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Out of all the siblings, Fuyumi knows her big brother the best.
She knows how he likes his food (soft and mushy but never chewy), how he sleeps at night (spread out like a starfish, pushing everyone else out to the edge). How he smiles whenever he is trying to show off (be it his quirk or his grades or anything else that’ll earn him a pat on the head), or how he throws a tantrum whenever he is upset (storming out and yelling, but it becomes concerning when he is quiet and hiding). It’s an ability that comes along with the three or so years that it had only been just them, the two Todoroki siblings –‘Oh, it’s Little Mi-chan with her Big Brother Tou-chan!’ their neighbors used to say whenever they were seen walking to and from school, their hands held together and tufts of their white and red hair crammed in bright yellow hats – and the many more years right after they’ve expanded from two to four.
(Fuyumi also knows from the young age of three-quarters that Touya did not like being a big brother, that he was used to being fussed all the time instead of the one fussing over someone. But he cares for her enough that he’d always keep her plastered by his side when they walk through crowds or when someone asks why they don’t look the same, even as the days got busier and the schools more distant and as the neighbors’ greetings become ‘Oh, it’s Natsu-chan and Shou-chan with their Big Brother and Sister!’)
Suffice to say, Fuyumi understands Touya well enough that she’s so confused by the weird ideas that others have developed of her brother.
“I’m sorry,” she says, more of a habit than of genuine amiability. “You think he’s what now?”
One of her classmates – a sweet but nosy girl by the name of Rika – twirls her hair around her finger, giggling, as if Fuyumi said something funny and not of genuine disbelief. “Look at him,” she says, pointing at the phone where the other girls are watching U.A.’s live broadcast of the Sports Festival. Touya, the apparent star of the show, is seen bulldozing through the robots and struggling students in the obstacle race, red hair and blue flames whipping across the wind. “Your brother’s kind of a bad boy, isn’t he?”
When the camera catches Touya’s smile, Fuyumi’s classmates collectively swoon.
Fuyumi tries very hard not to grimace at the sound. “I mean – ” She begins as Touya skates past the robots and onwards to the rock-climbing wall, where he uses not the rocks to climb up but his classmates’ shoulders and faces instead, laughing as he steps on them to fall. If they meant ‘bad’ for that then, "I-I guess you can say that.”
Rika laughs again and tucks the hair behind her ear. “I know right! So, is he single?”
Everyone gets momentarily distracted to sound their gasps and bafflement in their little corner of the classroom. “Oh my god, Rika, you can’t just ask Fuyu-chan like that!”
“What? I’m genuinely curious! I just think Fuyumi-chan’s brother is cool and handsome, it’s not bad to look!” Rika huffs, before turning to Fuyumi. “Isn’t that right, Fuyumi?”
Fuyumi tries to smile. ‘Cool and handsome,’ huh? Is that what they all think about her brother? “Er, my brother’s not looking for anyone right now. He’s too busy with his studies in U.A.”
She lets herself laugh for a short moment when the girls sport the same dejected look on their faces at the same time. “Besides, between you and me, he’s not much of a dating type of guy. He’s kind of a handful, really, and very picky about who he likes. It’s best to admire him from afar.” And Fuyumi says this not because she thinks Touya is terrible (well, uh, not really, because he is a tinny-tiny bit of a jerkwad, especially with sharing snacks and deciding who gets the TV remote for the night) but because none of them know him the way she does.
Like how he talks (he doesn’t, he’s actually a loner), how he thinks (always about his goals but never about himself); how he laughs (more so with family, but never much with others), how he loves (like a prickly cat, difficult to earn his love, but once you do, the loyalty is there).
(And suffice to say, Fuyumi has never seen Touya care for someone else outside their family before…)
“Heroes,” Rika lets out a disappointed sigh. “Always too busy to do any fun, huh?”
“That’s not true,” Fuyumi has never seen Touya do anything that he thinks isn’t remotely interesting. “His idea of fun is different, that’s all. Usually, whenever he finds something interesting, he latches onto it and never lets go.”
Fuyumi turns back to the live stream just in time to watch Touya’s last jumps to the top of the wall, just one leap away from the ledge. But as he makes his final jump, a student – a boy with stark black hair and strange-looking gloves – manages to grab Touya’s ankle as Touya tries to kick him down, and in one quick maneuver, Touya is falling instead of him.
‘AAAAAAAAAND SHIMURA TENKO OF CLASS 1-B TAKES THE LEAD!’ The announcer’s declaration is met with a loud and reverberating applause. The other student climbs up from the wall and runs towards the next obstacle course, but not without blowing a raspberry, a raspberry, at Touya who’s lying down below.
At Touya, Fuyumi’s stubborn and spit-fire of an elder brother, one who’s never backed down or taken a beating, hasn’t made a single move.
