Chapter 30
The day started like any normal day; Todoroki's morning run and breakfast before hanging out in the common areas. However, his heart was light and he was smiling during his run. Kaiya was everything he didn't know he wanted or needed. Besides the sex they had the night before; her aura is what he yearned for the most. Her smile, her touch and her laugh were drugs to him and boy was he addicted. "Hey Icy Hot." A loud voice interrupted his serene train of thought. Bakugou had found Todoroki sitting in the common area, flicking through a nearby book; seeing him lost in thought.
"Bakugou." Todoroki replied, not looking up from the book. The loud mouth leaped over the couch and landed beside him, scoffing at the reading material in his hand. "Can I help you?" His red eyes narrowed into Todoroki's eyes, looking for the words he wanted to say.
"I know you and Green Eyes have been together for a while now." He stated, earning no response from Todoroki. "I like Kaiya. I don't admit that about others, but that girl got to me back at the start of school." Todoroki's heart began beating rapidly, a sense of anger rising in his chest. If this was another attempt at fighting him again; he'd surely have a fight on his hands. "Relax Half n Half. I'm not trying to move in on your girl. She makes you happy I can tell, and she is happy too. My point of this entire interaction was to point that out." Todoroki narrowed his eyes at him curiously. "Jesus ok." Bakuguo scoffed, sighing heavily. "You're the better guy for her; so I'm not going to take her from you; despite how much I wanted to months ago when I realized you two were getting closer." Todoroki's eyes widened at Bakugou's admittance and he could see he was uncomfortable with being this open with his classmate. "That's why I wanted to rile you up when you two were arguing."
"Have you told her?" Todoroki asked quietly as Bakugou shook his head.
"I don't want her to get confused and be all weird around me. She wants you that is clear. I just want her to be happy; and that's with you, not me. I could never be enough for her." Todoroki's heart ached at his words as they echoed his own insecurities until Kaiya had set him straight.
"I said the same thing about myself. But she told me otherwise. Everyone deserves a happy ending with someone they love; despite what you think you deserve." Todoroki explained.
"That sounds like her." Bakugou smirked slightly.
"It is her. Thank you for telling me Bakugou. I'll do my best not to hurt her." Todoroki said, placing a hand on Bakugou's shoulder, expecting him to brush him off.
"If you hurt her in any way; I will blow you up. It's simple." He promised, his eyes burning into Todoroki.
"Understood." Todoroki nodded, hearing Kaiya and Momo enter the common area. "See you later." Bakuguo grunted in response. He was a bit surprised to hear that Bakuguo cared for anyone in that way, let alone Kaiya. She was amazing of course, he'd be naive to think she wouldn't gain the attention of others; but he didn't feel any jealousy when Bakuguo admitted his feelings. Kaiya was his and she reminded him of that everyday. He kissed her cheek as Momo waved to him in greeting. "Did you girls have fun shopping?" Noticing Momo had many bags strapped on her arm from her new purchases.
"Kaiya has an amazing taste! She helped me pick out so many cute outfits!" Momo squealed, shaking her shopping bags excitedly. "Thank you again!" She smiled, pulling Kaiya in for a hug.
Kaiya squeezed her back and laughed at her friends' excitement. "Thank you for buying me these shoes; they'll be a nice change from the tennis shoes and slippers I always wear." Kaiya smiled.
"Is that all you got?" Todoroki asked her, noting only one bag in her possession. "I gave you some money, baby."
"Yeah, I didn't feel like spending much. Momo insisted on buying these for me as a thank you for my fashion advice." Kaiya smiled, but he saw a hint of sadness in her eyes. He figured she didn't have much money to spend anyway; and going out with the rich Momo probably reminded her of how little she had; that's why he gave her some money. "But, I enjoyed my time anyway! Want to go upstairs?" She asked Todoroki and he followed her to the elevator. She was quiet the whole way up and even as they entered her room.
