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A soul-shattering, hell-raising, blood-pumping even if ya don’t got blood, heart-rending howl splits the air, snarling out of Katsuki’s throat. He hurls his vocals into the sky like he’s throwing knives up at the stars.
Shouto answers him.
Wailing with the wind, the vampire grips his mic, tears burning his cheeks like he’s stepped out in sunlight so hot his skin smokes. He whips the air, belting out a reverent plea with each breath—flagellation for the undead, penance for the dark heart that poisons.
Across the stage, Katsuki growls, scowls, and prowls. He holds himself haughtily, menacing Shouto bodily, wielding his Lycanthropy like a shield and a spear, teeth bared, eager for his turn to reclaim the mic and scream back.
Without waiting for Shouto’s cries to settle, Katsuki guts the sky with an electrifying heavy metal guitar solo that shreds through the vampire’s sound. His strings are a nickel-plated steel claw. Shouto, with his preternatural allure and ethereal beauty, can’t hope to compete.
Shouto hisses, fangs dragging over his lip hard enough to knick it.
Bakugou’s cutthroat competitive nature is the stake through the heart that he dodges perennially. Every Blue Night Festival, the werewolf’s ragbag pack arrives, hackles raised, hyping their barbaric frontman up to fight tooth and nail against Eden Eternal—Shouto’s band.
Primal Underbelly’s spikey-haired drummer howls something unintelligible, and the crowd goes wild.
Shouto scoffs, pulls his long, two-toned braid over his shoulder, and strikes his strings. He matches Bakugou, then he drifts, swallowing the werewolf’s sound.
At the stage’s edge, undead bodies shake the earth, moshing and jumping, thrashing and screaming. Shouto can feel the tremors wiggling up through his heels.
Bakugou flashes an obscene hand gesture at Eden Eternal, then snarls over Shouto’s solo. The dark makeup smudged around his crimson eyes smears with his sweat, and his scarred skin steams.
Scarlet moonlight washes the stage with rusty rays as the set hurtles toward its grave. The crowd’s wails lick Shouto’s consciousness, but he only has ears for the sound streaming from his guitar and the stage right racket that rises to meet it.
Shouto and Katsuki shred until the bitter end, their serenades to the moon in volatile harmony.
Then they await judgment.
The moon pulses like a beating heart, and its sanguine aura blossoms forth, reaching down to dust the stage. A collective hum fills the air as the undead throng wait to see who will receive the moon’s blessing. Last Blue Night, Midoriya Izuku had been chosen, and the moon had bestowed untold powers upon him.
In theory, earning the blessing is simple, but Shouto knows it all comes down to execution.
The moon rewards the best of the best, selecting whosoever offers up their heart to her most earnestly, bearing their soul to her through song.
An inky mark blooms under Shouto’s skin, the silhouette of a camellia in bloom, cupped by a crescent moon. He gasps, transfixed by the symbol, which sits on his wrist, kissing the meat of his palm. It glows with blueish light before fading like a weather-worn tattoo on tough hide, aged but enduring.
Distantly, Katsuki shouts something, but it doesn’t stick. Shouto’s mind races, and if his heart could beat, it would hammer. From the corner of his eye, he’d seen the werewolf’s wrist glow too.
“Impossible,” he breathes under his breath.
“Oi, bloodsucker!” Katsuki barks, stomping across the stage. He grabs Shouto by the collar and shakes him viciously. “What’s the big idea, huh?!”
Shouto’s bandmates materialize at his back, but Katsuki ignores them.
“You’ve got the blessing too, don’t you? Answer me, dammit!”
“We both have it?” Shouto blinks, staring through Katsuki.
The werewolf growls under his breath and releases Shouto. “No fuckin’ way. No. I’m not sharing shit with you. The blessing is mine, got it?!”
“I don’t think it works like—”
“An ancient prick like you doesn’t need the moon’s blessing. Between immortality and daddy’s money, you’re set for eternity.” Katsuki’s glare is hot as hellfire, but Shouto doesn’t balk. He does sharpen his tongue, though.
“Immortality isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, not that a fleabag pup would know that. And I don’t rely on anyone, especially my father. If the moon blessed me, I’ll use her power because it’s as much mine as it is yours.”
“Like hell you will!”
Muscles ripple, fur sprouts, and bones bend. One second, Katsuki’s snarling, thumping his chest like his word is law, and the next, he’s transformed, not quite wolf and certainly not man, ears back, ready to wolf out, snarling.
