Shoto Todoroki X Reader

Chapter 37 : The Storm After the Calm

The hospital had finally quieted down after a long day of visitors. The sunset cast a soft orange glow over the room, making the sterile walls feel just a little less cold. I lay there in the hospital bed, feeling more exhausted than I expected. Waking up after months in a coma hadn't just been a shock—it was like my whole body was relearning how to function. My muscles ached, my mind was foggy, but the overwhelming feeling of relief and love from my friends and family made everything feel bearable.

Shoto sat beside me, his hand resting gently on mine. We didn't need to say much to each other now; his presence was enough. After everything that had happened, just knowing he was here, that he had been waiting for me, filled the room with a comfortable silence.

But beneath the surface, I could sense it. The worry, the tension in his body, the storm that had been brewing for months while I lay unconscious. He had kept it together for everyone else's sake, but now that I was awake, it was like he didn't know how to let go of the fear that had gripped him.

"Shoto," I said softly, breaking the silence. He turned to look at me, his gaze filled with both warmth and concern. "I know this hasn't been easy for you."

He didn't reply right away, just sighed and squeezed my hand a little tighter. "I thought I lost you," he admitted, his voice low, almost shaky. "Every day I sat here wondering if you'd wake up... if you'd ever come back to me."

Hearing the pain in his voice broke my heart. "But I'm here now," I reminded him gently. "I'm not going anywhere."

He nodded, but his eyes darkened. "There's something you need to know, Y/N. Something I didn't want to tell you until you woke up."

A heavy knot formed in my stomach at his words. The room, which had felt peaceful just moments ago, suddenly felt much colder. "What is it?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Shoto hesitated, his expression conflicted. "It's about what happened when you were kidnapped by the League of Villains. When your uncle and the others from the Dark Forest showed up..."

I stiffened at the mention of my uncle. Those memories were still raw, and I hadn't had the time to fully process what had gone down before I ended up in this coma. I hadn't spoken about it with anyone, not even with Shoto, because it was just too complicated. Too dangerous.

"What about them?" I asked, my heartbeat quickening.

Shoto ran a hand through his hair, his eyes full of worry. "Your uncle—he was working with the League, Y/N. He didn't just show up to talk to you. He was there for a reason."

My mind reeled. That didn't make sense. My uncle had always been distant, yes, but he would never side with villains. "No," I said firmly, shaking my head. "He wouldn't do that."

"I didn't want to believe it either," Shoto said, his voice calm but urgent. "But he wasn't alone. There were others from the Dark Forest who had been secretly planning something with the League. Midoriya, Bakugo, and I overheard a conversation while you were unconscious."

I felt like the ground was crumbling beneath me. "Why didn't you tell me this sooner?"

"I didn't want to overwhelm you," Shoto admitted. "You were already dealing with so much. But now that you're awake, I can't keep it from you. You deserve to know the truth."

My mind raced, trying to piece everything together. The Dark Forest—the place I'd grown up, the people I'd trusted my entire life—were they really involved with villains? My uncle, of all people? It felt like my world was spinning out of control.

"And there's more," Shoto added, his voice darkening. "The League... they're not done. There's something bigger happening, and I think your family might still be involved."

I felt a wave of nausea roll over me. "What do you mean?"

"There have been rumors," he said carefully. "About another attack. The League is planning something major, and they've been in contact with people from the Dark Forest again. I don't know what they're after, but I'm afraid it's connected to you."

Tears pricked at my eyes. This couldn't be happening. My family—the people who had raised me—how could they be involved in something so dangerous? And why hadn't I seen the signs?

Shoto squeezed my hand, his expression softening as he looked at me. "I didn't want to tell you all of this right now. You've just woken up, and the last thing I wanted was to bring you more pain."

"But you had to," I said, my voice breaking slightly. "You did the right thing."

We sat there in silence for a moment, the weight of everything hanging in the air. I couldn't stop thinking about my family, my uncle, the Dark Forest, and what it all meant. How much of my life had been a lie? How much did I not know?

"I'll help you through this," Shoto said softly, his voice a steady anchor. "We'll figure it out. Together."

I nodded, though I still felt numb. "We have to stop them," I whispered. "Whatever they're planning... we have to stop them before it's too late."

Shoto nodded, determination filling his eyes. "We will. But first, you need to get better. Then we can figure out our next move."

I leaned back against the pillows, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me. The League, my family, the looming danger—it was all too much to bear. But with Shoto by my side, I knew I wasn't alone in this fight.

Whatever came next, we would face it together.