JUST AS YOU ARE
Taking a deep breath, Shoto taps his pencil against his notepad, gaze fixed on Momo seated on the opposite side of the desk. I can't focus when she has those bright flowers glaring at me from her bag, he muses, lips twisting thoughtfully as he plants his right elbow down on the table cupping his chin in the palm of his hand. Who gave them to her? He continues to wonder, thoughts clouding his mind as his dual-toned eyes narrow, locking on the backpack plopped on the tatami mat behind her, a small bunch of red tulips protruding intrusively from its open zipper. Is it her birthday? No, the girls would've made a big fuss during class, surely.
"I've finished re-reading the last chapter. Wow, that never gets old. It's quite amazing, isn't it?" Momo states energetically, tracing her finger down the centrefold of the book they were studying together; thick dark lashes fluttering whimsically as she gazes up at him. "The characters are all so passionate. They have no hesitation in proclaiming how they feel about anything," she states, tenderly brushing a section of hair behind her ear; long flowing raven locks spilling over her left shoulder as she shifts slightly.
"Isn't passion the very essence of most literary classics?" he replies simply, gaze dragging back to her soft features as she pauses deep in thought. Sorry, I haven't been paying the attention you deserve from me, Yaoyorozu, he notes somewhat guiltily, expression softening as their eyes locked.
Who am I to ponder the origin of those flowers? I am not her boyfriend, she is free to accept gifts from anyone, Shoto muses somewhat bitterly as he stares at the vision sitting across from him. She was without a doubt, the most stunning creature he had laid eyes on, even more so with her hair down as it currently was; but her true beauty came from within. Her kind heart, unrivalled intellect, and modest nature. But despite this, it had never so much as crossed his mind that others might pursue her. After all, their bond was unquestionable in the eyes of others, surely.
"I guess that's true. Acts of passion are quite abundant in most of the classics, take Romeo and Juliet for example," Momo rambles in response, her eyes glimmering with excitement as she presses her index finger into her cushiony lower lip, losing herself for a moment. "That said, I simply cannot imagine being so courageous about personal matters. I guess it is a western trait, or perhaps it's just a fictional one," she confesses earnestly, frowning slightly.
"Feeling like that is quite valid," Shoto responds logically, shrugging as he reaches across to flip the book they had been re-reading together closed; the title 'Pride and Prejudice' glaring back up at him. The text itself was intriguing, not exactly the novel he would've picked out. There were a few redeeming factors surrounding it, primarily centred around the complex nature of human relationships; and based on Momo's earlier reaction, it seemed to strike a chord with females specifically. "It could be a westerner thing. I also have feelings I would not feel comfortable saying out loud; but then you have people like Bakugo who don't hesitate to display their emotions every minute of the day. So who knows?"
"Oh, really? I always considered you to be quite forthcoming," Momo states matter of factly, arching a slender black brow quizzically. Feelings he doesn't want to say out loud?
Todoroki frowns, pausing for a moment as he stared back at his classmate unsurely; was this a trick question? Surely not. "Of course, concerning family matters and known controversial topics," he responds automatically, interrupting her train of thought. I would've thought I came across as quite the opposite, interesting.
It was difficult to know exactly what she was expecting, but it certainly wasn't that. "Oh..." Momo responds, her voice dripping shamelessly with disappointment. I'm such a fool. I need to get my head out of the clouds!
"I was meaning to ask, why have you got flowers poking out of your bag?" he asks cooly, attempting to conceal his concern.
Momo's eyes widen in surprise as she turns behind her, plucking the small bouquet of five red tulips out of her bag and placing them on the table beside her. "Oh! These?" she responds sweetly, eyes softening as she reexamined the gorgeous gift once more; "Someone gave them to me during lunch break today."
"That's unusual," Todoroki notes bitterly, raising a brow, displeasure clinging from his voice. Who gives flowers to single young women at school? It's a place of learning, not tinder.
"Not really. It's quite a normal social convention when someone confesses their feelings," Momo corrects him quickly, her hands crossing across one another as she leans forward on the table, drawing closer to him a fraction. He really is oblivious to frivolous things like this, isn't he?
Todoroki huffs gently, raising a brow as he eyed the expensive-looking bunch of flowers. "Red Tulips, interesting choice. If I recall in the language of flowers they signify true love. That's bold of him," he notes openly before dragging his gaze back up to Momo's striking visage, a smile teasing at the corners of her lips, as if she was all-knowing. It's far too bold if you ask me.
You know facts about the meaning of flowers? You never cease to surprise me, she notes in silent admiration, a warm feeling swelling in her chest as she noted his somewhat irked tone. He couldn't be jealous, no; that is impossible. "I guess it was bold of him, but I didn't particularly enjoy speaking about such personal matters at school. It's not very appropriate," she remarks honestly, her lips twisting thoughtfully as she raps her fingers gently on the tabletop.
"He is clearly a dunce if he doesn't realise such a simple thing," Todoroki states flatly, not even bothering to hide his distaste for the individual that dared to make a move on her. He should've known his audience.
Twisting her lips, Momo sighs dejectedly; "Perhaps. But to be honest, I can't help but feel that I am the unworthy one," she responds simply. This side of him was new, unheard of even. She had witnessed Todoroki's witty nature when dealing with the class troublemakers, but this was different. A dark tone lingered in his voice.
"What makes you say that? Did he say something unkind?" Todoroki quips, his expression growing dark. I will personally see to his torture. Who is this guy?
