Luckily, Akio is not too fazed, resorting to sticking out his tongue at his brother and washing his face with the lake water.

The boy reluctantly releases the fish back into the water, immediately grabbing his brother and diving back in to search for more adventures. Their laughter and shouts echo across the lake, a testament to their boundless energy and mischief.

Suddenly, Katsuma and Fumiko join forces, trying to construct a small raft out of driftwood and leaves. "Do you think this will float?" Katsuma asks, a hint of skepticism in his voice.

"Only one way to find out," Fumiko replies with a grin.

The twins, not to be outdone, begin building a sandcastle on the shore, their competitive spirits driving them to create the tallest, most elaborate structure possible.

After a while, you call out, "How about some smoothies? Your father should almost be done with them."

"Yeah!" All four children rush out of the lake, water trailing behind them as they run toward the house. Trailing behind them, you chuckle softly, enjoying the simple yet joyful chaos of a summer day.

That joy dies down slightly as you view their muddy feet running straight onto your precious marble floors.

Sigh.

Katsuki raises an eyebrow at the stampede of drenched children running into his kitchen. He then furrows both of his brows at the dark foot marks staining his floors.

"WHAT did I tell you 'bout running in this house with dirty feet?" He glares at his eldest, "We have pavement for a damn reason, so why the hell are you still runnin' in the grass for, hm?"

"Oh! Well… uhm…"

"That's what I thought. Since this is the third time, you're helping your ma' clean it up."

"BUT DA-"

"Nope. Now eat y'r damn smoothie before I eat it for you."

As the children eagerly grab their favorite flavors, Fumiko turns to you and her father. "Thanks, Ma n' Pa. This is the best summer ever."

You smile, feeling a warmth that has nothing to do with the summer sun. "I'm glad you're all having fun. Now go back and enjoy the lake."

The children need no further encouragement and quickly return to their games. You walk slowly back outside, savoring the moment. Katsuki joins you this time, but instead joins his children in the water and has found contentment in throwing his daughter high into the sky before she falls back into the water with a splash. The rest immediately want to join as well. The sounds of their laughter and the gentle lapping of the lake against the shore fill your heart with peace.

The morning filtered through the cracks in the blinds, casting soft patterns on the sheets that were tangled around you. As you slowly came to, the events of the previous night began to flood back. Your heart fluttered, and a wave of anxiety washed over you. Kento Nanami, the ever-disciplined jujutsu sorcerer, lay beside you, his breathing even and calm. You silently slipped out of bed, careful not to wake him, and quickly dressed.

Standing at the window, you glanced back at him, your mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. You had always admired him from afar, his steadfast dedication and quiet strength, and last night, under the influence of a few too many drinks, you had shared more than just conversation. But now, the consequences of your actions weighed heavily.

It was two weeks later when dread began to take hold of you. Nausea and fatigue became constant, and as time went by, you couldn’t ignore the signs any longer. The words staring back at you through the plastic test etched into your skin. Panic surged through you, trembling hands dropped the reminder of your downfall to the ground. Nanami’s career was soaring; he didn’t need the burden of an unexpected child...a bastard, as your thoughts called it.

You would deal with this alone, no matter how scared you felt.

His snow-white hair and cocky grin were unmistakable, even from a distance. He sauntered over, even blindfoled, his eyes somehow managed to look amused.

“Hey there,” he greeted, his tone playful. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Everything alright?”

You forced a smile, trying to steady your hands. “I’m fine, Gojo. Just a bit tired.”

His grin widened, but his tone turned slightly more serious. “You know, you’re a terrible liar. If something’s bothering you, you can always talk to me. Or Nanami, for that matter.”

Your heart skipped a beat at the mention of Kento’s name. You shook your head quickly. “It’s nothing. Really.”

Gojo’s expression softened, and he leaned in closer. “Just remember, you’re not alone here. We’re all friends, okay?”

You nodded, offering a weak smile, and hurried away before he could probe further. As you walked through the streets, your thoughts were consumed by the secret growing inside you. You knew Gojo meant well, but you couldn’t risk anyone finding out, especially Kento. Worst of all, if Gojo was going to hound you about it today, Geto would surely follow, as they don't stray very far from one another.

