Leave Your Mark | Various!BNHA x Reader

49: Stranger Danger

Today, you're going to the hospital to visit Shouto's mother.

He was originally supposed to have gone to meet her after the Sports Festival, thanks to Izuku helping him come to terms with his powers during their one-on-one battle. You weren't necessarily trying to alter fate by forcing this change to come around earlier, but you're glad it happened. Your presence in this world has spared Shouto from many years of prolonged suffering. After all, you're not his best friend just for show.

"Good morning, Shouto," you greet, smiling as brightly as always. "Are you excited to see your mom?"

"A bit nervous," he admits. There's a slight pause as he looks you over, although you're not quite sure why. His cheeks even redden a bit, but it's too subtle for you to notice. "Um... you look nice," he finally manages, and he swallows hard, struggling to maintain eye contact.

"Don't I always look nice?" you pout.

"Of course you do," Shouto hurriedly insists. "I just meant that you look even nicer than usual. Normally, you're at one hundred percent, but now you're above one hundred percent. Maybe I'm not doing a good job of explaining it, but... yeah. That's what I was trying to say."

You giggle, wasting no time before pulling Shouto into a hug. "Relax, I was just kidding. But I'm glad you think I look nice. I want to make a good first impression. I hope she ends up liking me."

"She will," Shouto says, without a moment's hesitation.

He may not be able to predict whether or not his mom will be happy to see him, but one thing he knows, and there's not a trace of doubt in his mind, is that his mother is bound to adore you. Just like his siblings do, and just like Endeavor does, even though he tries his hardest to deny it.

The Todoroki family's relationship is strained, perhaps even partially broken, but with you here to help...

They can be mended whole again.

You and Shouto step into the hospital together. You can't really say that you have particularly fond memories of hospitals. You spent an uncomfortable amount of time here, after you were born and prior to your very first adoption. Being trapped inside a baby's body, while having full awareness, was utter torture. It's been many years since then, but given the circumstances and context of your visit, you suddenly recall your biological mother. If she hadn't given you up for adoption, you would never have met Chisaki, and if you'd never met Chisaki, then so many of the changes you brought on might not have even been possible.

You don't know where your mother is, and you certainly don't know what she's doing right now, but whatever the case, you hope she's happy.

You hope that she's every bit as happy as you are.

"Two visitors for Todoroki Rei?" the receptionist asks, and both of you nod insistently, after which you briefly fill out some paperwork, collect your visitor passes, then head over to the room.

To be honest, you're not nervous. You already know that Rei will simply be happy to see her son again. There won't be any bad blood or resentment left between them. This is meant to be a beautiful, touching reunion, and although it was never outright shown in the actual series, the important part is how it ended. Part of you can't help but wonder if you being here might throw things off a bit, but you doubt it. Rei has no reason to be upset with Shouto bringing a friend. If anything, it'll just make her even happier. You can already envision it, before you even step into the room.

"...hi, mom."

Shouto speaks up, slightly hesitant, once the door is fully open. Rei is sitting next to the window, in the exact pose you remember so vividly, and when she turns towards you, her gray eyes widen from the disbelief of seeing her son after all these years, along with the new, friendly-looking face of the girl standing beside him. Your face is so bright, so radiant, that even though she was looking outside the window just a second ago, she swears the sun itself must've come to pay her a visit.