Chapter Text
It's been five years since.
Shoto let out a small grunt as the attendant announced the plane's landing. It's not that he was tired of his fourteen hour flight, nor was it about the annoying kid in the backseat that kept on kicking his chair during the flight, but because he was suddenly reminded of his commitment to his former alma mater that was scheduled a few hours after his arrival.
Why he even accepted the invite, he had no idea.
After graduating, he was soon drafted by a team abroad that was a part of the Major League of Basketball. MLB was an association of teams from all around the world, and luckily for him, he was wanted by half of the teams.
After all, he had led UA to The Nationals. He was also well decorated with awards during his years of playing basketball in Japan. Everyone had high expectations of him, and his focus had always been towards his dreams, and so he left everything that was distracting him from it.
He suddenly felt something building up in his throat, as well as a knot in his stomach. The idea of actually being back home had his heart beating faster than usual out of nervousness. Before getting off the plane, he suddenly laid eyes on the black mask he was tasked to buy by his friend who was afraid that they'd be mobbed if Shoto was recognised. He disagreed, of course, but there was no way to reason out of it.
After getting his luggage from the belt, he then hears a familiar voice shouting his name from the left. Green, curly hair wasn't hard to miss within the crowd his friend was mixed in.
"Todoroki-kun, Todoroki-kun!" Midoriya was enthusiastic as he waved his hand towards him. Shoto, amused by his friend who seemed to not have changed a bit since, hugged the former tight as soon as he was within reach.
It indeed had been a long time already. Many things have happened and have passed by within those five years. He missed his friends, he missed the culture, the language, the food, and everything else that he could miss. Shoto had been homesick, and he had no idea he was until he was back home.
"You still haven't changed, huh." These were the first things Shoto said as soon as he pulled away from his friend. The green haired man then let out a chuckle. For a second, Todoroki thought he had said something funny. His friend shook his head in amusement at him.
"Of course I haven't!" He answered as if what the red and white haired man said was the most baffling thing he'd ever heard. "Come on, let's catch up during the drive. You seem exhausted."
"It's because I am." Shoto retorted while following the man to the parking lot.
"I'm really glad that you accepted my invitation to be the guest for UA's sports camp. Most of the kids idolize you, you know. Shoto Todoroki, the only player to win all the MVP awards ever since junior year to senior year, along with many other things." Midoriya loaded his friend's luggage in the trunk of his car. Before he could even ask if there was anything else needed to be placed inside, Shoto was already in the front seat, waiting.
"Shoto?" Midoriya called out his name after starting the engine. He hummed in response while having his head leaning against the window.
"You know, you don't have to do it today if you're tired. I don't want to see you sick. I really appreciate you doing this for me since it's my first year as principal, but you've just gotten out of a long flight. Are you sure about this?" He asked, his voice laced with concern. Shoto almost felt bad for being tired even though he had no control over it.
"I'll be just fine. I made commitments, and I have no plans on turning back on my promise. Just a bottle of gatorade and two onigiris would be enough to get me going."
While Shoto did reassure Midoriya a little, he was only left confused with the food combination. Nevertheless, he let it go. He'll catch up with his friend later. For now, he'll let him rest as he drives.
During the silence, Shoto was then brought back to the not so distant memory of him making the decision to leave his life abroad to play back home. It was a hard decision, and yet despite the life he had overseas, as well as the money he earned from it, he decided to go back home to Japan to start anew— or rather, to continue what was left. It was a shock to the team that had taken him in, as well as to those that had supported him along the way. Despite the cheers and the negative comments all over social media opposing his decision, he still went with it.
Japan was home. Basketball was still here. She was here. He quickly shook his head at the last part of his thoughts.
"Probably because of sleep." He uttered out, fixing his position and letting out a grunt.
"Huh?" His green haired friend spared him a glance. Shoto realised he spoke out loud and not just said his somewhat poor excuse internally. "Nothing, just a random thing I remembered." Todoroki tried to pass it off again, but his friend wasn't having any of it anymore.
