Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the original characters mentioned.
A/N: I would like to thank everyone who added this story to their favorites and follows as well as everyone who reviewed the last chapter.
"We passed! We passed!"
Naruto grinned and wrapped her arms around Shouto's chest. Both of their names were on that large screen alongside all the other members of their class. Her distant relative's names were also on the board alongside that Inasa and a couple of few other people's names that she didn't recognize. Not that it mattered.
What mattered was the fact everyone from their class passed.
Butterflies fluttered inside of her stomach, roaming around without a care in the world. This was definitely happiness. She pressed her chin against the hard planes of her boyfriend's chest, tilting her head up to meet heterochromatic eyes. Shouto's eyes twinkled with amusement and the corner of his lips seemed tugging up into a tiny smile.
"You're very excited, aren't you Princess?" Shouto asked. Heat flooded her cheeks and she burrowed her face into his chest, not allowing herself the chance to look up at her boyfriend's face. Oh god, how many times did she repeat the same thing? Now people are going to see that she was just like a child. Hinata-chan will tease me for this. A groan threatened to come out but she swallowed it down.
Clearing her throat, she answered. "Well it's the first time I passed a really important exam on my first try!"
"You look cute when you're defending your reaction," Shouto hummed. Vibration struck against her stomach, bringing out a little sigh, and she curled her lips into a slight smile. Only Homeostasis can think outloud about my appearance. More blood rushed to her cheeks, allowing more heat to envelope her face. It was almost like someone poured gasoline on her and set her on fire.
Giggles erupted from behind her, almost reminding her of Sasuke's fangirls, and stream began to whistle between her ears. Maybe it was time for her to let go of her boyfriend because those giggles were never a good sign. She loosened her grip, dropping her hands to her side before scooting away from her boyfriend.
"A-Aren't you happy about passing the exam?" Her boyfriend blinked and raised his eyebrow at her, looking almost faintly amused at the change of topic. Naruto cleared her throat and looked away from him. Why do I feel like I did something wrong when I have every right to hug him? Her heart thundered and boomed against her chest.
A heavy hand settled on her shoulder, almost toppling her to the ground. She turned around, blinking at the thoughtful eyes of Shouto. Is he actually contemplating on my question? Her eyebrows knitted together, forming a straight line, and she waited with a sharp inhale for the answer that would come out of his lips. What on earth could he be feeling if it isn't happiness? Happiness could be the only answer.
"I actually feel more relieved than happy," Shouto mused. Thoughtfulness and contemplation decorated his tone as his pretty heterochromatic eyes lingered on her eyes. His eyes always looks so intense. Her lips twitched and tugged into a smile. The intensity of those eyes always caused a tiny butterfly to be born inside of her stomach.
She shook her head and cleared her throat. "Why do you feel relieved? You spent all of your time rescuing the civilians and unlike Katsu-niisan, you have some common sense to know that you shouldn't insult them."
Her boyfriend stroke his chin, furrowing his eyebrows together before directing his gaze away from her. I-Is he embarrassed? Shock struck throughout her whole body, keeping her glued in her spot. No red cheeks might have greeted her but the lack of eye contact was all she needed to know his emotion. What is he so embarrassed about? Her lower lip trembled and Naruto locked their hands together.
"I was concern over the possibility that I might have failed," Shouto admitted in a quiet tone. The grip on her hand tightened, almost breaking her bone and she squeezed his hand back. I'm here for you. She hoped this single action was enough to reassure him. That it was enough for him to open up to her about why he had those concerns. "Unlike you and Midoriya, I chose not to fight the villains."
Her thumb stroke the rough calluses on her boyfriend's hand and Naruto took a deep breath. "Why didn't you come, Homeostasis? I honestly thought you were going to come and help us with the situation."
"I was concerned," He admitted. Shouto turned his whole body towards her, looming over her till the screen was nothing but a shadow in the backdrop. His eyes fixed onto her, searching for something but what he was searching for…was a complete mystery to her. "After what happened in Camp, I'm afraid that I might act irrational again and focus more in protecting you then what really mattered."
