- .My Hero Academia: 180 degrees. -
27. Where Aoyama's party ends, and All Might is still looking for Midoriya.
The phone in the Todoroki household kept ringing, with no one answering it, filling the air with an insistent sound that seemed to pierce through the walls of every empty room. The fake Rei Todoroki, tired of the noise, stirred restlessly in bed before letting out a frustrated grunt. She got up carefully, glancing at the two others sleeping beside her, Natsuo and Fuyumi, before leaving the room in the direction of the bothersome device.
—Who can sleep with this noise? —she muttered to herself as she walked down the hallway. Her steps were heavy and slow, reflecting the irritation of being interrupted in her rest.
When she reached the phone, she picked up the receiver with one hand while scratching the back of her neck with the other.
—Hello? —she said sleepily.
—Oh, hello, ma'am —Toshinori replied on the other end of the line—. How are you? I'm very sorry to bother you. It's just that I'm worried because young Midoriya isn't answering his phone. Would it be possible for you to put him on the line?
The fake Rei Todoroki frowned. Midoriya wasn't a name she recognized. She knew only the three Todoroki siblings were in the house: Natsuo, Fuyumi, and Shoto.
—Are you sure you have the right number? —she asked, her voice a mix of doubt and caution.
—Huh? —Toshinori sounded confused—. Is this Rei Todoroki?
—Yes, yes, it's me —the Twice clone responded, trying to sound convincing—. But right now, it's just my children and me at home.
There was a pause on the other end of the line.
—Really? —the voice now sounded even more confused—. Oh, well, then it must have been a mistake. Again, my apologies for bothering you.
The Twice clone hung up the phone and walked back down the hallway, her steps now more firm, though something in her walk suggested annoyance. When she reached the bedroom, she flopped back onto the bed, settling into the same spot as before, between Natsuo and Fuyumi.
Meanwhile, Toshinori reflected:
'He told his mother he was spending the night at a friend's house, but he's not there…'
A sudden image of Midoriya alongside his friend Uraraka flashed in Toshinori's mind as the two smiled at each other.
—Could it be…? —he whispered to himself, contemplating the idea but quickly dismissing it, shaking his head—. No! Impossible! There's no way! Someone with that face… there's no way he'd lie to his mother just to sneak off with a girl for the night!
Though he suddenly recalled the compromising position in which Midoriya had first met Mei Hatsume, with her breasts pressed against his face.
—Although, it's true… he lacks the backbone to deal with girls—he admitted, somewhat worried.
Suddenly, two phrases from Mei Hatsume, when she had blackmailed him, came back to his memory:
—"I could use an assistant as docile as him to help me test my inventions." —"Of course, I always make sure to put a satellite tracker on each and every one of my babies."
Toshinori's eyes lit up with an idea.
—That's it! —he exclaimed, feeling as though a door had just opened to the solution of this little mystery.
The party at Aoyama's mansion was still going strong. The buzz of conversations, the pulsating rhythm of the music, and the laughter of the guests filled the air.
—Hatsume, you're amazing! —one of the guys exclaimed, his eyes shining with admiration as Hatsume held her shiny trophy and guitar.
—Thanks, thanks! —Mei responded, basking in the moment—. Oh, hold on a second —she said, checking her pocket before bringing her phone to her ear—. Hello? What? Midoriya? —she repeated, glancing around with a bit of confusion—. No, I haven't seen him.
—No, that's not what I'm asking —Toshinori quickly clarified from the other side of the line—. I need to know if you can help me locate him.
Mei stayed silent for a moment, then a sly smile crossed her face.
—Oh, of course! —she said enthusiastically—. Piece of cake. I put a tracker on his phone… and on his shoes, though the details aren't important right now. Give me a second.
While Toshinori waited, he could hear the sounds of the party in the background. The loud music, laughter, and general noise filled the air. Mei stepped away from the group of guys surrounding her and, with agility, pulled out a small device from her belt. Her fingers moved quickly and precisely over the touchscreen. Less than a minute later, she was back on the line.