"Todoroki-kun, you're acting weird. Come on, let's talk." The vehicle stops when the light suddenly turns red. Cursing internally at the annoying timing, he knew speaking was the only way out. Ignoring his friend for no reason would've been rude, and if anything, he needed to let some of his suppressed thoughts out even a little.
He takes a deep breath. "I just suddenly… thought of her. Nothing much." He goes silent right after.
Midoriya was confused, until he suddenly remembered everything there was to remember. His friend and his first love, and the decisions they both made.
"Shoto…" Unable to find the right words, Midoriya opens and closes his mouth. Shoto only chuckles.
"Forget it. It's all in the past." As if he, himself, could ever forget. Her tears, their arguments and raised voices, as well as the sound of her begging him to not leave. That she would not be a hindrance to his own dream, and him likewise with hers.
He couldn't help but look away as he let a few tears silently fall down his eyes. As far as he knew, they were both living their dreams already. He was a professional at the sport he played well in, and she was now the CEO of her family's company. After all the days of regretting everything that went down that eventful night, where they now stood in life was exact proof as to why it had to happen. He had no right to dwell.
For now, his focus was on his commitment with the sports camp. It surely would get his mind off of whatever he was thinking.
Shoto was too distracted to even notice the lights turning green. Head hung low while thoughts ran around his head, his friend continued to give him glances. Midoriya was more than worried. He didn't know how to tell Shoto, and there was no turning back now. He squeezed on the wheel while silently praying to himself goodluck, hoping everything would go well for his friends and his job.
"... Wake up." Shoto's eyes snap open at the sound of his friend's voice. His immediate instinct was to look around the area, following whatever he saw from those main characters in American dramas whenever they would get kidnapped. Thankfully, he wasn't in an abandoned building ready to be pushed off the roof, or in an abandoned factory to be beaten up by criminal groups for no absolute reason. After his frantic (and a little dramatic) check of the area, he realized he was now in the school parking lot.
"I knew you should've just gone home." Izuku shook his head like a disappointed father. "You're exhausted. I can't have you die on me while training the kids. That's above my paycheck." Midoriya tried joking, but Shoto knew his friend really was worried about him.
"I'll get all the sleep I need later, Midoriya. Besides, I made a promise." His freckled friend was hard to persuade with his persistence of letting him rest, but he gave up after a few minutes.
"You don't exactly look like you're about to play with them." Midoriya gestured towards his outfit that consisted of a polo shirt and pants. Shoto shrugged, bringing his sports bag up. "I have some clothes." He smirked before focusing on his walk to the door of the gym.
Every step felt so heavy as he thought of what could happen once he stepped through those doors. He knew the kids would be excited, and although teaching others was never Shoto's forte of any sort, he felt that his commitment at hand wouldn't be that hard. There wouldn't be any distractions of any sort like during an actual game. She won't be watching like all the other games he had back then where he would get distracted every time she cheered or yelled his name.
No, it was never annoying. It was the best.
Midoriya glanced at his friend again before pushing the doors open. Suddenly, all eyes were on them, and the gym erupted in screams of excitement from the students. While the principal tried to stop the students from getting too close, Shoto's eyes surveyed the crowd and the students. His eyes roamed in the sea of people, but what he did not expect were them to land on someone all too familiar looking back right at him.
Shoto had just gotten into UA's basketball club. Four junior high students had been accepted into the team, and he was one of the fortunate ones. Many other schools have been reaching out to him and his family, wanting to get him to join their team. After all, he was well decorated during middle school for the sport, and all teams, no matter how big or small, were aiming for the top. Alas, the final decision was still on him… and so he went with the obvious choice.
The first month of the school year had just ended, and so it meant the start of the tournaments were now about to begin. Shoto practised hard. They all did. They were at the top. Second to none. The whole team intended to keep it that way.
It was during Wednesday's practice when he realized their coach was absent.
"Wha?" Bakugo, one of the four freshmen that got on the team, groaned in annoyance when he asked him. "You didn't forget, did you, IcyHot?" He used the nickname that people gave Shoto. He didn't know what to feel about it.
"Coach messaged in the group text yesterday. We'll be watching the teams playing." He cursed himself for being detached from his phone most of the time. Why didn't they just announce it after the practice?