As you walked into the jujutsu headquarters, you saw a familliar black haired man lounging against the wall, his dark eyes studying you intently. His condescending smirk sent a shiver down your spine.

“You’re looking a bit pale,” Geto remarked, his voice smooth and mocking. “Are you sure you’re up for the job today?”

You nodded, avoiding his gaze. “I’m fine. Just a little under the weather.”

He chuckled, pushing off the wall and walking closer. “You know, you’re not very convincing. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you’re hiding something.”

Panic rose in your chest, but you forced yourself to remain calm. “I’m just tired. It’s been a long week.”

Geto’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t push further. “Well, take care of yourself. We wouldn’t want anything… unexpected happening.”

As he walked away, you exhaled a breath you didn’t realize you were holding. You had to be more careful. The last thing you needed was someone like Geto sniffing around your business.

It was hard, in the office. They always talked about him, and his achivements. It was clear that Kento Nanami was destined for greatness now that the buisness he's in is flourishing beyond expectations; Kento being the focus mainly because of his great contribution to the company. If not for his focus the past couple of years, the place wouldn't be even close the to state it's in now.

Later that evening, you found yourself back in your apartment, staring out the window at the bustling city below. You found solace in the quiet moments alone, staring at the picture in your hand. Tears blurred your vision as you traced the outline of the tiny life inside you.

You were scared, but a part of you was also filled with determination. You would protect this child with everything you had, even if it meant doing it alone. The weight of your secret felt heavier with each passing day. For the future you promise to protect, even if it meant keeping the father in the dark.

For now, that was the only way forward.

Her gentle personality and the way she tended to her flowers with such care stood in his mind, a reminder of the peace he had found with her near him. It was the reason he invited her to his home and offered a few drinks. It was the reason he lost himself inside her, too distracted with the feeling of her nails clawing against his back to think about the consequences that would come after. He would certainly do it again, though he believed it best to take her somewhere nice first. Money certainly wasn't a problem given his state in the company now. With his jujutsu sorcery business thriving, Kento Nanami found himself in a position of financial stability. As word of his expertise spread, clients flocked to seek his guidance, eager to see the power of his skill. With each consultation, Nanami's bank account saw much higher numbers, giving him time to see the finer things in life. From expensive dinners at upscale restaurants to his weekends feeling less and less wasted at home, Nanami embraced his wealth with a sense of satisfaction, grateful for the opportunities it allowed him. Though, it's quite lonely.

Determined to learn more about the gardener, Nanami made his way back to her home, hoping to strike up a conversation. But as he approached, he noticed a subtle change—a tension in the air that hadn't been there before.

"Excuse me," he called out, his voice cutting through the silence of the garden. "I hope I'm not intruding."

The young woman looked up, her expression mirroring a mixture of surprise and apprehension as she met Nanami's gaze. "Oh, it's you," she replied, her tone guarded.

Nanami furrowed his brow, sensing the shift in her demeanor. "I couldn't help but notice that you've been avoiding me," he said. "Is everything alright?"

The young woman hesitated, her fingers fidgeting nervously as she searched for the right words. "I- am fine, Kento." she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

But Nanami could see through the facade, the tension that coiled beneath the surface. "You left so suddenly that morning," he continued, his tone soft but probing. "I couldn't help but wonder if I had done something to upset you."

A flush of color rose to the her cheeks, and she cast her gaze downward, unable to meet his eyes. "No, it's not that," she replied hesitantly. "I just... I thought it would be best if we kept our distance."

Nanami's brow furrowed in confusion, but he respected her wishes, nodding in understanding. "I see," he said quietly. "But if you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here. And if you're ever ready to share your thoughts, I'll be waiting."

Whether it was the perfection in your laughter, whenever you looked up at him- with his.. rather crude jokes. Or the perfection of your lips pressed up against his own, sharing a breath, and a body, in an everlasting embrace. It could also be the perfection of the way your wedding ring shines in the sun when you're at the beach together, the sun slowly creeping back into the horizon, almost as if the sun itself was trying to give you privacy. The way watercolors paint into the sky as if the gods above were trying to capture this moment- and hang it on a frame. There's perfection in the way his hips slam against yours, regardless of how much lack of rhythm there is. It's passionate, with sweat running down his forehead, eyes boring down into your cloudy ones. The sun hasn't even come out yet, but he's fucking into you as if there isn't any day left to spare. What's even more perfect, is the visibility of the 8 little letters presenting themself on the test- or the way your eyes are sparkling as you present the positive pregnancy test in front of him. ... Her eyes are just like his. She's still tiny, bundled up in a little white blanket, curled up into your chest. And when she gets older, she's still tiny, but with a mouth and passion made of fire and gunpowder, just like his own. The most perfect thing of all, though, is how the cycle always continues itself.