—Just as I thought —she announced triumphantly—. He's here. Though, of course, everyone is.
Toshinori frowned, not fully understanding what she meant.
—What do you mean? —he asked, his concern growing—. Where are you?
—We're at Aoyama's mansion —Mei replied with excitement—. There's a party for all the UA applicants this year.
At that moment, one of the guys in the group waved at Mei, asking for a picture with her and her guitar. Mei grinned from ear to ear.
—Sorry, gotta go! —she said hurriedly—. Bye!
—Wait, no! —Toshinori tried to stop her, but it was already too late. The line went dead.
Toshinori stood in silence, still holding the phone to his ear. His mind raced as he tried to piece everything together.
—Aoyama… —he muttered to himself, frowning as he tried to recall—. That name sounds familiar...
...
In one corner, Bakugo and Todoroki were locked in a fierce arm-wrestling match, a contest that had drawn the attention of several onlookers.
Bakugo, jaw clenched and muscles taut, was completely focused on the fight. His scowl and the determination in his eyes made it clear how hard he was pushing himself. In contrast, Todoroki maintained a calm expression, with a slight arch of his brows revealing his serenity and control.
Finally, after one last push, Todoroki managed to pin Bakugo's hand to the table with a firm but controlled motion. Bakugo, red with fury and exhaustion, shot a glare at his opponent.
—You've got to be kidding me! —Bakugo shouted. He was so angry that he nearly knocked the table over by kicking it aside
Todoroki briefly rubbed his wrist, his composed demeanor unchanged as he watched Bakugo.
—I don't think you and I will ever get along —Todoroki mused in a cold tone.
—We can agree on that! —Bakugo snapped back, his irritation impossible to hide.
Kirishima, who had been watching the scene with a mix of concern and amusement, tried to calm Bakugo down.
—Hey, chill out!
—Chill out?! First, we don't win that stupid band contest, and now this guy beats me in arm-wrestling! —Bakugo complained, his frustration palpable.
—Come on! Second place in our first time performing in front of a crowd isn't bad at all! —Kirishima tried, adding some optimism to the situation.
—Screw that! I don't put time into something just to end up second! —Bakugo growled, still fuming.
Jiro, who had been silent until now, joined the conversation with a serious tone.
—I agree. And it still pisses me off that in the end, they went with the opinion of that short guy in the crowd, who clearly picked the other girl because of her chest size.
Kaminari, reflexively, glanced at Jiro's chest and then compared it to Hatsume's in the distance, right until Jiro crossed her arms. The tension in the air was thick, but a boy approached them with an unexpected offer.
—Hey, want some drinks? —the young man asked with a friendly smile.
Without thinking twice, Bakugo grabbed a cup and downed it in one gulp. His expression of shock and disgust was immediate.
—What the hell was that?! —Bakugo demanded, clearly displeased.
—I think you already know —the boy responded with a knowing look.
Bakugo crushed the empty cup in his hand before tossing it to the ground. His expression was hardened, though it was hard to tell what he was thinking.
—Wait, we're not even old enough to drink alcohol yet! —Kirishima scolded the boy, a mix of disbelief and concern in his voice.
—Hey, no one's forcing you if you don't want to. But the table over there is full —the boy said, pointing to a nearby table before walking away.
—Can you believe this? —Kirishima looked to the others, hoping for a response, but the group remained silent.
—Hey, you! —Bakugo suddenly shouted, directing his voice toward Todoroki—. Compete with me!
—Bakugo! —Kirishima tried to stop him, but Bakugo brushed off his hand with disdain.
—Unless you're scared —Bakugo challenged, his tone provocative.
Todoroki stared at him for a few seconds, evaluating the situation. The idea didn't seem completely absurd.
—If I win, you have to leave Midoriya alone for good —Todoroki offered calmly.
—Yeah, right. Like that's ever going to happen —Bakugo scoffed.
Both of them headed to the table the boy had pointed out, a table crowded with glasses and bottles of various types. A drinking competition seemed to be the next stage in their ongoing rivalry.
Kirishima, still worried, approached them with a question.
