Toji was already about to leave school. Several months had passed since his admission, and the end of the year was just around the corner. Surprisingly, his grades weren't that bad, thanks in large part to a persistent and nosy person who was always looking out for him.
"Fushiguro, wait!"
Speak of the devil, he thought with a mix of annoyance and resignation. He turned around, and there she was, approaching him as always. "What's up, brat?" he said nonchalantly.
Momo frowned. "Stop calling me that. We're the same age."
"Fine. So what's up, brainiac?" he replied with a mocking smile. She rolled her eyes.
"Just call me by my name," she insisted, crossing her arms with exhausted patience.
He stared at her for a few seconds, as if trying to remember something complicated. "...What was it again?"
Momo sighed, exasperated. "You're terrible! It's Momo, Yaoyorozu Momo. We've known each other for months. I'm the only one who talks to you. The least you could do is remember my name."
Toji gave her a carefree smile. "Right, Momo... I'll remember."
Momo, not expecting such a simple response, sighed and gave him a quick look. "Anyway, do you want to come eat at my house? My mom said I could invite a friend... and, well, I thought of you."
Toji raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Free food? I'm in," he said with a sly grin.
Momo couldn't hide a relieved smile. She had actually thought he would decline. "Great! Come on, the car's waiting for us."
Toji blinked. "You have a car?"
She stopped, as if it were obvious. "The driver who always picks me up."
He looked at her and smirked ironically. "Right... almost everyone here is rich. You disgust me. Share some of that wealth."
Momo shot him an annoyed look. "Who always pays for your lunch?"
Toji, far from feeling embarrassed, smirked mockingly. "I never asked you to. Actually, you seem thrilled to do it."
She blushed. "Then I won't do it anymore," she retorted, trying to sound annoyed.
He simply shrugged. "Fine, I'll never eat lunch again until graduation."
Momo huffed, exasperated. "You're such a manipulator." And, resigned, she started walking toward the car. "Let's just go."
Toji followed her without further comment. When they reached the car, the driver gave them a visibly disapproving look. Noticing this, Toji casually said, "What are you staring at, mustache?"
The man flinched slightly, but Momo quickly intervened. "He's a guest, forgive his manners... he came like this from the factory." The driver scoffed and went to the front seat, leaving the two in the back.
Once they were settled, Toji asked, "Is it far?"
Momo shook her head. "A few minutes by car. It's a bit on the outskirts of the city."
"Then it's far. Wake me up when we get there." Without waiting for a response, he reclined in the seat and closed his eyes, ready to nap.
Momo watched him and sighed, resigned. In the end, with Toji, it was pointless to expect different behavior. The driver, observing them through the rearview mirror, just shook his head before starting the car.
After a few minutes, Momo nudged him lightly. Toji, yawning, stretched and opened his eyes, still half-asleep.
"We're almo—" The last word caught in his throat as he saw the massive mansion before him. He stared at the impressive structure in disbelief. "Hey... is this... your house?" he asked, his voice tinged with doubt.
Momo looked at him as if he were a complete idiot and nodded, trying not to blush. "What do you need so much space for...?" Toji muttered disdainfully.
A bit embarrassed, Momo explained, "It's for appearances. My family is... somewhat influential in the country."
Toji looked at her, somewhat fascinated, and without much thought, blurted out, "If I poke you, do you bleed gold?"
Momo, already tired of his absurd comments, was about to step out of the car, but at that moment, she felt a pinch. "Kya! What the hell are you doing?"
Toji smiled at her, amused, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Had to make sure."
A little annoyed and not wanting to be outdone, Momo leaned toward him and tried to return the gesture using her fingernail, though somewhat clumsily. Pressing her finger against Toji's abdomen, she felt a small crack in her own finger. "Ouch! Hey, what do you have under your uniform?" she muttered while rubbing her sore finger.
Without any shame, Toji lifted his shirt, revealing his well-defined abs. "Nothing, just pure protein."