"Todoroki, we will be observing the other teams that will be playing today. Their strengths, heights, advantages and disadvantages against us and the others, and how much of a threat they'll be to our standing." It was now Iida who spoke up. Another one of the four. "We all have our individual skills, but there will always be room for improvement— as a team and individually. I do think that this'll help us realise what we should focus on or improve upon with how we play and think on the court."
They waited for Midoriya (much to Bakugo's annoyance) to arrive before they went there together. He was the last of the four. They walked together to the train station while wearing their gym uniforms, the hot sun getting their own clothes wet from sweat. Despite this, Iida held on to the piece of paper and read it silently as they went down the hill. He couldn't be bothered to check whatever it was his friend was too focused on, but it was Midoriya that satisfied his silent curiosity.
"Iida, what's that?" His friend asked, gesturing to the piece of paper in his hand. Shoto swears he saw Bakugo glance before moving his eyes back to the road.
"This is the tournament schedule, Midoriya. The time of the games, who will first play against who, and who the winner will fight into the next round until the victor reaches the top."
Shoto watched Iida reach inside his bag, taking out three more papers and giving one to each of them. Midoriya silently muttered to himself after looking at the teams and standings, Bakugo grunted, and Shoto… well, his focus was only on one team. Although he knew the tournament wouldn't be easy as each school had their own hidden assets and bench players, the bold name of Shiketsu High on the piece of paper made sure to catch his whole attention. They've always been second to UA, but he knew that that could easily be changed.
"If we win our first six games, we'll go against Shiketsu." Shoto muttered. "They'll be playing their first game today. We need to watch them carefully." His blonde friend, who had been quiet ever since being given the piece of paper, scoffed. "Don't point out the obvious, IcyHot. We'll beat them. I will."
Their whole train ride to the game was silent. Once they got off and started getting closer to the arena, the sound of cheers became more evident. Two teams were going against each other, yet the crowd only seemed to be cheering for one.
"Shiketsu's fans are always insufferable." Bakugo says while they're in line for tickets. For once, Shoto agrees with him. They were so loud that they felt the ground beneath them vibrate from their drums, cheering squad, and shouts. It wasn't even the finals yet, but they already had a whole band in attendance to push them for the win. They were against a small team. Each sound from the crowd was a mock to the disadvantaged players.
The four of them caught the sight of their other team members with their coach, Aizawa. Once they are seated and comfortable, all of them start focusing on the game and the plays.
The third quarter had just finished, and Shoto couldn't watch any longer. Shiketsu was crushing the other team like this was practice for them. While the faces of the second and third years in their starting lineup were all familiar to him, a particular student— apparently a freshman as well— showed much more skills than his seniors combined. The commentator would shout his name every time his shot went in. The crowd would get louder any time the ball was in his hands. While Shoto admits to having a faulty memory, he was sure he wouldn't be able to forget such a tall man that played basketball with such skill.
He immediately stands up and leaves after watching Inasa Yoarashi dunk over a 5'10 player on the other team. Once he faces this guy, he'll be utterly defeated, and Shoto can't let that happen. He cannot lose.
After leaving the arena, he went straight to the school gym to practice. He was expecting to be caught by their coach that same night, but nobody came. This unhealthy habit of his continued for the next few days. After practice, he'll volunteer to clean up, and he'll stay the rest of the night practising his shooting, dribbling, and footing. He wasn't dumb enough to not realize Aizawa knew about him staying here every night, but he also never stopped him.
It was already midnight. Shoto fell down to the cold floor of their gym, body and muscles aching from exhaustion. His breathing was uneven. He usually falls asleep around 2 o'clock ever since he decided to spend nights in the gym, but tonight, it seems his body has given up on him. Even if he wanted to go home, he wouldn't be able to. Everyone in his house would be asleep by now. Even if any of his siblings were awake, they'd either be busy or would immediately snitch on him once they see their youngest sibling come home so late.
He feels his eyelids getting heavier.