—Do either of you even have any experience drinking?
Now, Hatsume was chatting with Jiro, while the noise of the party buzzed around them, and Hatsume inspected her guitar.
—Oh, come on, you're not still upset about what happened, are you? —Hatsume asked with a playful smile, her relaxed tone betraying no sign of discomfort.
Jiro, who was finishing her drink, frowned slightly and didn't respond.
—At least give me some credit. It took me weeks to build and develop these babies. Plus, you guys used voice synthesizers for the backing vocals in your song too —Hatsume added, enthusiastically defending her efforts.
Jiro looked at her with a mix of surprise and exasperation.
—That was only because we didn't have enough people who could sing properly —she explained, placing her drink down on the table.
Hatsume shrugged, maintaining her carefree attitude.
—I had a similar problem, which is why I had to program the robots. For some reason, the people I usually work with don't last long with me —she commented, as if she were used to situations like that.
Just then, Iida, who was passing by, approached them from behind, his expression filled with certainty.
—Maybe if you bathed more often and stopped treating people like tools, you'd have more success maintaining long-lasting personal relationships, Hatsume.
Hatsume gave him an indifferent look, still smiling.
—No, thanks. And why bother bathing so much? That's what deodorant was invented for —she replied dismissively, surprising Iida a little—. Luckily, my current assistant has turned out to be pretty reliable and consistent.
—Does he even know he's your assistant?! —Iida asked, clearly indignant.
—No —Hatsume admitted nonchalantly.
—I knew it! —Iida replied, his tone a mixture of frustration and reproach.
Jiro, who had been watching the interaction with interest, commented with a friendly smile.
—You two seem to get along pretty well.
Iida and Hatsume exchanged a glance. Iida cleared his throat before speaking.
—She's like a sister to me! —Iida clarified, firmly moving his arm, trying to avoid any misunderstanding.
—I have a kind of adoptive brother too —Jiro reflected—. He's probably out there looking for some girl who'll give him her number —she concluded before turning to Hatsume with a smile that tried to be sincere—. Anyway, congrats on the win.
Both watched as Jiro made her way toward the exit.
—Poor thing. She looked really sad —Iida commented, his tone full of empathy—. See what you cause, Hatsume!
Just then, a pair of sneakers with green details stopped in front of them, catching their attention.
—Hey, can I see your guitar? —the young man asked, his voice soft and his gaze serious.
Izuku and Uraraka continued to float gently in the air, surrounded by the city lights and the starry sky. The night breeze softly brushed their faces as they stayed close, having stopped being upside down a few minutes ago, finding a more comfortable position by rotating 180 degrees.
Cradling Uraraka's face in his hands and driven by a feeling he could barely contain, Izuku leaned in once more, placing a brief and tender kiss on her lips before pulling her into a tight hug.
My first and second kiss... Amazing! Izuku thought, feeling his cheeks burn.
Uraraka now rested her head on Izuku's shoulder, her cheeks tinged with a light blush that seemed to burn slightly against the cool wind.
—Are you cold? —Izuku asked, his voice laced with gentle concern as he tightened the embrace around her.
Uraraka smiled, shaking her head softly.
—No. Are you?
—Just a little —Izuku admitted calmly—. Other than that, I feel a bit... strange.
Uraraka tilted her head slightly, looking at him with curiosity.
—Oh, I'm sorry. If you're not used to floating, you might feel a bit dizzy after a while —she explained, trying to reassure him.
Izuku nodded, though he knew it wasn't just the floating that was causing that sensation. There was something deeper, a swirling feeling in his stomach that burned softly every time he got close to her, intensifying with every kiss and every sweet word she whispered to him.
—I'll bring us down right away —Uraraka said with determination, preparing to deactivate her quirk.
—Okay —Izuku agreed, but suddenly an idea came to him—. Just wait a second before you release it.
Carefully, he stopped hugging her and adjusted her into a bridal style, holding Uraraka in his arms like a princess. Although he felt a pang of embarrassment for doing something so bold without asking, he tried to project as much confidence as possible and gave her a warm smile.
