of the lecture.
When Shinsou straightened out, the pink-skinned girl was standing in front of him, a question obviously straining to leave her glossed lips.
“Shinous! You doing anything after class?” She asked excitedly.
“Uh, I-” He stopped his sentence as quickly as it started, ‘Does rotting in bed count as plans? Ugh, I can’t say that.’ wearily, he tried to quickly decide if he should come up with a lie or figure out why she was asking first, ‘Fuck, what was her name again?’ ..and to figure out a way to learn all of his classmate's names without coming off like an asshole, since apparently they all knew his name.
With a rustling of paper being shoved into a bag and a squeak of shoes on the tiled floors, Midoriya leaped to his feet and interjected himself into the conversation,
“Oh, Mina, are we having another movie night tonight?” He seemed to buzz with enthusiasm, eyes alight and bright.
‘Well looks like both of my questions were answered. They have a class movie night?’ back when he was in 1-C, while his classmates were mostly pleasant, they definitely weren’t close enough with each other to have gatherings after class.
‘I mean, with all these villain attacks, it probably made them closer than regular high school classmates. Attacks on your life as a way to make friends, what a way to bond.’ He thought sardonically.
“Yeah! It’s been a hot second since most people have had enough spare time to join. But woohoo, most of us are finally free!” She emphasized that with jazz hands,” I found some great movies since we last watched, and I am making you all witness their greatness. So, Shinsou, you in?”
‘Am I?’
Weighing his options, Shinsou would really rather hibernate in his room with his phone and instant ramen noodles for the rest of the night. With his mind made up, he opened his mouth to negate her offer, then he saw Midoriya out of the corner of his eye. His green eyes brightened even more with the hopeful expression saturating them, and a closemouthed pleasant smile stretched across his face.
“Yeah, sure.” The words slipped past his lips without consulting his brain first, leaving both him and Mina with an expression of surprise.
‘Well fuck, I did not mean to say that. I guess I’m rotting in bed later.’
“ Oh, awesome! I really thought you were going to brush us off again. I’m glad you’re not though, I know some of us really wanna get to unmask this whole mysterious vibe you got going on.” She said, which made Shinsou pause.
“Mysterious vibe?” he inquired dryly, eyebrows raised.
“Well, yeah man. With the silence and the brooding.” With her explanation, she drew her brows down and glared her eyes to mimic his ‘brooding’ face.
“Hey, I don’t look like that, and I don’t brood.” With a huff of indignation, he crossed his arms.
“Well..” Midoriya started, adverting his eyes, “You maybe, kinda do sometimes... just a little.” He peeps in with a sheepish smile.
“My man, you’re doing it right now. You’re a broody kind of guy, no shame in it. Once again, it gives you that mysterious aura.” The gray fabric of her blazer scrunches at the shoulder as she gives a nonchalant shrug alongside her statement.
“But that’s beside the point, we’re meeting up at 5 in the common room, and of course, there will be hella snacks. See you there!” The last bit of her statement is tossed over her shoulder as she begins to head out of the classroom.
With her gone, his focus falls back onto the other boy.
“I’m really happy you said yes! It’ll be fun, I promise.” That megawatt smile illuminated the space around them.
“Uh, yeah.” Shinsou knows why his mouth betrayed him earlier, ‘He has a really nice smile.’
A few minutes past five, he arrives in the common room.
It seems more than half of the class showed up. Most of the lights are off and the blinds have been shut, though, the light in the communal kitchen stayed on, casting a dim fluorescent yellow glow across the room.
The plush chairs are occupied, as well as most of the coach and the space in front of it, as there is a gathering of people stretched out on the floor.
“Shinsou! “ Mudoriya called out with a wave, “It’s a bit cramped, but you can sit beside me.”
With the offer, he gestured to the space between himself and the armrest of the coach.
It’s a bit of a tight fit, but it beats standing the whole time or sitting a distance away from everyone like he’s a leper.
“Thanks, what are we watching?” He says as he plops down, one arm propped up on the armrest, the other on the top of the coach to try and fit his limbs into the space comfortably.
“It’s called Forrest Gump. Mina said he parents got her to watch it when she was home the other day, it’s a pre-quirk movie and was really popular.” Midorya answered, turning to face him, though his freckled cheeks flushed a ruby color when he seemed to recognize how close their faces were like this.
“It’s- It’s” Izuku’s words stumbled over each other before, in a quick movement, he turned his head back forward,
“It’s a really good movie!” He rushed out, voiced pitch high.
“You’ve already seen it?”
“Yeah! I love pre-quirk movies, so I’ve seen a lot of the classics. I mean, they aren’t as good as any of the All Might movies I’ve seen, but sometimes it’s refreshing to watch stuff from before quirks started appearing. The plots get repetitive when so many storylines are just about someone with a uniquely cool quirk. And with it, they don’t even give a multifaceted view on quirks or quirk theory. A super overpowered quirk with no repercussions on the user singlehandedly saving the world? Awesome, but after a while it gets a bit bland.”
“Huh, I didn’t know you were such a film buff.”
“Oh, well I wouldn’t say I’m that. Just…” His sentence trails off.
“Nah I get it, honestly I don’t watch many movies because of that reason. Screenwriters are getting lazy.” Shinsou says, the last portion in a dramatic stage whisper
“I wouldn’t say lazy, per se.” Izuku retorts with a small laugh.