Flowers fall salubriously over the skies of Venora, the sun’s warmth spreading over the fingertips of anyone sauntering outside to perform their duties for that day…or to any of the many children that decided to skip around their village knee-level of the citizens with flowers in their hair, engaging in anything that excited their blooming curiosity. Venora is one of- if not the most flourishing of countries, being outstandingly large, and having one of the most capable and efficient militia. It is a strong belief here that everyone has their purpose in life, and everyone has their own “talent” or gift given to them to serve that purpose. Many people are aware of their gifts from an early age, some without, and have hairs turning silver and still letting life lead them in whichever direction the wind blows. All in all, it’s a safe country to live your hopes and dreams in.

Besides, you learned the punishment for breaking some of the laws can be quite severe, and said punishments are severe enough to strike terror into the citizens who consider tampering with them.

“Really?? We get to visit the palace??” A little child squealed into their mother’s lap, that child just so happened to be you. Playing princesses with your friends was entertaining, yes, but it couldn’t compare with the real thing. It played over and over inside your feeble brain, the diamond chandeliers, the gold-plated statues, the doors, the throne room. Just the thought would make any insouciant child like yourself shake with anticipation.

“You mustn't make a scene when we get there, dear. As much as I understand your excitement, the palace can’t be mistaken to you as a place of fun and games, it’s quite serious. Your father is attending a meeting, so you and I get to stay for a while to attend the holiday. If you’re lucky, you might be able to attend the ball with me.” Your mother almost immediately regrets the last few sentences of her speech, now having to deal with a squealing 5-year-old who cannot control their emotions any longer. After a long sigh, she scooped you off her lap, walking over to the bedroom to place you into bed. There were paintings with stars and sparkles adorning the ceiling above your bed, and you convinced your mother to help hang stars from the faded paint spots. The dim lighting in a shade of dark blue truly did make the stars sparkle, including the ones hanging in your room and the stars that dance together in the sky. It made you wonder if they had the same paintings on the palace walls, maybe even more. With a kiss to your forehead, she tucked you in your bed and tried to step away, but failed due to you reaching out your tiny hand to grab onto her yellow sundress. “Do you think I can be a princess? Like the ones in the big palace?” “I'm sure you can, and I bet you’ll be the prettiest princess ever. However… I'm afraid princesses get beauty sleep, and at this rate, you’ll turn into a gremlin with baggy eyes!” She smiled when your body immediately went lax, and you flopped onto your bed sheets and snored as if you’d been sleeping for over a hundred years. With that, she left your room.

Your father was in a state of alamort, putting in as much effort as his soul allowed him to move your family higher status and reputation, but to no avail. His majesty had barely spared a glance at him, and he hoped that this ceremony would be an opportunity to bring his family higher. Your family was by no means struggling with money or bringing food on the table, more so struggling to maintain the reputation that's been withheld in your bloodline for generations.

Nobility was a hard bargain. Your surname was well known in the village you lived in, but it didn’t advance any farther than that. The family’s worth compared to that as a bystander you’d see in royal events, just slightly over a commoner, nothing to ever be placed near the grand royalty of the Todoroki bloodline.

The annual Crescent Moon ceremony was taking place in just a small amount of time, a celebration to symbolize family, fertility, empowerment, and to appreciate life’s lavish graces. It most certainly wasn’t the most important of events, but the meaning behind it gave reason to be very…lavish, and thriftless. A perfect event for a child to witness, as it romanticizes royal life to the utmost degree.