Uraraka didn't seem to mind at all; in fact, she immediately wrapped her arms around his neck.
—Ready? —she asked with a sweet smile.
Izuku nodded with determination, preparing to land safely with his precious cargo. But to his surprise, they began descending slowly. The transition was so smooth and seamless that it felt as though they were floating down from a cloud.
—That's new! —Izuku commented, intrigued but happy—. When I get my notebook, you'll have to explain to me how you did that!
Uraraka looked at him with a mix of pride and fondness.
—Well, I've been practicing my control over gravity. I realized I could adjust the intensity of my quirk more precisely. So instead of letting gravity take over all at once, I made the descent gradual. I think eventually I could even change the trajectory of falling objects.
Izuku looked at her with admiration, clearly impressed by the progress she'd made.
—That's incredible! I didn't know you could do that! —he said, still holding her in his arms.
Uraraka smiled, feeling a warm flutter in her chest at Izuku's praise, and gave him a light squeeze around the neck.
—Thanks for saying that —she replied sincerely.
For a moment, memories of their first meeting filled Uraraka's mind. She remembered how Izuku had hurt his foot when he suddenly dropped, releasing his power without proper control. That had been one of the main reasons she wanted to improve that aspect of her quirk: to prevent anyone else from getting hurt because of her lack of skill.
—Maybe... it'd be better if we head back before they get worried and come looking for us —Izuku suggested, starting to walk back toward the party, still carrying her in his arms, secretly enjoying the closeness.
—Honestly, if Tsu had come, she would've already found us by now. She's so responsible —Uraraka commented with a cheerful, calm voice—. Maybe it's because she's the eldest sister and is used to taking care of her younger siblings.
Izuku smiled at her, but deep down, a small part of him was glad Tsuyu hadn't been able to come that night. No one had interrupted them the entire time, and the feeling of being alone under the starry sky felt like a small gift he wanted to treasure. He couldn't help but think it was one of those memories he'd keep forever, close to his heart.
—I really appreciate this, Uraraka. This time together has been... special —Izuku said with a genuine smile, though his cheeks were a bit flushed.
Uraraka also blushed slightly, her eyes sparkling with tenderness. But then something seemed to distract her.
—Uh, Deku... You're not planning on carrying me all the way back to the party like this, are you?
Izuku gave a gentle squeeze with the hand that held her by the shoulder. In his mind, he pictured Uraraka laughing with Kaminari and then with Kacchan, and he thought he wouldn't mind them seeing him arriving with her like this. In fact, he kind of liked the idea.
—I'm considering it —he admitted with a touch of boldness and a bit of humor. After having been hugging and kissing for a while in the air, Izuku felt his senses dulled, wanting to seize the moment before his usual embarrassment flooded him again—. Unless you mind people seeing you like this with me.
—No, of course not, but... —Uraraka began, though she couldn't finish.
Izuku noticed that hint of hesitation in her voice and felt a pang of insecurity. For a moment, he feared that she didn't want to be seen with him for some hidden reason. But he quickly shook his head, trying to push that thought away.
—Are you okay? Are you still feeling dizzy? —Uraraka asked, her concern evident as her fingers brushed gently against Izuku's cheek, her touch warm and comforting, dispelling some of his doubts.
Izuku smiled, trying to reassure her, though a small part of him regretted that their time together might be coming to an end.
—I'm fine, but you're right. I'll put you down... just in case.
Carefully, Izuku set her down on the ground. However, Uraraka couldn't help but notice a slight shadow of disappointment on his face as he did so. So, when her feet touched the ground, she quickly reached for Izuku's hand.
—This way... I can hold onto you if you feel dizzy —Uraraka tried to justify her action with a bit of nervousness, though both of them knew it wasn't necessary. It was just an excuse to stay close. Izuku tightened his grip on her hand, grateful that she understood part of his feelings.
—Thank you —he smiled at her, and they continued walking hand in hand.
