Chapter One: The Promise
A mixture of blood and water decorated the concrete of the old factory floor. The smell of metal filled Shouto Todoroki's nostrils and his head was pulsating with pain. With his nerves on edge, Todoroki could feel every raindrop splatter on his face, the pitter patter of the water dropping as fast as the beat of his heart. He stared into the cold barrel of the Glock, then gazed to the steady, delicate hand that held tightly to the gun's grip.
"Put the gun down, Mo," a weak, raspy voice spoke from behind her. Katsuki Bakugou had intended to calm her, but Shouto only heard her fingers snake tighter around the pistol.
"Everything," Yaoyorozu's voice rattled louder than rain clouds above them, his ears still sensitive from the after effects of the explosives.
With the little strength he had left, Todoroki managed to speak, "Momo, please-"
"It took everything!" She cried, taking a step closer to him with her specially-made gun pointed and ready, "All those years - My whole life!"
His eyes didn't leave the cold, black chamber of the gun; her actions unpredictable.
Todoroki heard Bakugou attempt to shuffle off the ground; his legs scrambling to bring him to his feet so that he may stop her from doing the unthinkable. He would fail each time, using up his energy with each attempt. He heard Bakugo's strain, "Don't do this! You're going to regret this for the rest of your life!"
"Shut up!" The pain in her voice was evident, the shrills echoing in his pounding head.
His blurry sights steadied to her face. Through the raindrops, he could see the tears streaming down her cheeks. The once shimmering, gray eyes were broken and tired. The glow and beauty of her face torn by suffering. She wasn't the same Momo Yaoyorozu he fell in love with.
That woman was long gone.
.
.
A year earlier…
Shouto Todoroki was in his prime. At 25 years old, he was already one of the most prestigious heroes in his country. It was to be expected after all – he had established his name since UA. Although his parents pulled him out during his junior year to live in the United States, Todoroki had managed to make himself known in his home country once moving back.
He was so reputable, in fact, that he was a demandable hero for hire. It was what he preferred over a hero agency anyway – being the hero he wanted without the responsibilities hero agencies brought. No sidekicks, no interns, no partners; just himself.
Even as he entered his comfortable two-bedroom condominium, he didn't find it to be too spacious or empty. He had just finished working on a long-term contract and couldn't be happier when he entered his bedroom. Todoroki had been working contract after contract; it was nice to be on his own time.
He had only unzipped his luggage when he heard his phone ringing from his back pocket. Fuyumi's picture appeared on his phone screen.
"Fuyumi, hello," he greeted her.
"Hello, Sho," she responded, "Did you get home okay?"
"Mmm. Thank you again for making the arrangements," he said. It was routine for Fuyumi to call every now and then to check on him.
With his sister, Fuyumi Todoroki, as his manager, he didn't have to worry about the tedious tasks of paperwork and finances. She accepted a diverse range of contracts for him– big or small, easy or challenging. She knew which contracts suited him, which ones he enjoyed.
"I am glad," she stated. There was an uneasy silence after that.
Shouto knew his sister just as well, sensing her hesitance over the phone. He allowed her to collect her thoughts instead of asking her any questions. She sighed before finally speaking, "Listen, Sho, I received a phone call from an elite hero agency."
"As long as it's not father's, you know I will accept," Shouto explained, holding the phone with his shoulder as he arranged his clothes out of his luggage.
"It's from the Deku."
He paused. Midoriya's hero agency was top tier, but that's not why he was concerned. The agency had powerful heroes; a few heroes ranking almost as high as Todoroki's status. To request for Shouto's services meant that the contract involved something serious.
"I received the call yesterday during your flight. It was an unknown number, and it was from one of Deku's workers."
Todoroki was curious. This seemed to be more than a business contract. Knowing Izuku, his thoughts and steps were carefully calculated before coming to this result. This was something personal. What is this about, Midoriya?
His hands began placing his clothes back into his luggage whilst Fuyumi spoke to him, "You just finished a contract, Sho."
Her concern for him was appreciated, but he knew this was too significant to out off, "I will be fine. How soon can you arrange a ride for me?"