So, in the restless dreams of a 5-year-old girl, you’d be sitting on a throne adorned with diamonds, and a version of yourself that you would assume is an older you. A crown so shiny that if angled towards the sun, would blind anyone looking in your direction. It sits atop your perfectly placed strands of hair, not a single one out of place. Maybe if you thought hard enough, you’d be able to visualize a chromatic ring wrapped around your 4th finger, followed by the lips of a handsome prince pressed against the front of your hand.. is there a prince at the castle? Even a little girl can be bashful sometimes, maybe he’d be like the books, with a prodigious sword attached to his hip and weighty boots that slammed against marble floors, signaling his arrival earlier than his presence could. So.. speaking like a 5-year-old girl, this place is gonna be super duper awesome!!!

This… however..was not very awesome. It'd been almost.. 5 hours now? The sun is still high in the sky, burning down at the wooden carriage you rode in. It was hot, and your mother said that if you whined one more time about the heat, she’d make sure you’d get none of the palace desserts when they got to the capital of Venora, also known as Solaris. It was the diamond of the country, and where the tremendously large castle stays solemn. It’s where the royal family of Venora has resided for years. There are neighboring castles, much smaller, reserved for the high nobles, and your mother promised you’d get to see them when the carriage reached Solaris. Some were located on the way to the main castle, but some were buried deep in the wispy green forests, lakes, and hills that were outspread in Solaris, practically smothering the land. The only exception being the main village, which is said to be the largest city in the country. Your mother said that it’s not the best or most habitable place to live in. Tourists, and merchants, all of them practically suffocate the city, leaving little to no room for long-time inhabitants. If you want to live close to the castle, it’s best if you build your own place.

“Are we there-”

“Don’t even start, missy.” Your mother quipped before you could finish your childish statement.

“But-”

“You know, princesses are very calm and patient people. They ride in royal carriages all the time, simply waving at passersby. How could you be a princess if you can’t even make it to the castle without whining, dear?” Comparing you to a princess is the only way she knew would always get you to behave, it always worked well, proven by the silence the rest of the trip.

However, the mind of a little girl never stayed quiet, and as you peered out of the lights that the wood would allow, you could see your father’s carriage right in front of your own. It seemed that he was a quiet man, always thinking, but never speaking. Unless it was towards your mother about mundane things, he was always in his study, thinking. You couldn’t fathom what he could be up to, what could be so interesting or demanding that a simple nobleman as your father would be locked up inside the silence of his stone-walled office.

Sometimes at home, you’d see fathers - laughing and playing with their children, but that was never the case with yours. In fact, he never really spoke to your mother either. In contrast, your mother was as warm as a white fur blanket, like the ones she said were common in the palace, but rare and expensive to find in your own village. She always spoke with you, seeing as you had no other siblings. Speaking of which, you asked her about that idea once, having siblings. Quickly your mother hushed you of the idea, saying that it wouldn’t be happening anytime soon, almost looking hurt at what you said, so you never mentioned it again.

Having many children was a miracle at this age, why was she so against it-

The sound of faded cheers and chatter dragged you out of the deep reflection of your thoughts. Are we there yet-?

You slammed a hand over your mouth when you realized you had said that last part out loud, slowly turning your gaze over to your mother, who narrowed her eyes at you. Yet the look on her face quickly softened as she sighed, and announced; “Yes, we are here!” Even she couldn’t contain her excitement, yet she quickly had to compose herself and grab you, as you were just about to leap out of the carriage. “We are in Solaris, not near the castle yet. I can’t let you go out into the village, it’s filled with people for the ceremony and you’d surely be trampled. If you want to view the commotion, simply watch through the carriage.” She simply grinned at you as you whined, and pressed your face to the carriage glass.

The sun was still in the sky, but much lower. You had made it to your temporary estate, and you were astounded at the sheer size of the exterior. It was nearly thrice as big as your regular estate, with gardens on each side with their own unique plants, your favorite being the dazzling lilies on the left side, and the charming gladiolus on the right. There was even a butler waiting for you, and you scampered up to him with a smile, which he gladly returned to you. Your mother was, discreetly, also amazed at the size, simply internalizing her emotions, with nothing but soft upturned lips and a slight sparkle in her eyes. Your father, though, had the exact opposite emotions. He looked rather displeased, evident with the slight scowl on his face, what could he be so upset about? You decided to tug on his suit pants, directing his scowl at you, but he loosened his angry face at the sight of your frown.

