-9- Epilogue

"What happened to me? Where am I?" Todoroki asks, looking around with confusion.

Midoriya manages to sit up again, his words tumbling out in a rush, frantic and breathless. "...and then I got here... You didn't move... You didn't answer me... Your eyes were open, but you didn't see... I was scared. I didn't know what to do... I... I..." His voice cracks, tears brimming in his eyes.

"Hey... calm down, Izuku. I'm back. I'll be fine..." Todoroki reassures him gently.

"Yes... you will... and I'll be here for you," Midoriya replies, sniffling as he wipes his eyes.

"I know... thanks, Izuku."

Midoriya takes a deep breath. "How... how are you feeling, Shouto-kun?"

"I... I don't know... I feel very weak... like I can't move at all. My limbs are numb..." Todoroki replies.

"What?! But... but you did move... just now... you even... um... you... er... you know..."

Todoroki chuckles softly, sensing Midoriya's unease. Izuku is still shy about his feet... he's so cute when he's embarrassed...

"Izuku, as you said, I was motionless for months. It's normal that I can't move yet. It's a miracle I can talk. I'll need a lot of rehabilitation."

"Yeah, I guess so..." Midoriya agrees.

"You'll need it too. We'll do it together. You'll get rid of those braces and crutches soon."

"Oh..." Midoriya glances at his crutches lying on the floor. "Shouto-kun... what if I can't... what if I need these braces and crutches forever?" He pauses, hands clenched tightly on his knees. "Will you pity me? Will you despise me?"

Todoroki's eyes widen in surprise, and his face saddens. "What? How could you even think such a thing of me?" he whispers.

Midoriya realizes he's hurt his friend with those words too late. Of course Shouto-kun isn't going to feel that way. He said something stupid out of frustration. A weight presses on his chest, and he wishes he could take back his words.

"I'm... I'm sorry, Shouto-kun," he says anxiously. "I really didn't mean it..."

"Sometimes I get frustrated because of my legs and say things I don't mean. I wish I had never said that to you. I know you're not like that."

"Please, Shouto-kun... forgive me. I'll do anything to be forgiven..."

Todoroki sees the sincerity in Midoriya's anxious eyes. "Sorry, Izuku. It's me who has to be forgiven... You've gone through a lot of stress in the last months... because of me..."

"I know you didn't mean to hurt me. I'm sorry..."

"If you need your braces and crutches for a long time, I'll add them to the entry 'Izukuness' in my personal dictionary," Todoroki says with a smile.

Midoriya chuckles, feeling relieved.

"Thanks, Izuku..."

"For what?"

"You smiled..."

The two boys were chatting intently when a thud interrupts them. They turn to see Todoroki's aunt standing at the door, bags spilling onto the floor, a few apples rolling away.

"Hi, Aunt Nanako..."

Long seconds pass before she can speak. "Shouto... you're awake!" she cries, dashing toward him. She hugs him tightly, tears of joy streaming down her face. "It's a miracle... how could this happen? The doctors were helpless... how...?"

"Ask Izuku," Todoroki says with a smile, pointing to his friend. "He's a sort of sorcerer..."

Aunt Nanako turns to Midoriya, gently taking his hands in hers, her eyes shimmering with gratitude. "Thank you, Midoriya-kun... thank you..." she breathes, lost for words, gazing into Midoriya's bright eyes.

Midoriya feels a rush of happiness swell within him. After all the pain, Shouto-kun is going to be fine. His aunt loves him and will take care of him. Maybe he'll even get to meet his mom again. Everything is going to be okay.

__________________________________________________

Days turned to weeks, and one day, Midoriya's phone beeps with an incoming text. "It's Kirishima-kun," he says, pulling it out.

"I texted him you're better now. He and Kaminari-kun were really worried. Since the day I got here, they've been flooding my phone with messages asking about you."

Todoroki raises an eyebrow, surprised. "Really? They're worried... about me?"

"Of course they are! They're our friends!" Midoriya replied, a grin spreading across his face.

"I'm gonna read you this one:"

Hi Midoriya, how's it going today? Denki and I are happy to hear that Todoroki keeps getting better. We'd really like to come see you two. Could you try to guess if our visit would be okay for him? Don't force him, though. We don't want to make him feel uneasy. Let us know!

Todoroki couldn't help but smile. "Kaminari's right," he says, a hint of amusement in his tone. "Kirishima acts tough and brash, but he's quite sweet beneath that tough exterior..."

"Yes, he is," Midoriya replies, beaming at his friend. "He and Kaminari really did everything they could to support and cheer me up during these months."

