Todoroki-kun to Koi no Yamai

[ 12 a ]

There were only two days left until their collaboration training would be put to the test. The thought of that made Kagome feel uneasy. In the weeks that past, she definitely felt like a bit of the gap between her and Shouto had closed up. But it took time, consistency, and an actual reason for him to talk to her and spend time with her.

As she lied in bed restless, Kagome wondered if Shouto would return to little to no engagement with her after the assignment was over. 'It would make sense...' her inner voice thought drearily. 'We only talk this much because we're partners. I just got lucky. Todoroki-kun doesn't have any special interest in me.'

She shifted from lying flat on her back to her side, almost in a fetal position. Her eyes landed on her backpack that was hanging off her study chair. She thought back to a recent interaction with him. With how she kept it nestled between several textbooks and her pencil bag, Kagome didn't expect him or anyone else to spot it.

When Shouto acknowledged it, he shocked Kagome by wearing a look of rumination on his face. She was so taken aback that she couldn't help but confessing, "Even after these years... That part of me hasn't changed."

Those words slipped out before Kagome had a chance to remember where she was.

But it wasn't all bad because Shouto continued to surprise her. He told her, "We're similar in a way—" in regard to that day—the day after they first met.

The meaning behind his words felt so vague that Kagome couldn't touch it.

Kagome knew what she wanted it to mean but she wondered if it was the same as what Shouto meant...

[ April 29th — 10 Years Ago ]

It was the most exciting day of the year: the day before Kagome Higurashi's sixth birthday! Despite not developing a quirk like many of her peers by her fourth year, she was reared with nothing but love and compassion. She was especially doted on by her father. Unbeknownst to the general public, she was the first-born of a rising top twenty ranking hero: VicTori.

VicTori's hero name was made after combining her father's true given name: Victor and his bird theme: Tori. He was a hero who manipulated wind through his breathing but decided on a bird theme costume to match his aerial control. Despite not being as flashy as the symbol of peace, VicTori was respected and admired in his own right. His hero signature was to flash a peace sign and grin, "Victory~!" before leaving a scene.

Victor was typically a hero of justice by day and a family man by night, but a night shift was not foreign to him. His wind quirk was inherited from his estranged father—a French man who he had never seen or heard from all of his life. Despite being left a single mother, Victor's mother still named him after his father, but he took on her maiden name. That was how he ended up as Victor Higurashi.

Furthermore, because of his lack of a male role model during his upbringing, Victor became a devoted and loving father to his children. The day that Kagome was born was the happiest day of his life. And soon, he would be the father of a new baby boy.

Victor's joy and pride was contagious and spread to his wife and young daughter. Kagome developed a habit of throwing up a peace sign and grinning wide with each of her achievements. From crayon drawings to passed exams and school awards, Kagome's response was to squeak, "Victory~!"

It was a habit that she shared with other young fans of VicTori so no connections were drawn by school faculty or neighbors. Despite being a proud hero, Victor had a policy to keep his work and home life separate so both his wife and daughter knew not to reveal any association with his alter ego.

Fast forward to the day before Kagome's sixth birthday, it was a Saturday and Kagome spent all of the day prior begging to receive her birthday gift early. Her mother blamed it on Victor. He spent the entire month of April riling and hyping up the child for the best birthday gift ever. With her birthday being the very last day of the month, Kagome was all but tortured with the anticipation.

When Victor finally arrived home that morning after a long night of hero work, Kagome all but became a koala on his leg as he walked through their house. It only took a half hour of begging her father before he relented. Victor couldn't bring himself to spoil the surprise a day early after a month of teasing his daughter. But he gladly placated her by placing the cube-shaped, gift-wrapped box in her hands. "You can't open it but you can hold onto it until tomorrow, okay kiddo?" Victor's smile reached his blue eyes.

Kagome's matching eyes lit up in delight before she chirped cheerily," Victory~!" She then hugged the box to her chest and asked, "San-chan wants to play at the park today. Can I go, Papa?"

Victor sighed, tired but in good spirits to see his daughter happy, "Do you promise to be a good girl for Mama?"

