The Sunday dinner at the villa was a far cry from the cold, silent meals of the past. The dining room was filled with the clinking of porcelain and the lively chatter of the Todoroki siblings.
Rei sat at the center, looking peaceful, while Enji sat at the far end, listening more than he spoke. Even (Y/N)'s father was present, sitting stiffly but politely, seemingly cowed by the sheer domestic energy of the room.
Half a year had passed since their legal union. The "Succession Clause" was a ghost of the past, and (Y/N) was no longer a vessel for a legacy, she was the heart of the home.
As the main course was cleared, Shoto stood up. The room went quiet. He wasn't wearing his hero gear or a formal suit; he was in a simple, dark blue kimono that made his hair and eyes pop.
He looked at (Y/N), and the sheer intensity of his gaze made her heart skip a beat.
"I have an announcement," Shoto said, his voice steady but carrying a hint of nerves that only (Y/N) could detect.
Natsuo smirked, leaning back. "What is it, Shoto? You finally bought that soba factory you've been eyeing?"
Shoto didn't look at his brother. He turned to (Y/N), reaching into his pocket. "The first time I met you it was because of a contract. Our wedding... We stood in a room with lawyers and held a ceremony that felt like a funeral. I was a coward, and I didn't deserve the woman standing beside me."
(Y/N)'s father shifted uncomfortably, but Shoto didn't stop. He stepped toward (Y/N) and dropped to one knee. The entire table gasped-Fuyumi clutched her napkin to her mouth, and even Enji looked stunned.
"I've spent every moment of our marriage falling in love with you, every single morning, i fell even harder," Shoto whispered, looking up at her.
He opened a small velvet box to reveal a ring that sparkled with a clarity that put the Hakamada jewels to shame. It was a custom design: a delicate band of platinum with a diamond flanked by a small ruby and a pale blue sapphire.
"I don't want a merger. I don't want a biological requirement. I want a partner. I want the girl who dances with tambourines and looks at me for who I am." He smiled, a genuine, beautiful smile. " (Y/N) Hakamada-Todoroki... will you marry me? For real this time? No contracts. Just us."
(Y/N) felt the tears spill over before she could even nod. "Yes," she choked out, her voice thick with emotion. "A thousand times, yes."
Shoto slid the ring onto her finger-a perfect fit-and stood up, pulling her into his arms. The room erupted. Natsuo was cheering and clapping his brother on the shoulder, Fuyumi was openly crying, and Rei was beaming.
Even (Y/N)'s father stood up, walking over to the couple. He looked at Shoto, then at his daughter's radiant face. "It seems," he said, his voice unusually soft, "that I was a very poor businessman. I undervalued the most important asset I had." He turned to Shoto and gave a stiff, respectful bow. "Take care of her, Todoroki."
"I intend to," Shoto said, his arm tightening around (Y/N)'s waist in that familiar, protective way.
"So!" Natsuo shouted, breaking the tension. "When's the party?"
The "real" wedding was set. No lawyers, no quotas, and no deadlines. Just a hero and his wife, finally starting their forever on their own terms.
^ • ^
The "real" wedding was nothing like the first. There were no flashing paparazzi bulbs, no tense board members in the front rows, and no heavy air of obligation. Instead, the air was filled with the scent of sea salt and blooming jasmine at a private cliffside estate at sunset.
Shoto stood at the altar, looking breathtaking in a traditional white and navy formal montsuki. His hands were clasped in front of him, but his fingers were twitching-a rare sign of nerves for the man who faced high-rank villains without blinking.
Then, the music changed.
When (Y/N) appeared, the entire guest list-composed only of their closest friends and family-seemed to hold its breath. She wore a stunning, modern bridal kimono that transitioned from white to a soft, shimmering gold. She didn't look like a porcelain doll this time; she looked like a woman who was walking toward her future by choice.
As she reached him, Shoto took her hands. His palms were warm, and his eyes were so full of light that (Y/N) felt her knees go weak.
"You're late," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I was about to come find you."
"By three minutes, Shoto? You really are a jelly-man," she teased, her eyes sparkling through tears of joy.
The ceremony was short and intimate. They didn't read from a script. When it was time for the vows, Shoto took a deep breath, his voice carrying clearly over the sound of the waves below.
"I used to think my life was a series of things that happened to me," Shoto said, looking only at her. "But you were the first thing I ever truly chose. You are the fire that keeps me warm and the ice that keeps me steady. I promise to protect your smile, to support your dreams, and to always, always make sure you have enough water after a night with Mirko."
The guests erupted in soft laughter, and (Y/N) laughed through her tears. "I promise to love you even when you're being overprotective, to be the person you come home to, and to remind you every day that you are more than your name or your power. You're just Shoto. And you're mine."
When the officiant pronounced them husband and wife, Shoto didn't hesitate. He pulled her in, his hand cupping the back of her head, and kissed her with a passion that made the crowd roar. This wasn't a performance for the press, it was a seal on a soul-deep bond.
^ • ^
As the moon rose, the party became a blur of joy. Izuku and Ochaco were the first on the dance floor, while Bakugo sat in the corner, looking grumpy but notably not leaving. Natsuo was busy trying to convince (Y/N)'s father to try a "fancy" cocktail, and for the first time, the older man looked like he was actually enjoying himself.
Shoto and (Y/N) stood on the balcony, looking out at the ocean. Shoto pulled her back against his chest, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Are you happy?" he murmured into her ear.
"I've never been happier," she sighed, leaning back into his warmth. "Look at them, Shoto. Our families are actually... talking. We did it."
"No, you did," he corrected gently, turning her around to face him. He reached out to the table near them and picked up a familiar object. A tambourine.
(Y/N) gasped, her eyes going wide. "Shoto! Where did you get that?"
"I bought it," he said, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Because tonight, there are no contracts. No deadlines. And if my wife wants to dance on a table and make a fool of herself, I'm going to be the one holding the chair steady so she doesn't fall."
He handed her the instrument, a soft laugh escaping him as she took it, her face lighting up.
"I love you, Shoto Todoroki," she said, shaking the tambourine once with a bright *jingle*.
"I love you more, (Y/N) Todoroki," he replied.
He picked her up, spinning her around under the starlight as the music swelled behind them. They weren't a business arrangement or a tragic headline anymore. They were a family. And for the first time in both of their lives, the future was wide open, bright, and entirely theirs to write.