Explain it to Me
The bass from the party music downstairs thrummed through the floorboards, vibrating against their bodies as Ren and Shoto lay tangled on her bedroom floor. Pink fairy lights cast a dreamy glow across them, catching on the diamonds in her hair, making her skin shimmer as she straddled him. The sounds of celebration drifted up from the garden - laughter, clinking glasses, fireworks still bursting in the sky - but in this moment, their world had narrowed to just the two of them.
Straddling Shoto on her bedroom floor, Ren gasped as his tongue found her neck, her collarbone, before dipping back into her mouth. Each touch was a perfect balance - his right side offering that satisfying chill of finding the cool side of a pillow in summer, his left giving her the warmth of sunlight after emerging from a cool pool. The dual sensations made her head spin, her body arch towards him instinctively, no matter what part of her he dipped his tongue into. His quirk never failed to give her that delicious contradiction of temperatures that made her lose her mind. She rocked against him, desperate for more of that feeling, her hands tangled in his two-toned hair as his tongue traced patterns on her skin.
Ren tilted her head to the side, allowing the light to catch the diamonds at her throat and Shoto better access to the sensitive skin beneath her jaw. His teeth grazed her pulse point, teasing her quirk, reminding it that he was there now, there was no need to hide beneath the facade of the perfect birthday girl, the camera-ready billionaire heiress, now was the time to reveal Ren's true form; utter, beautiful chaos that he could somehow control while it completely destroyed him. His tongue earned a breathy moan from Ren that sent heat coursing through the veins on his left side, microscopic snowflakes through his right. The sound seemed to awaken something primal in Shoto, his grip tightening possessively on her thighs beneath the flowing chiffon of her gown.
Her fingers worked at his tie, unknotting it with fumbling, clumsy, desperate hands before moving to his shirt buttons. His chest rose and fell rapidly beneath her touch as she exposed more of his skin, the stark divide between hot and cold making her dizzy with want. As she ground her hips against him, Shoto let out a low groan, his hands skimming higher beneath her dress. His fingers hooked around the delicate lace of her underwear, and Ren arched into his touch, a sound somewhere between a gasp and a whimper escaping her lips. The noise seemed to short-circuit something in his brain, make him forget about control or composure or anything that wasn't the overwhelming need to be closer to her.
"Shoto," she breathed his name as half a warning, half an encouragement in the hopes he didn't mind that the careful balance of temperatures he usually maintained began to slip as desire took over. Ice crystals forming where his right hand gripped her thigh while his left palm burned almost hot enough to singe the silk of her dress. Their quirks seemed to dance between them, creating that feedback loop of sensation that threatened to overwhelm them both- this otherworldly connection that made everything more intense, more real.
Suddenly, Ren pulled away from him, pressing a finger against his kiss-swollen lips. Shoto almost growled in frustration, trying to chase her touch, but she shushed him softly. "Listen," she whispered urgently, her grey eyes wide with a mix of alarm and amusement.
Footsteps approached in the hallway, the sound of voices growing closer. Ren ducked down, pressing herself flat against Shoto's chest so she could look under the bed to the door. Through the gap beneath the door, they could see shadows moving across the strip of light from the hallway. Their hearts hammered in unison as the footsteps stopped outside. Shoto's arms wrapped tighter, protectively around her, holding her close as they tried to stay perfectly still.
The door creaked open as Hana stepped in, her black dress pristine as always, her salt-and-pepper hair still perfect in its bun. She flicked on the lights, causing both teenagers to freeze. But from her position at the door, the bed obscured her view of them completely. They could see her sensible black shoes from their hiding spot, and Ren had to bite her lip to keep from laughing at the idea of being caught.
"No, she's not in here," Hana called out to someone in the hallway, her pink eyes scanning the room briefly. "Which is a shame," Hana's voice slowed deliberately, "because if she was, I would tell her they want her to cut the cake in 5 minutes." Ren and Shoto remained perfectly still, barely breathing. Both fighting the feeling of déjà vu; hadn't they been saved from their fathers by Hana a thousand times before? The lights were clicked off, the door closed, and they both let out a sigh of relief. Ren lifted herself up in the darkness.
"Do you think she-?" Shoto began, but the door cracked open again. Hana's head poked in, and this time they could hear the smile on her face:
"Shoto, sweetheart" she whispered, "your father is looking for you." Before either could respond, she disappeared, closing the door with a soft click.
In the silence that followed, Ren watched with a grin as Shoto's face turned the same shade of red as his hair. She collapsed against Shoto's chest, muffling her laughter in his shirt.
