A/N: Another flashback chapter! Don't worry, grown up Yuri and Shoto will be out in the following chapters :)
CHAPTER 3
All Might, Endeavor and I stood up just right outside of the fiery hero's home. From the gist of the two heroes' conversation, I will be meeting Enji-san's son today. I was actually hoping I'd be able to make friends with a girl but I guess meeting a guy the same age as mine wouldn't be too bad.
All Might left me under Endeavor's care reminding him that he would pick me up in the afternoon. I said my goodbye to Toshinori-san. Not long after that, Endeavor was knocking loudly against the door.
"Father, you're home." A girl with white and red shoulder-length hair, older than me, greeted as she opened the door. She glanced at my little frame.
"Fuyumi, this is Yuriko." Endeavor said with a flat tone.
"Yuriko? You mean Shoto's future- Ah! Finally! It is really good to see you!" Fuyumi hugged me comfortably. "You are such a beautiful girl! No wonder Father agreed to have you as Shoto's-"
"Fuyumi, enough. She's still too young to grasp anything about the marriage." Endeavor said interrupting her.
Getting married? I understood a bit, actually. I think it's about two people spending a lot of time with each other someday. Like papa and mama.
"Shoto! Could you please come down here?" Endeavor shouted out loud. His deafening voice rang inside the house.
A little boy, the same age as mine, peeked from behind Fuyumi-san. He had short hair evenly split in between red and white. Red on his left and white on his right. His eyes were also of different colors. His left eye was just as the same as his father's - turquoise. And his right eye appeared to be gray in color. His two-toned eyes stared at my brown ones. I gave off a bright smile but he just ignored it. Staring at his face, I noticed the scar over his left eye.
What happened to him? It looked like that scar hurt.
Endeavor nudged his elbow, "That's not the proper way to introduce yourself to someone. Do it properly, son." His father ordered.
The dual haired boy bowed at me, "I'm Todoroki Shoto. You can just call me-"
"Shoto. Just call him Shoto." Endeavor interrupted his son. He looked at me and said, "You're going to spend time with each other in the future anyway so quit being formal. Fuyumi, get the children something to eat. The two of you can play until afternoon. All Might will pick you up by then, Yuriko." With those words, Endeavor walked out making his way into another room.
I bowed at Shoto and properly introduced myself, "I'm Sorahiko Yuriko, by the way." I smiled again. This time expecting he would do the same.
"All Might is picking you up? Are you his daughter?"
Do I even look a bit like All-Might?
"Ah! No! Haha!" I put my hands in the air waving them in front of Shoto. "I was just kind of under his care but we're not related. My parents are out of the country so my grandfather is looking after me."
"Are you close with All Might?" The boy interrogated me again.
"Uh. Not really! I'm just fond of him, I guess."
"Is he your favorite superhero?" He asked me again. But this time I saw a sparkle in his eyes.
"Yes! Well, one of my favorites!" Second to my mom and dad.
"ME TOO!" I felt Shoto's excitement as he said those words. "I guess having a playmate wouldn't be that bad after all." He smiled back at me. It's the first time I have seen the boy smiled.
I guess it wouldn't really be that bad after all.
My visit at the Todoroki's household were during the weekends. It was fun having Shoto as a playmate. We would explore our own quirks and often play heroes and villains. Although I told him that my only quirk was that I can control movements of objects and people. I have been strictly warned not to disclose my other quirk with others.
On the last year of elementary school, Grandpa and Enji-san finally told us about our marriage agreement. We just assumed that it won't be a problem since we get along well with each other. We often joked that we won't have any trouble getting in a relationship since we have each other anyway. Both our lives were all fun and games until we reached the first year of junior high. I was restricted to visiting Shoto to just once a month. Grandpa told me that Shoto was in the middle of training with his father. He explained that Enji-san's goal was to make his son stronger than All-Might.
That doesn't sound right. Shoto might have been going through a lot.
I also went through my own training with my grandfather. Since I was already in junior high, his trainings were more rigid. There are times that I cried out of pain. Most of those days, I pass out trying to surpass my quirk's limit. It was the weekends that I look forward to the most. I still get excited having to see Shoto even for a brief moment. I'm sure he has a lot of stories to tell me.
