It took three gavel hits to silence the jittery crowd but once the judge cleared his throat and spoke, you could hear a pin drop.
"Members of the jury, have you reached a verdict?"
The jury spokesperson stands up, her fingers curled around a sheet of paper. Todoroki finds it odd that you must remind yourself of the verdict you reached a few minutes ago, or perhaps the burden is too heavy and writing the sentence down on paper eases her mind. He narrows his eyes but he's unable to see what's written on the sheet, so he waits like the rest of the courtroom.
"Yes, your Honour."
"Members of the jury, on the case of Midoriya Izuku, what do you say?"
"Your Honour, the members of the jury find the defendant not guilty of spoliation of evidence."
Much to his surprise, the crowd doesn't roar in protest like Todoroki expected. Instead, everyone remains calm, focused on the jury spokesperson. As for the main concerned, Midoriya doesn't as much as twitch. He keeps looking down, his messy hair hiding his features.
"The members of the jury find the defendant guilty of second-degree attempted murder."
Inko's grip is crushing his hand but he barely registers the pain. Around him, some people nod in approval while others even have the boldness to clap, which earns them a glare from the judge and a bang from his gavel. Todoroki's heart in sinking in quicksands as he wraps one arm around Inko's quivering body. He remembers Goshi enumerating the possible outcomes, and this one was sending Midoriya straight to prison.
There's one last accusation Midoriya is accused of, and it's probably the verdict everyone in the courtroom is waiting for. If found guilty, then Midoriya won't go to prison at all: he'll go the gallows.
"The members of the jury," the spokesperson begins and the whole courtroom tenses as she pauses, "find the defendant not guilty of first-degree murder."
There's the uproar Todoroki was anticipating. There are exclamations, insults and curses, and the ruckus makes it hard to hear the judge's gavel as it slams several times on his desk's wooden surface.
"We made it, Midoriya-san." Todoroki has to rise his voice so she can hear him in the commotion. "He's not going to die."
She stares at him with eyes bulging in disbelief. "Izuku...?"
For the first time in a while, Todoroki allows himself to genuinely smile. "He'll live."
Inko bursts in tears and hugs him tight, burying her head in his shirt that becomes damp at an alarming speed. Todoroki doesn't mind, though, for all the tension she's been through vanished all of sudden, just like a bubble that explodes. He eyes Midoriya who's looking up this time, wearing the same look of disbelief as his mother before she started crying.
"I agree with the jury's verdicts," the judge states as the room quiets down. "Since Todoroki Enji was unharmed after the attempt and that the defendant was pressured by the Judge's acolytes, I hereby sentence Midoriya Izuku to seven years of imprisonment, with parole."
On cue, the officer standing behind Midoriya handcuffs him and pulls at the shackles, forcing him to rise. Inko shoots on her feet, startling Todoroki, and bolts towards him. More officers who stood still during the entire trial along the wall spring into action, grabbing her arms and forcing her to step back. She doesn't fight much, her crying monopolising her energy, but one of her arms stays extended towards her son's receding silhouette.
"Izuku!" She yells, her voice cracking. "Izuku!"
Todoroki hurries after her as the officers shove her back in the public gallery, hugging her from behind. She struggles against his softer grip, her elbows ramming in his ribs and the heel of her shoes stabbing his feet. He's much taller than her, his chin higher than her head, and it's like he's handling a child rather than a fully grown adult.
"Midoriya-san, please calm down," he begs her.
Despite her calls, Midoriya doesn't glance at them. Todoroki doesn't know if it's better or worse that way. With Midoriya-san finally limp in his arms, her body wracked with sobs, Todoroki watches him stumble until he's out of sight.
"Midoriya..." His name escapes his lips before he can stop himself, and the lack of answer resembles to the void broadening in his heart.
Once the judge rises and the trial is over, Goshi ambles to them, his face the picture of displeasure. He's rubbing the back of his neck, his head bowed a little, and shrugs as he starts speaking.
"I would've liked the judge to give the minimum sentence for second-degree attempted murder, which is five years, but I guess we can't have everything in life..."
Inko stops clinging at Todoroki to wrap her arms around the lawyer's willowy frame, Goshi stiffening at the sudden contact. "Goshi-san, I can't thank you enough. Because of you, my son didn't have life imprisonment and he will live."
"I'm telling you, Midoriya-san, that I was just doing my job."
"It's All Might who paid you, right?" Todoroki guesses. "It can't be anyone but him."