"Did you tell her about us?" he asked, looking adorably embarrassed.
"No," Ren grinned, pushing herself up to look down at him. "Hana just... knows everything. Always has." Her eyes softened as she took in his disheveled appearance - his hair mussed from her fingers, his shirt half-unbuttoned, his lips slightly swollen from their kisses. Everything about this moment felt a little ridiculous, a little rebellious but utterly perfect- just the two of them, finally, after all these years. She leaned down to kiss him again, slower this time, pouring all her emotion into the contact. Shoto's hand came up to cup her face, his thumb stroking her cheek with surprising tenderness.
"Five minutes," he murmured against her lips, his voice rough with desire, "is not enough time for what I want to do to you." Ren turned her face into his hand and bit his palm playfully as he spoke, his straightforward words threatening to set fire to her again. The stark honesty of his desire, so typically Shoto in its directness, but so surprising every time, made her want him even more. "Can we leave early?" The question surprised her, making her pull back slightly to look at him.
"What?"
"Let's get an earlier train," he said, coming up onto his elbows, his voice urgent with need. "Let's leave as soon as we can."
Ren, sparkling in the fairy light, looked down at him with a small smile of surprise; Shoto Todoroki, who lived his life by careful schedules and rigid plans, wanted to run away with her…it was…as spontaneous as Shoto Todoroki could possibly be. The boy who never broke rules or deviated from expectations was asking her to escape into the night, just the two of them. She felt dizzy with love and desire and the pure joy of being wanted so completely.
"Yes," she nodded enthusiastically, already imagining their getaway. The diamonds in her hair caught the light as she moved, creating a halo effect that made her look ethereal. "Yes, let's go." Ren moved off of him, Shoto stood, standing in the moonlight, looking as beautiful as the day they met again all those months ago. He helped her to her feet before pulling on his jacket.
"At least it was just Hana who caught us," he said, relief evident in his voice. "I really thought Midoriya would give it away."
The last of the fireworks faded from the velvet-black sky, leaving only trails of silvery smoke that drifted lazily across the stars like ghostly ribbons. The perfectly manicured lawns of the Ishikawa estate stretched out before Class 1-A, a wonderland of opulence and celebration illuminated by hundreds of paper lanterns. The air was thick with music, laughter, and the lingering scent of gunpowder from the spectacular display that had just concluded. But the jubilant atmosphere gave way to an intense discussion happening between the classmates.
Near a towering statue of what appeared to be a Greek goddess, Class 1-A had gathered, still processing what they'd witnessed through the manor window. The sight of their most stoic classmate passionately kissing one of Japan's most famous women had left them in various states of shock, excitement, and disbelief. Their usual energy amplified by the discovery, with Mina and Hagakure practically bouncing with excitement while Iida tried desperately to maintain order.
"We have to ask him," Mina declared, her yellow eyes gleaming with determination in the lantern light, her pink skin practically glowing with excitement. "We can't just pretend we didn't see that! Did you see the way he held her?" Her eyes softened dreamily as she remembered.
"Maybe we should respect their privacy," Iida suggested, his hands chopping through the air with increased urgency, his glasses glinting as he adjusted them nervously. "If Todoroki wanted us to know about his personal affairs-"
"But we already know!" Hagakure interrupted, her empty sleeves gesturing expressively, her voice pitched high with enthusiasm. "We can't un-see it!"
"It was like something out of a movie," Uraraka sighed dreamily, her round cheeks pink with secondhand romance.
Shifting uncomfortably, Midoriya wiped away the sweat that was beading on his forehead as he tried to think of a way to protect his friend's secret. His formal suit suddenly felt too tight as he stammered, "Maybe we shouldn't jump to conclusions-"
"WHAT ARE YOU EXTRAS YAPPING ABOUT?" Bakugo's voice cut through their discussion like a knife. He'd been so entranced by the fireworks display that he'd completely missed the earlier revelation.
The class, so used to his outbursts, all glanced over their shoulders at him, too distracted by their conversation to give him a proper explanation. Kirishima, ever the friendly mediator, explained quickly with a sharp-toothed grin: "Todoroki and Ren Ishikawa were making out!" He said hurriedly before turning back to the group.
Bakugo stared at them blankly for a moment as Kirishima uttered a statement that no one could have predicted 24 hours ago. The explosive hero-in-training looked from person to person, taking in their expressions of disbelief and excitement, trying to ascertain if he had heard correlation, before his spiky blonde hair seemed to bristle as his face contorted with disgust. "WHAT? ICY-HOT AND THAT BRAT? THAT'S THE STUPIDEST THING I'VE EVER HEARD!" His palms sparked with small explosions, reflecting his agitation.