“Oh shoot,” One of Fuyumi’s classmates whispers.
‘Oh shit,’ the announcer of the Sports Festival says. ‘Er, uh, can someone check if Todoroki is still alive? Please, thanks.’
Of course, he’s alive, Fuyumi thinks. There is no doubt in Fuyumi’s mind that her brother is alive and kicking, because one, she’ll freeze the entire school in a glacier if he wasn’t, and two, she has seen Touya go through worse accidents (the burns, the training, Sekoto Peak – ) and come out fighting. He’ll be a little delirious, a little hungry, and obviously in a lot of pain, but he’s always more determined and resilient after that.
True to her words, Touya staggers to his feet. He wobbles a bit, knees buckling. But he’s standing and that’s what matters. When the camera zooms in to get a closer shot (really, this camera should focus on someone else, there are literally a dozen students running past him), Fuyumi expects the same determined and resilient face he’s shown each time after coming back from a fall.
What she doesn’t expect is this bright gleam in his blue eyes. Fuyumi, who’s known her brother for the entire 14 years of her life, knows exactly what that look means. It used to show when their Father was around, once a beacon of inspiration to Touya. It now shows to U.A. High School, which he’s fought tooth and nail to get admitted to.
Touya, her only big brother, one who’s never obsessed with anything other than his quirk and heroism and, once, their Father, is –
“ – going to study, so I don’t want any of you bothering me or my friend while we’re in my room. Got it?”
Natsuo grunts an uninterested ‘yes,’ Shouto is distracted by the TV, which is playing his favorite show. Fuyumi finds the eggs of today’s breakfast to be runnier than she liked, more seasoned with pepper than salt. But it’s not a bad attempt at breakfast, she thinks, especially for someone who would usually step into the kitchen to ask for something to eat instead of cook –
Touya sets a plate of bacon next to her. “Fuyumi?”
– or for someone who only cooks when he’s planning to ask a favor from her. And it’s been a long while since he had.
She doesn’t know if she should be happy or scared about that. “What?” She asks with a mouth full of rice.
Touya rolls his eyes and waits for her to finish chewing before he asks, “I was asking if you heard me?”
“About what?” She takes another bite of her rice.
This time, he places a hand on her chopsticks. “Tenko. He’s coming over,” Touya says, and that’s when Shouto snaps from his stupor, turning to their eldest brother with his owlish, mismatched eyes; Natsuo perking up on his seat. “We need to study for the midterms. We can’t afford any distractions.”
“Wait, Tenko is coming over?” Natsuo asks in fear and anticipation.
“You have friends?” Shouto asks in childish wonder.
Fuyumi almost chokes on her own food the way Touya freezes. “Yes, it’s Tenko who’s coming over,” Then he turns to Fuyumi and stares at her so pleadingly. “Fuyumi, you love me right?” He brings the plate of bacon close enough that it clinks the side of her rice bowl. “This is my only alone time with him in three weeks. Mom’s not here. I need someone to look after them.” Touya throws a glance at their younger brothers, Natsuo who is telling their little brother about Tenko, and Shouto who is asking if Tenko will play Jenga with him.
“Hmm,” she hums, enjoying the way Touya’s face contorted with a look of constipation. “I don’t know… I mean, you guys don’t seem like you’re going to study…”
Touya grits his teeth. “I’ll cook dinner today.”
Fuyumi taps a finger to her chin. “I’m thinking about it…”
“I’ll buy you your favorite ice cream for one week straight.”
“Hmmm…”
Touya grunts. “Mi-chan, please.”
Fuyumi finally reveals her smile. “Fine. I’ll keep them occupied while you and Tenko – ” she snorts, “ – study,” she says, making quotes in the air.
The furious blush on Touya’s face is unmistakable. “We will be.”
“You better,” Natsuo interjects. “No kissing in the house, got it? You can do it outside, but not here!”
Touya grows redder. “ Natsuo – !”
“What time is he coming to visit?” asks Shouto, possibly the only sensible person in this family right after Fuyumi. She decides she’ll share some of her bacon with him.
“Tenko’s not coming until – ” Touya glances at the clock, “10:30. So all of you have to be on your best behavior and follow Fuyumi, okay? Do not bother us.” He says with finality, putting his hands on his hips as he huffs. Then he stills, looks at the clock again, and turns to Fuyumi as he realizes what time it is.
The door rings, and Touya bolts in the other direction.
Natsuo sighs as he hops off his chair. “I’ll get it.”
