滞在 | "There's a woman banging in my window every night." Midoriya says, ruffling his forest green hair with eyes nervously darting across the room.
"Problem Child, from the footage we've seen so far there's no one outside your dorm's balcony in the...
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| UA Heights Alliance - Rooftop |
Shoto watched the cool evening breeze brushed against his face. The city lights sparkled in the distance, a stark contrast to the guilt inside him.
"It's only been a week," he murmured to himself, leaning against the railing. "And I've felt utterly useless the whole time."
The weight of everything that had happened pressed down on him. He thought about his shortcomings and regrets as a friend.
Had he done enough for Izuku? Was he enough? The questions gnawed at him, relentless and unforgiving.
"I wasn't there when he needed me," Shoto thought, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon. "I should have noticed the signs, should have been more attentive. I tried, but it never felt like enough."
His mind replayed the moments where he could have reached out more. Instead, he had given up, thinking his efforts were futile. The guilt and regret were almost too much to bear.
"Why did I give up?" He whispered, the words carried away by the wind, "Why didn't I keep trying until it was finally okay for Izuku?"
He clenched his fists, feeling the sting of tears he had been holding back. The rooftop, usually a place of solace for him, now felt like a mirror reflecting his deepest insecurities.
The sound of footsteps approached, and Shoto turned to see Tenya standing at the entrance to the rooftop.
"Todoroki-kun," Tenya began, walking over to him, "You're not the only one feeling this way."
Shoto looked at him, surprised by the firmness in his voice.
"I've been watching you too, Todoroki-kun," He continued, "You and I are the same. We both want to pay back Midoriya-kun of everything. That's why I ran to him back at the training... That's why I left to rush back here despite my condition..."
His words struck a chord with Shoto. And it wasn't a good thing, he just felt even worse. Tenya's a good friend, but not him. Tenya was there for Izuku, and he wasn't.
"You were there too, not just me," Tenya said, his voice softening, "I can't fathom how things could've worked out if you didn't rush to him during the training, maybe I've lost both my eyesight!" He chuckled lightly.
"Iida..."
"It was you who saved Midoriya from falling from this very rooftop, not me." He walked towards him, patting him in the back, "You're a good friend, Todoroki-kun."
A good friend?
Shoto was a good friend?
"I'm..." He muttered, "I'm so..." The young hero's words catching in his throat as tears streamed down his cheeks.
Finally.
Someone finally said it.
"No need to apologize, Todoroki," Tenya said warmly, offering a comforting smile. "Come on, let's go check on Midoriya. He needs us—both of us. Let's make sure he knows we're both here for him."
Shoto smiled, knowing he has the class rep by his side. This was nice.
"But how exactly are we going to approach him, Iida?" he asked, a hint of desperation in his voice. His confusion was clear—he had never been in a position to comfort someone before, let alone someone who was deep in grief.
When Toya died, he had been at a loss, unsure how to react. Shoto knew little about connecting with people, much less offering emotional support.
"Midoriya-kun is the type to withdraw if he isn't okay, especially if he can't hide it anymore," Tenya noted from past experiences, "Perhaps find a peaceful place where he can cry?"
Shoto frowned, unsure. "Isn't that too forceful? Forcing him to open up might push him away even more."
He shook his head, "We won't force him to talk. We'll just be there with him. If he feels ready to open up, he will. But we need to create an environment where he feels safe."
"And what if he never opens up?"
"Then we don't push him," The blue-haired student replied. "We'll let him know that we're there for him, no matter what. That he doesn't have to carry his burden alone."
"And if he still shuts us out?" Shoto asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Tenya's expression softened, his eyes filled with empathy, "Todoroki-kun, this isn't about fixing everything in one day. It's about showing him that we're here for the long haul, that he's not alone. Even if he doesn't open up right away, he'll know we're there. And sometimes, that's enough."
Shoto mulled over his suggestion, the idea gradually resonating with him. "Alright, I trust you, Iida. How do we go about this?"
As they worked out the details of their plan, a flicker of hope ignited within Shoto. He held onto the fragile belief that this time, they might be able to reach Izuku.
| UA Heights Alliance - Lobby |
The two of them went downstairs. This is right. Shoto felt nothing but assurance, he just needed to know if he truly was doing enough, if he was truly a good friend. Tenya made sure he knows this.
"You're back!" Ochaco yelled in glee.
"Me and Todoroki-kun have a plan," Tenya quickly stated.
They laid out the plan, which was surprisingly straightforward. It took just a minute to outline their intentions, each step clear and concise.
Some murmurs of disapproval rose from the group, concern etched on their faces. "But what if it doesn't work?" Mina asked, her voice tinged with worry.
"He's been shutting us out," Sero added, "What makes you think this will be different?"
"The plan is good," Tsuyu replied. It was not overwhelming for him, it wasn't careless either—It was enough. "And I think Todoroki-kun and Iida-kun are the perfect choice for this, ribbit."
"I agree," Yaoyorozu raised her hand, "Too much of us is overwhelming. You two are also one of Midoriya-kun's closest friends, I wouldn't mind this plan."
The room fell silent, everyone considering their words now. Slowly, heads began to nod in agreement.
"It's worth a try," Kirishima nodded, "If anyone can reach him, it's you two."
Jirou nodded, her face resolute. "You guys got this. Just let us know if you need anything."
Shoto and Tenya exchanged grateful looks with their classmates. "Thank you," The blue-haired young man said, his voice sincere. "We'll do our best."
As the meeting wrapped up, Shoto felt a surge of renewed determination. This was their chance to reach out to Izuku, to show him that he wasn't alone.
| Loading Next Chapter | Chapter Written On - July 20 to 21, 2024 | Chapter Published On - July 21, 2024