However, the romantic atmosphere was abruptly shattered when they reached the main garden of Aoyama's mansion and found a very different scene from their own. In front of them, Kirishima was helping Todoroki and Bakugo, both bent over some buckets, clearly not feeling well.
—I warned them that if they didn't have experience drinking, they shouldn't do it! In the end, neither of them won! Actually, both lost! —Kirishima exclaimed, handing each of them tissues.
—Shut up! —Bakugo yelled, turning to Kirishima with a disgusted expression. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Deku and Uraraka holding hands, and immediately turned back to vomit again into the bucket.
Todoroki had just finished throwing up, and like Bakugo, the first thing he noticed was the intertwined hands of Izuku and Uraraka. For some reason, the sight made him feel sick again, and he leaned back over his bucket.
Kirishima, noticing the concern on Midoriya's face, tried to reassure him.
—They'll be fine. They just need to get it out of their system. This will teach them not to listen to strangers and instead trust their friends who want what's best for them —he said, casting a meaningful glance at Bakugo.
—I think... it was my responsibility to take care of Todoroki, since I came with him —Midoriya lamented slightly, feeling a knot of guilt in his stomach.
—That's not true, Midoriya —Todoroki replied, finally finishing his vomiting and wiping his mouth with the tissue—. I can take care of myself, and I know you were busy.
However, his words seemed contradicted by his actions, as when he tried to take a step forward, he visibly wobbled. Bakugo also lost his balance slightly, but Kirishima was quick enough to step in between them and provide support, preventing them from falling.
Instinctively, Izuku moved forward to help, feeling Uraraka's hand gently slip away from his. He gave her a quick smile before turning back.
Knowing that Kacchan wouldn't let him get close, Izuku moved to Todoroki's side, ready to offer support.
—It's not necessary —Todoroki weakly tried to refuse, but as he took the next step, he ended up clinging to Izuku to avoid falling.
—It's okay. If you want, you can think of me as your cane —Izuku said, smiling kindly.
Todoroki, in his drunken state, seemed to struggle to grasp the analogy.
—But... canes don't talk... —Todoroki said, lost in his own reasoning.
—No, I mean... —Izuku started to explain but stopped when he saw Todoroki's confused expression.
—And yet you're still talking... —Todoroki murmured, clearly bewildered, as they continued walking toward the exit.
As the small group of friends made their way out, Uraraka prepared to follow them. However, she stopped when she noticed Ojiro, who seemed to be searching for something or someone, his head turning in all directions with a concerned expression.
—Is something wrong? —Uraraka asked as she approached him.
—Yeah... well... don't laugh, but I think Hagakure disappeared —Ojiro replied, crossing his arms with a disheartened look.
Uraraka was about to laugh, but seeing the genuine concern on Ojiro's face, her expression turned more serious.
—Do you want me to help you look for her? —Uraraka offered, noticing the worry on his face.
Ojiro scratched the back of his neck, feeling awkward.
—No. I don't think it's necessary. Like she always says, we're not really a couple, we've just gone out a few times, and she probably left with that other guy I saw her with earlier. It wouldn't be the first time.
—I'm sorry, Ojiro —Uraraka said, briefly holding his arm in a gesture of comfort. Ojiro tried to smile, but his eyes revealed his sadness.
—It's fine —he said, covering his eyes with his hand for a moment—. By the way, you should probably get back to Midoriya as soon as possible. You may not have noticed, but he looks a little upset when he sees you with others.
Uraraka blushed slightly and let go of Ojiro's arm, raising her hands to her cheeks, surprised by the observation.
—R-really?
Ojiro let out a soft chuckle.
—I'm surprised you didn't notice it yourself. In fact, he's doing it right now. Look. It's kind of scary.
Uraraka quickly turned around and saw Deku, still holding Todoroki, but now with a very serious expression she hadn't seen him wear before. However, when he realized he was being watched, he quickly tried to play it off, lowering his gaze somewhat embarrassed, and resuming his walk toward the exit.
—Wow, I had no idea —Uraraka muttered, covering her mouth in surprise and amusement—. Thanks for telling me, Ojiro —she said as she began to walk away.