Fuyumi takes her time to follow right after him. She helps Shouto off his seat, fixes the pulled chairs, and put on her slippers while she listens to Touya’s mad rush to look presentable down the other hall. As if Touya hasn’t dressed himself presentable enough this morning. But then Fuyumi walks to the doorway and is struck with an urgency to pat her hair down, to make sure she smells nice. Like the way Natsuo is fiddling his shirt’s collar, Shouto staring at their guest in a way that he does when he finds something shiny.
Tenko smiles when he sees Fuyumi by the foyer. “Good morning, Fuyumi.”
Meeting Shimura Tenko does that to a Todoroki. For a moment, Fuyumi greatly empathizes with her eldest brother.
There is no doubt in her heart that screams at her when Fuyumi says, she loves Touya. She wants only the best for him and not the ‘best’ that their parents used to impose on him when they were both very young (a part of her life that she does not want to remember if she could). And in turn, Touya wants her happiness, just as he wants the happiness of their mom, Natsuo, and Shouto.
But because they’re siblings, they never say it one loud because one, ew, and two, anyone who says it aloud gets picked on for an entire week. So they show it in roundabout ways: like how Touya treats her with ice cream when she’s sad or Fuyumi makes him some cold soba whenever he’s down; Touya stalking her crushes from a mile away to make sure ‘they’re not serial killers’ and Fuyumi keeping other girls and boys away from her brother whenever they ask her if he’s single. Her friends call her overprotective, but Fuyumi thinks it’s just natural.
As Touya’s little sister, she should be a bit inquisitive of her brother’s internal affair, just as he is with hers. But they never had any issues with it because they never kept secrets from each other; not when they were kids and at each other’s throats, not even when their Father got up and left.
Until one day he does.
“Touya is trying to impress his crush, but I don’t think he likes Touya very much,” Natsuo confessed to Fuyumi after coming home from a late night out, Touya looking like a dead fish with his eyes, Natsuo as red as he was the day he was born.
It had been weeks of ‘after-school spars,’ (a lie, he comes home with no scratches or bruises) and ‘late-night study groups,’ (another lie, he never needs to study), and ‘brother-bonding with Natsuo,’ (technically not a lie, but why do they have to go to the other side of Mustafu to do that?) since Fuyumi, whose developed a bloodhound-like nose for Touya’s troubles, took notice of her brother’s weird behavior. She tried to be a busybody and probe Touya and Natsuo about it at first. But Touya is always so out of it, like his head is in the clouds, and Natsuo is too much of a loyal little brother to tell any details even after Fuyumi tries to emotionally blackmail him.
That is until tonight when both looked like their souls are leaking out of their bodies after coming home.
“Oh,” Fuyumi answered, surprised at the simple fact that Touya likes someone outside of their family, because, how?? “How come?”
Natsuo grimaces, as if remembering a painful memory. “Touya tried complimenting him as I told him to – ”
Fuyumi furrows her eyebrows. That’s not so bad.
“ – and he called him a mophead – ”
Fuyumi winces.
“ – while his sister was there.”
Fuyumi winces out loud.
It’s only then that Fuyumi learns Touya’s first-ever secret: his crush, Shimura Tenko.
To the conventional eyes, Tenko isn’t someone special. He is a first-year like Touya, but two years younger than his peers; a member of Class 1-B instead of A, bearing the typical loner and gamer-type characters frequently seen in Natsuo’s video games. Sure, he is the student that finished 3rd place after Touya in the Sports Festival, everyone knows that by now, but beyond that, Fuyumi has never heard of him. But the first time she met Tenko – not through a broadcast or social media profile or from a far distance, but in actual physical form and proximity – she immediately understood how his brother fell for him.
Tenko is, by all means, an incredibly charming person.
Shimura Tenko is a kind and gentle soul, quiet with the way he speaks and careful with the way he moves. He is so unlike the raspberry-blowing and brother-throwing menace that he was in the Sports Festival, but the thing is, he absolutely can be, and Fuyumi sees that whenever Touya comes to bug him, the way he meets Touya’s snob with his snark, fighting teasing with teasing. She thinks that is where Tenko’s charm lies, his gap moe.
(“And not just that,” Touya murmurs during one of his lovesick moods. “He is really pretty.” And if Fuyumi was not Touya’s sister, Fuyumi would’ve disagreed with him, because, to the ordinary person, Tenko is someone in need of a good trim and a better conditioner. But the Todoroki blood flows in her veins, and so she can’t help but stare at Tenko during their first meeting at UA High, where she came to meet Touya instead of Natsuo, wondering if she may actually like boys or if Tenko is an extraordinary exception. She briefly wonders how Natsuo was unaffected until he expressed his disappointment for not seeing Tenko that day. And now, Fuyumi knows why Natsuo insists on tagging along even though all he’s doing is watching his brother fail miserably at complimenting people. They really are siblings, through and through.)