“Why are you sad, pa? This place is so big!” He lost his scowl completely, opting to look at you with a neutral face instead to not upset you anymore, and walking towards the front door of the estate, lamenting to himself instead “It could have been bigger.”

The inside was just as impressive, ancient paintings with gold plated frames, silverware decorated in intricate patterns and designs carved into the metal. The thing that caught your eye the most, was the stunning piano in the foyer of the estate. You had half the mind to climb the piano stool, and mash your little fingers against the keys, you were almost successful too, if it weren’t for your mother holding the collar of your dress. …

Much to your mother’s delight, the length of the trip ended up giving her a tuckered-out 5 year old. This was good anyway, the ceremony was tomorrow evening, and they wouldn’t be leaving the estate for another 3 weeks, anyway. This part seemed to be the only thing that pleased your father, maybe it was because this gave him more time to talk with The King himself.

Your mother had a very difficult pregnancy regarding your birth. Infact, the birth itself was a blur in her memory. From what the midwives had told her, the bleeding was what almost caused her death. Luckily, her having held onto the strings of consciousness for just a few moments longer was what caused her to recover just enough for the healer to arrive intime. Due to the heavy bleeding, it was highly encouraged, almost demanded of her, that she never conceive again.

This had angered your father to no end. He had at least one child, but it wasn’t a male..an “heir” to his legacy. No matter how many times you had promised him to carry on his legacy, he wouldn’t listen. His anger got so severe, he had almost forced himself onto your mother- completely disregarding her safety, all for the chance of an heir. From what little bit of morals he had left, he stopped.

This was the reason why he was quite desperate in his attempts to raise his family’s status and reputation, but in this day and age, a daughter and a title can only get you so far. He watched as his once peers outgrew him in their own rankings, no longer speaking to him and throwing away their companionships as if it had only been brought together by a scroll, waxed stamp, and word from the king.

Deep down inside, he wanted to be able to disregard people like that- and throw them away. He’d never admit it, though.

The sun hadn’t even risen yet, but the whirlwind of activity never slept on a day such as this one. Your estate was over a mile away from the bustling city, and yet the cheers could be heard as loudly as the chirping birds outside the windowsill. Your mother must have heard it too, as she appeared in front of your doorway.

“I'm glad that trip wore you out enough to have you sleep in early, I'm afraid that was all the amount of soundful sleep you're going to get until the cheers die down in a few days.” She smiled at your little pout, walking over to you and gently pushing your fists away from your eyes as you rubbed them.

“Nonetheless, I bet you’ll be glad to hear that we get to enter the palace early, so it’s best you get yourself ready now, that is if you want to be princess material.”

“…Do I get to pick out my dress?”

“Of course you do.”

The sun was now peeking above the horizon, almost as if it was hiding from the beautiful chaos to come. The fear collides with the sky in an ethereal array of colors, the exact same array of colors as your dress. A shimmering light yellow, something lighter and purer than golden honey, but just as divine. It’s adorned with coral-like pink colored designs, and the prettiest golden shoes to go along with it. A dress, truly, fit for a princess.

The maid finished the final touches of the curls in your hair, so defined that they bounced on your head whenever you jumped in delight, much to the maid’s displeasure.

The sun had finally crept from its hiding place, now sitting lowly in the sky. It’s still well before noon, and you were stepping outside the estate with your mother’s hand holding your own. She wore a dress similar to your own, but fully yellow. Your father stood in front of you both. He was..suspiciously quiet, to say the very least. It was one thing to be in your own head, but his eyes seemed dark, like he was thinking about one thing only.

However, he snapped out of it when he realized the carriage wasn’t coming as soon as he expected it to.

People with high reputations get invited to the castle far far earlier than commoners get the chance to even get close to it. The earlier you get in depends on your status, and clearly your father thought he’d be escorted by now, and his pride would not allow him to go back inside to wait. Even the butler was starting to get concerned, it had now been over an hour waiting outside. Your mother had tried to persuade him 30 minutes ago, but was met with a rather harsh lecture, and didn’t dare to press further. He wouldn’t allow you two to go back inside either.

