31

Reunion

Todoroki had woken up, feeling a little anxious, although his facial expression barely showed it. He was staring at himself through the mirror as he brushed his teeth. The weekends weren't usually days where he would get excited but today was different.

He had gotten ready and left his home, saying goodbye to his sister. He took a ride over to the plaza area they were going to meet. He was checking his phone as he waited, sitting on a bench as a blurring crowd passed him. "I guess I'm a little early."

"Todoroki! Hey!" She called out from across the plaza. He lifted his head, seeing them through the crowd. He stood up and walked to them as they did to him, meeting up in the center of the square area.

"Hello, Uraraka, Iida." He greeted.

"A pleasure like always." Iida's glasses had a natural glare and he was as stiff as ever.

"So Todoroki, what'd you want to talk about?" She asked as they began to walk around. "Wanna head to the arcade? It's not too far from here."

"Um, sure." Todoroki answered with indifference. "Well, I wanted to talk to Midoriya about something but it's been difficult for me and since you're his best friends I was hoping you guys could help."

Uraraka's smile faltered a little bit. She ruffled her hair trying to laugh it off. "I guess we are huh? Lately, it hasn't felt like that."

Iida nodded. "Yes, he has been rather distant. Although what is it that you want to talk to him about, Todoroki." Sharply turning his head to him.

He lowed his eyes slightly, thinking. "It's a little bit difficult to talk about, sorry. But Midoriya is aware of the circumstances." Todoroki had wanted to ask Midoriya if he wanted to visit his mother with him. "I was more hoping you guys could help me with asking him. It's been difficult to get him alone lately."

Uraraka's shoulder sagged a little. "Yeah, we know what you mean, Izuku is hard to get a hold of nowadays. Well, we can think of something inside. I barely see either of you having fun anyways." She added some cheer as they walked into the building.

Iida patted Todoroki's shoulder. "Uraraka's right, let's try to take the pressure off some."

"I suppose you're both right." They had gotten some tokens and were looking for something to play.

"Oh look a merry-go-round!" Uraraka began to skip ahead to it. Todoroki and Iida followed behind with a small smile at her bouncy nature.

The ride was coming to a slow stop, as they also slowed their walking.

And they saw them. Todoroki's eyes grew. Midoriya was staring at her with such an affection he had never seen displayed. "M-Midoriya? Yaoyorozu?"

They both tensed slowly turning to face the trio. Shame riddled on their body language.

Yaoyorozu instinctively pushed off Midoriya. "T-Todoroki? My, what are you guys doing here?" She tried to keep her composure. "Come on Eri." She picked up the little girl, proceeding to get off the ride. Izuku was a little hurt at how quickly Momo pushed him away when she saw Todoroki, he didn't try to let it get to him, facing the group of people in front of them.

"Ne, Deku, wh-what's going on?" Uraraka was trying to comprehend the image in front of her.

"H-Hey guys." Izuku's eyes darted from Todoroki to Uraraka and the hurt in their eyes killed him. "Um, M-Momo, I mean Yaoyorozu was helping me, y-you know, with Eri." But nobody believed it not even him.

The said little girl was holding Momo's hand looking on with confusion at the unfolding events. She didn't understand too well but could feel the tension.

It was quiet but the words pierced through Izuku. "Excuse me, I should be going." Todoroki's facial expression returned to its usual form but it was forced and Izuku knew it.

"No, wait Todoroki." Izuku ran after him. He hesitated in front of Uraraka. "S-Sorry." And pushed ahead. He caught up placing his hand on his shoulder. "Let me explain."

"Don't." Todoroki pulled his shoulder away but Midoriya caught his expression causing his attempts to stop.

Todoroki walked away, leaving Midoriya standing there only able to stare at him. Izuku held a wince in his eyes. He didn't know what to think after seeing Todoroki's face, he looked betrayed and abandoned and Izuku didn't know what to make of it. He was expecting him to be angry but, 'He was crying..?' Izuku didn't know how to swallow the clog stuck in his throat. Only able to stand there.

Uraraka ran up to him. "T-Todoroki had something he really wanted to talk to you about!" Even she was shocked at her own action to defend Todoroki and not express her own feelings. "You're a horrible friend!" She yelled frustrated, not understanding hers or Todoroki's feelings, running after him.

"I-, uh..." Izuku couldn't follow after them, his legs refused to run. But he heard Iida's voice and it was directed to Momo, he turned his head back to them.

"I was simply a doormat to you."