Oh. Her lips wobbled as another unfamiliar emotion crept into her stomach and throat. I matter that much to you? Her throat clogged up and her eyes began to burn from the overwhelming emotions creeping up on her. She rubbed and wiped her eyes, cleared her throat and turned away from her befuddled boyfriend.
Why did the knowledge make her want to cry like a little baby?
"Well wouldn't that give you more incentive to come and save me?" She tried to keep her tone steady and calm but it was difficult when Shouto kept looking at her with those curious, amused eyes. It isn't like I want you to save me. The words should come out but they seemed jumbled up in her throat, unwilling to spill out. Why didn't it want to come out? This was her pride after all.
She didn't ever want to be a damsel in distress and wait for some man to come and save her ass. Shouto knows that about me so maybe that is why I can't say those words…because it might hurt his feelings. Naruto nodded. This would make the most sense because why else wouldn't those words just come out of her stupid mouth.
"It should be the main incentive," he admitted. Shouto lowered his head and pressed his forehead against her own forehead. Warmth flooded her forehead as heterochromatic eyes continued to searched her. "But I know myself and I know I can lose reason when I see you get hurt in any way or form. Instead of focusing on the villains, I might be focused on keeping you safe…and we both know how much you love it when someone protects you."
"Are you teasing me, Homeostasis?" She grumbled, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. A light-hearted laugh threatened to come out of her lips but she swallowed it down. I need to at least pretend to be annoyed. Her lips twitched again, threatening to break out from the scowl that she only just managed to form.
Her boyfriend chuckled. "Are you really upset for pointing out the fact that you hate the whole damsel-in-distress trope?"
"I'm more proud that you were able to keep yourself in check and focus on what was more important," she offered him a slight smile and darted her eyes around the stadium. Most of the students chattered between themselves, smiling and waving their hands with excitement. I think it is safe to say no one is focusing on us. Widening her smile, Naruto tiptoed and pressed her lips against Shouto's lips.
She pulled away from him and chuckled when the younger boy pulled her close to his chest. He really doesn't want to let go of me. His arms caged her and warmth kissed against her cheeks. She chuckled and tilted her head up. Embarrassed heterochromatic eyes greeted her, telling her that Shouto hadn't actually meant to do this.
"Wanna keep me all to yourself, Homeotstasis?"
Shouto hummed. "That would make me selfish."
So are you saying that if it didn't make you selfish then you would keep me to yourself? She eyed her blank-faced boyfriend and slid her hands into her pockets. Should it make her happy? Or should it irritate her? It was so difficult to figure out which were the most appropriate emotions or response to that kind of comment. Maybe it was better for her to smile.
"We can't have that, can we?" Naruto slid her hand back into Shouto's hands and offered him a smile. He gazed back at her for the longest time before pressing his lips against her. It seems like he is getting comfortable with public display of affection. The butterflies inside of her stomach fluttered with even more intensity and her hands wandered back to his hair, trying to grab onto every display of happiness.
He is really improving when it comes to his kisses. A little groan escaped from her lips as those soft lips continued to gobble her own. The citrus scent enveloped her senses and a little haze of happiness began to drift into her mind. Soft lips continued to brush against her, drinking in every laugh and groan that threatened to come out of her mouth. It was almost like he didn't want anyone to hear the desires coming out of her lips.
They should be ashamed because they were in public, but there was no—
"Oi Todoroki, you shouldn't make out Uzumaki in public! Have mercy for us guys who don't have any girlfriends to give them any loving!"
Heat flooded into her cheeks and Naruto pulled away from Shouto. She took several deep breaths, trying to calm down her racing heart, before turning her body around. A cheeky smile played on Kaminari's lips as Mineta glared at her boyfriend, black eyes radiating with jealously. From behind them, Bakugou rolled his eyes and offered her just a single eyebrow.
Can't the two of you keep it in your pants?
