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In the aftermath of the war, when everyone is trying to overcome the trauma it left behind, Shouto tries to find his place in the world.
He keeps himself as occupied as he can. He reviews study material even though they are on a break, practices, goes on walks, or reads.
With the break, most classmates are home with their families and he could return to the Todoroki estate as well but decided to stay in the dorms once his father was released from the hospital, thinking he could use the silence of the dorms to make sense of his thoughts.
It’s a random Tuesday when he decides to visit his brother in the prison/medical facility where they are holding him.
The easiest way to get there without a car is by taking a bus just a 10-minute walk from the UA entrance and getting off an hour and 27 stations later.
He doesn’t mind; it’s not like he has much going on these days anyway.
Shouto doesn’t really know what this place should be called. It is a medical research facility re-purposed with a crazy amount of security added to house someone like the League of Villains' Dabi. Touya was brought here shortly after they decide he is stable enough to be moved from the hospital they initially rush him to after the war, not wanting to keep him near civilians more than necessary.
Having been told that Touya is slowly but surely dying and will be confined to that giant metal pod in a dark room in the basement—probably because the basement is the only part of that entire building that has rooms big enough to accommodate said giant medical pod—his family has been visiting him more often. By family, he really means just his parents.
Natsou made it clear he wants to distance himself from them at least for a little while and hasn’t been to visit Touya since. Shouto finds it odd as he's always heard about how close the two of them were as kids; he only got to watch his siblings from a distance back then but even then it was obvious they had a close bond.
Fuyumi accepted the job that the mother of one of her previous students found for her and moved to Kyoto just a few weeks ago.
So, his parents are the most regular visitors these days.
Shouto trudges along the sterile corridor, the hum of fluorescent lights above adding to the unsettling stillness. The medical facility—or prison, depending on how one looks at it—is as cold and impersonal as the idea of confining his brother to a metal pod in the basement until his inevitable death.
This is not a place meant for living, he thinks grimly. It is a place for waiting.
The room is cavernous, dark except for the faint glow of machinery monitoring the pod in its centre.
The contraption looks like something out of a nightmare, all steel, glass, and a tangle of wires that seem to hold Touya together as much as they restrain him.
Through the curved surface of the pod, Shouto can see his brother, wrapped up in bandages and motionless except for the subtle rise and fall of his chest.
Shouto approaches hesitantly, his footsteps echoing off the walls. His voice catches in his throat as he stands there, unsure what to say.
He glances around in search of a chair and doesn’t find one; there wasn’t one when he comes here with his family either.
It makes sense; their visits are supposed to be short so as not to overwhelm Touya.
He stands there for while, looking around the room unsure of what do now that he is here before he finally settles his bag on the floor and sits besides it, just a few steps from the pod, he doubts it is the dirtiest place he has sat on, should be fine.
He takes in the room, taking in the details he missed the first time he was here over two-three weeks ago, there are multiple machines of different sizes attached to the pod but the room is barren besides the machines, no extra furniture anywhere in sight, he tries to make himself comfortable on the floor by adjusting himself in his place before finally brining himself to say something, talking has never been his strongest suit but he likes to think he is improving.
"The dorms are empty," he murmurs finally, his voice low and uncertain.
"Everyone’s gone home for the break. I could have, too, but…" He trails off, unable to finish the thought.
Why is he here again? He doesn't know if his brother would even want him here but it's too late to change his mind now.
The silence stretches between them, heavy and oppressive. Shouto looks at the book in his hands and turns it over awkwardly, thumbing the edges of the pages.
"I brought a book, I've been trying to find something to do these days... the reviews said teenagers like it..." he says after a long pause. "I... I won’t bother you."
Shouto opens the book and begins reading, though the words barely register.
He can’t focus; his mind keeps wandering back to the dimly lit pod and his brother inside it.
He tries not to look, not to think about how Touya might be staring back at him but he doesn't have to turn the page even once because he keeps going through the same paragraph without actually reading any of it.
The break stretches on, Shouto keeps going back.
The hum of the machinery doesn’t become any less oppressive, the glow from the pod no warmer either, but he finds himself returning again and again, a couple of times a week and then a few days a week.
His visits are frequent enough that on the second week he opens the door to find a chair waiting for him.
Their visits are supposed to be short so as not to overwhelm Touya and his fragile heart, but Shouto barely says anything when he visits, so he is rarely asked to leave even when he stays there for over an hour at a time.
He mostly keeps to himself and reads this or that book (and yes he is actually reading them now).
He is sitting in his chair, legs crossed, the book he brought propped open in his lap when it happens.
Touya's hoarse voice echoes through the dark room, exhausted and raspy.
"Read it out loud; your brother is going even crazier in this darn room,"
It takes him to minute to register it but just as he thinks Touya might say something to make sure Shouto heard him he looks down at the book in his hand and starts.
He sounds awkward and strange to himself but he keeps going anyway. It is some dense piece of classic literature he has seen on a "must-read" list. Shouto only made it a few pages in before realizing the book isn’t particularly gripping. It doesn’t matter though, The act of reading is what counts, Or so he told himself.
The scratch of his fingers turning a page is the only sound until a gravelly, hoarse voice cuts through the still air.
"Are you seriously reading that?" Touya’s voice, though weak, carries all the weight of his usual disdain.