“I would. I’m calling out all modern-day directors for being unoriginal. We got to get you into the green room, you’ll set them straight.” With a badly restrained smile, he shrugs.
“Shinsou” Izuku whines, though the pleading effect is diminished by the amusement that glints on his features.
“If you need a side gig during your heroics career, I know what you’re doing.”
“That wouldn’t be my first choice. Plus you either got to go to film school or get a lot of credibility to be a director.”
“I didn’t say you’d be a director, you’d lecture a bunch of directors on their lack of understanding of how quirks function.”
The green-haired boy’s laugh is quiet, but it makes it no less sweet.
“Now that, I would do free of charge.”
“SHHHHH the movie is starting!” Kaminari chimes in, turning around to face them from his spot on the floor in front of them.
“Dude, that shushing was louder than they were,” Sero says, nudging the blond with his shoulder.
“My shushing skills are impressive, I know.” Kaminari says, stroking his chin in the mimic of having an invisible beard.
“Yeah because of how often you hear people shushing you.” Sero retorts.
“ Can you all shut the fuck up?!” Bakugou shouts roughly from his place on one of the recliner chairs, effectively stopping their bantering back and forth.
“Geez blasty, I almost forgot you were here without all your typical yelling,” mumbles Denki with an amused huff.
“Movie time!” Mina cuts in before that dialogue can go forth, pointing the remote at the TV and pressing play.
Shinous watches the actions playing out on screen, enjoying the movie more than he initially thought he would. His attention is held completely captive by the whiplash of emotions depicted throughout the film. Dramatic scenes interspersed with small doses of comedy leave him thoroughly entertained. This deep immersion in the movie is perhaps why it took him so long to notice the warmth pressing against his side.
He tears his eyes away from the screen to see Midoriya beside him.
From their clothing-clad thighs up to their shoulders, they are pressed close together. Most noticeable is Izuku’s head, which rests comfortably against Shinsou’s shoulder.
Vibrant green curls softly brush against Shinsou’s chin and the right side of his face as he turns to look at the other boy. The sensation is faintly ticklish, but that's low on Shinsou's list of priorities at the moment. Midoriya fell asleep against him.
Shinsou has always had an aversion to physical contact. Not that he received much in the first place, but whenever someone stood too close to him or, heaven forbid, hugged him, his skin practically prickled like a cat’s fur standing on end. His discomfort was apparent in his raised shoulders and tense muscles– touch made his skin crawl. Yet, in the dimly lit room, this particular instance of closeness feels different.
Instead of the expected discomfort, where the warmth of another’s body would typically make him stiffen or recoil, Shinsou finds that the sensation is more electrifying than soothing. It’s not the kind of warmth that seeps into his bones like a cozy bath easing aching muscles; rather, it is a charged, almost invigorating presence. Each point of contact between them feels alive with subtle energy, causing a strange, fluttering tension within him. The sounds of the movie and his classmates whispering their commentary fade into white noise, an unimportant backdrop compared to this new emotional landscape.
Shinsou feels his heart begin to beat against his chest, though the typical smothering feeling of anxiety doesn’t come with it. Instead, his chest swirls with a curious mix of excitement and nervousness.
‘What do I do here?’ His mind races to find the appropriate answer. ‘Should I wake him up? I don’t think he’d be happy to know he’s cuddled up next to me right now. But…”
The gentle puffs of breaths from the sleeping boy beside him are so foreign it’s almost unsettlingly in a way, and yet, it doesn't drive him away like it typically would, which might just unsettle him more. Though, with a startling realization, Shinsou finds that he likes this.
‘Or, well, fuck, it’s the same as cat rules isn’t it? If a cat is sleeping on you, you can’t move them.’ He concludes. As usual, when in unsure waters of social interaction, reflecting on cat behaviors would be his north star. From this close, Shinsou can smell the faint, sweet aroma of his shampoo.
‘What is that? Artificial strawberry? Or-’ Sharply, he shatters the thought, ‘Do not be a fucking creep and smell your friend, what the fuck.’ He backtalks to his mind, though something else in that thought gripped his attention.
‘ Hold up– Friend? Do I think of Midoriya as my friend? Holy shit, I made a friend.’
That statement is on the same level of foreign as the comfortableness of their contact. It’s unusual to him, but strangely enough, it feels good.
The movie wraps up soon after, and as Mina flicks back on the light, Shinsou nudges his shoulder to stir consciousness back into the sleeping classmate… friend.. against him.
“Hm..?” Is the sleep-logged response he gets in return
.
“Movies’ over, and I don’t know about you, but I prefer sleeping in a bed than on a couch,” Hitoshi replies.
It takes the green-haired boy a moment to fully pull his awareness out of the sleepy hazy, and when he does, the blush that overtakes his face arrives with startling speed.
Flinging himself backward, Midoriya hastily rushes out an apology, “Shinsou! I fell asleep on you!”
“Yeah, I’m aware.” With a hint of playful sarcasm, he says back.
“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable!” It seems Izuku is not picking up on the amusement laced in Hitoshi’s tone and is genuinely worried.
“If I was uncomfortable, I would have woken you sooner or nudged you off. It’s fine, I didn't really mind.” ‘I only had a slight freak out, but I’m not lying about it being fine.’ He corrects himself internally, but he refrains from repeating that to him.
“You two done snuggling over there?” Kaminari says teasingly, turning his head around to ogle at the two.
‘Wow, I didn't think Midoriya’s face could get any redder.’