As I prepare my stuff I thought of bringing to Todoroki's house, my phone rang.
A text message from Shoto?
Todoroki Shoto: Hey Yuri, I'm afraid we won't be able to see each other today. Got training.
I frowned once I read it and took the stuff I prepared out of my bag.
Me: Wasn't expecting I'd see you today, anyway.
My response was a bit blunt. But I felt really pissed off not having to see him again for another week.
Todoroki Shoto: Sorry. My dad had other plans.
I just lay on my bed for another hour eventually lulling myself to sleep. I dreamt of my mom, dad and the twins. All four of them disappearing from a distance.
"NO!" I woke up as I felt beads of sweat on my forehead.
It was just a dream. I peeked through the window and realized that it was almost afternoon. I wondered if I could call my parents today. I haven't really talked to them for weeks as I've been instructed to keep my distance. But I really missed them after having such bad dream. I rang All Might's number and asked if it would be a good time to make a phone call. Surprisingly, All Might allowed and gave me their new number.
"Hello!" I heard my mom answered on the other end of the line.
"Mama!" I said.
"Yuri, darling? Honey, it's Yuri on the phone!" My mom called out to my dad.
The phone conversation was what I just needed. I was allowed at a maximum of an hour to talk to them. I shared them the things that happened in school. I told them about Shoto and his strict training with Enji-san. Mama asked me how he looked like and I felt my cheeks heat up as I told them that he looked nice. My parents were teasing me at the end of the line. I defended myself telling them that I was just being honest. He did really looked good. Shoto and I studied in different schools and I didn't have that many male friends from my first year in junior high. I added that it has been months since I last saw him. The couple, being the good parents that they are, thought of a good reason so that Shoto and I can meet.
Hmmm. That actually wasn't a bad idea.
At the last few minutes of our conversation, my mom let me talk to the twins. I haven't seen them in years and wasn't given a recent picture since it would be a risk if I had an idea of how they looked like now. My parents just described them to me at the phone, saying that they started to looked like me except they both got their hair color from my dad, which was white.
At the last minute, I said my goodbyes. I felt pretty good after that talk.
Surprise him! Mom's word echoed through my head.
I grabbed my bag and decided to head off to Shoto's house. I left a short note to grandpa telling him that I'll just meet with Shoto for a while. I pulled out my phone and texted Shoto before I rode my bike.
Me: Hey Sho-kun! Meet me outside your house in 10 minutes!
Todoroki Shoto: What? Didn't I tell you I'm not allowed to go out of the house?
Me: Yeah you just texted me that earlier. I'm coming anyways. It won't take too much of your time!
Todoroki Shoto: You better be sure! My father will kill me if I went out without his consent.
I arrived at Shoto's house and saw him sneaking out quietly from their door.
"What the hell, Yuri! What is this for?" Shoto glared at me.
"I'll just treat you with some cold soba. It will be quick!"
Once Shoto heard the word cold soba, his eyes softened and obviously got too excited. "In one condition, I'll be in charge of the bike, hop on the back."
"DEAL!"
Shoto pedaled the bike as I sat behind him clutching his sides. He knew where we can eat cheap and yummy cold soba so I let him take lead this time.
"Hey, where did you get the money?"
"I stole a couple of coins from Gran Torino." I laughed.
"Yuri, seriously?"
"Relax, I have my own money you know. I was actually saving so we can buy something together whenever we meet on weekends. But you always ditched me." I jokingly said.
"I'm sorry." Shoto said in a low tone. He started to pedal the bike slowly. "My father was too focused training me to be better than All Might."
"Hey!" I peeked on his side and looked at him. "It's okay! But I hope you wouldn't push yourself too much. We're clearly just in junior high."
Shoto smiled back at me now pedaling the bike quickly. We arrived at a small stand not too far away from his place. The cold soba was cheap and surprisingly good. He told me he used to go here with his mother when he was younger. That thought lingered on my mind. Shoto hasn't shared about his mother before. And I'm still clueless about his scar.
After eating, the both of us decided to stay in a park near their house. We sat on the empty swings. I think it's the safest place just in case Endeavor would go out looking for his son. Shoto shoved his hand inside his pocket and got some coins. He put some on the vending machine near our spot. Two milk cartons dropped. He threw one at me.
