Chapter Text
Tomorrow was the UA Sports Festival, the biggest event of the year for the young heroes in training. This was their opportunity to shine and attract the attention of the pros for work studies, internships, possible jobs after graduation, and their entire futures as heroes.
No pressure.
Shoto stared at the ceiling, trying to keep from panicking. He could do this. He could win. And he would do it without the flame power from Endeavor; Endeavor who would be there to watch tomorrow.
The buzzing of his phone pulled him away from his thoughts. It was the class group chat, again.
Ashido: We need to relax tonight, get out of our heads so we dont psych ourselves out for tomorrow.
Jiro: what u have in mind?
Jiro: no one is going to be up for whatever insanity ur plotting u kno
Ashido: Ughhh, low key I promise! Uhhh, game night?
Uraraka: Yeah, dinner, a game, maybe a movie!?
Kaminari: count me in, im sooooo nervous for tomorrow!!!!! 😢
Kirishima: DUDE YES!
Shoto stared at his phone, maybe hanging out with the others would be a good idea tonight. Sitting alone in his room wasn’t going to help him prepare any more than he was. If anything it would just drive him crazy worrying about facing his father.
Todoroki: I’ll come. What time?
Ashido: HOLY CRAP HELL HAS FROZEN OVER!?
Higakure: lol nice one mina! But really, ur up for game night? Not going to strategize all night?
Shoto knew he didn’t socialize with the others often, but was it really so surprising that he would want to?
Ida: A relaxing evening together as classmates should do wonders for everyone’s nerves, just as long as we keep it an early evening so we are well rested for the Sports Festival in the morning!
Bakugo: Im cooking i dont trust you extras
Bakugo: dinner will be ready at 5 dont be late
***
Promptly at 5 Shoto stepped off the elevator into the common area, the air full of spices, lots of spices.
Does Bakugo know how to cook anything that won’t kill us all?
“Yes you nerd, I did make some plain for your sorry ass. Since when do you like cold soba anyway?” an angry voice came from the kitchen.
“Well, it’s not for me you see, I know not everyone likes super spicy food like you do Kacchan.”
“YOU THINK I DON’T KNOW THAT!? I MADE BORING PANSY-ASS FOOD TOO FOR YOU SISSIES! GET OUT OF MY KITCHEN!” a green blur quickly ran out of the kitchen toward the girls sitting around the table.
Shoto hesitantly made his way toward the others, not sure if Bakugo was in a bad mood or just his normal level of cranky. Everything seemed in one piece, the others had food that looked safe, plus he heard them mention cold soba. Why did Midoriya ask for it special? I didn’t realize he liked the dish as well. Soon, the others descended upon the food, everyone grateful that most was at a tolerable spice level. Only Kirishima felt the need to taste some of the noodles Bakugo had made especially for himself. The redhead downed three glasses of milk before he could speak again, Bakugo laughing the entire time.
After only a few weeks in the dorms, Shoto was finally starting to relax a little around his classmates. Some of the others had grown closer after working together during the fight at the USJ, but he had been alone, or so he’d thought. Poor Higakure was lucky she hadn’t been hurt by his ice, he hadn’t realized she was even there. Jiro, Kaminari, and Yaoyarozu all hung out a lot these days and Bakugo seemed to tolerate Kirishima’s presence. He envied their easy friendships. The others occasionally tried to include him in activities and outings, but when he went it was always so awkward. He wanted to hang out with them, but he didn’t know how to act around them or what to say. Midoriya was always smiling and trying to set him at ease, but heat would try to rise in his face (thankfully he could usually stop the worst with his quirk) and his mind would go blank.
After dinner game options were called out from all over the room, earning differing levels of excitement from the group. Somehow it was decided on Truth or Dare, which Shoto had never played, but seemed easy enough. Truth seemed to be the easy choice, just answer the question, it was the dare that seemed questionable. After watching Denki twerk for a minute, Sero eat five tablespoons of mustard, Asui attempt to juggle, and Bakugo eat an entire raw onion, he wasn’t so sure he wanted to trust these new classmates. On the other hand…
Shoto was so lost in his internal debate about which to choose, he didn’t hear the voice saying his name…
“Oi, Elsa pay attention!”