“I- we- it wasn't snuggling!” The scandalous nature of how Izuku says it almost makes Shinsou laugh out loud.
“Mhhhh are ya sure about that? I don't know, looked pretty snuggly to me.” Kaminari presses, an almost sadistic glee in his eyes at furthering the teasing.
Where Shinsou would typically be a silent observer of his classmate's antics, he decides it might be part of the whole trying thing if he participates.
“What do you have against snuggling, Kaminari?” Then, mimicking the playful teasing often heard when someone is called to the principal's office over the intercom, "Ooo, somebody's jealous." He croons with a deadpan grin.
With an affronted gasp, the blonde boy smacks a hand against his chest. “Excuse you, I snuggle with a lot of people, I’m not jealous!”
“You sure about that?” He leers.
“Slander! Hearsay! I am the king of snuggling, I will have you know!” The dramatic theater-like quality of his voice projects around the room.
“Oh my gosh.” Shinsou faintly hears Midoriya mumble, his tomato-red face hidden behind his hands.
With a huff of laughter at his reactions, Hitoshi concludes that this is more pleasant than his original plan of staying in his dorm room. He might have to do this more often.
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The sky blushes the last twinkles of pink as shades of indigo creep across the horizon. The street lamps lining the school track began to turn on a few minutes ago, casting long, stretching beams of lights and contrasting shadows down the path.
Shinsou has been running around the track in rhythmic loops for long enough that his breath pants out in haggard puffs. Sweat coats his body in a fine sheen, collecting at his hairline and causing his shorts and shirt to stick uncomfortably to his skin.
The air was cool against his skin, a crisp whisper of evening breeze cutting through the residual warmth of the day. Shinsou has always loved this time of day—when the hustle of the sun’s heat was replaced by a calm, reflective quiet. In the quiet, with the metronome of each step.
It’s a good workout for increasing his endurance, which is essential for his future prospect of heroics. Plus Hitoshi could process his thoughts. The previous days events playing through his mind.
So, Shinsou has been hanging out with Izuku, he made a friend. He felt a part of him be soothed by this new closeness he’d forged. There’s a creeping ache that spreads when he spends too long alone, but being with the green-haired boy washed through that turbulent feeling with ease.
His feet pound against the pavement, each step jarring up his legs.
Bam bam bam
‘But..’ a nagging thought begins to form.
It’s hard to tell what’s slamming louder— his running shoes against the pavement or his pulse.
‘But am I getting too dependent?’ The thought makes him trip over his feet for a moment before righting himself
Shinsou is beginning to realize that getting close to Izuku soothed old aches, it made him happy.
‘But..’ He knows that the closer he is, it will hurt that much more if (‘when’ his traitor brain tacts on) he leaves. Or hurts him, betrays him, whatever.
He feels like he’s just handing over his emotional well-being into someone’s hands, all the soft pieces he’s just placing in those scarred palms. When some random jackass does some callous shit, it doesn’t matter to Shinsou, cause he doesn’t care what some random guy thinks.
But he cares now.
‘And that’s terrifying’
Bam bam ba-
“Kid, what are you doing out of the dorms this late? There’s a curfew, you know.” Aizawa’s deadpan voice cuts through his spiraling monologue.
Shinsou gracelessly fumbled to a stop, he didn’t realize he had picked up speed.
‘So much for running helping sort my thoughts’ he thought with a huff.
“It’s not that late,” Hitoshi mumbles between huffs of hot air, pulling his shirt up to wipe the sweat dripping into his eyes.
He’s met with an intimidating, red glare for that comment.
“There is class tomorrow, Problem Child.” Aizawa ignores Hitoshi’s last statement, instead infusing his statement with the most condescending he can, apparently.
“I thought Midoriya was your problem child?” Shinsou snarks back.
“All of you are problem children” The black-haired man responds. “But get yourself to bed, I have strenuous work for you all tomorrow.”
‘When is your class not strenuous?’
“Yeah yeah, I’ll do that I’m a bit. I want to get another mile or two in.” Shinsou replies flippantly, still breathless.
He knows he's not at the same physical strength level as his classmates yet, despite already being in 1-A for a month now. Not that he hasn’t been trying, but Shinsou doesn’t think he’s ever been as consistently sore as he has been these past few weeks. The ache of overused muscles becomes a constant.
“Problem child.” Aizawa chides, brow cocked as he stares at Shinsou's heaving and sweat-soaked form.
Shinsou scowled, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "But I need to push myself to improve. The hero course isn’t easy."
Aizawa's expression remained the same tired yet impassive, though there was a subtle firmness in his tone. "To improve, you need moderation. Recovery is just as impactful to progress as working."
“You just say that as an excuse to nap during homeroom." Shinsou teases.
Aizawa's eyes narrowed slightly. "Shut it, brat, or I’ll give you detention."
“Even in the survival of the fittest wilderness, the importance of rest is evident; after a cheetah sprints at 70 mph, it retreats to the shade, demonstrating that even the swiftest need recovery to thrive.” *
"What was that? When did you become a sleep-deprived version of Kant?"
Aizawa’s gaze remained steady. "Nothing I said sounded like Kant’s philosophies. If anything, it’s more like Aristotle."
Shinsou shot him a deadpan look.
"Every school year since the opening of U.A., philosophy classes have been mandatory in the third year. It sounded boring to me too, but it sticks with you." The tired man explains with a slight shrug.
Shinsou sighed, clearly exasperated. "I’m too tired for this. Let’s say I’m choosing to listen to your recovery advice and not that your monologue was so boring it cured my insomnia."