"All Might?" Goshi echoes, laughing. "No, I've never contacted that man or been contacted by him in my whole life."
"Then who?" Todoroki asks, puzzled.
Inko already admitted she wasn't the one who hired Goshi. As far as Todoroki's aware, she also had no contacts who had enough money to pay a lawyer. He instantly thought about All Might since the Number One Hero's convinced of Midoriya's innocence as well. Perhaps it really is All Might who paid using a false name or anonymously, for who can it be?
"It doesn't matter, does it?" Inko cries, her eyes darting back and forth between them. "Midoriya's going to live. Seven years can fly by so fast, right?"
"Right," Todoroki admits through gritted teeth, "it can."
"I'm glad you're looking at things positively. I have to leave you now, Midoriya-san, Todoroki-san," Goshi declares after checking his watch. "I'll contact you for the next steps, mainly about visiting Midoriya once we know where he's incarcerated."
Todoroki's heartbeat skyrockets. "Because we can?"
The lawyer grimaces, "For you, Todoroki-san, it'll be harder to visit him. Prisoners can't receive visitors from anyone but their approved family members. Friends aren't usually on the list of visitors except if there's a real need."
"Then... Then I can write him letters," Todoroki almost shouts, his mind spinning.
"Letters are all read and censored if needed. Also, it'll depend of Midoriya's behaviour in jail. If he gets a bad grading, then he won't be able to send many letters. Still, if you're ready to pay for my services, I'm ready to defend your case."
After one courteous bow, Goshi leaves the two alone outside of the courtroom. Even if the lawyer's quite the pessimist, Todoroki refuses to give up. Seven years may fly by as Inko says, but there's no way Todoroki will spend the next seven years without a word from Midoriya.
"He'll fight to have you on his list."
Todoroki turns to Inko, frowning. "What?"
"If he can put you on his list of visitors, then I'm sure he'll fight for you like you fought for him."
He has to pause to focus before answering or else his voice would've been strained with emotions. "It's very nice of you to say this, Midoriya-san."
"I'm not saying this because it's nice, Todoroki-kun. It's the truth. Now, now," she exclaims, clapping her hands, "I'm offering you lunch. It's the least I can do for everything you did for Izuku."
It's the first time he catches her smiling since Midoriya's trial. It isn't the brightest of smiles but it's a start. Todoroki's unable to turn her down and besides, he might need this lunch, this break, as much as she does.
They don't have time to leave the District Court when the floor quakes, Inko latching on Todoroki not to lose her equilibrium. Todoroki observes his surroundings, alert, ready to unleash fire and ice. Apart from equally surprised people, he senses no threat. It may be a simple earthquake.
He's about to tell people to calm down when yells break the building's peace, instilling panic and fear within everyone's heart. There are people running and, following the current, others start dashing away even if no one really knows what's going on. As more screams and explosions echo in the building, Todoroki's convinced this is not an earthquake.
"Run, run!" A man shouts as he notices him and Inko unmoving. "Villains are attacking!"
At this timing, in this particular District Court, with the trial that just ended, these faceless villains can only belong to one group.
"The League," Todoroki gasps, shifting his body to shield Inko. "Midoriya-san, you must evacuate the building immediately."
"Todoroki-kun?"
Her frightened look reminds Todoroki of his own mother's expression when he caught her crying after she had a 'conversation' with his father. The ground rumbles again and Todoroki embraces her, steadying his voice before speaking.
"I know where they're heading. It's my duty to stop them. Please follow the officers and stay safe."
"You'll to do it again, won't you?" She whispers when Todoroki pulls away. "You'll protect my son."
"I will. I promise."
He sprints towards the commotion, ice already forming at the tip of his fingers. He halts when he sees three blue monstrosities he encountered a month ago near Kachidoki bridge — the Nomu, they named it. They're too busy wrecking the District Court to notice him, tearing the walls apart but barely paying attention to the screaming civilians. It's evident the monsters are looking for something, for someone.
"Goshi-san," Todoroki shouts as he notices the man unconscious on the floor.
One of the Nomu turns its gigantic head at his call, unblinking eyes riveted on him. It opens his mouth, a yellow orb materialising within his maws. A sense of dread washes over Todoroki as he takes his stance, grounding his teeth together.
"Daihyōheki!" He yells.
