Chapter 3: Life Choices

"Deku-kun!" Uraraka Ochako rushes inside the kitchen, her face was more flustered than usual. "IS THAT PERSON--?!"

"THE CUSTOMER?!" Iida Tenya shouts in urgency, not quite understanding the concept of 'finishing each other's sentences' well enough.

Midoriya's sweat drops. "You mean Todoroki-kun?" He already feels their unwarranted attention prying him to spill the beans.

"He has a name?!" Uraraka makes the 'Scream' face.

"'-Kun?!'" Iida joins her.

The green-haired waiter fights the urge to facepalm at his friends' dramatic actions. "Yes, his name is Todoroki. And yes, I used a '-kun'. Like you, this is the first time I've seen that man and I don't know how to answer your question and also why are you asking me, we're not even that close?!"

"But you stalk him!" They say in chorus.

"I D-D-DON'T S-S-S-STALK HIM!" Midoriya forms an 'X' with his arms, his face fuming in embarrassment. "W-w-where did you guys even g-g-g-get that i-i-idea?!"

To say that he is surprised to see Todoroki with another fellow human being, much less conversing calmly with the said person, is the greatest understatement of the century. When Midoriya saw that scene a while ago, he almost lets go of the water pitcher he was carrying. It was such a sight to behold that it just seemed… wrong.

You know what he means?

"Could it be…?" Iida pauses dramatically, all eyes are on him. "A sugar daddy?!

Midoriya's jaw almost drops, he could barely believe that such word would come out of straight-laced Iida's mouth!

"I first thought of that as well, but…" Uraraka rubs her chin, playing with her imaginary detective's goatee. "when that gloomy guy was about to leave, the Custo—No, Todoroki-kun paid for his take outs!"

"What?"

Both of them turns to Midoriya, shocked to hear he was also shocked upon hearing the revelation.

"Maybe it's his father….?" He suggests, scratching the back of his head.

"Nani?!" Both of them exclaims incredulously as if they're a character from an anime that starts with the name Jojo. But well, he also can't believe he suggested such thing in the first place. Those two men do not have any shard of resemblance to each other.

"What's with you guys today?!" He sputters, "Why are you being dramatic all of a sudden?!"

"This 'Todoroki-kun' person is becoming even more mysterious than we all thought!" Iida comments, completely ignoring poor Midoriya.

"And I was starting to ship Deku-kun and Todoroki-kun…" Uraraka sighs, looking forlorn.

"Ship?" Iida repeats. "why would you cargo them together?"

"Aww, you innocent boy!" She hits him playfully on the shoulder. "It's when you…"

Midoriya doesn't wait for his friend to finish. He rushes out from the kitchen if he stays there any longer his heart might explode due to embarrassment! He glances at the wall clock, just in time for the last orders. The green-haired waiter goes on a run on the few remaining customers when he sees an unfamiliar sight.

Todoroki-kun is still at the café.

It's odd, since he usually leaves before 17:00. But today, he stayed until 19:30, half an hour until the closing time. He looks even more in the zone compared to the usual him, and he looks… determined?

That person with him a while ago must've greatly improved his mood…

Midoriya slaps the evil voice inside his head. Well, it's not like it matters to him whomever Todoroki dines in Café Perry, right?

Right?

"Sir," He says softly, the customer doesn't respond. "Sir, would you like to have any additional orders before the closing time?"

Todoroki stops typing, he gives him a dazed look as if processing what the waiter just said. After a minute or two, he speaks.

"Oh," He gasps innocently.

Midoriya fights the fawning expression that wanted to form on his face.

"I'm sorry," Todoroki's voice is a bit slower than usual, exhaustion evident in his voice. "I didn't notice the time."

"I've noticed," He hums before he could stop himself. When he realizes what he just said, forest green eyes widen in disbelief.

Todoroki tilts his head to the side.

Midoriya fights the urge once again.

"It's alright sir," He imaginary picks up the pieces of dignity left in him, good thing Todoroki seems oblivious to his rather… creepy antics towards him. "you're more than welcome to stay as long as you'd like."

Todoroki's eyebrows (that are surprisingly monotone) furrows deeply as if trying to analyze something. Long thick lashes lowered, barely covering his unmatched eyes. Midoriya bites his lips until he tastes iron just so he could stop himself from creating any unholy sounds.

"You called me 'sir' again," He points out, sounding a bit crestfallen.

"I apologize," Midoriya scratches the side of his face, forcing his throat to create a sound simile to a sound similar to a 'laugh'. "it's becoming a habit of mine to call everyone formally when I'm here at work," Midoriya pauses. "Todoroki-kun."

Todoroki's skin noticeably becomes tinted with pink. Midoriya feels his temperature warming up as well. "It's been a long time since someone called me with such familiarity," He sounds awfully… delighted?

