Shoto Todoroki X Reader

Chapter 24 : She knows

The cool night air lingered between you and Todoroki, but neither of you seemed eager to leave the comforting silence of the garden. The world felt softer here, away from the dorms, away from prying eyes. But the tension from earlier still hung between you like an invisible thread, pulling you both closer and pushing you apart all at once.

"I can't stop thinking about it," you admitted, leaning back against the tree trunk beside him. "Mina's suspicion... It's like she's waiting for us to slip up."

Todoroki glanced at you, the moonlight catching in his dual-colored eyes, casting a soft glow over his face. He looked calm, but you knew better. Behind that stoic facade, there was a storm brewing. "She's smart. It's only a matter of time."

You bit your lip, unsure what to say. He was right, of course. Mina wasn't going to give up. The truth would eventually come out, whether you were ready for it or not. But the question was, what would happen when it did?

"Maybe telling her isn't the worst idea," you said after a long pause, your voice barely above a whisper. "But... what if things change? What if the others—"

Todoroki cut you off with a quiet but firm tone. "I'll handle it. No matter what happens, we'll figure it out."

You wanted to believe him, but the weight of the situation was too heavy to ignore. You weren't just worried about Mina anymore. It was the entire class, the future you were all building together as heroes. What if this secret, this connection between you and Todoroki, put a strain on that?

Before you could say more, Todoroki turned towards you, his hand brushing against your shoulder. His touch was warm, grounding, a reminder of the moments you had shared, hidden from the world but burning bright in your memory. "You don't have to decide tonight," he said gently. "We still have time."

You nodded, though you weren't sure if you believed it. Time felt like a luxury you were quickly running out of.

Suddenly, a rustling sound caught both of your attention. You tensed, turning towards the source of the noise. From behind one of the nearby bushes, a familiar face emerged.

Mina.

Your heart dropped. How long had she been there? What had she seen?

"Well, well, well," Mina said, stepping out from the shadows, her hands on her hips and a smirk on her face. "What do we have here?"

Todoroki's posture stiffened, but his expression didn't change. He stood tall, his gaze steady, as if he had been expecting this moment. You, on the other hand, felt like the ground had been pulled out from beneath you.

"Mina, I can explain," you started, your voice shaky, but she raised a hand to stop you.

"Save it," she said, her tone surprisingly soft for someone who had just caught two of her classmates in a situation like this. "I've been watching you two for a while now. I knew something was up, but I wanted to hear it from you."

You swallowed hard, glancing at Todoroki, who remained calm but silent. It was clear he was leaving this in your hands.

"We didn't mean to keep it from you," you said quietly, your heart racing. "It's just... complicated."

Mina tilted her head, her sharp eyes narrowing slightly as she studied you both. "Complicated, huh? You mean the whole 'forbidden romance' thing?"

Your cheeks flushed at her teasing, but there was no malice in her tone. If anything, she sounded... curious.

"Look," you continued, gathering your thoughts. "We didn't want to make things awkward for anyone. Especially not with the way everything is in class right now. But it's not just about that."

Mina's smirk faded slightly, replaced by a more thoughtful expression. "So it's real, then? You and Todoroki?"

You glanced at him again, and he gave you a small nod. You took a deep breath and nodded back. "Yeah. It's real."

For a moment, Mina just stood there, her expression unreadable. The silence stretched on, and you were sure she was going to say something snarky or call the others. But then, she surprised you.

"I figured as much," she said, her smirk returning, but this time it was softer, almost understanding. "You two are about as subtle as a fireworks show."

Todoroki raised an eyebrow, clearly not used to being described that way, but he didn't argue.

Mina took a step closer, her eyes softening as she looked at both of you. "You should've just told me, you know. I'm not here to ruin anything. If anything, I'm impressed you managed to keep it under wraps this long."

You blinked, taken aback by her easy acceptance. "So... you're not mad?"

Mina shrugged. "Why would I be mad? You're my friends. And honestly, I'm kind of happy for you two. You deserve something good."

Relief washed over you like a wave, and you let out a breath you hadn't realized you'd been holding. "Thank you," you said, your voice filled with gratitude.

Mina winked at you, her playful energy returning in full force. "But don't think I'm letting you off the hook that easy. I'm going to have a million questions later. And I expect answers."

Todoroki's lips twitched into a rare, subtle smile. "Fair enough."

With that, Mina turned to leave, but not before shooting you one last grin. "Oh, and don't worry—I won't tell anyone. Your secret's safe with me."

As she disappeared into the shadows, you let out a long sigh of relief, your heart finally slowing down. Todoroki stepped closer, his hand brushing against yours again.

"That went better than expected," he said, his voice low and calm.

You nodded, the tension finally easing out of your shoulders. "Yeah. It did."

For the first time in what felt like forever, you allowed yourself to relax, to truly believe that maybe things would be okay. Maybe, just maybe, you wouldn't have to keep hiding anymore.

And as the stars twinkled overhead, you realized that no matter what came next, you and Todoroki would face it together.