“Fancy seeing you here,” Shoto said teasingly, striding up to the agreed upon meeting point for the joint mission between the Endeavor Agency and Team Idaten, where Izuku was waiting for him. The green of his costume blended with that of his hair and eyes, complimenting and enhancing it. For the hundreth or perhaps even the thousandth time over the course of their relationship, Shoto was reminded of how head over heels he was for Izuku, even after years of friendship, then romance, and now marriage.
That sense of deep affection driving him forward, Shoto curled his fingers around Izuku’s and pressed a kiss against the back of his hand.
“Hello gorgeous,” he murmured, looking up at Izuku through his lashes.
“Sho, we’re at work,” Izuku hissed, pulling his hand out of Shoto’s grip. His cheeks flushed, making his freckles stand out sharply against pink tinged skin.
“If I can’t flirt with my husband while we’re at work, when can I flirt with him?” Shoto teased.
“Not when we’re in public!” Izuku replied. “It makes me all flustered, and it’s embarassing! I have an image to uphold, you know. People expect All Might’s successor to be composed at all times.”
“Well, maybe I like seeing you flustered,” Shoto murmured, closing the gap between himself and Izuku. “Maybe I think it’s cute.”
“Shoto!” Izuku protested, stamping his foot like a child. There was humor glinting in his emerald eyes that suggested he was in on the game Shoto was playing. Soon, he burst into giggles, and Shoto couldn’t help but to press a kiss to his laughing mouth. Izuku didn’t hesitate to return the kiss, and even though they had seen each other that morning before leaving for their respective agencies, they clung to each other as if they had been apart from one another for days or months rather than mere hours.
“God, I love you,” Shoto said when they broke apart.
“I love you too, Sho,” Izuku replied. “As I’m sure this”- he wiggled the fingers of the hand on which he wore his wedding band, hidden for the moment beneath his long white glove- “reminds you and the rest of the world of every single day.”
“Maybe not the rest of the world so much,” Shoto said softly, glancing down at his own bare hands and his silver colored wedding band gleaming in the afternoon sun, “but me? Absolutely.” He darted in to give his husband a kiss on the cheek before pulling back once more.
“How long has it been since we’ve gotten to work together?” he asked.
“Too long,” Izuku answered, eyes growing misty at the reminder. “Not since you officially took over management and operations of the Endeavor Agency from your father.’
“And I’ve told you-” Shoto began.
“There’s a place for me there now that Endeavor is finally retired,” Izuku interjected, finishing a conversation that they’d had so many times that they each knew their lines by heart. “I know. But I like the work I’m doing with Team Idaten.”
“Thank whatever forces out there in the universe that allowed us to be able to do that work together this time around,” Shoto said.
“Better enjoy the opportunity while we have it,” Izuku replied, a gleam in his eye, and leaned in for another kiss.
Behind them came the roar of Iida’ engines, startling them apart. When they turned toward the sound, they saw him standing watching their antics with his arms crossed and a disapproving frown on his face. Shoto groaned internally and prepared himself for a lecture on respectful conduct and public displays of affection. Some habits, it seemed, Iida would never grow out of.
The silence persisted for a moment, until Izuku broke it by clearing his throat awkwardly, trying to dispel the tense, uncomfortable air that suddenly hung over them all.
“If you two are quite finished,” Iida said, fixing them both with a reproving glare, “I believe we have work to do.” Both Midoriyas nodded and followed after him as he began their joint patrol and debrief, both thinking it wise not to mention that he was often just as disgustingly flirtatious with Ururaka when they worked together, if not more so.
Of the twenty former members of the UA Hero Course Class A, now graduated and well on their way to becoming full fledged pro heroes, the first of them to be able to move out of their childhood home and into a place of their own was- perhaps unsurprisingly- Shoto. He went the way of his older brother Natsuo and moved out as soon as he was able, which, thanks to his family’s wealth, was almost immediately after graduation.
Izuku, of course, one hundred percent supported this decision. He loved Shoto very much, and he knew how much better things would be for him in the long run, how much better he would be, if he removed himself from the place where all of his traumas had begun as soon as possible. He was eager to do whatever he could to speed that process along, which is how he found himself standing in Shoto’s bedroom in the Todoroki family home, three months after graduation, cardboard box in hand.
“You really didn’t need to help me move,” Shoto said, shoving aside his futon to get at a loose floorboard beneath it, the space underneath which turned out to be filled with books, which he began pulling out and methodically stacking to one side. “It’s not as if I have so many possessions that I couldn’t manage on my own.” Izuku had to admit that his bedroom was rather spartan, but so was the entire house. Despite the wealth and influence of the Todoroki name, their family home was almost totally bare and empty. It seemed less like a home and more like a building that people just happened to occupy.
“This is a big day for you,” he said in response to Shoto’s statement. “It’s a big moment for you, and I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Shoto smiled at that and wordlessly moved aside to let Izuku stack the books from beneath the floorboard in the cardboard box he was carrying. A cursory inspection of them as he did so showed that they were all fiction books, but he knew enough about Shoto’s home life and childhood to not have to ask why he had to have any non school related books hidden away like contraband.
