𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 | 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗶 𝘅 𝗼𝗰

¹⁹offered

Rin nervously rubbed her hands together before leaning down to accept a welcoming hug from Rei Todoroki, the woman kissing her cheek lovingly before pulling away.

The small ward room was a bit bleak until Rin and Shoto walked into the room, Rin holding a bouquet of sunflowers that helped to brighten up the room.

"You're as beautiful as you were all those years ago, Sunshine." Rin's heart leapt out of her chest at the familiar nickname Rei used to call her as a child.

"Says you, you haven't aged a day." Rei lightly jabbed her, beaming at Rin's compliment.

Shoto sat beside his mother's bed, smiling softly down at Rei who grinned up at her son. Rin couldn't help but mimic their smiles, feeling warmth radiate from the two Todorokis who kindly greeted each other.

Rin sat with Shoto, witnessing Shoto begin to aimlessly chatter about what he'd been up to; namely the training camp, their summer holidays and moving into dorms. She adored how Shoto's face lit up around Rei, as if she breathed life into him.

"I'm glad to hear that your relationship is going well." Rei mentioned before discreetly glancing at Rin who fidgeted slightly. "Shoto, could you be a dear and find the nurses? I think I want to have lunch now."

Shoto nodded, kissing his mother's cheek briefly before leaving the room. With Shoto's departure, Rin's awkwardness only became more apparent.

"Ms Todoroki, it's nice to see you doing well these days. I apologise for not visiting sooner." Rin softly said, shuffling into Shoto's seat so she was sitting closer to Rei.

Rei let out a light laugh, taking Rin's hands into hers.

"It's alright, Dear." Rei sweetly responded, her smile slightly dropping. "I actually wanted Shoto to bring you here because I needed to talk to you about something."

Rei must've noticed Rin's anxiousness grow at her words, the older woman stroking the back of Rin's hands with her thumbs in soothing circles.

"What did you need to talk to me about?" Rin asked, peering up at Rei.

Rei let out a heavy sigh.

"As much as a dream it would be for you and Shoto to be together, I know you aren't." Rin's eyes bulged out of her sockets. "Shoto believes I'm unaware of the arranged marriage between you two, but I know about it all too well. And I kept it a secret because I needed to tell you something important first."

"...and I assume it'll be up to me if I tell Shoto?" Rin questioned, Rei nodding.

Rin shuffled uncomfortably in her seat as Rei's fingers played with hers.

"I don't stand by Enji often, but it's important that you know that it wasn't his idea to put you in the arranged marriage." Rin's grip tightened around Rei's hands. "It was your father's idea; Enji was offered you in exchange for something else.

Rin furrowed her eyebrows.

"Dad told me that Mr Todoroki took me in exchange for his silence to protect Mr Todoroki's reputation after I witnessed what... you did to Shoto."

"How dare he – !" Rei cut herself off, inhaling sharply as if to calm herself down before continuing. "That reasoning doesn't make sense – Enji can't simply just take you. He could get arrested for that. Besides, you were a child and Ryu would never defame Enji if it meant gaining a new enemy. So, he offered you in exchange, so that Enji would've cause an uproar."

Rin had been so caught up in her own feelings of betrayal and confusion that she hadn't even thought about the validity of her father's words back during the Sports Festival. How hadn't she caught onto the fact that Ryu had blatantly lied to her? Letting her believe that it was Rin's nosiness that had gotten her into this situation? That it was her fault for witnessing what happened between Shoto and Rei that she began to subconsciously blame herself for this entire situation?