"I’ve been stuck in this coffin for God knows how long, and you’re gonna bore me to death with… what is it? War and Peace or something?"
Shouto freezes, his eyes snapping up to meet Touya’s through the curved glass of the pod. His brother’s gaze, dim but sharp with irritation, bores into him.
It’s the first time Touya speaks to him directly or even acknowledges his presence since he started visiting.
"It’s not War and Peace," he answers, holding up the book’s cover as if that explains anything. "It’s… uh… a classic. People say it’s good."
Touya scoffs, a rasping sound that almost turns into a cough.
"That thing looks like it could put even me out of my misery, and I’m already halfway there."
Shouto blinks, unsure whether to be offended or relieved that Touya is engaging with him at all.
"I can bring a different book next time."
"hmmph" is all he gets in return, Touya's voice low and scratchy. "And maybe pick something that doesn’t sound like it’s been read by old men in tweed jackets for the last hundred years."
Shouto frowns, his face heating slightly.
"I didn’t think you’d even care," he mutters, looking back down at the book, feeling a bit sad for it.
Touya grumbles, shifting slightly in the pod. The effort seems to sap him, and he lets out a weary huff.
"Just don't bring another snooze-fest."
Shouto closes the book with a soft thud, nodding almost to himself.
"Alright. I’ll find something else."
He doesn’t get a response, but as he glances up again, he can see familiar eyes looking at him.
The visit ends as it usually does, with Shouto returning to the dorms in thoughtful silence.
But this time, his mind lingers on the sound of Touya’s voice, the sharpness of his words.
He makes a mental note to find something more engaging for the next visit—something his brother might not outright mock—though, knowing what little he knows of Touya, that seems like an impossible task.
Shouto finds himself in the school library.
Touya has asked for a different book. It isn’t much—a small request wrapped in Touya’s trademark snark—but to him, it feels like a sign.
A sign that Touya doesn’t entirely mind his presence. Maybe even wants him there.
He spends an hour or two in the school library combing through the shelves for a book that Touya wouldn't hate, his usually stoic demeanour cracking as indecision sets in.
What kind of book wouldn’t bore Touya? Something with action? Something irreverent? He isn’t sure.
After the fifth time of aimlessly flipping through titles, the librarian approaches him with a sympathetic smile.
"Looking for something specific?" she asks gently, her eyes glinting with understanding.
Shouto hesitates before nodding. "It’s… for my brother. He’s, uh… hard to please." half expecting her smile to drop, everyone knows who his brother is after all.
The librarian only tilts her head thoughtfully, maybe not then, or maybe she thinks it for his other brother. he is quickly brought back to reality as she answers.
"Well, tell me a bit about him. What does he like?"
"Complaining," Shouto says bluntly, earning a small chuckle from the librarian.
"Alright," she says, pulling a few options from the shelves.
"Maybe something gripping, with enough edge to keep his attention. Here, these might do."
Shouto walks out of the library with three books tucked under his arm, feeling oddly accomplished.
When he arrives at the facility later that day, the usual chill of the basement room doesn’t bother him as much.
He pushes open the heavy door, his heart racing slightly as he steps inside.
Touya is in his usual position, encased in the metal pod, looking as still and detached as ever.
But when Shouto enters, his brother’s gaze flickers toward him, something almost curious in his expression.
Shouto can’t be sure, but it feels… different.
"I brought a few books," Shouto says, holding up the small stack as he walks closer. "I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I picked these."
Touya’s lips twitch—barely perceptible but enough to make Shouto think he might be amused. Or maybe Touya is just laughing at him internally.
Either way, it isn’t outright rejection, so he settles for the seemingly positive reaction and reads out the book Touya seems least annoyed by.
Shouto settles into the chair, flipping to the first page.
He starts reading aloud, his voice steady despite the nerves coiling in his chest.
Every so often, he glances up at Touya, gauging his reaction.
At first, Touya’s expression is unreadable, but he doesn’t look away. He is listening, and that is enough for Shouto.
When he finally finishes the first chapter, he looks up again.
"So… what do you think?"
Touya lets out a low, tired huff. "Not terrible."
Not a praise, but Shouto supposes for Touya, it might as well have been glowing approval.
"I’ll keep reading, then," Shouto replies, turning to the next page.
Touya doesn’t respond, but his eyes stay on Shouto.
The visits become routine. Shouto scours the library or bookstores for a new book every week, always trying to pick something that wouldn’t earn too much of Touya’s disdain.
He brings everything from thrillers to dark comedies, even a few fantasy novels when he’s feeling brave.
The reading sessions stretch on, one chapter after another, and though they still don’t talk much, the silence between them feels less heavy now.
It isn’t entirely comfortable, but it isn’t crushing either.
Occasionally, Shouto breaks the monotony of his reading with small snippets of his day.
"There’s this new soba place near the dorms," he mentions one day, pausing to glance up from the book. "I went there yesterday. The broth isn’t as good as that old shop by the fresh market, but the noodles are fresh. You’d probably like it though."
Touya doesn’t respond, his expression hidden by the dim light and the reflective glass of the pod, but Shouto likes to think he is listening.
It gives him a reason to keep sharing.
