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Todoroki sat on the common room couch, the clock on the way providing the only noise in the dead of night, even though it’s constant ticking was nothing but background noise. The half and half teen sighed; the breath visible because of his half ice quirk being activated subconsciously.
In the boy’s hand he held a photo, not one that was taken too recently but it wasn’t ancient either.
Portrayed on the plastic rectangle was himself along with a girl, her head tilted up to look at him, (e/c) eyes shining with so much love in his direction. She was stationed on his left side, his arm wrapped securely around her body.
A stray tear left Todoroki’s heterochromia eyes before he could stop it, the tiny drop of water landing on the girl’s face in the picture. It was times like these that Todoroki was glad that he got the memory laminated.
The creak of the floor boards snapped the red and white-haired boy from his daze, his hand quickly wiping away the few tears that decorated his pale cheeks.
“Todoroki?” A familiar male voice called; drowsiness clear in his tone. Kirishima rubbed at his ruby eyes, his body moving towards the couch where his friend sat. “What are you… doing up?” the red head asked with a yawn.
“I… miss her…” Todoroki suddenly confessed, his heart carrying to much unbearable weight that he couldn’t help but spill his woes to the first person he could. Kirishima hummed in confusion, wondering what brought on the out of the blue statement. He had an idea of who he was talking about but why was the question.
Peering over the duel haired teen, the red head sighed once his eyes landed on the picture. He remembers that day just about as much as Todoroki does, he was the one to help take the picture.
“Dude…” Kirishima started, laying a hand on the broken boy’s shoulder. Todoroki flinched at the contact but relaxed right after.
“I was… powerless” Todoroki continued, his hand clasping onto his pajama pants, fingers digging into the soft fabric, “(Y/N) needed me and I just, stood there…” (Y/N) was always there for him, she helped him though the pain of resentment when it came to his left side, she crushed the insecurities that would pop up here and there about his scar. She helped him become more open with his feelings and when his father was getting on his nerves, she was there to calm him down and bring him back to earth.
So why? Why could he be there for her when she needed it most?
“You’re in love with a photo, dude. Just a moment in time.” Kirishima spoke softly, trying to reason with the emotional boy.
“Because the real thing isn’t here with me, in my arms like she should be…” Todoroki whispered, voice breaking with each second, “I just miss when life was simple, you know?”
“But it isn’t. Not anymore. You need to start seeing the present instead of some forgotten past.” The words were slightly harsh but the truth nonetheless.
These were the words that broke Todoroki for good.
In the back of his mind, he knew full well that he would never get her back, the love of his life, the one he wanted to grow old with and love for all eternity.
But now reality’s come to light, all he needed was for someone to say it one way or another.
And as Kirishima muttered a goodnight and a piece of advice to get some sleep, walking back up the stairs to his dorm room, Todoroki cried. He cried hard for the time in a long time. Kirishima was wrong on one part though, Todoroki would never forget the moments he shared with his lover, the memories will always reside in his mind and maybe even his dreams.
He has this picture to help him remember her too. Because he never wants to forget the times when he was happy, truly happy.
And Shoto Todoroki could care less whether he was loving a picture or not, because it was the only way left that he could think of to still love (Y/N) with his every being.