"Are you okay?" Shoto asked her as she walked around her room slowly, looking over her possessions. "The quiet, brooding thing is kind of my trademark." Todoroki tried to get her to smile, but she shrugged her shoulders as she plopped down onto her bed. "Kaiya." Todoroki whispered, reaching for her on her bed.
"I'm going to sound so ungrateful." She mumbled into her pillow as he laid beside her.
"Try me." He whispered, placing his hand on her back soothingly.
"Everything in this room was provided for me by Aizawa. My clothes are old and the only thing I have to myself is this ring and the shoes that Momo just bought me." She explained, playing with the platinum band on her thumb. "These two things are the most important things I own now because they're mine. Not borrowed, not second hand used; mine." Tears threatened at the corner of her eyes and Todoroki's heart ached. "God, I do sound ungrateful. Forget I said anything!" She cried, pushing her face into her pillow.
"You don't. There is nothing wrong with wanting more for yourself. You haven't had much in your life until now. Maybe you're just feeling guilty now because you're not used to being happy?" Todoroki tried, brushing her hair with his fingers. He could hear her stifling her tears into the pillow but she turned to look at him; her tear stained cheeks puffy. "I could buy you anything your heart desired and you would be very grateful, but wanting something for yourself...is admirable too." He smiled at her as his words sunk in.
"I'm not good enough for you." She whispered, wiping her cheeks roughly. Todoroki froze at her confession. "I have nothing to offer you. No money, no title, no inheritance. Nothing." She mumbled, pulling at her hair ends again.
"Baby, come here." Todoroki whispered, pulling Kaiya to his chest slowly. She cried harder into him, letting out her pain. "Where is this all coming from?" Todoroki asked, brushing her hair gently.
"I don't know. I've been thinking about this for a few weeks now. I think seeing Camie at the extra classes you've been taking woke some kind of reality in me." She sniffed sadly. "She's gorgeous, from an elite family and school...she's…"
"Not you." Todoroki interrupted his girlfriend. She looked up at him, her eyes still wet with tears. "I love you. I will never see another girl like how I see you." Her eyes searched Todoroki as he spoke gently to her, his hand caressing her cheek. "You are beautiful, I could stare into these eyes forever. You're so funny and you have a way of breaking me out of my shell I find myself in frequently." Todoroki smiled, seeing her eyes become less sad. "You may not have a title, money, or prestige; but I don't care. Love isn't about any of that. I never thought I would love anyone; but you proved me wrong; and for that, I am grateful to you Kaiya." A few moments passed before Todoroki felt Kaiya pulling closer to him and their lips connected softly.
"I'm sorry that I'm being so silly. It's not like me." Kaiya whispered after she pulled away. "I love you, Shoto."
"And I you, my silly girl." Todoroki smiled as she laughed at her new name. "Oh...what would you like to do for your birthday?" Kaiya froze.
"How did you know my birthday was soon?" She mumbled, pulling away from Todoroki.
"I have my sources." He replied, hiding a small smile. "So? What would you like to do?" Kaiya shook her head and began twirling the ring on her thumb nervously.
"The festival is more important. I'm not worried about my birthday. It's not like I've celebrated it before." She said quietly. Todoroki winced at the confession but chose to say nothing. "I'll see you later babe. You have a few assignments to catch up on." She smiled, pecking Todoroki's lips.
"Love you." He said before pulling out his cellphone to text Iida and Midoriya.
A few weeks later, Jirou and Kaiya were neck deep in the song writing process when a loud knock sounded on Kaiya's door. "Did you invite someone to help us?" She asked Jirou who shook her head. Kaiya opened the door to see Todoroki leaning on the door jam. "Hey! Did we make plans?" She asked.
"Nope. But the girls sent me to find you. They're in the common area. Something to do with the festival?" Kaiya's eyebrows furrowed in confusion and looked over her shoulder to see Jirou focused on the song.
