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Emotion never came easily to Shoto, unsurprising considering the Tolstoy-esque nightmare that was his home life.
But he was learning.
He mostly had his friends to thank for this new development, with their help he became more aware of reading people, discerning the difference between jokes and serious statements, and for the first time in his life, experiencing the joy of sharing parts of himself with others and them loving him regardless.
Deku and Iida were the first people to bring Shoto into their lives without hesitation or ulterior motives. It felt good, no scratch that, it felt really good. Because of them it came easier to him when he ended up being forced to work with and ultimately ended up hanging out with the people who also failed the same exam as him. Getting closer and closer to them until he found himself in a proper little friend group with Bakugo of all people, a man who originally hated him just because of his father (Shoto of all people couldn’t blame him for that), and an air head who actually is one of the funniest and kindest people he had ever met.
He had friends. He was actually beginning to feel like a normal teenager and like things were going to work out just fine.
But being a normal teenager also came with having normal (annoying) teenage emotions.
Like developing a crush on a man you froze in a mountain of ice in front of thousands of people.
Who then ended up being your neighbor when you were forced to move into dorms.
Who also enjoys giving you little nicknames like “‘Roki”.
Yeah no Shoto was absolutely whipped on Hanta Sero.
It started after the sports festival, Sero was just so chill (no pun intended) after Shoto went perhaps a bit overboard freezing him. He never held it against him or made him feel bad about it. It made him feel warm. From here it just snowballed.
After Kamino, when all the students found themselves living amongst each other in dorms, Sero and Hanta’s relationship began to blossom further. Living next to each other, Sero would always wait for Todoroki outside his door so they could walk together to class. It was a small gesture, but Shoto always found himself excited to leave his dorm in the morning knowing he was waiting for him.
He liked surprising Shoto too.
A saved pack of soba noodles, a new manga, and a handwritten note on top of it reminding him to have a good day. It was those little things that no one, not even Deku or Iida had ever done for him. How was Shoto not supposed to fall?
To make matters worse, Sero was just always so easy to talk to. He was chatty but in a different way than Midoriya. Conversation about everything and nothing, the new issue of his favorite manga, this new cafe he wanted to go with Shoto, it never felt stilted or forced. It was as natural as breathing. These hushed conversations into the night gave way into constant texting. Deny it he might, but there was a tell tale jump of his heart everytime Sero’s contact lit up his screen.
It also didn’t help that Sero was always recommending Shoto, a new manga to read. 9 times out of 10 Shoto had already read the manga and every single time, he would take the copy just so he could freshen up on it to talk about it with him.
This new development of constant texting had unforeseen consequences, which led to his friends at his supplemental classes discovering his growing crush.
“Who the hell are you so busy texting?” Bakugo asked him, as he, Shoto and Camie were walking out of one of their training classes. Inasa had stayed behind to practice a new technique they had learned that day. “Deku has training right now and Glasses refuses to text anyone since ‘calling is more efficient and effective’. So your only other friends are here so who’s that.” He added.
As much as Bakugo would claim he “doesn’t give a shit about any extra in our class” he sure did have a way of knowing everyone's business.
“Aw Shoto, you have friends other than us?” Camie asked, peeking over his shoulder to look at his phone. “Hanta?” She questioned looking at the contact name. “Like Hanta Sero? The guy you destroyed at your sports festival?”
Shoto sported a small blush and locked his phone, shoving it in his pocket. “Yeah. We’ve been talking more lately. He’s actually really nice.”
“You’re kidding. The human tape dispenser?” Bakugo asked with a dry laugh at the end.
“He is very talented with his quirk, Bakugo. He was able to capture me in seconds at the sports fest and has only gotten better since then.” Shoto said. “And he is quite passionate about manga.” He added at the end with a small smile and flush on his cheeks.
“Oh my goshhhh.” Camie squealed, grabbing Shoto’s shoulders. “Our little Todoroki has a crush!”
“I never said that.” Shoto defended quickly, earning an eye roll from Bakugo.
“What’s his favorite manga?” Bakugo questioned.
“Haikyuu. He said if he didn’t want to be a hero he probably would go the professional sports route and was very inspired by Hinata.” Shoto responded quickly, looking innocently towards Bakugo and Camie who both were staring at him like he was an idiot.
“Do I have a crush?” He asked them. Camie put a hand on his shoulder nodding.
“Seems you’re whipped.”
Since Bakugo and Camie were responsible for putting the knowledge that he did in fact have feelings for Sero on the forefront of his mind, they also bore the burden of Shoto talking about him over many breakfasts. Which is where he confessed to taking mangas of Sero’s that he had already read.