Momo's face turned as red as a tomato. "W-w-what are you doing... put that away!" she stammered, trying to regain her composure as she quickly pulled his shirt back down.
Their argument was interrupted by a feminine voice from the mansion's entrance. "Well, you two seem to be having fun, huh?"
Momo immediately turned around and found her mother standing in the mansion's grand entrance, a hand covering her smile. Momo's embarrassment grew as she noticed her mother's expression and quickly tried to justify herself. "No, it's not what it looks like! This idiot is just a shameless degenerate!"
Toji looked at her, offended, and muttered, "Me? You're the one who asked what was there."
Momo, with a vein pulsing on her forehead, retorted, "Yes, but not literally, idiot!"
The woman chuckled softly, enjoying their exchange. "Fuh fuh, it's good to see my daughter has such good friends. I'm Reika Yaoyorozu."
Toji, without much ceremony, responded with a casual, "What's up?" Before he could say more, Momo elbowed him.
"Introduce yourself," Momo whispered, trying to make him more polite.
"Oh, right. Toji Fushiguro... I guess a friend of this crazy one here," he added with a mocking smile, earning another elbow from her.
Reika watched them, amused, without losing her composure. "Ara? Fushiguro? Toji Fushiguro? Haha, I never thought you'd become friends. The world really is strange sometimes."
Toji raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You know me?"
Reika nodded, her smile widening. "Of course. Your mother mentions you whenever she can."
He frowned, confused. "How do you know my mother?"
Reika looked at him with unusual tenderness, thinking he has the same expressions as his mother. "She's been my secretary for some time now. To think my daughter would beat me to befriending her son... Well, that's something." Reika let out a light laugh, enjoying the moment. "Anyway, let's stop talking at the entrance. Come in, come in."
Toji looked at Reika and then at Momo, who was still processing what her mother had just revealed. "I see where you got them from," he murmured, glancing at her with a mischievous smile.
"Huh? What are you talking about now?" Momo asked, puzzled.
Toji, without hesitation, pointed at Momo's chest. She turned bright red and, without thinking twice, threw a punch directly at Toji's jaw, which didn't even faze him.
"Ugh! That's not fair—stop using your Quirk."
Reika, who was listening to everything with a smile, paused for a moment. "Quirk? Aren't you Quirkless, Toji?"
Toji, still with Momo's fist on his face, nodded nonchalantly. "Yeah, I am."
Momo blinked, perplexed. "How can you be Quirkless if you have such ridiculous strength and speed?"
Reika also blinked, somewhat intrigued. "And how could you save me from those thieves that time? Your movements were literally imperceptible," Momo added, still incredulous.
Toji sighed, looking at her with slight boredom. "Can you move your hand off my face now?"
Embarrassed, Momo quickly pulled her fist away. Reika looked at him with a mix of amazement and gratitude. "You were the one who saved my daughter?"
Toji scratched his head, trying to recall. "If you mean the time your daughter called the police in front of everyone... yeah, that was me."
Momo, blushing from both embarrassment and irritation, glared at Toji resentfully, but he just smiled mockingly, enjoying her discomfort. When she was about to get upset again, Reika surprised them by hugging Toji, leaving him bewildered and Momo stunned. Her mother seemed on the verge of tears.
"The store cameras were of poor quality..." she murmured. "All we could see was the figure of a young man standing between that horrible man and my daughter. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you... thank you for protecting my little girl when no one else could."
Toji, though slightly uncomfortable—not because of the hug but because he had two enormous pillows in his face—was more uneasy with the emotional weight of her words. "Come on in. I'm sure you're hungry. I want to get to know my daughter's friend and savior better."
Finally, the three of them crossed the mansion's threshold, and Toji, even more astonished, was left speechless at the magnitude and opulence of the interior.
Toji was sitting at a low table in the main hall of the mansion, scanning the place without much interest. Across from him, Reika observed him with a calculated smile, like someone trying to decipher a complex puzzle. Beside her, Momo cast nervous glances between her mother and Toji, probably worried about the impression he might leave.