“I don’t know how we both got the mark,” Shouto spits, “but I’m pretty sure yours was a mistake.”
Katsuki doesn’t respond with words.
He just lunges, and Shouto doesn’t have time to think before the werewolf’s jaw closes over his head.
Published 21 June 20XX.
ROCK LEGENDS EXCHANGE BLOWS AT BLUE NIGHT FESTIVAL
After a Blue Night first, Bakugou Katsuki and Todoroki Shouto fight over their dual blessings.
[Image: Bakugou decapitates Todoroki on stage after exchanging heated words.]
By Kidzuki Chitose | Shoowaysha Publishing
For the first time in Blue Night’s long history, the Moon has extended her blessing to not one but two of the festival’s participants. Bakugou Katsuki and Todoroki Shouto’s long-standing rivalry came to a head last night when each received the mark of the moon.
The pair were understandably shocked, but their surprise quickly devolved into disorderly conduct. Heated words were exchanged, and Bakugou lost his cool, resulting in Todoroki’s momentary decapitation. Sources confirm that Todoroki will make a full recovery thanks to Eden Eternal’s quick response. However, he is unable to comment at this time, and all attempts to contact Bakugou and Primal Underbelly have been denied.
After last night’s events, many are left wondering: does this fiery duo have what it takes to uphold the Moon’s mantle? Will they carry out their responsibilities as recipients of the Moon’s blessing together, or will their feud continue to escalate?
We reached out to last year’s recipient, Midoriya Izuku, for a comment: “Kacchan and Shouto are both incredibly passionate people. Being acknowledged by the Moon on Blue Night is huge, especially for these two. Kacchan’s been chasing this dream since childhood, and Shouto has trained since birth for this. They may mix like water and oil, but the Moon doesn’t make mistakes. I know they have what it takes to honor their blessings.”
Conversation: 269 Comments | Show More
HISTORY
Today — 21 June 20XX
Blue Night Mark Meaning - Search
Blue Night Festival Mark Meaning - Search
Mark of the Moon Meaning - Search
Mark of the Moon Responsibilities - Search
Undead Stewardship Duties - Search
How Long Mark of the Moon Last - Search
More Than One Mark of the Moon - Search
Two People Mark of the Moon - Search
Two Undead Blue Night Stewards - Search
Mark of the Moon Recipients - Search
Ramen Jiro Hours - Search
Does Decapitation Affect Immortality - Search
Blue Night 20XX Date - Search
Bakugou Katsuki Net Worth - Search
Bakugou Katsuki Scandals - Search
My Net Worth - Search
Todoroki Shouto Net Worth - Search
Ramen Jiro Menu - Search
Studio 1A — 22 June 20XX
“I don’t care what you think you’ve heard, you have to work together.”
Eraserhead slouches in his leather back chair. He’d spent what felt like several lifetimes sizing up the vampire-werewolf duo. His current leaden gaze is no less heavy.
“I’m not working with a bloodsucker,” Katsuki growls.
“You will.”
Shouto fumes in silence, brooding in the corner of Eraserhead’s office.
“How the hell do you expect me to get along with him?”
“Not biting his head off at the slightest provocation would be a good start, Mister Bakugou,” Eraserhead deadpans.
“It’s just one song, right?” Shouto asks, breaking his silence.
He’d spent all night researching the Moon’s blessing. While his life has revolved around Blue Night for centuries, he hasn’t put much thought into what would happen after he finally received the Mark of the Moon.
“Yes and no,” Eraserhead answers. “The expectations are as follows.” The tired mummy lifts a finger. “One, you will write a song that endears the next generation of undead to the Moon. You will spare no effort in doing so, and you will be prepared to perform it by the next Blue Night. Two—this is a given—you will perform the song at Blue Night, and three, you will behave as model recipients of the Moon’s blessing. Thus far, you have failed the third expectation by an impressive margin.”
Shouto grimaces, as does Katsuki.
“You have…” Eraserhead peels back a bandage to check his watch. “362 days to write your song and figure out how to work together. Oh, and don’t think you can make this my problem. I won’t say anything further on this matter, so don’t bother coming back.”
