(!WARNING! MANGA SPOILERS IN THIS CHAPTER! This chapter is also a little looong, sorry, got carried away! If you like this chapter please leave a comment and vote. I would really appreciate it! Thank you again for the reads everybody!)

A month into her schooling and training – Y/n felt like she could do anything. She was finally feeling like she could truly spread her wings, she would still get anxiety episodes, but those were quickly shot down by being surrounded by her friends and family. However, she still refused to see a counselor and doctor when Aizawa asked. She didn't feel like she needed counseling, reassuring him if her episodes got worse, she would give it a try.

Though she felt like she might not need to.

Her life was amazing. She talked with Eri and Miguel almost every day and she would visit them on the weekends. They would visit her at the campus whenever they could. They would always tear up when she had to leave to start school every Monday – a pouty Hitoshi feeling like he was being left out. Though Y/n always made sure he didn't feel that way, telling him she was just that awesome.

He in return wrestled with her, momentarily forgetting his sadness.

Her, Hitoshi, Rosalinda and Aizawa always had lunch together at school and at home on the weekends. Their bonding time since they were always so busy.

Aizawa promised Kayama and Yamada would be meeting her soon, they're mission was already done with, and they were on their way back to Japan.

Y/n fell into a daily routine of school, hanging out with Mina, Momo, and the other girls of class 3-A.

Hitoshi would always stay with Aizawa, so she only saw him at the dorms. They always did have Wednesday movie nights and wear facial masks, while watching corny American movies.

Her and Hanta were inseparable now, and wherever Hanta followed her to, so did the rest of the Baku-squad. Something, Mina, Eijirou, Denki, Kyoka and Hanta called themselves. Y/n would tease an annoyed Katsuki about it. However, he would tell her it wasn't his fault. He was such a leader and had to take care of his 'ducklings like a mother'.

His words not hers.

It also did help him, feel at ease when Y/n was surrounded by the people he trusted, when Shouto or Izuku weren't available.

Since the guys had to stay close to her because of Shigaraki's threat, she was grateful to see them every day or at least when they weren't doing their work studies. Even if she wanted alone time with someone, they would be somewhere nearby to watch over her. And she was thankful for it, she didn't feel ready to take on Shigaraki all on her own. She felt lucky that he hasn't contacted her yet, but she knew it would come.

However, their mentor Endeavor was beginning to get irritated with the three because of how little time they could spend at the agency now. It wasn't Y/n's fault though, the escorting around request came from principal Nezu himself, and technically he was still in charge of all U.A. students, regardless of how the flaming number one hero felt about it.

Apparently, Endeavor wanted to meet Y/n because of how much time she took his students away from him.

However, Shouto shot that idea down quick.

Him and his father's relationship had gotten better these past couple of years, there were still a couple of hiccups, still both were willing to work together. However, ever since the arranged marriage ordeal, all the work his father put in, had seized their relationship growth.

He told Shouto he was doing it for his future. It was proposed by the Yaoyorozu's and Endeavor could not refuse at the time. It was done way before him and Shouto were in good terms. He kept it a secret until his third year.

"Old man, I must leave, or I'll miss the train. U.A still has the curfew rule implemented, and I would prefer not to get in trouble with Aizawa sensei." Shouto put down his chopsticks as he stared plainly at his father.

They were having late-night dinner at Endeavor's agency, at his office for privacy. They would do that every so often to catch up. In a way he felt content even if he did not show it, his father was finally changing. Their meals still held an awkwardness to them, though he didn't feel hatred towards him anymore. However, he hadn't forgiving him yet either, they were taking their relationship day by day.

Endeavor cleared his throat. He was sure he learned 'Old man' from Katsuki, but he didn't want to correct his son, he kind of liked having a nickname even if it was sort of insulting.

"Before you leave, I wanted to speak with you about something."

