You Don't Have to Answer That
The sun had long since surrendered to night at Hakurei Station, where Tanaka Hiroshi prepared for another quiet evening shift on a Sunday night. Stars pierced the inky darkness above, their light competing with the station's fluorescent glow. The sight was familiar to him as his own home, having worked here for the last thirty years. He had witnessed countless meetings over the years, as passengers got on and off the train,each greeting, each goodbye was always something precious. These moments made his job seem worth it. Tonight, however, it was exceptionally quiet, save two young people stood on the platform, waiting for the train.
As Tanaka walked along the platform, cursing his hips for being stiff in the cold, movement caught his eye- the young couple further up moved closer together. The girl had her back to him, waves of dark hair falling in shimmering waves, contrasting with her cream-coloured winter coat. Even from here, barely able to see her, she stood out as a tourist, her coat seemed expensive, her hair looked like she'd styled it for a party, her winter boots looked like the expensive pair his granddaughter had sent to him in the hopes he would gift it to her for her birthday. The boy, who as perfectly visible, had a striking face, a scar ran down the right side of his face and…two different coloured eyes! With two hair colours, red and white, poking out from beneath his hat. The look of him, the distinctive colours, the handsome, serious face, sparked something in Tanaka's memory, though he couldn't quite place it.
The sight of a young couple, so clearly in love, so uncaring to be separated. transported him back three decades, to when he would bid farewell to his Mai at this very station. She would return to her village twice a month, leaving him with an ache in his chest that only her return could soothe. These two reminded him so much of those bittersweet partings - the way they stood so close, the way the boys eyes traced the girls face, as though trying to memorise every inch of her. The girl had her hands were pressed against his chest, fingers curling into the fabric of his dark coat. The boy's expression held such tenderness as he wiped away her tears with his thumb, his other arm wrapped protectively around her waist.
As Tanaka walked past to check the arrival board, their soft voices carried in the still night air.
"Promise?" the girl asked, her voice trembling slightly, her posh accent confirming to Tanaka he had been right.
"Yes, I promise," the boy replied, his tone gentle but certain. He reached into his pocket and withdrew a long, rectangular box. "Happy birthday."
Tanaka did not mean to but the parallel between his own past and this moment, was too heart warming and sweet to ignore, he glanced back over his shoulder to catch sight of the girl as her eyes widened in surprise as she accepted the gift. She was remarkably pretty, with bright grey eyes and petal pink lips…even she looked somewhat familiar but he could not place where he knew her from. He watched her open the gift carefully, before she let out a laugh that seemed to brighten the entire platform. Tanaka turned away and smiled to himself as the young woman rose on tiptoes to kiss the boy softly, his arms tightening around her.
Turning as the approaching train's headlights illuminated the station, casting long shadows long the platform, Tanaka expected to witness their final farewell, but to his surprise, they both boarded the train. Even more curious was how they separated once inside, moving to opposite ends of the carriage. Though they sat far apart, their gazes remained locked on each other, filled with such longing that Tanaka felt like an intruder for witnessing it.
As the train pulled away from the station, snow began to fall, delicate flakes dancing in the wake of its departure. Tanaka watched until the taillights disappeared into the darkness, puzzling over this strange contradiction - a goodbye that wasn't really a goodbye at all.
Their secret escape to the mountain village of Hakurei had provided precisely what Shoto and Ren needed - a temporary escape from the weight of their carefully maintained public personas. To just be themselves was like the breath of fresh air they needed to dive back down into their lives that waited for them in Musutafu City. That glimpse they had of what life could be like, just the two of them, no need for secrecy, no need to say goodbye, gave them all the motivation they needed to get through the next few years. Upon their return to the city, both found themselves better equipped to navigate their complex lives, carrying with them the memory of those precious days of normalcy.
For Shoto, the timing of their escape proved particularly fortunate. During his absence, Class 1-A had processed the revelation of his relationship with Ren, moving past their initial shock to a place of understanding. When he returned to UA, he encountered not the barrage of questions he had dreaded, but rather a thoughtful respect for his privacy. His classmates, displaying remarkable maturity, focused instead on their shared training goals. Although, for 1-A it seemed a little too normal and he could almost sense the questions vibrating inside of the girls whenever he put his phone down after speaking to Ren.
1-A had to double take every now and then when Shoto behaved in any way that resembled a normal human being; offering advice to help others with training, sharing his food, seeking classmates out to talk about things not related to the curriculum. They noticed that his movements changed during training, he displayed a new fluidity and grace that was not there at the beginning of the year; something about Ren clearly enabled, or at least pushed him to gain a new level of mastery of his quirks.