Another time, Shouto tells him about a kitten he petted when he was waiting for the bus earlier. "It just came up to me and sat on my shoe. Stayed there for like five minutes before walking off like nothing happened. It’s weird, but… kind of nice." Again, no reply, but Shouto presses on.
There are days when Shouto’s stories are even less eventful.
"I messed up my laundry yesterday," he admits, rubbing the back of his sore neck. looking down at the book he’s been holding for the last two hours, made it sore to touch.
"Put my uniform in with a red shirt. Now everything’s kind of pink. Didn’t even know I had a red shirt."
Touya’s chest moves slightly, almost imperceptibly, as if he might snort at that.
Shouto’s lips twitch, but he doesn’t comment.
Then there is the time he nearly misses his bus.
"I thought I was gonna miss the bus; I thought I'd have enough time to grab that kitten a can of tuna, it's been showing up at the bus stop everyday" he says, flipping a page.
"Thought I’d have to wait an hour for the next one, but the bus is late too, so I make it on time."
No reaction, as usual, but the silence isn’t cold. It is… accepting.
Like Touya is content to let Shouto fill the space with his voice.
And so it goes on—one book after another, with Shouto reading aloud and sharing bits of his day in between.
He doesn’t know for sure if Touya is paying attention, but the thought that he might be is enough to keep Shouto coming back.
He catches Touya’s faint reflection in the glass, the way his eyes seem to follow him sometimes, and he finds that it is proof enough for him.
It is another quiet afternoon in the dimly lit room. Shouto has just finished reading a particularly dramatic scene from the latest book he’s brought when Touya’s raspy voice cuts through the silence, startling him.
"I told the old man I don’t want him to visit," Touya says, his tone as tired and rough as ever, but there is something else laced in it—a challenge like he is daring Shouto to disagree with him.
Shouto lowers the book, his eyes narrowing slightly as he processes the words.
He isn’t the right person for that argument, and Touya has to know it.
"Did he throw a manly tantrum?" Shouto asks instead, his voice as flat as ever, though a small smirk tugs at the corner of his lips.
For a moment, there is silence, and Shouto wonders if he has said the wrong thing.
But then, faint and hoarse, he hears it—a laugh. It is short and dry, more like a cough than anything else, but it is unmistakable. Touya has laughed.
Shouto blinks, almost unsure if he’s imagined it, but the flicker of amusement in Touya’s eyes confirms it. I
t’s there, fleeting but real. "Something like that," Touya rasps after a moment, his lips twitching into what might be a grin.
Shouto doesn’t respond immediately. Instead, he flips the page of the book, pretending to focus on the words while his chest feels unexpectedly warm.
"I know he is atoning as he says but I can’t imagine him taking that well," Shouto adds after a pause, his tone carefully neutral.
Touya huffs, his breath rattling slightly in his chest. "You have no idea."
Shouto smirks faintly.the silence that follows feels lighter, like they’re sharing a joke only the two of them can understand.
With their father now banned from visiting Touya, Shouto finds that he can visit pretty much anytime he wants.
Their mother mostly visits early in the morning, so Shouto doesn’t really get to see her.
It’s during one of those quieter afternoons, as Shouto settles into the familiar chair with a new book in hand, that he decides to share something mundane.
"Classes are starting soon," he says almost absently as he flips the book open.
"Must suck," comes Touya’s dry, raspy voice from the pod, startling Shouto enough that he pauses mid-turn of a page. He blinks up at the reflective surface of the pod, trying to gauge his brother’s mood.
Shouto stares for a beat longer before exhaling softly.
He really needs to stop being surprised at this. Lately, Touya has been answering him more—not much, but enough. Short sentences or single words, delivered in that hoarse, sardonic tone of his.
It isn’t much, but Shouto isn’t much of a talker either, so he doesn’t mind.
He’ll take what he can get.
"You’re not missing much," Shouto replies at last, settling into his chair and thumbing through the book’s pages. "Right now, just a lot of lectures and papers. And community service."
There’s a faint noise from the pod, something between a huff and a scoff.
Shouto chooses to interpret it as interest. He glances up again, his eyes meeting the faint outline of Touya’s figure through the glass. his grip on the book tightens just slightly, a faint smile creeping on his face as he opens the book. Whatever this is between them, he thinks, it’s starting to feel a little less like an enforced routine and a little more like something real. Shouto finds that he quite likes this feeling.
They say Touya had a heart episode. They called it a "heart episode," and Shouto doesn’t know if that’s any different from a heart attack—whether it’s worse or not—but they are not allowed to visit him for a few days afterward.
Shouto gets the call and spends the day in his room. His chest feels tight and strange, as though something heavy is sitting on it.
He can’t focus on anything. Even the thought of his usual distractions—books, walks, practicing—feels exhausting. He finds little energy to do much of anything.
A couple of days pass, and the only thing he manages to do is extend the library loan for the book he’s been reading with Touya; there are three chapters left, and he can’t bring himself to finish it on his own. It wouldn’t feel right to read it without him.
So, he waits.
Then Bakugou is finally released from the hospital and returns to class, it’s the first time in days that Shouto is feeling remotely refreshed and feels something even close to happiness happiness.
He joins the welcome party the others throw for their classmate, managing a genuine smile when Bakugou grumbles at everyone’s fussing. he is very relieved that the explosive hero not only survived the ordeal but is recovered enough to be back.
