Chapter Text
Shouto is typing up an assignment on his computer when Present Mic's show cuts into the music he had been listening to.
"Hey there listeners, your favorite host is present on the mic, here with a highly requested guest for tonight; Dekiru!"
"Hello everyone! I'm excited to be here!"
His eyes widen slightly, recognizing that name and voice quickly. He reaches over to turn up the radio.
"For the listeners who don't know, Dekiru is the new wonder kid on the block! After shooting to the top of the charts last year with his hit "Can Do It" he's continually stunned us all with one hit after another! Now kiddo, I'm gonna start right out the bat with asking what all your fans out there wanna know. What's it like, getting all this popularity so quickly?"
"I have to say, it's really surreal to suddenly start getting recognized on the street and called your stage name everywhere you go. But in the end it's worth it. I've had a lot of people come up to me and tell me stories about how I've inspired them and how my music makes them feel a little bit better with themselves every day. And in the end, that's really what I want from all this."
"I'm sure it must be surreal to get so famous so fast. Now, about those fans' stories, you've consistently written about adversity and self confidence, and I think I speak for everyone when I ask; Why? Most artists your age write about love, so why are you different?"
"Well," Dekiru pauses for a moment, "I'd say it's because I know what it's like to not feel so good about yourself and be down on your luck, so I want to write something to make people in that position feel a little bit better with their lives. Saying to yourself "I'm good enough" and "I feel happy" enough times is going to eventually make you feel like that. So I hope when people hear my music and sing along, they start to believe that about themselves. Besides, I feel like most people my age haven't really experienced real love yet, I've only dated one guy a while back and it wasn't exactly what I'd call love. I don't want to write about something I know nothing of."
"Wow, such a pure motivation! Hear that listeners?! It's hard to believe someone as popular and cute as yourself isn't taken. But tell me, what do you mean about "down on your luck"?"
"Well, growing up I got bullied a lot. I was a pretty sickly kid and had to stay inside a lot, and my mother ended up passing away when I was little. So things weren't always the easiest for me, before my current parents adopted me. So I listened to music a lot, especially when I was sick, and hearing positive songs like "I Am Here" from All Might, who was my hero growing up, really made a difference in my outlook on life. I want to give people that same motivation and positivity."
"Couldn't've said it better myself kiddo. And from what I hear," Present Mic's voice takes on a teasing tone, "All Might is more than just your hero these days isn't he?"
"Yes, I mean, you're not wrong," Dekiru is clearly a little embarrassed. "Trust me, I've heard the rumors, and I'll come out and confirm it. After my mother passed away, I was in foster care for about a year before All Might ended up adopting me and one of the other kids in my foster home. So yes, he is my father, and my mentor, and I can't love my family more than I already do." The affection is heavy in his tone.
"Oh, you know the listeners are going to go bananas when they hear this don't you?" Present Mic laughs, joined in by Dekiru's softer laugh.
"I'm sure they will, but it was going to come out sooner or later, and I'm happy to finally be able to tell people about my family."
"I'm sure you are kiddo. Now on another note, you've started a youtube channel a few months back, isn't that right?"
"Oh! Yes, I did, and it's been a ton of fun since."
"Tell the audience a bit about the kind of things they can expect from that."
"Well, with how fast everything has escalated in the past year, I wanted to keep a connection with my fans, so you can expect a lot of vlogs from me on there, just daily life things around the studio, and sometimes livestreams and Q&A's too! I also post, with permission from the original artists, cover songs a lot! It's how I started out actually, with just covering songs and it's a good practice to keep me at my best. I've collaborated with the original artist's so those covers I've posted can be found on imusic, and 100% of the profits from those are donated to charities such as "Stop Bullying Now" and "Save a Childhood", which both work to bring awareness to bullying and child abuse, and to help child victims."
"What a great cause, and remember listeners to go buy those cover songs on imusic or you can donate directly to the charities at their websites. It's a great cause and a great use of your money to help a child in need. Now on to another rather," Present Mic pauses for dramatic affect, "popular topic. You've never been hesitant to keep your sexuality and ties to the LGBT+ community hidden, so tell us about how that's affected you personally."
"Well, I mentioned the bullying when I was younger, and being gay did make it worse. But you're right, I don't hide it. I want to show representation for those that need it, because growing up I didn't have any out of the closet gay role models to look up to. Just like I want to be able to make people happy with themselves and smile, I want to be able to give kids the confidence to be themselves, and see that not every out person is going to fit into stereotypes. Sure, I am a strong advocate for the community, but I'm still just another guy, another artist who wants to make music and see people happy. And I feel it's important for people to see that not everyone in the community is the same, but we're also just like everybody else in the world. We want to be happy and follow our passions, and it's important for people to see that."
"A great way to say it really, and a great message for everyone. I think we're about out of time for this show, is there anything else you'd like to say before we cut?"
"Uncle 'Zashi, Papa says if you don't show up to dinner this Sunday, he's going to castrate you."
The show ends with Present Mic's wild, barking laughter.
At some point during the interview, Shouto had stopped typing, instead listening raptly to Dekiru's melodic voice chatting it up with the radio host and laughing at stupid jokes. When the show ends and Dekiru's voice continues on, this time through the music, he turns back to his half-finished assignment. It's then that his phone starts buzzing wildly, lighting up to catch his attention. Reaching over to unlock it, he catches the caller ID. Aizawa. Swiping right, he answers.
"Hello, Todoroki Shouto here."
"Todoroki, it's Aizawa. When you come into work tomorrow, you're staying after we lock up. I have someone for you to meet." His boss's tone leaves no room for argument. It's not a request, this is a command.
"Yes sir."
"Good. Dress nice." With that, Aizawa hangs up, not even giving him a goodbye or context on this "someone" who he's going to be meeting.
This person better be important.