Aizawa's reply was deadpan. "I will expel you."
Shinsou’s response was a sharp retort as he turned on his heel. "I’m leaving!"
With that, Shinsou turned back towards his dorm. Aizawa watched him go, a small, amused smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Hitoshi sits idly in the UA library. It was a large room with high ceilings, mostly stark white, yet the colorful spines of books lining the shelves liven the space. With a mix of tables and plush chairs, UA students come here often for both research for exams and as a study space.
Shinsou just likes to come here for a quiet change of scenery.
“Hey Shinsou!” A bubbly voice catches his attention, dragging his eyes away from the illumination of his phone screen up to match the brown eyes of Uraraka.
After their awkward lunch the other day, Shinsou didn’t think they’d chat much outside of pleasant greetings. But here she is standing above him from his chair in the school library.
‘I guess I was wrong’
“Uh, hi,” he said, a bit lamely, with a slight wave.
His confusion was evident in his furrowed brows. He’d been using the library as a refuge—a place where he could be alone and away from the social whirl. But Uraraka’s presence felt like an intrusion.
Uraraka, unfazed by his aloof response, settled into the chair beside him with a cheerful grin. “Mind if I join you?”
Shinsou’s initial instinct was to say no, but he simply nodded instead. “Sure. What’s up?”
Uraraka’s smile faltered slightly as she leaned forward, her tone shifting to something more serious. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about something…” She trailed off.
That was not a sentence Shinsou liked hearing, plus the anticipation about whatever she was about to mention frayed his nerves. His shoulders tensed and turning off his phone he gave his full attention. “Alright. What?”
Uraraka hesitated momentarily before blurting out, “It’s about Izuku.”.
The mention of Izuku's name caused Shinsou to tense up slightly. His heart rate picked up, but he kept his expression neutral, not wanting to give away any sign of discomfort.
“What about him?” He said defensively. Shinsou could guess what about, but he figured he’d be sure.
She bit her lip, clearly searching for the right words.
“Well, you know, about the other day. He kinda got all… freaked out when we were talking about his dad. And you took him out of the room during that, and you two were gone for a while, and- and then there’s the thing about how you two became friends so quickly. I’ve noticed you’re usually pretty reserved, and I just—”
Shinsou cut her off. “Uraraka, what exactly are you asking me?” he questions defensively.
“What happened? Do you know why he got so stressed out? Did he tell you why? And why you?” She shot off rapid-fire questions.
That flare of protectiveness lit in his chest, not liking her invasive questions. ‘If she wants to know, she can ask him up front, not talk behind his back. And what does she mean ‘why me’?’.
“Why are you asking? Don’t you see how this is an invasion of his privacy?” Shinsou snarked.
Uraraka’s brow furrowed in frustration.
“I’m not trying to invade his privacy! It’s just that... seeing him get upset like that, made me worried. And you’re his friend now, so I thought maybe you could shed some light on what’s going on. Maybe if I understand, I can help him better. Right now I can’t even try to help him, none of us can.”
Shinsou’s expression softened slightly, though he remained firm. “ All of this is Izuku’s business and his only. I respect his boundaries, and that includes keeping his personal issues private. If he wants to talk about it, he will. It’s not really my place to share.”
Uraraka looked down, her shoulders slumping a bit as she struggled to keep her emotions in check. “I just don’t want him to be hurting. I care about him a lot, he’s my best friend and it’s hard not knowing what’s going on.”
Shinsou’s laye of toughness cracked a bit at the sight of her legitimate concern, rather than a deire to scoop out hot gossip. However, he remains resolute in his stance. “I get that. But sometimes, respecting someone’s privacy is the best way to support them.”
Looking at her worry over her green-haired friend, Shinsou relented a bit. “Look, I’m sure Izuku will open up to you when he’s ready.”
There was a pause as Uraraka absorbed his words. She sighed deeply, clearly conflicted but ultimately nodding in resignation. “Alright, I get it. I guess I’ll just have to trust that he knows what he’s doing.”
Shinsou nodded “Alright, good.”
As he stood up from his chair, Uraraka looked at him. She seemed as though she was about to ask him another question but decided against it, before reopening her mouth. “See you in class then?”
“Yeah, see you then. ” Shinsou said, glancing around the quiet library.
He was definitely not fleeing from the more tense conversation, definitely not. But he was still attempting to get out of there as quickly as possible while still seeming casual.
A sigh is pulled from deep in his chest, wearily exhaling from that pulse-pumping conversation. Shinsou turns the corner, happy to get away from the tension. ‘Thank god that’s ov-‘ his thought cuts off sharply as he recognizes what he’s looking at. As he rounded the corner, his eyes locked with another set—green, filled with a mix of anxiety and sadness. Izuku Midoriya stood pressed against the wall, his posture tense, clearly having overheard the conversation between Shinsou and Uraraka.
Shinsous heart misses a beat.
“So, I’m assuming you heard all of that?” Shinsous words come out slowly, testing the waters of the conversation he is about to have.
He feels like a kid caught with their hand in the cookie jar but now it seemed he needed to shift gears to address the real source of the issue.
Izuku’s face turned a shade of red as he shifted uncomfortably, trying to keep his emotions in check. “I—I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I just... I was on my way to study, and I heard bits and pieces. I—”
Shinsou cut him off hastily. “It’s fine, this is a public space and all.” He says with forced casualness.
