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Across the temple grounds, awash in vibrant shades of trees scarlet and gold, a man stands up from kneeling to embrace a woman tenderly.
The proposal is beautiful. Under the full moon shining down from a cloudless night sky, it’s like a scene from a fairytale.
Momo releases a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. The crowd around her breaks out into applause and murmured awes.
During the fall, when there is a faint nip in the air, not yet the bitter bite of winter, but just a pinch to announce the change of seasons, the Kyoto temples open their gates to the public after dark. For the month of November, visitors from across Japan flock to the city to witness the beautifully manicured gardens lit by starlight and the soft glow of the temple lamps.
It's for this same reason Momo and her boyfriend of four years, Todoroki Shouto, came to the city a day before the annual Hero Rankings ceremony for a long awaited vacation.
Momo peeks up at Shouto from underneath her lashes.
He’s taller than when they were in high school. Whereas Momo was only a few centimeters shorter than him before, now the top of her head barely skims his chin. And that isn’t all that has changed; Shouto has always been popular with his handsome features, but now some of the boyish youth is gone, leaving a man behind. He looks sturdy and dependable.
A buoyant feeling rises in Momo’s chest as she reflects on how long they’ve been together. She looks away, trying to conceal a smile. She never considered herself to be the romantic type before but, when it comes to Shouto, she can't seem to suppress her feelings. It's like her body is a vase too small to harbor all of her affection for him.
“Let’s keep going?"
The familiar low timber draws Momo’s attention. She raises her head and, as her gaze meets Shouto’s, his usual masked expression softens. Warmth spreads throughout Momo’s body.
She smiles brightly. "Yes!"
The corners of Shouto’s lips curve up. A silent laugh shines in his gray and turquoise heterochromatic eyes as he turns to continue along the temple path.
Momo giggles. She is about to follow after him, when her gaze unconsciously strays back towards the strangers across the bridge. They are now taking photos of their entwined hands, evidently showcasing the new ring gracing the woman’s finger.
Momo pauses at the sight of the happy couple. A foreign feeling swirls in her chest as she wonders if Shouto will ever propose to her like that. Will he ever get on one knee and ask for her hand? Proclaim that she is his destined partner and that he will love her forever?
‘I don’t plan to ever get married.’
Momo’s breath stills. The warmth swelling inside her chest chills at the memory she has forcibly tried to ignore since high school. It slips back through her mind like a shadow, wrapping around her heart and squeezing.
That's right.
Momo raises a hand to curl over her chest. Shouto has already decided to never wed.
She swallows over a lump in her throat. The night suddenly feels colder, and Momo hugs herself as her gaze drops to stare vacantly down at the crystal clear lake underneath the bridge. Koi fish swim languidly through the water, unaware of the sudden shadow hanging over Momo’s thoughts.
Her bottom lip quivers, and Momo presses her mouth into a thin line. She loves Shouto so much it hurts and could never imagine a future in which he isn’t by her side, but does Shouto feel the same? If he doesn’t want to wed, does that mean he doesn’t envision them being together forever?
Momo can’t ignore the dull ache that thumps through her chest at the thought.
“What’s wrong?” Shouto's voice whispers close to her ear.
Momo jumps, and her gaze darts up to meet Shouto’s. He is leaning down to eye-level and studying her expression intently, as though attempting to read her thoughts.
“Did something happen?” he asks softly. There is an intensity in his gaze that makes his eyes shine like metal and sapphire in the soft glow of the temple lights.
Heat spreads over Momo’s cheeks. She takes a step back, her pulse stuttering, and forces herself to smile.
“It’s nothing. I was just spacing out,” Momo lies quickly, raising her hands up in a placating gesture.
What is she thinking?
She looks away, chastising herself for letting her mood darken. Momo knows how sensitive Shouto is to others’ emotional state. She doesn’t want to make him worry, especially for something he can’t help.
"Is that so…" Shouto hums, studying her for a moment longer.
“Come this way.”
Momo’s eyes widen as his fingers suddenly close around hers, and Shouto pulls her after him.
“Shouto-san?” She gasps in surprise.
Shouto doesn’t pause. His hand tightens around hers, and he guides Momo through the crowd and over to a stone bench hidden underneath an oak tree.
“Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
Not waiting for a response, Shouto releases her hand and turns. Momo watches his back disappear into the crowd, perplexed. Although they have known each other for far longer than the four years they have been dating, it’s sometimes still difficult for her to read him.
Momo sighs. Smoothing out her burgundy pea-coat, she takes a seat and glances around. Couples and families stroll peacefully through the temple garden, laughing and stopping to take pictures.
Against her wishes, Momo’s mind drifts back towards matrimony.
She wishes it didn’t bother her so much, but, in truth, Momo never imagined a future in which she didn’t eventually marry. Since childhood, Momo dreamed of finding her soulmate — her prince — and for that magical proposal fairytales and the media always illustrated.