"Why so much space? Do a lot of people live here?" Toji asked, looking around with curiosity. His eyes roamed from one piece of furniture to another, as if he were analyzing escape routes rather than the decor.
"It's for when we have many guests... and to make the space feel well utilized," Reika replied calmly, maintaining her smile. "Would you like something to drink? Tea or juice?"
Toji shrugged. "I don't know... tea, I guess." For him, the drink didn't matter, and his nonchalant tone made it clear that, if he were somewhere else, he probably wouldn't have accepted anything.
Nodding naturally, Reika gave a quick glance to a maid standing near the door, waiting attentively for her orders. "Bring us tea and cookies." The maid nodded with a slight bow and left with light steps, leaving the three in a brief but awkward pause.
"So, Toji-kun, what's this about you having a Quirk?" Reika fixed her eyes on him with interest, as if trying to gauge his every gesture. For his part, he merely raised an eyebrow and shrugged.
"I don't know, I've just been training since I was little. I guess that's the explanation." Without saying more, Toji avoided delving into the details; it wasn't a topic he cared to discuss.
Reika nodded slowly, processing his response thoughtfully. "Maybe... But anyway, it doesn't matter much right now. If you don't mind, I'd like to know a bit more about you."
Momo, hearing her mother's tone, felt this was more an interrogation than a friendly conversation. She sighed, preparing herself, knowing her mother's interest wouldn't wane anytime soon. "Sure, no problem," Toji replied without enthusiasm, just as the maid returned with a silver tray. With meticulous movements, she placed a plate with various types of cookies and served a cup of tea for each of them, paying attention to every detail of the ceremony.
"Thank you," Reika said with a slight nod of her head. The maid responded with a bow before retreating to her post near the door. Toji, without much ceremony, grabbed a cookie and took a bite, evaluating its taste without comment.
"So... I know it's a bit early, but do you have any plans for what you'll study in the future?" Reika attempted to steer the conversation toward a more amicable tone.
Toji, still chewing, replied unhurriedly, "Nah..."
Momo felt a pang of discomfort. She was already used to Toji's carefree attitude, but she knew her mother didn't share the same tolerance for a lack of ambition.
"I see... Do you have any skills or something you're particularly good at?" Reika persisted, maintaining her composure.
Toji finished chewing and shrugged again. "Mmh... I know how to fight. I don't know, it's not that complicated."
Reika let out a brief laugh, with a hint of nervousness. "... So, is there really nothing that interests you in life?"
Without much interest, Toji picked up the teacup, observing the dark liquid before replying. "The only thing I care about is making money... I don't know, I'll do whatever gives me a good amount with the least effort possible."
Momo shifted in her seat. She knew Toji could be brutally honest, but she had hoped that, at least in front of her mother, he would try to mask his lack of ambition. However, Toji didn't seem remotely concerned about hiding anything.
"I see you're very honest," murmured Reika, continuing to look at him with slight interest. "Tell me, Toji-kun... would you do something terrible for money, even if it meant harming others?" Her tone was serious, and her eyes scrutinized him as if trying to see beyond his answer.
Momo held her breath, not expecting that kind of question. She looked at Toji, anxious to see how he would respond. He smiled, but it was a mocking, almost defiant smile. "Well, of cou..." However, at the last second, images from his past life flashed through his mind: the girl, the Star Plasma Vessel, the boy who had looked at him in his final moments. His smile vanished, and his expression turned cold. "No," he said in a dry, definitive tone before taking another cookie.
Reika observed him silently, catching every change in his expression. Something in her eyes seemed satisfied, and she nodded with a faint smile. "I understand."
The conversation continued superficially, discussing trivial topics, until later, when it was already night, Toji got ready to leave. Momo walked him to the entrance. "Sorry about all that," Momo apologized with an embarrassed smile. "My mom can be a bit... intense."
"It's fine," Toji replied, yawning without much interest. "I'm used to it."
"Thanks for coming... I'm glad you're my friend," Momo said in a barely audible tone, not wanting to meet his eyes.