Eraserhead’s wrappings rustle, and before Shouto or Katsuki can respond, bandages shoot out in all directions: one heaves his door open while two more wrap around the werewolf and vampire, then they’re flung from the room. The door slams shut behind them, nearly pinching Katsuki’s tail in the process.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
28 June 20XX.
Contact: Yuuei Media Group
Telephone: 0X-XXXX-XXXX
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.primalunderbelly.com
PRIMAL UNDERBELLY FRONTMAN BAKUGOU KATSUKI AND EDEN ETERNAL’S TODOROKI SHOUTO BURY THE HATCHET
Musutafu, Japan, 21 June 20XX — Following the events of last week’s Blue Night Festival, musician Bakugou Katsuki has issued a statement apologizing for his rash decapitation of fellow Moon blessing recipient Todoroki Shouto.
Primal Underbelly’s manager Hakamada Tsunagu comments, “Mister Bakugou and Mister Todoroki have been in contact and have agreed to uphold their duties as recipients of the Moon’s blessing. The mark is a significant honor, and Mister Bakugou is fully prepared to work side by side with Eden Eternal’s frontman. The public has seen them at odds for years, but it’s important to understand that, behind the scenes, they have a lot of respect for each other. Their rivalry exists because of that respect. Mister Bakugou’s acknowledgment of Mister Todoroki proves as much.”
“Decapitating [Todoroki] in front of everyone was a mistake,” says Bakugou.
Primal Underbelly’s PR team reached out to Todoroki for comment. The Eden Eternal frontman says, “I’m fine.”
For more information about this release, please contact Yuuei Media Group at 0X-XXXX-XXXX or email to [email protected].
Studio 1A — 30 June 20XX
“So how does this work?” Shouto asks, hovering over Katsuki’s shoulder as the werewolf scratches illegible lyrics onto the back of a Chinese restaurant receipt.
“How does what work?” he grunts back.
“Writing a song together.”
“Together? Are you out of your damn mind?” Katsuki jerks his head toward Shouto, his handsome, wolfish features marred by an ugly scowl. “We aren’t writing shit together, got that?”
“But Eraserhead—”
“But nothing. You’ll write your song; I’ll write mine. Deku will pick which one we perform at Blue Night.”
“Oh.” Shouto’s eyes light up, and his lips form a small ‘o.’
Katsuki looks faintly green. Something about the vampire’s expression must be supremely irritating because the werewolf huffs through his nose and then resumes furiously scribbling out lyrics.
Shouto opens his phone and starts a new note. His cursor blinks after the title, “Blue Night Song.” Frowning, Shouto peeks at Katsuki’s receipt again. He’s already got most of a verse, or maybe it’s the chorus, the intro, the bridge? Shouto scrubs his face with a hand.
“Fuck. I can hear you thinking, bloodsucker. What the hell is it? Just spit it out,” Katsuki grumbles without looking up.
“What are you writing about?”
“The moon—what the fuck else?”
“Right…”
“Right,” Katsuki mimics.
Shouto pulls up his legs and floats cross-legged. He watches Katsuki out of the corner of his eyes for a minute before turning his attention to his phone.
It’s going to be a long year.
30 June 20XX at 8:27 PM
Blue Night Song (Draft One)
Themes: Absolution? Atonement? Penance? Repentance?
Screams in the dead of night
I’ll be tormented until the world’s reborn
Never gonna, never gonna escape the shadows
But in your light, I’m born again,
Flesh and blood, my soul’s on fire
Your blessing brings me back to life.
Judge me, bring absolution
Judge me, bring a solution
I’ve lived too long in wretched pollution
I won’t survive the night without
Your celestial revolution
Studio 1A — 3 July 20XX
“Shouldn’t the songs actually be the same, just different lyrics? Or are we actually writing two fully different songs?”
“What kind of fuckin’ question is that?” Katsuki snarls. “I’m not following some shitty formula that you come up with, and I’m not lettin’ ya mooch off my chords.”
“Do you write all of Primal Underbelly’s stuff?” Shouto cocks his head, studying the werewolf through hooded eyes.
Katsuki is rugged, with plenty of bite to go with his bark. His eyes are as piercing as his teeth, which are as sharp as his wit, and his patience is as thin as the sheer black shirt he’s wearing under his leather jacket, beneath which Shouto can see abyssal inky lines that spiral across the werewolf’s chests.
“Are you just full of shit questions today, or have you been sittin’ on that one for a while?” Katsuki’s eye twitches, and he grinds his teeth. “Of course, I write our shit.”
“Just curious.” Shouto shrugs. “So how far are you?”
Katsuki blinks, staring at Shouto like he’s declared the sky is any color other than blue. “You don’t think I’d actually tell you that, do you?”
Shouto shrugs again. “I need to write my bridge, maybe an intro. I’ve got the rest outlined. It’s rough, but it’s coming together.”
