Ask me Three Things (tododeku)

The Freedom of Summer

Warning: self-harm and certain... thoughts.

Before Midoriya knew it, it was already summer.  It felt like only a day had gone by when the week just vanished, just like that. And he'd continue to talk to anonymous over the entire week.  And that's when he found out he messed up. 

He had no reason to confess to Iida and Uraraka because Uraraka was not anonymous.  Anonymous had stayed the same, even after his confession. Nothing had changed which meant, whoever it was, still didn't know.  

And on the daily, through their message, he would ask them three questions every day, and whoever it was would ask him three in return. It sparked up a conversation and he learned more about them. And honestly, it was a fun sort of game. And he felt really at home with whoever this person was, not that he'd caught feelings or anything. He just had gotten fond of them. And he felt lonely if they took a while to respond to him, or weren't online for a day. He wasn't sure why. Heck, he hadn't the faintest idea of who this person was!

At this point, he couldn't even assume they were in his class. Their answers to his daily three questions were always so vague. He wouldn't be surprised if he didn't even know who they were in person. 

Like when he asked them what color their hair was they just said, 'it's different'

And the time he wanted to know if they were in the hero course they just answered with, 'the hero course is interesting'

And that other time Midoriya asked them something as simple as, what's your favorite color? All they said was, 'the color of something precious' as if what their favorite color was would expose their identity. 

But for Todoroki, whom Midoriya didn't know held the identity of anonymous, these questions were risky. How could he answer hair color without admitting he was Shoto?  Who else besides his sister did he know had both red and white hair?  It was a dead giveaway. And to say he was in the hero course with Midoriya would be all too suspicious. And his favorite color, well, he didn't really have one.

He wanted to say his favorite color was Izuku.  But Izuku wasn't a color, but he was something precious. 

Todoroki was losing his mind with this dumb crush.  He should have never acted out on it in the first place, or so he thought. But half of him, ironically, was grateful for it.  He'd feel less alone when trapped inside his house over the break. Just one month, and one day, till Todoroki could see Midoriya again.  It couldn't be that long, could it?

Contrary to the title of the chapter, summer for Todoroki was the opposite of freedom.  He was back at his father, Enji's house, for what felt like an eternity. Doing whatever his father wanted from him, training nonstop without the pleasure of his friends beside him, his diet becoming strict, and all for what?  The famous image of the number one hero's perfect son. He was simply a face, a symbol for his father's wealth and fame. 

It wouldn't be that bad. Enji promised Todoroki he could visit his mother in the hospital on the weekends.  That was a break from hell. 

It was the first day of summer and Todoroki had spent the entire day training in combat.  His father Enji wanted Todoroki to go on active duty with him tomorrow, working side by side with the other pro heroes of the Endeavor agency.  Todoroki had worked like a dog all day and felt completely exhausted. 

So now, Todoroki was finally alone.  At peace in his bedroom.  With only one question on his mind, had Midoriya messaged him today?  He was almost too nervous to check.  But when he did, he saw an older message from this morning, left unanswered.

What are you doing for summer break?

Todoroki felt guilty that he hadn't answered.  But, Midoriya probably didn't care.  Midoriya probably had forgotten he'd sent the message in the first place, left to be ignored by Shoto anonymously all day. He felt touched nonetheless.  Midoriya was still there to talk to him.