Enoshima is sunny albeit windy. The beaches are desert, the cold November weather scaring away any sunbathers, but some surfers are braving the wild waves of a dark teal sea. A few tourists pose on the bridge connecting the mainlands to a small island, laughing as their hair blown by the wind swirl around their head like a halo.
Todoroki puts one hand on his forehead horizontally like a visor as he squints at the island. It looks like a forest floating in the sea, with a tall, metallic tower rising through the trees. According to the pamphlet he picked once he got off from the station, the Enoshima Sea Candle becomes illuminated at night, offering a breathtaking view of the whole coast.
"You alone?"
He turns around, noticing an elderly woman watering flowers, smiling at him. "I am," he answers.
"Shame, shame," she tuts, her head shaking. "Enoshima's the island for lovers."
Todoroki looks away from her, his fist tightening around the pamphlet. He nods at her politely, his voice worn, "Have a good day."
"Wait a minute, my good boy!" She trots to him, grasping his shirt when the Pro Hero doesn't slow down. "Take it with you," she insists, offering him a camellia.
He hesitates as he lets her nestle the flower in his open palm, the white petals freezing as they brush his fingers. Alarmed, he all but drops it as he tries to tame his Quirk.
"Ah, careful, careful," the lady gasps as she picks the flower, taking Todoroki's left hand and putting the camellia back inside. Todoroki tenses, expecting fire to spark in his hand, but nothing happens. She curls his fingers one after another around the flower. "There, give it to the person you'll meet."
"I'm not meeting anyone."
It's not a lie, not really, since he has no idea why once he arrived at Yokohama, he was told by the man manning the station his ticket was bound to Enoshima instead of the second largest population in Japan. It didn't lift his hopes up or crush them when he was steered towards the offshore island, but there was no indication on what to do now that he was here.
Just this lady giving him a white camellia with a toothless smile.
"Where should I go to meet them?"
He feels a bit naive to ask her this question but the woman perks up, pointing towards the island with zeal. "The love bell! Go to the love bell."
With a name like this, Todoroki doubts he'll meet anyone.
Still, he treks towards the island, holding his hood above his head as the wind threatens to uncover him. Once he reaches land, however, the bushy trees shield the people from the north gusts. It's like stepping into the eye of a storm. Everything's so still around him whereas a few meters away, people hold onto each other to face the wind.
To go to the love bell, he has to go through three different temples, all dedicated to love. While the goddess they're built for isn't the one for love, through many years of popular belief it became so. Todoroki encounters few people, but they all come in pairs holding hands or writing their wishes on pink ema tablets. Careful to avoid the couples' eyes who glance at him furtively for being a single person, he hurries away.
The lady didn't lie when she told him Enoshima's the island for lovers.
Even if his logical mind denies it, his heart wonders if Midoriya chose Enoshima over Yokohama for this exact reason.
The longer he walks, the rarer he sees people. Todoroki's far from being bothered. In fact, he's rather relieved that he doesn't have to hide his face from curious gazes. Almost everyone who keeps up with Pro Hero news can recognise his two-toned hair and his scar. The last thing he needs is someone identifying him and leaking the information to the media.
The love bell, he learns as he reads his pamphlet in diagonal, is one of the couples' many popular spots on the island. Following the tradition, the couple rings the bell, writes their two names on a padlock they attach on fences on the side cliff, then throw the key in the sea to symbolise the eternity of their relationship. While no money is involved, Todoroki thinks it's a lot of sappiness for the promise of something that can rarely be set in cement. Love is such a fickle thing...
But as he reaches the spot, a lonely silhouette stares at the tumultuous sea, messy hair even more dishevelled in the briny breeze. Todoroki swallows, gripping the camellia harder. This person can be anyone. It can be a person who set a romantic rendezvous with their other half. It can be a person mourning the loss of a relationship they thought was indestructible. It can be a person who got stranded and is now contemplating what to do next.
With shy, noiseless steps, Todoroki rounds the person and realises he's all three.
Midoriya's wondering what to do next with the life he never thought of keeping after his trial.
Midoriya's mourning his mother whom he might never see again, grieving for everything he made her endure.
Midoriya's waiting for him.
But the moment their eyes meet, Midoriya averts his gaze, his head turning away. From up close, his black eye stands out even more against his wan skin. The discolouration of multiple shades of purple and blue is reduced to a faint tint of lilac and the swelling decreased as well, but the remnants of his passage in the District Court's temporary cells.