Immediately, an enormous ice glacier materialises in front of him, also protecting the Goshi. A second later, the yellow orb in the Nomu's beak narrows into a destructive beam and explodes. The impact's like ten thousands elephants colliding against him as he maintains his ice barrier. Todoroki closes his eyes in concentration, breathing out. Chunks of metal fall from the ceiling and the ground's tiles are fissured, but the beam doesn't lose its intensity.
Splinters appear on the ice's surface and he feels himself being pushed forcefully. His feet unwillingly glided on the ground, creating ravines in the broken tiles. He groans as the pressure threatens to make his head burst, a sheen of perspiration shining on his forehead. In the back of his mind, he knows the beam's strength is beyond his barrier's, hence can easily break the ice. It's only a matter of time before it'll shatter and leave completely him vulnerable.
He considers roasting the monster alive, but using his fire would melt the barrier he's working so hard to keep up. The cracks on the ice are increasing, making his mind reel as it searches for options but he's out of time. His eyes snap open and the barrier gives in.
He's repelled by the explosion's strength, his back colliding against the wall across the room. He crumbles on the ground, coughing as clouds of dust float in the air and obscure his vision. A silhouette that wasn't there before is revealed as the dust clears, making Todoroki rise.
"Say, isn't it Endeavor Number Two?"
Todoroki's fists curl. "Tomura Shigaraki. You won't have him."
"Ah, are you talking about Midoriya?"
"You don't care about him," Todoroki seethes, examining the Nomu that stilled, ceasing their destruction. "You want to dispose of him because he knows too much."
"Oh," Tomura shrugs, "am I so easy to read?" With flourish, he indicates Todoroki with a flick of the wrist, his hand oddly curled into a fist. "Nomu, kill him."
Todoroki braces himself, using his ice as a barrier, but the three Nomu's combined strength floors him. Switching his tactic, fire bursts from his left open palm, engulfing one of the Nomu's head. Todoroki tries to wrench himself free but the creature's grip barely loosens.
"Is this the end, Pro Hero Shouto?" Tomura cackles, approaching him.
Todoroki grits his teeth, keeping the Nomu at bay with his flames. The League broke into the District Court, then the most important Pro Heroes will be notified. If he can just hold a little longer—
"You'd do yourself a favour if you died. I already killed him."
Todoroki's heart skips a beat.
Something rams into his side, the blow winding him. Although his eyes are wide open, darkness swallows his vision as pain shoots across his sternum. The Nomu manipulate him like a broken doll, throwing him on the ground and crushing him with their heels. Todoroki struggles on automatic, unable to strategise as his survival instincts override his logical mind. Time trickles down like an eternity as he's overwhelmed by the Nomu and soon he has no other choice but to retreat.
Remembering his training at Yuuei, he thrusts his left palm forward and let the fire burst. He uses the recoil to draw away, but with his still shaky control on this side of his Quirk he loses his footing and stumbles on the ground.
"Todoroki-san."
He whirls around at the weak voice, noticing Goshi who's prodding at his own head, wincing. The lawyer is probably concussed but he shouldn't die from the injury.
"Ah, you must be the lawyer who accepted our offer?" Tomura infers, surrounded by the Nomu that all retreated by his side. "You had one job: make sure the Judge comes unscathed."
Todoroki is far from caring about who hired Goshi to defend Midoriya anymore. Instead, he takes a step forward, growling, "Tomura..."
"One job," Tomura repeats, ignoring the Pro Hero. "It's such a shame that you didn't do your job. Regrettable, really..."
"Tomura!" Todoroki yells, his whole body trembling as he keeps striding forward. "Is it true? Did you kill...?"
"Don't listen to him, Todoroki-san," Goshi feebly protests from behind him, but his voice's lost in the storm raging within the Todoroki.
"You don't believe me?"
Tomura opens his palms. Todoroki freezes as he watches the black flakes falling from the villain's hands, gathering on the ground. His lips part as he fails to breathe, his vision swimming. One quivering hand reaches out to grab something that can never be grabbed again and eventually it falls back, its tremors spreading throughout his entire body.
"How about now?" Tomura chuckles, wiping his hands on his pants.
"Todoroki-san, it can be anyone's— Watch out!"
But Todoroki's head about to explode and he can't tear his eyes away from the pile of ashes. He can barely concentrate on breathing, let alone defend himself as the Nomu all rush at him for a collective hit. He feels himself flying in the air before hitting a wall, but he feels nothing, as if his soul is detached from his body. Like a doll whose strings were cut, he collapses, his body aching at numerous places but the pain overflowing his heart surpasses any small cut.
