Chapter Text
“It looks like it’s another slow day today.” Midoriya said as he walked with Bakugo, Todoroki, and Endeavor. The snow was falling a bit heavier today so Bakugo was more angsty than usual.
“DAMNIT!” Bakugo screamed, “It reminds me of the last time we had no work! It’s boring as hell!” He pouted as he walked ahead of the group.
“Yeah, It kinda does reminds me of that day.” Midoriya said, chipper as usual. “By the way Todoroki, what happened after you dropped that guy off at that police station?”
“Nothing interesting, just walked him home.” Todoroki lied, clearly knowing that his whole life has changed since that day.
“Yeah, Yeah, who cares? We got villains to fight!” Bakugo shouted, pissed off as ever.
“We all need to stay sharp because of the cold weather. I'm interested in how you all, especially Bakugo, handle this harsh climate.” Endeavor says in his usual ruff tone.
“Don’t worry about me, It’s the slacker Icey-Hot you should worry about.” Bakugo scoffed, looking directly at him.
Todoroki rolled his eyes at him, but decided not to make an opposing remark. Ever since his talk with Tayo two days ago, he’s been slowly getting back on track with his school work, but clearly not enough for Bakugo to notice.
Todoroki tuned whatever else his blonde friend was rambling about. He scanned the Japanese streets, looking for any sort of crime that might be lurking about. His eyes followed to the street corner. He spotted a brunette woman waving her arms out.
“Help!” She called out, “There are two villains robbing the store with an electricity quirk!”
Just then, Bakugo got a hold of excitement in his eyes. “Hell yeah!” He said, blasting off into the chaos. Midoriya quickly followed him, using his black whip to carry himself towards the commotion. Todoroki was about to run towards his friends, when he felt his father grab his wrist.
“What the hell!” Todoroki said as he attempted to push off his father’s hand.
“Shoto, wait. This is actually the perfect opportunity for us to have a chat.” Endeavor said, trying to begin the conversation with courtesy.
“What the hell is wrong with you? We have to go over there now!” Todoroki said, completely dumbfounded by his father’s actions.
“Shoto, I’ve noticed that something’s bothering you, and as your father I’d like to know what it is. You haven’t answered any of my calls, so how else can I talk to you?”
Todoroki stared at his father, utterly confused by his sudden sincerity. He quickly yanked his wrist from Todoroki’s hand before storming off to join his friends.
Endeavor stood in his position, looking at his son running off from him. “Well, that was a failure.” He grunted as he looked at the snow beginning to fall. His emotions washed over him. The old Endeavor would’ve screamed at his son if he was anything below excellent, but now, things have changed. He wants to help his son not only master his quirk to become a hero, but to become the best version of himself that he can be.
Think Endeavor, what can you do to make Shoto open up to you?
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“You were slow today, Icey Hot.” Bakugo barked as he took off his gauntlets, dropping them to the ground.
After a long day of training, the gang had finally settled back at the Endeavor Agency, getting changed in the boy’s locker room that tucked nicely on the third floor.
“Cmon Kacchan, give Todoroki a break.” Midoriya said as he undid the laces of his boots.
“Break? A real hero doesn’t take breaks. I’ve seen you slacking Icey-Hot.” Bakugo said as he pointed to Todoroki who was changing in the corner of the changing room, facing the wall.
“It’s ridiculous that you’ve let yourself go like this. It pissed me off when I saw you lose a combat battle to Kirishima of all people. I know you guys weren’t using your quirks, but seriously? Losing to him it’s just pathetic.”
“That’s enough, Kacchan. Look, we’re all tired. Let’s all just try to stay calm.”
“No Midoriya. Bakugo is right.” Todoroki announced as he put on his U.A. blazer. “I did slack off, but trust me when I tell you that that won’t happen again. I’m coming back better than I ever was before, so I’d watch your back if I were you.” Todoroki said before he excited the locker room, escaping Bakugo’s fury just in time.
As the door closed, Bakugo almost burst into flames.
“Why that little bastard!” Bakugo said, marching for the door. Midoriya quickly cut in front of him, pressing his back against the door.
“Kacchan, please. Something’s seriously wrong with Todoroki.”
“That we can agree on, now move out of my way!”
“No. He’s really been off these past few weeks. It’s like, he was doing so well and he even started talking more than usual. Now, I barely see him outside of class. You’ve noticed it too, haven’t you?” Midoriya asked, hoping his friend would understand.
“So you do know he’s going soft.”
“I wouldn’t say it like that, but he’s definitely going through something. And it’s our duty as his friends to help him.” Midoriya said, his eyes lighting up with determination.
“I don’t know about us being friends, but if something’s keeping him from holding out on me then I want to kill that thing.”
“I like your enthusiasm, but maybe that’s a little violent!”
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It was really nice of Midoriya to stand up for me, Todoroki thought as he went down the agency hallway, planning on swinging by his house to grab a bite with his sister.
Midoriya’s so nice, it’s a shame I haven’t gotten a chance to talk to him too much-No bad Shoto!
Todoroki was letting go of his feelings for Midoriya, he knew that if held onto them then they’d only hurt his relationship with Tayo more.
As he walked down the hallway, he felt a hand grab the back of his shoulder.
