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Inasa is… Large.
This isn’t new information for Shouto, by any means; it was one of the first things he noticed about Inasa upon their second meeting at the exam. Everything about him was oversized- his height, his body mass, his voice, his attitude…
Shouto used to view these as negative things.
Now, they’re just what makes Inasa… Inasa.
Their ride to friendship has been bumpy, putting it lightly. Of course, there was their first and second horrendous meetings (both Shouto’s fault, he’ll admit), and then there was Inasa's stubborn determination to befriend Shouto once the two had put their differences aside.
He didn’t think they should force themselves to be friends- he said as much to Inasa, multiple times. But, as stated before, Inasa is stubborn, and before Shouto knew it, the taller student had become a constant presence at his side. Sometimes it could be irritating, considering their personalities clashed so damn much, but as time marched on, Shouto found more and more that he genuinely enjoyed the other’s company, against all odds.
Perhaps they balance each other out; Inasa compliments Shouto’s quiet and reserved nature, and meanwhile, Shouto attempts to get Inasa to just… Calm down.
Sometimes he succeeds.
Other times, he doesn’t.
Despite all odds, he found himself thinking of Inasa as a good friend by his second year, especially after Camie gave him Shouto’s number, which he was not informed of.
He’s happy, though. Inasa is a constant, sunny presence in his life along with his other friends- similar to Midoriya, Iida, and Uraraka. At random points in the day, he’ll get numerous texts from Inasa that are simple pictures of stray cats, exclaiming how they remind him of Shouto. Over time, the fact that Inasa started associating him with cats made his chest feel odd- in a good way. He felt light, and… Warm. Perhaps the feeling should concern him, but he mostly finds himself distracted, smiling stupidly at his phone most of the time.
Other times, Inasa will send him memes, which were sent to him by Camie. It’s been a year, and his classmates have “educated” him (as Sero put it), as to what memes are. All of them had been horrified that he really didn’t know much about his generation’s internet culture, but he thinks he’s finally up to speed. He enjoys the memes involving cats the most; they’re cute.
One of the roughest moments of their friendship, however, had been when Shouto had finally come clean to Inasa about his family history. After a few weeks of knowing each other, Inasa had realized that Shouto had despised Endeavor as much as the other did, much to the taller’s relief and confusion. (“Wait, you mean this whole time, I coulda not been polite to him!?” “You could trip him into a mud puddle and I’d laugh, Inasa).” However, it doesn’t seem like Inasa comprehended the full scale of his hatred until Shouto offhandedly mentioned his father repeatedly punching him until he vomited on the floor.
Apparently, self-coping jokes about your crippling trauma can be rather horrifying to people other than yourself. Go figure.
Needless to say, Inasa was horrified.
Seeing his opportunity, Shouto figured there was no time like the present to spill his entire childhood to his new friend; after all, he’s told more of his friends this story as said friendships grew stronger, (like some sort of sick video game achievement on one of Kirishima’s games: Congratulations! You’ve learned Todoroki’s Childhood Trauma! Friendship level increased!), so it was only fair he shed a little light for Inasa as well. What he didn’t expect was for the other to burst into tears before he was even done, repeatedly shake Shouto like a ragdoll exclaiming how sorry he was, and then hugging him in a crushing embrace the left his bones creaking and his lungs deprived of oxygen.
Shouto managed to placate his friend with an extremely awkward pat on the back and a quiet remark of how he wasn’t even halfway through yet.
However, Shouto thinks that it was after that their friendship truly began blossoming, so he doesn’t regret it- not even a little. Something warm and syrupy had bloomed between the two, and though Shouto didn’t think it was possible of the over-enthusiastic giant, Inasa had actually visibly softened around him. He has trouble explaining it to his friends without their eyebrows skyrocketing up their foreheads, but he feels as though Inasa has another side to him, specifically for Shouto. It reminded him of a big, oversized Golden Retriever finally mellowing out for the day to collapse on top of its master, tongue lolling out and panting contently.
His smiles, too; Shouto doesn’t think he’s ever seen Inasa give anyone else that specific smile Shouto has the privilege of earning. (“It’s his Shouto Smile!” Camie had remarked cheekily, nudging his side with an elbow. Whatever that means).
It was around that time, however, that those strange… Interactions, began cropping up.
The first time it happened, he and the “Dekusquad” (Kirishima came up with the name. Shouto didn’t understand it at first, but it grew on all of them pretty quickly) along with Kirishima, Sero, Inasa, and Camie, had taken a trip to the local mall for some bonding, (he supposes). Most of the time, he hovered around Midoriya, Iida, or Inasa- the four of them eventually converging into a small group consisting of Iida and Inasa excitedly yelling at each other, (zero volume control, those two), while he and Midoriya tailed behind, occasionally exchanging sheepish glances.