"Todoroki-san!"
Without knowing why, he glances up. Tomura's hands closing on Goshi, the lawyer writhing in one of the Nomu's grasp. His feet are kicking in the air, hands clawing at the Nomu's enormous hand, his eyes terrified as they plead Todoroki.
He wants my help, he understands but he has trouble understanding why. He didn't manage to save his mother when he was young, did he? He didn't manage to arrive in time to save Tsukauchi from his fight against Stain, did he? He didn't manage to save Midoriya just now, did he?
Goshi screams at him because he's the only one capable of making a difference but what sort of difference would Todoroki make? He'd only push away the inevitable. The League's next victim is Goshi, and Todoroki alone isn't strong enough to save the lawyer. The odds are impossible, so he lets his head slump on the floor.
"It's your duty to save me, Pro Hero Shouto!"
His words are like electricity shocking Todoroki. Midoriya died for this, he realises. The 'guilty' inscription, the failures of Pro Heroes, Midoriya died because of his obsession towards those who didn't react when they were able to, when they were tasked to. He despised anyone who had the opportunity to save lives shrugging it aside.
There's no way Todoroki'll become someone Midoriya would hate.
Before Tomura's two outstretched hands can touch Goshi, he creates ice barrier in front of the lawyer and launches his flames against the Nomu. While his attack isn't strong enough to make the Nomu release Goshi, Todoroki aims next at the ceiling, making it cave directly on the Nomu and using his ice to direct the rubble away from the lawyer.
With the creature momentarily crushed by cement and metal pipes and Tomura disintegrating the ice, Goshi scurries towards Todoroki. "I thought you wouldn't come for a second," he admits, wiping his brow.
Todoroki stares at the villain and the Nomu, silent. They're strong, he has to admit it. Slowly, he stands up, closing his eyes as he remembers what he learned at Yuuei. The opponent he's going to face, no matter their age and their strength, has a weakness just waiting to be discovered. The best way to figure it out is to understand their fighting techniques and pattern of attacks. So he watches Tomura, and the villain observes him too.
"Todoroki-san," Goshi calls as he tentatively touches his shoulder, "you can't win against them."
"I never said I was planning to with. I'm only buying you time to escape."
His years in Yuuei taught him vigilance, so he tears his eyes away from the lawyer just in time to see a Nomu lunging at them. He sidesteps the monster, materialising a wall of ice that gets shattered instantly, but it gave him enough time to snatch the lawyer by the sleeve and push him away.
"You have to go, Goshi-san."
The lawyer hesitates for a few seconds before shutting his eyes and scurrying out of the District Court, the sole of his shoes squeaking against the ground. Todoroki exhales through his nose, flexing his fingers. He's the one barrier standing between an innocent civilian and the League and he's not going down without a fight.
"Here I come," is the only warning he gets before Tomura himself hurtles toward him.
In a flurry of blue, white and red, the two of them strike and dodge, never touching each other, their rhythm quickening. Neither yields their ground, their feet barely budging an inch. From times to times, Todoroki glances at the Nomu, but the creatures are immobile as their globulous eyes following their fight.
"Never look away from a fight," Tomura growls.
Todoroki hisses as the villain's hands graze his face, drawing fire and ice within his palms and releasing them powerfully. It's enough to repulse Tomura with his clothes now singed. Todoroki bares his teeth as he touches his temple where Tomura used his Quirk, his fingers coated with blood as he draws his hand away. Even if the injury is light, it's like his head's been bashed. His limbs are drained of all energy, his right leg completely numb.
And Tomura's aware of it if his grin's anything to go by. "You're done for, Hero scum."
"No, I'm not."
If his ice's crumbling from inside, his fire, on the other hand, almost commands to be used. Therefore he releases it entirely, letting it engulf Tomura and the Nomu, swirling inside the building and licking the walls. His power roars free without any restraint, devouring everything and everyone at end. His body that was so cold before is now smouldering, smoke filling his lungs and his skin blistering. He's like burning on a pyre but he accepts it wholeheartedly.
As intense as it is to let his fire Quirk loose, it saps his power in a matter of second before flickering one last time and dying. Todoroki opens his eyes, staggering backward. The building's crumbling, the walls darkened with soot and cinder swirling in the air, but four silhouettes still stand their ground in front of him.
