The rail yard was suddenly flooded with more than just police sirens. A group of the Top 10's finest-the former Class 1-A-arrived in a whirlwind of sparks, engines, and explosions.
Bakugo landed with a massive blast, his eyes scanning for a fight, followed closely by Deku and Iida.
They skidded to a halt, ready for a war, only to find the "Trigger" villains already bundled up in Shoto's ice and (H/N)'s temporal fields.
"What the-? It's over already?" Bakugo snarled, sparks popping in his palms. "I ran six blocks for leftovers?"
"Shoto! You're okay!" Deku chirped, landing lightly beside them. His eyes immediately shifted to (Y/N).
"And... (H/N)? Wow, I read about your work in France! That 'Temporal Anchor' was incredible to see in person!"
(Y/N) felt a flush of heat-actual, genuine pride-under the gaze of the top heroes. But then Mina Ashido and Uraraka bounded over, their "hero mode" instantly switching to "best friend mode."
"Oh my god, (H/N)! You're literally covered in dirt!" Mina squealed, hovering around her. "And look at your lip! Shoto, you let your brand-new wife get into a scrap on day one?"
"She... she didn't ask for permission," Shoto muttered, still looking a little dazed as he stood there with ash on his fingers.
"Permission? Please!" Uraraka laughed, nudging (Y/N) with her elbow. "She was amazing! I saw that last move from the perimeter. You guys make a terrifying team."
The rest of the group-Kaminari, Kirishima, and Yaoyorozu-gathered around, the atmosphere shifting from a crime scene to a chaotic UA reunion.
They were loud, bright, and messy, completely ignoring the "perfect couple" image the media usually demanded.
For the first time, (Y/N) didn't feel like a stranger in Japan; she felt like she was being pulled into a family.
"Look at them," Mirko whispered, leaning against a crate near (Y/N). "The 'Ice Prince' is actually sweating because his friends are teasing him about his wife. Hilarious."
Bakugo stomped over, glaring at Shoto and then at (Y/N). "Hey, Clock-Girl! Next time, leave some for the rest of us. I don't like coming out here just to watch Half-and-Half play house."
(Y/N) wiped a fresh smudge of dirt from her chin and gave Bakugo a small, defiant smirk. "Maybe if you were faster, 'Dynamight,' you wouldn't be watching."
The group let out a collective "Ooooooh!" and even Shoto looked at her with wide eyes, a flicker of genuine amusement-and maybe a spark of attraction-lighting up his face.
"Okay, okay, break it up!" Iida shouted, chopping the air with his arms. "The police need to clear the area! And Shoto, take your wife home! She's clearly exhausted her Quirk limits!"
(Y/N)'s eyes lit up as the realization hit her. These were the heroes she had watched from across the ocean-the legendary class that had changed the world.
Back in France, she had followed their progress in every journal, never imagining she'd be standing among them.
"Wait-Deku? And Uraraka? I've studied your combat footage for years!" she exclaimed, her fatigue momentarily forgotten as her "fan-girl" heart fluttered.
The professional mask she'd worn all day finally cracked, revealing the enthusiastic woman underneath.
"Whoa, you're even cooler than the reports say!" Mina cheered, throwing an arm around (Y/N)'s neck.
"Actually," (Y/N) said, looking around the circle of bright faces, "I'm so glad I ran into all of you. Shoto and I just moved into the new villa by the coast.
I was planning to organize a housewarming party this weekend, and I'd really love it if you all came. It's been... a bit quiet there."
She shot a quick, glance at Shoto. He looked like he'd been struck by lightning. A party? In their house? With *this* crowd?
He could already imagine Bakugo blowing up the expensive marble countertops and Kaminari short-circuiting the smart-home system.
"A party?!" Kaminari punched the air. "Free food and a view of the ocean? Count us in!"
"We'd be honored, (H/N)!" Iida announced, bowing so low his glasses almost slipped off. "It is important to foster communal bonds in a new neighborhood!"
"I'll bring the good booze!" Mina shouted from the background, waving a thumb.
Mirko followed "Don't worry, Todoroki, I'll make sure Frenchie here doesn't overwork herself before the big night!"
Shoto's ears turned pink at Mirko's suggestive comment, but as he looked at (Y/N), he saw how much she was beaming.
The sadness that had been etched into her face this morning was gone, replaced by a vibrant energy that made her look absolutely radiant.
"I suppose... we could have people over," Shoto managed to say, his voice lacking its usual coldness.
"Great! It's settled!" (Y/N) laughed, turning back to the group. "I'll send out the location pins tonight. I hope you guys like Mediterranean food!"
As the group started to disperse, laughing and chatting, Shoto stood by her side. For the first time, they weren't just two people bound by a contract; they were a couple at the center of a whirlwind.
^ • ^
At the Mirko Agency
(Y/N) sat in the locker room, finally peeling off her tactical gear. Her muscles were screaming, but her mind was racing.
She realized she'd just invited the most famous heroes in Japan to a house she barely knew her way around.
"Hey, kid," Mirko called out, leaning against the locker bank while eating a protein bar.
"You're doing that thing where your brain smokes. Stop it. You kicked ass today. If the house is a mess, just tell 'em it's 'minimalist.' That's what rich people do, right?"
(Y/N) laughed, pulling on her civilian clothes.
"It's not the house I'm worried about, Mirko. It's the 'husband' inside it."
"Psh. He's just a guy with a fancy Quirk and a lot of family baggage," Mirko shrugged.
"Show him you aren't a doll he can just leave on a shelf. You did that today. Keep it up."
^ • ^
At the Todoroki Agency
Shoto sat at his desk, his head in his hands. The adrenaline had worn off, and the reality of the morning-the way he'd treated her, the alcohol, the silence-was crashing back down on him.
He felt a deep sense of shame. He had treated her like a transaction, but in the heat of the rail yard, she had saved his team.
She had been a pro.
His phone buzzed. It was a text from (Y/N).
(Y/N): I'm heading home now. I'll start a list for the party. Don't worry about the groceries today, just get some rest. You looked tired at the precinct.*
Shoto stared at the screen. She was being kind. After everything he'd done-or hadn't done-she was looking out for him. He stood up, grabbed his jacket, and headed for the elevator.
He didn't want to be "The Heir" or "The Hero" right now. He just wanted to figure out how to be a person.
^ • ^
When Shoto pulled into the driveway, the sun was setting, casting long, golden shadows across the glass walls of the villa.
He saw (Y/N) through the window, already in the kitchen. She had changed into a simple, oversized hoodie and shorts, her hair pulled into a messy bun.
She looked beautiful.
He walked inside, the front door clicking shut. The air didn't smell like whiskey anymore; she had opened the windows to let the sea breeze in.
(Y/N) looked up from the counter, where she was scribbling on a notepad.
She looked at him-not with the fear from the morning, but with a guarded curiosity. "Hey. Rough day?"
"It was fine," Shoto said. He walked over, stopping on the other side of the marble island. He looked at her. "About this morning..."
He trailed off, the words "I'm sor..." feeling too small for the weight of what he'd done.
"Everything is fine, you don't need to apologise for anything." (Y/N) said softly, cutting him mid sentence, sensing his struggle. She held up the notepad.
"But I do need to know if Bakugo is allergic to anything, because if I accidentally poison the Number Four Hero, my father will definitely have a heart attack."
Shoto felt his shoulders tense at the mention of her father, it was a cruel reminder.
"He's not allergic to anything," Shoto said, in a stiff voice.
(Y/N) Felt confused at the stiffness in his voice.