Seeing the tears already beginning to gloss across his wide eyes, Shinsou pauses, trying to find the right words to say.
With a brief turn of his head, Hitoshi checks to make sure nobody else is in earshot.
“Wanna sit down?” The purple-haired teen asks though he ushers the shorter boy towards empty seats nearby before hearing his reply.
Once there situated, he asks hesitantly, “You okay?”.
It’s fairly evident he’s not. Tears clump together his lashes. Shinsou hates seeing Izuku this way.
He’s aware that the other boy has trigger-happy waterworks. Tear tracks and red-rimmed eyes often decorate his face, but this type of tears Hitoshi hates the most. Not the happy tears when one of their classmates goes out of their way to do something kind for the green-haired boy, but instead usual bright green simmering with a tumultuous storm of emotions.
“I just... I hate that I’m keeping this secret. It feels like– no I am hiding something huge, it’s basically like I’m lying to them about who I really am. What if they think I’m like him? Instead of seeing me as Deku: the hero in training, they’d just see me as people always do, the villain kid.” His voice wavers and hitches as he talks through the tears.
Shinsou’s expression hardened into one of firm resolve. He leans in closer, his voice taking on a protective edge. “Izuku, you’re not a villain in any sense of the word. This doesn’t define who you are. It’s a part of you, sure, but it’s not all of you. Besides, you’re not responsible for his choices, and no one should judge you based on his actions.”
Izuku looked down, his voice trembling. “But if I tell them, and they hate me or look at me differently—”
Shinsou’s tone was unyielding. “You have friends who care about you. If they’re true friends, they’ll understand. If they don’t, they’re not worth your time.”
The intensity in Shinsou’s voice was matched by the sincerity in his eyes. He took leaned across even closer, his demeanor softening. “Izuku, you’re allowed to choose when and if you share your issues. It’s your decision, and it’s not something anyone should force you into. You have every right to protect yourself and your feelings. But know this: you have people who care about you. You’re not alone in this.”
Shinsou realized that maybe, just maybe, ‘I’m not alone in this either, anymore.’
Izuku’s breath hitched as a few tears finally broke free, streaming down his cheeks. He wiped them away quickly, embarrassed. “I don’t want them to see me like this. I don’t want to be a burden.”
Shinsou placed a hand on his shoulder, his touch surprisingly comforting, if how Midoriya leaned into it is anything to go by. “You’re not a burden. You’re a friend in need of support. It doesn’t make you weak or any less of a hero. It just means you’re human.”
Izuku let out a shuddering breath, nodding as he tried to calm himself. “Thanks, Shinsou. I guess I needed to hear that.”
They sit in comfortable silence as Midoriya gathers his wits.
“Does that include you?” Izuku asks hesitantly, wiping the tear tracks off his freckled cheeks.
“What?” Shinsou asked, confusion evident in his tone.
“You said I have friends who care about me, does that- I mean- do you..” The other boy's confidence while that question seemed to have lost steam, but Hitoshi clearly understood what he was asking.
Does Hitoshi care about Midoriya? To a certain extent, Shinsou cares about everyone, he is a hero in training after all. Though he knows that’s not what the green-haired boy is talking about. The answer is yes, he wouldn’t be doing all of this if he didn’t. But admitting that to himself, much less out loud makes him feel vulnerable. The type of vulnerability that makes you want to shield yourself away, take cover underneath aloofness, and a false act of being detached.
Shinsou must have been quiet for too long, as Midoriya’s face deepened to a crimson, before adverting his eyes to the floor.
“You don’t have to answer that, gosh that was so weird of me to say!” He sputters out frantically, before stealing himself and gazing into Shinsou’s eyes again.
“I think I’m going to tell them. I don’t like this feeling, that there is this wall between them and me because of this secret. It’s not.. Or well, you’re right. It doesn’t define me, but it is a part of me. And I want friends who know all of me and still care for me, not despite, but regardless. And they might not.. but if they really are my friends then they will, yeah?”
“Damn right.” He agrees with a cocksure grin.
Midoriya seems more at ease with Shinsou’s own vote of confidence.
‘Well fuck, if Midoriya can be brave enough to be open about all that, then I can…and fuck, it just means I’m human, huh?” He thinks, reflecting on his own speech.
“I do, by the way.” Hitoshi blurts out.
Izuku’s eyebrows furrow in confusion, head tilting towards the side a fraction.
“Care. I do… care about you.” The words feel heavy and chunky coming out of his mouth, like attempting to speak a language he doesn't quite know.
Still, the smile he receives is blinding.
“I care about you too, Shinsou. So, uh, call me Izuku?” His statement sounds more like a question, the last few words uplifted in a near squeaky voice.
“Only if you call me Hitoshi.”
Izuku lets out a soft laugh, “Will do, Toshi!” He says excitedly with a cheery fist pump.
‘...Toshi”
Shinsou thinks his brain might have just done a hard reboot.
With a beat red face and a thundering heart, Hitoshi can definitely state that ‘Yeah, I really do care.’
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One of Shinsou’s feet stepped forward, using his body’s momentum, he swung his weight behind his right fist. His hand ricochets with the force of the punch, hand hitting Izuku’s forearms as the other boy blocks his swing.
With quick movements, Shinsou moved out of izuku’s range as he prepped for his next strike.
The two of them had been sparring for under thirty minutes, yet he could already feel the landed hits and exertion in his bones.