“I don’t know what I’m doing wrong,” Touya grumbles against a pillow on the couch. Shouto is trying to soothe him by patting his head but to no avail, because today, he accidentally told Tenko that his eczema looks great today instead of his eyes. “I mean, I knew what to say to him. ‘You look nice,’ simple, right? Then suddenly he’s all over my face, and I just…freeze all over.”
“Maybe speaking isn’t your strongest suit,” Fuyumi says and she means it in the kindest way possible. She along with Natsuo saw how it all went down, this train wreck of a conversation. All Touya needed to do was tell Tenko how good he looks. But instead, Touya accidentally highlights one of Tenko’s insecurities about his skin, tells Tenko that eczemas aren’t a big deal, then starts prattling about the skin fungus he got when he was eight years old. Tenko was speechless the entire time. “Have you tried something else?”
“Like what?”
Fuyumi shrugs. “How about gifts?”
“Isn’t White Day coming up?” Natsuo pipes up, ignoring the fact that Tenko didn’t even give Touya a single piece on Valentine’s. “You can give him chocolate. Everyone likes chocolates.”
Touya suddenly perks up. “That’s it!” Then he sits up, causing Shouto to roll over and fall if not for his quick reflexes. He tucks their youngest like some kind of pillow on his arm. “Tenko loves chocolates! He’s always been much of a sweet tooth since the first year.” The way Touya said it made Fuyumi question how long exactly this crush has been going on. “You two are geniuses.”
Natsuo smiles. “Hehe. Of course, we are.” Fuyumi also can’t help but preen even though she knows Touya is buttering her up. “Since you two are so smart, you are also going to help me make the chocolates right?”
“Of course!” Then Natsuo stills. “Wait, what?”
Natsuo’s smile fades as Touya holds onto his shoulder, just as Fuyumi freezes when Touya turns to her, like a deer in front of a pair of manic headlights. “I mean, it’s the two of you’s idea. So you gotta help too!”
“Uhhh…” Natsuo begins while Fuyumi asks, “W-why can’t we just buy regular chocolate?”
“Because I don’t want Tenko to eat someone else’s chocolate,” Touya says. “If I’m going to give him something, it should from me and me alone.”
“…It’s just store-bought chocolate – ”
“No way! Tenko’s got to know that it’s really from me, so he knows who to keep coming back.”
“Jesus,” Natsuo mutters under his head as Fuyumi’s eyebrows shoot toward her hairline.
As if sensing his siblings' reluctance, Touya starts resorting to one of the many weapons in his persuasion arsenal: emotional blackmail. “Come on, Mi-chan, Natsu-chan, we’re siblings, aren’t we? We’ve always been through everything with each other, so why not see this one to the very end?” Touya says. “Plus, I’ll make your lunches and buy you ice cream for a whole month if you help me~”
And, gosh, Fuyumi hates how effective it is to her. The food, not the emotional blackmail, by the way. “Ugh, fine,” Fuyumi relents, earning an enthusiastic ‘Woop!’ from Touya. “But I want octopus dogs in my lunch, okay?”
“Whatever my little siblings want!” Touya says, ruffling both their hairs before picking up a confused Shouto and swinging him all around.
Meanwhile, Natsuo merely pats her consolingly on her shoulder, resigned to become their big brother’s helper, since he, too, is too much of a loyal little brother to their eldest.
… Damn, maybe she really is an overprotective little sister to Touya.
(Tenko had been too stunned to speak when Touya handed him the hand-made chocolates after school. The recipe had been Fuyumi’s and the gift wrapping was Natsuo’s, but the execution and the taste are all Touya’s. “It’s for you,” Touya simply said. “Happy White Day… O-or whatever.” Fuyumi may be legally blind, but she swears she can see a blush on Tenko’s cheeks.
“Oh,” Tenko begins, taking the gift with great reluctance. “Are you sure…this is for me?”
“Of course, it is. Your name is right there,” Then with a subtle worry, he asks, “Do you see your name there.”
“Oh, I do,” Tenko chuckles as he checks the gift card. “Congrats! It’s the right kanji this time!”
Touya groans. “How am I supposed to know that the ‘Ten’ in your name was for ‘turning?’”
“Being called an angel by you isn’t the worst thing in the world,” Tenko says. “And so is getting chocolate. But you do realize what this means, right? I didn’t give you any Valentine’s Day Chocolates, so if you give one to me – ”
“I know,” Touya stares at Tenko straight into the other’s eyes. “That’s why I’m giving it to you.”
“Oh.” A smile creeps on Tenko’s lips, more genuine and intimate than what Fuyumi has shown in the past. It honestly feels like seeing a part of the theatre stage that she isn’t supposed to see. Then Tenko pulls off his gloves, presses his fingers onto the gift, and the wrapping gives away in one fell swoop, revealing the chocolate heart underneath. What, Fuyumi thinks. “Then, thank you for the food.”