"They're really good friends, Shouto-kun. Trust me."

Todoroki takes a deep breath. "I trust you, Izuku... so I guess it's time for me to trust other people too..."

"Besides," he adds, chuckling, "those two are actually quite funny together."

"Yes, they are!" Midoriya agrees, his smile wide as he texts back to Kirishima.

____________________________________________________

"Good morning, ma'am. Sorry for intruding..." Kirishima's cheerful voice resonates as he steps into the genkan, followed closely by Kaminari.

"Good morning, kids! Please come in. Shouto and Midoriya-kun are waiting for you," Todoroki's aunt says happily.

"Th-th-th-thank you, ma... ma... ma'am," Kaminari sputters, both boys quickly taking off their shoes to enter.

"Hi guys! Howdy?!" Kirishima greets, beaming at his friends. But then he pauses, eyes going wide. "Wow... Todoroki... are you... smiling?"

"Are you smiling... to us?"

Kirishima's grin widens. "Are you sure you're not going to hurt your face?"

Todoroki chuckles. "Well... actually, my face is getting a little tired now that you mention it..."

"You're joking!" Kirishima exclaims, his voice rising. "You really are!"

"Ouch!" he adds a little too loudly, trying to mask his bubbling joy. "Too much emotion at once for my poor heart! I wasn't prepared!"

"Midoriya!" he calls brusquely, turning to him. "Where did you hide the real Todoroki? Where is he?"

Midoriya snorts and can't help but laugh, the sound brightening the room.

Kirishima keeps clowning around, but at some point, his voice falters, and he stops, furtively wiping his eyes.

"Kirishima-kun?... Are you... crying?" Midoriya asks, surprised.

"Of course not!" Kirishima replies vehemently, sniffling.

"Ei... Ei...jirou... it... it's okay... feeling happy for your friends..." Kaminari says gently, rubbing Kirishima's back.

Kirishima sniffles again, staring at his feet, trying to hide the tears in his eyes. "I... I was so worried... you were missing, and Midoriya was so desperate... He was getting weaker and weaker... He didn't smile anymore... I... I felt so helpless. Denki and I tried our best to help him, to cheer him up... but it was useless..."

He pauses, then quickly raises his head. "But now both of you are going to be fine, right?" He looks at his friends, searching their faces.

"You are smiling. You look happy. I'm... I'm..." His voice cracks again.

"S... S... See?! I tuh... told you he's s-such a swe...sweetheart!" Kaminari chimes in, trying to lighten the mood.

"No! I'm not!" Kirishima protests loudly, wiping his eyes again, his face turning crimson.

Luckily, Todoroki's aunt comes to the rescue, entering the room with a tray filled with cookies. "I thought you kids might like some snacks," she says cheerfully.

"Thanks, ma'am! That's very kind of you," Kirishima says swiftly, relieved for the change of subject.

Midoriya moves closer to grab some cookies, and Kirishima suddenly points at his legs. "Ha! You're walking without your crutches!"

"Uh... yeah... my legs are getting better. I still need my braced shoes, but I'm working on it..."

"I'll be back to my usual Izukuness soon," Midoriya says.

"Your usual what?" Kirishima asks, raising an eyebrow.

"Never mind..." Midoriya chuckles, winking at Todoroki. "Shouto-kun and I are making progress with our rehab, so I will be able to walk again without my braces."

"You'd better!" Kirishima retorts, back to his usual teasing mode. "You'd stop smudging Kawashima-san's floor with your dusty shoes!"

"Oh..." Todoroki's aunt's expression shifts lightly. "Sorry, Kirishima-kun, I didn't notice... You can keep your shoes on too if you need to..."

Kirishima's brow furrows. "um... excuse me, ma'am, but... why should I need to keep my shoes on?" he asks, puzzled.

Kaminari tries to conceal a giggle, thinking he understands.

"Oh... well..." she says. "I thought that with such flat feet, you'd have some inserts in your shoes to help you walk better... so..."

Kaminari snorts, unable to hold back a laugh.

"Shut up, Denki!" Kirishima shouts, his face turning as red as a strawberry.

"It's a conspiracy..." he mutters, staring down at his feet with a funny pout. "They're not that flat..."

At that sight, Kaminari quickly wraps an arm around Kirishima's shoulders, tugging him closer. "Do... don't worry, Eijirou... I... like your fuh...flat feet."

Kirishima looks up at his friend. "Really?" he asks, a small smile breaking through.

"Re...eally."

"Duh...do you th-think I'm... wuh... uh... weird?" He asks with a wide grin on his face.