Later, when Izuku and Shoto had gotten everything moved into and set up and settled in Shoto’s new home, there came a knock at the door. Izuku couldn’t help but flash his boyfriend a bright, mischievious smile when he glanced over at him in confusion.
“Well?” he asked, knowing exactly who was at the door but not wanting to spoil the surprise. “Aren’t you going to answer it?” Shoto hesitated for a moment, eyes narrowed suspiciously at Izuku, but then got up from the loveseat where they both sat and went to answer his door.
“Izuku,” he said a moment later. “Mind telling me why our entire class is outside my door?”
“For the Room King competition, of course,” Mina answered for him, striding through the door in her usual smooth, graceful manner, as if she were always sliding along on her acid, the rest of the recently graduated Class A of the Hero Course following behind her.
“Come on, Sho,” Izuku put in in a fake shocked tone. “Don’t tell me you forgot about the Room King competition? It’s only a Class A housewarming tradition, after all.”
“But we’re not comparing dorm rooms…” Shoto countered, clearly puzzled, trailing off as he pondered what exactly Izuku was getting at.
“No, but we will all be moving into our own places sooner or later,” Mina declared.
“And since you’re the first of us to do so, your place will be the benchmark by which all of the rest of ours will be judged,” Izuku finished for her. He had been planning this with her and the rest of their class from the moment he’d heard that Shoto would be moving out of his childhood home. “By default, you’re the first Room King.”
“And whenever one of us gets our first apartment, or moves into a new one,” Yaomomo jumped in, “we’ll all meet up there to determine whether we must crown a new Room King.”
“It’s the perfect way to keep in touch with each other as we begin our careers so we don’t drift apart and lose contact with those who have become our dear friends,” Iida offered.
“Well, it certainly sounds like you have this all planned out,” Shoto remarked dryly. Turning to Izuku, he asked “I don’t suppose I have the option of refusing, do I?”
“Nope!” he exclaimed cheerfully, looping his arms through Shoto’s and preparing to lead their class on a tour of the apartment he’d spent the day helping him turn into a home. “Let’s get started!”
“I’ve never seen you look this happy,” Shoto’s mother said softly as they swayed together on the dance floor, the song they’d chosen for their mother-son dance ringing in Shoto’s ears.
“I’ve never been this happy,” he agreed. “Our family is finally together without Endeavor’s shadow hanging over us, and I’m finally married to the love of my life. This is the happiest day of my life.”
“Good,” his mother replied, tears threatening in her voice. “Happiness is all I’ve ever wanted for you.” Neither of them spoke again after that, and when the song and their dance came to an end, Shoto’s mother stood up on tiptoe to kiss him on the forehead, then moved to his side, out of his line of sight.
“He’s waiting for you,” she murmured in his ear, turning him to face toward the chairs set up around the edge of the dance floor. There sat Izuku and Inko, side by side, having finished their own mother-son dance not long before. Both wore identical expressions, with beaming smiles and shining eyes. As Shoto and his mother approached, they stood, and when they finally met each other at the edge of the dance floor, Inko pulled Shoto into a rib-crushing hug, with a surprising amount of force considering she only came up to his shoulder.
“Welcome to the family,” she whispered.
“Thank you,” Shoto replied, “but I hope you know that I’ve considered myself part of your family for a long time now.”
“Of course,” Inko said tearfully. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Shoto smiled down at her, heart swelling with love for the woman he was thrilled to now call his mother-in-law.
“Mom,” Izuku cut in. “Could I steal my husband for a little bit? I believe we’re owed our first dance.”
“Oh, yes, of course,” Inko replied with a wet sounding laugh. “I’m sorry. Sometimes I forget myself in my old age.”
“It’s okay, Mom,” Izuku said, leaning down to give her a kiss on the cheek before reaching over to take Shoto’s hand in his.
“Are you ready?” he asked softly, emerald eyes locking with heterochromatic ones.
“You know I’d follow you anywhere, and into anything,” Shoto replied. “For better or for worse.”
“Till death do us part,” Izuku answered, leading him out onto the dance floor. They began to move together as the music started, tracing slow circles across the floor while keeping to a waltz step, as Izuku had insisted that anything more complex would inevitably cause him to trip over his own feet. Shoto didn’t care. The complexity or lack thereof of the dance didn’t matter, only who he was doing it with, and he couldn’t have asked for a better partner, in this dance or in life.
With the hand that was held in Izuku’s, Shoto twirled him, and as he reeled him back in, he saw that his eyes were shining with tears and his cheeks were wet with them.
“Why the tears, my love?” he murmured, cupping Izuku’s face between his hand and brushing his tears away with the pads of his thumbs.
“Tears of joy, I promise you,” Izuku replied with a wet laugh, like his mother’s earlier. “This is the happiest day of my life.”
“Mine too,” Shoto agreed.