"Tenya, wh-what are you-"

"All those late meetings where I'd walk you home meant nothing to you."

"Oh Tenya, I-,"

But before she could even sort any of it out, he took off with his quirk. He passed Midoriya without uttering a word.

"Iida likes Momo?" Izuku couldn't even understand the feelings of his closest friends. "I have been a pretty shitty friend haven't I..?" He asked no one in particular but if Jirou was there he was sure she would have a sarcastic remark for him and he didn't know why that thought comforted him a little. He walked back to Momo and Eri with his head dropped. He lifted it as he approached. "Are you okay?"

"Oh, Izuku, I didn't know Tenya felt that way, how could I have been so ignorant to the red flags. Thinking back on it, it was so obvious... Oh, Izuku I just feel horrible."

"Yeah... Me too. Um, come on let's go get some fresh air." He cleared his throat and glanced down at Eri. "Sorry about that Eri, come on let's get you a caramel apple." He forced a smile and reached out his hand to her and held Momo's hand with his other.

All of the little girl's confusion was replaced with drool as she took his hand. He chuckled at her delight and led them outside. "I'm sorry about this Momo." He sighed dropping his head a little as the guilt crept up. This was the exact thing she wanted to avoid and the first time they go out at day it happens.

"I just have to sort all this out, we hurt them, Izuku. We hurt Iida, Todoroki, and Uraraka simply because I wanted to keep this secret to myself. I feel like such a selfish fool. We could have avoided so much if I were simply honest."

"N-No Momo, don't throw yourself into a thinking trap. W-We've both made progress with our m-mental health, don't let this drag you back down there." He squeezed her hand to reassure her. It was difficult for both of them to admit their problems but they worked so hard on improving that it hurt to see Momo spiral her thoughts into negative emotions like she used too.

"You're right... I'm just a little overwhelmed." She closed her eyes shut, rubbing her temples and forehead. "Th-Thank you." She added a deep breath to stifle her nerves. Izuku was right, their relationship had evolved from a carnal passion to endearing positive encouragement and she couldn't let herself fall back down the pit she and Izuku were trying so hard to get out of. "Let's try to enjoy today and we can think of a way to talk to them later."

"That's my girl." He smiled at her.

"And you're my pillar." As she leaned on his shoulder.

Eri didn't understand their conversation but they seemed to be back to normal and that made her smile too.

They spent the rest of the day without any more mishaps, simply enjoying the time they had together.

Izuku was sitting alone, on the sandy shore, pondering.

Mirio had picked up Eri and he had walked Momo home, she invited him inside but he declined, saying he needed to think about everything that happened at the arcade. She said she understood and also decided it was best to reflect alone.

"Why did Todoroki look so upset at me. He completely ignored Momo... What was that?" He stared across the ocean losing himself to his thoughts. "And I know I hurt Uraraka... But she... We... Whatever was between us disappeared long ago and I can't go back to that horrible feeling of hope that always suffocates me. And Iida... How did he even get roped into this." Izuku was trying to ignore the thoughts creeping in the back of his head. "Did Momo ever invite Iida to study? Like me and Todoroki. Am I that easily interchangeable to her..." He knew he shouldn't think like that but the doubt was there. He wanted to believe that his relationship with Momo wasn't that fragile but...

The crunch of stepping on sand caught his attention. It grew louder as it neared.

"Midoriya, Izuku."

Izuku started at his shoes before following up, seeing the all too familiar jacket, shirt, tie and crow's beak, except he wasn't wearing those white gloves. Instead, his arms were metal prosthetics, reflecting the chrome arm sleeve of Izuku's.

"Overhaul."

"I thought I would get a better reaction from you."

Izuku turned his eyes back to the ocean. "Ever since I was told you were released I felt like this was inevitable."

Overhaul actually chuckled in agreement. "Fate is truly a marvelous thing. You saved a little girl in exchange for your quirk... And mine was forcibly ripped away by the league. The two products of the society I dreamt up will always be intertwined. Don't you agree, Midoriya, Izuku." He held out his metal arms, basking in the moment.

Izuku didn't reply. He simply stood up. "Not here." And began walking along the shore. He wasn't going to settle this in the same spot he confessed his truth to Momo.

"By all means." Overhaul let himself be guided. "Although your lack of curiosity is baffling."

"We both know what this is." He replied with cold indifference.

He chuckled some more in agreement. "All too true."

The waves were crashing against the rocky shore. The bright moon illuminated the black marble looking platform causing it to reflect the constellations as if merging the earth and sky, with them standing on the precipice of fate.