“Why the hell don’t you just tell him you’ve read them before?” Bakugo asked in between bites of food.
“Yeah it doesn’t seem to make much sense. If you tell him you’ve read them you can just talk about them with him instead of just listening to him talk about them.” Inasa added leaning back into his chair.
“No you don’t get it.” Shoto started pushing himself away from the table to give his hands more space so he could talk with them. “If I tell him I’ve read them, he will look to me for my opinions on them. I normally don’t remember the ones he talks about all too well so I need a refresher anyway. And if he wants my opinions he won’t talk as much as he does and I like when he talks.” He explained.
‘Ahhhh I get it!” Camie said with a smirk growing on her face. “It’s kinda like how I go out to these breakfasts and I already know full well that you’re in love with a human tape dispenser, and Bakugo is in love with a human rock but I still let you guys talk about the things they do that have made you smile this week because I think it’s fun and cute.” She said propping her elbows on the table and leaning her chin in. “Right?”
Shoto felt his ears heat up slightly and nodded. “I suppose it is similar.” He mumbled.
“I do not talk about Kirishima that much.” Bakugo defended quickly after.
“Oh then why do I know that Kirishima brought you a snack during your training session this week because he knew you always forget to pack your own?” Camie queried.
“Because I thought maybe it would inspire you fuckers to think of me every once in a while when we have our training sessions, huh?” Bakugo shot back.
Camie smirked and mumbled a small “sure whatever you say.”
As much as Shoto appreciated his friends, and how much they helped him both career wise and emotionally, he can’t help but regret ever opening his mouth when he sees Bakugo’s tweet.
king explosion murder @dynamight:
@cellophane todoroki has a crush on you and pretends he hasn’t read certain mangas so he can borrow them from you.
While yes, perhaps Shoto did instigate this by bringing up embarrassing moments from when Bakugo would display his obvious crush on Kirishima- it didn’t mean he wanted to be dragged into it.
The embarrassment only got worse when he saw Sero’s response.
hanta @cellophane:
@shoto can you come to my room like rn please.
Oh no he hated him.
Sero knows how he feels and now he will never want to speak with him again.
Well.
If he’s going down he’s taking Bakugo fully down with him.
shoto @shoto:
Bakugo keeps a picture of him and Kirishima and a picture of him and Midoriya from when they were kids in his wallet.
Thank you Bakugo for dropping your wallet when you paid for breakfast two weeks ago.
Shoto’s mind was racing a mile a minute, knowing Sero was next door and now knew of his crush on him was going to kill him.
He was going to want all his mangas back.
Shoto can’t face him now.
He’ll have to disappear in the middle of the night. He can be home schooled again. Endeavor was trying to win his love so he would get him good tutors, right?
No, too much time at home with dad. He was gonna have to deal with this himself.
While Shoto was busy pitying himself he noticed his phone lighting up from his group chat with Camie, Bakugo and Inasa.
As he was reading and responding he found himself momentarily forgetting about his dilemma until Camie asked if he had gone to Sero’s room yet.
“Of course not Camie are you fucking crazy?” He thought to himself. Only able to type out a ‘No I’m scared.’ He wasn’t gonna lie.
He expressed his anxiety about going there and was automatically met with Bakugo’s classic ‘I may be a dick but I do care’ attitude of him calling Shoto a pussy and dense. He hates to admit it but it did give him the push he needed to get off his bed.
He continued responding to his friends, collecting any manga he had borrowed from Sero the past few weeks and piling them into his arms.
Had to be ready for anything.
As he walked out the door, books in arms he texted ‘Well I’ve found myself in front of Sero’s door. I’ll talk to you guys later.’ Then shoved his phone in his pocket.
Well, now or never.
Shoto knocked on the door and automatically heard noise on the other end. Kind of like tripping?
It only took about 10 seconds until Sero swung the door open and met Shoto’s eyes.
“Hey!” Sero said, sounding almost out of breath.
“Hi.” Shoto responded, noticing Sero staring at the books in his arms. “I, uh, figured you might want these back.” He said timidly, moving his arms to hand them over.
Sero looked at him baffled and almost like he was going to laugh. Oh no he was gonna laugh right in his face. It was worse than he had thought.
“You thought…. wow okay, Shoto come in.” Sero said with the same warm smile he always had leading him in with his hand hovering over his back.
Oh he’s playing with his emotions now.
