May 16, 2226
Hitomi Todoroki sat perfectly still in her living room, one leg crossed over the other, her heterochromatic eyes fixed on her phone's blank screen.
Four-thirty had come and gone. Then five. Now nearing six, and still nothing from Midoriya.
She checked her messages again. The last text she'd sent him yesterday—a simple confirmation of their meeting place—showed as delivered but not read. Her thumb hovered over the screen, contemplating sending another message, before she locked the phone and set it face-down on the coffee table.
He wouldn't ghost me.
Whatever else Midoriya might be, he wasn't cruel or thoughtless. If he'd needed to cancel, he would have said so.
Unless...
Had she been too forward in the locker room? Had her awkward attempt at arranging coffee come across as desperate rather than casual? Or perhaps—and this thought sent a chill through her that had nothing to do with her quirk—he'd reconsidered after their conversation. Maybe he'd decided she wasn't worth the trouble after all.
No. Ice crackled as it spread across the coffee table's surface. They had an agreement. Four-thirty, coffee. He had seemed genuine. Even pleased.
She picked up her phone again, unlocking it. She'd scrolled through three different dating blogs that morning, confirming what she already suspected—when someone showed interest and then made specific plans, they meant it. The articles had been clear: his body language during their conversation, the way he'd held her, his direct invitation—these weren't the actions of someone merely being polite.
What if Yaoyorozu had gotten to him first?
Before she could second-guess herself, Hitomi pulled up Yaoyorozu's contact and pressed call. The phone rang three times before Yaoyorozu's voice, polished and proper as always, answered.
"Todoroki? This is unexpected."
Hitomi kept her voice neutral. "Yaoyorozu. Have you spoken to Midoriya since the festival?"
A brief pause. "No, actually." Something in Yaoyorozu's tone shifted, a note of sadness bleeding through her usual composure. "I called him that night to ask... to discuss something, but there was no answer. I assumed he was busy with interviews or recovery."
"You haven't heard from him at all?"
"No." Another pause. "Is something wrong? Did you have plans with him?"
"Coffee," Hitomi admitted. "Today at four-thirty. He didn't show or respond to messages."
"That doesn't sound like him." Concern now colored Yaoyorozu's voice. "Midoriya is very reliable. Perhaps something happened?"
The knot in Hitomi's chest tightened. "Perhaps."
"If you learn anything, would you let me know? I've been worried, but didn't want to be intrusive."
"Yes." Hitomi ended the call, frost now covering half the coffee table.
She stared at her phone for another long moment before making a decision. She would call Midoriya directly. If he was avoiding her specifically, she deserved to know why. If not...
Her thumb pressed his contact, and she lifted the phone to her ear. One ring. Two. Three. Four. Then his voicemail.
Hitomi ended the call without speaking. The situation had moved beyond simple frustration into something more concerning.
There was one more person she could try. Utsushimi would know where Midoriya was.
Hitomi pulled up Utsushimi's contact information, added during their recovery room conversation, and pressed call. The phone rang once, twice, three times, four times. Hitomi nearly ended the call when Utsushimi's voice finally answered, so soft and drained it was barely recognizable.
"Hello?"
Hitomi blinked, thrown by the complete absence of Utsushimi's usual energy and slang. "Utsushimi? It's Todoroki."
"Oh. Hey." Utsushimi's voice remained flat, exhausted.
"Are you okay?" Hitomi asked, genuine concern overriding her initial purpose.
A soft, shuddering breath came through the line. "I'm... hanging in there."
"Did Midoriya's phone break? He was supposed to meet me today."
The silence that followed stretched long enough that Hitomi wondered if the call had dropped. Then Utsushimi spoke again, her voice cracking slightly.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought..." Another shaky breath. "Izu got some type of reaction to something. He's been unconscious since the night of the festival."
Hitomi's blood turned to ice. "What? How severe?"
"They don't know. We're at UA right now. Recovery Girl and some specialist they brought in are monitoring him, but..." Utsushimi's voice wavered, tears evident in her tone. "It's been two days, Todoroki."
Hitomi ended the call without another word, her mind racing. Two days unconscious. Since the festival night. The same night Yaoyorozu had tried to call him.
Her fingers moved quickly, sending a text to Yaoyorozu: Midoriya's been unconscious since festival night. At UA now. Heading there.
She was on her feet and halfway to the door before stopping, reality asserting itself. UA was across town. She needed transportation.
"Fuyumi?" Hitomi called, her voice echoing through the empty hallway. "Fuyumi!"
Her older sister appeared from the kitchen, dish towel in hand. "Hitomi? What's wrong?"
"I need a ride to UA. Now. It's important."
Fuyumi's eyes widened slightly at Hitomi's tone, but she asked no questions. "Let me get my keys."
The ride to UA passed in tense silence. Hitomi stared out the window, watching the city blur past, her mind fixed on what little information she had. Unconscious for three days. Some kind of reaction. No further details.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Fuyumi asked gently as they neared the campus.