Todoroki raises his right hand gingerly. When Midoriya fails to respond, his fingers caress the bruise, his ice Quirk cooling the injury. At first, Midoriya remains motionless, then he leans forward to the touch, sighing.
"Todoroki-kun."
It is but his name, but whispered through Midoriya's lips it sounds like a prayer.
"Midoriya," he murmurs back.
Midoriya smiles at him but it's strained. He keeps throwing glimpses around, startling each time a branch cracks or that the wind sways the famous love bell. Although there's no one around, although it's just the two of them in front of Sagami Bay, Midoriya's not at ease.
His throat knotted, Todoroki crosses the distance separating them. Midoriya doesn't say a word as his eyes scrutinise his face. They're devoid of any judgment but they still manage to strip him bare.
"How did you survive," Todoroki asks, trying to suppress the breathlessness in his voice.
"I was spared."
"Spared?"
Midoriya chuckles at the bafflement in his tone. Todoroki believes he has the right to be surprised. After the League destroyed the District Court to get a hand on him, it seemed highly improbable that Tomura let the person he groomed to be the Judge to live without protests.
"I'm no use to them now. They don't care if I live or die anymore."
"But you know where their headquarters are and other crucial things, perhaps."
He shakes his head, his forefinger poking at his temple. "They erased it. They have a Nomu that has this power, you know, to mess with your mind. They removed everything I knew about them, every name, every location, every conversation..." Todoroki nods, gazing at his feet as he ponders if he should ask the question floating in his mind, but as if reading his mind Midoriya continues, "They left the evidence of me being the Judge so if I get caught by the Police Force they can arrest me. I'm the perfect scapegoat."
"But you managed to flee. And you made Goshi give me this ticket."
"I had this feeling I could talk my way out with the League if the jury decided I wasn't guilty," Midoriya admits, rubbing the back of his neck as red dawns on his cheeks. "It didn't go exactly like I imagined. I was guilty and I was going to go to jail."
"But the League attacked..."
"They wanted to kill me first, yes." The way Midoriya talks about his own death is so casual that Todoroki shivers, wondering what would've happened if Midoriya really did die. "Tomura killed the man supposed to guard me and before he could do the same with me, I convinced him not to if they erased part of my memory. Still, I planned this in advance in case. I'm glad I did."
Todoroki stares at the padlocks glimmering under the sun in shades of bronze, silver and gold, their keys no doubt residing deep within the ocean's depths by now, rusted and covered with seaweed. Was this what Midoriya was planning in advance? To elope with Todoroki to a more romantic city than Yokohama?
"I didn't think you'd come."
Todoroki's eyebrows crease in a frown that instantly relax as he notices a shimmering tear rolling down Midoriya's cheek. "Why are you crying?" He inquires, alarmed.
Midoriya hiccups what seems like a laugh, rubbing his eyes with his knuckles. "Well, you're here."
To be honest, Todoroki is filled with a sense of peacefulness and perfect contentedness that has always eluded him and he feels invincible. Before he can stop himself, he moves forward and press his lips chastely on Midoriya's forehead. They linger a few seconds longer and when he pulls back, his lips are tingling, his whole body burning like he's branded Midoriya as his, like he's been branded as Midoriya's with a hot poker.
He steps away, wondering if he overstepped their bounds, if he imagined the chemistry between them, but he doesn't make it far since Midoriya launches himself in his arms, crushing his ribs. Todoroki's breath hitches as Midoriya's scent surrounds him, overwhelming every pore of his skin.
"I'm sorry for everything I've done," he sobs in Todoroki's shoulder, hands gripping him like he's his lifeline, "but I just want to be happy now."
Todoroki wraps his arms around his trembling frame, one hand carding through Midoriya's hair. "What would make you happy?"
There's a moment of silence before Midoriya raises his head, his breathing a little too rapid and his eyes, two pools of viridian waters Todoroki's drowning in. "I don't deserve it."
"Answer the question please." Todoroki replies, his voice gentle.
Then, without hesitation, Midoriya whispers, "Stay with me."
"I see."
His answer's lame, Todoroki's well aware of that, but he feels like each of his brain cells exploded, his nerves short-circuited. Midoriya's still in his arms, still waiting, still expecting a better answer. Todoroki puts the camellia in Midoriya's hair, marvelling at how the flower seems to bloom even more in his dark green hair.
