From the Ground Up: Kacchako

Chapter 36: Lied to me

Momo_
Momo pulled a little at her dress, the tightness of it almost constricting.
It was a midnight black to match her hair. It travelled from her chest to her feet, but make no mistake, it showed off everything there was to see.

It was strapless, travelling around her shoulders. The sleeves went to her elbows, and were made of such a sheet and delicate fabric they looked enchanting when she moved. The waist to her thighs hugged as tightly as it could, and flowed out in the same delicate fabric down to her feet.
The dress trailed behind her when she walked.
Yuuto returned with a glass of champagne and a dazzling smile, handing it to her with a wink.
He was dressed in a close cut suit of dark blue, and they way it made him look reminded her of a spy movie. She was about to comment on the rich tasting drink when someone caught her eye across the room.

Her brown hair was longer, and she was much skinnier than Momo remembered, but she still had that petite pretty face and charming smile.
Ochako was dressed in a white one piece, that hugged around her neck before traveling nicely down to her ankles. It was decorated with patterns of red and pink flowers, and she walked arm in arm with Katsuki, sporting a dark red suit. Momo was almost taken back at the sight of them. She hadn't seen either of them for...years.
Ochako spotted Momo, and quickly hurried over. Katsuki followed.
"Momo! It's been so long!"

Ochako's arms wrapped tightly around Momo, and she returned the favour. Hugging her made her feel like she was back in U.A, studying along side all of her old friends.
"How's your family? Are you well? Oh, you look so lovely tonight!"
Ochako said, spotting a bright smile. Before she answered her, Momo gestured to Yuuto, she had a feeling he was drifting in awkwardness.
"Yuuto, these are my old friends, Ochako and Katsuki Bakugou. They're both very accomplished heroes"
"Oh? Well, it's a pleasure to meet you"
Yuuto held out his hand and shook both of theirs. Ochako nudged Katsuki when he squeezed Yuuto's hand a little too hard.
But Yuuto only laughed nervously and shoved his hands into his pockets.
"So, what hero ranking are you both? Impressive I imagine"

Momo lightly kicked his ankle, and he shrugged his shoulders, as if to say 'what?' She whispered in his ear before turning back to her friends.
"You can't just ask a hero that. It's extremely rude."
"Oh,"
He said, and turned back to them both.
"I'm- sorry. I didn't realise"
"No, it's fine."
Katsuki said, and continued with an annoyed look on his face.
"I'm the number 2 ranking hero. My wife and I used to be a team, but we're...solo, in our work now"
"Oh. Very impressive. If I might ask, who is the number 1 hero? Do you know him?"
Ochako laughed nervously while Katsuki's eye twitched.
"Yes."
He said tightly.
"I know him."

Momo somehow managed to slip away from the conversation unnoticed. She wasn't about to be the witness of that debate. She pitied Ochako, and thought about going back to retrieve her when she felt the presence of someone at her back.
"To be completely honest, I thought you'd have more...exciting taste."
She slowly turned, and raised her eyes to meet his. She'd know his voice anywhere.

Shoto showed a small smile, barely a tug of his lips. Dressed in an immaculate suit of the darkest blue and a black undershirt, he looked alluring. His hair was styled and there wasn't a speck of dirt on him, or a thread out of place.
"You came."
She said. He blinked.
"So did you. Your date is...not what I expected"
"Oh? And what did you expect?"
Shoto had been staring at Yuuto across the room, but his calm eyes flicked back to Momo.
"I expected better competition."
Her face heated, but she shoved the feeling down.
"Then that's a shame, because this is no competition. I've made my choice"
She turned to go back to the small group, but Shoto gripped her wrist. Momo whipped her head back to him.
"Get your hand off of me."