“W-Wait,” Touya panics. “You’re eating it now?”
“Why not? It’s my gift. I can eat it whenever I want.” Tenko says before taking a big (really big!) bite from the heart.
“Tell me you like it or whatever so I can keep making it for you at home,” Touya grumbles, looking sideways as to appear nonchalant, but Fuyumi can tell he is vibrating on his spot. A victorious smile slips past his frown when he glances at Fuyumi, throwing her and Natsuo quick and discreet thumbs up. Natsuo returns a thumbs-up in return.
Fuyumi honestly would’ve called it mission success right there, the first significant breakthrough of Touya’s courtship woes, only if not for –
“I’m sorry,” Tenko coughs, looking a little red. “Does this, um, have peanuts in it?”
Touya – and Fuyumi and Natsuo watching from the bushes – freeze. “Yes. Er, why?”
“Um, I’m actually – cough – allergic.”
Fuyumi screeches from the bushes, and Touya all but drags Tenko to the infirmary.)
“G-good morning Tenko,” Fuyumi says, quick to compose herself. Though she finds it a bit difficult to stop staring at the way Tenko looks today: a blue sweater over a shirt and a pair of black sweatpants, black hair fanning him flawlessly, figure smelling like dew and flowers. If Tenko had been anyone else, he would’ve looked like a snobby preppy kid or one of those family members who liked to wear matching outfits each day. But since it is Tenko, he appears absolutely cute in it. Fuyumi thinks it’s a little unfair. “Touya is still in the shower. He should be done in a few minutes. Anyway, have you eaten? Do you want to eat with us?”
“There are no peanuts this time, I swear,” Natsuo adds before he winces, giving Fuyumi an apologetic glance. “It’s just, uh, bacon and eggs and rice for today. Touya cooked – ” Tenko raises his eyebrows at that. “ – I’ll, I mean, we, would be happy if you could join us.”
Beside him, Shouto nods. “I can share my apples with you if you like.” Then he holds onto Tenko’s bare fingers, never minding the rest of the hand in case in a black glove – another one of Touya’s gifts. “I’m Shouto. Will you play Jenga with me?”
Tenko doesn’t flinch after getting touched. Instead, he smiles and relaxes in Shouto’s grip. “I think we can do one game while I wait for your brother. I’m Tenko, your brother’s boyfriend. It’s nice to finally meet you.”
Tenko settles in their home like he has been living with them since the very beginning. He helps with setting his cutlery, converses with Natsuo and Fuyumi like it’s any other day of the week. He makes them all mugs of hot chocolates and wipes Shouto’s mouth when he makes a mess with the food. Fuyumi can’t help but notice how Tenko moves around them like a fairy, with a skip in his step and a permanent brightness in his red eyes. He appears so much happier now these couple of months.
And Fuyumi likes to think it’s all because of Touya’s influence.
You see, in the very beginning, Fuyumi saw Tenko as someone who is just too perfect. He is too polite, too pleasing, too pure, too patient. He doesn’t mind Natsuo’s stammering, or Fuyumi’s shyness, or Touya’s social awkwardness. He laughs at corny jokes, teases when the mood is right, and generally is a good and friendly person to all, no matter who they are and what they’ve done to him. Even as Touya and Tenko grew closer and Tenko becomes more open about his past and his quirk, he always appears so put together and content.
So much so that Tenko feels like a doll, a fake.
Fuyumi sees it, knows it. Their family had been like that, once upon a time. Everyone had to learn how to wear their masks and let everyone know nothing troubling was going on – not the neighbors or their friends or even their relatives at their Mom’s side. Tenko wears his mask like a second skin, undetectable to the common eye. But to those who know how to look, it’s there, barely hanging on its garters. Most of the time, it is clasped tightly around Tenko’s head like a vice grip, other times – now becoming more common – it slips, showing the glimpses and hints of Tenko’s raw emotions.
But the first time Fuyumi saw Tenko in his most vulnerable form was the last time she saw the mask on.
Touya was hospitalized after a nasty incident during his work studies. Touya and Tenko – sorry, Polaris and Dust Storm – were on a patrol when a villain attacked, took a hostage, fought the heroes, and ended up getting thrown into jail. But at some point in that story, Tenko had incurred a sprain while Touya has gotten himself a bad concussion and a broken leg.
And Tenko is furious.
“Why did you push me?” Tenko asks without so much of a preamble. He just knocks on the door, steps into the room, looks Touya in the eyes, then speaks. He doesn’t even notice greet Fuyumi and Natsuo, who are both sprawled on the couch, Fuyumi wide-awake and Natsuo sleeping soundly.