Shouto's eyes narrowed at him with suspicion, "Alright." Endeavor, slid over his mahogany desk a pair of keys over to his son, with a kind smile. Shouto's eyes furrowed in confusion, not understanding what this meant. "What is this?"

"It's a late birthday present, keys to the mustang you like." Endeavor stated plainly.

Shouto shook his head, he didn't know how his father knew, the only other person who knew about this was Natsuo, his brother. He was sure his brother didn't say anything to Endeavor. Natsuo and Endeavor talked less, than Shouto did with him. And Shouto wanted to get the car with his own money when he got older.

"I can't –"

"Shouto, please accept this gift. I know how long you've wanted the car for, and you've earned it. Driving will be safer than public transportation. Crime has gone up recently, and you are the son of the number one hero. I would offer to drive you, but I know how much you don't like that. I don't want something to happen to you late at night while you're walking to the train."

Endeavor looked down at his food, remembering the time his son Natsuo was almost killed by the villain Ending. At the same time a glimpse of his eldest son Touya flashed through his mind. He would lose his mind if something happened to his youngest too.

If only he'd been a better father maybe Touya...

"Stop. I promised to help you bring Touya back home, what's done is done father. There is no point in thinking of the what ifs." Shouto mumbled quietly, knowing what his father was already thinking of. He always went quiet, and this look of pain would cross his face whenever Touya came to mind.

Endeavor smiled at his son. He was growing up so fast.

"Right."

However, he grimaced realizing the next part of their conversation was probably going to make their relationship head towards a negative direction again.

"Listen Shouto. Everything I do, is for your own good."

Shouto's eyes narrowed again, not liking where this was headed, "What does that mean? If you bought me a house, I'm declining now. That's too much and I was planning to rent an apartment with my friends for a couple of years before I was serious on getting a home."

"Do you mean you'll be rooming with Midoriya and Bakugou after graduation." Endeavor asked already knowing what the answer would be.

"I'm not sure about Katsuki, he might stay with his other friends." Shouto shrugged nonchalantly.

Endeavor nodded knowingly. His son had become close to those two. They almost acted like brothers at times. Endeavor would always thank the two when they worked on missions with him. They helped his son grow into the young man he is today.

He, however, knew he was about to ruin all their efforts. He took a deep breath before whispering, "What do you think of that Yaoyorozu girl in your class?" Maybe if his son had a little crush on the young woman, it would make things easier.

Shouto stopped eating to look at his father, what was he getting at? "She's a friendly classmate, why?"

"You don't fancy her at all?" Endeavor stared intently to the eyes of his son, hoping he would say yes. However, with the way Shouto slightly repulsed, he knew, this conversation was going to end the way he was expecting it to.

"No?" Shouto dragged out unsure of why his father was bringing this up. From previous events with another girl, he decided to stay clear from any relationships.

"Not even a li-"

"What are you getting at father?" Shouto's voice grew wary, fearing where this conversation was heading to.

Sighing heavily Endeavor looked at his son with saddened eyes, face falling from this conversation. "The Yaoyorozu family contacted me a while back. They told me they wanted you and their daughter to get married once you graduate."

Shouto's heterochromia eyes widened, breath caught in his lungs. He was so confused, wasn't Momo dating someone right now?

"They're a very wealthy family Shouto, and the way things are with the media, losing the citizens trust and Touya coming out as Dabi. I know this will set you for life in case something should happen to me." Endeavor finally let the truth come out in a rush.

Shouto unable to hear his father any longer pushed from the table in anger, feeling rage ignite in him. Ruining his appetite and the atmosphere.

"Please consider this son. You'll be able to help your mother and siblings, should anything happen to me." He pleaded to Shouto, who was gathering his belongings rather quickly. "Shouto."

Shouto with tears brimming at the corners of his eyes, hissed at him. Endeavor feeling his heart break, this being the first time he's seen him cry in ages.

"How could you!? I thought you changed! Why would you do this to me?!" He yelled at him in anger and hurt. "Don't you care for your own son? Haven't you learned anything at all after Touya."

