𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 ⟢ 𝘁. 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗼𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗶/𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗶

𝟏𝟕: 𝐰𝐡𝐲?

𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫
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𝐢𝐯

𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐢

i watched her from the shadows, just like i always did. the surprise birthday party played out like a scene from a life that wasn't mine anymore—a life i couldn't be part of. hidden in the darkness, i saw the joy and laughter, but i also caught the tension, the way her parents seemed to press down on her with their expectations. the way she struggled to keep it together. it was like watching a ghost of the life i used to want.

when her parents finally left and she retreated to her room, i knew it was time. i approached the house with a heaviness in my chest, a feeling that i'd buried under layers of anger and resentment for years. "what the hell am i doing here?" i muttered. "i'm a villain, not some stupid savior."

but despite everything, despite who i'd become, i couldn't stay away. as i neared her room, i heard her crying. i hesitated at the door, the sound of her sobs cutting through me in a way i didn't expect. finally, i pushed the door open and stepped inside.

she was lying on her bed, her body trembling with quiet sobs, still in that damn beautiful outfit from earlier. i sat down on the edge of the bed, my hand hovering uncertainly before i finally placed it on her back. i rubbed it gently, and the contact felt strange—foreign but also comforting in a way that unsettled me.

her eyes met mine, red and swollen, full of confusion and surprise. before she could speak, i broke the silence. "i'm not here to threaten you or give you shit for having hawks and the todoroki's here," i said, my voice softer than i'd intended. "i found out it was your birthday. so... happy birthday."

she looked at me, clearly taken aback by the tone in my voice. slowly, she sat up, and i reached out to wipe away her tears. we just stared at each other for a moment before she managed a small, shaky smile. "you remembered my birthday?"

i rolled my eyes, trying to downplay the significance. "don't flatter yourself. i just notice things." but the truth was, i'd always remembered.

it's not like i didn't grow up with her and celebrated each other's birthdays.

i reached into my pocket and pulled out something small—a golden medallion that i made with my fire from gold nuggets toga and twice helped me get. her eyes widened as she took it from my hand. "thank you," she whispered. "but... what's this?"

i smirked, though it didn't reach my eyes. "maybe i wanted to give you something that meant something. or maybe i just wanted to remind you of who i used to be."

as she held the small medallion, i could see the conflict in her eyes. "oh touya..." her voice trailed off, filled with so much uncertainty.

we were dancing around the inevitable. i could feel it in the air between us, the tension, the unspoken words. "why didn't you come back?" she finally asked, her voice trembling. "to the todoroki's... to me?"