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Touya used to portray his birthdays lonely for the rest of his life, their family never had the best environment, so he felt guilty of even expecting something different.
He loved attention there's no doubt in that, but even if he wasn't fond of Shoto, having people celebrating him as the kid went through the same abuse he suffered didn't sit right with him.
Of course he doesn't remember his first birthday, but when he was a child, his mother showed him a pic, and it felt surreal.
The pic portrayed one-year-old Touya smiling, even if he wasn't conscious of what was happening, his mother had a bright smile too, one that faded for years that could recently be seen again. As she holds one-month-old Fuyumi next to him, a baby barely bigger than the cake, a cake that was designed specially for him even if he couldn't eat much, with the print of his favorite blanket his mom still keeps to this day decorating the sides of the dessert.
And the thing that made this picture had a place in his memory for years, his father was also smiling in the picture, a proud expression with his huge hand on his little shoulder, letting all his expectations transmit through that grip to who he thought would be his perfect successor.
When everything was perfect, he would say back then, when he discovered the photo, opinion that couldn't be further from his current one.
Years go by, and birthdays aren't something the Todoroki family is known for celebrating. He gets greetings and little presents and a store-bought cake from his siblings and his mother, but that's it.
When he was a child, he wanted to blame it all on Shoto, because it's the same week he wanted to think it was because everyone already used all their energy celebrating Shoto, and that's why his birthday never was a big deal. But in the back of his heart he knew that Shoto's birthday was just another training day, just as it was for him, and now that Rei wasn't with them, neither of them got their traditional birthday soba.
One of the only memories he could save from his childhood, but he could never hide that he felt envy knowing his little brother got the same, why he couldn't pick another food? He used to think pouting and frowning on the table.
Puberty did lots of things to Touya, including maturing, which means starting to repair his relationship with little Shoto, whose only sin was being the son of that bastard.
After all, who could understand him better than the ex-perfect creation?
Their first birthday week getting along came and Touya decided to make it special for the kid.
But first, a reunion in his room to decide what exactly to do.
"So you're rehabilitated officially, congrats" Natsuo teased, lying on the floor with his legs on Touya's bed.
"Thanks, you're like a year late to the new. I knew you were slow, but damn," he said, turning around and throwing a dubiously clean shirt to him.
Natsuo took it out of his face, coughing, "Do you ever change? That shirt belongs in a lab for how toxic it is," he added in between coughs before throwing it back to Touya.
"Could we organize Sho's birthday already?" Fuyumi said, reminding them why they were there in the first place.
"Right," they both answered in unison, Natsuo going back to sit straight.
"So, what could we do?" Touya said, getting ready to take notes. He had never organized a birthday, so this is going to take time.
"We should try to make the cake, Mom used to buy it, but I can't blame her, but maybe we should try to bake," Fuyumi suggested, taking Touya's pillow to hug it close to her chest.
"Yes! You're in charge, and I'm your kitchen assistant," Natsuo said cheerfully, turning to her and giving a high five.
"And you, Touya?" He got back to Touya "I'll go buy him a gift after school, I've seen a little All Might plush keychain that he could easily hide," but that wasn't a main idea, there was another thing on his mind that he knows needs to be his present.
"That sounds good, he will love it," Fuyumi said, smiling reassuringly to him.
But Touya had to figure out how to do soba in one night.
"Reunion done then. Wanna watch a movie? I bet Shoto is still awake." Another thing he shared with Shoto was having trouble sleeping.
"Go get him. I wouldn't mind some cartoons now; let's start his birthday boy privileges," Natsuo said, going back to his initial position lying on the floor.
After the chaos in the kitchen, Shoto's birthday was an absolute success, starting with their father telling them in the morning that he wasn't going to arrive until night.
Perfect! Now they could celebrate Shoto, and he didn't have to go train right after.
At lunchtime, Touya put his surprise for Shoto, his brother wasn't someone known for facial expressions, but the one he had after just seeing the plate of soba could brighten a whole city.
"It's for me?" He asked for permission shyly.
"Yes, all for you, happy birthday, Sho," he smirked, messing the perfect separation on his hair.
Shoto's smile just continued to brighten during the day, when he discovered the cake in front of him was made by his siblings, he had to stand up and hug them.
Things that melted their hearts and made them even more proud of their baking skills.
And when he opened his all might keychain? He gave the biggest koala hug to Touya, thanking him with an energy none of them had seen before. Officially, the Todorokis are back on celebrating birthdays.
The next week arrived, and with it Touya's birthday.
When he was left alone for a minute in the kitchen because he offered to clean the breakfast dishes, maybe because he isn't really used to being showered in affection like his siblings did, but just maybe, he felt a little hand grabbing his hoodie to catch his attention.
"Hey, Sho" said without looking at him, keeping his gaze on the dishes.
"Touya-nii, I got something for you," the kid said, now hiding his hands behind his back.
"Oh really? What is it? Another hug? I wouldn't mind one." Touya kneeled to be at his height, he really was curious about what he had, not that he expected much from a child, but he learned that his baby brother was the cutest toddler on earth.
"My teacher taught us that food lasts more if you freeze it," he said, giving him a Tupper of frozen soba and a drawing.
"It was too much food for me, and I didn't see you eat any, so I saved some so you can try it, it's so good! It tastes like Mama's," was the explanation the kid gave, shifting his weight side to side, waiting for his brother to say something.
Touya was staring at the drawing, him with a birthday hat, all his siblings and Rei eating soba.
Shoto even had the detail to draw his piercings, but none of his scars.
"Do you like it?" He asked worriedly, noticing how Touya was quiet with his head down, staring at the drawing.
"Thank you, Shoto, it's amazing," said to hug the kid tightly before
he couldn't notice the tears starting to form, Shoto hugged him back; he could hear a giggle full of pride against his shoulder. "Happy birthday, Touya-nii." But he couldn't answer because of the knot in his throat, instead, he tightened the grip around Shoto.
This was the cutest thing someone had made for him, how could he hate this kid for so much time?
He took a deep breath and prepared to change the topic.
"You know, I was planning to go visit Mom later, do you wanna come with me?" He offered once he freed Shoto. He could see the kid playing with his hands.
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"I... I don't know if she wants to see me," he mumbled, showing all the insecurity in his voice.
"Shoto, of course she wants to see you! We always talk about it when I go to visit her, but it's your choice, we can go another day when you feel ready," said grabbing his shoulders gently, trying to reassure him.
"Now let's unfreeze this soba," smiled warmly at Shoto,
"But it's yours!" He tried to complain.
"It tastes better when we share, it's my birthday, and I rule today."