Toshinowa

19

We stopped outside a room. The door was open. I could hear a heart monitor inside. But I was afraid to look. Afraid that he wouldn't be there. I looked up at Present Mic.

"We found him this morning. You're all he's asked about since he woke up." I nodded and stepped into the room.

He was there.

I approached the bed.

"D-Dad?" He turned his head, relieved. I found his hand and held it tight.

"You made it out." Tears were filling my eyes.

"You made it out. How?"

"Sir?" A nurse poked her head around the door. "The woman you came in with is awake.

"Woman?" I questioned. I looked at him for an answer.

"Go see for yourself." I hesitantly followed the nurse.

"Toshi! You're alright?"

"Mom!" I ran to her, hugging her tightly.

"Be careful!" the nurse warned.

"How?"

"A hardening quirk and pure determination."

"So you... you got him out?"

"I protected and extracted him. Then continued to protect him." She grabbed my hands, examining my wrists. She looked horrified.

"They really did it." I nodded, trying not to cry.

"Yeah. But I'll be ok. Now that Marcus is gone I can use my other quirk. As long as no one knows the details, villains can't prevent me from using it."

"Always looking on the positive side. Does he know?"

"Not yet. But I can't wait to show him."

(-)

I couldn't stay overnight in the hospital. I went back to the dorm and showered. Then. I was finally able to sleep.

(-)

I woke up late in the afternoon. I was excused from classes for the next week. I ate, then got a text from Shokya.

Shokya

I heard about what happened. I'm glad he's ok. But you should really talk to Todoroki. He seems really upset

Ok. Problem. I promise I didn't say anything. But he's on his way to your room right now.

As if on cue, there was a knock on my door.

"Look, I know you don't want anything to do with me-"

"I'm sorry." He seemed stunned. "I shouldn't have acted the way I did. I was upset, but that doesn't make it ok. Shinsou told me everything." He sighed, looking at the ground.

"He trusted us to protect you. He knew that you were our friend and we would keep our word." He met my eyes. "I trusted his judgement. I knew that I would never be able to forgive myself, not even in the afterlife, if I broke that promise."

"I understand. I shouldn't have doubted you."

"No, you don't have to be sorry. You have every right to be upset."

"What do you mean?" He stepped into the room and held by hands, rubbing the scars on my wrists.

"He held me back after the other left. He told me everything. He said he saw something that no one else did in me. He didn't say what it was, but I understand now."

"What was it?" He shook his head.

"He said you have to figure that out." I couldn't help but giggle.

"Um, I was just about to go to the hospital. Would you like to come with?"

"Sure."

(-)

"I have to show you something."

"What?" I pulled my sketchbook out of my backpack.

"When I met Eri, it wasn't really her that inspired me." I flipped to the pages where I drew the two of them together. "I mean, she did. But what inspired me the most was you." I handed him the book.

"This is beautiful."

"There's more." He flipped the pages looking through all the pictures I had drawn while I thought he was gone for good.

His face the day I started school. The way he watched us when we were training our quirks. The look on his face when he was with Eri. When I let Marcus take me. When he found me. In the pit. Before the rock below me fell. The determination as he held onto me. The relief when we were out of the pit. His face when the cement fell on his leg. The longing in his eyes while he pleaded with Todoroki to leave him. The thankfulness when I was being pulled away. And finally, a sketched version of the picture of him and my mom.

"This is all from your eyes." I nodded. "You were really worried."

"I was scared. You were finally in my life and you were leaving me."

"Well, I'm still here. And as of right now, I'm not going anywhere. Quite literally." I smiled.

"Good."

(-)

"Thank you for inviting me."

"Of course. Thank you for coming with me. By the way, I'm moving back into my class dorm tomorrow."

"Alright. Do you need any help?"

"No thanks. My things will be moved during classes."

"Understandable. Speaking of, when are you starting classes again?"

"Monday. I have the rest of this week and the weekend to catch up."

"Well, if you need help, Yaororozu is really good at teaching."

"Actually, I'd rather if you helped me." Was I giong crazy or was he blushing.

"Um, ok. Well, how about tomorrow? After classes?"

"Sure thing. Just text me the details."

"Alright."