[ENG]Shoto Todoroki : Modern-day Terrorist

Chapter 14

The weeks following Touya's internment were the best in my life.

I could walk around the house without having to worry about a would-be killer jumping out of a dark corner to slit my throat.

I could increase the intensity of my workouts without worrying whether I would have enough energy to outrun someone twice my weight and size who wanted me dead. I could sleep soundly for the first time in ages without fear of being suffocated in my sleep.

And all of this was priceless.

Well, it had a price.

But that didn't really matter.

"Shoto, finish your bowl"

I drank the milk in one gulp before burping. No one took offense, baby privileges be damned.

My father scraped his chair on the floor.

Rei had pulled me out of my high chair before Enji could even get up.

"Leave it, I'll take care of him", said Rei

"... as you wish"

Fuyumi looked at them one after the other before she concentrated on her cereal once more. Natsuo, on the other hand, was not so tactful:

"Say, are you going to divorce ?"

Rei froze.

Enji's fork came to rest just above his plate.

Rei cradled me on her hip before smiling and turning to look at him.

"What makes you think that?"

"You've been acting weird ever since Tou-tou left"

The corners of Rei's mouth dropped, but her expression was still joyful.

"You're imagining things Natsu. Don't worry"

Fuyumi looked up at Enji with hopeful eyes.

"So you really won't divorce ?"

Rei laughed.

"You can't divorce a Todoroki"

Enji gave her a meaningful look, but Rei had already turned away.

Yes, Touya's departure came with a price.

But between my life and a shadowy arranged marriage, there was no comparison.

I wonder when I can ask Enji to take Kenjutsu lessons...

*

I looked at how I looked in the mirror and felt disgusted.

A straw hat, a white shirt lined with blue overalls and a pair of moccasins so heavy they looked like horseshoes.

"Shoto, are you ready ?"

I arranged the bow tie crookedly, my lips tight.

"Give me a minute !"

The hat slipped down over my eyes.

"Shoto, hurry before we're late !"

I tore the hat off and threw it across the room. It slid under the bed and disappeared into the darker realms of life.

I ran both hands over my hair to comb it back and straightened my shirt one last time. I looked like a redneck about to milk his cow.

"Sho-"

I opened the door.

Enji and Rei were standing in the hallway as far away from each other as possible. The first one was wearing a black suit, his hands in his pockets and looked bored to death.