But his energy dwindles down as the evening passes and he retreats to his room soon as Bakugou does, mercifully early at 8:30.
When he gets the call, Shouto stares at his phone for a long few seconds.
When he finally answers, he listens dutifully or tries to and says yes in all the right places.
He hangs up and falls back onto the bed, and only then does he let out a shaky breath he didn’t realize he was holding.
Touya is stable; he can go see him.
Shouto doesn’t waste a moment when he wakes up the next morning. He grabs the book from his desk, slips on his shoes, and hurries out the door.
The streets are quiet as he jogs to the bus stop, the cool early morning air helping to steady the erratic rhythm of his thoughts.
He makes it to the bus just in time, his breath visible in the chilly air as he boards. He holds the book close to his chest as he takes a seat, his fingers brushing the worn edges of the pages. For the first time in days, the weight on his chest feels just a little lighter.
When Shouto arrives at the facility, the usual wave of sterile air and muffled hum of machines greet him. The nurse at the front desk gives him a brief nod, handing over the visitor’s pass he doesn’t even have to request anymore. He makes his way down the familiar corridor, clutching the book tightly, his footsteps echoing in the quiet.
When he enters the room, it is darker than usual. The dim glow of the monitors illuminates the pod in soft, uneven flashes, casting fleeting shadows across the walls.
Touya is even more still than normal, his presence barely registering behind the layers of glass and machinery.
Shouto hesitates. He isn’t sure why—it isn’t like this is the first time he’s seen Touya like this. But today, his brother’s presence feels thinner, almost like a fading whisper.
“Hey,” Shouto says softly as he takes his usual seat. His voice sounds too loud in the quiet room, and he quickly clears his throat.
Touya doesn’t respond, and Shouto isn’t surprised.
His brother looks more tired than he’s ever seen him, his eyes barely open, their usual sharpness dulled. Shouto isn’t sure if Touya even notices he is there.
He fiddles with the book in his lap, flipping it open and closed with nervous fingers. Words feel impossible to string together, and Shouto has never been good with them to begin with.
“I, uh…” he starts, his voice faltering. He rubs the back of his neck, staring down at the floor. “I got the library to extend the loan on this.” He holds up the book as if Touya can see it. “I figured you’d want to know how it ends, so…”
He trails off, feeling foolish. Touya doesn’t even like this book that much—he only tolerates it because the others are worse.
Shouto stares at the pages in silence for a moment before opening them, the words swimming slightly as his eyes adjust to the dim light.
“I’ll read,” he finally says, his voice steadier now. “You can tell me to stop if you’re tired.”
The steady rhythm of Touya’s breathing fills the room as Shouto begins to read aloud.
The words are clumsy in his mouth, but he keeps going, the familiar routine grounding him.
He doesn’t look up to see if Touya is paying attention. He just reads, hoping that somehow, in some small way, it helps.
Touya stays stable. That’s what the nurses say, and it’s supposed to be good news. Stable means no emergencies, no sudden declines, no more late-night calls.
But it also means the clock is ticking.
They all know it, even if no one says it out loud.
Stability, in Touya’s case, isn’t a sign of recovery—it’s a plateau before the inevitable descent.
What little time they've managed to have with Touya might be coming to an end soon.
Shouto is taken aback when arrives early enough to see his mother standing outside of Touya's room. He didn’t expect to see her.
She rarely comes during this time, preferring the early hours when the building is quieter, less likely to be filled with staff bustling about.
But there she is, standing outside of Touya’s room, her back pressed against the wall like it’s the only thing keeping her upright.
Her face is drawn tight with grief, her eyes distant and rimmed red, as though the weight of everything is finally crashing down on her.
She trembles faintly, her hands clasped in front of her, fingers twisting together like she doesn’t know what else to do with them.
Shouto hesitates for a moment, unsure of what to say or do. Words don’t come naturally to him, especially in situations like this.
He steps forward and places a hand on her shoulder, his grip light but steady, mimicking what he’s seen others do when comforting friends or family.
Rei startles slightly at the touch, her head snapping up to look at him.
Recognition softens her gaze, and she reaches out, tracing a finger along his arm, her touch as delicate as a whisper.
It feels like she’s grounding herself, holding onto something tangible in the midst of her sorrow.
Shouto stays quiet, letting the moment stretch between them.
He doesn’t know if visiting Touya is helping her or making things worse.
He doesn’t know if it’s helping Touya either—or if anything anyone does can help anymore.
He doesn’t know much of anything these days.
After a moment, Rei straightens, her hand slipping away from his arm as she composes herself.
“You’re here early,” she says softly, her voice fragile but steady.
Shouto nods. “You stayed late too.”
She gives a weak smile, though it doesn’t reach her eyes.
“I’ll let you go in; I should be on my way anyway,” she says with a gentle smile.
Shouto wants to say something, to tell her it’s okay to stay, but the words catch in his throat.
Instead, he just nods again and steps past her, pushing the door open to Touya’s room.
The faint hum of machinery greets him as he enters, the dim light casting familiar shadows across the walls.
Shouto glances back briefly, catching a glimpse of his mother still leaning against the wall, her shoulders trembling just slightly before the door clicks shut behind him.
Inside, everything is the same.
Touya’s pod looms in the center of the room, surrounded by the rhythmic beeping and flashing of monitors.
