The Story Of Forever (Todobaku)

Moving Forward

"Ready?"

Shouto hugged the backpack in his lap and took a deep breath. Katsuki, sitting in the driver's seat, looked on with concern. UA's parking lot had more cars than it usually did when they arrived in the mornings. But after a five-day weekend full of sleepovers and takeout and goofing around, getting to school on time for their first day back proved difficult.

They hardly spent any time apart during their days off. The first night they slept at Shouto's house, the next night at Katsuki's, then switched back and forth between residences. Rei didn't even mind how loud they were at all hours of the night because of how much happier her boy was compared to a few days prior.

Of course, there was no way to justify to Katsuki's parents why Shouto was taking time off from school since only Katsuki and Hitoshi were suspended. But since Mitsuki and Masaru were supportive of Katsuki standing up to the students that outed Shouto, the boys decided to tell them the truth. Shouto felt safe confiding in the Bakugous. They were like his second set of parents. As expected, they offered Shouto the compassion he needed, as well as emphasized that they didn't view him any differently.

Though it was nice to live in an impenetrable bubble, Shouto's return to school was inevitable. Every student he passed in the halls, everyone in his class, they all knew his secret. He couldn't change it, unfortunately, but at least he didn't have to face this alone.

He nodded from the passenger seat. "Yeah. Let's go."

Trudging through the parking lot, Shouto felt dozens of eyes on him. He wanted to believe everyone was staring at Katsuki since getting suspended for massacring a kid's face was bound to attract attention, but he knew better. The brave expression he sported already showed signs of cracking.

Katsuki glared at the onlookers while walking closer to Shouto. "Stay close to me," he said through his teeth.

No one heckled them as they entered the school, likely because Katsuki would've killed anyone that did. Shouto worried how the dynamic would change when he and Katsuki had to separate. At least they shared first period together, so he could temporarily push that thought aside.

One unexpected occurrence was the crowd by Shouto's locker. Six heads turned in his and Katsuki's directions as they approached. Upon observing their elation, the discomfort Shouto acquired in the parking lot subsided.

He was first greeted by Izuku, who offered him a huge hug. Ochaco and Tenya were next as Katsuki was swarmed by Eijiro, Denki, and Mina. Everyone issued the same greeting, that they were happy to have the boys back in school. Of course, they focused a bit more on Shouto to assert their support.

"I can't believe they haven't expelled those guys yet," Eijiro said. "What they did to you is more than fucked up."

"I assure you that your sexuality will in no way affect our friendship," Tenya added.

"We've been friends our whole lives," Izuku said. "This doesn't change that."

"Now we can obsess over cute boys together!" Denki chimed in.

Shouto smiled as the group showered him with affirmation. "Thank you."

As he entered his locker combination, Katsuki ruffled Shouto's hair. Everyone continued talking in the background, Shouto tuning it out as he transferred his backpack inside. However, his attention was captured when his friends behind him fell silent. When he spun around, he understood why.

With the group surrounding his locker parted down the center, Shouto had a clear view of Hitoshi. Somehow he was even more handsome from the last time Shouto saw him, the day Hitoshi left him broken and confused. They talked over the phone since then, but now in front of him, Shouto was speechless.