YIKES Hey guys! Long time no update (I say this every time). Sorry it's been 2 months just abouts, but here is the new chapter! I promise I will never abandon this. I'm back at school and senior year has me hella busy, but I'm still hanging in there! Anyways, I hope you enjoy the new chapter!
Weekends without Todoroki have become very quiet. Ever since they reunited with his mother, Midoriya and him both agreed that it would be good to go to visit on the weekend since their jobs keep them so busy during the week. Though at times it was lonely and the silence was unbearable, Midoriya eventually grew fond of this alone time he could have. On these days, he took time to do basic household chores like cleaning or doing the laundry for the week. He figured that was the least he could do; since Todoroki wasn't asking to share rent or anything since the months prior when he moved in.
This particular day, he decided it was a good idea to go to grab some groceries. Usually he would wait to go together with his boyfriend, but seeing as they had less time together outside of work he thought it would be smart to get a head start on the week ahead. Midoriya figured it wouldn't be that bad, despite all of his times being out and about he hadn't run into anyone that knew him enough to approach him besides that one time that Kirishima called out to him. But there's no way that Kirishima would be in grocery stores around the apartment, Izuku knew he lived on the other side of the city. Uraraka and Asui had an apartment together somewhere in the city, but due to the fact that he had never seen them he assumed that it was in another section. Iida lived a good while away in Long Island, so if anything Izuku knew that he could count on not seeing him.
What would they even say to them if he saw them? What would he even say back? Would they tell him they missed him? It had been almost two years, what could he tell them about what happened to him? Do they know that he dropped out due to his mental illnesses? Would they still accept him because of that? Would they even recognize him?
Of course they would recognize him, that was a stupid question for his mind to think up. Kirishima only got a brief glimpse but it was enough for his face to be recognized. Then again, his forest green hair and his freckles are a straight giveaway as not many people look like him in this area. In a sense there's not really any way for him to hide from people in public. Izuku just had to hold out the hope that he would not run into any of them. Taking a deep breath in, he entered the grocery store, keeping his mission in mind. Go in, get food, get out as fast as he can. It was simple really, but maybe for a person that wasn't a big ball of anxiety. The return of that when he entered reminded Midoriya of how much having Todoroki helps him function sometimes.
Just a simple trip. He can do this. Just get the things that he needs and head out. Easy, right?
The simple things is what he started with. Eggs, bread, butter, and some fruit. After that, he made sure to walk down every aisle to find something that he could make for dinner to surprise Todoroki when he got home. Thinking about later seemed to calm him down a little bit, so he planned in his head what he wanted to do this evening. A nice noodle dish sounded like a plan – along with some wine, and maybe he could make it even more fancy by adding in some candles as well. If he was lucky, he could possibly try and get Todoroki to gracefully slow dance with him to some soft music. Then that could lead to...
"Midoriya?"A female voice snapped him out of it. At first, he thought he was imagining it. No girl would want to get his attention, at least, no one that he could think of. But one thing for sure, he stood in the same place for too long. The person beside him probably wants him to move or something like that. Quickly he grabbed a box of spaghetti, before apologizing and continuing forward.
"Midoriya?" The voice was clearer this time, as someone tapped his shoulder.
He jumped a bit, turning around. "I-I'm sorry I think you have the wrong person I -"
Standing in front of him, was Ochako Uraraka. There was no denying it, this indeed was the same Uraraka he went to school with, and standing next to her pushing the cart was Tsuyu Asui. Just his luck. Everything in Midoriya's mind was telling him to run away, to escape this situation and block them on Facebook so they would never be able to contact him again; but he found himself just standing there like he was frozen in time. The last thing he wanted was an encounter with some old classmates, however at the same time it was Asui and Uraraka. They always stood by him at the time he was in college, no matter how down he seemed sometimes. It seemed so stupid that he would want to leave if anything they should be the people that he would want to reconnect with. As terrifying this moment is, maybe it's secretly a blessing in disguise.
"Yeah, it's me." He said back, a heavy sigh escaping his lips before he gave a small smile. As much as he wished it was genuine, smiling right now just seemed forced. Hopefully it didn't seem like it to the girls. "Uraraka, Asui, been a while hasn't it?"
"I know it's been a while, but I told you to call me Tsuyu." Asui responded, puffing out her cheeks a bit.
A chuckle escaped Uraraka's mouth. "I can't believe it's actually you. With the way you left school so suddenly and everything, I thought we would never see you again. I – we've been worried sick about you."
"We thought you moved away." Asui added on. "Without saying a word which in my opinion, would have been pretty rude without saying anything."
"Tsuyu!" Uraraka gasped, elbowing her companion.
"What? It's the truth."
