Chapter Text
At the Henrician Castle
Shouto stormed into his father bedroom after he put his horse in the barn. His father was sleeping peacefully on his bed but then later he was woken up by his son yelling for him. "FATHER! WAKE UP!! I NEED TO TALK TO YOU SOMETHING IMPORTANT!!"
Eiji groaned as he tried to push himself up with the support of both of his hand. "What now Shouto? can't you see that your old man was sleeping?" Eiji protested. Shouto rolled his eyes "I know I can see that but right now I want to tell you something important" Shouto dragged a chair and put it beside his father bed. Eiji waited for Shouto to sit and stare at him, signaling him to continued whatever we wanted to say.
Shouto took a deep breath because he knew this wasn't going to be easy. "Dad. I want to search my partner for life BUT I want to do it myself"
"Shouto what di--"
"Dad *Sigh* please don't interrupt me. Right, I want to search my partner by myself and I want to hold a ballroom dance in this palace so that I can find my own partner and you can see it by yourself. How about that?"
"Hmmm.... It sounds good but.." Eiji was considering about Shouto idea. Well it was a good idea since he could monitor which girl would Shouto married and her appearance and other stuff to be the perfect bride. Of course, he loved his to the core and he just wanted the best of him.
"Well if that's what you want then go ahead. I will tell the others to prepare a ballroom dance in 3 days and also tell the chief minister to make an announcement about it"
Shouto was kinda shocked. He didn't think that it would be this easy. He thought he and his father might get into a big argument like they usually did but Shouto just smiled and nodded. He got out of the room happily. A small hope in his heart was hoping that the cute guy he met in the forest will come so he could introduce him to his father.
He really couldn't wait for the ballroom
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The next morning at Midoriya's house
Izuku was doing chores just like usual but he was smiling like he got a lottery. He hummed happily and did a little dancing while sweeping the floor with his broom. Who knew a little bit of love could make Izuku this happy? Well that's the power of first love.
Izuku kept thinking about Shouto warm smile. It was the same warm smile just like his mother smile. He blushed a little bit and tried to calm down by taking a breath.
'Izuku Midoriya! Get a hold of yourself!' Izuku said to himself. But he kept happily do the chores. While he was doing his happy chores, Bakugou came into the kitchen.
"The hell are you so fucking happy, Deku? it's annoying to hear your ugly humming" Bakugou said. As soon as he said that, Izuku stopped and looked at Bakugou with a grumpy face. Bakugou did blush a little bit for no reason. He quickly put his usual angry face "I'm hungry. Give me something to eat and I want it now" and then he was gone.
It was weird for Izuku to see Bakugou blushing. He didn't think someone like Bakugou could blush like that. It was kinda cute to see this side of Bakugou. Since Izuku didn't want any trouble with Bakugou, he made breakfast for Bakugou.
For breakfast, since they don't have any ingredients, he only cooked scrambled eggs and beacon. Izuku really needed to go to market today. Izuku then served the food to Bakugou who already waiting while tapping his feet on the floor.
"Here you go Katsuki" Izuku served it with a smile. Bakugou clicked his tongue as he snapped back "Tch... About time" After that, Izuku turned back to the kitchen but before he could, Bakugou grabbed his hand.
"Why are you so happy today?" Bakugou asked. Izuku blushed but he did answer him back "O-oh it's nothing. I just met someone yesterday and he was really handsome and has.. a beautiful smile too" Izuku said while scratching the back of his head.
"Tch It's annoying. Get that happy face out of your face and get the fuck out of here" It was annoying for Bakugou to see Izuku this happy and Izuku found it really strange. Why couldn't Bakugou just let Izuku be happy.. At least Izuku happiness wouldn't bother Bakugou, right?
Izuku did what Bakugou said to him. He quickly walked out from Bakugou sight and prepare himself to go to the market.
--------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- --------------- -------At the market
Izuku bought a lot of ingredients for him and his stepmother and stepbrother. After he thought that it was enough, he went back to his house. On his way to his house, he saw a lot of people gathered in one place. It was really crowded and Izuku couldn't help but curious and got closer to see what it was.
"Attention to all women and men around 20 years old. I bring an important message to all of you from the king himself. In two days, the king will hold a ballroom dance because the prince is searching for a partner as his bride. It doesn't matter if it's a woman or man, the prince will date them and choose for the best partner. The king will look forward to all of you in three days. That's all"
After the soldier done with his speech, he and the other soldier went back to the palace. Izuku sighed. He thought it was something important but it was just a ballroom dance. Besides, the prince was a boy so why should he come to the ballroom? It's not like the prince was gay or something and Izuku wasn't a pretty boy or rich either so of course he would marry someone else. Izuku debate with himself whether he wanted to go or not. Guess he will think about that later.
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When Izuku got home, he saw Katsuki in the garden. Sitting so peacefully like it wasn't the usual Katsuki at all. For some reason, Katsuki looked beautiful like that...
Wait
What was he thinking?
Izuku blushed at his own thought. How can he though Katsuki like that? he quickly rushed into the house and put all the shopping bag to the table in the kitchen. But he was curious about Katsuki like somehow, deep inside of him, he wanted to know more about Katsuki but he was too afraid that Katsuki might be angry at him.
Izuku shook his head. He needed to know him. Well he was his stepbrother so it was a normal thing to get to know each other, right? he was living under one roof with Katsuki so it was normal for them to get along with each other... Right?