However, after one particular glance, he looked back in front of him to see Inasa, intently staring at him with an intense look on his face, lips pursed and eyebrows furrowed.
Blinking, Shouto stopped his pace, with the others following suit. “What is it?” Shouto asked, searching Inasa's face. Even after a year surrounded by his classmates, he still wasn’t the best at reading expressions.
For a moment, Inasa's face didn’t budge, but then, after a quick glint of excitement in his eyes, his friend broke out in a grin, grasping Shouto's hands, and leaning way too far into his personal space.
“YOU’RE SO TINY!!!” He had bellowed, echoing throughout the entire mall, much to Shouto’s mortification.
Shouto blinked, rapidly this time, cheeks heating up, and next to him, he heard Midoriya snort while Iida was stunned into silence, completely frozen.
“I’m not short; you’re just freakishly tall,” he rebutted, frowning softly. “And besides, Midoriya’s shorter than me.” He pointed to his friend, stressing his argument.
Midoriya only pursed his lips. “Insulting, Todoroki-kun.”
“I’m not wrong.”
However, Inasa quickly frantically shook his head side-to-side, a monstrous grin still plastered on his face. “It’s not meant to be an insult! ‘S cute!!!”
Cute…
Like a cheesy sitcom, the word echoed in his head, camera zooming in dramatically on his wide, absolutely dumbfounded eyes. For a moment, the four of them merely stood there, frozen, in various states of shock.
Then, like a thermostat- grin still on his face but now with a twinge of mortification- the red on Inasa's face slowly rose and blossomed until it consumed his entire complexion.
They both stood there, Shouto having no clue how to break this silence, and Yoarashi, meanwhile, being reduced to a fucking statue.
“WELL! BYE!” Inasa then suddenly shouted, promptly releasing Shouto’s hands, spinning on his heel, and then sprinting away. Before Shouto could process what just happened, his friend had already vanished.
His hands hovered in mid-air, clenching and unclenching, still feeling the phantom clasp of Inasa's hands around his, warm and reassuring.
“Todoroki-kun, your left side is smoking! I highly recommend controlling your quirk before you create a hazardous environment for patrons of the mall!”
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The second time, UA was having joint-training with Shiketsu; they were learning how to cooperate with fellow heroes during rescue operations- ones they weren’t as familiar with, compared to their classmates from their respective schools. Much to his pleasure, Shouto’s rescue team consisted of Kouda, Inasa, another student with a quirk involving radioactive spittle, and himself.
Their rescue operation had gone smoothly; in celebration he shared a tentative fist-bump with Kouda, as well as a very stiff thumbs-up to the other Shiketsu student whose name he’s already forgotten. (Whoops).
Inasa, however, had other ideas.
When Shouto saw the massive student charging towards him, he immediately held his hand up for a high-five. That’s what him and Sero usually did, afterall.
However, instead of a clap on the back, a fist-bump, or even a high-five, Inasa grasped his sides, and lifted him into the fucking air, spinning him around like a blushing bride while Shouto desperately tried to process what the hell was happening over Inasa's prolonged shouts of success.
Then, suddenly, the taller student stopped, his hands clasped under Shouto’s armpits, and staring at him with a thoughtful expression.
“What?” Shouto grit, feeling his face heat up, and desperately wishing for his feet to be back on the ground.
Inasa pursed his lips. “You’re so light!”
Okay, what the hell?
“I’m not-”
“You’re like a sack of potatoes, Todoroki!!!” Inasa cut him off, tossing Shouto into the air briefly, and then slinging him (somehow gently) over his shoulder. Shouto bit down on his lip to stifle any noises of surprise, sending what he hoped was a pleading look at Kouda.
After a moment, Kouda only smiled, and gave him a double thumbs-up.
It’s not like that!
He groaned inwardly, knowing fully well that both of their schools were watching this entire encounter, and he half-heartedly pounded at Inasa's back. “Put me down.”
“Only if ya promise to come out to lunch with me! You’re way too skinny!!!”
Shouto froze.
…
Was he just asked out on a date?
“Did you just ask me out on a date?” Shouto spoke aloud this time, his voice a hesitant murmur.
Finally, Inasa set him back down on the ground, making a point to brush off his pants before shooting Shouto a softer grin. ‘The Shouto Smile~’ Camie’s sing-song voice rang in his head, much to his chagrin.
“Doesn’t have to be, if ya don’t wanna,” Inasa replied, softly for a change. His friend’s smile turned wobbly, frantically scratching the back of his head. “I mean! I would like for it to be! You’re pretty! And I like ya!”
Shouto was going to die.
“I’d… Like that,” he replied, his voice a mere wheeze. He feels faint; should he go to Recovery Girl? Is that smoke he smells?