Finally, after about an hour and thirty minutes, the carriage arrived at your estate. Luckily the sun still wasn’t high enough in the sky, and the air still had a slight chill to it, so you didn’t overheat too much, it was just a little bit too warm for your liking.

The carriage was beyond anything you’d ever seen. It was laced with gold and diamonds beyond comparison to anything you’d ever seen. It was lavish, and the seats were laced with cold silk, much to your delight.

There were no words to describe the castle, none at all. Well, if you could explain it in one way… large. It took nearly 30 minutes to just get out of the carriage, due to the huge lineup at the side entrance. That was another thing your father hated, that he wasn’t “noble” enough to use the grand front entrance. You couldn’t even register his anger though, as you stepped out of the carriage the only thing you could think about was the sheer size and elegance at the massive structure standing proudly before you eyes. You clutched onto your mother tightly, as it felt as though you’d get lost if you so much as moved an inch from her body.

This was the moment you separated from your father, as though he had other plans, and stuck to your mother, heading towards the ladies’ hall, a portion of the castle where all the noblewoman and their ladies-in-waiting sat together for tea, from what you heard. It was strange though, why didn’t your mother have her own lady in waiting?

When inside the hall, you followed you mother to the room where the commotion was coming from, and were surprised by the sheer elegance of the woman inside. Did they go to galas all day? The ballgowns and tiaras they wore told you so, there was no way they could sit in such attire all day without dying.

You were almost intimidated by them as the silence built up and your mother walked in with you in her grasp. However, a breath of relief washed over you as some of the women smiled at you and your mother with a courtly wave, and a small portion just simply decided to ignore your existence, and go back to whatever conversation they were having moments prior.

Your mother seemed even more relieved as you did, surely feeling the anxiety building up about her own place in the room. She was older, but still had the girlish tendencies of wanting to fit in.

One of the noblewoman was very welcoming, opting to stand up from her loveseat and make her way over to your mother with a warm smile and curtsey. She even smiled down at you, which made your heart leap at the thought of being greeted by a princess.

“I see you’ve come right on time, and you’ve brought us a gift, too.” notioning at you, “she’ll fit in well with all of our children, the little girls out in the garden. It’s safe here, if she wants to play with them.”

Your mother curtseyed back, “I’m sure she’d like that, do you want to go [Y/N]?”

“Mhm!” The lady in front of your mother giggled at you, and notioned her head towards the entrance of the side garden. Your mother nodded at you, giving you permission to go, and so you skipped off.

The garden was filled with children playing and flowers of all colors blooming from every direction. Some children opted to go a little too high on the large garden swing, others chased butterflies, which is what you did. You got along well with a blond-haired blue-eyed girl, her hair tied up in pigtails and wearing a bright blue dress with gold accessories on it. She had some freckles on her face too, as she proclaimed to be “the professional of catching butterflies”. She taught you how to do it as well, and ushered you to catch the white and red colored butterfly, what an interesting color.

So you followed it, as it fluttered away into the forest-like part of the garden, with trees for what felt like miles. There were no children here, except for you and the childish butterfly slipping from your grasp at every chance.

Well, you thought you were the only child, until you heard crying from a distance.

A boy, about 8-9 years old, was sitting under an oak tree with tears in his eyes.

You hated it when people cried, you always ended up crying with them, but you’d try to keep your composure for the sake of this boy.

A light tap on his knee had him flinching, looking up at the person who had just dared to disturb him and his privacy. Almost regretting it, as he didn’t want to scare the intruder with the horrid scar on his face, but to his surprise, you didn’t flinch or widen your eyes at all. He was even more surprised at the person who was in front of him-

It was just a child.

“…What do you want?”

“Why are you crying?”

He didn’t answer your question.

“Is it because you're lonely?” “..No.”

“Are you nervous about the ceremony? I know it’s pretty scary, but can’t you believe how big this place is? As long as you have your parents by your side, you won't get lost! What’s your name?”

You didn’t know who he was, he was sure of that now. Giving away his last time would reveal who he was. He’d never had an outsider talk to him like a normal person before, and he wouldn’t admit it, but he enjoyed it. He enjoyed the informality, in contrast to the formality that he was forced to drown in all his life, up until now.

“..Shouto. This place is big..but I am used to it.”