Todoroki doesn't even have the time to blink before one of the Nomu whose skin is blackened grabs his leg, pulling him down, and slashes his ankle's tendons while the two others pound on him like a punching bag. Todoroki's limbs becomes cold as he encases them in diamond-like ice, the world freezing as it crawls on his face. Beneath the surface, the shapes are muddled and the noises, stifled. The Nomu's shapes hover above him, their masses of blue skin distorted.
Todoroki's heartbeat slows as his body temperature falls. He wonders how much time his body can last like this, sheltered from the Nomu's devastating attacks but dying from the cold. If he sheds away his barrier, then he'll be vulnerable on top of being exhausted, which doesn't solve his problem. He sealed himself in his own coffin.
I already killed him.
If he can find Midoriya again, then dying not as bad as everyone makes it sound.
Something thuds against the ice. He cracks one eye open, distinguishing red hair and skin so pale it looks translucent. The silhouette bends forward, the features becoming sharper.
How he wishes this person calling him was Midoriya.
A thud again against the surface, and Todoroki closes his eyes. He expected All Might to come, or his ex fellow Yuuei classmates now Pro Heroes as well, but the Pro Hero who came for him is the last one he wants to see.
"Shouto!"
The person slams one splayed hand on the ice, the surface sizzling. In a matter of time, Todoroki's freed from the ice, his body damp and cold. He's too weak to use his fire Quirk to warm himself but he doesn't mind.
"Shouto?"
Todoroki shakes his head, curling on himself. Endeavor hovers above him, his flames providing heat that dries his body but does nothing for his afflicted heart.
"This is not the time to sleep," his father booms, but he isn't as rough as usual when he grabs his arm. "Where's the Judge?"
"Gone."
Endeavor scowls, "Gone?"
And so Todoroki decides to nod, whispering a faint, "Yeah," before losing consciousness
On the next day, the headline projected on every television, broadcast on every radio and printed on the newspapers published across the nation is the same:
DEATH OF THE JUDGE
Todoroki shakes the newspaper to straighten it as he reads the article.
Midoriya Izuku, accused of being the Judge, was proclaimed dead yesterday around ten thirty in the morning at the Tokyo District Court. Guilty of second-degree attempted murder against Pro Hero Endeavor, he was sentenced for seven years of jail with parole. However, as he was conducted to jail, the League of Villains, an association that struck on November 2nd in various areas of Tokyo, attacked the Court and killed him.
The Pro Hero checks the reporter's name: Maki Yukiko. He nods to himself, remembering that she was the one in charge of the Judge's case and always nagging Yoshida to get an interview with Tsukauchi. He's encountered one or two times in a corridor but never did he talk to her.
"Todoroki-san, you shouldn't be reading this."
Todoroki stands up, bowing, "Tamakawa-san."
The man trots to him, fishing the newspaper from Todoroki's hands and folding it angrily in four. "You shouldn't read this," he hammers. "This reporter only spread lies and—"
"It's fine, I won't read it anymore."
The police officer huffs before sitting down. The café is silent except for the background music and the muffled sounds of coffee-grinding machine. At seven thirty on a Saturday morning, the shop is quiet and the streets, despite the sun blazing in the sky, are empty except for a few joggers who face the brisk air.
Tamakawa stares at the window instead of looking at the menu, his hands clasped together and fidgeting. When Todoroki speaks, his voice is soft not to brusque him.
"How are you holding up, Tamakawa-san?"
"I'm... I'm doing fine."
But as he inspects the police officer's tired eyes, he reaches to the opposite conclusion and any thoughts of being mellow flies out of the window as he blurts, "Well, you don't seem fine."
Tamakawa barks a laugh. "As blunt as ever." He sobers quickly, then grabs the menu, which Todoroki takes it as an encouraging sign. "What about you? How are you?"
"I'm doing fine."
"Even if Midoriya's...?"
Ah. Todoroki looks away. Tears should prick his eyes. His stomach should be queasy. His voice should be trembling. But he only feels cold. Now more than ever, he's block of ice capable of motion, of speech, yet whose emotions were robbed from him.
"He was just my colleague."
"You were more than colleagues."
Todoroki doesn't even bother denying it. Tamakawa bends to take a plastic bag out of his backpack. His curiosity piqued, the Pro Hero stares at Tamakawa who's removing something from the bag. His eyes widen as he recognises the green cactus attached to a much larger wooden support.
"Medusa? How?"