He started slowly succumbing to sleep on the floor. Despite the discomfort he would probably feel in the morning, he couldn't get himself to care. Shoto hears the sound of the gym doors open, but he quickly dismisses this as his own tired mind playing on him. It wasn't until a loud shriek echoed the closed area that his body sat straight up in alarm. Expecting it to be a robber or someone dangerous, he was ready to fight. Instead, the shriek actually came from a woman in a shirt and some sports shorts while holding a volleyball.
She definitely was far from being a robber.
"Oh- Oh, my! I didn't know—!" The stranger started stuttering from shock and nervousness. Shoto only stared. "I didn't know anyone would be here, I swear!" She was looking at him like she was about to cry. Was she scared?
"Hey, it's okay," He finally decides to speak, wanting the girl to not be frightened any longer. "I wouldn't know anyone who'd go to a school gym at around midnight, too." He gives the girl a small smile, trying to calm her down. He then watches her drop her ball, hands covering her face.
"This is so embarrassing." She whispers, but it was loud enough for him to hear. "No one's supposed to be seeing me here…"
He didn't know what that meant, but he decided he'd ask later or just let it go. His eyes then drift to the volleyball on the floor.
"You play?" He asks, walking towards the ball and dribbling it. The girl peels her hands off her face after hearing the bouncing sound. "If you came here to play or wait for your team members, I can leave. I was only practising some things."
"That's unnecessary!" She assures, shaking her head in the process. "I was… I was only going to play by myself, anyway." She lowered her gaze, but Shoto still caught the sight of her frown.
"I don't mean to meddle, but it's quite late. Do you have anyone waiting for you outside?" She shakes her head again. Shoto raises an eyebrow. Did she live close?
"Is your home just around here?" He gets another no. "Do you wanna go home?" He asks, and surprisingly, he gets a yes for once.
"But… not now." She follows right after nodding. It causes Shoto to stop. "I still want to play even for a while. Please don't tell anyone, sir…"
"Shoto." He says, giving the girl his name. "My name's Shoto."
"And I'm Momo," She smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes. After a few seconds of silence, she decides to speak again. "Can you please not tell anyone I'm here? I just want to play, I swear." It's not like he had any plans to tell, but he still nodded
He starts packing his things in his bag, and the girl— no, Momo starts to play with the wall, the sound reverberating within the space they're in. His eyes move towards her, and he has no idea why, but he finds himself asking her if she wants to play with him.
"You want to play with me?!" Shoto didn't know why she was shouting, but he dared to assume it was because she was excited. Her smile reached her eyes, and all so suddenly, he felt his heart beat getting faster for no reason. Maybe this was because of his lack of sleep.
"Shoto-san, thank you! I… I never had anyone play with me before!"
They spend an hour at most playing. When it was time for them to go home, he had offered to take her home. When she told him her address, he couldn't find it in himself to say that their house was much farther than his. He just agreed.
Their walk was so silent that Shoto didn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing. It's not like he didn't love the silence, but he suddenly felt uncomfortable in her presence without a topic to talk about. He searches his mind for ideas.
"Why did you go to the gym at such a late hour?" He asks in an attempt to start a conversation. What he thought was a harmless question seemed to have her stiffening up all of a sudden, but she relaxed quick enough.
"You don't have to answer if it's uncomfortable. It's merely a conversation starter and nothing more." Shoto reassured her. She stays quiet again, and so he decides to not push the subject until she starts speaking.
"I've always loved volleyball." She starts. "When I got into high-school, I thought my parents would let me play. You know, as an official player for the school. I was so excited when I spoke to them about it again, letting me play and all that stuff. But… their objection to the idea was strong. They didn't want me to. A lady doesn't do this, they do that, blah blah blah… " Her eyes move downwards. Shoto stayed silent to let her continue. "My family wants me to focus on my education. No extracurricular activities that have nothing to do with taking over the family company. Book clubs are fine, but sports? No!"
So she's rich and from a well-known family, Shoto thought. No wonder she didn't want anyone knowing about her being there at such an hour. Although his own family wasn't any different, they weren't as strict with him or his siblings like Momo's parents were with their daughter.
