Light In The Darkness

Chapter 5: Planning

It was a week after the incident that his eye finally healed, Fuyumi would help him apply some medicine, and wrap his eye since the last time he did it, it put too much pressure. Aizawa gave him permission to bring the cat to school since Fuyu kept finding a way to get into his bag, and jump out when everyone is in the classroom to get the attention she desired. She also became a service cat to him whenever he felt too distracted by his thoughts and nightmares. Shouto was prepared to leave the classroom before Kirishima stood up from his desk to grab everyone’s attention smiling as if he just received his hero’s provisional license.

“I was thinking of having a sleepover at my house during the weekend, we’ll be using the basement for our sleepover since it’ll be too crowded in my room and living room. Is anyone in?”

“Hell yeah!”

“Count me in man!”

“I can’t wait!”

Shouto didn’t know what to say, he never really went to a sleepover before as a child, his father said it’ll only distract him from training. He was about to say he won’t be allowed to go until Midoriya, Uraraka, and Iida started to walk over to his desk with Fuyu in Uraraka’s arms.

“Are you gonna go to the sleepover Shouto?” Midoriya was the only one out of the whole class to call Shouto by his first name even though he still called Midoriya by his last name.

“I, uh, don’t know, I’ve never been to a sleepover before,” Shouto felt his cheeks burn up blushing in embarrassment, ready to hear the teasing from his classmates as he confessed, however, their reactions seemed to be the opposite of what he had expected.

“Then you need to go man!”

“Yeah, come on Todoroki! We’ll make it the best sleepover ever!”

“I’ll bring the best movies I can find for you to watch!”

It warmed Shouto’s heart slightly as everyone started to make plans for the sleepover, bringing him into the conversation as well to know what else he never got to do. The sleepover was planned by the end of the period, everyone chatting excitedly as they left the school each having an idea of what to bring for the sleepover. Shouto hugged Fuyu close into his arms as he gave Midoriya and his classmates a small wave goodbye walking down the street towards the train station to talk with Fuyumi about the sleepover.

Taking his phone out from his back pocket, Shouto clicked the contact icon, pressing Fuyumi’s phone number as he fixed Fuyu in his arms to have a better grip on the phone keeping it close to his ear.

‘Hello?’

“Fuyumi, it’s me, Shouto”

‘Shouto! What’s wrong? You don’t usually call after school.’

“I have a question that only you can answer since father wouldn’t answer the phone at a time like this.”

‘True...so what is it that you ant to ask me?’

Shouto paused for a moment, stopping in the middle of the street to think it over before answering, “I was wondering if I would be able to go to a sleepover my class invited me to during the weekend?”

There was silence on the other side, ‘I knew this was a bad idea.’ He was about to apologize for asking such question and hanging up, but then he heard a squeal from his sister.

‘Of course Shouto! Father was going to be out for the weekend, so it must be your lucky day for this to happen!’

“Thank you so much Fuyumi! I’ll be getting home as soon as I can, see you soon.”

‘Bye Shouto! I’ll cook your favorite to celebrate!’

Hanging up, Shouto started to walk faster to the train station with excitement running through his veins causing him to run than walk. The thought of being able to get away from his father for only just two days felt like a dream, a dream he wishes would never end. By the time he got home, Fuyumi was already at the door giving him a hug, and a smile he can’t remember the last time he saw on her face. Fuyumi decided to let Fuyu stay in his room for now, leaving some tuna she bought that morning in a bowl by the door for her to eat with a bowl of water beside it. They ate together talking about what plans the class had for the sleepover during the weekend until their father entered the room, eating their dinner in silence. The rest of the day went by like usual, but that night, Shouto slept in peace as his dreams were filled with his classmates smiling faces than his mother’s screams and crying.

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After 4 days of waiting, the weekend started to close in as everyone waited impatiently in their seats for the last bell to ring. Shouto was excited for the weekend for once than feeling dreadful, Fuyumi was excited that morning as well, telling him to give her details of what happened when he came back on Monday. She held Fuyu in her arms before he left that morning, tell him she’ll watch over the cat while he’s gone.

Midoriya gladly volunteer to pick him up after school to take him to his house before going off to Kirishima’s to make sure they have everything. Ashido, Tokoyami, and Kaminari promised to bring some good movies, Kirishima was able to get Bakugou to help buy some snacks and drinks, and everyone made a deal to make the weekend the best for Shouto.

Everyone stood from their chairs running towards the door as the last bell rang, Shouto was dragged towards the door by Midoriya telling him he wanted to get home to start getting his stuff packed. Shouto already had his duffle bag, Fuyumi gave it to him saying it was full of extra clothes, toiletries, and a portable sleeping bag inside. He hugged her before he left that morning making a promise to take a photo with his classmates.

They’ve been walking down the street towards Midoriya’s house after making promises with their classmates that they’ll be there, just needing to get Midoriya’s duffle bag from his house. Midoriya filled the silence with his theories of how each pro heroes quirk worked, and some disadvantages they could have against another type of quirk, until Midoriya paused.

“Midoriya?”

“You can call me Izuku.”

“Uh, Izuku, what’s wrong?”

Shouto felt like he did something, ready to apologize for whatever he did, but Midor-Izuku beat him to it.

“Does your father know you won’t be home?”

‘Oh, I didn’t tell him,’ Shouto sighed giving Izuku a half smile as he crossed his arms across his chest kicking a pebble to the road.

“He’ll be out of the house during the weekend, so he won’t know I’ve been gone from the house unless someone tells him.”

“Your sister, Fuyumi, know you’re going out?”

“She was the one that gave me permission to go, and packed the duffle bag for me, she’ll be watching Fuyu for me during the weekend as well.”

Izuku nodded as a smile started to take over his face, the thought of Shouto being safe for at least two days was good enough for him. They continued their walk towards Izuku’s house, Izuku’s voice filling the silence once more creating a nice calming atmosphere between the two. Shouto cherished it, deciding to cherish every moment during the sleepover to have something else to think about than his past memories. Memories that repeated over and over in his head, memories that taunted him in his sleep, but these memories he’ll be making will be something he’ll wish to remember.