The boys of Class 1-A found themselves increasingly including Shoto in their activities, no longer intimidated by his reserved nature. During lunch breaks, he would occasionally join their discussions, even participating in their more lighthearted conversations. His genuine interest in learning about baking from Sato particularly amused his classmates; Todoroki learning about something For a girl he liked felt like they'd all ben transported into some mushy romance novel.
The girls of the class, who had previously maintained a respectful distance due to his intimidating demeanour, began approaching him more freely. Yaoyorozu, in particular, noticed how he seemed more present during their study sessions, offering help to others rather than focusing solely on his own work. Even Ashido, typically exuberant and therefore somewhat overwhelming to Shoto, found him more receptive to her energetic personality.
Perhaps the most notable transformation occurred in his relationship with Fuyumi. One evening, as she settled onto the couch with her customary cup of tea to watch her favourite k-drama series, Shoto quietly joined her. The cup nearly slipped from her fingers in surprise when he not only sat down but also asked a question about the plot. This small gesture marked the beginning of something they had never truly experienced - a normal sibling relationship. Their shared viewing sessions became a regular occurrence, but the thing Fuyumi liked most about it was arguing with Shoto over what to watch. Finally, Shoto behaved like a younger brother! He had opinions on what they watched and even suggested something Natsuo might like if he was joining them that evening. She often frowned as the boys seemed to evaporate whenever their father came home though.
For Ren, the return to university life brought its own positive changes. The break from her public obligations had allowed her to reset, approaching the new semester with renewed focus and energy. Her writing took on additional depth, informed by her experiences of viewing hero society through Shoto's perspective. The university newspaper office, once a sanctuary from her public life, became a place where she could fully integrate her various roles - journalist, student, and secret girlfriend to a hero-in-training.
Ren and Shoto had even discovered a way to spend time together in public settings without arousing suspicion; as 1-A welcomed Ren into their circle, she was able to join their outings. During study sessions in the UA library, her presence would inevitably draw curious glances from other students, but the protective circle of Class 1-A never failed to protect her. In these group settings, while Ren and Shoto maintained a careful distance, though their friends couldn't help but notice the subtle ways they remained aware of each other's presence. A slight temperature fluctuation might betray Shoto's reaction to Ren's laughter, or Ren's eyes might linger a moment too long on Shoto during group conversations. Ren fell into the group naturally, although her trademark moments of occasional chaos seemed to follow her wherever she went.
A few weeks following their return from Hakurei, Class 1-A decided to brave the weather, which was turning warmer, and have a picnic in the bright winter sun. The trees on campus were blooming with cherry blossoms early, transforming the grounds into a dreamscape of pink and white, the delicate petals drifting on the spring breeze like nature's confetti. The class had claimed a prime spot beneath the largest tree, blankets spread across the grass, their laughter mingling with the general atmosphere of celebration, each clutching cups of steaming tea and begging Shoto too set fire to something so they could warm up. They bundled under blankets and watched the world go by. Ren sat among them, speaking to Iida about the current policy reforms to hero-charity relations, though her hand somehow found Shoto's under her blanket as he debated the ending to a manga he disliked with Sero.
Ren relished the conversations she had with he heroes-in-training, now they were friends, she found that these debates about hero society, for once, felt more like intellectual discourse than political argument. But as Iida was pushing her on a particular point she felt someone's eyes practically devouring her. Mina Ashido had been watching Ren and Shoto from across the picnic blanket, her big yellow eyes widening as she saw Shoto take Ren's hand in his own beneath the blanket, while both remained back-to-back, giving nothing away on the surface. Ren turned to Mina and tilted her head at her in return.
"What's it like to date Todoroki?" Mina asked suddenly, her yellow eyes sparkling with curiosity. The question cut through the ambient chatter, drawing everyone's attention. Even the boys, who typically affected disinterest in romantic matters, fell silent.
Ren felt heat rise to her cheeks as her mind immediately filled with a single sentence:did you know his tongue can give you brain freeze no matter where he puts it?
Noting Ren's uncharacteristic silence and the colour in her cheeks, Shoto seemed to read her thoughts. "You don't have to answer that," he said quickly, his tone carrying just enough authority to suggest he knew exactly what she was thinking about.
"Thank you," Ren exhaled gratefully, earning a suspicious look from Mina that clearly said:I'll get it out of you one day.