Momo's gaze drifts down, silently eying her slender hands as they slide off the table and into her lap. "Not intentionally. He confessed many heartfelt things, but he was also under this crazy belief that I'm perfect and kept saying it over and over," she whispers, her voice low and somewhat fragile, eyes flicking up to the handsome man sitting opposite her, seemingly hanging on every word that trailed from her lips. "It made me uncomfortable so my mind wandered. I feel awful, I'm sure it took a lot of courage to confess how he felt," she admits, her guilt-ridden gaze flicking back down to her lap as she shifts uncomfortably; All I could think of was you.
"I don't think you should feel sorry about how you feel. You don't owe anyone anything," Todoroki responds, his expression serious as always; "Admitting how you feel doesn't guarantee the outcome you are seeking, just like in the book we just read." It felt rather peculiar that he was the one giving her lessons on human relationships, given her interest in reading and social skills it felt somewhat backwards even from his perspective. Does she just need her thoughts to be echoed by another? But what weight does my opinion hold?
Exhaling heavily, Momo's shoulders slacken, her expression softening. "You're right. It's just a lot of pressure and I cannot live up to that, nor do I want to," she explains as she gently rubs her face, exasperated by the situation she found herself in. "If they knew me, the real me, it would shatter the illusion most people seem to have."
"Then I will be the one to shatter it," Shoto proclaims, his voice strong and unwavering as he slides his hand from his cheek, hands interlocking as he leans forward; "I know without a shadow of a doubt, that my feelings will not waiver." Stop talking about other men. None of them deserve you, even I don't. But I will keep your heart safe from harm, that I can assure you.
Momo lifts her eyes in amazement, her fragile heart palpitating as his dauntless words rang through her mind. "Feelings?" she replies in a whisper, her dark eyes widening as she felt her breath hitch in the back of her throat. Not once had she lent herself to believe that such a statement would flow from his lips. Who was she to even contemplate such a relationship? He could pursue anyone of his choosing, so even humoring the concept was foolish; lending her to hope which she had scarcely allowed herself. Todoroki, what are you saying?
Todoroki straightens his posture, his usually blank face slightly flushed as he takes in her beauty one final time before elaborating as per her request. "You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you, Momo," comes his undaunted confession, his heart pounding so wildly in his chest that he could feel his throat pulsing in anticipation.
"You are teasing me, aren't you? Also, did you just quote Pride and Prejudice?" Momo half laughs, trying her best to keep a straight face. Just how was she supposed to interpret such a comical change of pace? Who knew his sense of humor extended to reciting lines from the classics as if he had memorised them for such a purpose. It was endearing, to say the least.
His heart sinks a little at the sound of her laughter following such a sentimental declaration. "Perhaps," Shoto replies, "You seemed to have enjoyed Mr. Darcy's words a little more than I would've liked." Great, she thinks I was joking to lighten the mood. What a brilliant idea that was.
"What led you to this assumption exactly?" Momo quips in response, her eyes glimmering with excitement, daring him to try and justify his wild claim. Are you jealous?
Arching a brow, Shoto stares at her blankly. "Your cheshire grin and flushed cheeks while reading his declaration of love in that chapter we read earlier," he quips in response; Wasn't it obvious? But the real question remained unanswered. Is this really what she desires to focus on right now?
Momo's eyes widen as embarrassment envelops her, a hand instantly flicking up to conceal her lips. I did not grin like the cheshire cat! How unsightly.
Taking a deep breath, he interjects before she can steer the subject of conversation further away from his topic of choice. "His words or mine, regardless, the sentiment remains the same," Shoto states sincerely, a heartfelt expression plastered across his handsome features; "I love you, just as you are. Even if you get worked up over fantasy men in books."
"S-Shoto! That's inappropriate and untrue!" Momo stammers, his words ring through her mind like an angelic chorus; challenging all her presumptions about their discussion and his feelings towards her leading up to this very moment. How did this even come about? Just because he got jealous over the fact that Mineta, of all people, gave me flowers?
Taking a deep breath, Momo tries to calm her fluttering heart. Her cheeks flushing as her plump lips part only to press closed shortly after, anxiety getting the best of her. "Even so, you are too generous to trifle with me. You must know that I love you too," she confesses suddenly, the words she had ached to admit out loud for over a year finally flowing from her lips.
A gentle smile teases at the corners of Todoroki's lips, his dominant hand swiftly sliding across the wooden table; enveloping hers and squeezing it gently as he meets her gaze directly. "But really, who gave you the flowers?" he presses in all seriousness; eager to know the name of the man bold enough to make a move on his Momo.
"A lady doesn't gossip, Shoto," Momo replies simply as she slides her other hand up and over his; tenderly tracing her thumb across the back of his hand. It felt surreal; the confession, his jealous comments about the other male, all of it. Part of her was scared to let go of him. That it might all vanish the instant she left the room, but that smile of his said otherwise. It was raw happiness, an expression she rarely saw painted across his features.
Shoto's cheeks flush a deep shade of red as her voice rings through his head. She called me by my first name without warning, he notes silently, heart rate skyrocketing as he stubbornly averts his gaze, a shy frown gripping his lips. "Fine. But next time someone offers you flowers or gifts, send them my way," he whispers in a dangerously low voice; I'll gladly teach them a thing or two.
A melodic laugh slips from Momo's lips as she averts her gaze sheepishly, dismissing the seriousness of his request; He really can be quite adorable. For now, all she wished to do was bask in the warmth of their freshly ignited romance.
Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed this one-shot!
I wrote this as I have a headcanon that Momo appreciates classical literature due to her upbringing. In my mind, Shoto humours her interest in it as it makes her happy to have someone to share the interest with, but also so he can better understand what makes her heart race.
If you have a moment please consider leaving a review as I'd love to hear your feedback and thoughts on this story.