"You know," he begins, deliberately slow to buy himself more time, "I was planning on getting to know you more so... so I guess it works for me."
Even if his speech fails to convey his emotions, Midoriya hears every implied word, every tacit promise, every unspoken declaration. His beam he directs at Todoroki's brighter than the sun.
"Then let's make it work."
What this 'it' suggests, Todoroki isn't sure, but if Midoriya agrees then he doesn't see why he shouldn't go along with this 'it'. 'It' takes the form of a small padlock Midoriya takes out from his pockets, so small that Todoroki doubts they'll be able to write anything on it.
"We can... but you don't have to..."
"Isn't this a thing lovers do?"
He's never seen Midoriya become red so fast. "Yes, it is, but we—"
"I didn't know we were this far in our relationship already. We didn't even have our first date yet," he realises aloud.
Midoriya's embarrassment vanishes immediately as he bursts out laughing. He grasps Todoroki's hand, leading him to the bell. They both pull at the frayed rope with one of their hands, their other linked together with their fingers locked. They then fasten the padlock devoid of any inscription on the fence facing the sea.
"Shouldn't we put something to symbolise us?"
Midoriya starts, "I brought nothing..."
"I did."
Todoroki removes his backpack, unzipping it. Its content's mostly clothes and his toilet kit, but most of the space is taken from a cactus plant. Midoriya's eyes widen as they recognise the plant that used to be on his desk in the Police Force.
"This is me," Todoroki explains as he gently removes one of Medusa's magenta flowers, "and this," he keeps going as he picks the camellia he fit in Midoriya's hair, "is you."
He intertwines the two flowers around the padlock, adding a dash of colours to the series of old and metallic locks. When he's done, Midoriya shows him the key to conclude the ritual.
"Do you want to throw it?"
"Why should we?"
"The tradition says—"
Todoroki shuts him up by kissing him on the nose. He uses this distraction to take the key out of Midoriya's hands in his left hand. He curls his fingers around it, fire flickering in his palm.
"You're the one I choose to entrust the key to my heart to. Take it, cherish it, throw it away, do what you want with it, but know that it's yours."
He opens his hand, revealing the key now moulded into the shape of a heart, and puts it in Midoriya's hand. Todoroki adores how expressive Midoriya is, how his eyes sparkle and crinkle, how his cheeks already red darken even more, how his back bends a little as if he's about to bow and thank him, how his fingers shake as they stroke the heart.
"This is... I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything," Todoroki assures him. "You can just feel."
It's ironic how he's the one talking about feelings when Midoriya's the one between them who's more in tune with them. But at this precise moment, everything Todoroki does is instinctual. He's never seen any loving exchanges between his parents and he's not fond of romantic movies, but somehow he knows how to act.
His hands cup Midoriya's face, thumbs caressing his cheeks. Todoroki searches for any protest from him, but his face is open, beckoning him to go on. He leans forwards at an excruciatingly slow pace, his heart pumping so fast he's surprised he's still standing.
Their noses brush. Their breaths mingle. Midoriya's lips curl into a grin.
Todoroki presses his lips against Midoriya's, tentative, prudent. Midoriya's eager to respond, the initial shock and bashfulness dissolving into passion. The fervour he pours into the kiss, as if to devour him, made Todoroki feverish. His body thrums with energy, yearning for his touch. Midoriya clings on him, hands grasping at strands of his hair. Just like he did with the key, Todoroki believes he's melting in his arms and letting himself be moulded again.
They have to break away to breathe. Midoriya nestles his head on his shoulders, but never in his wildest dreams would Todoroki seek to dislodge him.
"Did you feel it, or do I have to do it again?"
"I felt it but..." Midoriya plants a chaste kiss on his lips, taking him by surprise, "I wouldn't mind you doing it again."
"A little eager, aren't we? Let's take it slow."
They have time. Finally. With the pressure of their job gone, volatilised like Midoriya's memories of the League, they can breathe. Neither know for sure what to do next now that they're free from their duties and their constraints but it shouldn't be a problem to find a new purpose.
"We should leave the country," Todoroki declares.
"If only it's that easy. Everyone knows our faces by now."
"We don't have to show anyone our papers. We can rent a boat and go... somewhere else."
Midoriya snorts, "Are you suggesting to cross the Pacific on a boat that will probably never return to its owner when none of us know how to navigate?"
"I'm sure it can't be that hard," Todoroki replies, but the stare Midoriya throws at him makes him antsy. "We could... buy a boat and live on it?"