The shaking in Tenko’s voice surprises Fuyumi so much that she positions herself at the end of the couch to get a closer range of what they’re saying.
Touya’s voice comes out a little shocked. “What do you mean? I – ”
“You know what I mean,” Tenko answers, impatient and demanding. “That villain! I had him where I wanted him. I didn’t need your help!”
“What?” Touya sounds irritated, for the first time Fuyumi has known him as being close friends (with an unrequited crush) with Tenko. “That villain was literally made out of sludge. Your quirk won’t do a damn thing on him – ”
“It would! It would and I would’ve captured him by myself – ”
“I’m not saying you couldn’t – ”
“Then, what the hell was that? Why’d you throw yourself in front of the villain when you knew I could’ve handled him?”
“What??? He was going to whip you into a wall, bro – “
“Oh, so you think I’m weak, then, huh? That I need some protection because I can’t control my quirk? That I can’t be trusted because I can’t hold a mug without worrying it’ll disappear?”
Touya sputters. “Tenko, do you hear yourself? You’re literally making assumptions in thin air!
“But I can see it in your eyes, Todoroki. Your eyes never lie – ”
“See what, Tenko?!”
The voice that comes out of Tenko cracks so much that it sounds like he’s about to cry. “That you’re scared of me.”
Being her brother’s friend, Tenko is close to Fuyumi and Natsuo (though not yet Shouto, because he hasn’t met him yet) by proxy. And through that time, they have known things about him that Touya knows more intimately well. Like his parents (“Oh, I live with my Uncle and Grandfather, my family lives too far away,”), his sister (“She worries a lot for me,”); his worries (“My quirk is called Decay, , anything I touch, I turn to dust – ”), his troubles (“ – and I’ve had…accidents with them before. I still do, but they’re small and few. And yet, they’re so exhausting. You get me, Touya, right?”
And Touya, who has a map of scars and burns over the 10 or so years he has struggled to control his own quirk, nods in grim understanding. “I do, Tenko. I do.”)
“…Tenko, no,” And now, Touya sounds like he is about to cry, too. “Tenko, no, no, no, no. I’m not afraid of you, I never will, I never have been.“
“Liar,” Fuyumi hears Tenko sniff. “Ever since I told you about my quirk problems, you’ve been like this.”
“Like what?”
“Like, busy.” Fuyumi silently screams against her palms. “We never have any time to visit the park or play games at the arcades or hang out after school with Fuyumi and Natsuo…”
“But that’s because – ” she mutters, just as Touya says, “That’s because I’m taking more internship hours for you.”
“What?” Fuyumi can almost imagine Tenko scowling in disbelief as he says that. “What for?”
“Because I’m trying to buy a new pair of gloves,” Touya stutters, just at the very end. “It’s to, uh, replace the ones I burnt by accident. I just notice that you don’t like it when you’re not wearing your gloves. I want to make you comfortable with me,” Then with a deep breath, whispers in a voice that Fuyumi almost didn’t hear. “I want you to be happy…when you’re with me.”
Oh god, Fuyumi can’t help but vibrate in excitement inside her head. He said it, Touya actually said it! It’s not a confession that she and Natsuo wanted (they’ve both been pushing Touya to confess his feelings for weeks, just so his pining and awkwardness will finally be put to an end), but it’s the beginning, the turning point in any romance plotlines in Kdramas and Shoujo mangas Fuyumi knows. This is the part where a confused Tenko puts all the pieces together – the failed compliments, the stupid gifts, the insistence to spend as much time as possible together – and realizes what Touya had been doing all along. Yet Tenko, being so uncertain of himself, will insist Touya speak the words out loud that are on the tip of their tongues. What do you mean by that, Tenko would ask. To which Touya would reply, the truth is, I’ve always been…
That is not what happens. “Touya, are you for real? That’s the excuse that you can come up with it? The gloves?”
Touya sputters. “What? I’m not, I’m saying, what?”
Tenko lets out a loud groan. It’s then that Fuyumi decides to take a peek of what’s happening at the other room, watching Touya holding onto Tenko’s wrists like a lifeline, afraid that the other might escape if he lets go; while Tenko looking anywhere but her brother.
“Touya, the gloves don’t matter, the gloves never mattered! I’ll happily even throw them in the fire if they’ll all get burnt in the end every time we spar, because what matters is you, Touya! You never judged me, you always accepted me, you willingly want to be with me! Then suddenly without the gloves you’ve become so…cold?” Tenko sighs. “Did I do anything wrong?”
Fuyumi gasps. “Forget it. I understand. You want to stop hanging out with me and you want me to get new gloves so I won’t accidentally disintegrate you if I touch you or something, I get it.”
“No!” Touya says, just as Fuyumi wants to scream, ‘You’ve got it all wrong!’ “I didn’t say that!” ‘He never said that!’
