𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 | 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗶 𝘅 𝗼𝗰

⁷the key

Shoto couldn't believe it.

He'd been expecting a reprimand for losing, perhaps a few 'you're a disappointment's, and hopefully a nice little spiel about how Ryu Takahashi's daughter was able to defeat him.

Alas, the moment he'd gotten home, his father had been waiting for him in the doorway and had forced him to get dressed in formal attire.

He worked fast, Shoto will give his father that.

So, that's how he ended up once again at the dinner table with Rin and her father.

She was dressed in a modest, white dress, hair tied in one plait that was meticulously placed over one shoulder. Her light makeup highlighted her features in the yellow-tinged light, lips particularly glossy and pursed.

She seemed to have taken more of a beating during her fight with Bakugou than her fight with him, one of her high cheekbones tainted with a bruise where the feisty boy had punched her. Her rib injury had seemingly been healed by Recovery Girl given that she was sitting as rigid as always.

She stared ahead, where he sat, but was not quite looking him in the eyes.

Shoto knew that this meeting was about their arranged marriage and he was led to believe that Rin had no idea what was going on. He'd warned her twice, yet she somehow overthrew him and won.

"Congratulations on beating my son, you're an intelligent girl." Enji complimented, Rin shyly bowing her head as a silent 'thank you'. "I will be extending you an internship at my agency, I hope you take it."

Rin glanced at her father in hopes that he would give her some sort of telling sign on whether or not she should intern with Enji, but he only avoided her gaze.

Meanwhile, Shoto held back the urge to click his tongue at his father's obvious flattery. If his and Rin's wellbeing weren't on the line, he would've snapped at them to skip the niceties and get to business. But the aforesaid business was not something he was anticipating, so any distraction was welcomed at this point.

"Now Enji," Ryu seemed to have the opposite thought process to Shoto. He wanted this to be over with as soon as possible. "Would you like to bring up the topic for tonight?"

Enji nodded, his hands folding on the table. "right, I believe they're old enough to begin the process."

Rin immediately stared at Shoto. She knew he wasn't on board with an arranged marriage– whether this be because he hated her or that the general idea was distasteful. She tried to gauge an answer, but his stone features were as unreadable as usual.

"Shoto and Rin shall be married right after graduation." Enji announced, Rin's heart dropping as she closed her eyes. "Shoto will begin courting you."

Rin's fingers balled up the fabric of her dress, a lump forming in her throat.

Before she could form some sort of response, Shoto scoffed aloud.

"I refuse to court Takahashi!" she wasn't sure whether to be relieved or offended that he spoke up. "I'd rather have the other side of my face be burned by boiling hot water than marry her."

The three stared in utter shock for a moment.

Offended. That's how she should feel.

"Excuse me, young man?" Ryu threatened lowly, his countenance darkening as his eyes practically glowed.

"You heard me." Shoto confidently refuted, crossing his arms.

"Shoto –!"

" – If you may allow it, Father, Mr Todoroki – may I talk to Shoto privately?"