However, Shouto grew up differently. Seeing his parents' failed marriage; it is reasonable Shouto doesn’t want to tie himself up with matrimony.
It stung to learn about his intentions at first, but Momo vowed to not let Shouto’s decision squash her determination to stand by his side. She would never force her wish to wed onto Shouto. Momo would be happy with what he gave her and was resolved not to ask for more.
But now, as the years pass, she finds herself longing for marriage more and more. To make matters worse, recently it seems everything reminds her of a future she will never have with him. Whether it's her mother, who started pestering her as soon as she graduated from U.A. to get married and have children, or the media questioning when to expect an announcement on a future wedding date, it feels like everyday something reminds her of that unobtainable future.
Momo leans her head back and stares up through the red and orange oak leaves at the full moon. She feels guilty for letting these annoying thoughts and unreasonable expectations cloud her mind, when their relationship is perfect as it is.
It’s not like she doesn’t recognize that people can be happy without marriage. But no matter how she tries to disengage herself, a part of her can’t seem to let this go.
She wants more.
Momo sighs and closes her eyes. Is it really so selfish to want to make their union official?
“Momo?”
Her eyes open, and she looks back down as Shouto returns, carrying a small tray of round dumpling shaped confections.
“I got you dango.”
Momo blinks as Shouto hands her the tray. The sweet scent of sugar wafts from the round gluttonous balls. “Is this for me? You really didn’t have to.”
Shouto shrugs. “I’m executing the three steps to make you happy.”
“Three steps…?” Momo repeats, her brow furrowing as she picks up one of the sticks.
Shouto nods, lowering himself down next to her on the bench. His shoulder brushes against hers. “Food, rest, and affection.”
Momo can’t stop a small laugh from escaping her lips at the absurdity of his words. How does Shouto always make her smile no matter the situation or mood she is in? It’s like he knows her better than she knows herself.
Her cheeks flush as a realization washes over her. Whether she and Shouto marry or not, he is the best person for her. Her prince. He’s like a piece of her puzzle, completing her.
That’s right, it’s not like marriage equates to happiness. There are plenty of people who are happy without matrimony. Even if they don’t wed, Momo knows that Shouto loves her; she doesn’t need a ring or a ceremony or legal documentation to remind her of that. Besides, she is Creati, ‘The Everything Hero’. Whether she and Shouto marry or not, she will create her own happiness.
Momo smiles brightly and takes a bite.
“Feeling better now?” Shouto asks when she finishes the last of the confections.
Momo hums contentedly, dusting off her hands. “Yes, thank you. But it was nothing to worry about.”
“Are you sure?” Shouto asks, standing and holding out a hand to help Momo to her feet. “You looked like you were trapped in your thoughts again.”
Momo feels her cheeks redden, and she looks away, avoiding his eyes as she throws the tray away. “Yes. I’m fine. Thank you, Shouto-san.”
“Really?” Shouto asks, following her.
The heat in her cheeks deepens, and Momo raises her chin. “Really,” she says, meeting Shouto’s gaze as naturally as she can.
He studies her expressionlessly. Then, he reaches out and his fingers skim against her cheek. Momo startles, but Shouto ignores her surprise as he brushes her loose bangs behind her ear. “If you don't want to talk about it, it's okay. But when you're ready I'm here,” he says, drawing his hand back.
Momo's breath hitches. How does he always do this? Steal her breath away with his sincerity. She glances up at Shouto from underneath her lashes; he is watching her intently but doesn’t say anything as he waits.
Momo knows she should have talked to Shouto about her feelings a long time ago. Burying her wish and letting her thoughts simmer will not make her desire disappear.
She bites her lip.
“Don’t force yourself,” Shouto says simply, misreading Momo’s silence.
Momo shakes her head. “No, it’s okay. It’s just a little hard to start.”
Shouto hums in understanding. “Do you want to continue walking while we talk? I found something I want to show you.”
Momo nods, and Shouto reaches out to interlace their fingers. Momo’s heartbeat quickens. Their hands fit perfectly together.
Momo never liked the way her fingers looked. They are calloused and her nails are short for hero work, but in Shouto’s hand she finds that she likes how delicate and pretty they appear.
She smiles to herself and then takes a deep breath, summoning her courage. “I was thinking of the American couple and their proposal …” Momo looks away, pretending to admire the perfectly pruned bushes and trees as they walk hand in hand. Guilt and shame at her earlier thoughts curl in her stomach, but she forces herself to continue.
“Since I was young, I’ve always wanted to get married. I don’t know why. Maybe it was societal pressure on young girls or it’s because of the idea that someone could love me for who I am enough that they’d desire to be by my side forever. Either way, when I saw their proposal I started thinking back on that wish. And I got into my head wondering if, by not getting married, I was failing to achieve happiness.”