Shoto followed the lead that Sero was giving him and placed the books he brought onto Sero’s desk and stood in front of it as Sero sat adjacent to him on his bed.
“Why’d you think I was going to want them back?” Sero asked.
“Well,” Shoto began, already embarrassed he had to say it outloud, “You saw Bakugo’s tweet. Then I saw your tweet back saying you wanted to see me right away. I figured it was to get your manga back. Wouldn’t want me hoarding stuff I’ve already read.” He said, leaning his back against the desk.
Sero smiled at Shoto and shook his head lightly. “Roki, you could take all of my mangas and then some and I would never ask for them back.”
“Wait. So this isn’t about the books?” Shoto asked, furrowing his eyebrows.
“No Roki, that isn’t why I wanted to talk to you.” Sero said standing up to be in front of Shoto, “I wanted to know if the first part of that tweet was true.”
Shoto froze. How do you answer that? Had he not confirmed it by bringing the manga back in shame of being rejected? Was he actually about to be rejected right to his face?
“Yes.” He answered plainly, ready for the repercussions that would follow.
But they didn’t come.
Sero looked at Shoto with his lips slightly parted. “You actually like me?”
“Of course I do.” He answered honestly.
“Say it.” Sero said, his parted lips slowly transforming into a slight smirk.
Shoto blushed at Sero’s request and turned his head to face away from him, “Hanta please, if you are going to reject me just do it so we can move on.” He pleaded.
He felt a finger under his chin moving his head back to Hanta. “Come on,” Hanta whispered, “Just say it.” He said, meeting Shoto’s heterochromic eyes.
Shoto felt like a deer caught in headlights, completely vulnerable. “I like you.” Shoto said breathlessly.
Hanta’s smirk transformed into a genuine smile. “Good because I like you too.” He said, finger still under Shoto’s chin.
Shoto felt his heart skip. Did he really say that? He isn’t dreaming?
He had to check.
Looking into Hanta’s eyes and darting between his eyes and his lips Shoto knew what he had to do. He took Hanta’s hand in his and pulled him towards him, Hanta immediately moved with the motion and met his lips in a crash.
Shoto couldn’t believe it, he had actually kissed Hanta and he was kissing him back.
The kiss was short-lived with Shoto being the one pulling away to look at the boy. “Wow.” He said quickly, “I’m still not fully convinced this isn’t a dream.”
Hanta smiled at him and nodded in agreement, “You’re not convinced? I’ve been pinching myself since I saw Bakugo’s tweet trying to get myself to wake up. I never thought someone as amazing as you would like me back.” He said earning a frown from Shoto.
“How could I not like you? You listen when I talk about stuff I like and take note of it. I always notice when you bring an extra of my favorite drink along to training and you always give it to me right when I need it. You also are passionate when you talk. I could listen to you for hours.” He told him and moved his hands down and grabbed Hanta’s. “I know you may think you’re plain or boring but I think you’re absolutely extraordinary.”
Hanta looked down at their hands and squeezed them gently. “I think you are too.” He whispered.
the baby-sitters club
shoto: Well.
shoto: Thank you, Bakugo.
camie : WHAT
camie : SHOTO TODOROKI IT IS ALMOST 3 AM
camie : ARE YOU ONLY NOW LEAVING SERO’S????
shoto : I’m still here actually, Hanta fell asleep and I finally managed to get a hold of my phone.
bakugo : SHUT THE FUCK UP ARE YOU SLEEPING IN HIS DORM
shoto : Oh he’s awake I thought he wouldn’t see this until tomorrow.
shoto : But yes :)
camie : OMGOMGOMG
camie : so are you two… <3
shoto : Yes, Hanta is my boyfriend.
bakugo : you’re welcome i even told him
shoto : I already thanked you. Now maybe you should go talk to Kirishima. Having your feelings outed by your friends seems to work well.
camie : i can make up the tweet rn if you’d like katsuki
bakugo : it’s 3 am.
bakugo : wait until tomorrow.
camie : got it ;)
inasa : I finally fell asleep and then this gc woke me up.
inasa : just so i could learn the news that todoroki has a boyfriend now
shoto : I still view you as a very close friend, Inasa I don’t want this to upset you.
camie : please don’t friendzone him in the gc
bakugo : no keep friendzoning him it’s funny.
camie : no what’s funny is you claiming that youre number one at everything and you’re gonna beat everyone around you and yet shoto got a bf before you while he’s been pining for less time than you
camie : humble yourself.
bakugo: fuck off im going to sleep.
shoto : I am too I don’t want the light to wake Hanta.
shoto : My boyfriend :)