“You don’t need to,” ‘What???’ “I know. It’s all clear to me now,” ‘It is most certainly not!’ “Don’t worry about the gloves, I’m not asking you to pay them. I’ll get a new pair as soon as possible.”
Touya scowls. “Tenko.”
“I’ll tell Thirteen that we’ll be switching partners, so you can rest easy from now – ”
Touya says a little louder. “Tenko!”
“Would Keigo be a good partner for you?”
“Ten-chan, please!” Touya yells as he grabs Tenko’s hands and puts them on his bruised face. “Can you like shut up for five seconds so I can tell you how much I like you??”
The shock that travels through her system sends Fuyumi tumbling on the floor, only unnoticed because Tenko gasps like a bag of pipes on its last breath.
“I, uh, hmm, ah, fuck,” Touya looks like he is having an allergic reaction from his sheer embarrassment, his face turning big and bright red despite the splotches of purple from his healing bruises. As if he has been told he has only a few days left to live, he takes a deep breath and faces Tenko head-on. “You know what, if you’re going to reject me, can you give me a pity kiss before you kill me, anywhere will do, ‘cause I actually won’t be able to live with a broken heart.”
Tenko stares at him.
“No, scratch that. A hug is okay. Then I can get to feel your arms as I go down in it.”
Tenko stares at him even more.
“Actually, I just want to touch your butt.”
Tenko doesn’t even make a single blink.
“Fuck, no, that’s, uh…Forget I said anything,” Touya grimaces at his own undoing. “I’m just gonna go…”
But before Touya can do that (and as if he could), Tenko sputters, throws his head back, and laughs.
Like, actually, laughs.
Fuyumi has never seen anyone laugh the way Tenko laughs. It is loud and boisterous and racks up Tenko’s shoulders like a washing machine filled with rocks. He sounds too joyous to be happy, too many tears pooling in his eyes that it’s turned concerning.
Then in a split second, Tenko rests in Touya’s arms and sobs, the concealed cries of loneliness, grief, the pain, pouring out from his broken mask that hangs from its hinges. And Touya does nothing but hold on and rub soothing circles on his shaking back.
Tenko clutches Touya’s shirt tighter, pinkies still up even as he rubs his snot all over. Touya’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, please don’t go.”
Touya smiles in understanding. “There is nothing to apologize for. I’m here, and I’m here to stay.”
(Fuyumi sniffs as she wipes her eyes with her sleeves, too touched by the moment to say anything for a while, besides – “Me too.”
But instead of a teary-eyed reaction, Tenko yelps in surprise as he pulls away, Touya jolts as he finally notices his little sister on the floor, croaking out a confused “Fuyu – ” before the top of Tenko’s head makes contact with the underside of his chin.
Suffice to say, they end up calling the doctor who asked them how in Japan’s superpowered society did Touya get another concussion???)
“I’m so sorry for making you wait, Tenko. I’m ready for our – ” Touya stares at the dining table before him, the food cleared, and the dishes are cleaned. In the middle of the table is the Jenga tower where Shouto is playing Jenga with Tenko, “ – study…date?”
Natsuo scrunches his eyebrows at his brother. “What are you wearing?”
Fuyumi does the same as she looks at Touya. “Why are you dressed up for school?”
Case in point, Touya is dressed in U.A.’s summer school uniform, his hair gelled, his collar perfumed. Fuyumi would’ve been convinced that Touya is actually off to go to U.A. if it weren’t for the fact that today is a Sunday.
Touya frowns as he slowly realizes this fact. “Shut up! It’s all part of the theme!”
Natsuo’s brows furrow even further. “What theme?”
“I didn’t know that we have a theme today,” Tenko swoops in, like an angel saving a drowning Touya from his sea of embarrassment. “If I knew I would’ve worn my school uniform too.” Or to maybe dunk Touya deeper into the water.
Touya lets out a nervous laugh. “I-I mean, there’s none but, uh, um,” He finally takes a close look at Tenko and Fuyumi can clearly see the gears of his mind shortcircuiting. “You, um, l-look great today.”
Tenko beams. “Thank you! I think I look great too!”
Gosh, sometimes, Fuyumi dreams to be as snarky as Tenko.
As if impatient with waiting, Shouto pulls on Tenko’s sleeve and points at their Jenga game. “It’s your turn.”
“Oh, oops, sorry Shocchan,” Tenko says before turning back to the wooden block tower. “Let me see…” He starts pulling one of the wooden blocks.
“I mean it,” Touya suddenly says, picking up the best time to hug Tenko from behind and swoop onto that exposed cheek for a kiss. “I think you’re pretty today.”
Natsuo gasps, the Jenga tower falls, and Shouto yells in the air, “Jenga!!!”
