Can We Be Heroes?

Chapter 23• Early Tales of future Heroes I

The Oblivious Shoto Todorok.

In life, most people had hobbies, interests, and dreams—things they wanted to achieve, activities they enjoyed, or even simple goals to strive for. But for Shoto Todoroki, life was a bit different.

To say Shoto was like a brick wall would be an understatement. He was stoic, reserved, and about as emotionally expressive as a slab of concrete. At least, that’s how he appeared to the outside world. His calm demeanor and icy gaze often left people wondering if anything could crack through the exterior.

However, what truly baffled those around him was Shoto’s uncanny ability to remain utterly clueless about the world around him. Dense didn’t even begin to cover it.

And maybe, just maybe, that was why, despite his sister’s constant insistence that he stay put at home, Shoto had somehow found himself on the other side of the city within minutes.

How he managed that? No one knew. Why he decided to leave? He wasn’t entirely sure himself. But here he was, standing in the middle of a bustling shopping district, drawing attention without even realizing it.

Shoto’s striking two-toned hair—half white, half red—caught the sunlight, making him stand out like a beacon. His sharp, handsome features and lean frame only added to his aura of quiet mystery, and the girls passing by couldn’t help but take notice.

“Waoh, check out that guy!” a girl whispered to her friend, blushing furiously as she glanced at him.

“So hot!” another girl murmured, clutching her shopping bag tightly and biting her bottom lip.

Shoto, for his part, remained blissfully unaware of the growing attention. He was too busy staring at a vending machine, his mismatched eyes narrowing slightly as he contemplated whether he wanted tea or water.

The crowd around him grew, with some girls whispering excitedly and others trying to muster the courage to approach him. Finally, one brave unfortunate soul stepped forward, her cheeks flushed and her heart pounding.

“H-Hi!” she stammered, twirling a strand of her hair nervously.

Shoto turned to her, his expression neutral but polite. “Hello.”

The girl’s blush deepened. His voice is so deep. “I was wondering… would you like to grab coffee with me sometime?”

There was a brief pause as Shoto processed her words. His brows furrowed slightly, and he tilted his head. “Coffee?”

“Yes!” the girl said eagerly, her eyes shining with hope. “You know, like… a date?”

Another pause. Shoto blinked, his expression utterly blank as the words sank in. Then, slowly, he shook his head.

“I don’t drink coffee.” he said simple flat tone.

The girl’s face fell, and she stammered out, “Oh! That’s okay! We could—"

“Thank you, though,” Shoto added, giving her a small nod before turning back to the vending machine.

The girl walked away, her friends rushing to console her while Shoto finally selected a bottle of tea and walked off without a second thought.

It was a pattern that repeated throughout the day—girls trying to get his attention, and Shoto remaining utterly oblivious to their advances. At one point, a pair of giggling teens even handed him their phone numbers, which he politely accepted before promptly discarding into the nearest trash can, mistaking them for advertisements.

To anyone observing, it was almost painful to watch.

----•----

Back at home, Shoto’s sister, Fuyumi, paced the living room, her worry evident. “Where did he go? He said he’d stay put!”