“Midoriya,” Izuku muttered, apparently to himself. “Shoto Midoriya.” He laughed. “I still can’t quite believe it.” At that, Shoto couldn’t not kiss him, and they finished their dance swaying together while mid lip-lock.
Later, they sat at the sweetheart table, recieving well wishes and congratulations. There were quite a lot of those, as it turned out, from quite a lot of people- All Might, Aizawa and Present Mic, Ururaka, Shinso, and the Bakugos, even Katsuki, who, despite his glowering and grumbling, clearly held true, friendly affection for Izuku and was happy for him, congratulating him by growling, “You two idiots deserve each other,”
Last came Fuyumi and Natsuo, Fuyumi pushing her husband Tensei in his wheelchair while his brother followed in their wake.
“Welcome to the family,” Fuyumi murmured to Izuku, echoing Inko’s sentiment to Shoto from before, letting go of Tensei’s wheelchair to pull Izuku into a hug.
“It’s great to have you,” Natsuo said when they pulled apart, clapping Izuku on the shoulder. Tenya, ever their stiff and formal class rep, despite the fact that they’d all graduated years ago, touched his fists together and bowed to Izuku, saying, “It’s an honor to have you as a brother-in-law.” Izuku beamed at all of them, eyes shining.
“Thank you all so much,” he said. Shoto leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek, overcome with joy himself.
“How did I manage to get married before you, Natsu?” he teased, fixing his gaze on his brother. “Didn’t you start dating your girlfriend when I was in high school?”
“Give me a break, you had a head start!” Natsuo exclaimed, playacting at being offended. “You’ve known Izuku for longer than I’ve known my girfriend.”
“I absolutely have not,” Shoto countered. “You two were dating at the beginning of my first year, I’m almost certain.”
“We’ll get here soon, I promise,” Natsuo said with a conspiritorial smile that made Izuku gasp aloud and Fuyumi squeal and immeditately begin pestering Natsuo for details.
After that, the group dispersed, leaving the newlyweds to spend time alone with each other, which they did happily, the crowd and rest of the world falling away until it was just them two. But every time a slow song played, they got up to dance, swaying together in gentle circles, and the night was filled with love and laughter and a joy too great to express.
I haven’t been able to catch up on Season 5 of My Hero Academia just yet because I’ve been distracted by other shows, most specifically One Piece (I am around episode 580 now – we just entered the New World). I’m also not a person that really watches weekly shows if I can help it; I’d prefer to binge a show.
All that being said, I’m so happy that the series recently hit it’s 100th episode! This show is so good, and I hope this is just the beginning. I never want this show to end! I think I might start Season 5 episode 1 tonight!
A few months back I was guessing that maybe Horikoshi didn’t give us a hospital arc after the war because he had a DIFFERENT hospital arc — maybe even a battle — in mind. With all the separate battle locations, and at least All Might and Tsukauchi stationed near Central Hospital, it seemed plausible. (Unclear if Kurogiri is still there…I assume so although it’s not confirmed.)
BUT IF WE GET IIDA PRINCESS-CARRYING TOYA TO CENTRAL HOSPITAL, WHERE REI, FUYUMI, AND NATSUO CAN REUNITE WITH HIM, I WILL BE SO HAPPY. And if we get an “updated” version of the Sports Festival awards ceremony talk between Shoto and All Might I will ascend.
A parallel reaching back to the sports festival!! Look at Shoto making progress in his personal & academic growth!!! You can literally see the weight has been lifted off his shoulders & the new life in his eyes!
Anybody else go completely BONKERS over this part??
Dad-Zawa is 100% REFUSING to give up on his kids no matter how grim it looks!!!
Aizawa clearly sees that clean parallel between Aoyama & Shirakumo, as non-consenting villains unwittingly thrust into a war as pawns.
But I think Aizawa also sees the possibility of himself in Aoyama as well. He he doesn’t want a future where Aoyama closes himself off to the world, of losing his twinkle.
As we know, Aizawa is still deeply effected by Shirakumo’s death & I can confidently say, I think this is the reason he walks around looking like a hobo. Part of him still feels pathetic & helpless b/c he couldn’t save his friend and as a result, he neglects himself.
He focuses entirely on rationing his down time sleeping in a bag, having a completely empty apartment & eating goo packets so he can be ready at a moment’s notice for anything.He may be a great hero, but his civilian time is devoid of creature comforts. His emotional life is as empty as his apartment.
Aizawa does NOT want that for Aoyama, especially since he knows how sensitive a kid he is.
This man has lost body parts. He has lost FRIENDS. Had his bones broken. Had his SKULL broken. & He’s still showing up to assure his student that It’ll be okay, if he trusts his friends.
& How does Aizawa know it’ll be okay??
Because the one comfort Aizawa allows himself is his friend, Mic.
The fact that there’s not 1 parallel in this scene but 2 separate parallels!!!
1. It was Kirishima, not Deku, to be the only possible person to reach out & rescue Bakugou vs. Iida Being the only one who could reach out to Midoriya!
2. Deku reinforcing Iida in his attempt to fight Stain alone vs Iida telling Deku not to fight OFA alone!