Shouto’s hand tightens around hers. Momo takes a deep breath and keeps going, “I know there are plenty of couples who never wed and are happy, but it felt like I was missing out on something or not meeting my own expectations if I never got to experience it. But then I came to the realization that marriage isn’t what makes people happy. It’s the relationship and how content they are with the other person that matters. So, what I’m saying is that I’m fine not getting married and I shouldn't let myself be swayed.” She looks up to meet Shouto’s gaze, hoping he can see the honesty in her eyes.
“I’ll be happy as long as I'm with the right person...with you.”
Her heart pounds at her confession. Their relationship has never been one based on words, so baring her heart like this makes Momo feel naked. And as the moments drag on Momo starts to become nervous. Then Shouto opens his mouth.
“Do…” Shouto starts, then stops. He purses his lips together before continuing. “So you don’t want to get married?”
Momo’s cheeks warm. “That’s not it!” she says quickly. “It’s just...I know you don't want to. And I don’t want you to feel pressured. I'm really happy with you! I mean it. And I don’t want you to do something you wouldn’t be comfortable with — whether that’s marriage or anything else. So even if we don't get married, I think I'd be okay. I just want to be by your side.”
Shouto is quiet for a moment before saying. “We'll see. You could still get a proposal once your assessment is done.” His face is serious but his voice takes on a teasing cadence.
Momo blinks, not expecting such a light-hearted response. “Assessing? What exactly is Todoroki Shouto assessing?”
He shrugs, then looks at her and smirks. “A number of different areas.”
Momo raises an eyebrow. “Such as…?”
He hums as if considering. “Like how well you do in the bedroom.”
Momo blanches at his words and swats his arm. “You’re despicable,” she gasps in indignation.
Shouto snorts, and his smirk grows wider. “Using big words on me now?”
“Despicable is not a big word.”
“I don’t know…That might be a negative point against you.”
Momo huffs and raises her chin in defiance. “I’m a perfect scorer. There is no way I’ll lose.”
Shouto makes a noise in the back of his throat like he doubts that. Then he pulls her closer and whispers, “Perhaps after a few more bedtime ‘suck sucks’ we can reassess your score.”
Momo gasps at his lewd words and pulls back, her face hot. “You’re horrible!” she whines. “What would people say if they knew how the real Shouto acts?”
“They'd say I'm a good fiance.”
“What?” Momo’s head jerks up and she gapes as she studies Shouto’s blank expression. Her heartbeat quickens.
Did he...
But before she can question him, the corner of Shouto’s eyes crease in laughter and he turns to look at the hill in front of them. “This is it.”
Momo follows his gaze, and her mouth opens in amazement, her thoughts coming to a halt at the sight.
Gentian blue lights glimmer like fairy dust over a stone river. The autumn foliage, illuminated by the soft temple lights, circle the clearing and create a private enclave, as if it were made just for Shouto and her.
Momo doesn’t know when, but at some point the crowd dispersed and now it's only her and Shouto.
“I think this is the perfect spot.”
Momo nods absently at Shouto’s words, unable to tear her gaze away from the twinkling lights dancing over the pebbled brook.
“I have something I want to ask you.” He releases her hand and takes a step back.
Momo looks up and her breath freezes in her lungs as Shouto kneels before her. He pulls a small velvet box out of his pocket and opens it to reveal a sparkling diamond ring.
It feels like she has stopped breathing as her eyes meet Shouto’s. He is gazing at her as if she is the only thing that matters in the world.
“Yaoyorozu Momo, will you marry me?”
Momo doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She covers her mouth. Her vision blurs as she unconsciously steps back in shock. “Shouto-san….” Momo opens and closes her mouth. The world simultaneously feels like it’s going faster and slower at the same time. “I thought - I thought you weren't interested in marriage. You said before that you never wanted to get married.”
Shouto nods. “There was a time when I did feel that way,” he says as he stands up and reaches for her. His fingers slide down her arm to catch her left hand. “But then we started dating, and I realized I was wrong. There is someone I want to be with for the rest of my life. Someone who I don't want to let go.”
He looks at her. “I want you to be mine forever. So is that a yes?”
She’s so happy she can barely speak. “Yes,” Momo chokes out as he takes her hand and slides the ring onto her finger.
She laughs as he picks her up and spins her. She feels so light, even when her feet touch the ground it’s like she is floating. Is this how Uraraka feels using her quirk?
Shouto leans down and presses his forehead to hers. Momo closes her eyes. She isn’t sure when she started crying but can feel tiny droplets run down her face. However, she can’t seem to force herself to care as she smiles brilliantly.
She lifts up on her toes and kisses him softly. “Yes, I want to marry you. More than anything.”