“Oh! Do you come here often?? Oh- and my name is [Y/N]!! Unlike you- I am TERRIFIED! I feel like I might get lost here! Like I might get sucked up into a painting or something!”

“..You can’t get stuck in paintings.”

“Of course not silly! I’m just joking!”

“Oh.”

“Uhm.. is it because of your injury? Does it hurt?” you pointed at the scar on his eye. Clearly this wasn’t the best thing to have said, as the boy looks like he’s going to cry again.

“No.. it doesn’t hurt..well..not in that way I don’t think.” His voice is wobbly.

“Oh no! I’m so sorry Shouto. I hope it doesn’t hurt at all. When you grow up, though, I’m sure people will respect you alot with that super duper awesome scar!

“…What?”

“Well..your scar, it looks cool!”

“It..does?” He looked at you like you had grown a second head. He’d never been told that his scar looked cool before. When the incident happened a few years ago, the only thing he was ever met with was horrid looks and fear.

“Of course it does! It’s like you battled one of those big dragons and came back to tell the story! Or- or you're an amazing knight who battled an entire army!”

“A dragon..an army.” He wasn’t frowning anymore, and maybe it was just your imagination, but you swore you saw his lips turn upwards just slightly, thinking about the idea.

“Yeah! Even better if you saved a princess along the way!” That striked an idea to your head, and you began to climb up the tree he was curled under a few moments prior. Only making it to the middle of the tree, you started to faux cry.

“Heeeelp me Shouto!!" The dragon is going to eeeeatt me!!! I’ll become dinner to a hungry dragon!!!”

He looked at you, “There’s no dragon?”

“You have to pretend, silly.”

“Oh, okay.”

He tried his best to climb up the tree, and to your surprise, he did it alot better than you did. He grabbed your hip and pulled you out of the tree, placing you back on your feet.

“You saved me! You are a true heeeero, knight Shouto! The king will surely reward you for your greatness!” with that, you attempted to flash him your best princess smile, you’ve been practicing.

He giggled at you, which nearly surprised himself. It’d been years since he genuinely smiled, let alone laughed at anything.

His laughter was cut short though, with the sound of someone calling your name, in a rather panicked fashion.

“Oh… I have to go..or my mama will be soo mad at me, Shouto.”

“That’s… okay.” He frowned. “You're going to the event, right..?”

“Mhm!” You beamed up at him.

“..What’s your family's name?”

“Uhm.. my last name?”

“Yes.”

“Ohh! It’s [L/N].”

“I see. [F/N],[L/N] is it?” He thought to himself for a moment, then looked at you.

“Yep! That is mee!” You smiled once, again this time he smiled back.”

“[Y/N]!!!” The voice that was calling you got louder this time, startling you both.

With a final wave and a “Goodbye Shouto!! I’ll see you at the ball!” you ran back in the direction you came from, or, where the voice came from? You hoped you were running in the right direction.

“..Goodbye..[Y/N].”

Now he was left by himself again.

Shouto had his own fears and insecurities, all bundled up inside his broken heart and he didn’t have the strength to piece them back together alone. The people alongside him didn’t do much to help, not even his own prestigious family, the ones who were always supposed to be incharge and handle the country with diamond crowns on their heads.

He knew that the same neglectful family would come looking for him soon after they found out he wasn’t isolated in his room like they had thought he had been doing.

And he didn’t think that the one who would even try to piece his heart back together would be a girl 4 years younger than him. That she would make him happy.

Shouto Todoroki was happy with you, and you alone. Even if it was just for a moment, he remembered it well, and he would for the rest of his life.

AUTHORS NOTE: aerhsbdv eliusbfdv awilsubdf fkdbv its 12:34am please i want to be tumblr and a03 famous i put my whole constanceussy into this

Watching him on TV, watching his life flash before his eyes time and time again. Watching him with his friends, oh how you wished you could be one of them, any of them. Anything, if it meant being by him, for him to acknowledge you.

He’s so much better than you that it hurts.

But what hurts the most, is that each year he comes to the fair, it’s one year closer to the year when he won’t show up. Maybe he’s busy with hero work, or he had something that came up, it didn’t matter what it was- you knew that when that day came, the childhood memories of this fair would be gone, and he’d never come back.