"It will be arriving shortly," Fuyumi knew it was pointless to argue with him.
"I will be waiting."
The car stopped in front of an unfamiliar building. He had expected to arrive at Deku's hero agency, but the directions from Fuyumi lead him to a public library. He entered the library and it was filled with people. Without raising suspicion, he read the rest of the directions and walked up the stairs.
He ended up on the third floor near the back of the library. In one of the empty aisles, he recognized the green hair under the baseball cap. His eyes were engrossed in one of the books of the aisle.
Todoroki stood beside him and grabbed a book on the other side of the aisle. He browsed through the pages of the book.
"Welcome, Todoroki," Izuku barely moved to face in his direction.
"You look horrible," Shouto told him bluntly, eyeing him from the side.
"Y-Yeah," Izuku let out an embarrassed chuckle, "Haven't been getting much sleep."
"I can tell. A lack of sleep isn't good for you, Midoriya."
"I know," he placed the book back on the shelf and smiled at him, "Thank you for coming here on such short notice."
"It is unlikely of you to request for my help unless it's urgent."
Midoriya grabbed another book off the shelves, Misery by a popular American horror writer. He seemed to be taking his time with each page as he spoke, "What do you know so far?"
"Based on your specific instructions, you want this contract to be kept a secret. You choose a public place to avoid suspicion. You chose this narrow and quiet area to avoid getting tailed."
"That's correct, and sorry for the disguise. It doesn't look too bad on you."
Izuku was referring to the beanie that covered Shouto's hair and the oversized sunglasses. It made him unconsciously readjust the sunglasses on his face, "Understandable. My face and hair are a dead giveaway. You do know that the public is aware of our friendship? Would it have made a difference if we met elsewhere?"
"I didn't want to take any chances."
Izuku was still the same person he has known since UA, careful, but devoted to his duties. Since him and Todoroki have reconnected upon his return from America, they have kept in touch with each other. He was a valued friend to Shouto.
Todoroki nodded his head, "I respect your decision."
"Thank you, Shouto," his fingers turned the page of the book, "Your contract will take place in district 7C."
With the rise of heroes and villains came a more systematic structure of battling crime. The country was divided into districts and hero agencies were assigned to specific districts. The system worked for the most part. People felt more safe in their district knowing certain heroes were assigned to it. And, it just so happened that one of the safest and most populated districts was District 7C.
"District 7C?" he knew exactly who was in charge of that district.
"Kacchan's district," Izuku's tone changed. Now, Shouto understood why the situation had this effect on him.
"His district has a low crime rate."
"On the surface yes," Deku took out his phone from his pocket with one hand and typed something on it. The phone was handed to Todoroki.
His fingers scrolled through several missing persons' files. Amongst these people were petty criminals, a select few were big leaguers. There were several compelling details in the files. The missing people ended up dead: either by suicide or by unknown causes. Another important piece of information was that none of the files associated with District 7C. Shouto pointed out the first obvious detail, "They are all criminals."
"But they are still missing nonetheless," Izuku continued, reverting to the same thinking position he had back in the day, "The only reason why these cases aren't being scrutinized is because they were villains."
"The public doesn't care about the well-being of criminals – that's quite immoral."
"Have you taken notice of the district assignment of these files?"
"No case was assigned to 7C."
"Yes. It's the same situation with their immediate families on file. I came across a glitch in the system. A notorious villain I was secretly investigating had relocated to 7C. As per law, his district was to be updated. However, two days later, the villain goes missing."
"And the district is unaware of your private investigations."
"Thankfully, yes. When I went to look for the missing case file, his last known address was 7C. Two weeks later, the case is solved – death by suicide through overdose. I look at the file again, and it just so happens 7C was not mentioned anywhere in his file. There was no paperwork indicating a change nor did it have a history - No hero or detective signature on file."
Todoroki took a second to think about what his friend was trying to tell him, "Someone is messing with the system."
"It took me months to compile the data, more time spent on research: names of spouses, where their kids went to school, where they had once worked. One way or another, these specific cases were assigned to 7C, but once the case gets uploaded, 7C is out of the picture."