She only blushed and gazed up at the stadium's seats. Her eyes widened with mortification and her cheeks burned with embarrassment when Hinata looked down at her with flaming cheeks. Well now Hinata-chan has more leverage against me. Shizune chuckled and looked away from them, her own pale cheeks burning with mortification.
Aizawa-sensei gazed at them with unimpressed eyes while Ms. Joke laughed at their interaction.
It feels like life is back to normal…well mostly back to normal.
"I told Endeavor about Touya."
Various police cars stood in front of the road, their blue and red lights flickering with an intensity that almost blinded Tomoyo's eyes. Even though it almost blinded her, her eyes kept focused on the solemn-face of her childhood friend. I should look at Eisuke. But her head was heavy and she didn't even want to see his expression, not when the grief and anger colored his tone.
"How did you tell him? Did you talk to him as Uzushiokage?" She folded her arms against her chest and dug her nails against her arm. Blood tickled out, seeping and dribbling down to the ground. I doubt that he was able to keep his temper in check. She licked her dried lips. "Or did you talk to him as Eisuke?"
Silence greeted her but that was all the answer she needed. It is too much for me to hope that he kept his temper in check and did his job properly. Grief settled into her heart, making it more heavy than ever, and she shut her eyes. Endeavor was a piece of crap, a horrible man but he didn't need her cousin breaking the news to him with rage.
"Touya is still his son," she gazed at Touya and took a sharp breath as wind smacked her cheek. "He might have abused him and he put Touya through this hell but he didn't need you to throw accusation at him. You should have just told him and let Touya place the blame on him. You should have given him the chance to say everything that he wanted to say to Endeavor. If…you couldn't do that much then you could have asked Eraserhead to do it."
That would have been the mature thing to do. Her head throbbed and ached while her heart continued to howl with unspoken grief. She took in a deep breath and focused her gaze on the road ahead of them. Several eyes lingered on them, or rather on Eisuke. It is like they don't know heroes are human too. Their slacked jaw and looks of disbelief spoke of that thought.
She rubbed her eyes and tilted her head upwards. Could her cousin keep his emotions in check if it had been anyone but Touya? Most probably. It's different when it is your best friend going behind bar and not some villain that you've no bond. Licking her chapped lips, she dropped to the ground and allowed her legs to spill out to the hard, dirt-filled ground.
"I thought I could tell him with indifference but the words spilled out of my mouth without much thought," Eisuke admitted. His voice was soft and quiet as his green eyes focused on her. He took in a deep breath and then exhaled. "This isn't some Villain I'm sending to jail and I've to break the news to their family. This is my best-friend and I know the hell he went through…and that makes it difficult for me to pity him."
But it doesn't mean he deserved for you to blame him for Touya's action. She pressed her fingers against her forehead, trying and failing to relieve the tension piercing through her forehead. This was definitely not the time to scold him. Her cousin was already on the verge of a breakdown if those tremors and shivers told her anything. No, it had to be done once he regained control his emotions.
Once her cousin finally processed the fact Touya was a villain, only then could she remind him that he had to remain unbiased.
"How are you going to break the news to his siblings?" She closed her eyes and fiddled with her necklace, sliding the heart locket right back to her chest. The cold jewel kissed her neck and Tomoyo raised her shoulders, opening her eyelids just a little bit and the sunray sparkled right in front of her. "Fuyumi and Natsuo are going to be so…heartbroken about this."
"Can you break the news to Fuyumi-chan?" Eisuke asked. Tomoyo blinked and swirled her head at her cousin. Is he being serious? Doubt settled into her stomach. Did he really believe she was capable of breaking the news to their friend? There was no way she could tell her without spilling tears and keeping her tone calm. "I know I'm asking a lot but she will handle it better if it came from you."
She sighed. "Do you honestly believe you can handle Natsuo? He has always been the sensitive one between the four of them."
"I know," Eisuke answered, placing his head between his hands. More and more people stopped walking and gazed at them with curiosity. She thinned her lips and bit her tongue when some of the pedestrians pulled out their phones. Do they know that he needs privacy? A groan escaped from her mouth and Tomoyo shook her head. "But if he wants to cry and lash out then I can handle it. I can handle him blaming me."