He expects another snicker but is instead rewarded with a pensive expression. Midoriya seems to be invested in this idea, mumbling to himself as he lists the advantages and disadvantages it involves. Todoroki's not sure they have enough savings to even afford a boat but they can dream for now.
"We'd have a big one," Midoriya muses. "With both manual and automatic engines. And we'd have to change ports at least once a month and never come back to it. There must be about a hundred marinas in Japan, but those near Tokyo are risky so we shouldn't go there. We can last about eight years tops. But first we have to learn how to navigate but people will recognise us..."
His voice fades away as he notices Todoroki smiling at him. The Pro Hero himself didn't realise it until Midoriya points it out.
"I like listening to you speaking about us."
"Of course I speak about us. We're a... we're..."
Midoriya was struggling with his words, his face reddening with each second he was gaping like a fish out of the water. Todoroki squeezes Midoriya's hand to calm him down.
"You don't have to say it."
"But I want to. I just want everything to be perfect."
"It already is and whatever you'll say next, it'll be perfect," Todoroki assures him.
"It's exactly—" He cuts himself off, letting out a shuddering breath. "It's exactly like I imagined. The weather. The sea. The promise. You and me. Us. And now we're talking about our future... But are you sure you want to do this?"
"Do what?"
Midoriya bites his lips, looking away. "Give everything up and leave with me."
Why did he look so uncertain? Why did his eyes keep casting glances towards the ground, as if he's ashamed of meeting his eyes or afraid of seeing what's in his eyes? After abandoning his Hero Office and his status as Pro Hero, after cutting ties with his friends, after fighting for Midoriya during his trial, after taking the train to Enoshima without knowing what waited for him there, even after all of this, Midoriya isn't sure of Todoroki's devotion?
"I want to be happy as well and I believe that the best way to is to remain by your side. This is a choice I don't regret and that I know I won't regret."
Midoriya doesn't utter a word. The words he doesn't speak, Todoroki reads them in how the wrinkles on his forehead loosen and his sparkling eyes as he watches their fingers laced together. Midoriya's skin cold is but ignites a deep fire within Todoroki at the same time.
"I can't guarantee we'll be rich but we'll be happy."
"Todoroki-kun, money is not a problem."
"Even if we have to buy a boat?"
Midoriya shrugs, chirping, "We can always steal one."
Todoroki shakes his head, retorting, "No, we're not playing with the law and justice again. We're going to be exemplary citizens now."
Their conversation between them lulls for a few minutes. They end up sitting in front of the padlocks' fence to gaze at the sea, Midoriya's head resting on Todoroki's shoulder, Todoroki's head resting on Midoriya's. Midoriya's legs are spread in front of him while Todoroki sits crossed-legged with Medusa settled on his lap.
"Todoroki-kun." The Pro Hero hums to tell him he's listening. A few beats pass before Midoriya speaks again, "If I ever get caught, you tell them I was forcing you all along."
"Midoriya—"
"I'm serious. You're not going to pay for what I did. Not you."
Todoroki understands by the way that Midoriya's voice breaks at the end that neither of them would be able to forgive themselves if something happened to any of the two.
"They're not going to catch you. I'll stop them if it ever comes to that," Todoroki promises.
"I know you will. It's just in case."
But Todoroki doesn't trust Midoriya's lopsided smile and how he avoids his eyes. "Remember what we said back then when I saved you from my father? No more secrets."
"No more secrets," Midoriya repeats with a small nod. "Only us."
"You know what my mother used to tell me?" He whispers, feeling like he's sharing a secret of the utmost importance. "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and—"
"—and be loved in return," Midoriya completes on the same tone with a small smile, as if they're accomplices. "My mother used to tell me the same thing."
Todoroki should've known. Mothers have uncanny intuition when it comes to these things. Even if his own mother and Inko never met each other, they offer the same words of wisdom to their sons.
"To us," Midoriya cheers as he raises an imaginary glass in the air.
Todoroki would've never thought he'd be celebrating like this after catching the Judge, after the end of the trial. There was so much at risk, so many odds against them, the unpredictability of the future planing above their heads, Death breathing down their necks...
Yet now they're here, on Enoshima, sealing their fate together at one of the lovers' island's most iconic spots.
Leaning forward, Todoroki kisses Midoriya's ear, making him giggle, and raises his own imaginary glass that he tilts to hit Midoriya's.
"To us."