Mkay, I just realized that I haven't properly thanked all of you who review, follow, and favorite this story, so THANK YOU so much! It means a lot to me that you take time to read this, and I'm so sorry that this note of appreciation is overdue. It seems pretty basic, but I guess I lack social skills (⌒_⌒;) From the bottom of my kokoro, arigatogozaimasu (yes, I'm a weeb, judge me) ＼(￣▽￣)／
#kaomojiinserts
As soon as the police arrived at the ward, Momo, Kyouka, and Miyuki—along with their captives—were taken to the police station for questioning. Needless to say, the three females shared everything they knew. While the Director was still being interrogated, the police had just let Kyouka outside to call her parents and Momo back into the waiting room, instructing them to await further directions. Momo made her way to the couch and slumped into it. Without the constant bombardment of questions to preoccupy her mind, Momo thoughts kept returning to the same question: what if she never saw Shouto again? She couldn't imagine not having his reassuring presence next to her in class. She couldn't imagine never being able to stare mesmerized into those beautiful heterochromatic eyes again. There was still so much she wanted to tell him: how grateful she was for his friendship, how much she admired him, and how she loved everything about him. Thankfully, Momo's string of woeful thoughts was broken by the clicking of the door.
"Momo-chan," Miyuki greeted as she sat down next to Momo.
As soon as she saw the somber look in Miyuki's eyes, Momo felt a pang in her heart. It was hard enough for her to not know where Shouto was, but her pain must've been incomparable to that of a mother's. Not wanting to leave Miyuki to battle her inner turmoil alone, Momo addressed the woman.
"Miyuki-san, I promise we'll get Shouto back."
A slight smile tugged at the woman's lips. She lifted her head to face Momo. The gentle look she gave Momo was one that felt warmly familiar, and Momo realized that it was the same one that Shouto would show her and only her. So that's where he gets his soft side from, Momo thought.
"Arigato, Yaoyorozu-chan…Still, I wonder if the only reason he got kidnapped is because he tried to protect me."
"Please don't say such things! You did all that you could do and more. Besides, I think Shouto would jump into any situation to save someone."
"Well, he's always been a kind boy at heart."
"He must've gotten that from his mother. You've done a wonderful job raising him."
"I hope so…I take it that you know about our family's troubled history?"
Momo shifted uncomfortably, unsure of how to respond. The Yaoyorozu etiquette taught her that she shouldn't poke into private matters. However, Miyuki was looking at Momo with a tenderness like she was part of her family. With those soft, onyx-colored eyes staring at her, Momo couldn't answer dishonestly.
"Hai, it's awful, what you and Shouto had to go through. I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize. I should be thanking you for forcing him to open up his feelings. It's not healthy to stay stuck in the past. For a long time, I kept thinking, 'what if' questions. Once, Anri asked me if I could do it all over again, would I still marry Endeavor? I hate what he did, but the Shouto I have now is priceless and irreplaceable. Then, I realized that what matters more is moving forward."
With the response, Momo realized Miyuki wasn't the frail, helpless woman she originally expected. The image she'd created was based off of Shouto's descriptions, but obviously subtle yet significant changed. Perhaps it was her fight with her kidnappers that reminded the woman of her own strength. Realizing this, Momo sighed a breath of relief.
"That's very insightful. I'll always remember those words."
"You're too kind. I can see why Shouto's so smitten with you."
"S-Smitten?"
"Mhm. He mentioned that it was easy to talk to you. He's not the best with social cues or sarcasm, but because you were always serious and straightforward, he always understood you, and he felt comfortable around you."
Momo tried to hide the blush on her face, but Miyuki saw it immediately and smiled. Glad for a change of topic, Momo decided to continue the (embarrassing) conversation. Passing time talking about Shouto as a boyfriend was much more pleasant than passing time panicking over him pointlessly.
"Did he say anything else about me?" Momo asked, her heart skipping a beat.
"Actually, a lot. He sung praise about your leadership, capability, and intelligence. He even called you, 'beautiful.' He wished he could tell you that out loud, but he was pretty much at a lost. I assume he finally confessed?"
"Well, yes, after a battle that ended with me getting burned all over."
Although Momo meant it jokingly, Miyuki grew worried. Given her tumultuous history with Endeavor, it only made sense for her to become unsettled by such news. Momo chided herself for the carelessness of her diction.
"Not in that way! Shouto felt terrible about it, and he didn't think he had a right to tell me how he felt. I told him that he didn't hurt me. After that, we both confessed. Then, he cried. I'd never seen him like that before. I think it was because he didn't want to, uh, to—"
"Be like Enji," Miyuki finished, her tone suddenly darkening, "How's Shouto treating you?"