You did nothing wrong when it came to Touya. More guilt settled inside of her stomach and Tomoyo balled her hands into a fist. Who could they blame for Touya's actions? Endeavor? That would be too light. Touya made the decision and blaming his father for his action wasn't right. His siblings were all abused in some way and form…and none of them did this. She cracked her knuckle and let out a hiss of relief.
"Then what about Shouto? Are you going to tell him?" Her cousin blinked and swirled his head at her. Green eyes widened, swirling with absolute disbelief, and Tomoyo clicked her tongue. You can't keep his youngest sibling in the dark. She inhaled. "He might not be as close to Touya as Natsuo but Touya is still his brother."
Eisuke closed his eyes and rubbed the sides of his head. She bit her lips, leaned backwards and stretched her arm back. A crack echoed between them as the bubbles of tension faded from her back. I can't imagine how Shouto will handle this piece of information. She sighed. At least the youngest Todoroki would have friends to help him through this difficult time.
"I was thinking of breaking the news to him in front of Naruto," Eisuke admitted. Tomoyo swirled her head and frowned at her red-haired cousin. The male rubbed his knuckles, taking another deep breath before looking up at the sky. "She will probably know how to comfort him through this…and he will probably be willing to break down in front of her."
She eyed her cousin. "You're putting a lot of pressure onto Naruto to be his rock."
"If it had been anyone else then I would do it in front of Eraserhead," Eisuke commented. His lips curled into a tiny, sad smile and his green eyes focused on the solemn-face of their childhood friend. "But Naruto and Shouto…well their relationship is actually a lot stronger then you think. They seem to love each other."
"What do 15-year-olds know about love?" Tomoyo chuckled and stared at Touya. Her heart throbbed and ached but she didn't allow the tears to come out again. Never again. I'm no longer that same sad, little girl. She took in a deep breath. "I'll believe they have strong feelings but you can't call their relationship love. Maybe there is a strong possibility for it to blossom to love…but it isn't love."
Eisuke snorted. "Do you of all people think that you have the right to make that kind of claim? Your feelings for Touya hasn't changed in the last 10 years and we all know that your feelings are anything but a silly, little school-girl's crush."
I'm a hypocrite. She chuckled and hummed as the sirens and honks of the car filled the air. Ten years. Ten long, painful years. That was how long those feelings inside of her had been festering, never ever disappearing even though she prayed for it to go away. Not even focusing on school and university is enough to make it go away. Bitterness coated her tongue and she forced a smile.
"You think I'm an idiot for still loving that…moron, don't you?" Her cousin blinked and shook his head, red hair whipping from side to side. Tomoyo snorted and brought her knees closer to her chest before taking a deep breath. "Even if you don't think I'm an idiot, I definitely feel like an absolute fool for still loving him. You would think the knowledge of him being a murderer would make me love him less, but it isn't dying anytime soon."
A lump formed inside of her throat and Tomoyo closed her eyes. Memories of a grinning Touya kept replaying inside of her mind, making the ache in her heart grow even bigger. It was like a never-ending blackhole, threatening to pull in all of the misery inside of her and never letting go. She hated this. She needed to move on.
She had to move on.
"You spent a good decade loving that idiot," Eisuke mused. Tomoyo blinked and relaxed her shoulders as her cousin's eyes softened. "Y'know I envied him for that because I kept dating so many girls trying to find someone that will love me as much as you loved him."
Tomoyo snorted. "And I wish my stupid heart would just move on and allow me to find someone else. I wish that things were different and that I had that same courage like those girls in the movies, who can spill their confessions so easily without a care in the world."
"Do you really believe if you told him that you love him that things would have been different?"
I doubt it because this isn't some romance story, where love can be the cure for every trauma that a person has, and it isn't some kind of manga where you know that your love interest likes you back. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Yes, this was real life and even if Touya managed to be released from prison…it would be years before he could recover from the damage done to his mind.