Stable, Shouto reminds himself. He is stable.
He takes his usual seat, pulling out the book he’s brought with him. For a moment, he just sits there, staring at the pages without reading them.
“I brought an extra book,” he says finally, his voice quiet in the sterile silence. “There are only 26 pages left of this one.”
He hears a quiet grumble. He begins to read.
The days blur together, marked by the changing contents of Shouto's bag more than anything else, heavier now, filled with textbooks, notes, and homework.
He feels a pang of guilt when he swaps the novels for his study materials, unsure if Touya would mind. If he does, he doesn’t say anything; from time to time, it seems like he is even paying attention to him.
Shouto talks more these days. He tells Touya about how Aizawa is even stricter, if possible.
He mentions how classes are shorter now, with students being sent out in shifts to help rebuild areas hit hardest by the war.
"I thought I was supposed to be on the team going to rural Jaku," Shouto says one afternoon, pausing in the middle of solving a problem. "But they switched me to Shizuoka last minute. Something about better team balance; I doubt it though."
Touya doesn’t respond, but Shouto keeps talking anyway, shifting topics without much thought.
“That cat I told you about—the one at the bus stop? It was there again this morning. It followed me for a while before the bus showed up. I gave it some tuna from my lunch.”
For the first time in what feels like days, Touya speaks, his voice gravelly and laced with irritation.
“Stop feeding it tuna,” he mutters, the words slow and groggy, like it takes effort to say them. “Get it actual cat food if you care that much.”
Shouto freezes for a moment, caught off guard by the sudden response.
Then, without thinking, he abandons his homework, grabs his phone, and starts making a list of cat foods that kittens can have.
He reads through brand names out loud, listing the different flavours.
"They have cat yogurts too... and cat milk... what's the difference even?" he keeps mumbling as he goes down the rabbit hole of cat food brands.
Touya lets out a snort, the sound faint but unmistakable.
He doesn’t comment further, but the corners of Shouto’s mouth quirk up in something resembling a smile.
Touya grows quieter in the following days, and Shouto finds himself wishing for more moments like that, where Touya comments negatively on everything.
He didn't realize how much he's started to crave those rare snippets of interaction until they are gone again. it's almost like they are back to when he first started visiting.
It does catch him off guard—this yearning for connection, with a brother he barely knows. he never really got to know Touya, and now he may never really get to know him because even after everything they are on borrowed time.
This longing for something so simple. He always thought of himself as someone who doesn’t need much—someone content with the silence. But now...
And so Shouto keeps coming back, textbooks in hand and cat food in his bag, talking about whatever comes to mind.
Shouto has to take a break from visiting Touya as the written midterm exams come to an end, making way for battle exams. although the exams are on a much smaller scale this year and won't take up as much time as they usually would before the war he still feels uneasy and unconsciously reaches for his phone every few minutes, enough to warrant a warning from Aizawa.
He can't even pinpoint what is going on with him.
He did tell Touya that exams could affect his visits, his brother showed no reaction, or at least none that Shouto could comprehend.
He manages to finish his quirk battle exam within the hour, probably the first one in his class to do so, as when he makes his way back to the rest area, Bakugou is the only one in the room.
The blond has been excused from all physical exams, much to his dismay. Surprisingly, other than nagging about it for a week straight, he didn't blow up like everyone expected him to.
Bakugou spares Shouto a glance as he grabs a seat and reaches for his phone right away.
"You got a girlfriend or something?" Bakugou's grumpy voice snaps Shouto out of his thoughts.
Shouto looks at him with his usual expression.
"No?" His answer comes out more like a question.
"What's with you being on your phone all the damn time then? Sneaking out of the dorm the second you get a chance?"
Shouto looks at him, surprised that the blond has paid enough attention to know this. "I..." he trails off.
The war ended a few months ago, and people are still struggling with the mess it left in it's wake.
The same war that almost killed Bakugou himself, affecting everyone, including all their classmates.
The same war where his brother was their enemy... Touya is a known villain and irredeemable in public's eyes, having done things that cannot be undone.
Everyone saw Shouto fight very hard to stop Dabi, but he also fought to save Touya. that's not something he can put into words just yet.
He can't say that because Touya is his brother he feels differently about him, unlike Fuyumi and Natsu he didn't know Touya as a child; they weren't even allowed in the same room.
He knows his brother more as Dabi than as Touya.
But he felt even closer to him knowing how easily their situations could have been reversed, maybe that's why he fought so hard to save him.
Even still, telling people that he visits the same villain who destroyed and took so much feels strange? wrong? insensitive?
Normally, he would ask his classmates, but the League of Villains is a sore topic, and he doesn’t want to risk upsetting anybody.
His classmates have been kind to him, supporting him through everything and giving him a place to belong. He doesn’t think they would judge him, but he doesn’t want to be insensitive when all of them are just starting to recover from a war his brother had a hand in.
"Hoy..."
It seems Bakugou can see the gears turning in his head and throws a piece of candy at him when Shouto doesn’t answer and just stares at him a good minute.
But just as he goes to say something, Shouto answers.
"Touya-ni... I've been visiting him..." The words spill out in one breath.
The silence that follows stretches on forever, heavy.
Shouto grips his phone tightly, unsure if he has made a mistake. Bakugou stares at him, his expression unreadable, but his usual scowl is softened by what looks almost like confusion—or maybe hesitation. Shouto can't tell.
