Another year had passed and the children in Sirius' age group were now fourteen. Sirius and Hitomi had admitted their feelings for each other, but wouldn't go on dates just yet. Sirius was walking Hitomi home one day after school, when the pair saw Shoto.
Sirius stopped, wondering if the younger boy would remember him from all those years ago. The dog boy decided to test his theory. From where he stood with Hitomi, he called out to the other.
"Hey Shoto." The boy with dual coloured hair looked over at him, his expression blank. Sirius flicked an ear, self-conscious.
The Todoroki boy didn't look like he was going to answer, until Fuyumi, who was beside him, seemed to recognize the canine figure.
"Sirius? Wow, it's been ages. How are you?" She asked, placing a gentle hand on her younger brother's shoulder. "It's okay, Shoto. This is Sirius. He befriended you when you were younger."
Shoto just looked at her, his expression not changing. But it was clear to Sirius the younger boy didn't remember him. As emotion started to overcome him, Sirius swallowed, feeling how dry his throat was. Despite the fact he'd had a drink of water earlier.
"I don't remember, Fuyumi. What happened when I was younger?" Shoto answered, deadpan, and the older girl took this in her stride. She had expected this to happen. Fuyumi was just about to answer Shoto when Sirius excused himself.
"No. It's okay. I think it's better he didn't remember just yet. He might think badly of me for what I did." The dog boy explained as he started to turn away.
"Sirius, wait! Please." Fuyumi went over to her acquaintance and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Shoto's in a bad place." She admitted in a whisper. "He needs help."
Sirius glanced at the elder Todoroki, before he looked to Shoto again. There was despair and disappointment in the dog boy's eyes; not at the younger boy, but at himself. His parents had warned him back then that Shoto would likely not remember him due to the trauma and buried memories.
But he hadn't expected it to be true. Damn it, he should have listened to them. Sirius hit the palm of his hand to his face, hard. This would be his wake up call. The Shoto he had known was gone, buried under an increasingly stoic and rebellious mind.
"How can I help him? When I caused this?" Sirius asked, looking down and away from the older girl. He was ashamed of himself for hurting his friend like this, to the point where he couldn't remember their friendship. He was disgraceful. Why would Shoto want to be his friend?
"Sirius… Please understand it wasn't your fault. I think it would've happened regardless of who set it up." Fuyumi rubbed her hand along the dog boy's shoulder, trying to reassure him. She needed Sirius to understand and help her brother. "Please help Shoto if you can-"
"Fuyumi-"
"He needs friendship." She held the side of his head and gestured with her other hand at the boy staring at both of them. "But more than friendship, he needs to interact with you again."
Sirius sighed. He figured this was a desperate cry for help on Fuyumi's part and who was he to turn her down? "Okay. I'll help you. I'll do my best with Shoto, but there's also the chance he doesn't want anything more to do with me."
Fuyumi mouthed a 'thank you' to Sirius and turned to start walking back to her brother. "Oh, don't say that. I wouldn't."
"Hang on." Hitomi interrupted, before the Todoroki siblings could leave. "Just who are you?" She glanced between Sirius and Fuyumi, wondering how they knew each other. "Sirius, mind explaining what's going on here?"
Sirius jumped at Hitomi's voice and remembered his crush's Quirk, as he grimaced. Just this once, though…
"Hitomi, these are the Todoroki siblings: Fuyumi and Shoto. I met them a few days after you rescued me. Fuyumi, this is Hitomi. She was being bullied and I ran to save her, but she ended up saving me." He had a nervous smile on his face.
Both girls stared.
But it turned out there was nothing to worry about from Hitomi's side. Sirius was fortunate his girlfriend hadn't activated her Quirk on him in that instance, but figured he might not be so lucky next time. That was the price he'd pay for not telling her about his friends.
After Fuyumi and Shoto walked home, Hitomi turned to Sirius. "Thank you for introducing me to your friends. I liked meeting them, though I am worried about Shoto. Do you think he will remember you?"
There it was. A yes or no answer. Sirius nodded, slipping. "Yes, I hope so."
