Chapter Text
Shouto stood in front of the gates of his university. As expected from the number two greatest musician, he picked the most prestigious school in all of the country. Shouto sighed, already dreading to be recognized by everyone as ‘Enji’s prodigy son’. He really despised that title.
With a sullen look on his face, he clutched his bag and other luggage tighter before entering the university. He quickly strode up to the dorm buildings, ignoring the lingering stares and the questioning glances of the people who pass him by. When he got his room assignment, he immediately looked for it.
Upon finding it at the top of the building—of course his father got him a penthouse as a dorm room— he began rearranging his things. Keeping himself busy always got him distracted enough from his thoughts. He placed his clothes in the dresser, rearranged a few furnitures, settled his study materials on a desk, and placed his other stuff in its proper places.
Shouto was almost done making the penthouse into his new home, when he remembered something. He stared at the only luggage he hasn’t touched since he placed it down.
Gently, he picked up the case and retrieved the instrument inside it. He smiled a bit as he remembered Fuyumi giving him the violin.
“You said two things, right? What’s the second one?” Shouto asked as he placed his empty cup of tea down.
Fuyumi smiled before walking back to the closet. She retrieved the violin’s case and gently placed the instrument and its bow in their rightful places. Then, she closed the case and handed it over to Shouto.
“I told mom that you were going to college soon. She told me that I should give you her violin as a gift before you go. She wants you to have it.”
Shouto looked surprised. He looked at the case then looked back at his sister.
“But why?”
“She said you looked the happiest when you were playing the violin.“
He stared at her for a moment, processing what she was telling him. A few moments later, he shakily took the case and gently hugged it close to his body.
“Please give her my thanks for me.”
“You know, she’d be much happier if she heard it from you directly.”
“...Then she’d have to wait for a while.”
Shouto stared at the case. Something inside of him was urging him to play it. He was somewhat free now. Outside of his piano classes, he can play anything he wants.
He picked up the violin and positioned himself. He took a deep breath in before he played the first note.
He didn’t know what he was playing. It was different from his mother’s tune, but it was still familiar. It was a tune that was probably burried deep in his memory. Whatever it was, it was a beautiful sound and he was glad that he picked it up somewhere.
A few minutes of playing later, he felt like someone was watching him. Weird, no one else was suppose to be on this floor.
He stopped when he heard his front door creak.
He whipped his head in that direction and was taken aback when a pair of dazzling emerald eyes met his heterochromatic ones.
“What are you doing here?” He asked
As if waking up from a trance, the green-haired girl by his front door flinched. Her cheeks suddenly reddened from the embarrassment of being caught watching him, but that only made him notice the star-like freckles that dotted her face.
“I-uhh, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to stare at you. I tapped the wrong button on the elevator and it opened on the top floor. I was about to close it and go to my own floor when I heard someone playing one of Toshinori Yagi’s original piece on the violin and I was drawn to it. Next thing I knew, I was staring through the gap of your half open front door, and here I am. Now, I’m just babbling, I’m really sorry. I’ll be going now, goodby—“
“Wait!”
Before the girl could dash out from where she stood, Shouto grabbed her by the arm, successfully stopping her in her tracks.
“You know what that tune was?” He asked.
“Uhh, yeah, it was I am Here, an original piece that Toshinori Yagi wrote.” She answered while tilting her head to one side.
Realization dawned on Shouto. “Ohhh, so that’s why it was familiar.”
“Why? Are you a fan of Toshinori Yagi too?” She asked. Her excitement evident in the sparkle in her eyes.
“I was, uhmm no, I guess I still am.”
“That’s awesome! I’m a BIG fan of him! He’s been like a hero to me ever since I was a little kid!” The girl said as she beamed at him. Her smile was almost bright enough to blind Shouto.
“That makes two of us. I’ve known him since I was a kid too.” He said.
The girl smiled and held a hand out to him. “I’m Midoriya Izumi, you are?”
Shouto looked surprised. Did she honestly not know who he was?
“You don’t know who I am?” At this, the girl seemed to panic as she retrieved her hand.
“I’m sorry! I’m still new here. I don’t know anyone yet. I’m sorry for my ignorance.” The girl said as she bowed her head in apology.
Shouto was quick to reassure her. “No, it’s fine. I’m Shouto.”
The girl, Izumi, paused as recognition settled in her mind. With eyes wide, she asked.
“Wait, Shouto? As in, Todoroki Shouto? Enji’s prodigy son?” Todoroki winced at the title.
“Unfortunately, yeah I am.”
“Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry! You really are famous! Of course! You live in the only penthouse in campus! Gosh I’m such an idiot! I’m so sorr—“ Shouto placed both of his hands on her shoulder, which promptly quieted the girl.
“I told you, its fine already. Stop apologizing.” He reassured her, again.
“Sorry for rambling, I tend to do that a lot.”
“I figured, and what did I just say?”
Izumi laughed sheepishly. “Right, okay, I’ll stop apologizing. I live in the floor below you by the way. See you around?”
“Sure, see you.”
With that, Izumi left and Shouto was left all alone again. That was probably the first time he talked to someone his age without the tension of competitiveness he often experiences in competitions. It almost felt, comfortable.
“I guess I made a friend,” Shouto muttered almost unbelievingly.