"No."
Fuyumi sighed softly. "Okay. Text me when you need to be picked up."
"I will." Hitomi's gaze fixed on the UA gates coming into view. "Thank you."
The campus was still active, the third-year sports festival in full swing. Cheers and announcements echoed from the stadium as Hitomi made her way to the main building, her pace quick but controlled. She showed her student ID to the security robots at the entrance, receiving clearance to proceed.
The hallways felt unnaturally quiet after the noise outside, her footsteps echoing against the polished floors as she headed for the nurse's office. Her heartbeat quickened as she approached, an unfamiliar anxiety tightening her chest.
She pushed open the door without knocking. The room beyond was dimly lit, the curtains drawn against the evening light. Two hospital beds occupied the space, monitoring equipment surrounding one of them.
Midoriya lay still on the first bed, his face pale and drawn in the harsh light of the medical monitors. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the cool temperature of the room, his expression locked in a grimace of pain. Various tubes and wires connected him to the equipment, tracking vitals that beeped steadily in the quiet room.
On the second bed, Utsushimi lay curled on her side, asleep, her face puffy from what had clearly been extensive crying. Her hand dangled from the edge of the bed, as if reaching for Midoriya even in sleep.
Hitomi approached Midoriya's bedside. Up close, she could see the rapid movement behind his eyelids, the tension in his jaw, the slight tremors that occasionally ran through his body. Whatever unconsciousness held him, it wasn't peaceful.
Without thinking, she reached out, her right hand cool against his burning forehead. Frost gathered at her fingertips, not enough to freeze but sufficient to soothe the fever-heat radiating from his skin. His expression eased slightly at her touch, the grimace softening.
"Excuse me, who are you?"
Hitomi turned at the quiet voice, her hand still resting on Midoriya's forehead. A woman stood from a chair in the corner, one Hitomi hadn't noticed upon entering. She was beautiful, with flowing green hair pulled back in a practical ponytail and bright emerald eyes that reminded Hitomi instantly of Midoriya. She wore simple, modest clothing, but carried herself with quiet dignity.
Before Hitomi could respond, the door opened again, and Yaoyorozu entered, slightly out of breath as if she'd been running. She froze at the scene before her—Hitomi at Midoriya's bedside, the green-haired woman watching them both, Utsushimi asleep on the second bed.
"Oh," Yaoyorozu said softly, her usual composure momentarily shaken. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude."
"You're not intruding," the green-haired woman said, her voice gentle despite the evident exhaustion in her eyes. "Are you friends of Izuku's?"
Hitomi withdrew her hand from Midoriya's forehead, straightening to her full height. "Yes. I'm Hitomi Todoroki, from his class."
"Momo Yaoyorozu," Momo introduced herself with a small bow. "Also from Class 1-A. We were concerned when we couldn't reach Midoriya."
The woman smiled, though it didn't quite reach her tired eyes. "I'm Inko Midoriya, Izuku's mother. It's nice to meet you both, though I wish it were under better circumstances."
His mother. Of course. The resemblance was obvious now—the same green hair, the same eyes.
"What happened to him?" Yaoyorozu asked, moving closer to the bed. "Utsushimi said he's been unconscious since the festival."
Inko nodded, returning to her chair with a weary sigh. "It started after celebrating that night."
"Have the doctors identified the cause?" Hitomi asked, her voice steady despite the growing concern in her chest.
"Not definitively," Inko admitted. "Recovery Girl says it's some kind of severe quirk backlash, but Izuku doesn't have a quirk. The specialist they brought in thinks it might be an extreme form of quirk exhaustion, possibly from exposure to multiple powerful quirks during the tournament."
Yaoyorozu frowned slightly. "But Midoriya didn't face that many opponents with direct-effect quirks. Mostly physical or transformation types."
"I know," Inko sighed. "Nothing quite adds up. Recovery Girl is monitoring him closely, but even she seems puzzled."
Hitomi's gaze returned to Midoriya, noting how his expression had tightened again in her absence. She placed her cool hand back on his forehead. The effect was immediate—his features relaxed, the tension in his jaw easing.
"That seems to help him," Inko observed, watching closely. "Your quirk is temperature-based?"
"Half-Cold," Hitomi confirmed, not mentioning the other half. "I can generate and control ice."
"He responds well to cooling," Inko nodded. "Recovery Girl has been using cold compresses, but they warm too quickly. Your direct application seems more effective."
A soft groan from the second bed drew their attention. Utsushimi stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She sat up slowly, disoriented, before her gaze landed on the gathered group.
"Yaomomo? Ice Queen?" Her voice was rough from sleep and crying, but some of her usual character had returned. "When did you get here?"
"Just now," Yaoyorozu answered. "We were worried when Midoriya missed our plans."
Utsushimi nodded, rubbing her eyes. "Yeah, he's been out cold since festival night. Doctors can't figure it out."