She said, a coldness to her voice she hadn't intended. He didn't flinch from her tone.
"One week away from me, and you've moved on so quick? One would think nothing you've ever said to me was true."
Her back slowly straightened, and she stepped in closer to him.
This close, she could feel the heat coming off of him. When she spoke again, her voice was low, and strong, and hurting.
"Don't act like I didn't fight for you. I did. Hard. And for a long time. So please, forgive me if now that we're over, I'm exhausted. And tired of waiting for you."
They were both very still for a little, letting the words sink in.
He hadn't thought about it for a while; what had happened. Hadn't let himself consider she might still be hurting from it.
He swallowed, about to reply, when a hand set itself gently on her shoulder.
"Momo, is this man bothering you?"

Shoto's eyes shifted up, to the dark new ones. Before she could answer Shoto let her go and held out his hand to Yuuto.
"Shoto Todoroki, and I presume you're Yuuto"
After a moments hesitation, recognition sparked in Yuuto's eyes, and he eagerly shook Shoto's hand with a broad smile.
"The Todoroki, it's an enormous please to meet you. I've actually been meaning to contact you, but hadn't found the time. You see I'd like to discuss our businesses, and the great benefits that can come from-"

Momo didn't hear whatever it was that Yuuto said. She could barely focus on anything.
She did it. She finally said it to him. Without thinking she pressed her drink into Shoto's hand and drifted away, heading for the door. Ochako stopped her. Momo couldn't decide whether she was relieved or agitated that someone had done so.
"Momo, are you okay? Did something happen?"
Momo stared into Ochako's eyes, brown and lovely and warm. After a few seconds she led Ochako away from the crowd, into the hallway outside. She told Ochako everything that was going on, the brunette only smiled softly.
"Momo, it is not- uncommon or Frowned upon for two adults to have such a relationship. Todoroki only needs to see you've moved on."
"Yes but, that's not it. Not all of it, anyway"
"What's the rest? If I may ask"
Momo bit her lip.
"Two years ago, Shoto and I were together. Officially, but had not presented ourselves to the public, or our families. One day, he requested I meet his mother with him."
"And?"
"And I said yes. But, I saw her earlier than the agreed date. I wanted to meet her on my own first. When she saw me, her eyes were very sad. We talked for hours. I loved her immediately, and she expressed that she was quite fond of me,"
"And? That sounds wonderful!"

Momo wrapped her arms around herself.
"Next, she told me that Shoto was planning to propose to me."
Both the women were silent for a while. Momo took in the deepest breath that she could.
"She made me swear not to marry him. Exclaimed that if I truly loved him, and if I had respect for her, I would never agree to such a thing."
"...but, why? I don't understand-"
"She told me that if I were to enter into such a thing with him, our lives would be an endless struggle. Shoto's father, for instance, would push for grandchildren, and attempt to raise them himself, brutal and efficient and unfeeling. And he would be a constant presence in our lives. Our marriage wouldn't be our own."

Ochako put her hand on Momo's arm, a comforting touch. Momo sniffed, not entirely sure why she was getting upset.
"She said...she said she knew that Shoto could predict these things, he was too smart not too. And he would leave. With me, if he saw any signs of these things, he would take me with him and start a new life. Our life...She told me that loosing her son was not an option."
Momo couldn't help but stare at the floor.
"She ordered me away from him. And when I didn't do as she asked...she got to him. Convinced him I...I didn't want him fully. I tried to convince him of my true feelings but- his mother comes first. Even before me. And so, we've been in this arrangement ever since. I don't know what to do."

It began raining outside the building, a steady beat. A crack of lightning shrieked, and the power went out. Neither of the women seemed to notice.
"Do you love him?"
Momo didn't even need to think, didn't hesitate whatsoever.
"More than anything."
Ochako waited a few minutes before speaking again, she had a feeling her friend was hurting a great deal.
"Then it is not up to you. Todoroki needs to decide which he will put first, You, or his mother."
"Excuse me?"

A new voice sounded, and both of them jumped. Standing just down the hallway, placed in shadow thanks to the power outage, was the very man they had been talking about. Ochako zipped away, ignoring the pleading glance Momo threw her way.
Oh god have mercy...
Momo prayed, and fully faced the man she had been lying to.