Shoto jumps as a rather bony elbow hits his rib and pulls him from his internal debate.
“Hm? Elsa? My name is Todoroki, not Elsa.”
There was a bit of laughter at his confusion, though there were a few faces around him that looked questioning. Which made him even more confused. Was this an important person? Should he know this Elsa?
The loud blond glares at him, though that was his usual face. “How do you not know Elsa, half and half? Blue dress, ice powers, white blond hair, most annoying song in all of creation? Any of this ringing a bell?” Bakugou growled out and Shoto didn’t know if he was offended by his lack of knowledge on the person, who he assumed at this point was from a movie or show, or that he didn’t get the joke the other boy of trying to make.
“If she is some sort of character from a movie, I haven’t seen it. My father doesn’t approve of wasting time with unnecessary things, sorry.” The level of silence that overtook the room was weirdly loud. Everyone was now looking at him like he had grown a second head, some even looked slightly concerned? Not sure why though. Midoriya speaks up then, gently but with the oddest bit of force.
“It’s a really popular movie from Disney. The song was everywhere for months and it's so beautifully written, so I would recommend you don't slander Let it Go, Kacchan. I still have all those pictures Mom took of us from that Halloween.” The smile on Midoriya's face was mildly frightening, but it was aimed at the blond so it was fine.
A soft gasp rings from his left, Uraraka hitting Mina’s leg in excitement. “You know what this means right?”
“Oh hell yeah, MOVIE NIGHT!” Mina cheers, “Hang on, I have the DVD in my room.” A pink blur exits the room, and all of the other girls smile. Denki and Kirishima gave each other high fives and Shoto was beyond confused. A few people began moving around the room while others went to set up the TV. Bakugou who had been glaring at Midoriya hard tsks.
“It’s too late for a fucking movie. The Sports festival starts early tomorrow!”
“Bro, it’s like 7, it’s fine,” Kirishima laughs while holding the TV. Everyone else was collecting snacks and drinks on the coffee table. Sofas were moved into a U shape, pillow suddenly appeared along with blankets.
“Kirishima is correct Bakugou, though I do admire your desire to be prepared, I believe it will be fine. Though it is straight to bed after!” Ida states.
“Fine, whatever, but if I wake up tired tomorrow you’re all going to pay!”
Shoto watches this all and it was official, his class was weird as fuck.
***
Soon Shoto was squeezed onto the couch next to Midoriya as the movie began, blushing and tense at the close contact. He was unfamiliar with movies, but he could tell this one was meant for children based on the conversations around him.
But as it played he saw a reflection of his own life on the screen. Less violent, but the loneliness and fear that consumed the ice queen was something he was intimately familiar with. Not being able to see her sister, not having anyone to play with, then the loss of her parents…
Wow, this seems dark for a kids’ movie. And they enjoy this?
He was soon enraptured by the story unfolding before his eyes, the sheltered girls making friends, learning about love (did it usually involve so many sandwiches?), and even the music was enjoyable. Even though Mina, Midoriya, and Uraraka sang along with all of the songs, especially Let It Go.
The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside
Couldn't keep it in, heaven knows I tried
Don't let them in, don't let them see
Be the good girl you always have to be
Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know
Well, now they know
He could feel the rage and pain in his chest, it did feel like a swirling storm that he’d been trying to contain for years. Hiding his emotions for years to keep the peace, even when he wanted to scream and use his powers to escape. The temperature began to rise in the room, shit. He clenched his fists as he tried to regain control before anyone noticed, or he caught on fire.
And the fears that once controlled me can't get to me at all
It's time to see what I can do
To test the limits and breakthrough
No right, no wrong, no rules for me
I'm free
If only it was so easy to break free from expectations and fear in the real world. His entire life had been planned out by the old man, he’d make top grades, take over the agency one day, and become the number one hero. He had been born to surpass his father and All Might, to be the best. There was no room for what he wanted, no room for freedom, Enji had seen to that. He felt Midoriya shiver next to him. Fuck, too cold. Breathe.