The class ignored his outburst, so used to his reactions by now that the impact felt like nothing more than a fly buzzing around their heads. They continued debating how to approach Shoto about it. The party continued around them, waiters weaving through the crowd with trays of champagne and delicate hors d'oeuvres, completely oblivious to the drama unfolding among the young heroes-in-training.
"We could ask subtly," Yaoyorozu suggested thoughtfully, finally giving in and letting her curiosity get the better of her. "Perhaps comment on how well they seem to know each other-"
"I'LL ASK IF IT GETS YOU ALL TO SHUT THE HELL UP!" Bakugo shouted, but again, no one paid him any attention, too caught up in their planning.
"Maybe we should wait until after the party," Jirou suggested reasonably, twirling one of her earphone jacks around her finger.
"DON'T IGNORE ME!" Bakugo's voice echoed across the lawn, causing a few nearby guests to jump in surprise.
The debate might have continued indefinitely if the entire class didn't seize up as a gust of cold wind seemed to surround them. They turned, in unison, towards the manor, to see Shoto walking towards them. His usual composed appearance was slightly disheveled - his tie was conspicuously missing, his collar askew, and his distinctive red and white hair looked like someone had been running their fingers through it. Even Yaoyorozu tilted her head in appreciation for the usual grace he moved with, now tinged with something different; a softness around his edges that they'd never noticed before. The boys of the class watched the girls with raised eyebrows, mouths slightly agape, wondering how this revelation had suddenly transformed completely how they saw Todoroki. Mina cleared her throat as he approached.
"Where's your tie gone, Todoroki?" She asked innocently, though her eyes sparkled with mischief.
Hagakure bounced forward, her empty sleeves reaching out. "Your collar's a little off, let me fix it!"
Shoto stopped, taking in their expressions - the barely contained excitement, the knowing looks, the way they seemed to be suppressing giggles. His heterochromatic eyes narrowed slightly, confusion evident in his features. "What?" He asked slowly, "why are you all looking at me like that?" But the class remained silent, practically vibrating with excitement and nerves. His gaze found Midoriya, who looked like he might be sick, his freckled face turning an alarming shade of red as he tried to avoid eye contact. The tension in the air was palpable, like the moment before a storm breaks. But no one could have predicted, who had finally reached their limit.
Bakugo thrust a finger at Shoto, small explosions popping in his palm. "ICY-HOT, ARE YOU BANGING THE TABLOID PRINCESS?"
The question seemed to freeze the air around them. Several nearby party guests turned to look before shrugging as a bunch of teenagers seemed a little excited and turning back to their conversations. Shoto stood completely still, his mismatched eyes wide with shock, clearly having no idea how to respond to such a direct query. The lantern light caught on the scar over his left eye, making it seem to glow slightly in the darkness.
"I SAID-" Bakugo started again, but was cut off as Ren appeared behind Shoto.
"Yes! Yes he is! He's really good at it! Please stop shouting!"
The reaction from Class 1-A was instantaneous and chaotic. Mina and Hagakure grabbed onto each other, jumping up and down with barely contained squeals of delight. Uraraka and Yaoyorozu suddenly found the nearby champagne fountain utterly fascinating, though the pink in their cheeks had nothing to do with the reflection of the party lights. Jirou looked relatively impressed, a small smirk playing at the corner of her lips.
Bakugo blinked slowly, as though his brain was attempting to process significantly more information than he had bargained for when he asked the question. Exchanging looks of pure disbelief, Kaminari and Mineta had to practically pick up their jaws off the floor. Midoriya looked ready to spontaneously combust, his freckles standing out against his crimson face. Through it all, Shoto stood perfectly still, as though his brain had completely shut down, barely registering what was happening.
Bakugo recovered first, opening his mouth to shout again, but Ren took a step forward, her grey eyes narrowing dangerously. "I said be quiet." Her voice carried all the authority of someone used to commanding attention, though there was a hint of playfulness beneath the steel.
"You don't know Bakugo very well," Kirishima smiled innocently, his sharp teeth glinting in the lantern light.
"I know I have the power to end his career before it's begun," Ren replied smoothly. The threat, though delivered with a smile, carried enough weight to make several of their classmates step back.