"Tomo-chan…if Touya ever left the country in order to recover from his trauma, would you follow him?"
Tomoyo frowned and a sense of dread crept inside of her stomach.
"Uzumaki Eisuke, what the hell are you thinking of doing?"
She really had a bad feeling over what her cousin wanted to do for Touya.
Something seems to be really bothering, Hinata-chan.
Naruto pressed her lips into a thin line, eyes fixated on the quiet girl sitting beside her. Her best friend gazed at the window with blank eyes and lips pressed into a very tight line. She only ever makes that kind of expression whenever something is bugging her. The line formed on her forehead was the biggest clue that her best-friend was in another world entirely.
"Are you okay, Hinata-chan?" She rubbed the back of her neck and kept her gaze focused on the teen sitting beside her. Shouto and Aoyama's reflection stared back at them, their eyes flashing with slight concern, and Naruto turned her head at them. She offered them a small smile before probing Hinata's ribs.
Her best friend jerked her head at her and slid her eyebrows together. "Did you say something, Naruto-chan?"
"I asked if you are okay," Naruto frowned and pressed her hand against her friend's forehead. No heat greeted her hand, which meant her friend was definitely healthy. Something is definitely bothering her if she can't focus at all. She took a deep breath. "You have been really quiet since we entered the bus, Hinata-chan."
"I'm doing fine, Naruto-chan," her best-friend offered her a little reassuring smile and clasped their hands together. A tight squeeze graced her palm and she could only eye Hinata with thinned lips. Something is definitely bothering her. Should she push Hinata-chan for answers? No. Her best friend would tell her if something was bothering her.
Maybe it would be better to just change the topic or at least make it light-hearted.
"You aren't embarrassed about seeing Shouto and me kissing in public, are you?" Her best friend blinked and then reddened while Shouto twisted his head at them. A single red-haired eyebrow was raised up and her boyfriend offered her a little innocent smile, not looking one bit guilty for showing his affection for her in public. One of these days I'll get him back for it. The hickeys were definitely not going to be enough.
Hinata giggled and offered them a sly smile. "Well I'm glad that the both of you still had your clothes on."
"Hinata-chan!" Her voice sliced through the air and several heads turned to look at them. From the seat right in front of them, Ashido offered them a little amused smile while Yaoyorozu gazed at her with pink cheeks. Where was my pure Hinata-chan? A pout began to form at her lips and she turned her head back to the smiling Hyuga heiress.
The Hyuga heiress hummed. "You two did have a rather…heated moment."
It was an innocent, little kiss! She covered her face with her hands and willed for her blood to flow down her neck and not into her heated cheeks. There had been nothing wrong with what they did. It hadn't even been that heated. It wasn't like we had a full-blown makeout session. Fire erupted from beneath her skin and Naruto slid even lower in her bus seat.
"You think that was heated, Hyuga-chan? You should have seen Uzumaki-chan's neck after Todoroki told everyone that he wanted to be someone that she deserves!" Ashido sighed and let out a dreamy sigh as several heads bobbed their heads. Oh god, is today tease Naruto and Shouto day? Her cheeks heated up even more, almost threatening to burn her into a crisp. "I think he left almost five hickeys on her neck!"
Giggles erupted from Hinata's lips and Naruto groaned before covering her face. Dear god, did her classmate just have to tell Hinata-chan that? And why did her friend have to count the number of hickeys that Shouto left on her neck? Her heart continued to slam against her ribcage, ready to run away from the conversation.
"I know you adore Shouto but there is a time and place for being affectionate," Hinata commented with a straight-face. Naruto groaned and slid even deeper into her seat before allowing the embarrassed laugh to escape from her lips. I couldn't help but pull him away. Those words had been so sweet to her and well…kissing him had been a good idea at the time.
Pushing herself back up, she leaned closer to her friend and admitted. "I…I couldn't help it, Hinata-chan."