"So what? Stop looking like I’m about to chew you out or somethin’" Bakugou grumbles, his tone sharp but lacking any real bite.
He pops a piece of candy into his mouth and leans back, caressing his injured arm over the cast. "That’s your own damn business. Not like you owe anyone an explanation"
Shouto blinks, finally looking up, actually looking at him although the blond is instead staring at the far wall with an expression that’s almost thoughtful—if he squints.
"I mean, yeah, your brother’s done some messed-up shit," Bakugou continues, his voice quieter now. "But that’s not on you. you didn't do anything wrong. You’re trying to make sense of it or whatever."
Shouto opens his mouth, but no words come out. He hadn’t expected this—not from Bakugou, of all people, but he is suddenly reminded of something.
The blond clicks his tongue, clearly annoyed at the silence. "Look, I’m not good at this sentimental crap, but it’s fine. You’re fine. If anyone’s got a problem with it, I’ll blow their ass to next week, good enough?"
That earns a small huff of amusement from Shouto, loosening the tension in his chest just slightly. "...Thanks"
"Whatever. Just don’t be weird about it," Bakugou shoots back, though there’s a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Stop staring at your damn phone like a lost puppy. It’s pathetic."
Shouto pockets his phone, his lips quirking into the faintest of smiles.
"you were wrong by the way."
"huh?" Bakugou is taken aback, too surprised at the claim being thrown at him to scowl or nag like he normally would.
Shouto opens the candy that Bakugou threw at him a minute ago but he looks up in time to see the dumbfounded expression on his friend's face.
"oh... you were wrong, Touya-ni's favourite food is not hot Udon, it's soba."
Bakugou looks at him for a second before a smirk takes over his face "I'll be damned."
The unease in his chest hasn’t disappeared entirely, but Bakugou’s words did take the edge off. Maybe, just maybe, it’s okay to keep going on like this for now.
In just the few days he hasn't seen Touya, somethings seem to have happened.
He wakes up the day after the exams to a message from his mom asking if he will be visiting Touya soon.
He shoots her a message to let her know he will be there within the hour and starts to get ready.
They have a week off classes, but they will be sent out in teams for community service or to help people rebuild for a couple of those days.
He keeps an eye on his phone, but it only shows that she has seen his message.
It feels strange, as she never messages him to ask about visiting Touya or anything related to him really.
He gets ready, reminding himself to buy a couple of white shirts to replace the two he accidentally ruined while doing his laundry.
He picks up a few new books from the library along with a can of cat food, then passes by Bakugou who gives him a knowing look from his seat in the common room; it's too early for anyone else to be awake.
He makes his way to the facility.
Each visit feels like both a weight on his chest and a small glimmer of normalcy, even though he isn’t entirely sure what normal really is, never having lived a normal life.
He arrives at the front desk and offers a polite nod to the nurse on duty, who recognizes him by now.
The usual procedures follow, and soon enough, he is walking toward the familiar room where Touya is staying.
As he reaches the door to Touya’s room, he pauses for a brief moment, gathering himself before entering. He knows the drill and knows what to expect. But he still holds his breath until he opens the door fully and sees the pod.
The room is dim, and Touya is asleep, as he often is during the early hours. His breathing is steady, and the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest brings small comfort.
Shouto sits in his usual chair by the pod, pulling out one of the new books he has brought along. His gaze drifts over to Touya again, and his fingers idly trace the cover of the book. A strange sense of unease settles in his stomach.
Just as he opens the first page of the book, Touya stirs, a soft grunt escaping his lips.
Shouto's heart skips a beat, and his eyes flick to his brother, but Touya doesn’t open his eyes. Instead, he shifts slightly, a quiet groan escaping him.
Shouto exhales quietly, setting the book aside. "You awake?" he asks softly, as if his voice might disturb the fragile silence around them.
Touya's eyes flutter open slowly, his gaze unfocused at first before it settles on Shouto.
The older brother’s lips curl into a faint, tired smirk. “Could’ve sworn I heard you,” he mutters, his voice hoarse. “What, you bringing more books to bore me to death with?”
Shouto allows himself a small smile, though it is laced with the weight of the questions swirling in his mind. "Maybe. I brought a new one; it’s from that German writer from a couple of weeks ago. You might like it. oh I grabbed some food for the cat too."
Touya narrows his eyes. “Don’t spoil it too much. It'll keep following you.”
“Right,” he mutters, reaching for the can of cat food and setting it back in his bag. “I’ll remember.”
Touya’s voice breaks the silence again, though it is weaker now. “Don’t you have some exams to bother with?”
Shouto hesitates, his gaze lingering on his brother, but he doesn’t argue. “They are over,” he says quietly. “There are only so many courses you have to take in high school.”
Touya does not even open his eyes this time. "Wouldn't know; I didn't even finish 7th grade."
That one sentence is enough for Shouto to be reminded of just how different their lives have been from each other, he wishes he could know more.
The little exchange they have here and there isn’t much, but it’s something. And for now, that has to be enough.
Shouto grabs the book again, flipping it open to the first page.
His fingers itch to reach for his phone again, to check for another message, but he resists. His mom will probably call.
His mother calls him just as he is about to leave, asking him to stay as she is on her way.