Immediately, Inasa broke out in his iconic grin, pumping his fist in the air before grasping Shouto in another quick hug, and then sprinting away. “CAMIE! I DID IT!!! I ASKED HIM OUT!!! ARE YA PROUD!?”
As Shouto left the field in a daze, Kaminari let out a shrill wolf-whistle, throwing his arm around Shouto’s shoulders. “Hell yeah, Todoroki! Can I be your best man at the wedding!?”
“I will set your boxers on fire.”
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The third time was at their lunch date on that very same day. Inasa had suggested they go out to get milkshakes, and Shouto, still disbelieving that this was actually happening, could only muster a mute nod, his eyes trained on the ground in front of him.
Luckily, the date (a date. How the hell is he on a date right now?) was a lot less nerve-wracking than he thought it would be. He and Inasa have done this before- gone out to get food together- as have many of his other friends. But he’s… Never been on a date before. He’s glad it just feels like they’re hanging out as usual.
Even if Shouto has to wipe his sweaty palms on his pants every two minutes.
Inasa must have noticed the action, because immediately, relinquishing his milkshake straw from his pursed lips, (peanut butter. A wise choice.), he grinned at Shouto.
“Hey, Shouto! Can I call ya Shouto?”
Absolutely not; I’ll have a heart attack by the time we finish our shakes.
“Yes,” he says anyways, like an absolute dumbass.
“Cool! Then you can call me Yoarashi!” Inasa's grin reached his eyes, crinkling them at the corners, and Shouto felt his heart melt. “Anyways- can I hold your hand real quick?”
Oh dear fucking christ.
Hesitantly, Shouto lifts a single arm, and slowly inches his hand across the checkered table. If it was shaking slightly, Ina-- Yoarashi didn’t mention it. Slowly, uncharacteristically gently, Inasa met his hand halfway, gently scooping it up in his own, and then intertwining their fingers together.
Shouto was relieved to find Yoarashi's hand was just as sweaty as his.
Against his better judgement, a smile slowly spread across Shouto’s face, his chest dancing in elation as he gazed lovingly at their joined hands. A glance up at his-… At Yoarashi- revealed the other to be wearing a wobbly smile, vaguely looking like he was about to cry.
“What?” Shouto echoed once more, but this time the simple word oozed with affection.
Yoarashi lip quivered, and he brought up his other hand to wipe at a stray tear, clenching his free hand dramatically. “So… Small…” he whispered, bringing a hand to his heart.
“This again?” Shouto sighed.
“I can’t help it! You’re so small!” Shouto opened his mouth, but Yoarashi quickly continued, “‘S a good thing! I really like it! It makes you look really cute ‘n it makes me happy!!!”
Tensing, shoulders drawing up to his ears, Shouto flushed, and brought his gaze back down to their intertwined hands. Tentatively, he gave a small squeeze, and his heart sang when Yoarashi returned it, the other student’s hand comically dwarfing his own.
Shouto decided he kind of liked it, too.
---------
Now though- now- he takes it all back. Their size difference was the worst thing known to man, and he wouldn’t stand for this slander of his good name.
His calves hurt from straining on his tiptoes for so long.
“Yoarashi,” Shouto grit out, trying desperately to reach his boyfriend’s lips for a kiss before dinner. His (evil, horrendous, villainous) partner also stood on his toes, craning his face away with a smug grin spreading on his lips.
“C’mon, Shouto! I thought you’ve grown since our second year!!!” Yoarashi remarked, a hearty laugh bubbling up behind his words.
“I have. But you’ve grown even taller.” This was extremely unfair.
In mock-consideration, Yoarashi brought a hand to his chin, running his fingers over the stubble that’s grown. “Hmm… That I have!!!” He said simply, only looking all the more pleased with himself.
Finally, with a huff, Shouto relented, planting his feet back flat on the ground and crossing his arms. “Fine. Be that way. You’re sleeping on the couch tonight.” With that, Shouto walked past his lover, ignoring Yoarashi's shocked expression in favor of retrieving silverware from the cabinets.
… One…
… Two…
“SHOUTO, NOOOOOOO!!!”
Shouto smirked as a pair of strong arms lifted him up from behind, and then snorted when lips frantically pecked hundreds of kisses against the sides of his face.
Like this, he was content. He was content when Yoarashi refused to let him down for the next ten minutes, and carried him around the house, smothering him with kisses. He was content watching Yoarashi messily slurp the noodles he made for dinner- soba. (He learned to cook them for Shouto).
And finally, he was content to take back his threat, letting his boyfriend curl around his form like a giant puppy, nuzzling into Shouto’s neck and a deep, snoring rumble reverberating from his chest.
He lied; having an oversized boyfriend is one of the best things he could have asked for.