Quirkless sparing was a task both of them needed to work on. Building the foundation of fighting, rather than relying on their quirks to deal their damage.
Izuku feigned a high kick, drawing a defensive block from Hitoshi, then swiftly shifted his weight to deliver a low, quick jab to his ribs. The purple-haired boy grunted, but he was quick to retaliate, ducking under her next swing and countering with a powerful roundhouse that the shorter male narrowly avoided.
They exchanged blows with a rhythmic intensity, their grunts and the shuffling of their feet the only sounds in the otherwise silent room.
With his heart pumping from exertion and sweat running down his face, Shinsou can already tell that he’s not winning this round. Though, as soon as that thought forms, Izuku swings his leg back up for a sideways kick, but it’s just slightly too far out of range to hit Shinsou where he intended.
‘An opening,’ Shinsou recognizes, quickly grabbing hold of Izuku’s limb and using his momentum to bring them crashing into the gym mat beneath them.
With little hassle, Shinsou is able to pin Izuku to the floor, his lower body keeping Izuku’s legs immobilized and his hand gripping Izuku’s wrists.
For a minute, they both focus on catching their runaway breaths, their faces inches apart, their eyes locked. In the heated aftermath, a moment of stillness ensues—a quiet so intense it feels almost surreal.
Shinous stares down at the boy beneath him, cataloging each freckle that dots his cheeks, his vibrant eyes outlined with thick lashes, his pink lips slightly parted as he catches his breath.
Without fully realizing why or how he brings his face down and meets him in a spontaneous kiss. It’s a brief, fleeting touch, a spark of something he hadn’t planned for but it seems unexpectedly right.
Shinsou’s eyes widen in shock as he pulls away, both boys staring at each other in stunned silence.
“I-I’m sorry!” Shinsou stammers, quickly shifting off of Izuku and sitting back, his cheeks turning a bright shade of red.
Izuku, equally flustered, scrambles to his feet, his face a deep crimson. “No, that wasn’t- I didn’t mean—”
Shinsou’s mind races, “Izuku, I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking. I just forced myself on y-”
Izuku, fumbling for words, blurts out awkwardly, “Um, actually, I—I’d like to kiss you again. I mean, if you want to! I-I’m so sorry, I’m just...”
Shinsou’s eyes widen in surprise. “What, really?”
Izuku’s confidence wavers as he stutters, “Y-Yes, but only if you want to! I-I’m sorry, I’m so weird…”
Before Izuku can say more, Shinsou cuts him off by closing the distance between them and kissing him again. This time, it’s more deliberate, filled with a tenderness that makes his heart race even faster. When Shinsou pulls back, he looks down, a mix of nervousness and relief on his face.
It dawned on him that there was something profoundly liberating about allowing himself to care, to be vulnerable. Yes, there was a risk of hurt, but wasn’t there also a possibility of joy, of connection, of something greater than the numb safety of his solitary existence? To never risk, to never reach out, was to live in a shadow of what life could offer—a half-life where he was always on guard but never truly alive.
He weighed the choices: to remain ensconced in his solitary fortress, safe from the possibility of pain but also from the possibility of joy, or to take a chance, to open himself up to the warmth of genuine care and connection, despite the risk of hurt. The latter held the promise of a richer, fuller experience, one that embraced both the highs and the lows of human connection.
The thought settled in his heart, a realization that warmed him from within. Embracing the chance to connect, to care, to be cared for, was worth the risk of hurt. It meant living more fully, feeling more deeply. And even if the journey came with its share of pain, it was a price he was willing to pay for the chance to experience something real.
With a deep, steadying breath, Shinsou resolved to move forward, to let down the walls just enough to allow someone in. He knew it would be a challenge, but it was one he was ready to face. The potential for hurt was real, but so was the potential for something far greater: the possibility of truly being seen, understood, and loved. And that, he realized, was worth the risk.
‘Now, just time to verbalize it.’
“So,” Shinsou says, his voice a bit shaky, “I like you. I like like you.”
He pauses, then blushes furiously as he adds, “Damn, I sound like a seven-year-old.”
Izuku bursts into laughter, he brings a scarred hand up to smother the cascading giggles to no avail. Hitoshi’s heart dips, shame filling his chest at his stupid statement, before Izuku’s laughter peddles off and he offers a smile, bright and warm. “Well, I like like you too.”
Shinsou’s humiliation spiral slams to a stop and his grin widens, his eyes crinkling at the edges. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” Izuku responds with a matching smile, his face still flushed but his heart feeling lighter.
Shinsou chuckles a genuine, happy sound. “God, we are so awkward.”
“You’re just figuring that out?” Izuku teases.
Izuku paced nervously across his room, the rhythm of his steps rapid and uneven. Each turn brought him closer to the edge of the carpet, his sneakers barely making a sound against the plush fibers. His anxiety was palpable, a visible tension that made the air feel thick and charged.
Shinsou, sitting on the edge of the bed with a furrowed brow, watched him with a growing sense of concern. He couldn’t help but think that if Izuku continued at this pace, he might wear a hole right through the dorm carpet. The sight was both endearing and worrisome—Izuku’s usual energy was now channeled into a restless, almost frantic movement.
“Hey, Izuku,” Shinsou finally said, trying to bring some calm to the situation, “why don’t you sit down for a minute? You’re going to wear out the carpet if you keep this up.”
Izuku paused, his footsteps faltering as he looked at Shinsou with a mix of frustration and embarrassment. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, but his nerves were still on edge.