"Really well, actually. He's respectful and sweet. You see, my quirk needs skin exposure to function, so sometimes, guys will try to peep at me in my hero outfit. When they do, Shouto usually walks by inconspicuously to block their view. When we're alone, he'll ask for permission for something as small as peck on the cheek or hand to hold."
Momo was blushing furiously now, and the way Miyuki was looking at her didn't help. By normal standards, this gushing was unnecessary, but Miyuki wanted to know that Shouto was nothing like Endeavor in regards to romance and relationships. Seeing Miyuki's relief made Momo almost forget her embarrassment. However, the lighthearted atmosphere was quickly broken when the door flew open.
Miyuki froze.
Endeavor marched inside, visibly distressed. Soon, Endeavor took notice of the two females, surprise evident in his eyes as soon as he saw Miyuki. It'd been ten years since she last saw her abusive husband. What kind of turbulent sea of emotions was she navigating? Would she be able to make it out unscathed? As Endeavor approached them, Momo instinctively reached out for Miyuki's hand but stopped herself short as the glow from Endeavor's flames enveloped them.
"He was trying to sneak in to see you, wasn't he? My successor's gone missing because of you," Endeavor growled.
"Don't you mean your son?" Miyuki bit back.
Her response surprised both Endeavor and Momo. The woman's entire body was quivering. Despite that, her voice was steady. In front of Momo, Endeavor was radiating fire and fury. Towards her side, Miyuki was rivaling him with such a cold attitude that made Momo shiver. Momo opened her mouth to mediate, but then decided against it when she realized that this trial was something Miyuki had to face without outside interference. Momo could only hope that Miyuki could hear her cheering her on silently.
"Put your energy into finding Shouto instead of yelling at me! I'm trusting you as a hero to get him back. I can only hope you want it for the right reasons."
Endeavor's eyes widened at her response. Although no mention of their past was made, it was clear from Miyuki's tone that she had no intention of being his punching bag anymore. Like she'd just told Momo, she was focusing solely on the future—one in which she and Endeavor would put aside their strife and unify in the search for Shouto. Momo's admiration for Miyuki grew upon this realization. Meanwhile, Endeavor was clenching his fists. He looked like he wanted to swing a punch at his wife, and Momo readied herself to create a shield. Upon further inspection, she noticed that Endeavor was simply frustrated because he knew that Miyuki was right. His chauvinistic ego prevented him from acknowledging this aloud, so instead, he snorted, "Don't doubt my abilities." Endeavor then shifted his gaze towards Momo, inspecting her from head to toe. Although Shouto would've snapped at him for "violating her visually," Momo recognized that he was (mostly) evaluating her worth.
"You're the one who caught the two bastards?"
"Well, Jirou Kyouka was also—"
"Answer my question."
"H-Hai, it was my plan."
She felt a bead of sweat drip down her neck as Momo braced herself for a dismissive scoff. No matter what he says or thinks, I won't let it get to me, Momo reaffirmed mentally. However, what he said next was unexpected.
"Hmph. You lack physical strength and speed, but your intuition isn't half-bad. Spend less time filming hairspray commercials and more time on the battlefield."
Miyuki looked at Momo in shock, a sentiment which Momo shared. Although what Endeavor said came out coarse, Momo couldn't help but feel somewhat encouraged by the critique. Sure, Endeavor was arrogant and misogynistic, but he was also one of the best heroes in Japan's history. If he deemed Momo as having potential—in spite of that first fact—then she would take the constructive criticism to heart. As he turned his back towards the two women, Momo took the opportunity to flash Miyuki a look that silently praised her for her bravery. In response, Miyuki smiled and wiped away a tear threatening to escape the corner of her eye.
"Endeavor-san and Yaoyorozu-chan, we've received intel," the officer stated as he barged into the room.
Endeavor quickly recovered from the initial shock and motioned for Momo to follow along. Although Momo felt bad about leaving Miyuki, it was clear that the news was something for hero ears only. The officer led the two down a corridor and into a small, private room. Already there, were the Chief of police, Principal Nezdu, Kyouka, and Gunhead, who Kyouka was interning under after Ochaco's recommendation. Momo joined her best friend, whose dread was as palpable of that of Momo's. Once they were gathered, the chief briefed them of details of the Director's interrogation.
"Apparently, the Director's been blackmailed into aiding a criminal group. They've been using the patients at the ward as lab rats for human illegal drug experiments. It seems that someone in the group has a quirk that allows him or her to erase or alter memories in a short block of time."
"That explains why none of them have any recollection of the matter," Endeavor deduced.
"That's right. Also, we've just received a message from Todoroki-kun's kidnappers."
The Chief then pulled out a hologram messenger, similar to the ones used in U.A. acceptance letters. As the video played out, Momo felt the pit in her stomach form.
An average-looking man in his thirties appeared. He introduced his group and then himself as Setsuna. He told his story of a poor boy whose dreams were crushed by the heroes he used to admire, namely Endeavor.