Only someone like Midoriya would be able to catch something like this. Once a case is solved, no one would care to look through it and less effort would be put into the case knowing the victims were criminals.
"Who do you think is behind all of this?"
"There is a name that has slowly surfaced in the villain community," Izuku held out his hand to grab his phone back, "His name is Knite."
Shouto heard of that name as well, but besides a mention, he had no other information, "A myth, I have heard some say. This 'Knite' villain seems be purely gossip.
"No - My gut is telling me there's a connection between Knite and these cases. My intel has confirmed that most of the gossip of this villain originated from 7C, just as these cases have."
It wasn't much, but it was a lead nonetheless. He spoke, "The district has more secrets than I was aware of."
Izuku didn't comment, still bothered by his own thoughts. The truth had to be said. Todoroki couldn't let it drag on, "You think Bakugou's hero agency has something to do with this."
Deku paused, as if hearing the words had hurt him in some way. It was a forward accusation, and a serious one to put on their trusted friend and fellow hero. His hands closed the book in front of him, then he turned to meet Shouto in the eyes, "There's something evil going on in District 7C and I want you to find out what's going on."
This was the first time Todoroki has ever stepped foot on District 7C. It was a crowded and clustered city; too noisy for his taste.
Many cars occupied the streets and people were lively on the sidewalks. Even as he lined up for his room at the hotel, there was line of people in the lobby. To be fair, it would have went by faster if the hotel workers weren't so occupied by one of their customers – maybe a famous hero or celebrity. Thankfully, he made it to the front desk once the crowd disappeared with the star customer and headed to his hotel room.
After putting away his things and making himself comfortable in his room, Todoroki went straight to work. He took out his notepad and laptop, and wrote down the names that were highly associated with the district. He wrote down the first obvious name.
Katsuki Bakugou. Todoroki hasn't seen him since he left high school. If his father hadn't pulled him out of UA for their family to move to the states, then maybe him and Bakugou would've been equal in rank. He pulled up his file and a recent ID picture popped up.
Bakugou, in his adult years, looked more ferocious than he did in high school. He had wild scars on his head, clearly visible by his undercut with his blonde hair spiked up. A devious grin and his intimidating red eyes – token Bakugou features. Other than the hair cut and his bulkier stature, he seemed like his normal self. Todoroki wondered if he was the same person as he was in high school.
He would've liked staying in UA High, but his mother needed the medical support. He just wished he wouldn't have left so soon. There was no chance to say 'goodbye' to his friends - no chance to explain himself to Yaoyorozu.
Momo Yaoyorozu…he cared about her more so than anyone else. If anyone deserved an apology for his abrupt absence, it was her.
Shouto was lucky to have reconnected with Midoriya, Uraraka, Tenya, and a few other classmates upon his return. Yaoyorozu, on the other hand, seemed to have dropped off the face of the earth. He had heard that she dropped out of UA halfway into her senior year after her father had passed away. No one knew where she lived. No one had a clear idea of what she was doing besides handling her father's business. What he did know was that she no longer pursued her dreams of becoming a hero.
Had he tried hard enough to search for her? It didn't feel like enough: the shame and embarrassment of having to leave her without a word was holding him back.
Every once in a while, he wondered if her decision would have been different if he stayed in Japan. If he had stayed, he would have comforted her during his father's death. If he had stayed, he would have persuaded her to become a hero. If he had stayed, maybe they could have been more than friends...
Shit. I got side-tracked again, he ran his hands from his face to the back of his freshly shaved neck as to wake himself up. He should not concern himself with events that happened years ago. The past was the past. These were the words he had to keep telling himself when YaoMomo appeared in his thoughts.
.
.
"You're giving me these?" Todoroki gazed at the cute blue bag tied with a white and red ribbon. The fresh smell of the cookies oozed out of the bag and felt warm on his palm.
Yaoyorozu's face was blushing red. She attempted to hide herself by partially covering her face with her hand. In Todoroki's eyes, it only made her look more adorable. YaoMomo cleared her throat before speaking to him, "C-consider it a back-to-school gift."
The way her lashes delicately covered her sparkling onyx eyes mesmerized him; he couldn't stare too long or it would be weird.