Izuku then put all the ingredients in the shelf and went to the garden to meet with Katsuki. When he got closer to Katsuki, he slowed his walk. Trying not to disturb the peaceful atmosphere around Katsuki but it seems that Katsuki noticed Izuku presence so Katsuki opened his eyes and looked back, locking his amber eyes to that emerald eyes.
"What do you want, nerd?" Katsuki asked but it wasn't his usual angry tone. It was kinda gentle and soft.
"Umm... I'm just curious. What are you doing here?" Izuku replied. "Can I sit beside you?" Izuku asked. Waiting for Katsuki replied. Katsuki sighed and pat a space beside him. Signaling to Izuku that he could sit beside him. Izuku smiled and happily sit beside Izuku. Maybe this wasn't a bad choice at all.
"Sooo.... What are you doing here, Katsuki?" Izuku asked. Katsuki stayed silent for a sec but then he opened his mouth. "I.. came here to make me remember about something. Something so important to me and I don't' want to forget about it" Katsuki stayed silent before he continued. "Hey.. I.. I uh.." Katsuki was troubled with his words but Izuku patiently waited for him.
"Tch forget about it.. It was nothing" Katsuki stood up and walked away from Izuku. Izuku sighed 'Oh well at least I did make some progress with Katsuki. He didn't yell at me. It was a big progress!' Izuku smiled at his own thought and he decided to stay for a while, feeling the gentle wind hit his face. It was always a good feeling to feel the gentle breeze just like when he was young with his childhood friend.
Wait
What
Izuku brought his hand to his chin. Childhood friend? Izuku was sure that he didn't have any childhood friend... or did he? Izuku closed his eyes, trying to remember his own past that he forgot. When he was a child, he only played with his mother and---
Suddenly, a headache came to Izuku. It was so bad that he had to clutched his head. He curled up in the garden trying to ease the pain. The more he tried to remember his past, the more it hurt. Minutes later, the pain gradually disappear and he sat up.
"Oh my God. What was that.." Izuku said to himself while rubbed his head. Did he really have a childhood friend? as far as he could remember, he always playing with animals and his mother in the garden but... something felt off.
Izuku shook his head and laid down on the grass. "I'll stay here for a while" he said while closing his eyes, enjoying the comfort from the wind and the company of his animals friends around him.
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The next day, after finishing all of his chores, Izuku went to feed the animals on the farm. Starting from the chicken, goose, and even the mouse that he considered as his friend. He kept talking to them like they were communicating with each other. Izuku seems like he understood what was the mouse saying and vice versa.
People who saw Izuku talking to them found it weird but Izuku didn't care if people found it weird or a freak. Well, they didn't know Izuku on the inside so whatever people judge about Izuku, it won't matter to Izuku as long as he can take care of this kind animals.
Izuku smiled when the mouse let out a small squeak and to Izuku it was like a happy squeak. Izuku smiled at them and went to the other animals to feed. When he was done, he went to the barn and led his horse outside to walk. Izuku climbed on the horse and went into the forest.
They walked slowly, just enjoying the scene and the beauty of the forest. They didn't know that someone was tailing them from the behind.
"Soo... we meet again, Deku" A gentle voice called from the behind. Izuku gasped and turned around to see who called him. Turned out it was the same guy he met on the forest.
"Oh! It's you Shouto! Wah it must be a coincidence to meet you again in here!" Izuku happily greeted him with his usual warm smile. Shouto smiled back at him and get down from his horse to approach Izuku.
"well it must be fate to bind us together again, don't you think?" Shouto held out his hand as a cue for Izuku to help him get down. Izuku grabbed Shouto hand and he slowly get down from his horse too. They stared at each other for a long time before Izuku realized that they were still holding each other hand. Izuku felt a heat rush to his face and quickly look the other way as he said "U-um your hand.. it's still holding mine"
Shouto chuckled at Izuku cute reaction. "I'm sorry haha why are you so cute?" This only made Izuku face redder. Izuku kept his head away from Shouto and said "No! I-I'm not cute!"
"haha don't deny it Deku" Izuku didn't answer it. It was too much for Izuku to handle. "So deku.. wanna keep me company to walk around the forest? it's better to have someone cute like to keep me company rather than being alone, no?" Shouto said. Izuku wanted to slap Shouto for making him embarrassed but he nodded anyway.
Shouto smiled at this as they walked around the forest but not too far from their horses. "Oh yeah Izuku, have you heard the announcement about the ballroom?" Shouto asked him.
"Hmm yeah I heard about it but I don't know. I mean the prince is a boy and I'm just a nobody. It didn't interest me at all so I'm still considering whether I want to go or not. It's not like the prince is gay and want to date a guy like me. I- I'm just a normal person and not from a royal family"
"Well, why don't you give it a shot? You don't know about his sexuality, right? just give it a shot. Besides, you can eat free buffet!"
Izuku hummed. Well, Shouto has a point there. If he couldn't get the prince well at least he could eat a lot. "Fine then. I'll consider it. Two more days, right?" Izuku asked Shouto. Shouto nodded happily. "Soo you're going?"
"I guess? how about you?"
"I'm going of course. We can meet up if you want on the balcony. Find any balcony that you can find empty and I'll find you. How about that?"
Izuku smiled and nodded. "Deal" They talked with each other for a few minutes before Izuku had to get home to prepare dinner for Bakugou and Toga. They got back to the horses and hop back on their own horses. Izuku looked at Shouto before going back and said "I guess I'll see you in two days". Shouto replied with his warm smile "Of course" before they parted to their own path.
'Two more days huh.. I better get something to wear' Izuku said to himself.