“Oi, bloodsucker. What makes you think I care?”
“You’re competitive. You were probably dying to know, and now I’ve saved you the trouble of asking. You’re welcome.”
Katsuki snorts. “Sounds like you’re projecting. I’m on draft three since you wanna know so damn bad.”
“No, I think you just wanted to gloat.”
This time, when Katsuki wolfs out and lunges at Shouto, the vampire is ready. With a puff of black smoke, Shouto transforms and flies out of the studio like a bat out of hell.
Shouto ✓ @todorokishouto
AMA
Shou’s Wife @edeneeternal
Replying to @todorokishouto
What’s it like working with @bakugoukatsuki?
King ‘roki @todotodochan
Replying to @todorokishouto
How does it feel to have the moon’s blessing?
Aimi @todobakureal
Replying to @todorokishouto
This Tweet might include sensitive content.
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Shouto ✓ @todorokishouto
Replying to @edeneeternal
we’re on different levels
Shouto ✓ @todorokishouto
Replying to @todotodochan
what matters are actions. next blue night i’ll show everyone what words can’t express.
Primal Underbelly ✓ @bakugoukatsuki
Replying to @todorokishouto and @edeneeternal
the fuck does that mean???
Shou’s Wife @edeneeternal
Replying to @bakugoukatsuki and @todorokishouto
Oh my GOD, I’m passing away a;lskdjf
Shouto ✓ @todorokishouto
Replying to @bakugoukatsuki and @edeneeternal
it means we aren’t on the same level
Deku ✓ @midoriyaizuku
Replying to @todorokishouto @bakugoukatsuki and @edeneeternal
We all come from different places! Shouto just means you guys have different creative processes!
Shou’s Wife @edeneeternal
Replying to @midoriyaizuku @bakugoukatsuki and @todorokishouto
not deku toooooo ;alksdfasdlf
Primal Underbelly ✓ @bakugoukatsuki
Replying to @midoriyaizuku @todorokishouto and @edeneeternal
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Shou’s Wife @edeneeternal
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guyysss????? :’(
Studio 1A — 12 August 20XX
“I’m thinking it’s like a modern twist on ‘Blood Brawl.’” You remember Oguro’s iconic hook?”
Katsuki looks up from his laptop. “Of course, I remember. I grew up on Knuckleduster.”
“Right, so then—wait, let me grab my guitar.” Shouto slides his custom red and white Ironbird out of its case. “Kind of like this.” He plucks a few cords before looking to Katsuki, who shrugs, then he starts again, humming along to the melody.
“Not bad, bloodsucker, but I’m still gonna beat your ass.”
“Izuku is biased. He’ll pick me. We’re better friends.”
“That fuckin’ nerd’s gonna pick me, hands down, no contest. You may be chummy, but he worships the ground I walk on. Besides, he knows better than to play favorites. I’ll kill him if he does.”
“When he turns up dead or, uh, deader, I’m pointing them in your direction,” Shouto snorts. “Hey, you’re recording next weekend, right?”
“Yeah. Stay outta the studio. I don’t want you messing with my vibes.”
“We wouldn’t want that.”
“You wouldn’t want that. I’m not above killing you, too.”
“You’ve already tried.”
“Doesn’t count. I wasn’t trying.”
“Do you know how much trouble you’d get into if I recorded you saying that?” Shouto laughs, ducking his head to hide a smile.
“Good thing you aren’t fuckin’ recording me then, you goddamn prick.” Katsuki grins at Shouto. His vermillion eyes blaze, and the gravel in his throat revs something in Shouto’s undead heart.
18 September 20XX, 3:21 AM
Todoroki Shouto added Midoriya Izuku to the conversation.
Midoriya:
Hey, so what’s up? Shou says you guys have something for me?
Bakugou:
fuck’s sake bloodsucker. you couldn’t arrange this without including me?
Todoroki:
it involves both of us, and it was your idea to begin with. just be glad i’m keeping you in the loop
Midoriya:
soooooo….?
Bakugou:
Might Tower. Saturday @4
Midoriya:
Do I get more details or???
Todoroki:
we’ve got songs for you to review
Midoriya:
Ooooooh, sure yeah!! I’d love to help!!
Bakugou Katsuki removed Midoriya Izuku from the conversation.
Todoroki:
seriously?
Bakugou:
his attitude makes me queasy
Might Tower — 22 September 20XX
“Well, first, I just want to say, I love them, but...” Izuku frowns. “These aren’t both for Blue Night are they?”