Endeavor's heart broke, seeing his son wipe at the tears that threatened to spill. Feeling ache in his chest at the jab Shouto threw at him. "Son, I do care for you. I'm doing this for you."

"No, you're not! You know how I feel about quirk marriages, and you promised me to someone as though I'm an object that can be sold!" Shouto's lips quivered, he felt like that five-year-old boy again, powerless, and fragile.

He needed to get out of there, he texted Izuku that they were leaving and to get Katsuki ready. Both boys were training at the agency's facility while they waited for Shouto. And Shouto right now couldn't be in the same room, let alone in the same building as his father.

"Shouto, please understand. The citizens of Japan hate me, for what I did to Touya, I've been losing a lot of assets. People who once believed in me are pulling out their investments. The agency isn't getting many calls like it used to. And the hero commission has been siding with the people, not wanting to have a hero who hurt his own child, stay working as a hero. I'm making it harder for anyone to trust the hero society. I'm going to lose my number one ranking spot soon. I just know it."

He tried to plea to Shouto, who wasn't listening anymore.

"No one wants to work with someone who drove their own kid to villainy. I've had to terminate people from the agency. People, I've worked with for most of my life. I've even taking a pay cut to pay the employees I was able to keep who've agreed to take a pay cut as well. Soon, I won't have anything left to give to our family. The only reason why I'm still standing is because of Hawk's and U.A.'s help."

"Then sell the car you bought me! I don't need it. Don't sell your own son!" Shouto yelled unable to hold back from the rage, he felt his left side beginning to warm up. Signaling him to calm down, his emotions were running wild within him, and it was getting hard to control them.

"I'm not selling you! I'm not getting any money from them. Should anything happen to me, the Yaoyorozu's will take care of you and our family, they promised. They signed the contract with those conditions." Endeavor's deep voice faltered. He felt like such a horrible father for forcing this on Shouto.

He was still so young. He should be the one to face the consequences of his own actions, not anyone else, especially his family, but he was truly doing this for Shouto's wellbeing.

"Contract?" Shouto whispered, his world spinning.

Endeavor really did hate to do this to him. Of course, he didn't believe in quirk marriages anymore, he wanted Shouto to be happy and to find someone he truly loved. He also knew this wedge would not only grown between Shouto and him, but the rest of the family as well. But if it meant they would be stable when he was gone, he would gladly take the hate.

"I'm so sorry son, I'm working hard every day to get your brother back and put him behind bars, but he is a very dangerous man. His fire is hotter, than any I've encountered, including mine. And he is very angry, his emotions have always driven his quirk. I don't think I'll come out of this alive."

Shouto's heart ached, he already lost Touya at such a young age. Even if his father did treat him horribly when growing up, he was still his father and he was getting better. He didn't want to lose another person.

"I can work..." his voice broke, trying to sustain a sob "...take care of our family. A lot of agencies want to work with me." Shouto pleaded to his father to reconsider, to cancel this arrangement before it went too far. Surely, he could still get out of this business deal he made with the Yaoyorozu's.

"Not anymore son, the last name Todoroki has been tainted by me and your older brother. And I am deeply sorry, I've ruined your hero career before it even started." Endeavor sounded so defeated.

"Then I'll take any job if I have to. Please father, I have never begged you for anything in my life. Please don't do this to me." Shouto bit the inside of his cheek, trying to contain the tears, a tang of metallic infiltrating his taste buds.

Endeavor looked towards his son with tears of his own. "I'm so sorry."

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Shouto took his coat and headed towards the door. He needed to get away from this, he felt like he was suffocating. The anxiety, he's been working so hard daily to control – coming back in full force.

"Wait! Please take the car. I need to know you're safe. It's too late for you and your friends to take the train. You can hate me all you want Shouto but promise to tell me when you get to the dorms. If you need time away from me, I understand, just send me a message every now and then that you're okay." Endeavor whispered lowly, letting the tears slide freely down his face.