"Thanks," he smiled and opened the bag carefully.
"You're going to eat it now?" she panicked.
"I did not have breakfast because I woke up late," he explained as he picked up a cookie.
"W-wait! Perhaps it would be better if you eat it at your household," she tried to convince him, bringing his arm down and the cookie away from his mouth, "Cookies are not the best breakfast choice!"
Todoroki gently pulled his hand away and faced the opposite direction to keep her at bay, "I am sure it will be delicious, Yaoyorozu."
"Don't!" her arms quickly wrapped around him without thought. She was so focused on preventing him from eating her cookies that she hadn't realized what she had done.
They froze. Neither of them knew what to do in this position. But, her warmth on his back felt nice.
Yaoyorozu slowly snaked her hands off of him and faced the other way. They refused to face each other – not when their faces were completely red. So, they stood there quietly: back-to-back, hearts unsteady, heads spinning.
"I-I will save them for later then," Todoroki was the first to speak up.
"Mm," Yaoyorozu gave him a nod even though he couldn't see it. She added to the conversation, hoping it will change the awkwardness between them, "How...How do you feel about your junior year, Todoroki?"
The small talk worked for the most part, slowly returning them to normal, "I suppose….I am ready to take it on."
"That is good to hear," Yaoyorozu grinned at his confidence as she fumbled with the edge of her high school uniform.
"What about you?" he slightly turned his face, just enough to see the edges of her soft cheek, "How do you feel?"
Todoroki felt a slight movement on his back. He had not realized how close their bodies were near each other.
"In all honesty, I am a little frightened."
"What is there to be afraid of?" he asked her openly.
"School has always been easy for me. I completed the assignments, the tests, the exams in a timely matter – none of them challenged me in the slightest. Here in UA..." there was an uneasiness in her voice, "I come across one challenge in my life – just one moment where things did not go the way I have planned – and none of my decisions seem to make as much sense as they used to. The worse thing is...I doubt myself before I fully commit to an answer."
Todoroki was already aware of the changes she has been through. He continued to listen in silence to allow her express herself, "I've gotten better at handling these feelings though. I am very thankful that UA has given me this opportunity to grow. But...if there's anyone I owe my appreciation to, it is you. Thank you, Todoroki."
"Me?" he had to repeat himself to make sure he had heard her correctly.
"Yes," she assured him joyfully, "Whenever I have those doubts, I think about those kind words you have said to me. Thank you for making me believe in myself again."
He could feel the blood rushing to his cheeks and the tickling in his stomach. The way that Yaoyorozu made him feel was surreal. These were feelings he has never experienced before – something new. He spoke as composed as he could, "If you ever have those doubts again, you can count on me."
"Todoroki..." she said his name so softly, touched by his commitment.
"I promise to stay by your side, Yaoyorozu."
She leaned closer then, feeling the weight of her back against his, "Thank you, Todoroki."
His eyes shot open to the darkness of his hotel room. Todoroki accidentally fell asleep while documenting and organizing his information for his new contract with Midoriya. His hand groggily reached for his cellphone to check the time. It's almost night...
Todoroki brought himself to his feet and opened the curtain of his hotel room to let in the late afternoon light. He blankly stared outside while his mind wandered. His mind had a knack for opening up buried thoughts and feelings, more so with the ones he desperately tried to suppress. He hated how his dreams vividly brought up his past and the guilt that weighed heavily on his broken promise.
I'm hungry, he told himself, feeling the gnawing pit in his stomach. Eating might help him focus better.
It was smart of Fuyumi to book a hotel near a grocery store. Shouto preferred eating in the comfort of his own company rather than eating at a public place full of people. Every now and then, he would force himself to dine at a busy restaurant, but that was only to gather information. Grocery stores and mini markets were his go-tos for a meal.
After entering the grocery store, he went straight to the help desk to pick up the groceries. Fuyumi made it so that a personal shopper would do the grocery shopping for him. It definitely saved time, but she had only made these arrangements because of the fact that Shouto was a terrible shopper.
"Your groceries will be ready shortly, sir," one of the workers told him, "If you could please wait on the side and we will have it brought to you when it is ready."