"Thanks!" I caught the milk carton with both hands.
"It's the least I can buy you. And… an apology gift for ditching on you for weeks."
"Don't worry about it!" I stretched my arms upward and tied my black hair in a high ponytail.
I caught Shoto gaze at me. A pink tint of blush on his face. "Why?" I said out of curiosity.
"Your hair. It's longer."
"Yeah! I was actually growing it." I smiled.
We drank our milk in silence. Just enjoying the cold breeze against our skin. The sun was already setting down, letting out a mixture of orange, pink, yellow and red hues in the sky. It was a beautiful sight. I stole a brief look at Shoto. Such a beautiful sight indeed.
"Sho-kun?"
"Yes?" Shoto looked at me rocking his swing back and forth.
"You don't have to answer if you don't want to." I stared at him, "Why don't you talk about your mother?" I mustered up all my courage to ask that question. Although I haven't really been completely honest with him about my parents, I badly wanted to know..
"Well… This scar..." He touched it with his right hand. "It was from her. She said this side of me reminded her of my father and called it unsightly. And then she threw boiling water at me. Maybe it was out of fear or anger, I'm not sure."
I covered my mouth in disbelief. He just shared something personal to me. I guess he had to put on a bold front just for him to say those words without choking.
"My mother is at the hospital for treatment. I think she's getting better. I hated my father because of what happened and promised myself that I will never rely on him. I'll rise to the top without ever using my old man's quirk." He weakly smiled at me.
Motivated at his honesty, I decided to tell Shoto the truth about me. Why I was separated from my parents, my other quirk considered being a risk. I just wanted him to know the truth just as how he has been sincere with me.
"Actually, I have some-"
"SHOTO!" The both of us stood right away and saw Endeavor with fire blazing from his body. He looked really angry.
"WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT NOT GOING OUT TODAY?" He shouted angrily at his son.
"Enji-san! I'm sorry I was the one who forced him to get out of the house!" Endeavor glared at me with such hate.
"The both of you only ended up in an arranged marriage because of your quirks. Do not ever think that the two of you would mean something to each other!" The fiery hero said all the most loathsome words I have ever heard in my life.
"Don't shout at her like that!" Shoto yelled at his father in anger.
SLAP!
Endeavor's hand landed firmly on his son's left side. Enji-san was surprised at his own actions. He turned his back on us and walked out. "Get inside the house, Shoto" was all he could say before walking further.
I turned to Shoto who was laying on the floor. His hands cupped the left side of his face. I examined it and it was badly bruised.
"Shoto, let me see your-" Shoto slapped my hand away. I took a step back in shock. "Sh-Sho-kun?" I could see his eyes filled with anger. He stood up glaring at me.
"This wouldn't happen if you didn't force me out of the house." He told me with a disapproving voice.
"I- I just really wanted to see you." I said. My eyes tear up. A drop landed on my cheek. I wiped it away quickly.
"From now on, don't ask to see me if it's not necessary. I don't see any reason why I need to get close to you. It's just a waste of time." Shoto looked away. His image started to disappear as he faded away from my sight.
My eyes couldn't contain the tears. I found myself crying so hard as I reached out for my bike. Something inside me felt abandoned and broken.
Our friendship drifted apart on that day. Funny how you started to get close to someone only to find out that it was the worst decision you've ever made. As years passed by, Shoto and I went our different ways. Our meetings died down gradually. From meeting once a month, to thrice a year, to once a year and to just those gatherings we really had to attend. We exchanged messages from time to time but it was just limited to checking if I was late on rare meet-ups, which I was most of the time, and how he was doing whenever I heard something happen to him. Like the incident in USJ and Hosu. I never dared to get close to him since that episode happened from years back.
When he asked me during those infrequent meetings where I plan on studying after junior high, I flatly replied, "Shiketsu High. I'm actually going with a friend". He stared at me, longer than usual, before saying a short, "I see."
Although All Might recommended that I attend UA, I refused. Keeping myself distant to Shoto was the least thing I could do for myself. I will never forget the exact words he told me.
I don't see any reason why I need to get close to you. It's just a waste of time.