At the mention of the Flame Hero, everyone's attention turned towards the Todoroki patriarch, who's seemed to reel in shock from the notion that his brusque attitude could've had such dire consequences.
However, it was nothing compared to what was to come next.
The screen switched to show Shouto—bound in chains—before switching to display a front view of Setsuna's "useless" quirk in action. Everyone froze at the horror that unfolded. Scenes of Shouto's early childhood played out before them—much too vividly for any of them to stomach easily.
Everything that Shouto had described to Momo became so real, and each second that she watched made her more nauseous. Although her gaze was reluctantly fixed onto the screen, she knew that everyone else—save perhaps the perpetrator himself—contorted their faces in disgust.
"Stop it! He's only five!"
"He's already five!"
"Okasan!"
"Enji, how can you be so brutal to a sweet, little boy?"
"He's not a 'sweet, little boy.' He's my perfect creation! He was bred to be a fighting machine. A well-oiled machine needs to be in top shape. It's as simple as that."
"You talk like he's not even a human! Y-You're acting like a monster. It's no wonder you can never be number one hero—AHHH!"
"Okasan, I can't take it anymore. Everyday, those kids look more and more like Endeavor. And Shouto, sometimes, his left side looks very unsightly to me. I can't raise him anymore!"
"Okasan, what are you talking about?"
"AHH! Okasan, stop it! It hurts!"
Momo clutched her chest. Although she knew of the secret behind Shouto's scar, watching it unfold from his point of view was more heart-wrenching as she ever imagined. Although she wanted to turn away, she forced herself to continue watching every bit of his tragic childhood. In the last scene, in which Shouto was sprawled on the ground, Momo nearly burst into tears as she heard his desperate cry, "Somebody, save me."
Everyone stole a quick glance of Endeavor. His teal eyes were locked onto the screen, and throughout the entire ordeal, he didn't say a word. Did he regret his actions? Was he sorry for how he'd mistreated his family? Was he ashamed of finally being caught? Although Shouto stated that Endeavor didn't care about his image, Momo wondered if in this moment—as everyone looked at him with a mix of disgust and disappointment—the hard-headed Flame Hero truly felt that way.
"Well, there's your new number one 'hero.' He's a failure in comparison to All Might, but enough chatter. Here's what I want: an exchange. Muscular and Moonfish for the boy. We trade prisoners in two different locations, the second 'slum' district and the forest reserve outside Chubo, at the same time, two o'clock a.m. Don't come with more than four people in your party. Don't play any dirty tricks, because unlike you, we won't hesitate to kill our prisoner on the spot."
"No, don't give into his—ARGH!"
In a flash, a man with scythes for arms jumped into the screen and thrusted a bladed arm deep into Shouto's lower right abdomen. As soon as he retracted it, blood enveloped the area around the wound. Shouto doubled over in pain, cursing at Setsuna through ragged breaths.
"You have until he bleeds out," Setsuna stated, "Choose wisely."
With that last line, the video flickered out.
Momo clamped her hands over her mouth but was unable to suppress the cry that escaped it. There were so many different emotions coursing through her—fear, anger, and foreboding. Momo felt Kyouka's grip her shoulder. Momo glanced over at Kyouka, who was staring at the ground in a way that was only indicative of guilt. Momo wanted to bury herself in Kyouka's arms for support, but before either of the girls could move a muscle, someone spoke up.
"I have a plan, but we need to contact the prison, now," Endeavor stated matter-of-factly.
Part of Momo wanted to scream at Endeavor. How could he return to his composure so easily after witnessing his own son gravely injured? How could he brush off all the dark secrets that'd been revealed in the video so quickly? How could he talk so casually when Momo could barely restrain her emotions in the moment? Sensing her animosity, Endeavor glared at a teary-eyed Momo, sending shivers up her spine.
"Calm yourself, girl," he ordered bluntly, "If you lose your head now, you'll doom us all."
Momo clenched her fists. It's like he's barely been affected, but that also means that he's in the best mental state to figure out our next move, Momo reluctantly admitted to herself. Endeavor was a despicable person in terms of personality and relationships, but right now, he was their best hope of retrieving Shouto.
"You surprise me, Endeavor-san," the Chief commented, "How do you manage to bounce back so easily after witnessing that?"
Endeavor humphed. If he was panicking inwardly, he wasn't showing it. It was a look that made both girls nauseous, but it was also one of reassuring confidence. Right now, they shared the same goal, forcing Momo to swallow her pride as she listened to Endeavor's swaggering response.
"Isn't it obvious? Because I'm a hero."
TFW your parents get sups close to your bf/gf XD
I tried to incorporate some Todomomo cuteness as best as I could given the circumstances. Otherwise, there'd be no Todomomo until the end.
As always, leave your thoughts below!