His hands wringing together as he muttered to himself, “They’re going to be here any minute! I told them I had to tell them something, but— but maybe I shouldn’t. Not like they need to know! It’s fine. Totally fine. Totally doesn’t feel like once they know these nasty things about me, they’re going to leave me or hate me or I’m being a fraud and that they don’t actually like me ’cause they don’t know me and I’m a liar and—”
His words tumbled out in a frantic rush, and he brought his hands up to his face, hiding behind them as his anxiety spiraled further. Shinsou, watching the scene with growing concern, moved closer and gently placed a hand on Izuku’s shoulder.
“It’ll be fine,” Shinsou said, his voice steady but filled with warmth. “They won’t hate you, and if they do, then you wouldn’t want to be friends with such shallow people anyway. And hey I can always brainwash someone into telling sensei he’s an bitch or something, that’ll give them detention till graduation.”
Izuku snorts at that joking threat, stopping his spiral. He takes a deep breath. The steady, grounded tone helped slow his racing thoughts. He looked up, his eyes still wide but with a hint of relief, and reached out to grab Shinsou’s wrist.
“Thanks for being here with me,” Izuku said softly, his voice trembling slightly. “I’m too nervous to do it on my own.”
Shinsou nodded, a small, supportive smile on his face. He hadn’t anticipated being asked to stay through this moment, but he knew that facing fears was always easier when someone was in your corner.
Giving Izuku’s wrist a reassuring squeeze, he replies, “We’ll get through this together.”
The room, once charged with Izuku’s frantic energy, now felt a little more grounded. As the time drew nearer for the others to arrive, Izuku took another deep breath, steadied by Shinsou’s unwavering presence.
A knock on the door broke the tension, and Izuku’s heart skipped a beat. Shinsou gave him a reassuring nod as Izuku hurried to answer it. Opening the door, he was met with the concerned faces of Iida, Uraraka, and Todoroki.
“Hey,” Izuku said, his voice trembling slightly as he ushered them inside. “Come in.”
The three friends entered and took seats around the room, each one looking at Izuku with a mix of curiosity and concern. Iida, always perceptive, noticed Izuku’s nervous demeanor right away.
“Izuku, are you alright?” Iida asked, his brow furrowed in genuine worry.
Izuku forced a smile, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I’m fine. Just— um— a little nervous, but it’s okay.”
The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of the impending conversation palpable. Izuku took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. “So, remember the other night in the common room when you guys were asking about my dad?”
Todoroki and Iida nodded, their expressions still etched with concern. Uraraka, with a compassionate look, leaned forward slightly. “Izuku, I’m really sorry if we pushed you too hard to talk about it. If you don’t want to talk, that’s totally okay. But if you do, we’re here to listen.”
Izuku’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and he managed a small, grateful smile at her kindness. Her words seemed to ease some of his tension. “Actually,” he began, his voice steadier now, “that’s exactly what I wanted to talk about. If you don’t mind listening.”
His friends exchanged glances, their expressions softening. “Of course,” Todoroki said reassuringly. “You can share anything with us.”
Izuku nodded, taking another deep breath. “Okay. So, my dad—” he started, then paused as his emotions welled up again. He looked down for a moment, gathering his thoughts before continuing.
Izuku nervously twisted his hands, staring intently at the floor as if it held the answers he needed. “So, my dad... he’s not—he’s—” His voice faltered, and he felt a wave of panic rise in his chest.
Shinsou could see Izuku’s nerves rattling him apart, his panic so thick you could cut through it. He doesn’t know if it’ll help, but he gently places a comforting hand on his shoulder.
The touch was meant to be steady and reassuring, and it seemed to have worked, as Izuku gave him a grateful look before mustering up more courage. “My dad is in prison. He’ll be there for life,” Izuku finally managed to say. “He was the villain Dragon.”
The revelation hung in the air, and his friends’ expressions shifted to one of shock. Iida and Uraraka exchanged wide-eyed glances, their shock evident. Iida’s eyes were as round as saucers, and he momentarily lost his usual composure, his mouth opening and closing in stunned silence.
Uraraka, sitting beside him, blinked rapidly, her hands instinctively flying to her mouth as she processed the revelation. Her face went pale and then flushed with a mix of disbelief and concern. She looked between Izuku and Shinsou, her expression a blend of sympathy and confusion.
“I-I can’t believe it,” Iida finally managed, his voice a mix of astonishment and worry. “Izuku, I had no idea...” He trailed off, leading to a smothering cloud of silence
He gasped, “Your dad was Dragon?!” His hands flew to his head as if to steady himself, and he blinked rapidly as though he was trying to clear his vision. “I mean, I knew there was something serious, but—wow. Just… wow.”
Uraraka, her face a picture of disbelief, let out a small, incredulous laugh. “I thought you were joking at first! That’s... that’s really something.” She placed a hand over her heart, looking like she needed a moment to catch her breath. “I’m really sorry if we pushed you to talk about it. We had no idea it was this... intense.”
She glanced at Iida, who was still processing the news with wide eyes and an open mouth. “Iida, try not to look so stunned. You’re making the room feel like a scene from one of those drama shows.”
Iida shook his head, attempting to regain his composure.
Izuku hesitated before continuing. “Uh, yeah... I’m not joking, unfortunately. I just- I didn’t want to keep secrets from you. If you don’t want to be friends with me anymore, I understand. But I thought you needed to know, to really know me.”