“Of course, they’re for Blue Night. What the fuck else would the be for?” Katsuki huffs, rolling his eyes so hard Shouto thinks they might pop out.
“Yeah.” Shouto nods. “We’re gonna perform the one you pick.”
“Oh.” Izuku itches his cheek. A pained smile twists the zombie’s patchwork face. “I’m honored, really I am, but that’s not how… uh… you can’t…” Izuku wrings his hands. His gaze darts between Katsuki’s growing glower and Shouto’s impressively blank face.
Sighing heavily, he continues, “I’m sure Eraserhead explained this to you, but you have to work together. I’m happy to see you’re getting along well enough that you haven’t killed each other, but that’s not enough on its own. You can’t work around writing the song together. It has to be a collaborative effort, and I can’t help you. I’m happy to cheer you on, but this is all you.”
Katsuki swears something fouler than the grave Izuku rolled out of, and Shouto slumps in his seat.
“Together?” he groans.
“Together,” Izuku affirms. “Sorry, I thought you guys knew that.”
“We didn’t not know,” Shouto admits. “Still.”
Katsuki growls and prowls the length of the studio. His lips curl over his teeth as he mutters furiously under his breath.
“Is that gonna be a problem?” Izuku asks, grimacing.
Todoroki and Bakugou FIGHT outside Might Tower — Undead Newz Clips
[Thumbnail: Bakugou is snarling at Todoroki’s throat. Todoroki flips off the camera.]
1.2M Views | 18 hours ago
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Add a public comment…
AmpVamp 12 hours ago
imagine dealing with Bakugou on a daily basis...
Danakor666 18 hours ago
Y’all are so damn sensitive.
EdenEternal2320 17 hours ago
I love how little of a fuck Todoroki gives. Like “stop barking at me” ???? No one else talks to Bakugou like that XD
WolfWife 9 hours ago
How is this even news? Unewz really got nothing better to do than stir up drama, huh?
GuitarGhoul 18 hours ago
They’re always fighting :O why do i kinda live for it…
Drakulla 8 hours ago
Not to offend anyone but how is this a “fight” … this is a thousand times tamer than any of their other scandals… I don’t get it???
PrimalPup14 13 hours ago
Kats is a brilliant troll. He knows what to do for attention. Check back in 6 months. You’ll see :3
Todotrollski 11 hours ago
todoroki is a fucking kiiinnnng. he doesn’t take anyone’s shit.
UnderbellyBabe 7 hours ago
Wooooof! I’d let him bark at me like that…
Studio 1A — 2 October 20XX
“You sure you wanna start from scratch?” Shouto asks for the umpteenth time.
“Yes, I’m fucking sure. I’m not bastardizing my song, and while yours doesn’t totally suck ass, I’m not singing it. So yeah, we’re starting from fucking scratch.”
“Where do we start, then?”
“Where do we start—?” Katsuki shoots Shouto a withering look. “I don’t know—how about where you usually start? Dumb ass.”
“Fine, let’s brainstorm themes. Obviously, it’s for Blue Night, but what’s the underlying message?”
2 October 20XX at 9:48 PM
Blue Night Collab Ideas
Resurrection / “tf???” - B
Balance between light & shadows / “hell no” - B
“Violence as a metaphor for love” / get help - T
Interspecies unity / “nah, no, uh-uh” - B
“Explosive ambition” / unbelievable - T
Celestial planes / “wtf does that mean???” - B
“Night terrors” / There ARE bad ideas - T
“Decapitation” / “don’t write that down!” - B
Studio 1A — 30 October 20XX
“Okay, so the key change goes—I was lost (bum bum) in the shadows (dun dun) wounded and wanting… but then you found me, oh oh—then it becomes a kinda sultry Nemuri-type thing.”
“Ooooh, yeah, yeah. So maybe this, then?” Katsuki plucks a promising arrangement. He watches Shouto as he plays, eyes darting across the vampire’s face. “Wait, no, should we go lower?”
“Mmm… yeah.” Shouto nods, closing his eyes.
“Okay, so how about this?”
“Yeah, like that. G minor gives it a contemplative tone, right?”
“How about the tempo, though?”
“I like it.”
“Cool. And we’re gonna have the piano come in here too. That’s gonna be surprising.”
“Exactly!” Shouto scooches his stool closer to Katsuki’s. “Can I?”
Katsuki considers the vampire. His grip on his guitar’s neck tightens for a moment, his possessive nature leaking through. After a moment of deep contemplation, he relinquishes his prized beauty to Shouto with a resigned sigh.