“Shoto-“ Endeavor said.
“What the hell do you want…now?” Todoroki said, confused by the sight in front of him.
There, his father stood in regular clothes, holding a bowl of cold soba.
“I made this for you.” Endeavor said, trying to sound nice. “I know you like it, why don’t we have a conversation over some soba and green tea?”
Todoroki, overwhelmed with emotions, quickly snatched the soba from the tray it and began running away from his father.
“THANK YOU!” He screamed out, it was the only thing he could think to say.
Endeavor stood there with a blank face, unaware of what to say.
“That went better than I expected.” He muttered out.
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Todoroki sat uncomfortably in the train station, holding onto the soba his father gave him. He was still so confused, he had never seen his father be this gentle. Was he sick?
Todoroki slowly unwrapped the Saran wrap that covered the bowl, probably in his mind considering if it was poison or not. He used the readable metal chopsticks that Sero had given him as a present. He brought the food up to his mouth and took a bite.
It was awful.
Todoroki could immediately tell that he had gone overboard with the seasoning. It didn’t taste anything like his sister’s cooking, but he did somewhat appreciate the effort.
Somewhat.
As he excited his train, he could see the lights of his house turn on, revealing a black out line of his sister pacing back and forth.
Approaching his home, he wondered what he had in store for him.
“There you are Shoto!” Fuyumi said as she wrapped her arms around him.
“It’s nice to see you too?” Shoto said, confused at her reaction.
“I’m sorry, it’s just been way too long since I’ve seen my baby brother!” She cried.
“You saw me last week.” He grunted.
“I know, I know! But hey! Let’s get some food for you!” She smiled as she led him into the dining room that had plenty of food on the table, his older brother Natsuo sitting there for a meal.
“Hey Sho. Glad to see you dropped by.” Natsuo said neutrally.
“Since Dad’s working late Natsuo decided to join us.”
“Oh, that’s nice.” Shoto said softly as he took a seat next to his older brother.
Fuyumi took a seat across from the two, watching them eat before she slowly dug in herself. Natsuo and Fuyumi seemed way more quiet than usual, alarming the young hero quite a bit.
Fuyumi finally spoke up after what felt like forever.
“So Shoto, anything happen at school lately?” Fuyumi asked politely, trying not to provoke him.
“Nothing much, just the same old.” Shoto said before returning to quietly eat his soba.
Natsuo took a deep breath before looking over to his younger brother.
“Yknow, I might not know much about hero stuff, but you can talk to me about it when you want.” Natsuo said.
Shoto, again gave a confused look but nodded in agreement.
“Thank you?”
“And that goes for me too!” Fuyumi chimed in. “We’re always here if you need anything, or you want us to listen to your problems. It’s important that as a family we can support each other and be honest about what we’re going through.”
“Right.” Shoto said, blandly.
“You know, I hear they put a lot of work on you hero course kids. Must be a lot of pressure.” Natsuo said before turning his head towards his brother.
“Yeah, it’s a lot of work.” Shoto said while staring at his bowl of soba, deciding it was his mission to not make eye contact.
“You’re right Natsu. So much pressure that it would be understandable if we slip up a little bit.” Fuyumi said as if she had rehearsed the line.
At those words, Shoto slurped down his soba before standing up from his seat.
“I think I’m gonna head back to the dorms. Fuyumi, thank you for the food.” He said before walking out of the room.
Fuyumi and Natsuo looked at each other after Todoroki closed the dining room door. Natsuo looked distant.
“Well, that went poorly.” Fuyumi said.
“If Dad didn’t keep us from Shoto so much, he might’ve felt comfortable telling us.”
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Why is everyone acting so weird today?, Todoroki thought as he walked into the living area of the dorms.
It was dark considering it was around thirty minutes past curfew. He set down his bag near the entrance of the door and was about to walk to his room when he saw a light turn on in the corner.
“Hello Todoroki, you’re home late.” Iida said, he was sitting in a chair next to a lamp, holding a tray of soba.
“Iida?” Todoroki said, confused.
“We know something’s bothering you, Todoroki.” Midoriya said as he came out of the darkness.
“Midoriya?” Todoroki said.
“And we’re willing to help anyway we can.” Uruaka chimed in as she followed Midoriya.
“Ribbit.”
“You know you can always talk to me.” Sero remarked as he also came out of seemingly nowhere.
“Sero? Tsu?” Todoroki said as he looked around the room that was filled with his friends.
“I’m going to bed.” Todoroki announced after taking the soba off Iida’s tray, too fed up to deal with another weird interaction.
“Todoroki, wait.” Midoriya stated as he grabbed the peppermint boy’s wrist.
“I know I can’t force you to tell us what’s wrong, but the last time you did, things turned out well didn’t it?”
“Look, I know I’ve been acting strange the past few weeks, but I’m better now. And if I ever again get like I was a few weeks ago, I’ll tell you. Okay?”
“Got it.” Midoriya said as he let go of his friend’s wrist.
Once Todoroki got in his room, he set down the soba on his table. He didn’t even bother taking off his uniform before he collapsed on his bed.
What a weird day, Todoroki thought as he drifted off to sleep, still thinking of how understanding and sweet Midoriya was.