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Shouto loves his friends and normally he is fine with going along with their every whim, but it’s seriously getting ridiculous. He could be home writing the anatomy paper that he has due next week or he could be catching up on the sleep he hasn’t gotten in the past 3 weeks. Instead, he is standing in what, in his opinion, is an absurdly long line for the most ridiculous waste of time he has ever heard of. Like honestly who thought of the brilliant idea of getting a room full of people to watch grown adults fake joust for a fake queen? Not to mention just how ridiculously overpriced the tickets were. Regardless of his personal opinions on the show, here Shouto stands in line for Medieval Times, joined by his best friend’s girlfriend, Jirou, and his overly enthusiastic nursing student biology lab partner, Mina, who had overheard them talking about going and asked to tag along. Despite finding the whole concept of the show ridiculous Shouto couldn’t find it in himself to turn down his friends when they were clearly excited about him going. They even got Momo to join up in their quest of peer pressuring him out of his room to join them for the night. Honestly, what Shouto was most excited about the night was Endeavor’s reaction when he inevitably noticed the charge on his card for all of their tickets.
Upon entering the building, he is bombarded by about a million people pushing and shoving and like 40 signs all pointing to different activities and extra ways to spend money. Upon noticing a reception area with a sign informing him that he can update his seats and purchase the “Princess Package” for an additional $50 per person, he thought fuck it and led his friends in that direction. If he’s already here he might as well run up Endeavor’s bill AND make his friend’s night! So Shouto uses Endeavor’s card to treat his friends to the “Princess Package”, which he was informed would allow them to meet the Queen and receive a special shout-out before the tournament. Both girls were also given the most ridiculously gaudy pink crowns he had ever seen in his life, but he kept his thoughts on the crowns to himself when he saw Mina’s eyes practically sparkling in excitement when she received the ridiculous thing. Jirou was a bit more quiet in her excitement given that she was also a little embarrassed about the attention people were giving her for wearing it. Shouto decided it was money well spent seeing his friends so happy.
After Shouto took his card back from the employee, he turned to look for where the employee had told him to go for the girls’ meet and greet with the queen. He was so focused on looking for the sign, that he didn’t have time to wonder why his friends had gone suspiciously quiet before he felt a slight pressure on his head, and a pink veil obstructed his view. The same pink veil in question was the same color as the crowns his two friends were wearing.
“Hey, if I’m stuck wearing this stupid thing, you have to too,” said a smirking Jirou.
“Jirou, be respectful, you are literally speaking to the fairest Princess in the land, Princess Shouto of the Kingdom of Todoroki,” Mina said, still giggling.
Sighing, Shouto replies, “Remind me why I came to this again?”
Linking her arms with Shouto and Jirou, Mina says, “Because your very best friend has been working here for the past two months and has not received a single visit from you. Plus, you’ve been locked away in your dorm for the past month in preparation for midterms. I fear if you stay in that room one more minute, we might never be able to get you out again.”
“Mina, if I’m to be the best doctor I can be, I need to prioritize my classes.”
“Listen Todoroki, if you’re going to be the best Doctor you can be, you need to know how to interact with people like a normal human being. You’ll be able to better interact with patients if you talk to literally anyone besides us or Momo for more than 6 seconds,” Jirou states clearly unimpressed. Finding himself unable to deny her claims he simply hums in response and allows his friends to drag him to see the Queen.
When they finally reached the Queen he saw that she was wearing a beautiful pink gown and sat on a throne surrounded by guards on each side. Shouto could only think about how uncomfortable and hot the costume must be to wear for an extended period of time.
Shouto’s thoughts were abruptly halted by a loud squeal coming from the Queen who was apparently very excited to see them.
“MINA-oh crap wait-“ the queen begins but then pauses to compose herself, “Princess Mina of the House of Ashido, what an honor to see you and your companions!” Was Mina really here that often? Or perhaps the Medieval Times Employees have a very efficient method of informing the cast of the guests’ names?
Snickering, Mina releases her friends to curtsy and then replies, “Oh great and generous Queen Hagakure, I am the one honored to be in your presence on this divine evening.”
“Well I most certainly hope you all enjoy the show,” the Queen replies, turning to wink at Shouto and Jirou. “Come now, let us all join for a portrait before you continue, and tonight’s merriment commences.” The Queen then proceeds to pull them in close and encourages them to pose for a photo with a photographer who promises that their photos will be sent to the email of whoever bought the tickets at the end of the show. As they left the Queen bid them farewell and Mina revealed that the Queen was a close friend of hers from school.
Shouto had originally been planning on just buying seats for Momo’s section, however, Mina informed him it would be more fun if they were assigned random seats and let Momo try to find them in the crowd. Not wanting to interfere with Mina’s fun he bought random seats, and once they reached the arena’s entrance they found that they were placed in the Household of the Yellow Knight.
Upon hearing their house Jirou smirked and nudged Shouto, “You know, Momo’s been telling me she thinks you would really like the Yellow Knight. I believe her exact words were, ‘I think seeing him would completely restructure Shouto’s gay little brain.’” When Shouto didn’t respond, Jirou turned to Mina who was excitedly leading them to their seats, and continued talking with her.
Shouto honestly had no idea what to expect going into the show, and he really had no idea how Momo was so sure the yellow knight was his type given that Shouto himself didn’t even know his type, but Momo was rarely, if ever, wrong. Momo was the first person to ever look past his “ice prince” persona and get to know him. Despite his whining he wouldn’t have missed the show for the world, he knows he’s been pushing his friends away recently, and despite his recluse tendencies he really does love his friends. So Shouto was determined. If for Momo’s peace of mind alone, he would put on a show tonight too. He could fake interest in the Yellow Knight and the show for the night, and then lock himself in his dorm to study for the next week afterward.