God, save him.

"What about your daddy?" Sadly, it was the Devil who arrives.

The look on Todoroki's face makes Midoriya mentally slams his face against the table. Of all time, of all times for his thing to attack him, it is during those times when he tries to act normal or when he tries to impress another person. Why can't he be normal for once? Why can't his…. Dark Shadow just leave him alone and be less socially awkward than how he usually is?

"Daddy?" Todoroki repeats, for some reason his tone sounds more irked by each syllable. Midoriya could barely believe his eyes, for he never thinks that Todoroki has the capability in him to form his facial muscles into a myriad of expressions. First, he was surprised. Then confusion, followed by anger, and then it becomes blank. Suddenly, it returns back to confusion.

"Did you mean Aizawa-sensei?"

Midoriya processes his words for a second. "By 'Aizawa-sensei', I assume you meant that man you were with earlier?"

Todoroki nods.

"Oh, he isn't your father?" Midoriya's sweat drops.

Todoroki's facial muscles start to twitch. A soft sound escapes from his lips, Midoriya couldn't help but feel alarmed at his sudden reaction. Out of nowhere, he bursts out laughing. And it wasn't any normal laugh, it was the most wholehearted laughter he has ever heard. It reminded him of someone else's from years ago. A type of laugh that was followed by the catchphrase, "Never fear, for I am here!"

It made his whole body tremble.

Todoroki wipes the tears from his eyes, stifling his laughter that seemed so sweet to hear (if only it wasn't directed towards Midoriya). "God forbid Aizawa-sensei be my father," He pauses, as if contemplating about something. "technically, he's more of a father figure to me than my real dad so it does make sense you assumed that from seeing our interaction."

I'm sorry for deceiving you, Todoroki-kun!

"Also, I would like to order an Oreo cheesecake, to go, please." He adds at the last minute.

Midoriya gapes at him. "Excuse me?"

"You asked me if I had any last orders before closing time, right?"

The waiter's mouth forms a small 'o'.

"Also, are you planning to go somewhere else after Café Perry closes?" Todoroki asks out of nowhere as Midoriya juts down his order on a small check board.

He mechanically shakes his head. "I… don't think so? Why'd you ask?"

"If it's too much to ask…" Todoroki hesitates to continue, Midoriya makes an encouraging gesture for him to so. He nods earnestly. "May we walk home together tonight? I have something important to tell you."

"WHAT?!"

Midoriya blinks. He hasn't even opened his mouth yet. Todoroki looks confused as he scrutinizes at something or someone behind Midoriya. He turns around, only to see two busybodies peering outside the kitchen door. They gasp when they realized they have been caught, slowly they return back to the shadows.

Uncharacteristically, a nerve pops on the green-haired waiter's temple. And then another. And an additional couple more. He looks at a Todoroki with a tight smile plastered on his face.

"Excuse me for a second,"

Todoroki nods, a sweat trailing down his face as Midoriya heads towards the kitchen with a menacing aura. Horrified scream echoes inside the other room, the few remaining customers warily stare at the kitchen door but none of them dare to move. The frame abruptly opens only to reveal a man with shattered glasses, trying best to crawl away from the kitchen as if he was Izanagi escaping Yomi.

"Save me," Broken megane-san pleads to Todoroki.

But before Todoroki move a muscle, blood drains from the man's face as a cryptic scarred hand grabbed both of his legs. He screams for dear life, digging his hands unto something only to fail as the only possible outcome for this event was his inevitable demise. Darkness completely engulfs him, and so were his screams.

Todoroki clasps his hands together in prayer for the poor fallen soldier.

"May he rest in peace," He hums a Buddhist prayer.

The other remaining customers chants and prays with him.

After a few minutes, Midoriya exits the kitchen with a refreshed look on his face. He goes back to Todoroki's table with a radiant aura surrounding him. He would've been a sight to behold if only there wasn't a splash of red liquid all over his face.

"What's that?" Todoroki wonders if it was the right decision to ask.

The normally benevolent man wipes his face with the sleeves of his uniform. The light in his eyes dies upon seeing the stain on his clothes.

"Oh, it's nothing." Midoriya flashes him the most disturbing smile ever witnessed by mankind. "Just my deceased faith in humanity."

Todoroki swallows the imaginary lump forming in his throat.

"I like that," Midoriya says sweetly, a tad too sweet.

Todoroki blinks. "What do you mean?"

"You asked me if we can go home together, right?" The writer pales at his own words. "I hope you don't mind waiting for a few more minutes so I could change to my normal clothes, my shift just ended just now, anyway."

"You're not going to close the shop with the other staffs?" He asks curiously.

Midoriya grins. "It has been taken care of…" He says, his voice lower than usual.

That night, Todoroki Shouto starts regretting his life choices.