This seemed to snap Shoto out of his shock, his dual coloured eyes snapping back into focus. "Ren, don't threaten my friends," he said, before turning to his classmates. "She's joking," he reassured them before turning back to Ren, his eyes urging her to comply.
Ren's face transformed into her perfect media smile, the one they'd seen on magazine covers and TV screens. "I'm joking!" she assured them brightly, before turning to Tokoyami and Sero and mouthing "I'm not joking." The two boys jumped in unison, suddenly finding the heiress far more intimidating than they'd initially thought.
The tension broke as Ren glanced at Shoto, her expression softening into something genuine and warm, a smile breaking out across her face at the bizarre, unpredictable predicament they found themselves in. The class watched in fascination as Shoto's eyes melted in response, his usual stoic facade giving way to obvious affection. It was like watching ice thaw in spring - subtle but unmistakable. The entire class looked between the two, watching the way they looked at each other; with deep understanding, a connection that went beyond mere attraction. They looked like two people in love.
Shoto cleared his throat, taking charge of the situation as Ren tilted her head at him in silent encouragement. "Yes, Ren and I are together," he confirmed, his voice steady despite the hint of pink still colouring his cheeks. "We'd appreciate if you kept this information to yourselves."
"Oh my god!" Mina shouted as though Shoto's last sentence meant nothing. "It's like a movie!" She squealed, clasping her hands together. "A secret romance between a hero and an heiress!"
"It's so romantic!" Hagakure sighed dreamily. "The way you were kissing in the in the window-"
"You saw that?" Shoto's voice cracked slightly, his composure slipping, desperately avoiding the eye of any boy in his class.
"We all did," Tsuyu confirmed bluntly. "Ribbit."
"Ha!" Ren laughed, much to everyone's surprise before she turned to Shoto with a big grin, "in the end it wasn't me OR Midoriya who gave it away- it was you!"
"What does Midoriya…" Jirou began before rounding on her green haired classmate, "YOU KNEW!?"
"How long has this been going on?" Uraraka asked, her eyes wide with curiosity, clearly trying to move past Shoto's obvious discomfort.
"A few months," Ren replied, discretely brushing a finger against Shoto's hand as he stood next to her, "but we've known each other since we were children."
A chorus of "aww"s rose from the girls, while the boys exchanged looks of bewilderment, clearly still trying to understand how their socially awkward classmate had managed to win over someone like Ren. Kaminari leaned over to whisper something to Sero, who nodded in agreement, both of them stealing glances at Shoto with newfound respect.
The atmosphere shifted as the initial shock wore off, replaced by excitement at the possibilities this new connection presented. The party seemed to take on a different energy, as if the revelation had somehow made the evening more magical.
Uraraka bounced on her toes, her pink dress swishing around her knees. "So... Ren's our friend now too, right?"
Ren laughed, the sound warm and genuine, nothing like her practiced media laugh. "I hope so!"
Before Shoto could ask how that works, the girls had surrounded Ren, pulling her towards the dance floor while pelting her with questions about their relationship and making plans to go shopping. Ren glanced back at Shoto, her expression a mix of confusion and happiness but before they could say anything to one another, Mineta stepped between them, a small dark cloud of disappointment amidst the glitter of the evening.
"You could've had all this," Mineta gestured to himself, causing Midoriya to grab Shoto's arm before he could freeze them solid. Ren's laughter drifted back to them as she disappeared into the crowd with her new friends, the diamonds in her hair catching the light like stars.
The boys watched them go, amazed at how quickly and easily girls seemed to form friendships. Shoto stood there, looking slightly dazed, as if trying to understand how this evening had taken such an unexpected turn. The lantern light painted shadows across his face as he watched Ren being embraced by his classmates, accepted into their circle without hesitation.
"How do they do that?" Sero asked himself, "suddenly all best friends?" But the real question seemed to be playing on Kaminari's mind, he took a step forwards and looked Shoto in the eye, his blonde hair ruffling in the breeze.
"Just explain it to me," he asked Shoto seriously, "step-by-step…how exactly…" but Kaminari took in Shoto's blank, serious, entirely unfazed face before his shoulders slumped. He realised the undertaking of getting Todoroki to explain exactly how he landed Ren Ishikawa was a futile task. "Never mind," he said, slinking away.
As the party continued around them, the secret of Shoto and Ren's relationship now shared among their friends, something had shifted. The walls between them had crumbled just a little more, letting in the warmth of friendship and acceptance. Shoto suddenly felt his age, Ren was back to throwing him those glances that made him a little weak. Class 1A suddenly found the pair fascinating, wanting to talk to them at every opportunity, to understand how the stars had possible aligned to let this happen. Even Bakugo, though he would never admit it, seemed less angry and more bemused by the whole situation.
