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𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐚: "𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧"
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𝐲𝐨𝐮
i exited the lab, the weight of the day pressing heavily on my shoulders. project rewind had consumed every ounce of my focus, and though i had made slight progress, the finish line still felt impossibly far. the clock was nearing midnight—or maybe it had already passed. time felt irrelevant lately, blurred into a haze of relentless work and sleepless nights.
outside, the rain paused briefly, offering a deceptive calm before returning with a vengeance. each drop struck the ground with purpose, unyielding in its rhythm. i pulled my coat tighter around me and started walking. the sound of water splashing under my steps blended seamlessly with the noise in my head.
as i walked, i glanced at my phone, scrolling absentmindedly through posts from mutuals and news outlets. a notification popped up:
fuyumi todoroki is online!
it's been a while since you last chatted. check up on your friend!
huh.
i stared at the screen, my thumb hovering over her name. it had been many days—maybe longer—since i last spoke to the todoroki siblings. not since that day at the hospital. things had been tense, to say the least. i didn't need to be a genius to realize they wanted distance. i had messed everything up, and they were well within their rights to shut me out.
still, a pang of sadness tugged at me. they used to be my family in every sense of the word, their presence woven into my daily life. now, they felt like strangers.
my fault honestly.
the rain followed me home, cold and relentless. by the time i slipped off my soaked shoes and leaned my umbrella against the wall, my clothes clung to me like an unwelcome second skin. without hesitation, i headed to the bathroom, peeling away the damp layers before stepping into the shower.
the water was warm, cascading over me, washing away the chill and some of the day's tension. i closed my eyes, letting the steam envelop me. at least this moment was still mine.
afterward, i sat in the living room, picking at something quick to eat. my gaze drifted to the balcony doors, the rain outside painting streaks on the glass.
a memory stirred, one that had lingered in the back of my mind for years.
the rain had poured steadily that day, a soft rhythm against the patio rocks of the todoroki estate. i didn't mind it. the cool drops sliding down my cheeks felt refreshing as i tilted my head to the gray sky above. but touya, standing beside me with his arms crossed and a deep frown etched on his face, didn't share my enthusiasm.
