Chapter 14: Hey, Todoroki!

A rough calloused hand tightly wraps itself around the writer's wrist.Dual-colored eyes gaze at the broad yet understandably small back in front of him. It really is weird, the hand on him seems like it is owned by a bodybuilder or something while the figure itself seems like it belongs to a boy who barely graduated from puberty.

Todoroki Shouto finds his back slammed against Café Perry's dark back alley. He blinks, suddenly finding himself surrounded by neatly aligned black trash bags (welcome to Japan). A strong wind blasts at them, messing their hairs and letting the pungent smell drift away for a moment. He doesn't even notice how they got here.

"T-T-T-Todoroki-kun!" A voice shouts, cracking half-way in the middle.

He stares at a pair of green eyes, dimly lit by the light emitting inside the establishment. His eyes are so green it seems like it was glowing in the dark. The freckles on his face are barely visible, overshadowed by the redness that is his face, even more when his voice failed him.

Midoriya Izuku really is someone who barely graduated from puberty.

"W-w-w-what was that about?" He demanded, trying to sound angry but instead he looks like a flustered stuttering mess. "Y-y-y-you can't just say such t-t-t-things in front of Uraraka, especially Uraraka, you know she'll tease us even if--"

Midoriya pauses, biting his inner cheek to stop himself from speaking.

"Even if what?" Todoroki asks with an innocent voice, yet it earns him a scowl from Midoriya. It is least intimidating scowl he has ever seen, in fact, it makes Todoroki want to boop him on the nose.

"... You meant that as a 'f-f-f-f-friendly' kind of 'g-g-g-go out with me', right?"

Todoroki nods.

Midoriya looks disappointed for some reason.

"But why are you giving me that look?"

"What look?" He puffs his cheeks like a pufferfish.

"You're glaring at me." Todoroki almost laughs. Cute.

Midoriya's face relaxes.

Eyebrows that are surprisingly monochrome furrows. "Is that a no?"

"Wha--No! I mean, yes. I mean," He sighs exasperatedly, wiping his face with his hand. "I will go out with you. On a friendly date." He grumbles the last part.

"On a friendly date." Todoroki agrees, smiling.

*

Uraraka forgot to mention: it was a full-course dinner for two in an expensive restaurant.

Midoriya wears a blue checkered polo tucked under white trousers that are neatly held in place by a faux leather belt. He wears a blazer over his shirt to keep him warm, and a pair of uncomfortable pointy black shoes to complete the look.

All these fancy clothes yet he feels so under-dressed.

Well, clearly he's dressed appropriately for the occasion but he feels like no matter how expensive his clothes are, he'll never fit in.

This is just a one-time event, He tells himself, ignoring the way his whole body is shaking.

Not because he's nervous or anything.

It's because of him.

"Are you ready?" He offers his arm, smiling.

Todoroki is wearing a crisp black tuxedo that hugs each muscle on his broad body like he's some sexy secret agent conducting his espionage or whatever you call that thing spies do and HOLY FUCK TODOROKI-KUN LOOKS SO GORGEOUS IT MUST'VE BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE HE'S GIVEN HEAD BECAUSE HE CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME HE WAS SO EAGER TO SUCK SOMEONE'S---

Midoriya coughs, his own thoughts will be the death of him.

The man in question frowns. "Are you okay? Is it too cold?"

Just dying, He wants to say. "Swallowed a bug," He coughs again for emphasis. "Also, stop that," He gestures at Todoroki's waiting arm. "People are going to stare."

If Todoroki thinks that was a weird excuse, he doesn't say anything. Instead, he pouts and slumps his arm down. Midoriya laughs at his childish gambits. As an apology, he slips his arm around Todoroki, dragging his date to the entrance.

"Shall we?" Midoriya gives him one last look.

Todoroki nods.

They enter the restaurant, chin held high and arms tightly wrapped around each other.

It's a European-inspired restaurant, with shiny shimmering chandeliers and expensive-looking pieces of furniture. The walls are painted cream, a dainty and fitting color to the restaurant's theme. Framed paintings and statues decorated each available space found in the establishment, they might as well have entered an art museum. The tables are covered with red velvet tablecloths, each table has its own candelabra that dimly lights their surroundings. Everything has such a Western vibe, Midoriya feels like once he gets out of the resto, he'll start speaking English fluently.

"That's a bit racist," Todoroki says but his lips are forming a slight curve.

Occasionally, accusatory eyes would flicker in their direction. Sometimes, they can hear a whisper or two from middle-aged ladies wearing designer dresses who have nothing better to do with their lives but judge two innocent men having a casual dinner together.

"This place is really something," Midoriya says under his breath, feeling intimidated by the luxurious vibe the place is emitting. "You don't seem to be the slightest bit nervous. Are you a regular to such places, Todoroki-kun?"

Todoroki nods.