"Huh? What did you say?" Toji asked, raising an eyebrow, somewhat confused.
"Nothing, nothing. Just go; don't keep the driver waiting."
"Is it the mustache guy again?" Toji muttered, casting a disdainful glance at the driver, who looked at him with a similar expression.
"See you tomorrow. Don't forget to do your homework."
Toji waved dismissively. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. Thanks for the food," he said as he got into the car without looking back.
Momo watched the car drive off until it disappeared in the distance, but just as she was about to go back inside the mansion, she heard her mother's voice behind her. "He's not a bad kid..."
Momo turned, somewhat surprised. "What do you mean by that?"
"At first, I thought he was a bit... simple. But he's not a bad person. Maybe not the best match, but if he makes you happy..."
Momo frowned, feeling a blush rise to her cheeks. "What are you talking about?"
Reika let out a light laugh. "Come on, don't play dumb. I saw the way you looked at him."
"W-what look! That's how I always look!" Momo replied, trying to sound indifferent, though the blush on her face betrayed her.
"Sure, sure," Reika said with a sly smile as they both returned inside the mansion.
Toji got out of the vehicle, throwing one last disdainful glance at the driver before flipping him off. Surprisingly, the driver returned the gesture with an equally annoyed expression, which managed to draw a mocking grin from Toji. He climbed the stairs to his apartment, searching for his keys in his pocket, but before he could open the door, it swung open abruptly, and a firm hand grabbed him by the collar, dragging him inside.
"Where the hell were you, kid?" his mother, Yaeko, snapped, her brows furrowed and her eyes filled with worry. Her voice carried a mix of anger and panic. Before Toji could answer, she let him go and started running her hands through her hair. "No, don't tell me... You're into drugs already, aren't you?! Oh, God, what did I do to deserve this?" Yaeko's voice cracked, and against all odds, she pulled him into a tight hug, trying to hold back her tears. "I know you had a rough childhood, but this isn't the way, Toji. This won't lead to anything good," she murmured, attempting to keep him in the embrace.
"Calm down, woman," he replied, pulling away from the hug with irritation. "I just went to a friend's house to eat."
Yaeko blinked, clearly incredulous. "You? A friend? And a girl, no less?"
Toji frowned, crossing his arms impatiently. "Yeah, any problem with that?"
She stared at him, clearly shocked, as if the mere idea that her son had friends, let alone a female friend, was utterly unexpected. "Toji... with friends?" Her words sounded almost mocking, but there was a trace of genuine disbelief. "I never thought I'd hear those words together." Then, narrowing her eyes, she gave him a suspicious look. "Are you really on drugs? Or are you hallucinating that you have friends?"
Toji let out an annoyed snort, clicking his tongue, just as Yaeko's phone rang. She gave the device a worried glance, as if afraid of it. "It must be the police..." she muttered, pressing a hand to her forehead.
"You called the police?" Toji looked at her in disbelief, stunned that his mother had gone so far in her worry.
"I had to make sure!" she retorted, placing a hand over her chest. "I already imagined you lying unconscious on some sidewalk."
Toji stared at her with resignation. "Do you really think I could sink that low?"
"Yes," Yaeko answered without hesitation. At her blunt response, Toji sighed, running a hand over his forehead and shaking his head before turning to head toward his room.
As he walked away, Yaeko called out to him again, this time in a somewhat softer tone. "...Toji."
"What now?" He leaned into the hallway, slowly unbuttoning his uniform and looking at her with a hint of irritation.
"Are you saying you went to my boss's house...? And this 'imaginary friend' of yours happens to be her daughter?" Yaeko looked at him, incredulous, with a mix of surprise and confusion.
Toji merely raised an eyebrow, as if he couldn't understand why she was making such a fuss. Without another word, he turned and slammed his bedroom door shut, unwilling to prolong the conversation.
"Answer me! Why didn't you ever tell me you were friends with her? Toji!" Yaeko banged on the door, but the only response was silence from the other side.
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