“Can you pull up the voice note with the drumbeat?”
“Yeah.” Katsuki digs out his phone and scrolls through his recordings.
“Okay, so we’re gonna go—a ransomed soul can’t ever be reclaimed, but you’ve got my pulse beating all the same—and then your drumbeat here and—I was dead but you bring me back, chest is pounding like a heart attack, nothin’ really matters in the blue moonlight, nothin’ really matters but you give me fight.”
“You gotta give me more emotion, Todoroki. Where are those famous tears?”
“Fuck off.” Shouto snorts a laugh and hands the guitar back to Katsuki.
primalkatskey ✓ - the vamp might have pipes after all @edenroki #inthestudio
[Image: Selfie of Bakugou and Todoroki. Bakugou flips the camera off with his arm slung around Todoroki’s shoulders.]
2.4M Likes | 8.4k Comments
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edeneternal2320 - Ggggffffffff
badprimal - love u <3
zombieheartz - @deku @deku @deku @deku
edeneeternal - love to see u guys happyyy <33
tvampcore - mom and dad are getting along ;-;
underbellybabe19 - best boyyysss <3
deku ✓ - can’t wait to hear it!
15 November 20XX
Bakugou’s Penthouse — 4 December 20XX
“We should talk visuals.”
“Already?” Shouto whines, sprawling over Katsuki’s black velvet sectional sofa.
“Yeah, lazy ass. You want shit wardrobe or what?” Katsuki jabs Shouto in the ribs with his foot.
The vampire hisses but doesn’t fight back. He merely rolls onto his side to stare at the werewolf. “Colors, but that’s it. I’m tired.”
“You’re tired?” Laughter peals out of Katsuki—genuine laughter, eyes crinkling around the edges laughter. “You’re a goddamn vampire. Don’t tell me you get tired. You’ve got all of eternity to nap. Right now, we’re working on our damn visuals.”
“Don’t you have people for this?”
“You do?”
“...yeah.”
“Tch. Fuckin’ typical.”
Shouto drags himself up and pads over to Katsuki’s kitchen. He rummages around in the fridge and pulls out a plasma pack.
“You got the vache flavor?” Shouto’s ears tinge red, and he turns to look back at Katsuki, eyes wide and shining with wonder.
“Don’t look at me like that. Of course, I got your stupid cow blood.”
“Bakugou.” Shouto presses a hand above his heart and says in the most heartfelt voice he can muster, “Thank you.”
A pillow soars across the room and wacks the vampire in the face.
5 January 20XY
EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS
(ONLY IN POWER PRESS)
HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT: JAPAN’S DARLINGS TAKE TOKYO BY STORM
Inside their whirlwind romance! | Plus: How to cope when you’re dating an immortal!
[Image: Bakugou and Todoroki huddled together, haloed by a kaleidoscope of LED lights. Bakugou’s hand rests on the small of Todoroki’s back. Todoroki leans close to listen to Bakugou.]
Studio 1A — 5 January 20XY
“What the hell is this?” Eraserhead slaps the morning’s tabloid on his desk.
“The same bullshit it always is,” Katsuki fumes. “You show those bastards a sliver of your life and they run miles with it, making up shit left and right.”
“So it’s not real, then?” Eraserhead narrows his eyes.
Katsuki’s eyes dart to Todoroki, then back to the Studio 1A producer. “Fuck no. What kind of question is that?”
Shouto’s lungs balloon in his chest. As a vampire, he doesn’t need to breathe, but for the first time in his undead life, he feels like he’s suffocating.
“Look,” Eraserhead sighs. “I don’t care if they’re printing the love story of the century or another dime a dozen scandal, stay out of the tabloids. After June, it doesn’t matter what’s real and what’s not between you two, but until Blue Night, keep your noses clean.”
“Got it,” Shouto replies, voice colder than a winter moon. “But for the record, he’s right. It’s not real.”
Turning on his heel, Shouto strides from the room.
VOICEMAIL
Katsuki | Today
Transcription
Shou, call me. For all I know, you’re dead. Er, you know. Fuck, just call me, dammit.
Katsuki | Friday
Transcription
Hey, uh, fuck… never mind.
Katsuki | 23 January 20XY
Transcription
Shouto. Please call. Shit’s embarrassing. No one can get ahold of you, and all your friends are fuckin’ assholes. None of them will tell me what’s up with you.