"I kept it, of course. In case you wanted it." He pushes it towards him and Todoroki shakes his head in disbelief, caressing one of the tentacles. "It even flowered."
"Wow, I—" He laughs nervously, drawing the cactus closer to him. "Thank you. It... It reminds me of him. Of Midoriya."
Tamakawa tenses, his whiskers twitching. "If it's too much to bear—"
"No, no," Todoroki protests, his arms curling around Medusa protectively. "I'll keep it. Her."
"I'm glad you'll keep her. I would've been able to with everything that happened." He checks his watch, frowning. "I'm afraid I'll have to leave you. I'm starting in a few minutes."
Todoroki hums under his breath, contemplating the cactus bathing in the morning light. He never thought he would be relieved, happy, even, to see a living plant.
"Is it true you're resigning?"
He's been expecting Tamakawa's question from the start. "Yes," he answers, serene. "I spend a lot of time thinking about it. It's for the best."
The police officer looks disappointed but he nods in understanding. "Take care of yourself then."
Todoroki smiles to himself as he watches him exit the café.
He examines the ashes gathered in a zipper bag from the District Court, impassible. Around him sit the Police Force's chief, the Number One and Number Two Heroes, some Ministers of Defence or Safety or something similar, and a weary-looking defence lawyer.
"That's him, are you sure, Pro Hero Shouto?" Tsuragamae asks for the umpteenth time.
"What do I have to say to convince you?" His voice doesn't shake as he speaks, his tone leaving no place for any protests.
"You saw Midoriya Izuku crumbling under your eyes?" Tsuragamae presses as he seizes the bag, holding it in the air so everyone can see it clearly.
"Chief, I think Todoroki-kun's not deaf," All Might replies. "He's a smart boy."
"Not so smart if he had the Judge in front of him for over a month and didn't realise it," a minister retorts, his nose wrinkling. "It's natural his credibility's being considered."
"Are you saying my son's working with villains?" Endeavor growls back, his control slipping on purpose to intimidate the politician.
"Why am I even here?" Goshi whines, rubbing his temples as if to soothe an headache. "I only did my job as a lawyer."
Todoroki has to sympathise with the man. After losing his case and almost getting killed in half of Tokyo District Court's obliteration, he's been dragged by the Police Force to this meeting. While its objective is to debate Midoriya Izuku's death, it degraded quickly into a yelling contest and a matter of wounded pride and honour.
Tsuragamae stares at Goshi, his attention diverted from the ashes. "You were paid by the League of Villains to defend Midoriya," he states. "Were you involved with their plan?"
"I told you already," Goshi sighs, exasperated. "I was hired anonymously to defend him. Look at my contract and you'll see by yourself."
"Then how about Midoriya? You went to see him as he was led to his cell, right?"
"I saw him but the League broke out and knocked me out. I saw nothing."
Just like this, any hint about what transpired in the District Court between the League and Midoriya vanished. The guard accompanying Midoriya disappeared as well, surely decayed by Tomura as well. There was no witness, just a black hole swallowing them all.
Todoroki closes his eyes as he sinks further on his seat. "What are we doing here if the case's closed? Midoriya's dead."
"Todoroki-shonen," All Might's chagrined voice whispers.
"This thing here," he cuts off, grabbing the bag from Tsuragamae's hands, "these ashes, this is what's left of Midoriya Izuku, of the Judge. The one you were searching for in every direction like headless chickens running around is right here. So just let go."
He all but throws the bag on the table and storms out of the room. He could've gone outside but he chose to climb the stairs leading to the roof. From the echo in the staircase and the calls after him, he's being followed but it doesn't even bother him at this point.
Goshi wheezes, bent over in half with his hands on his knees, "Todoroki-san..."
Todoroki sits on the roof, bringing his knees to his chest like a shield against the world. After a few moment, the lawyer settles beside him, shivering at the cold air.
"You not thinking about killing yourself, right?"
Todoroki stares at him and this single action seems to sap his energy. "No."
"Right," he chuckles, stroking the back of his neck. "Right. I knew you wouldn't do that."
He turns back, gazing at the distance. Clouds dot the sky but they're insignificant in the sky's vastness, the horizon stretching above them. From afar, he can perceive thin nets of smoke that some chimneys are blowing. If he closes his eyes, he can imagine he's standing on top of the world, but the world he knows is stained with blood and darkened with misdeeds.
"I just realised that even though I think and think and rack my brain, there's nothing I can do to bring him back. I still don't realise it, that he's gone, even when I'm holding his ashes."