Hitomi met Utsushimi's tired gaze, an unspoken question passing between them. Utsushimi gave a small nod, understanding.
"Mrs. Midoriya," Hitomi said, turning to Inko. "There's something you should know about our relationship with your son."
Inko's eyebrows rose slightly. "Oh?"
Hitomi straightened her shoulders, frost gathering briefly at her fingertips before she controlled it. "I am interested in pursuing a romantic relationship with Midoriya. We had arranged to meet today to discuss the possibility further."
Yaoyorozu's cheeks flushed, but she followed Hitomi's lead with remarkable composure. "I had similar intentions. I called Midoriya after the festival to ask him on a date."
Inko blinked rapidly, looking between the three of them. "I... see."
"We've discussed the situation among ourselves," Yaoyorozu continued, her voice steady despite her blush. "And have reached a tentative understanding about how to proceed, should Midoriya be amenable."
"You mean..." Inko trailed off, clearly trying to process what she was hearing.
"We're all interested in dating your son," Utsushimi clarified, some of her usual directness returning. "And we're cool sharing, if he's down with it."
Inko's eyebrows climbed higher. "All three of you? Together?"
Hitomi nodded once, decisive. "That is correct."
A moment of silence followed as Inko absorbed this information. Then, to everyone's surprise, she laughed—a genuine, if tired, sound. "Well. Izuku certainly has exceeded my expectations in ways I never anticipated."
"You're not... concerned?" Yaoyorozu asked cautiously.
"Oh, I have plenty of questions and concerns," Inko assured her. "But right now, my priority is seeing my son wake up. Everything else can be sorted out later."
Hitomi nodded, appreciating the practical approach. "Is there anything we can do to help?"
Inko's gaze moved to Hitomi's hand, still resting on Midoriya's forehead. "Your cooling touch seems to ease his discomfort. If you're willing to stay a while longer, I think that would be beneficial."
"I'll stay," Hitomi said immediately. "As long as necessary."
"I can help too," Yaoyorozu offered. "I could create cooling packs that might provide relief when Todoroki needs rest."
"And I've basically been living here anyway," Utsushimi added. "Not going anywhere."
(One hour later)
Hitomi adjusted her position in the hard hospital chair, her hand still resting on Midoriya's forehead. The soft beeping of the monitors had formed a rhythm in her mind over the past hour, a steady pulse that marked the passage of time. Her right arm had begun to ache from the extended use of her quirk, but she refused to show any discomfort.
"You really don't need to stay in that position the entire time," Inko said, noticing Hitomi's subtle shift. "Recovery Girl should be back soon with more specialized equipment."
"This is fine," Hitomi replied, her dual-colored eyes fixed on Midoriya's face. The constant application of cooling seemed to ease whatever internal battle he was fighting. "My endurance is adequate."
Yaoyorozu returned from outside, carrying a tray with four steaming cups. "I found some tea. I hope that's alright, Mrs. Midoriya."
"Please, call me Inko," Midoriya's mother said, accepting a cup with a grateful smile. "And tea is perfect, thank you."
Hitomi observed the interaction with careful attention. Yaoyorozu moved with a grace that spoke of years of formal training. Her black ponytail swayed gently as she distributed the remaining cups, setting one next to Hitomi within easy reach of her free hand.
"Thank you," Hitomi said.
"No problem at all." Yaoyorozu settled into a chair across from her, smoothing her skirt. "How is he doing?"
"His temperature spikes when I withdraw contact," Hitomi explained, lifting her hand slightly to demonstrate. Immediately, Midoriya's brow furrowed, tiny beads of sweat forming on his skin. She replaced her palm, and his features relaxed again. "The effect is consistent."
Utsushimi stirred on the second bed, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. Her usual perfectly styled blonde hair stuck out in odd directions, and dark circles shadowed her eyes. Despite her disheveled appearance, she managed a weak smile.
"Hey fam. Any change?"
"Not yet," Inko replied, her voice gentle. "But Todoroki's quirk seems to help with his comfort level."
Utsushimi nodded, sliding off the bed and padding over to examine Midoriya's face. "Yeah, he looks more chill. Good looking out, Ice Queen."
"It's a practical application," Hitomi said, ignoring the nickname. She'd noticed that Utsushimi assigned labels to everyone, and arguing against it would be inefficient.
Utsushimi reached for Midoriya's hand, her fingers intertwining with his.
"Recovery Girl said she'd be tied up with the third-year festival injuries for at least another hour," Inko said, checking her phone. "Queen is assisting her, so we're on our own until then."
An awkward silence settled over the room as each woman seemed to search for what to say next. Inko finally broke it, setting her teacup down with a decisive click.
"Well, since we're all going to be here for a while, perhaps we should get to know each other better." Her green eyes swept over them with maternal warmth. "Camie, would you mind grabbing those cookies from my bag? The stress-baking has gotten a bit out of hand."
Utsushimi grinned, some of her usual energy returning. "Your cookies are bomb, Mama Midoriya. No such thing as too many."