A few minutes later, under the swaying branches of an ancient willow tree, beside a moonlit swan lake that reflected the thousands of lanterns like fallen stars, Ren stood next to her father in her lilac gown, only missing a tiara to look like the princess she was. The diamonds in her hair caught the light as she smiled, the entire party gathered around her singing. The cake before her was a masterpiece of sugar and silver, its candles casting a warm glow across her face. Her grey eyes found Shoto in the crowd, standing with his classmates, and something passed between them - a secret smile, a shared anticipation of what was to come.
As she cut the cake, a huge round of cheering and applause echoed around the garden. She escaped back into the crowd as the sounds of congratulations died down and guests returned to their conversations. Class 1-A lingered near the cake table, still processing the evening's revelations. Their attention was caught by All Might's distinctive laugh nearby. He stood with Midnight, both holding champagne glasses, their formal wear a stark contrast to their usual hero costumes.
"I remember her first birthday party," All Might was saying, nostalgia softening his usually booming voice. "Rose had Ren in that little ladybug costume..."
Midnight swirled her champagne, her eyes distant with memory. "She would be so proud to see her baby today. That same spark in her eye, that same defiance..." She gestured towards where Ren had been standing. "Sometimes I forget she's gone."
"They look identical," All Might agreed, his expression darkening slightly. "Sometimes when I talk to Ren, I see Rose so clearly."
"I miss her terribly," Midnight's voice cracked as she placed a hand over her mouth. "She played me in her first movie role, you know. We were both barely twenty, so full of dreams..." Her eyes drifted across the lawn, hardening as they landed on Endeavor. "How does he live with himself? He was the closest hero that night, had all the time in the world to reach her-"
"We can't speculate," All Might cut her off sharply, though pain flickered across his features. "None of us were there that night. And this isn't the place."
Class 1-A exchanged shocked glances. Yaoyorozu's eyes were wide with horror, while Midoriya's face had gone pale, his mind clearly racing with implications.
"Was Endeavor...?" Kirishima couldn't finish the question.
"Does Todoroki know?" Kaminari whispered.
Uraraka, her kind heart immediately concerned for her friends, looked around anxiously. "Has anyone seen Ren? Or Todoroki?"
The class scanned the crowd, but there was no sign of the distinctive red and white hair or the lilac dress anywhere.
At that exact moment, on the far edge of the property, Ren and Shoto stood by the old fence that had separated their childhoods. They had changed into dark clothing, their formal wear abandoned. Their bags lay in the grass on the Todoroki side, tossed over moments before.
Shoto's hands clasped around Ren's waist, lifting her easily over the fence. She landed softly on the other side, her dark hair falling around her face as she steadied herself. Just as Shoto prepared to climb up himself, a familiar heat pressed against his back. He turned to see his father at the edge of the party, his attention caught by movement near the fence.
But before Endeavor could focus on the dark figure by the boundary of his property, Fuyumi appeared before him in her black and red dress. She gestured animatedly, clearly asking him something urgent, her back to where Shoto stood frozen. Behind her back, her hand made a clear shooing motion.
Understanding dawned on Shoto's face as he pulled himself up and over the fence, landing beside Ren in the shadows of the Todoroki garden.
"Did he see you?" Ren whispered, her hand finding his in the darkness.
"No," Shoto replied, still processing what had happened. "Fuyumi distracted him."
"On purpose?" Ren's voice held a note of wonder.
Shoto nodded, picking up his bag, his expression thoughtful. The same sister who had watched him suffer through their father's training was now helping him escape. "Things really have changed," he said quietly.
Ren squeezed his hand, "remember when it was just us?" she asked, glancing back at the fence that had been their only connection for so long. "Two little kids hiding from everyone?"
"Now everyone's protecting us," Shoto said, a rare moment of understanding human connection dawning on him.
As they made their way through the Todoroki estate, neither spoke of what they were both feeling - how they had gone from being the lonely children separated by this fence to finding not just each other, but a whole family of people willing to protect their happiness. From Hana's protective cover up, Class 1-A's immediate acceptance to Fuyumi's surprising aid, they had discovered that love, once found, seemed to have a way of multiplying.
The night embraced them as they disappeared into its shadows, leaving behind the glittering party and all its secrets.
This story has given me a new found appreciation for 1-A. They're a bunch of adorable idiots.