Shoto Todoroki X Reader

Chapter 36 : Waking up

The world slowly came back into focus, light piercing through the haze that had surrounded me for so long. I blinked against the brightness, squinting at the unfamiliar ceiling above. A soft beeping sound pulsed in the background, pulling me further into consciousness.

"Y/N?" a voice called, filled with disbelief and hope.

I turned my head slowly, the movement feeling foreign yet familiar. There, standing beside me, was Shoto. His expression was a mix of relief and joy, eyes wide and shimmering with unshed tears.

"Y/N!" He rushed to my side, taking my hand in his, and I felt the warmth of his grip. "You're awake! Oh, thank goodness!"

The memories flooded back—fragments of laughter, the warmth of our shared moments, and then the chaos that led to this. I tried to speak, but my throat felt raw and dry.

"Just take it easy," Shoto urged, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "You've been through so much."

"Shoto..." I managed to whisper, my voice weak but filled with emotion.

His eyes softened, and I could see the strain of worry lift slightly from his shoulders. "I've missed you so much. I thought..." He paused, swallowing hard. "I was so scared."

A wave of guilt washed over me for putting him through that, but I couldn't linger on it. "How long...?"

"Months," he replied, his voice trembling slightly. "It's been nearly three months since the incident."

"Three months?" The weight of that realization sank in. So much time lost. "Everyone—are they okay?"

"They're all here," he assured me, a small smile breaking through. "Everyone has been waiting for you to wake up. You have no idea how much they care."

As if on cue, the door swung open, and my family and friends filed into the room, faces lighting up with joy as they saw me awake. Fuyumi was the first to rush to my side, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Y/N! You're awake!" she exclaimed, enveloping me in a gentle hug. I winced slightly at the movement but held her tight.

"I'm back," I murmured, my heart swelling at the sight of them all.

"Welcome back, sleeping beauty!" Mina chimed in, her grin infectious. "We were starting to think you'd joined a secret society of comatose heroes!"

Laughter erupted in the room, and I couldn't help but smile despite the lingering fatigue. The atmosphere felt light, filled with warmth and love.

As the joy spread, I noticed Bakugo standing at the back, his usual gruff demeanor softened. "About damn time," he said, crossing his arms, but there was a hint of relief in his tone.

"Thanks for worrying about me, Bakugo," I replied, my voice teasing.

"Yeah, whatever," he huffed, but I caught the small smile on his face.

After a few moments of catching up, the conversation shifted, and I felt the need to address the elephant in the room. "What about Shoto and me?" I asked, my gaze locking onto my friends.

Fuyumi exchanged glances with her brother, and Shoto's cheeks flushed slightly. "Everyone knows," she said gently. "We told them about your relationship while you were... well, you know."

"Right," I said, feeling both relieved and nervous. "And everyone's okay with it?"

"Of course," Mina piped up. "We're all happy for you two! It's about time you both admitted it!"

Shoto glanced at me, a shy smile playing on his lips. "I'm glad. I wanted you to know how much you mean to me."

Hearing his words filled me with warmth, but a part of me felt apprehensive about how things would change now that everyone knew. "I just want to make sure it doesn't complicate things," I said softly.

"You won't have to worry about that," Fuyumi reassured me. "We all support you. You deserve to be happy."

As the conversation flowed, I began to relax, feeling the weight of uncertainty lift. My friends were here, surrounding me with love and acceptance. I realized that no matter what happened next, I wasn't alone in this.

Hours passed, filled with laughter, stories, and the warmth of reunion. As the sun began to set, casting a golden glow over the room, I turned to Shoto, who was still by my side, a steady presence in the whirlwind.

"Thank you for being here," I said softly, my heart swelling with gratitude.

"I always will be," he replied, his gaze intense and sincere. "You mean everything to me, Y/N. I won't let anything come between us."

In that moment, I felt a surge of determination. Whatever challenges lay ahead, I knew we would face them together. With Shoto by my side and my friends and family supporting me, I was ready to embrace this new chapter in our lives.