A/N: And it's time for another request! This one came from Z-Arc34, and it was a chapter I had already planned, but wasn't going to write until later. However, due to Z-Arc34's request, I bumped it up. Besides, I figured it would fit better here given what's going to happen in the next two chapters.

It was a sunny Saturday afternoon, and Deku was riding with Todoroki in her Oldsmobile, rocking out to "Armed and Ready" by the Michael Schenker Group. Overall, it was a relaxing ride, though there was one thing on the green bean's mind:

"Shoko, I love riding in your car with you, but you've been very quiet about the reason you're bringing me along."

Todoroki smiled. "Relax! You'll know once we're there! Besides, don't you trust your beautiful girlfriend?"

Deku shrugged. "You know, you're right. I should just take it easy and enjoy the ride."

Todoroki giggled. "Exactly!"

Eventually, Todoroki brought Deku to their destination: Irohamomoji Hospital for the Criminally Insane. Deku raised an eyebrow when he saw the sign.

"Um…Shoko…"

"Yes?"

"This isn't going to be like that one time your car broke down and we got tricked by those patients…is it?"

Todoroki gave a dismissive hand flap to Deku. "Of course not! We're just here to visit my mother!"

Deku smiled. "Oh, OK! I can't wait to meet her!"

"I've told her about you, and she's dying to meet you."

"Then I'm very interested!"

Todoroki parked her Oldsmobile in the nearest parking spot, and her and Deku headed into the hospital, which was decorated more like a typical medical facility than Ikitamizu ever was.

"Can I help you two?" asked the receptionist, a short young woman with orange hair.

"I'm Shoko Todoroki. We're here to visit my mother Rei."

The receptionist gave Todoroki a clipboard. "Please sign in here."

Todoroki and Deku signed in.

"OK, I'll let her know you're visiting." The receptionist picked up the phone and called. "Hi, Dr. Yoshida, please inform Rei Todoroki that her daughter Shoko is here to visit her, and she's bringing a guest." She hung up. "Just wait here a moment."

Deku and Todoroki waited a moment more, and then another call came in for the receptionist:

"Hello?"

"…"

"Yes, I'll inform them." The receptionist hung up. "OK, go on ahead."

Todoroki led Deku up to Rei's room, where the Todoroki matriarch was waiting.

"Hello there, Shoko. You never told me you were bringing a guest."

Todoroki smiled. "I wanted to surprise you, Mother. This boy here is Izuku Midoriya, my boyfriend. Deku, this is my mother."

Rei got up from her seat. "How do you do, Midoriya?"

Deku smiled. "Nice to meet you too, Mrs. Todoroki!"

Deku and Rei shook hands.

"Please, call me Rei. Shoko has told me much about you. From what she tells me, you seem like a very nice boy."

"Well, I try to be a good person. After all, shouldn't a hero be nice to people?"

Rei nodded. "Most certainly." She frowned and averted her gaze. "If only Enji could've learned from your example."

"I understand if you have trouble forgiving Father, but I've spent some time with him, and his demeanor has improved," said Todoroki.

"I won't doubt your words, but…it's just…" Rei sighed. "It was his influence that gave you that…" She pointed to Todoroki's scar. "I still feel so much remorse about it."

Todoroki smiled and put her hands on Rei's shoulders. "Please don't continue to trouble yourself. I've completely forgiven you, and I love you very much."

Rei formed tears in her eyes. "Oh Shoko…!"

Rei gave Todoroki a big hug as she cried. After scarring her youngest daughter for life and having to spend time in this institution, it took a huge weight off of Rei's shoulders knowing that Todoroki was willing to forgive her. After all, didn't a mother deserve to love her daughter without any guilt? Granted, it was still pretty overwhelming for Todoroki to hear her mother cry, but at the same time, she recognized that it wasn't all out of sadness. In fact, she was grateful that she was able to be there for her, and she owed it to Deku, who was struck with awe as he beheld the whole thing. Even after Rei stopped crying, she continued to hold on to Todoroki until she had her fill, but even after backing away from the hug, she kept her hands on Todoroki's shoulders.

"Shoko, where did you get to be such a kind, caring person?"

Todoroki gestured her thumb at Deku. "You can thank Deku for that. If it wasn't for his encouragement at the Sports Festival, I would never have been able to overcome my insecurities. Truly, his kindness inspires me!"

Rei blew her nose, and then turned to Deku. "Well, you are quite a marvelous boy, aren't you? No wonder Shoko speaks so highly of you!"

Deku smiled nervously. "Oh…thank you! I was just doing what I felt a hero should do when someone's in need!"

"Regardless, it warms my heart to know that someone cares deeply for my little Shoko."

Todoroki giggled. "Well, I'm hardly little anymore, am I?"

"You know what I meant! By the way, I have good news…"

"Yes?" said Deku and Todoroki.

"The doctor says my prognosis is very good and that I should be able to leave here in a couple of weeks."

Todoroki clasped her hands together. "That's great news! I've missed you terribly!"

"So have I." Rei frowned. "Having said that, I do have one concern…"

"Oh?"

"While I am excited about being able to leave, I am still concerned about getting along with Enji."

Todoroki put her hands on Rei's shoulders. "I understand your concern, Mother, but I had an idea about that…"

"What?"

"I can't exactly talk about it, but I promise you that it'll work. All I require from you is your utmost faith."

Rei stared solemnly at Todoroki briefly. Then, she gave a weak smile:

"Well…all right. I do trust you, but I'll be praying for you, nevertheless."

Todoroki smiled. "I won't let you down!"

"Rei, I've been through some difficult times with Shoko, and time and time again, she's never let me down," said Deku. "I too have faith in her, and even if I don't know exactly what she has planned, I know that it'll work."

Rei's smile brightened. "Sounds like you trust her, too."

"I trust her more than most people in this world, and I'll do whatever I can to help her out. I know she'd do the same for me."

"Deku, you're so sweet!"

Todoroki gave Deku a big hug, which he gladly returned. Rei smiled when she saw this:

"Awww…you two look so adorable together!"

"Thank you!" said Deku and Todoroki.

"I think we'd better get going now," said Todoroki. "I promise to visit again soon."

"It was nice seeing you again, Shoko, and I'm glad to have met you too, Midoriya!" said Rei.

Deku smiled. "It was nice meeting you too, Rei!"

"Good luck, Midoriya!"

Rei hugged Deku, who gladly returned it. While he hadn't been expecting her to hug him, he nevertheless enjoyed the gesture. Hugging Todoroki was one thing, but knowing that her mother cared enough about him to do this made him feel like a true hero. Soon enough, Rei let go.

"Bye! Have a nice day!" Rei waved at Deku and Todoroki.

"You too!" said Deku and Todoroki.

In the halls of the hospital, Todoroki had something to say about their visit:

"Deku, thanks again for accompanying me! Mother really seems to like you!"

"You're welcome! I'm glad I got to meet her; she seems like such a nice woman!"

Todoroki rubbed the back of her head. "Well, I do still feel a bit awkward knowing that it was her who scarred me, but as I said, I have forgiven her, and I'm not only grateful to have patched relations with her, but that it was your words that led to that moment."

Deku blushed. "Wow, even after all this time, I still can't believe my words had that effect on others!"

Todoroki wrapped an arm around Deku. "Really, you should be proud of yourself!"

"Believe me, I am!"

Deku and Todoroki headed on out, the former still having that warm glow of knowing that his words were continuing to touch other people's lives.

Criticism is gold. Negativity and nitpicking are pyrite.