Midoriya purses his lips, looking down at the floor. He's just teasing him and doesn't really expect Todoroki to give a serious answer, much less actually say yes. It dawns upon him that Todoroki and he live in such different worlds and that the young writer is a different caliber of his own.

There it is again, that deep pain in his chest as if he's suffocating, drowning, dying

For a moment, when Todoroki told him he wanted to go out with Midoriya, there's this flicker of hope inside his chest that he hopes Todoroki means it in that way. Romantic, sexual, even, just not... This.

But it's exactly what this is.

Upon seeing Midoriya's reaction, Todoroki has a strong urge to explain himself.

"I... Am an heir to a large company here in Japan."

Midoriya blinks, but he doesn't look surprised. His last name is probably a dead giveaway to his status.

"You probably heard about the Todoroki Corporation," He says, a slight vehemence found in his voice. "Although I'm the fourth born, and the third born son, my father had his own fucked up reason and chose me as the heir instead of my brothers and sister. Attending such formal functions is a norm for me so I don't feel nervous or anything."

Midoriya nods, unable to say anything with this newfound information. A waiter greets them and the duo presents their voucher. Todoroki blushes an unsightly pink as they are guided by their assigned waiter to their respective table.

"I'm sorry, that was something boring and uncalled for. I shouldn't--"

"You should stop saying sorry, Todoroki-kun."

Heterochromatic eyes dilate, looking more feline under the illumination of the candlelight of the table. They are now seated, staring at one another as the waiter explains the food inclusions of their package. They nod, half-listening to what the man said as he exits.

"I'm sorry?" Todoroki shakes his head, "I beg your pardon?"

"You seem to say sorry a lot," Midoriya laughs but there is no humor in his voice. "You shouldn't."

"I..." He wants to apologize but he'll just prove Midoriya's point. "I understand." He supplies instead.

"Please share more tidbits about yourself," Midoriya urges. "I like learning more about you. After all, it wouldn't be right for me to be the only one sharing things about myself, right?"

"Why?" Todoroki is dumbstruck. "I mean, unlike my case, you have no need for such information about myself..."

Midoriya nods. "That's true. But can't I learn more about you simply because I like you?"

"L-like?" The writer uncharacteristically stutters.

"L-l-like you as a f-f-f-friends!" He says defensively, the pitch of his voice higher than usual.

"O-oh." Todoroki hesitantly nods, looking away.

Midoriya does the same thing, sweatdropping.

Their table is surrounded by a shroud of silence. Awkwardness ensues. Only do they speak when a waiter arrives, asking them a question that is far too accented for Midoriya to understand.

"He asks if you would like some wine," Good thing Todoroki was quick to catch up and interpret his silence and the stupid expression on his face.

"I'm not Barbara," It came out of his mouth before he could properly think. Todoroki purses his lips, suppressing his laughter as Midoriya comically burst into smoke in embarrassment.

The waiter laughs, getting the reference. Midoriya sheepishly smiles while Todoroki answers him in English. The waiter bows and takes his leave, according to Midoriya's ample English-speaking capabilities, Todoroki told him that he would like their wine to be served along with each suggested course. Once they are finally alone, the curly top slams his balled fist on the velvet cloth that covers the table.

"Why is the waiter a foreigner?!"

"Maybe the owner of this restaurant wants to complete the Western theme or something?" Todoroki suggests. "Also, wow, that's strike 2 of your racism count today, Midoriya."

"No!" Midoriya turns a vivid shade of red. "You know, I'm proficient in speaking in English. But when I'm in front of a foreigner, I get so tongue-tied it's as if I never studied English in my whole life."

"I know what you mean," Todoroki laughs daintily, he sounds so pure and innocent he should be granted a Disney princess status.

"I know what you mean," Midoriya says in the deepest voice he could muster. "No, you don't! You answered him flawlessly!"

"I'm so..." Todoroki trails upon seeing Midoriya's warning glance. "It was nothing."

"Now you're just being cocky," But Midoriya is laughing.

And under the dim candlelight that barely serves its purpose, so does he.

Unknown to Midoriya, Todoroki is equally stunned at his appearance. Mismatched eyes closely watch the way his shoulder shakes when he laughs, how the corner of his eyes crinkle when he smiles, how he brushes the curls of his hair with his long calloused fingers only for it to resume its previous position like nothing happened.

Todoroki couldn't believe this is happening. If this is what you call 'happiness', he would describe it as if he's going to spontaneously combust any time soon.

And he would burn again and again just to have a taste of it.

"Shouto-kun!"

Todoroki nearly jumps from his seat, almost experiencing a heart attack since no one except his family calls him that. A figure comes close to them, they are half-expecting it to be the waiter but the person is moving with feminine elegance and has the silhouette of a voluptuous woman. Slowly, she emerges from the light, revealing one of the most beautiful and carefully sculpted faces Midoriya has ever seen.