This being the first time he's seen Endeavor cry since finding out Touya was Dabi. Alive and hiding in plain sight this whole time. The truth coming out two years ago, in Shouto's first year of U.A.

Shouto looked over at his father, he seemed so old and broken. Years of looking for his older brother weighing down on him. It seemed like his father had lost the fire that drove him to be number one. The fire to fight against those who never believed in him. Since when did his father turn into this?

Was it when he was shunned by society after Dabi came out as Touya? Why had his father lost his fighting spirit so soon?

With regret and without saying another word, Shouto took the keys from his father's hand and stormed out of the room.

When he met with Izuku and Katsuki, he couldn't help but to break down in front of them. Katsuki at first was thrown off, he's never seen Shouto so defeated before. Not even when he beat him at the festival in their first year of high school and he refused to use his fire on him.

Once inside Shouto's new car and letting Katsuki drive because no way was Shouto mentally okay to take them back to school. He told them everything. Katsuki the whole ride had a death grip on the steering wheel, jaw tensed. This was a family matter, he knew that.

Still, he felt the need to pummel Endeavor, not caring one bit that he was the number one hero. How could he force his son to do something so immoral?

Izuku the whole time consoled his friend, telling him they would get him out of this ordeal. He understood why Endeavor had done this, but he had to have a little faith on his son's capabilities. The world would grow to love Shouto, regardless of his family background. He was only the son of the number one hero, he was not him. Touya was only his brother by blood, he didn't even grow up with him.

When Shouto got back to the dorms, he saw a wailing Momo on the couch, surrounded by all her friends.

In an instant, he knew this was not her request either, poor Momo had even gotten on her knees to beg Shouto for forgiveness.

Momo also felt betrayed by her parents, she was so excited to finally tell them about the one she fell in love with, her dreams had shattered that night after they dismissed her feelings and told her she was already engaged to the aloof heterochromia eyed boy in her class.

Obviously, Shouto and Momo won't be going through with it. Specially since Momo already has a boyfriend from class 3-B, she's deeply in love with him. Nothing was going to stop them from terminating the arrangement they've been forced into.

And now that Y/n was in the picture, Shouto was going to make sure this didn't interfere with what's been growing this past month. Every time he looked at the girl, he felt at ease, her smile and childlike excitement always brought a smile to him. He couldn't hold back anymore, he had to tell her how he felt.

Y/n spent her studying sessions with Shouto or Katsuki whenever they could. She was supposed to study with Izuku too, but they would goof off all the time, making them get in trouble by the other two. Apparently, she had to learn a whole textbook full of hero rules and protocols to be prepared for the hero licensing exam, which was in two months.

Izuku whenever he could, would still steal her away and take her out for ice-cream by the beach.

Katsuki would make dinner with her when it was his turn, both trying to make each other the spiciest plate. So far, it was a tie.

And then Shouto would drive her around the city in his mustang. Walking down the streets of the busy city, clinging on to each other's hands as they tried different foods.

The three of them teaching her a life outside of captivity. There was so much she learned from them, her family members, and friends.

Y/n not only spent time with everybody, but she also learned what each person liked and what they didn't so they would feel comfortable around her. Surprisingly, her and Fumikage Tokoyami, the dark bird hero, got along well.

One day when he didn't notice anyone around, he was reciting one of his poems out loud in the common room. Y/n caught him. A long awkward moment passing between them, before the girl practically begged him to continue. Since then, it's been there thing. He would show her poems he wrote and asked for her opinion. She always gave him feedback, she was never shy to tell him it needed more work, or what he could change, and he always respected her for it. He liked her honesty.

She encouraged him to put his work out into the world and together they went to a small café, where nervously the timid young man presented his work. With Katsuki, Shouto and Izuku tagging along for protection purposes. Of course, Y/n told them they had to hide because Fumikage was nervous and only was comfortable with showing Y/n his work at the time.