Chapter Text
Four days before Rei Todoroki’s birthday.
Shouto Todoroki found it quite hard to keep his mind in the correct order, even when classes have already ended for lunch break— he watches everyone pack up and exit through the door, chattering about today’s lesson, or about the potential choices for food. He tells his friends that they could go ahead, as he’s left in the seldom of his own thoughts
It’s going to be mom’s birthday soon. He thinks to himself, the ice and fire quirk user inaudibly sighs when he realizes that he didn’t even take note of her birthday in the previous years, nor did he even care to even greet her. He was too blinded by the sight and feeling of bottled up rage for his sad excuse of a father, that he never paid mind to special occasions, even if he remembered. While Rei Todoroki said nothing about the said date, it was almost like.. she was expecting something, maybe even just a small thing.
But that was before. Before the sports festival, and before he decided to open up— bracing his own quirk, but not quite forgiving his father yet. His mind running wild on what he should do, he knows she likes flowers, but he’d want to give her something that would last for a long time— to make up for the previous years.
And before he could even panic about the event, a tap on the shoulder snaps him out. “Are you okay, Todoroki-san?” There in front of him was Momo Yaoyorozu— his seat mate and very good friend. Besides Iida and Midoriya, the heterochromatic teen found himself talking to the vice president of their class a lot more often.
“I’m fine,” He automatically speaks, not really saying much afterwards “Did you understand the lesson today? You seemed off.” He’s caught redhanded, since he was thinking about this for a while, But she asks— genuinely concerned, looking at him in the eye with her onyx colored irises. He shifts slightly in his seat, searching for a response. “The lesson was a little.. confusing.”
“Oh I see, I took some notes of the parts you seemed to be struggling with.” With that, she pulls out a piece of paper, neatly written handwriting was set across the smooth piece of paper. Of course she did that, she was just so considerate of him. “Thanks, Yaoyorozu.” She gives another one of those small smiles that he always founded so intriguing.
And now that he’s thought of it, doesn’t she have a quirk that could create anything? Creation. He’s seen her use it to the best of her abilities in the USJ attack, and training exercises on the field— heck, he has seen her pull out a canon out of her stomach with ease, and she has proven to him in their finals that she’s very much capable. He could ask her to create a gift, so he could gift it to his mother, but he can’t just ask her something like that and leave her with no thanks, no- she deserved more than that.
“Yaoyorozu,” He speaks out to her, right before she could move to leave, she turns sharply— hair moving along with her as she faces him once more. “Yes?” she seemed startled by the sudden outburst, and he didn’t mean to make his voice sound so stern.
“I have a small favor to ask of you,” He doesn’t know where to begin “If.. you don’t mind.”
“Nonsense Todoroki-san! I don’t mind at all, what is it?” She’s waiting for him to speak again, and now— he feels quite nervous to even speak out on this, since she’d need a little bit of context and background to his request. He’s looking for a choice of words, and he speaks.
“My mother, it’s going to be her birthday in a few days, and I’m honestly clueless on what to give to her.” He looks at her again, trying to read her expression at the moment. She seems a little surprised
”Oh,” She replies in realization. Yaoyorozu knew a bit of his family dynamic, and it wasn’t the best (especially with him and his dad) and a part of him always wondered how his mother fit in that dynamic. “That’s okay, Todoroki-san. Do you have an idea on what she may like?”
She mentally slaps herself, Momo! If he knew, he wouldn’t be asking you!
“I know she likes flowers, but I’d like to give her something that could last for a long time. It’s been a while since I’ve done something for her.” For once, his expression seemed a little disappointed in himself, and she couldn’t help but feel a little sad for him.
“I see.. I could make something for you, If you want.” Todoroki’s eyes widened slightly, he didn’t even have to ask her verbally, but this is Momo Yaoyorozu after all, what did he expect? “Is that alright?” He asks, uncertain.
“Of course. Now, what would you want me to make?”
Before Yaoyorozu approached him, a part of him was pondering on if he should just make his mother an ice figurine, since he has an ice quirk— and his mother likes the colder weathers. But there were many quams and cons, First— He can’t really make a specific shape of ice with his quirk, since his ice comes in strong and large quantities, almost dangerous. And second— The ice would’ve just melted the next day, and he wouldn’t want his mom to wake up to a puddle on her desk.
Then, an idea sparks in his head. “Do you think you can make a necklace?”
She smiles, “I can! I made a necklace before so this shouldn’t be difficult.” Her expression changes. Looks like she realized something, “What type of flowers does your mother like- If you know..”
Todoroki thinks for a moment, and he remembers a specific type of flower that always sat on the desk next to her bed. “Rindou.”
Yaoyorozu falls quiet while she thinks. Maybe this was too much for her? Before he would speak and tell her that she doesn’t have to feel obligated to do something she doesn’t want to, she steps back— muttering elements to herself, as her palm glows— her quirk activating as it forces out a chain necklace. The chain itself was translucent, sporting a similar appearance to ice, and the charm at the very center were 3 Rindou flowers, the one in the center bigger than the ones on the side. The necklace sparkles under the artificial light of the classroom.
“Is this fine?” She speaks up again, holding the necklace in the palm while she observed the ice and fire quirk user’s reaction. “Since your quirk involves ice, and I’m certain her quirk probably involves ice as well— I used translucent material for the chain, and I hope the Rindou flowers look fine as well, and- Todoroki-san?”
She notices that he’s not saying anything, and now she’s a little worried. Not until he speaks up, and offers a small smile to her, a rare sight to see. “Thank you, Yaoyorozu. It’s perfect.”
Yaoyorozu hands the necklace to him carefully, speechless as he seems contempt with the necklace. And a thought spurs in his mind, “This won’t hurt the economy though, right?” His serious question seems enough to snap her out of it, and she laughs, “No, Todoroki-san. I’m pretty sure a necklace won’t harm it.”
He moves his chair backwards and stands up, “Thanks again, Yaoyorozu.” He moves his way to the door, before saying one last thing. “Oh, and let me repay you someday.”
“R-repay me? Todoroki-san, you don’t have to..” She mutters to herself, looking at him “I’m doing this as a favor,”
“And let me pay you back.” He smiles, “Oh, and you don’t have to be formal with me, Yaoyorozu. We’re friends after all.” Her heart throbs, threatening to leap out almost. Todoroki says that before leaving the classroom, leaving the door slightly open for her.
Friends huh.. Momo smiles to herself, happy that he even considers her as a friend. The butterflies tickle her stomach as she remembers the look on his face— relief.