The atmosphere that followed was heavy, stretching out in the obscene quiet of the room. Izuku’s anxiety flared with the intensity of ember on dry brush. “I swear I’m not a villain. I’m nothing like him. I just want to help, to do good.”
Before he could spiral further, Uraraka broke out of her shocked state and rushed forward, pulling the green-haired boy’s twisted hands into her own warm palms. “Izuku, it’s okay,” she said softly. “ You’re okay. That’s horrible and I’m so sorry that you have to deal with that, but we do not think badly about you because of that. You’re a good person, a good friend, and that doesn’t change that.”
“We’re really glad you trust us enough to share this. You’re still the same Izuku we know and care about. Nothing changes that.”
Izuku managed a small smile, his shoulders uncurling and slowly losing his demeanor of a kicked dog with each word of reassurance that passed from their lips. “Thanks, guys. I was really nervous, but it’s a relief to know you’re not... um, freaked out or anything.”
“Freaked out?” Iida asked, raising an eyebrow with a half-smile. “We’re definitely surprised, but we’re more concerned about you. Thank you for trusting us enough to share,” Iida said, gathering back his wits and saying in a gentle voice. “I can tell it was… hard.”
Izuku glanced at Shinsou, “I couldn’t have done it without Shinsou,” Izuku admitted, his voice trembling.
Shinsou shook his head. “We both gave each other a nudge in the right direction,”
Todoroki still sits pondering, seemingly deep in thought before casually saying “I now understand why you two got close so quickly. You both relate to being viewed as villains or outcasts.”
Iida seemed scandalized at the boy’s statement during such a delicate moment, before scolding him lightly, “Todoroki, that’s rather blunt.”
Todoroki shrugged, unperturbed. “Well, I had previously theorized that you two were a couple.”
‘Well shit, he got us pegged.’ Shinsou thinks, whiplashed at the wild yet correct assumption.
Both Shinsou and Izuku turned bright red at the implication, and the recent truth behind it. Uraraka and Iida looked between them, before dawning in realization. Uraraka’s jaw dropped, and she blinked rapidly as if trying to process the information through sheer force of will. Her hands flew up to her cheeks, and she gave a nervous laugh.
“Wow, I definitely didn’t see that coming either,” she said, her eyes wide.
Izuku, now a flustered mess, stammered, “Um, well, you see-”
“We won’t push! It’s all copacetic!” Urarkaka rushed out, frantically waving her hands around.
“Copacetic?” Iida says in a questioning, mildly judgmental, tone.
“Uh, yeah, it means that it’s all cool!” The brunette replies.
“I know what it means, it just seems like an improper time to-”
As they spoke, Shinsou looked at Izuku, who gave a small, confirming nod. “Yeah,” He cuts them off of their tangent. “Izuku and I are dating.” Shinsou said with a shy smile.
Iida looks back at the both of them and pushes up his glasses, before giving them a polite “Congratulations.”
“I was right.” Todoroki says with an intensely pleased expression, then tacks on, “ And yes, I’m pleased with your prospects as a couple. Also, I hold no judgment toward you having a horrible father, my father is quite horrible as well. You should take your own advice– I am not my father, neither are you.”
Izuku felt his heart racing, overwhelmed by the intense emotions and the unexpected direction the conversation had taken. “I—I think I need to take a break,” he said, his voice shaky. “I don’t think I can handle much more right now.”
His friends nodded understandingly, their faces softening with concern and affection. “What you shared doesn’t change that we love you,” Uraraka said firmly. “We’re still here for you.”
Iida, sensing that the mood needed lightening, suggested, “How about we watch a documentary before curfew? It might be a good way to wind down.”
Izuku nodded eagerly, grateful for the distraction.
“That sounds great,” he agreed, feeling the room’s atmosphere shift back to something more relaxed and loving. As they settled in for the evening, the weight of the day’s revelations was tempered by the warmth of their friendship.
As Shinsou shuffled his way out of the classroom doors, a voice caught his attention over the murmurs of the other students.
“Hitoshi!” Izuku shouts cheerfully, waving a hand at him to signal him over to him and his friends.
With a smile, Shinsou cuts his way through the crowd towards them.
“Hey Shinsou!” Uraraka greets him with a wide grin.
“Shinsou, I have an important question to ask you,” Todoroki states bluntly, going to stand next to him.
“We can conversate in the cafeteria! The hallway is no place for loitering.” Iida cuts in with a boldly chopping arm, attempting to usher their group down the slowly thinning hallway.
Todoroki completely ignores this and countries, his heterochromatic eyes staring intensely into his purple.
“Are you Aizawa-sensei’s secret love child?”
‘...What?” Shinsou’s brain buffers, staring dumbly back at the red-and-white boy.
“Todoroki, what did we say about asking people about your pro-hero parental conspiracies?” Iida’s tone is exasperated, as if this is a common occurrence of the dual-haired boy.
Meanwhile, Izuku and Urarkaka have lost it in a fit of giggles. Despite the initial confusion, Hitoshi finds himself laughing alongside them too.
“Maybe, maybe not. Now, what evidence do you have to back your claim?” He says with a sly smile.
They begin walking their way down the corridor, Todoroki eagerly keeping pace to list each and every reason behind his logic.
Hitoshi looks over at Izuku, still smothering his laughing as they walk, their eyes meet and Midoriya beams a smile at him.
‘I tried… and it was worth it.’
Hitoshi smiles back.
‘Definitely worth it.’