Katsuki | 17 January 20XY
Transcription
I’m not gonna forgive you for making me leave goddamn voicemails. This is ridiculous. Call me.
Katsuki | 10 January 20XY
Transcription
You’re not answering your damn texts. What the hell, man? We’ve got shit we gotta discuss. Call me.
Todoroki’s Mansion — 7 February 20XY
“You can’t leave him on read until Blue Night,” Izuku murmurs, stroking Shouto’s hair.
“I can, and I will. The song is done. We just have to perform it.” Shouto closes his eyes, content to let his best friend play with his hair.
“I still don’t really… understand.”
“Hmm?”
Izuku’s hand stills. Shouto cracks an eye and peers up at the zombie. Izuku chews his lip in thought, face scrunched with confusion.
“Well, it’s just that I didn’t realize you guys were ever close to begin with? I knew you shelved the rivalry crap, but this feels different. You’re acting like he broke up with you or something.”
“Or something,” Shouto hisses, sitting up. “He’s a massive asshole—that’s all you need to know.”
“I mean, yeah, Kacchan is rough around the edges. He always has been, but I still feel like there’s more to this. Were you, like—”
“We work in the same industry, and we both have the Mark of the Moon. We wrote a song together—that’s it.”
“Shouto, can I ask you something?”
“Yeah.”
“Does he know how you feel?”
Shouto blinks, then blinks again. Izuku’s words rattle around in his skull and then fall flat. They seem foreign. Individually, he understands them, but together, they don’t make sense.
“About what?” Shouto frowns.
“About him.”
Todoroki Shouto “Preparing for Blue Night” Interview: Full Transcript
Kidzuki Chitose | 1 March 20XY
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Kidzuki Chitose meets Todoroki Shouto (and his publicist Todoroki Fuyumi) for coffee.
Kidzuki Chitose: Everyone is dying to hear about your collab with Bakugou Katsuki, but I’d like to talk about a couple of other things before we get to your co-collaborator.
Todoroki Shouto: Yeah, sure.
KC: Perfect! Let’s talk about the Todoroki name. Your family goes back several millennia, but you’re the first Todoroki to receive the Moon’s blessing. That’s gotta be huge. Can you talk about that?
TS: It’s an honor. I mean, it’s an honor for anyone, but I’m especially overwhelmed by it. Vampires have an unfair advantage when it comes to Blue Night. We have a lot more chances than mortal hopefuls do. The significance of that privilege isn’t lost on me, but it also means something, I think, that I was the first vampire in my family to make it happen.
KC: Wow, yeah, I bet! So your father… You’re estranged?
TS: You could say that.
KC: Any idea how he feels about this? It’s a big win for the Todoroki legacy.
TS: It is. We’ve discussed it briefly. He’s happy. I’d be surprised if he wasn’t.
KC: Right, right. Alright, let’s move on. Blue Night 20XY will be here before we know it. It’s only three and a half months away. How ready are you? Are the nerves kicking in yet?
TS: It hasn’t hit me how close it is yet. I don’t think I’ll start feeling the pressure until rehearsals start.
KC: You’re gonna kill it. Between you and Bakugou, I have no doubt Blue Night 20XY will be one to remember. Speaking of, how has it been working with Bakugou? You’ve had quite the rivalry over the years, and there was the decapitation scandal last summer.
TS: He’s insanely talented, but he’s also an infuriating [Todoroki swears]—can I say that?
KC: We can clean it up if we need to. Can you elaborate on that? There’s been quite a bit of documentation on social media of your turbulent Blue Night partnership.
TS: Yeah, that’s been something that we both expected but still weren’t ready for, I think. After centuries of dealing with the public, I’m used to living under a microscope, but I didn’t realize how big things would be between us.
KC: What do you mean by that?
TS: We’ve both got huge fan bases, and while there is some overlap, those numbers combined are unfathomable. There are also quite a few people that want to see us fail or drag each other down.
KC: That’s gotta be frustrating. How do you deal with that?
TS: Ignore it mostly, and it’s easier when you have someone to commiserate with.
KC: That’s actually a perfect segue into my next question. How are things behind the scenes with Bakugou? Would you say you’re close?
TS: ‘Close’ is so subjective. Yes and no. We’re closer than we’ve ever been—but are we best friends? No, it’s not like that.
KC: What is it like—is that alright to ask?
TS: Yeah, I, uh, actually wanted to talk about that.
KC: Oh?