—Hey, Uraraka —Ojiro called out before she left—. If you really care about Midoriya, don't play games with him. It's tough for us.
—Thanks, Ojiro. I'll keep that in mind from now on —Uraraka said, nodding seriously as she walked away.
—What do you mean Ears just left, handing our phones to some total stranger?! —Bakugo shouted at Kaminari, his face twisted in fury.
Kaminari raised his hands defensively.
—Calm down, man. In the end, none of the phones are missing, and the guy she left them with seemed pretty responsible. I think Jiro left early because she wasn't feeling well after losing the guitar duel.
Bakugo scoffed, immediately shifting his anger to a new target.
—This wouldn't have happened if we hadn't listened to your girlfriend and changed the song last minute! —Bakugo snapped at Kirishima.
—I've told you a thousand times, Ashido's not my girlfriend! —Kirishima replied with a mix of embarrassment and amusement—. And besides, I don't think the song change had anything to do with the result.
Bakugo clenched his fists.
—If I ever find that little punk who voted for the other band, he's gonna learn who I am! —he threatened while Kaminari handed out the phones to their gathered friends.
Izuku was only half-listening to his friends' argument. His focus was more on the mysterious black car that had just pulled up at the entrance at the bottom of the long staircase. The headlights shone brightly, cutting through the darkness of the night.
When the car door opened, Izuku immediately recognized Toshinori stepping out swiftly.
—Young Midoriya. I've finally found you —Toshinori muttered to himself, though loud enough for Izuku to hear. His voice carried a tone of annoyance and exhaustion, as if he'd been searching for hours. But then, his expression shifted suddenly, lighting up with a rare, joyful energy—. Come here!
Izuku barely had time to process what was happening before he saw Toshinori begin to run toward him. Time seemed to slow down, the scene turning surreal.
—Ah, Mr. Yagi! What are you doing here? —Izuku exclaimed, momentarily letting go of Todoroki, who luckily managed to stay on his feet.
Izuku began running toward his mentor, confusion mixing with a rising sense of concern and happiness.
They met halfway up the stairs, and just as Izuku was expecting a warm greeting or an affectionate gesture, Toshinori's hand suddenly shot up, delivering a swift punch straight to Izuku's face.
Izuku fell back, landing on the stairs, holding his cheek where the punch had landed.
—You never keep your promises, do you?! —Toshinori scolded, his voice thick with worry—. How many times do I have to tell you to answer your phone when I call?!
—HA! —Bakugo laughed, thoroughly enjoying the rare spectacle—. Just for this, it was worth coming to this ridiculous party.
Izuku, still processing the punch, kept his hand on his aching cheek. —S-sorry... —he stammered, still dazed.
Before he could say anything else, Toshinori pulled him into a strong, heartfelt hug, filled with relief and affection.
—At least I'm just glad you, young Todoroki, and everyone else are safe —Toshinori said, his voice much softer now, almost paternal.
Izuku, still a little confused by his mentor's extreme reaction, returned the hug, letting the warmth of the moment sink in. There was something about the way Toshinori embraced him—a deep emotional weight he hadn't felt before.
—Is everything alright? —Midoriya asked softly, his voice tinged with concern, still wrapped in Toshinori's embrace.
Already in the car on their way to Todoroki's house, the atmosphere inside the vehicle was quiet. Toshinori drove calmly, his hands firmly gripping the steering wheel, while his thoughts remained fixed on the road and the young people he was driving. Izuku sat in the back, trying to adjust Todoroki, who seemed to be on the verge of falling asleep, his head occasionally lolling to one side with the gentle movement of the car.
The silence stretched on, interrupted only by the sound of tires on the asphalt. Finally, Toshinori decided to break it.
—So, young Aoyama threw a party for this year's UA hopefuls —he commented, his voice resonating inside the vehicle.
The remark immediately caught Izuku's attention, making him stop worrying about Todoroki's position as he leaned forward.
—Do you know the Aoyama family? —Izuku asked, curious.