Let it go, let it go
That perfect girl is gone
Here I stand in the light of day
Let the storm rage on
The cold never bothered me anyway
It was a beautiful song, Shoto wished he could let go of his past as easily as Elsa had. To walk away from the pressures of his world and be unapologetically himself, like Midoriya was. The green haired boy could be shy and awkward, but was passionate and would talk about heroes for hours. Shoto blushed as he realized he’d been staring at the boy next to him instead of the movie.
***
“How did you like it?” Midoriya asked as the two rode the elevator back to the top floor.
“Well, it’s the first movie I’ve ever seen, so I guess it’s my favorite so far.” He responded, still somewhat lost in thoughts of the story. “The snowman was annoying, but I did enjoy the music. Is Frozen your favorite movie?”
“Well, my all time favorites are the All Might movies, but it’s my favorite Disney movie for sure!” he smiled up at Shoto. “I always loved the message that you could leave your past fears behind and grow into a better version of yourself. Like, I always wanted to be a hero, but didn’t think I could do it because of how my quirk is, but that movie actually helped motivate me to step outside my comfort zone and try looking at my situation in a new way. Not to mention the ice palace she made is so beautiful!”
The pair stepped off the elevator as it reached the top floor of the dormitory. Shoto blinked in disbelief, “Your quirk is great for hero work, so I don’t understand why you would think you couldn’t do it, unless you mean your lack of control. But it seems unrealistic to suddenly leave your fears behind and change who you are.”
“It isn’t changing who you are, more like letting yourself be who you really are deep down. Elsa was scared people would fear her powers, and they did for a while, but she had to learn to love herself and trust herself to be able to save them.” he tapped his chin for a moment, thinking as he paused outside his door. “I guess you could say we all need to do that too as heroes. We have to trust ourselves before we can expect anyone else to trust us. We can’t afford to be held back by our fears or self-doubt, because that’s when we hesitate or make a mistake that could cost someone their life.”
Shoto nodded, thinking about what the other had said as he bid him good night and retreated to his own room to prepare for the competition in the morning.
Maybe he has a point, there is no room for fear or doubt for heroes.
***
Music flooded through his headphones as he laid out his clothes for the morning, wanting to listen to the song again and see if he could feel how Midoriya did.
A kingdom of isolation
And it looks like I'm the queen
Memories of a childhood spent alone in a training room, pushing himself to the brink of his power, pushing until he was sick. His father keeping him away from any “distractions”.
Be the good girl you always have to be
Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know
Enji screaming at him to do better, to push harder, be stronger. Screaming and screaming until his fists started flying. Hold back the tears, don’t let him see how much it hurts, don’t let him see what bothers you the most. Control yourself and he will stop. The temperature dropped in his room as he let the emotions swirl in his mind.
Let it go, let it go
Can't hold it back anymore
Let it go, let it go
Turn away and slam the door
But HOW do you let it go? How do you let yourself go? His brow furrowed and a thin layer of frost began to creep up the wall as his frustration grew.
It's funny how some distance makes everything seem small
And the fears that once controlled me can't get to me at all
Distance? Is that really the key? He’d been away from the estate for weeks, was that enough? He recognized that a few hours like it had been in the movie probably wasn’t realistic. He examined his left hand, igniting a small flame in the center of his palm. Hadn’t he been fighting Enji in his own ways? He crushed the flame in a tight fist. He refused to use the flames, he would prove to his father that he didn’t need his power to be a great hero, and he would do it with Mom’s ice.
I'm never going back, the past is in the past
Let it go, let it go
And I'll rise like the break of dawn
Let it go, let it go
He would let his past go. Someday, he would break free from the horrors of his past. He would become his own person and go after what he truly wanted in life. An image of a smiling Midoriya floated in his mind. Shoto smiled to himself at the image, feeling a little more at peace as he lay in bed listening to the song that meant so much to the other boy.