"I'm always a good girl!" Kagome pointed out, her honesty making Victor smile and pat her head.

It wasn't long before Victor collapsed into his bed as his pregnant wife and daughter set out to the local park. Because of the affluence that came with being a top ranking hero, the family resided in a high-income neighborhood that was known for its low crime rates and various family-friendly amenities. A rather large and well-equipped playground was located just a few blocks from their home.

Upon arriving, Kagome immediately sprinted toward her usual meeting spot with Sango. Her gift was still clutched against her chest as she ran. To the girl's surprise, the rendezvous point, a young ginkgo tree, was not occupied by her best friend—but a boy that she had never seen before.

Kagome couldn't help but notice that while numerous other children played together on the jungle gym, in the sand box, on the slides, and on the swings, this boy was sitting all by himself. Something about him was different from all of the other children. Curious and compelled, Kagome's ran slowed to a curious walk as she approached the boy.

It wasn't just his dual-colored hair. It was everything about him. He sat beneath the tree, knees hugging his chest and his face buried behind them. He sat in the open but looked as if he was hiding. It was strange.

Kagome stopped just arm's length away from him.

Her soft footfalls in the grass prompted him to raise his head.

The girl's eyes widened at the sight of mottled skin on the boy's face. She instantly dropped her gift as she gasped. Kagome didn't notice the flash of pain and shame in the boy's eyes from her reaction. She moved too quickly to notice it. Within a flash, the girl was on her hands and knees, crawling and leaning close to the boy to get a better look, "Are you okay?! Did you fall and hurt yourself?!"

The boy pursed his lips and averted his gaze to the side, "...n-no..." He paused then added, "I'm fine."

"You sure?" Kagome pressed, "My Mommy used to be a nurse so she can help!"

Kagome didn't recognize the discomfort on the boy's face. Her brain only registered that he was unhappy. "I don't need help," He repeated, "It already healed..."

"Oh," Was her simple response, but she didn't straighten herself or move out of his personal space. She stayed there as the boy tried to shrink into the tree trunk, trapped between it and the strange girl. She then smiled, "That's good~!"

Finally, Kagome scooched away then pushed herself onto her feet. "My name is Kagome Higurashi!" She smiled before bowing respectfully. "Are you new here? I've never seen you before!"

"O-Oh... No..." Came the boy's reluctant response.

By the time that she met him for the first time, Shouto was already a reserved person. But that day, Kagome had learned that his name was Shouto Todoroki. He was not new to the neighborhood but he rarely went outside because of training with his father. Today, he had gotten fed up and ran away from home.

Kagome couldn't fathom not wanting to spend time with her father, let away running away from him. She dreamed of the day that she would develop a quirk and learn how to use it from her father.

Furthermore, she had never met someone so shy and quiet, but she decided that he wasn't a bad kid. And him being of few words didn't matter because Kagome was a motor mouth who excitedly told him everything about herself—that she was going to be six the next day and that she was carrying around her birthday gift because she had permission. When Sango finally arrived, Kagome immediately introduced her to her new friend Shouto.

The three of them spent the entire afternoon playing. Initially, Shouto had no clue what to do with each playground amenities but Kagome happily encouraged and showed him how to play.

By sunset, Shouto's father found him and roughly accosted his wrist to drag him away. To Kagome and Sango, the man was a raging behemoth. Shouto seemed so scared and saddened to be taken away.

At first, Kagome and Sango watched in silence as Shouto nearly tripped from being dragged faster than his feet could carry him. But suddenly, Kagome called to him as the pair neared a limousine parked near the street, "Shou-chan!"

Shouto paused for just a moment and turned his head to look at the girl.

Kagome used a single finger to pull down one of her eyelids and stuck her tongue at him.

He was out of normal eat shot but she saw his shoulders shake as he laughed gleefully.

She got Shouto to smile once more.

Kagome raised her hand, revealing her middle and pointer finger forming a "V" shape, "Victory~!"

Shouto's own smile became soft and shy. Kagome was unable to see the warmth in his cheeks, but she did see his own peace sign.