—Yes, though unfortunately not for the right reasons —Toshinori responded, his tone more serious.
Izuku frowned slightly, feeling a twinge of unease.
—What do you mean by that? —he asked, his curiosity growing.
Toshinori kept his eyes on the road, hesitating for a moment about whether or not to continue. In the end, he decided to speak.
—Well... —he began, his voice a bit lower—. For a time, the Aoyama family was known for being strong supporters of All for One. Mainly providing resources to the organization. Of course, after his fall, they claimed they only acted that way because they were under heavy threats from his true followers, but many still doubt which side they were really on.
Izuku absorbed the information, lowering his head in thought.
—It's ironic, isn't it? —he murmured, more to himself than to Toshinori—. If they really were supporters of All for One, who had so many Quirks, they ended up with a Quirkless son, like me. —he mused, recalling the bright young man he had met at the party.
Toshinori nodded slightly, his voice taking on a more empathetic tone.
—Maybe that was precisely the reason —Toshinori commented, his voice now softer—. Maybe they hoped to gain favor from All for One, and that he would give their son a Quirk. I understand it's difficult to watch someone so young unable to follow their dream because of the lack of a Quirk... —as he said this, Toshinori glanced at Midoriya through the rearview mirror, his eyes reflecting deep understanding and empathy—. But making a deal with All for One was definitely not the solution. Some say that, beyond the tricks All for One used to manipulate Quirks and punish those who dared betray him... they say... that families who got involved with him were, in some way, cursed forever.
Todoroki, who had seemed half-asleep until that moment, slowly opened his eyes upon hearing the last sentence.
—Cursed? —Todoroki asked, his voice soft but clear.
Toshinori looked at him through the rearview mirror, noticing the sudden attention from Todoroki.
—Young Todoroki, are you feeling better? —Toshinori asked, trying to conceal the slight discomfort he felt at seeing the change in Shoto's expression.
—What do you mean, cursed? —Todoroki insisted, his tone revealing a mix of curiosity and something deeper, something personal.
Toshinori sighed, feeling he had touched a sensitive nerve.
—It may just be an impression about certain families —he said, his voice now more measured—, but... —he hesitated again, seeing Shoto's attentive face in the mirror—. Families that were involved with All for One began to experience different kinds of misfortunes. Loss of members in strange accidents, bankruptcies, sudden illnesses... as if a dark shadow pursued them even after they had severed ties with him.
Todoroki didn't respond, instead turning his gaze toward the window. His reflection in the glass stared back at him, the scar on the left side of his face reminding him of the shadows that still haunted him. In that same reflection, he could also see part of Midoriya's face beside him, reminding him of the sins of his own family.
A recent memory flashed through Shoto's mind:
—"Mom, do you recognize this?" —Todoroki remembered handing his mother the quirk transplant document Hawks had given him, signed by her. She had hesitated after reading it, but in the end, she broke down in tears. —"So... it's true," he said, his eyes wide with shock. His family had truly taken Midoriya's quirk away to surpass All Might and fulfill his father's wish. At first, he hadn't known how to feel and had taken a step back, but in the end, he couldn't bear to see his mother cry and hugged her tightly—. "You must have felt so pressured by my father to do this..." —he had tried to justify her actions, feeling her weak embrace in response and her nodding, as if his words were a long-overdue release.
Izuku's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
—But that's just a superstition, right? —Midoriya tried to continue the conversation, attempting to lighten the atmosphere, though he wasn't sure why it had become so heavy.
Toshinori frowned slightly, once again keeping his eyes on the road.
—Yes, just a superstition... —he repeated.
Author's Notes
My other stories: Thank you for your comment, THEBUPMAN. I will consider separating the previous chapter into another story if I come up with a way to continue it or create a compilation of one-shots in the same style. For now, I have three other Izuku x Ochako stories in English that I have somewhat abandoned and hope to pick up soon. The reason I've been posting so often is that I have the story a bit more advanced in Spanish. Once I catch up, I'll probably start publishing every week.
Your comments are always welcome! Thank you so much for reading, following, and liking. Cheers!