"No, no she's right." Interjected Izuku, shaking his head. "The way I left wasn't cool, and I should have contacted you guys sooner. A lot happened and I..." He contemplated a bit, choosing his words carefully. It wasn't the right time to let them know why leaving school was the best option at the time; and why he hasn't talked to them in so long. A part of him was embarrassed too, there they were continuing their education when he could not. Though in a way Midoriya was doing just fine without a degree. His passion was keeping him going. "I'm sorry. I've been really busy."
"Nonsense." Uraraka's smile had always been so warm. That and her brown hair and eyes, Izuku had to admit he missed all of it. Seeing them both made the slight pain in his heart return from when Kirishima was seen at All Might's book signing. "You don't have to give us any reasons. Whatever the reason is, it doesn't matter. I'm just glad to see you. I missed you."
Tsuyu nodded in agreement. "We had some good times together. I missed you too."
"I really missed you guys too." Midoriya let himself admit out loud. They were being so open with him that he thought it would only be fair to tell them what he was thinking too. He missed it all, the late night talks he would have with them both, eating in the dining hall with them, the group movie night; the memories he almost forgot because there wasn't a whole lot to trigger a reminder of these times.
Before saying anything else, Izuku realized that in his pocket had vibrated multiple times. Excusing himself to check it real quick, it turned out that Todoroki had finished visiting his mother and was heading home. Taking that as his cue to leave, he turned back to his previous friends, telling them it was nice to see them again before quickly turning around to leave. It was a bit of a shame, catching up even more with the two of them would have been something that Midoriya would have been willing to go the extra mile for today.
"Midoriya, wait!" Ochako called out to him just in time. He was right about to enter the checkout line, and she might not have caught him afterwards. "Would you be up for lunch sometime? With the group of us, of course. You don't have to agree right away, but I know Kirishima and Iida, they would love to see you too. It would be nice for all of us to catch up."
"Sure. I – I'd like that." Izuku responded. At that time, he honestly meant it. "All my contact information is the same. You know how to reach me."
The two girls waved goodbye and Izuku felt a bit guilty for leaving so abruptly. Todoroki would have understood if he was a bit late due to wanting to reconnect with people from his past, but a part of him was desperate to leave so he could be by his love's side. It hadn't been long, but he missed him. This brief encounter with Uraraka and Tsuyu as nice as it was, made him feel a bit drained, and he was so starved for the affection that Todoroki was there to provide. Sticking to his plan from before, he let his mind space travel to the nice evening he was going to have, instead of letting his mind run through all the possibilities of how this supposed lunch meetup for the future would go. He confirmed already that he would like a meetup of some sorts; there is no way he can back down now.
Once he arrived home, Todoroki greeted him at the door with a kiss. It was quite unexpected, but much welcomed as it cleared Midoriya's mind from all of his thoughts and anxieties. Taking his hand Midoriya led his boyfriend to the kitchen putting a pot to boil. In between cutting up vegetables and the chicken, Todoroki was telling him about the day he spent with his mother while sneaking kisses every opportunity he could. The joy that was in Todoroki's voice when he talked about his mom was so calming, it made Midoriya so happy to know that he was able to help him regain some sort of happiness with his family. When Todoroki stopped talking, a silence filled the room. Izuku's mind started up again.
"They don't know what happened to me. They don't even know why I left." Midoriya mumbled out loud, not aware that he spoke. He had just emptied the box of the pasta into the boiling water, and was just watching the bubbles rising and falling. For a moment, he had even forgotten that Todoroki was still standing there. "I was there and then I was gone and they... They have no clue."
"Who?" Todoroki questioned snapping Midoriya back to the present, as he gently wrapped his arms around his waist. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah it's just..." Izuku said back, letting out a soft sigh. "I told you about Kirishima and the others, right? Uraraka and Asui ah – Tsuyu. I was buying stuff for dinner and I ran into them. They want me to go to lunch with them and I... I want to, but it just hit me. Do I have to tell them, Todoroki? Should I? I don't know what I want them to know about it. Or... If I even want them to know."
"You don't have to tell them if you don't feel like it. What they need to know is up to what you're comfortable with. They're not entitled to an explanation and you don't have to give them one."
"I guess..."
"Hey, listen." Todoroki said gently, flipping Izuku around so they were face to face. "Everything's fine. It will all be okay. If they're really your friends, they will understand."
"Oh Shoto, what did I do to deserve you."
"What did I do to deserve you, Izuku Midoriya." His boyfriend mumbled back, giving him a small kiss before turning him back around. "Now it's time to finish the pasta. I'm hungry."
Izuku let himself relax a bit, and the next thing he knew, a laugh escaped his mouth. "Yeah whatever." He said back, sticking his tongue out at Todoroki. This was not how he expected the night to go, but then again, being with Todoroki sometimes threw him through many hoops. He kept things interesting, no matter what the day; and he loved that about him. "For the record, if it weren't for me, this pasta wouldn't be cooking. You're lucky to have me, Shoto Todoroki."