Shouto checks the bus schedule and sighs as he sees the next bus is in an hour and a half, but then he goes back into the building, trying to keep out of people's way.
The facility is not exactly a hospital, so there’s no waiting room or lobby.
He doesn't have to wait for long though as his mom walks through the door not that much later. she spots him right away and walks up to him.
She looks tired, but Shouto doesn’t remember the last time she wasn't.
Before she can get a word out, a man that Shouto recognizes as one of Touya’s primary doctors walks up to them. “Thanks for coming, Mrs. Todoroki,” he spares him a glance. “Is it fine to discuss the matter with Shouto-kun here?”
His mother puts a hand on his shoulder. “I haven’t had the chance to tell him yet, but he would want to be here.”
The doctor nods, although hesitantly. Just then, his father rolls in his wheelchair, and the older Todoroki gives him a curt a nod, he doesn't look any better either.
Before Shouto can say anything about how Touya doesn’t want him here, the doctor ushers them to the elevator which then takes them to the second floor.
He follows, gripping his backpack's handle, not liking the feeling creeping into his heart.
He walks silently behind the group, his grip on his backpack tightening as they are led into the small, sterile office.
The doctor gestures for them to take seats, but Shouto hesitates, standing near the door as his mother takes a sit.
The atmosphere is thick with tension; his mother’s hands trembles slightly as she folds them in her lap.
Enji, stoic as ever, folds his hands together on the armrests of his wheelchair, his jaw set.
Shouto glances at his father briefly, noting the faint furrow of his brows. It isn’t often that the man shows unease, but something about the way he avoids looking at the doctor speaks volumes.
The doctor sits behind the desk, his expression carefully measured. He opens a folder, scanning it briefly before clearing his throat.
“Mrs. Todoroki, Mr. Todoroki, Shouto-kun,” he begins, his voice calm but low, “thank you all for coming on such short notice. I understand this is difficult, but it’s important that we discuss Touya-kun’s current condition and his options moving forward.”
Shouto’s stomach churns. Options? The word doesn’t sit right.
His mother glances at Shouto, her lips curled into a frown.
The doctor hesitates, looking between the three of them before focusing on his notes. “Touya-kun's condition remains stable for now, we’ve also been observing all the changes in his condition over the past few months that he’s been here. His vitals have gotten weaker slightly, and there are signs that his body struggles to keep up even with our intervention. We've noticed increased difficulty managing his pain, even with the strongest medications his body can handle in it's current condition.”
Shouto feels like the air has been sucked out of the room. His heart pounds in his chest, the doctor’s words a blur of medical jargon that he can’t fully process.
Enji's voice breaks through the haze. “You did tell us about this before.” It is gruff but restrained, as though he is forcing himself to remain composed.
The doctor exhales quietly but continues with a nod. “Touya-kun is reaching a point where we may need to consider fully transitioning to palliative care. This means focusing more on his comfort rather than continuing to support his body using the technology we have here.”
“He’s stable. You just said he’s stable.” Shouto says, the word escaping before he can stop it. All eyes turn to him, but he barely notices.
“Shouto,” his father says gently, but he is focused on the doctor.
The doctor’s expression softens, but his voice remains steady. “Shouto-kun, I understand how difficult this is to hear. We have gone over Touya-kun's condition with all of you before, and even knowing that it is a waiting game for him it doesn’t mean we’re completely giving up. It means we are shifting the focus to what’s best for him at this stage.”
Shouto feels his mother’s hand on his, grounding him slightly, but the knot in his chest only tightens. His father remains silent, his face unreadable, though Shouto can see the tension in his shoulders.
“Over the phone, you mentioned you talked to him about this?” his mother asks, her voice quiet now, almost a whisper.
The doctor nods. “We’ve spoken with him about the situation. He... he’s aware of what this means, and he’s expressed his wishes.”
“He asked that we go over the details of it with you all,” the doctor says. “He also made it clear that he doesn’t want to prolong his suffering unnecessarily.”
The words hit Shouto like a blow. He stares at the floor, his mind racing as he tries to make sense of it all. Touya , the person he’s fought so hard to save, to bring back, is asking them to let go.
His mother’s voice trembles as she speaks. “What happens now?”
The doctor folds his hands together. “We’ll continue to monitor him closely and ensure his comfort. For now, there’s no immediate action needed. This is a conversation we wanted to have early so that the family has time to process and discuss together.”
Shouto can’t look at anyone. The weight of the room is suffocating, and the ache in his chest grows heavier with each passing second. He clenches his fists, his nails digging into his palms as he tries to hold himself together.
The meeting ends shortly after, the doctor leaving them to their thoughts as they sit in silence. His mother reaches for his hand again, but he pulls away gently, not out of anger.
“I have to see him,” he says quietly, heading for the door before anyone can stop him.
His father calls after him, but Shouto doesn’t turn back. He has to see Touya, to talk to him, to hear for himself.
The hallway blurs as he walks, his mind overrun by thoughts, a chaotic mess.
The guard barely acknowledges Shouto beyond a cursory glance and presses the button for the elevator without a word. Shouto rides it down to the basement in silence, his heart pounding in a way he can’t quite decipher.
He walks into the room with purposeful strides, but once the door closes behind him, he freezes, the strength leaving him.