Shouto had apparently zoned out long enough to miss the very long list of Princesses and Princes in attendance that night because by the time Jirou elbowed him back into the land of the living, he found his food placed in front of him. However, much to Shouto’s confusion, they didn’t leave utensils for him to eat with.
Upon noticing Shouto’s clear confusion Mina giggled and spoke up, “Todoroki, you’re supposed to eat with your hands, it’s supposed to be like you’re living during the Medieval era.”
“But they had spoons for their soup in the Medieval Era?”
“Todoroki seriously don’t think too hard about it, maybe they just didn’t want to do any more dishes,” said an exasperated Jirou. Instead of responding, Shouto simply turned to face her, lifted his soup, and began slurping while looking directly at her.
“Ice Prince my ass, if your fan club knew you acted like this what would they think?” a severely unimpressed Jirou responded. Despite originally only eating it so as not to waste money and to mess with Jirou, Shouto found the soup was surprisingly good. It was no cold soba, but it was certainly better than the soup in his college’s dining hall. Though maybe what was actually delicious was the satisfaction he was getting knowing Endeavor would be livid about the money being spent and the fact he was breaking his meticulously planned diet.
Shortly after Shouto finished his soup, the lights dimmed and smoke began filling up the Arena in front of him. Suddenly, the lights turned Red, and out came a muscular man, with bright red hair. The man had a blindingly bright grin stretched across his face as he took his lap across the arena. As he passed by Mina screamed her support for him (much to the chagrin of those sitting next to her considering they were the House of Yellow), but Sir Red didn’t seem to mind, his already blinding smile seeming to get even brighter upon noticing her in the crowd.
“That’s Kirishima, one of her best friends,” Jirou whispered to Shouto.
“Does literally everyone you guys know work here?” A flabbergasted Shouto replies.
“Well you don’t yet, but that might change after you see Sir Yellow,” Jirou teased, “Now pay attention the next Knight is coming out.”
“You were the one who spoke to me?” Jirou did not acknowledge his statement, and instead turned back around as they announced the next Knight to come out would be the Red and Yellow Knight.
The Red and Yellow Knight was a muscular-looking brunette, whom Mina squealed upon seeing.
“Are you guys seeing her arms right now, you’ve gotta be kidding me.”
“You’ve never met Uraraka?” Jirou questioned.
“JIROU! You’re telling me that you, Kirishima, AND Bakugo all kept the love of my life and future wife a secret from me? I can understand Bakugou not telling me, but you and Kiri? This is a serious betrayal Jirou!”
“Yeah Jirou, how could you,” Shouto said, voice completely deadpan.
“See Shouto gets it! Anyways Jirou the only way you can make up this very serious potentially friendship-ending betrayal is by introducing me to her after the show,”
“You’re so right, Princess Mina. I extend to you my sincerest apologies for my blunder and I will be prudent in correcting the error in my ways. Can you please find it anywhere in your heart to
forgive me,” Jirou very sarcastically replies.
“Why of course my dearest Princess Jirou, I could never stay mad at thy.”
“Well actually it would be thee-”
“Thee schmee Shouto, do you see how gorgeous that woman is! There is no time for proper medieval grammar!” Sighing, Shouto ignores his friend and continues watching the show.
The next Knight to enter is the Knight of the House of Blue. This one Shouto recognized without assistance from the girls. The Knight of House Blue was the very passionately punctual kid from his 9:00 am literature course. Shouto has never actually spoken to the guy, but Shouto distinctly remembers being woken up from his mid-class nap because of the man’s absurdly loud voice. Shouto stifles a smile thinking about the grammar lesson the man would no doubt put Mina through had he heard her use thy instead of thee.
Immediately following Sir Loud-mouth of House Blue, was his very best friend and the entire reason he was at this godforsaken event, Momo, or the Lady Knight of House Green. If Shouto had any interest in women, he was sure he would be falling over himself over his best friend like everyone else in the arena was currently. Jirou especially was affected, she wasn’t as obvious as Mina was when it came to her friends, but she was blushing and made sure to shout out words of support for her girlfriend. When Momo heard Jirou’s voice she immediately turned to face them and a wide grin spread across her face. A smug smile slid onto Jirou’s face as several men around them complained about having not been the one she smiled at.
Following up Momo was a very cocky blonde man, who the announcer stated was representing the House of Black and White. At his entrance his house went wild, screaming praise for him, and practically foaming at the mouth. Shouto thanked the employee who had decided where they sat in his head because he would have wanted to die dealing with such rabid fans. The Knight of House Black and White seemed to enjoy it, he seemed to feed on the praise and shouted how he was going to win. It seems though that Mina was also one of his fans because she cheered as he rode past them, though the only acknowledgment that he heard her was a roll of his eyes. Rude. But Mina seemed unphased, so Shouto figured maybe this was just part of his character.
Finally, it was time for Knight Yellow. Frankly, Shouto was intrigued. He had never expressed any interest in literally anyone to Momo beyond telling her that he was gay. And even then it was only because he could tell she was nervous when she came out to him as a lesbian. Shouto had not the slightest clue of what to expect, but if he was anything like the other male knight’s he had seen so far was afraid he would have to pass.
The Yellow Knight made his entrance at the other side of the Arena, he took his time passing every section and waving to the people of them. He seemed less confident than the other knights, so perhaps he was new?
As the Yellow Knight approached them Shouto took a bite of his chicken. And in that moment Shouto realized three things. One that Yellow Knight is the most gorgeous man he had ever seen in his life, two Momo Yaoyoruzu is NEVER wrong, and three it was a terrible idea to take such a big bite right as an incredibly attractive man was passing him.