TS: There’s something I’d like to clarify before Blue Night. When we step onto the stage, there’s gonna be a lot of emotion there. It’ll have been a year since we received the Moon’s blessing, and coming together to write a song that’s meaningful to us has been hard. You said it yourself, we’ve had quite the rivalry. And yeah, he bit my head off last year. But this time, people are going to see a different side of us—or I can say that about myself at least. I think he’ll agree, though.
KC: Bakugou?
TS: Yeah. There’s also something I need to clear up with him before June.
KC: I hope that goes well for you. We’re all excited to see what you bring to the table this June. Blue Night’s never seen two recipients before—it’ll be a first people won’t want to miss.
Black Book Cocktails — 6 March 20XY
“I didn’t know if you’d actually come.”
“You’ve been dodging my calls for months. It’d be stupid not to come,” Katsuki grumbles, shotgunning his drink and slamming the glass on the bar.
He casts a sideways glance at Shouto before pulling his black mask back in place. His famously spikey blond hair is hidden by the grungy hood of a battered black hoodie. Dark bags sit under his eyes, and his cheekbones seem sharper than usual.
“Fair.”
“So… what’s up?”
Most of Katsuki’s face is covered or shadowed, but Shouto’s vampire vision catches all, including the overwhelming vulnerability displayed in the werewolf’s eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
“What?” Katsuki’s eyes pinch at the corners, and his brow furrows.
“I overreacted back in January.” Shouto’s mouth is bone dry, but he presses on. “I let that get in the way of working together.”
A mixture of surprise and disappointment flashes in Katsuki’s eyes. He turns his face away from Shouto. Head bent, he thumbs over a groove in the bar’s counter. “It’s whatever, man.”
“It’s not—to me, anyway.”
Katsuki’s head jerks up, but he avoids Shouto’s gaze.
“Working with you has been a pain,” Shouto says. “In the ways you’d expect but in other ways, too. Working with someone I’ve competed with for so long was never exactly comfortable, but at the same time, I was fascinated with your process. I ended up falling in love with your work ethic and the way you write. I think a part of me has always been a fan of yours, I just wasn’t big enough to admit that. But more than that… I fell in love with you—not as a fan or even as a rival—just you, just Katsuki.
Every visible inch of Katsuki’s face is red as he blurts out, “What the fuck, Shou?”
“It’s fine if you don’t feel that way, but I wanted to explain why I overreacted and why I ignored you for so long. Things got confusing, and I let that hurt me. I’m sorry for that. It was unfair to you.”
“Shit,” Katsuki growls under his breath. “You’re… you’re… Why the fuck are you telling me this in public, you asshole?”
“Oh, I didn’t think that… I-I’m sorry?”
“Of course, you didn’t think. You never do, shitty bloodsucker.”
Shouto opens his mouth to argue, but Katsuki grabs him by the collar and yanks him forward, crushing their lips together. Growling in frustration, Katsuki pulls back to rip his forgotten mask down, then he kisses Shouto again, hot and hard, lips burning.
“I love you too, you stupid vampire,” he whispers against Shouto’s lips.
SETLIST
Eden Eternal / Primal Underbelly
Blue Night Festival
19 June 20XY
Harp Hearted - EE
Barking at the Moon - PU
All in Spirit - EE
Rotten Heart - PU
Bring Me Back - Good luck!!! :3
Born Dark - EE
Bridge Over Fallen Stars - PU
Baby, I Need Your Blood - EE
Howling Against Red Ribs - PU
Encore:
Sora Ni Utaeba
Odd Future
Peace Sign (from Tape)
Primal Underbelly’s Blue Night Greenroom — 19 June 20XY
Shouto’s fangs drag across Katsuki’s lip as he kisses the soul out of him. Frantic hands push under leather, smudge makeup, and muss hair. Shouto is unrelenting, kissing Katsuki until the werewolf pulls back panting, short of breath, chest heaving.
“You ready?” Katsuki grins. He wipes the blood from his lip and plants a kiss on Shouto’s jaw.
“Yes. This is crazy, though.” Shouto catches Katsuki’s arm and pulls it between them. He traces a finger over the mark etched into the werewolf’s wrist—a blooming camellia cradled by a crescent moon, an identical copy of Shouto’s mark.
“Nothing will be as crazy as tonight.”
Todoroki and Bakugou LIVE @ Blue Night — Blue Night Official
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A soul-searing, hair-raising, blood-buzzing even if ya don’t got blood, heart-haunting howl punches the air, snarling out of Katsuki’s throat. He hurls the lyrics into the sky like he’s throwing diamonds at the moon.
Shouto answers him.