Suicidal Todoroki x Midoriya | What it Means to Love

17 | Mutilated Heart

Izuku Midoriya

When I returned home to my mom, she threw open the front door as if to smash it into anyone that had the audacity to be standing within its path. She (ungracefully) fell into me as I took a step inside and she sank down to her knees, sobbing hysterically. I prayed the neighbors weren't home to hear and witness the commotion my mom was making, so I dragged her back inside the house, closing the door behind us.

"Izuku, I'm so proud of you!" she praises me vigorously, wrapping her arms around my neck and starting to cut off my oxygen supply. "You did so well! You got so far! Even though you didn't make it to finals, you made the right choice. Izuku, I knew you were special!" She only enforces her crushing grip around me. "You made the choice that a true hero would make, Izuku."

"M-Mom," I gag, squeaking out my words, "y-you're choking me!" She releases me reluctantly, giving me the opportunity to breathe again; it's funny how much humans truly take the simple, involuntary action of breathing for granted.

With teary red eyes, my mom cups her hands around her mouth. "I'm sorry! Izuku, I'm just so proud of you and your hard work. Look at how far you've come! Izuku, I could ask for no better son than you." Now thinking more rationally, she hugs me with moderate strength and kisses my forehead.

"M-Mom, I-I don't know what to s-say," I whimper, embarrassed by the overkill praise she's showering me with. "B-B-But! Did you see Shoto? H-He won!" Now my eyes gleam with pride and enthusiasm. "I-In fact, he won everything!" He sounds so incredibly powerful and unbreakable, but...I know he's struggling on the inside. Even with that much power, it doesn't automatically define someone as being okay. Even with Shoto's power...it doesn't change the fact that he attempted suicide last week, or that he had been repressing half of his own power out of what I can only deduce is self-reproach.

My mom wipes away her tears gently running down her cheeks and steps back from me. "I did, I did! The next time he comes over, I'll make him the biggest bowl of soba he's ever seen! As for you, Izuku, I'll make you all the katsudon you want tonight!"

Speaking of food! I should bring Shoto some zaru soba today. I should do that now. I-I'll go pick some up. I turn around to leave, but I realize that I'm leaving and that I haven't communicated anything to my mom. Shoot. Deku, you're the worst son ever—you just got home and you're already leaving.

Swerving my head back towards my mom while keeping my body stationary, I awkwardly inform her: "Umm, M-Mom? I'm going to congratulate Sh-Shoto since I never really got the chance to before. I-Is that okay? I-I-I don't mean to leave so soon! I'm also just really happy for him."

"Just be home before dinner!" She hugs me one last time. "You wouldn't want to miss out on all the katsudon!"

"Th-Thanks, Mom! You're the best!" I'd much rather lose the sports festival than lose all the people that I know. Mom, Shoto, All Might, K-Kacchan, Iida-kun, Uraraka-san, the rest of my classmates... What would I do without them all?

Also, m-maybe I won't pick any soba up. Why? Because I am here. N-No, not that. I can try and make some with him. Y-Yeah! I'll just buy some ingredients he might not have.

After spending perhaps a bit too long at the store after calculating prices and being stared at for my horrendous habit of muttering, I started walking to Shoto's house. His house isn't far from the convenience store, but it's not like it matters all that much to me. I'd walk to take a train to walk to the convenience store for Shoto—or, you know, I'd walk across the globe to find him.

On my way to his house, I passed by someone with a rather ominous air hissing around them with an eerie, almost indistinguishable emotion being emitted. A walking enigma, this person radiated an electrifying aura. Something about this person disturbed me, more so than just the gothic outfit and salient darkness.