Tenko holds his kissed cheek as he stammers. “Y-you…I-in front of your siblings… Y-you – !”
Touya grins. “What? It’s not like it’s the first time.”
Fuyumi blushes. “Touya!” she begins to scold as Natsuo screams, “My eyes!!!” He rushes to cover Shouto’s eyes too with his other hand. “No PDA! No, just, just no!”
“I only kissed him on the cheek – ”
“Noooooo!!!”
Shouto groans and tries to push Natsuo away from him. “Natsuo, you’re smelly, go away – !”
“That’s it! I’m getting the fire extinguisher,” he says, huffing.
“Okay, okay, that’s enough,” Tenko intervenes, clapping so that he can gain everyone’s attention. “Fuyumi, thank you so much for the food. Shouto, thank you so much for the game. Natsuo, uh, no need for the fire extinguisher – ” ‘It’s because Touya heats up when he thinks about you, Natsuo grumbles, “ – and Touya, can you stop messing with your siblings and let’s get on studying?”
Touya grins even wider. “Oh, for sure! Fuyumi, I’ll leave you in charge of these two. Tenko and I have lots of studying to cover for today!”
“Touya, I swear – ” Tenko begins when they’re out of earshot, blushing furiously while Touya merely chuckles and pulls Tenko towards the hallway, chatting all the way.
“Keep the door open!” Natsuo hollers at them.
And Fuyumi?
She can’t help but let out a tired yet happy sigh for the pair.
With her brother ending up dating his first (and possibly last) crush for almost 6 months now, Fuyumi is relieved the nightmare that is Touya’s pining is over because now she and Natsuo don’t have to help him any longer. Even though, technically, Touya still pines over Tenko, sighing like Romeo thinking about Juliet and prattling about how the color of his necktie reminds him of his boyfriend. But at least he can smother Tenko with his affections now, instead of whining about it, or thinking of all these convoluted ways to act upon those feelings, usually at the cost of Fuyumi’s and Natsuo’s sanities. Thank goodness those days are behind her.
But she thinks she doesn’t mind helping him sometimes when he needs it, like when he spots Natsuo and Shouto snooping outside of Touya’s room to watch over the two. With a loud hush, she sends the two nosy brothers scrambling, though not that very far away. But it’s enough of a minute for Touya to send a wink at a passing Fuyumi before turning towards Tenko to kiss him sweetly.
EXTRA SCENE #1: After the emotional scene at the hospital
“ – He has the loveliest eyes – ”
“Yes.”
“ – The loveliest nose – ”
“Hmm-hmm.”
“ – The most beautiful smile – ”
“I see.”
“ – He really is an angel. I love him – ”
“That’s nice.”
“ – And he loves me too.”
“That’s good to hear,” The Doctor nods, scribbling on his clipboard. “But can we go over the questions again and answer them as it is so we can get a good assessment of your head injury?”
“Oh my god,” Natsuo says, aghast. “How did this happen? Wasn’t Touya alright a moment ago?”
“Errr,” Fuyumi begins, glancing at Tenko who’s seated on the couch, head leaning towards his lap in shame, to Touya who continues to be coherent yet delirious, then towards her younger brother. “Actually, we have no idea. He woke up just like this.”
“So, first things first, do you remember your name?”
“Of course, Touya Todoroki. But if Tenko wants it, I can change it to ‘Shimura’ – ”
EXTRA SCENE #2: After TouTen’s first date
Fuyumi: Hi, Tenko this is Fuyumi!
Fuyumi: I stole your number from my brother’s phone, hope that’s alright
Fuyumi: By the way I hope your date with my brother went well!
Fuyumi: You two looked super cute!
Tenko: Hi Fuyumi
Tenko: Yea no worries
Tenko: Awww thank u, actually saw u and Natso peeking from the windows earlier lol
Tenko: what’s with the fire extinguisher?
Tenko: But yea we both had fun 😊
Fuyumi: precautionary measures
Fuyumi: er…
Tenko: ?
Fuyumi: I hope you don’t mind me asking but
Fuyumi: cause we are just concerned siblings of my brother you see
Fuyumi: And we love and cherish him
Fuyumi: But he is also kinda stupid
Tenko: lol
Fuyumi: Did he uh ask you out as his boyfriend by any chance
Tenko: AH
Tenko: ok i think i understand now
Tenko: Yes, we are officially together
Fuyumi: YESSSS
Tenko: but
Tenko: he didn’t ask ME out
Tenko: I asked him
Fuyumi: WHAT
Fuyumi is typing…
*The night before Touya’s first date with Tenko, he and Fuyumi rehearsed lines of asking Tenko out as his boyfriend (officially!!!) in front of the mirror, so much so that Fuyumi memorized what Touya was supposed to say.