"You always did get weak in the knees whenever someone shows you that they care about you," her friend commented in a quiet and thoughtful tone. The smile on her best-friend's lips conveyed reassurance and her pale, lavender eyes sparkled with joy. "I'm glad that you two are comfortable enough to be that affectionate in public but Naruto-chan, I don't have to remind you that you two need to slow down…right?"
"Hormones are a bitch," Naruto darted her eyes to Shouto and then directed her gaze away from him. Her stomach rumbled and twirled with happiness and embarrassment as Hinata continued to offer quiet laughter. I should reassure Hinata-chan. She took a deep breath and lowered her tone even more. "And you don't need to remind me. I actually do want to take things slow with Shouto because the sexual aspects of a relationships requires a lot of trust."
Her best-friend relaxed her shoulders. "I'm glad to know that Jiraiya-sama hasn't corrupted you when it comes to that aspect."
"If I was a normal, healthy teenager then you would have every right to worry about it," Naruto reassured Hinata. She darted her eyes to Shouto before moving her eyes to her classmates. Most of them resumed talking between themselves and she relaxed her shoulders. "But that part of a relationship requires trust and even from the books I help Jiraiya corrected…well you're baring yourself to that person."
I trust Shouto but do I feel that secure with him? She fiddled with her fingers and took a deep breath. Shouto and her had never even discussed about it, not when the whole dating thing was still new to them, but they had to talk about it. But should I talk about it now? Or should I wait a few more months before telling him about it? They hadn't been together for long.
They hadn't done anything that made her feel uncomfortable but they had to talk about it.
"If I were you, I would just wait till the both of you are done with high school," The Kyuubi commented. Naruto blinked and knitted her eyebrows before darting her eyes to the window. Trees and smiling couples greeted her and she closed her eyes. "Despite what those horribly written-books tell you, sex is a really intimate activity and you will get even more emotionally attached to the boy."
Naruto frowned. "Kyuubi, do you actually care?"
"No but telling you not to have sex won't work," The Kyuubi grumbled. Naruto smacked her head against the chair and Hinata looked at her with wide eyes. Why the hell did he have to say like that? She actually believed that the fox was actually being nice for once. "Your great-aunt tried that approach with Kushina and that didn't work…so using reason will get you to listen."
She groaned. "Do you really have to keep reminding me of my parents' sex life!"
"I don't like talking about it either but I don't want to have another hormonal Uzumaki blame me for their pregnancy scare! Honestly you people think I'm your birth control! I'm the great Kyuubi, not protection!" The Kyuubi barked.
With the heat rushing back into her face, Naruto covered her face once again with her hands and leaned against her seat. Soft cushions pressed against her, almost luring her to sleep. Not that she would sleep because it was still way too early for her to sleep. Maybe after she took a good hot shower then she would go and get some sleep.
Hinata cleared her throat and Naruto tore her eyes away from the window. Curiosity and concern colored her best-friend's eyes and a tiny frown played on her best-friend's lips. Did she do something wrong? Nope. She shouldn't have done anything that could make her best-friend give her that kind of look. She had been in her best-behavior so far.
"Naruto-chan, now that you passed your exam…will you be able to make some time tomorrow to visit Hokage-sama?" Naruto blinked and then offered a small frown to her friend. The Hyuga Heiress cleared her throat and smoothed the wrinkles of her hoodie. "I believe that she wishes for you to accompany All Might for his check-up."
Well I'm not going to question why the Old Hag wants to see me but this will give me a good opportunity to talk to her about her decisions.
She had a lot of things to say to the Fifth Hokage and so many questions to ask her.
A/N: So Todoroki explains to Naruto about the reason that he didn't come and help. Tomoyo is deeply concerned over what Eisuke plans to do with Touya/Dabi and Naruto will probably meet Tsunade in the upcoming chapters.
Q1: How did you feel about the conversation between Eisuke and Tomoyo?
Q2: How do you feel about the conversation between the Kyuubi and Naruto?
Q3: Why do you think Tsunade wants to talk to Naruto? And what do you think that their conversation will be about?
Q4: How are you feeling about the series? And the topics being explored?
Please do tell me of your thoughts on this chapter.