February's chill permeated the basement office of the Musutafu University newspaper, though the heat from the adjacent boiler room kept the space uncomfortably warm. Ren sat at her desk, her dark hair falling in soft waves around her face as she watched Kaito and Ryu through the glass wall of the editor's office. They had been on the phone for what felt like hours, their animated gestures visible through the transparent barrier.
Dressed in her signature black dress and dark boots, Ren projected her usual polished image despite the anxiety churning in her stomach. Gold jewellery glittered at her wrists and throat, catching the warm glow of the old-fashioned desk lamps that dotted the room. She found herself fidgeting with her newest piece of jewellery - a delicate gold bracelet, its pendant containing an enamel ladybird perched on a crystal daisy, captured beneath clear glass. The gift from Shoto at Hakurei station seemed to sparkle even in the dim office lighting.
Ever a riot of colour in her vintage bell-bottom jeans and flowing peasant blouse, Bubbles reached across her desk to grab Ren's wrist. Her pink curls bounced as she examined the bracelet closely, her blue eyes widening with delight. "This is so cute!" she exclaimed. "Look, it's your colours in one place!" Ren blinked, realising for the first time that the red, white and black of the ladybird and daisy did mirror her and Shoto's most distinctive features. Before she could respond, movement caught her eye - Kaito was finally putting down the phone. She stood, smoothing her skirt as though to ground herself.
"Good luck!" Bubbles whispered as Ren walked toward the editor's office, her boot heels clicking against the floor with purposeful determination.
Her editor looked up as she entered, his usually kind face showing signs of strain. His tweed jacket hung over the back of his chair, his shirtsleeves rolled up in the perpetual warmth of the basement office. Beside him, Ryu lounged against the desk, his perpetually disheveled appearance a stark contrast to Kaito's professional demeanour.
"Ren!" Kaito said enthusiastically, as Ryu crossed his arms, "what can we-"
"I know you run News from the Underground," Ren said without preamble, her grey eyes sharp with certainty. "And I know you published the Stain manifesto alongside commentary plagiarised from drafts I sent you."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop despite the ever-present heat from the boiler. Kaito and Ryu exchanged glances, a silent conversation passing between them. Finally, Kaito leaned back in his chair, his dark eyes studying Ren carefully, a kind of interest glinting in them that he had never had before.
"What do you want, Ren?" he asked, his voice carrying none of its usual warmth.
Ren lifted her chin, she wasn't here to destroy any careers or damage professional relationships. "I understand your motivations," she said, her voice steady. "I told you that I did. The need to expose truth, to challenge the system. But I cannot condone your methods." She took a deep breath, her shoulders squared beneath her crisp white shirt. "I want to write a piece for the official university newspaper - a nuanced, balanced, informed commentary on the Stain manifesto. Then we're square."
Another loaded glance passed between the two men before Kaito nodded slowly. "Okay," he agreed. "You'll have complete editorial freedom." Relief flooded through Ren as she left the office; this was the kind of break young journalists wold kill for. She literally had been given complete freedom reign. In a sense, it was time to publish her own manifesto, all thanks to the rash, impulsive decisions of her older male colleagues.
She managed maintained her composed exterior until she reached her desk. Her hands trembled slightly as she picked up her phone, typing quickly, the adrenaline of the confrontation and the excitement of the conclusion coursing through her veins:Got the go-ahead for my piece.
Shoto's response came almost immediately:Never doubted you.
A smile spread across her face as she typed:Shall we meet out tonight?
Just the two of us? That's risky isn't it? Won't someone recognise you? I was going to go with Midoriya and the others to The Library.
Ren's smile widened as her brow furrowed in confusion; The library was a bookshop/cafe turned bar in the evenings, how had 1-A managed to convince Shoto to go there? The idea of seeing him in public, tempting him to the quiet, dark corners between the bookshelves was exactly what she'd been craving. She bit her lip as she replied:Great, I'll join you. Setting down her phone, she turned to Bubbles, who was attempting to organise her chaotically decorated desk by creating a tower of random objects in the middle of it. "Hey, do you know where I can get a wig? Also, want to come to The Library tonight?"
With a gasp of delight, Bubbles' blue eyes went wide, her pink curls seeming to bounce with excitement as she processed the implications of Ren's questions. A grin spread across her face, making her rose-gold glitter freckles sparkle in the lamplight. "Yes and yes!"
I dunno you guys, I'm not feeling it.
I know where the plot is going, it's juicy and interesting and you'll love it but I want a couple chapters of character growth etc to really ground the relationship…but is it interesting? Is it cute?
Tell me your thoughts, are we on the right track?