You could never have him, his body pressed against yours, his lips pressed against your own. You could never feel him, his chest that’s toned and carved to perfection, or his hair that’s always puffed and pointed in every direction. You couldn’t be on the other end of his small smile, when he can’t contain his joy anymore, even if it’s short lived, as his lips form back into a straight line.

The ache in your heart felt almost physical, but it quickly was discarded as there was now- a very real ache in your shoulder and head.. You must have not looked where you were going, stuck in your own thoughts. Whatever you bumped into, it was strong enough to knock you on the ground- or maybe your knees were weak with the daze you’d been in earlier.

You looked up, your vision still blurry. The sunset looked pretty, swirls of red emotion coursing through the sky, but as your blur subsided, you realized what you were looking at, or who you were looking at, he wasn’t a sky.

“You a fuckin’ zombie? If it ain’t that, then are you blind? You’re lucky you didn’t knock over my drink, if you did I woulda’ ripped those eyes out your damn skull, since ya’ don’t use em’ anyway.”

Loud and brash, never goes unnoticed.

Messy blonde hair and piercing eyes of blood, they could slice through someone’s soul.

Today, this year, they finally sliced through yours.

His insults meant nothing, the scarred hand reaching out to your inferior one, contrasting his actions in every way.

You swallowed, and took his hand. His skin against yours, even if it's just a brush, just like you thought- it destroyed you.

“T-thank you, Ka- Bakugo.”

“You know my name? You watch me on television or some shit?”

“..Okay then, stalker.”

A shout of Katsuki’s name had him turning his attention away from you. Finally breaking away from his eyes, you realized that it was late. The sunset is not in red hues, but blue and pink. You wished it was red though. Maybe when next year comes around, the sunset will match his eyes, and you can tell him what you thought about him all these years. If there was a next year- wait…

“..-WAIT!!” You shouted at him, he had slowly begun to walk away from you, as you daydreamed about him under a red sunset. It came out more as a strangled cry, a disheveled plea. It caused him to whip his head back around, you could almost see a hint of concern on his face.

“Promise..promise me you’ll come back next year?”

He rolled his eyes  “.....Next year? Please, I plan on bringing my kids to this place, if it’s still runnin’ by then.”

For the first time, you didn’t feel an ache anymore. It was instead replaced with something warm, something hopeful.

With this, he turned away again, fading into the crowd of useless people and the slowly darkening sky, until he was no longer to be seen.

The sky was pitch black now, nothing but you and your own thoughts as you lay sprawled out on the bed. Too lazy to make the sheets, limbs on either side of the mattress. Convincing yourself that the events that unfolded a few hours prior was nothing but a dream. You had to stay at the fair a little bit longer, since you worked there. At least they let you wear your own clothes and not some tacky uniform, you would have died if he saw you in something like that.

Sleeping was hard but you had to make do, since you had work again tomorrow.

                                                         BONUS:

“What took you so long, dude? Who were you talking to over there?” Cool and raspy voice, red spiky hair, not pointed in every direction, it was pointed downwards, not drowned in gel like whenever he was in his hero attire. Katsuki’s right hand man.

“Nothin’. Just bumped into someone is all.”

“That’s all? You were over there for a while, Kats.” A pink haired girl chirped in his direction.

“You finally see some eye candy at the fair?” A yellow haired boy, with a streak of black to the side, taunted him after the girl.

More people were in the car, listening to the conversation, like the green haired guy sitting next to Katsuki. He didn’t dare to taunt him, though.

“I can’t have a single fuckin’ conversation with anyone without you guys spewing some stupid bullshit.” He growled at them rather loudly, causing them to go silent, not without a few giggles though.

The remainder of the car ride stayed silent though, people putting in headphones when they couldn’t bear what was on the aux, Katsuki included.

It gave him time to think about things, his career, his plans for dinner, better insults to throw at people, and the “someone” that he bumped into earlier.

(“You come to this fair every year, with your friends. You guys seem really close- it’s nice to watch you- you guys.”)

(“Promise..promise me you’ll come back next year?”)

“You guys free tomorrow?” His voice rang out through the car.

“It’s Saturday Bakugou, everyone’s free.”

“... Does anyone have fucking plans tommorrow?”

Silence echoed throughout the car.