"Okay...I'll be back in a minute, Jirou." She said, clicking her door shut behind her. "They could have just texted me." She mumbled, following Todoroki downstairs. He remained stoic to her mumblings as the elevator door opened to reveal balloons, an array of food, and a pile of presents in the common room.
"Surprise!" Class 1-A cheered as Kaiya looked around the room. Her mouth agape, she couldn't find the words to express the emotions flowing through her. "Happy birthday Kaiya!" They all cheered while Todoroki ushered Kaiya closer to the party.
"How...how did…? Guys...this is too much." She stuttered, seeing the entire class smiling at her. "You did this?" She asked Todoroki next to her. His usual stoic nature melted as a searing blush painted his cheeks. "Baby…"
"Everyone deserves to have a birthday party." He said shyly before Kaiya pecked his cheek.
"Thank you." She whispered, finally allowing a smile to form. "Thank you to you all for this."
The party continued on as Kaiya opened up her array of presents for everyone to see while the food was consumed. "Momo this is gorgeous! Thank you!" She squealed, holding the teal dress close to her.
"You're welcome! I saw it and immediately thought of you!" From clothes, jewelry and books , Kaiya was thrilled with her friends' gifts to her.
"Let's dance!" Mina squealed, turning the music up a little louder. Kaiya chuckled as the class started dancing when she noticed a person keeping a close eye from the corridor. She scoffed and approached the person quickly.
"You can join us, you know?" She smirked, leaning on the wall beside Mr. Aizawa.
'I'm your teacher. I'm just supervising."
"Did you tell Todoroki about my birthday?" She asked quietly, hearing Aizawa grunt in response. "Did you know he was planning this?" Another grunt. "You two are sneaky."
"He wasn't wrong though, Kaiya. Everyone deserves a birthday party." Aizawa mumbled, looking around at his celebrating students. "You are still teenagers. Even though you are training to be heroes, you deserve a little fun." Kaiya chuckled to herself and pulled out her phone.
"Can we take a picture, Mr. Aizawa?" Kaiya asked her teacher and giggled at the surprised look on his face. "Just a quick one, you don't even have to smile!" She giggled, pulling up her phone's camera app.
"Why?" He asked as Kaiya shuffled closer to him.
"I'll tell you after we take the picture." She said, waiting to see a small smirk on her teachers' face. "Thanks!" And she bolted back to the party.
"Wait! You said you'd…" Aizawa called out before chuckling to himself. "Have fun." He mumbled, turning away to give the teen their space.
Later that night when the party was over, Kaiya ventured into her dorm for much needed rest. Before she nuzzled into bed, however, Kaiya folded the picture of her and Aizawa into the frame he had gifted her when they all moved into the UA dorms. Her parent's picture sat in her desk drawer safely, but their time was over. Aizawa was her family now and she wanted him to know it. A knock sounded on her dorm door and she welcomed the guest verbally. Aizawa stepped into the room and leaned on the door frame.
"Kaiya? I got your text, what's up?"
"Remember that picture we took earlier?" She asked him, holding the frame behind her back. Aizawa nodded and rubbed his eyes tiredly. "This was why." She whispered, handing him the frame. Aizawa gasped quietly as his shaky fingers grasped the frame gently. "I know...you don't see it this way. But you're my family. You've done a lot for me even though I was kinda forced on you. This may be a stupid gesture, but it's all I can do for now." Aizawa smiled as his thumb rubbed over the glass, noting how happy the two people seemed in the picture.
"This was meant for your parents." Aizawa managed to say through bubbling emotions.
"I know. I don't remember them; but I'll always remember you even if we don't...keep in touch." Kaiya explained, tugging at her hair nervously. Aizawa chuckled and placed the picture frame on Kaiya's desk carefully and walked to her.
"I will make sure we keep in touch. Okay?" Aizawa told her, bringing the girl in for a tight hug. "I love the picture." He whispered, feeling Kaiya's nerves calm during the hug. "Thank you."