The room feels colder again, and he doesn't know what to say.
The air is heavy, the faint mechanical hum of the pod Touya rests in is the only thing filling the silence.
Touya’s voice cuts through the silence, rough and slightly hoarse. “Weren't you just here?”
Shouto can’t tell if it’s sarcasm or genuine confusion.
He steps closer until he stands by the base of the pod. He wants to touch it but stops halfway, choosing to stare at the small glass section of the pod that frames his brother's face.
It is Touya who speaks first again, his voice carrying a weary edge as he talks in a matter-of-fact manner. “They told you... and you are here to give me another one of your heroic lectures—”
He is interrupted by Shouto, who shakes his head slightly and finally moves to touch the cold surface of the pod with one hand.
“You must be tired...” His voice is soft, almost a whisper.
Touya blinks, momentarily thrown off. He opens his mouth as if to respond but closes it again.
Shouto stays silent too. He comes down here thinking of a hundred different things, with so much to say, but none make it past the lump in his throat.
The silence stretches between them, heavy but not uncomfortable.
If Touya sees the way his eyes mist over, he doesn’t comment on it; the tears don’t fall anyway.
Shouto doesn’t know how long he stands there, but he leaves much later than usual.
He makes it to the dinner his classmates have prepared and leaves for his room after he helps them clean up. He can hear a few teasing voices from the common room saying how he is turning into Bakugou and going to bed so early, but he is on autopilot as he walks back to his room and sits down to do the homework that he completely forgot about until right after dinner.
It's only when he goes to finally change out of his outside clothes that he sees the can of cat food at the bottom of his bag.
There is no reason to leave the dorms now; it's late enough that they are not allowed outside, but he goes out anyway.
The streets are quiet, the bus stop eerily still. Shouto doesn’t have to wait long as the kitten emerges from the shadows almost at the same time he arrives, its tiny form shuffling toward him with an impatient meow, as if it's been waiting for him.
Shouto sets down the opened can and sits beside it. The kitten lets out what sounds like disapproving meows, as if it's mad that Shouto forgot to feed it, but gobbles down the food when the scent reaches its tiny nose, purring softly as it eats.
Shouto watches how much the tiny thing seems to like the cat food. "Get it cat food if you care that much," Touya's words flash in his mind.
He takes a deep breath, then another one, pressing his palms against his thighs. Another deep breath, then another one, but when his vision gets blurry, he doesn’t try to stop it.
The kitten sticks around longer than usual, choosing to settle by the teenager's leg in a comforting manner. A wet, weak chuckle escapes his mouth, sounding unfamiliar to him. He pets the kitten until the little creature decides it’s had enough and moves to clean itself a few feet away before running into the bushes it first came out of.
Shouto grabs the empty can and makes his way back to the dorms.
The walk only takes a few minutes, but by the time he makes it back to the dorms, exhaustion catches up to him.
He doesn’t bother changing out of his clothes, collapsing onto his bed and falling asleep almost instantly. For the first time in a long while, his dreams are quiet.
Shouto picks up another book from the library, a thick fantasy novel that’s the first in a trilogy. He’s heard Iida and Kaminari talk about it the other day after class, and apparently, everyone knows the book.
He wonders if Touya does too so he grabs another fantasy book at random just in case he does. He runs his fingers over the embossed title on the cover, briefly wondering if Touya even likes fantasy. He’s never asked. Still, he checks them out, tucking them into his bag before heading off to class.
The day goes by as usual. Shouto attends his classes, participates in training, and sits through lunch with a quieter-than-usual Midoriya. But as the hours tick by, his thoughts keep circling back to Touya.
When he walks into Touya’s room later, he’s struck again by how frozen in time it feels. Nothing ever changes here—the same faint hum of machines, the same sterile walls, and the same stifling stillness. It’s as if the world outside doesn’t exist in this place.
Touya is quiet, as he often is these days, his expression unreadable behind the glass. Shouto wonders if he misses the sun; he hasn't seen it in months at this point.
“I brought a fantasy this time,” Shouto says, holding up the book. “It’s part of a trilogy.”
As the words leave his mouth, a thought hits him like a punch to the gut.
Touya might not make it. He might not be here long enough to finish the story.
Shouto’s grip tightens on the book, but he keeps his face neutral, unwilling to let the thought linger too long.
Touya snorts a low, dismissive sound that could mean anything. He doesn’t say anything else, so Shouto sits down in the chair by the pod, opening the book to the first page.
He starts reading aloud, his voice steady but soft. The story starts strong, and it’s good enough to elicit some nonverbal reactions from Touya.
Shouto keeps reading, stopping only for some water here and there.
He doesn’t read any faster than he normally does, but there is an urgency to his tone.
By the third chapter, he gets lost in the story too, and in that moment, it feels like they’re somewhere else entirely—somewhere far from the cold, clinical walls of the facility. He keeps reading.
And that’s what Shouto does every day.
He reads to Touya, page after page, chapter after chapter. He reads until the words on the page blur together and until he has to leave to catch the last bus.
It’s the only thing he can do right now. He tried so much and worked so hard to save Touya and bring him back. Touya is here now, maybe not for long, but he is here now, and there isn't much else left for Shouto to do.
So he’ll keep reading to Touya until... well, until he doesn’t have the chance to anymore.