"How about you, Shoto-san?" Momo already changes the subject away from her. The man stares at her silently, eyes studying every part of her face. Momo was beautiful.
"Practising. Nothing else."
She nods, accepting such a short answer from him when she basically told him about her whole situation. Once they reached her house, Momo thanked him before going inside and waving her hand. He makes sure to stay until she gets inside completely before walking back to his place, body tired yet still up with the thoughts of her.
Shoto heads straight to the gym once classes are done that day later on. He got to sleep on his bed again, got to eat breakfast, and wasn't so tired during class that he got to apologise to his teachers for his grades suddenly getting low during the times he'd been practising all night.
He sits down by the stairs of the entrance, taking his school shoes off to replace them with his basketball wear. He feels someone tap him on the shoulder, causing him to turn around. "Shoto, a girl's waiting for you." Midoriya smiled, lifting a finger and pointing towards a familiar face sitting by the benches. She lifts up the small bag she was holding, taking out a bento box while still smiling at him.
"For you." She mouths, placing it down as she waits for him.
Momo quickly moved her gaze away when they caught each other staring.
He felt his body stiffen at the spot, unable to move after seeing the last person he had wanted to meet as soon as he got back. He wanted to run to her. He wanted to push through the crowd and just wrap his arms around her as soon as she was within his reach, but that was impossible.
His heart aches at the thought of Momo possibly hating every fibre of his being.
While Shoto continues to stare at his past love, the crowd grows much more calm compared to how it was when he entered. Once Midoriya stopped the students from mobbing his friend, he quickly walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Shoto," Midoriya whispers, successfully catching his attention. "The event is about to start within a minute, we need to—" The green haired man was cut off when Shoto pulled on his arm, tugging him away to a corner.
"You didn't tell me she was going to be here." Shoto hissed out, unable to calm his emotions down. He didn't know what he was feeling seeing her again. Sure, his heart felt the joy of seeing its only love once again, but he also felt everything else: the pain, regret, longing, and the anger for himself for still not getting over the past.
Midoriya looked directly at his friend, eyes not wavering despite the glare he was receiving. "I just thought that it would be great for you two to talk again, Shoto. I swear, I don't mean any harm with this. She's the event sponsor, and I couldn't… I didn't have the heart to tell you..."
"This wasn't your business to meddle with, Midoriya. I understand that you like to play the hero, but not all situations call for one." Shoto drops his friend's arm before taking a deep breath. He was going to have to go through with this day without any complaints. He had no choice.
The event started as soon as the clock struck one o'clock. He taught the kids some basic dribbling exercises, how to find their proper shooting form, as well as the positions they excel at. Shoto was starting to think that the day was going to go well despite his internal dilemma, but his hopes were then shattered when a bunch of people with huge cameras and whole crews went through the doors.
"Media people." He cursed silently at the sight, knowing he'll have to give an interview one-on-one or sit in the middle of the stage while getting yelled at with questions at the same time. He couldn't decide which would be more annoying.
As he had predicted, Midoriya approached him a few minutes asking whether he'd be fine with doing an interview for the media. He was given a small table, a microphone, and a chair to sit on for the media interrogation he'll be getting.
Shoto's silent annoyance ticked off as each minute passed. He was asked all the typical questions like how it felt to be back, why he decided to return, if he had a love interest, and all the other things related and unrelated to basketball. Some students were also given an opportunity to ask questions, but the privilege of being able to ask the last question was given to another one from the media.
"Mr. Todoroki, I am sure I'm not the only person in this room— well, I'm sure there's no one in this room that isn't glad to see you back." The interviewer said, causing everyone to burst into small laughter. Shoto had to smile if everybody else was doing so. "While I'm sure your local fans have missed you incredibly after five years of playing abroad, was there anybody back here in Japan that you missed? I am sure family, friends, as well as fans are already a given."
While thinking of an answer he could give, he catches her staring at him again. Her eyes gleamed like she, herself, was waiting for an answer for the pending question while also trying to hide it.
He breaks his stare on her before looking back at the camera once more, knuckle gripping tightly on the microphone handle.
"To answer your question: yes, there is, and I missed her terribly."