"It was his choice."
"It wasn't his choice to die," Todoroki answers back, scowling.
"But it was his choice to kill. I believe Midoriya knew the consequences more than anyone and paid the price of being caught. You tried to help him and while it's very noble of you, it's not your fault if it didn't work out the way you or he wanted." Todoroki opens his mouth, not even knowing what he'd say, but Goshi beats him to it. "If I hear you wallowing again, I'll kick you."
Todoroki chuckles, "Alright. I'm shutting up."
"So I can leave you without worrying that you'll jump and kill yourself?"
"Go ahead."
Goshi nods, standing up and adjusting his jacket. The wind picks up, making his tie flutter in the air and tousling his dark hair. He's halfway towards the door when he jogs back to Todoroki, handing him a sealed envelope with his name typewritten on the front.
"Oh, before I forget, I find that in my pockets. I think you should have it."
"How did you...?"
But the lawyer already left him alone.
We're sorry…
Todoroki crumples up the letter, his fists clenching.
Hypocrites.
How many times did he hear these words? Did people even think the words they were writing? Todoroki's ready to bet they were relieved that the person accused of being the Judge, the person everyone believed was the Judge, died on the last day of his trial. They must've thought capital punishment was the sentence he should've received instead of seven years of jail and that he died killed by the League of Villains was only fate.
"Todoroki-kun?"
He grumbles, slamming the letter down on the table, leaning back on his seat and folding his arms. Inko picks it and reads it slowly, her curious expression darkening.
"More condolences," she notes.
"They don't even care," he scoffs, glaring daggers at the paper.
"I'm sure they cared a little if they bothered sending this..."
Todoroki observes her as she smoothens the letter, her wide eyes gathering tears again. He straightens instantly, one hand curling around hers as he curses himself for his wryness.
"You're right," he's quick to agree. "They must care, for sure. How about I make dinner tonight?"
"You're so kind, Todoroki-kun."
He's capable of making basic meals that, hopefully, still are tasty. It's nothing close to Inko's cuisine, but Todoroki feels bad to make her cook each time he visits her.
"You sit and relax, Midoriya-san. I'll take care of everything."
"Thank you, Todoroki-kun."
After spending most of hid evenings at Inko's to make sure she wasn't lonely or worse, attacked or calumniated because of Midoriya's fate, he knew exactly where to find the dishes. He also knew the fridge's layout, helping her with the groceries half of the time. He grabs a few ingredients then rummages through the pantry, paying attention to any unusual sounds. Aside from the television's chatter, Inko is fairly silent.
"Do you want teriyaki salmon tonight?"
It takes a few seconds before she gives him a positive answer. He busies himself with peeling the fish skin, but his heart's heavy and his thoughts, distracted, so much that he almost cuts himself with the knife. Sneaking glances towards Inko, he ends up pausing his cooking and taking a deep breath.
"Midoriya-san, I must be honest with you," he whispers and waits for her to mute the TV before continuing. "I'm leaving tomorrow."
"Where to?" She inquires after a moment.
"I don't know yet but I can't... I can't stay in Tokyo."
"I understand." Her voice is strained as she adds, "You're not coming back."
It's a statement. Todoroki's heart aches even if he's not gone yet. Wordlessly, Inko raises her hand and the Pro Hero chuckles before complying, bowing a little so she can reach his head. She ruffles his hair, a tired smile curling her lips.
"Thank you for everything." And it might be his imagination or his guilty conscience playing tricks on him, but he swears he hears her murmuring, "Take care of my son."
After dinner, he returns to his apartment and packs his thing in a single backpack. He doesn't get a wink of sleep and on the next day, Todoroki arrives at Shinjuku Station with anticipation coiling in his stomach. It's a little after five in the morning, the sun peeking over small houses and bonsai trees, even brighter than the day before's, and drowning the entire city in a warm orange glow.
"Do you have a reservation, sir?"
Todoroki's throat is too dry for him to answer, so he shoves his ticket with shaking hands. The man behind the booth takes it, examining it as if to verify if it's fake or not.
But it's a real one. Todoroki checked it countless times after removing the ticket from Goshi's envelope, his mind still confused about how the lawyer had this envelope on him, for Todoroki as if...
"Everything's alright, sir," the man tells him as he gives him back his ticket. "Have a safe trip to Yokohama."
As if something, as if someone, is waiting for him in Yokohama.