ᴍᴏɴsᴛᴇʀ~ ʙɴʜᴀ.

15: Shadow in Class 1-A.

THE SKY WAS PAINTED in faint hues of lavender and rose as dawn barely touched the horizon.

Inside the Todoroki household, the sound of running water whispered from the bathroom, mingling with the silence of early morning.

Steam curled out from beneath the door like a secret escaping the walls.

Moments later, the door creaked open. Shoto stepped out, droplets clinging to his pale skin, a towel slung low around his hips.

The morning chill kissed his damp skin, but he barely noticed. His expression was distant, unreadable, as always.

He stood in front of the mirror, combing through his soft, dual-colored hair-red like flames on one side, white as snow on the other.

A reflection of the life he was born into: torn between two worlds, two legacies.

After dressing in his crisp U.A. uniform, he finally stepped out of his room, footsteps light, almost soundless.

In the dining room, the clinking of cutlery and low hum of morning chatter filled the air.

Enji Todoroki sat at the head of the table, stiff and composed, sipping his tea.

Fuyumi smiled softly at him while serving breakfast, and Natsu scrolled through something on his phone, only half-engaged with the meal.

Shoto entered without a word, slipping into the seat beside Natsu. Fuyumi offered him a warm smile as she placed his plate in front of him.

"Good morning, Shoto," she whispered, as if trying to keep the calm.

Shoto gave her a small nod in thanks. He picked up his chopsticks, but before he could take a bite, his father's voice cut through the quiet like a knife.

"I've heard Yaoyorozu's daughter is in your class," Enji said, his gaze fixed and unblinking over the rim of his teacup.

Shoto's hand paused midair. Slowly, he looked up and met his father's piercing stare. "She is," he said simply, his voice flat.

Enji placed the cup down gently. "Good," he said, his tone unnervingly calm. "I want you to start building a relationship with her. A friendship, at least."

Shoto frowned slightly, brows drawing together. "Why?"

Enji didn't hesitate. "Because," he said, eyes hardening, "I've arranged your engagement with her. The decision has already been made. Both families have agreed."

The air froze.

Fuyumi's hand stopped halfway to her mouth.

Natsu's phone slipped from his grasp, landing with a soft thud on the table. Silence fell over them like a dark cloud.

"What...?" Shoto's voice was barely a whisper, filled with disbelief.

"I said," Enji continued, voice still calm, as if discussing the weather, "you're getting engaged to Yaoyorozu Momo. It will strengthen both families, and the merger between our companies will finalize after the announcement next week."

Shoto's heart dropped. He stared at his father, the weight of the words hitting like a thunderclap. Engaged? Just like that? Without even asking me?

His hands curled into tight fists under the table, nails digging into his palms. "I'm not interested," he said coldly, his voice trembling with restrained rage.