Shouto did what the worker requested and waited patiently. He took out his phone from his pocket and browsed through articles, old and new. His mind focused on every and any detail that could help him with the case, zoning in on key people and places. Once his brain got in the zone, it was like a working computer. The background noises of the crowded city didn't bother him; he had learned to tune out those distractions.
It was until he heard the harsh clatteringon the pavement floor.
The sound pulled him out of his own thoughts. Normally, it wouldn't have bothered him, but the unique sound of those heels striking the concrete were enough to catch his attention. Mildly annoyed, he shot his head up to find the source of the distraction.
Could it be...? His annoyance was replaced by curiosity.
It was only a second when she passed by him, but he swore she looked like her. The woman was wearing an orange, long-sleeved dress. Her pointed high heels were just as distracting as it looked: bright, green emeralds decorated the black heels. She had silky black hair cut to shoulder-length. His mind must have been playing with him. There was no way she could have been Momo Yaoyorozu.
She loved her hair long, Shouto convinced himself and returned his attention back to his phone. The sound of clicking heels slowly receded away from him, but his heartbeat was strangely beating at a fast rate when she came to mind.
Shouto immediately thought back to his dream about Yaoyorozu. He wondered if she was really as pretty as his dreams. He hadn't remembered when he had developed these feelings for her. They had only met each other in UA, but had gotten close in a short time. They had a lot in common after all: recommended into UA, intelligent, father issues. Perhaps it was faith that brought them from partners, to desk mates, to friends, to …close friends.
How annoying it was to be attached to a person he hasn't seen in several years. The thought of it all racked his brain.
"S-sir?" the worker from the grocery store lightly tapped his shoulder.
Shouto was startled by the sudden touch and was a little embarrassed as he spoke to the grocer, "Yes?"
"Are you okay? I've been calling your name for quite a while."
"Apologies, I had a long day," Todoroki explained then received the groceries from the grocer, "Thank you. I will be on my way."
In less than a minute, he was out the door and walking quickly to the hotel. He was embarrassed to be caught off-guard so easily. Todoroki had to get ahold of himself - it might have been the dream he had about Yaoyorozu or the way the woman's hips moved in that skin-tight, orange dress.
What am I thinking? He tried to regain focus.
All he could think about was the way the woman moved, the curve of her face, the smell of her perfume when she passed by. She was driving him mad – this unknown woman.
Something clicked in his head at that moment, It was her...
Shouto hadn't gotten his head clear when, out of nowhere, a person shoved Todoroki violently to sprint past him. His fast reflexes widened his stance to regain balance. He cocked his sights to the figure running away.
"Someone catch him please!" a female individual yelled from behind him.
Todoroki readjusted his thoughts to the problem at hand. In an instant, he crouched to the ground. His fingers touched the rough cement of the sidewalk, ready to freeze the thief's path. Just as he was about to release his ice quirk, a pole struck the criminal from the side. The shock of the blow was enough to knock out the thief, falling to the ground and dropping the purse.
Shouto was impressed by the actions of this unknown hero and watched curiously. Todoroki saw the pole slowly rescind into the window of a black limousine. The door of the limo opened, a leg first stepped out. Shouto curiously eyed the person responsible for this heroic duty. He recognized those emerald embezzled shoes, the orange dress, and the shoulder-length hair.
Todoroki stared at her backside as she walked to the villain, heels as loud as ever. Gracefully, she bent over to pick up the purse and handed it to the owner. She waved 'goodbye' to the purse owner and turned on her heels to walk back to her limousine.
Todoroki held his breath. It was as if it was all happening in slow motion, her hair following the movement of her head to face him. His heartbeat steadied to see the woman he had been dreaming about these past years. He would have never thought he would see Yaoyorozu in-person again.
Their eyes locked and he swore his heart stopped. Her grey eyes grew wide at the sight of him, her mouth slightly agape with shock. It wasn't soon before her lips curled into her token smile, and he felt like he couldn't breathe.
Yaoyorozu was more beautiful than he had remembered – those long batting lashes, her glistening onyx eyes, her lipstick-decorated lips.
"Hello, Todoroki. It is a pleasure to see you here."